Crufts

I would like to thank the committee of the Kennel Club for inviting me to judge at Crufts. It was a pleasure which I will always treasure. Thank you to everyone who brought their lovely dog and those who have since contacted me with their kind words. I have been in the breed for what seems like such a long time yet it has gone by so quickly. This breed will always have a place in my heart. I have seen so many wonderful examples of the breed and today, I can honestly say I judged some of the best examples I have ever seen or judged. The breed is in a good place, temperaments on the whole are good, coats are better, bites and movement have to be watched. I found a number of malamutes too compact which affects movement and the structure of the dog, these dogs lack power and drive. Please bear this in mind as it’s essential for a working dog to move efficiently.

Veteran dog. Nice class with some lovely examples of the breed.

1st Mrs Pensotti’s Multi Ch Black Star del Biagio. Very striking male with good overall proportions, heavily boned, nice dark eye, lovely small shape/set ears. Excellent front and rear angulation, correct topline with a beautiful tail set. Compact large feet. In excellent condition for a veteran, moved very powerfully and was well presented.

2nd Miss Sharr Wolfe’s Sutarka Fire Storm. A very nice boy with a masculine head and a soft expression. Dark oblique eye, moderately sloping shoulders, strong deep chest with a gently sloping topline, harsh coat and good bone. A lovely representative of the breed.

3rd Mrs G & Miss R Woodhead’s Noraisy Take My Breath Away. Beautiful sable boy. Masculine head without being overdone, small ears in proportion to head, strong moderately arched neck. Correct front and rear, well-muscled, tight compact feet, correct tail carriage on the move, well presented.

Minor puppy dog. Litter brothers who are all very nice examples in their own right, at different stages of their growth and it will be nice to see how they mature and come together.

1st Miss L & Mr S Aitchison & Hurst’s Kaskae Eiffel For You. Nice dark eye, broad muzzle with a correct scissor bite, ears will grow into his head, which is broad without any coarseness, correct front and rear angulation, good bone and compact feet, harsh coat; a little bum high which is natural at this age. Well presented.

2nd Miss M Anderson’s Kaskae Seine Sational at Blueaneq. Very typey litter brother who demonstrates very similar qualities. Dark eye, scissor bite, soft expression yet masculine, good bone and feet, good overall angulation, slightly more together than 1 at this age. Placings may change as all three are very promising pups.

Mrs V L & Mr N A Partridge-Bebb’s Kaskae Show Me The Money avec Keighanya. Another lovely boy who is at the stage where he paces due to his growth- this presented a challenge for his young but hardworking handler. Very similar in all qualities to 1&2, dark eye, good bone and feet, broad in chest, well arched neck with a gently sloping topline. Movement was hard to assess; however, a nice boy and I would urge his handler to continue his hard work- it will pay off.

Puppy Dog. 2 nice pups although very different in type.

1st Miss G Keeling’s Kishdriga Criminal Inferno. Red boy who is very together for his age. Masculine head, correct ear shape and placement, well arched neck, good front and rear angulation, gently sloping topline with a correct tailset, clean coming and going, well presented. BPD.

2ND Mr A & Mrs L & Mrs Burgess & Burgess & Page. Nice young male with excellent overall head/eye/ear proportions, masculine without any coarseness. Gently sloping topline, good bone and correct harsh coat. Clean coming and going, however he is quite compact which reduces the ability to drive powerfully.

Junior Dog. A class with very different types and ages.

1st Miss S Wolf’s Souvenir of Sitka’s Unfinished Business at Dreamwolves. Lovey well-proportioned head, dark oblique eye& small well-set ears. heavily boned male with moderately sloping shoulders, deep chest, correct front and rear angulation, clean coming and going moved with ease. Well handled.

2nd Mr S Oppedisano’s Theardoresian Remember Me Baikal Jew 24 It/Slo Jch. Nice male with a broad skull, dark eye, well arched neck, and gently sloping topline. Harsh coat and good overall proportions, tight compact feet nice on the move and very close to 1 just preferred 1s length of body.

3rd Miss S & MR M Burnside’s Libertia Mischief Mayhem N Magic RAF. Really liked this male very dark eye, good width of muzzle, good width and depth of chest, well arched neck and gently sloping topline; good front and rear angulation and good bone. Clean coming and going. Just preferred overall movement of 1&2.

Yearling Dog

1st Miss J M Wassenburg’s Snowroyals Grimsby. Very well put together male, Good width and depth of muzzle with a broad head, correct shape and placement of ears, good bone, gently sloping shoulders, powerful hindlegs, tight compact feet, tireless movement and well handled. A well-deserved 1st place.

2nd Mr A Lucchesi’s Ardoresiandarkwood Snow Silence It Jch. Quite a mature looking male, correct front with good bone, small well furred ears, dark eye, correct sloping topline clean coming and going would prefer a little more reach and drive. Well handled.

