Crufts

Flat coated Retriever bitches, Crufts 2025

With a bitch entry of 170, I had to focus on getting through the entry with efficiency while still giving a thorough examination of each dog. I kept the advice of the great Annie Clarke in mind, select on type and place on movement. That being said, what a mixed bag this entry was for just about any trait imaginable. Type, quality and not so, big and small, short and long, overdone and underdone, and above all any variety of outline and movement, particularly coming and going.

I was more than happy with the main winners and delighted that the male judge and I were able to agree on all our joint decisions without much ado. I was told that this year was the first ever with two livers winning BOB and BOS, but do not know if this is true.

Veteran Bitch (21,4)

1. No/se/fin/nord Ch Almanza Why Mess with Success

A truly beautiful black bitch, very easy to rest your eyes on and an excellent start to my day. All quality and with a very beautiful outline. I would not want her any bigger, but she is definitely feminine. Stunning head and expression with parallel planes and all in one piece. Lovely neck into shoulder. Perfect topline, balanced angulation both ends without exaggeration. Correct rather sort tail. She is not overdone in presentation. A very sound mover coming and going, at all times keeping her beautiful silhouette on the move around. I liked her a lot and selected her among the top four in the challenge. Best Veteran

2. Blacklake Isabella

Another very sound and well constructed bitch, and her construction and soundness was reflected on the move. Another with a one piece head, feminine and attractive. Very good length of neck, strong and elegant and well set. Firm topline, a little longer coupled than the winner. In a beautiful coat and excellent condition. She was the second best mover in the lass, striding out with freedom and very sound coming and going. Again, I would not want her any bigger, but she is decidedly feminine.

3. Sh Ch Moontorn Goddess of Love

Minor Puppy Bitch (3)

1. Telurn Girls Like Us

At eight months old, this is a tall bitch and at this time somewhat gangly. Beautiful one piece head with excellent expression. Long neck, a bit sharply set. Pleasing return of upper arm. Firm topline, very good tailset. Moderately angulated behind. She is a sound mover for such a young bitch, but tends to carry her head too high on the move. In very good coat of excellent structure. Perfect, happy and outgoing temperament.

2. Badcall Midwinter Dream at Inchstellie

A young bitch with a different balance, I preferred her size to the winner. But not the head quality of the winner. Strong neck, well set. Very well developed in her body for her age. Balanced angulation both ends. In a beautiful shiny coat. Moved soundly enough, but needs to strengthen a little in her topline with maturity.

3. Badcall Midsummer Dream

Puppy Bitch (12,1)

1. Everblack Euphoria

A lovely bitch puppy, correct in size and proportions. Feminine, well filled out one piece head/ There is nothing exaggerated about her in neck and angulation, all in moderation. Excellent body, firm topline, well set tail. Strong hindquarters. A sound and functional mover from all angles. I liked her a lot and she won the class with a bit to spare. Best Bitch Puppy. She looked well matched with the male puppy in the challenge for best puppy, but I felt he still had the edge, so she had to be content with Best Opposite Sex puppy.

2. Beautyfield's Questa E Amore Per Telurn

Even if taller than the winner, this bitch is attractive in many ways, and feminine. She is a charmer with her excellent lively temperament. She has an attractive one piece head. Not the neckset of the winner. Firm topline, quite pleasing tailset. She has excellent bone and very good feet. Jet black shiny coat. Powerful in movement from the side and quite pleasing coming and going.

3. Jetstarski Run Like Hell

Junior Bitch (12,1)

1. Lizzlog Naughty Nun at Night

Not a small bitch, but with excellent outline and proportions and thus instantly attractive. One piece head on the stronger side, but still feminine enough. Strong neck, well set. Moderate, balanced angulation both ends. Excellent topline and tailset. Strong bone, excellent feet. A very strong, purposeful mover and sound coming and going. Lovely coat. Well handled.