Post Graduate Dog

1st Miss K & Miss C Druce’s Kaskae Hell of A View at Druxie. Good head shape with a dark oblique eye, good width of chest, well arched neck leading to a gently sloping topline, good overall proportions, clean on the move and well presented.

2nd Mrs S & Mr K Hooley’s Black Stripe at Dokkalfar. Smaller male of adequate proportions, soft expression, correct topline, adequate in bone and substance, would benefit from more ring training.

Limit Dog, very nice class.

1st Mrs S Loads’s Snowolf Blackpowder Charge. Lovely black & white male oozing in type. Correct length to height ratio. Masculine in head without any coarseness, dark oblique eye, moderatley arched neck, good width/depth of chest, well boned, correct topline, good front and rear angulation, lovely to see a very efficient dog on the move, he was in my final consideration for BD.

2nd Mr B & S Innes, Icycool Hudson Bay (ai), lovely sable boy who is also a correct length to height ratio, broad head, masculine in head with small well shaped set ears, broad chest, good bone and compact feet, correct waiving plume tail, sound in movement, different in type although close to 1 in quality and could switch places on another day.

3rd Mrs A Alexander Okinastar The World is Yours, Large quality male, who surprised me in a good way on the move. Broad head, good width and depth of muzzle, dark eyes, good bone, strong and powerfully built with good front and rear angulation, moved truly without any exaggeration.

Open Dog. What can I say about this class other than WOW!

1ST Miss G. Tamasauskaite’s Multi Ch Contract with the Devil Sielos Misteija Euw Int Jch. What a boy& what a presence. This boy just made me smile. He epitomises everything I fell in love with about malamutes. He’s a large boy, however, everything is in proportion. Broad powerful head yet so soft in expression, dark almond shaped eye, correct scissor bite, strong bone with large compact feet, moderately arched neck leading to a gently sloping topline, correct front and rear angulation, good depth of chest and length of loin. It’s unusual to see a dog of this size to move so powerfully yet so tireless and efficient. Extremely pleased to award him BD, BOB and to see him go onto achieve 3rd in the Working Group.

2nd Mrs E & Miss J Smith’s Ch Cash The Check Shamanrock at Snowshoes. Another beautiful young boy who would be welcomed into any kennel. Gorgeous head with dark almond shaped eyes, small well shaped/set ears. Correct front and rear with good bone and compact feet, strong moderately arched neck and a gently sloping topline, broad powerfully muscled thighs correct harsh coat. Would prefer a better tail set. Moved so true and powerfully. So close on the day will watch this boys’ future successes with anticipation. Res Dog CC.

3rd Mr G Biagiotti’s Vincent del Biagio. Another very nice male similar to 2, handsome head with excellent proportions around a lovely oblique dark eye, correct front and rear, correct harsh coat, good bone with lovely compact feet, another beautiful mover who covered the ground with ease, well-handled and presented.

Good Citizen dog scheme dog

1st Miss A Darlow’s Iceclimb Ascent. Nice boy well put together with all the attributes of a malamute, good substance and bone, correct angulation, gently sloping topline correct tailset, the best mover in the class.

2nd Mrs S & Miss L Perfitt Samjoe Shadowhunter JW. Male with a nice head and a soft expression, correct topline, adequate bone and substance, a little too compact which affects movement. Well presented.

3rd Mrs V L & Mr N A Partridge-Bebb’s Kaskae Show Me The Money avec Keighanya.

See puppy class critique.

Veteran bitch.

1st Miss R J Brown Ch Skidooshooz Bohemian Soul of Cupun(ai)

Feminine and well put together, not in her full coat, however, her quality still shone through. Well proportioned head, gently sloping topline, good front and rear angulation, Correct tail set, clean coming and going with an efficient side gait.

2nd Mr Wadrup’s Just Got To Love Me Polarni Usvit. Another quality girl with a gorgeous head and expression. Good width and depth of chest, correct angulation and length of loin, good bone and tight compact feet. Excellent on the move and well presented.

3rd Miss C John’s Cristakell April Showers at Chardicea VW, very pretty female with dark oblique eye and small well shaped ears, good substance, bone and tight compact feet. Correct harsh coat clean coming and going, covered the ground well.

Minor Puppy Bitch

1st Miss C & Miss L Druce & Druce & Atchinson’s Kaskae Ooh LaLa avec Druxie. Beautiful female whit dark oblique eye, scissor bite, well arched neck and correct topline, good spring of rib and front and rear angulation. Strong bone, powered around the ring and won the BP due to her movement. I would prefer a better tail set. However, this did not detract from her overall quality BPIB.