2. Hopevalley Morning Xanadu JW

Another very attractive bitch. I preferred her size to the winner and she pushed all the way. Lovely head and expression. Good rise of neck. Pleasing topline, still not like the winner. Very good tailset. A sound and well balanced mover from all angles. Excellent feet. Lovely coat and colour.

3. Everblack Euphoria

Yearling Bitch (17,1)

1. Touch The Sky Oasis of Peace Jch

A beautiful black bitch and a clear standout in this class, just my cup of tea. She has ideal size, proportions and shape. Beautiful quality, one piece head with lovely expression. Long and strong neck, well set. Beautiful topline and perfect tailset. Excellent bone all the way down and otally balanced angulation both ends. She is lovely mover from all angles and wonderfully sound coming and going which on the day was rare among the typey bitches. I just loved her and thought she won with something in hand. I kept her in my mind for the rest of the classes and mentally measured all the class winners up against her, believing she would be hard to beat. And indeed she turned out to be even if looking somewhat youngish in the final lineup. ResCC

2. Lizzlog Tittle Tattle

A bitch that truly came into herself in side movement. Another with a beautiful head and expression. Long neck, balanced angulation both ends. Firm topline and excellent tailset. She is longer cast than the winner. In a rich black coat. A possible competitor in movement from the side, but not yet coming and going.

3. Gillian's Choice You Are Lovely

Undergraduate Bitch (25,2)

1. Rydanah Devils in The Detail

A no nonsense, well constructed and good moving bitch of excellent type and quality. She has typical feminine quality one piece head with parallel planes. Strong neck, well set, excellent return of upper arm. Firm topline, well coupled. I would prefer a slightly higher tailset. Moved soundly and efficiently from all angles.

2. Skybrook If by Chance

A racier bitch, taller, but still within the size for a bitch. Quite pleasing head, lovely expression. Good rise of neck. Moderate, balanced angulation both ends. She has a little more tuck up than what I prefer and her tailset is just acceptable. Moved soundly and efficiently from all angles, carrying herself well.

3. Bramatha Glenlochy

Graduate Bitch (13,1)

1. Shashkrox Raise Your Glass Sgwc

A well balanced bitch who scored in normality as in moderate. She has a fine, feminine head. Average neck. Could be little firmer in topline when standing , but this improved on the move. Nicely balanced angulation both ends. Correct as for depth and capaciousness of body. In a very good coat. She balanced out very well on the move and then made a positive impression.

2. Blacktoft Avelino at Finnashember

An athletic bitch, she has enough length of leg and is very feminine in body. Her head however is on the stronger side of what I prefer. Excellent topline and tailset. Excellent coat. She is overly enthusiastic on the move which makes her lift the front legs too much, but has plenty of power and energy which made a positive difference.

3. Vynesbrook Ultimate Choice

Post Graduate Bitch (10,1)

1. Thurwhitt Tamara

A strong bitch, but very smart in her outline and a lovely side mover. Strong bitch head, still feminine enough. Strong neck, well set, Excellent forechest and return of upper arm. Firm topline, excellent tailset. Well angulated both ends. Excellent coat and colour. She stood out for her side movement and outline on the move, if not great going away.

2. Finhamspride Kia at Inchstellie

Another bitch who is very attractive for type. I liked her shape and outline a lot when standing. Very attractive, classical one piece head. Could do with some more angulation in front and layback of upper arm. Excellent topline, well set tail. Lovely coat and colour. She lost some of her carriage on the move and although moving well from the side, she tended to side tack coming and going.

3. Manteauplat Margaux

Mid Limit Bitch (21,2)

1. Lizzlog Mary Poppins

Even if she is a quite big, this bitch scored heavily in breed type as did several others from this kennel. Still feminine in her lovely one piece head and with an excellent eye shape and expression. Very athletic, particularly in movement form the side. Long and well set neck. Balanced angulation both ends and an attractive outline. Lovely coat condition. She moved very well indeed from the side, giving her all, as well as more than reasonable coming and going as well. Should be made up a champion.