Puppy Bitch

1st Mrs D & Mrs S Jarvis & Troisi’s Cedarcreek Uptown Girl. Very pretty feminine girl with a lovely expression, beautiful shape set ears, dark eyes, good bone and spring of rib. Beautiful tail set, correct harsh coat, moderately bent stifles, tight compact feet, would prefer more reach on the move.

Junior bitch. Very nice class.

1st Miss G Keeling’s Kishigra For The love of A criminal Irjrch. Lovely feminine head with a beautiful dark eye, scissor bite, moderately arched neck and a sloping topline, correct length of loin, good bone and tight compact feet. Lovely mover and well handled.

2nd Mrs Sc Verduin’s Snowroyals Bexley Jch. Another very typey female. Dark eye, well set/shaped ear. Good front and rear angulation. Good depth and width of chest. Correct harsh coat with a lovely tail set and carriage. Good bone ; excellent mover.

3rd Mr Rr Ruschena’s Vvakanda De Laouen Ki. Broad powerful head yet still has that feminine expresion. Scissor bite, moderately sloping shoulders, strong and deep chest, correct harsh coat with tight compact feet, waiving plume tail. Easy on the move.

Yearling Bitch

1st Mrs A & Mr E & Mrs H & Miss S Riikonen & Merisalo-Puonti & Jarvelainen’s llamna Goshen Kisses with Umppalumpan Int/Nord/Fin Jch Jww-24. What a lovely quality female who was in my thoughts for the CC. Beautiful head, moderately arched neck and gently sloping topline, strong front, good angulation and beautiful waiving plume. Good bone, Tight compact feet, clean coming and going covered the ground with ease. Beautifully handled.

2nd Mrs A Darlow’s Juneau’s Bright Future for Iceclimb (Imp Dnk). Dark oblique eye, correct depth and width of muzzle, broad head. Good spring of rib and angulation, strong bone, tight compact feet, clean coming and going, efficient on the move.

3rd Mrs Sc Verduin’s Snowroyals Bexley Jch. See previous class.

Post Graduate Bitch

1st Mr A & Mrs L Burgess’s Tolketena Top of the World to Mountainglen. Large grey and white female, dark eye feminine expression, good width and depth of chest, gently sloping topline, good bone and feet, clean coming and going would prefer more drive.

2nd Ms L Holt’s Breconfrost she’s Mystical (ai), broad head, dark eye, correct ear shape/placement. Moderately arched neck, good spring of rib, good bone, clean coming and going, a little overweight.

3rd Mrs A Wilson’s Kurjak As Nana at Arctictundra (Imp Srb). Did not wait for critique.

Limit Bitch -excellent class!

1st Miss R J Brown Rumba Vasilyev Ostrov for Cupun (Imp Ukr). Lovely feminie bitch, dark oblique eye, small well shaped ears, scissor bite. Heavily boned, well arched neck, gently sloping topline, good angulation, compact feet, lovely on the move. Very well presented.

2nd Mr D Tabarrini’s Cosmic-Zen- station. Another quality female good depth and length of muzzle, dark eye, moderately arched neck and sloping topline. Strong bone, good front and rear, tight compact feet pushed one hard on the move, harsh coat, well handled.

3rd Miss A & Mr R Bogle & Horsefield Cahappes Tailwind Takala at Valknut(Imp Swe). Beautiful head, broad yet feminine, dark almond shaped eye, lovely small ears, strong in front and rear, waiving plume tailset, good bone moved well.

Open Bitch, a class where I was not disappointed with the quality.

Ms J & Mr D Russell & O’callaghan’s Ir Ch Soul of Alaska Bring Action for Redrebels. What a beautiful and powerful looking female, she could clearly do the job she was bred for. Soft expression, dark eye, small well-set/shaped ears, moderately sloping shoulders, heavily boned, strong deep chest, powerful rear quarters, good spring of rib, no excess weight, excelled on the move where she looks so efficient and powerful, in excellent condition, beautifully groomed and handled. A wonderful example of the breed. Res BOB, BOS, and Bitch CC.

2nd Mr B & Mrs S Innes Icycool Ottawa(ai)- another superb example of the breed, striking sable bitch with a broad head yet feminine, well arched neck, heavily boned, gently sloping topline, correct length of loin, perfect tailset and carriage, good front and rear angulation, tight compact feet. Beautiful bitch who moved with a powerful drive, very well presented. Res Bitch CC.

3rd Ms M Sage’s Am Gchg Vykon’s Saucin’ I Do This Often-A’mahya. Beautiful feminine bitch, broad head with a dark almond shaped eye, moderately sloping shoulders, moderately arched neck, gently sloping in topline, good angulation, well boned moved true and effortlessly. Perfectly handled and presented. Could change places with 1&2 on another day.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch

1st Mrs A Darlow’s Juneau’s Bright Future for Iceclimb (Imp Dnk). See class critique.

Kind regards John Phillips