2. Hannemor`s Eye Candy

An attractive bitch, another who scored heavily in breed type. She is feminine and well proportioned. Typical, feminine head. Very pleasing rise of neck, well set into shoulders. Moderate, balanced angulation both ends. Could put more effort into her movement, but moved with balance, as well as cleanly and soundly enough both ways. Lovely coat and colour.

3. Candidacasa True Feeling over Bunnystocks

Limit Bitch (18,5)

1. Tallistar Crazy in Love

An all over moderate bitch who has a very pleasing balance and proportions and with excellent quality and type. Well shaped feminine head with parallel planes. Good neck with balanced length and strength and excellent front. Tight feet. Strong topline. Tail could be slightly higher set. Excellent couplings, compact. Well angulated behind. A no nonsense mover, sound coming and going, I would not mind a little more pride and carriage from the side.

2. Jetstarski If I Can Dream at Tikkidui Sgwc Kcwgc

Quite a strong bitch, still feminine. A bit rounded in skull, but still definitely has a one piece head. Balanced, moderate angulation both ends. Strong and level topline, pleasing tailset. Lovely coat and colour. Quite a sound mover from all angles, if not great. Very well handled to show off her qualities.

3. Hototo's Polly Toodle

Open Bitch (21,4)

1. Int/se/no/dk Ch Almanza Dancin' On The Tables

Stunningly lovely liver bitch, beautifully balanced and proportioned, so very well constructed, teeming with quality and type, yet not at all exaggerated. She has a feminine head, well balanced and all in one piece, if just long enough. Dark eye for her colour and very expressive. Neck balancing length and strength, very well set into shoulders. Just the right amount of forechest. Strong, firm topline, very well coupled with a short loin. Well set tail, not too long. Balanced angulation both ends, again with no exaggerations. Lovely coat quality and deep liver colour. At all times keeping her balance in side movement, very much in sync with her handler, and the soundest of movers from all angles, including coming and going, making her a rare bird on the day. CC & BOB

2. Sl Ch Almanza Livin' La Vida Loca

This younger bitch who instantly caught my eye with her particularly wonderful outline, she truly impresses with her outstanding type and quality. I would not want her any bigger than this, but she is still feminine. Scored with her beautiful one piece head with excellent length and lovely sculpturing. Long and strong neck, very well set. Perfect topline and tailset. Generously angulated both ends, I would not want any more angulation behind. She moved very well from the side, but could perfect her movement coming and going, maybe she will with maturity. Truly a work of art, but not as sound as the winner.

3. Sh Ch Flatcharm Bianca del Rio

Special Working Gundog Bitch (16,3)

1. Pol/lt/no/se/dk Ch Miss Mallorys Once and for All

Feminine bitch of lovely type and quality and the proper size that I prefer. She is very well constructed, feminine and elegant. Typical head with very good length, a slight stop, well filled out and one piece. Crested neck well set into shoulder, just the right amount of forechest. Firm topline, well set tail. Lovely coat and colour. She moved efficiently, cleanly and soundly from all angles, retaining her shape, even if a little proud of her tail. Selected among the top four and considered for a top award.

2. Dix Huit Carats Star-Of-The-Eighties

Very eye-catching bitch with a lovely silhouette and with plenty of quality about her. She is somewhat stronger than what I prefer. Head of excellent length and shape and with a correct slight stop. Long neck, strong and well set. Very well constructed front with excellent angulation and well filled between the front legs. Excellent topline and tailset. Well angulated behind. Another sound and functional mover, but again in movement gave an impression of being somewhat stronger than ideal.

3. Shashkrox Raise Your Glass Sgwc

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch (23,2)

1. Thurwhitt Tamara

2. Thurwhitt Dancing Queen

A no nonsense bitch, well balanced and well up op legs. She has a pleasing, feminine one piece head. Medium neck, well set. Balanced angulation both ends. Firm topline, well coupled, pleasing tailset. Not in optimal coat condition on the day. Moved quite soundly from all angles and placed in the limit class as well, but beaten by her kennel mate in this class.

3. Blacktoft Avelino at Finnashember

Espen Engh (Norway), judge