Crufts

CRUFTS – SOFT COATED WHEATEN TERRIERS

I want to take this opportunity to thank Crufts Committee for the invitation to judge at this prestigious show & also thank my stewards Shirley Hockenhull & Penny Forest, you did a sterling job ladies, which was very much appreciated. It was a great honour to judge a breed I have owned & bred for the past 31 years. To provide an insight into my overall opinion of the breed I would say bitches are of a much higher quality than males. Front assemblies were improved from the last time I judged. Quality soft coats & colour were in abundance. Presentation was more uniformed with no over-stylisation on show today. Movement in general was good but there is always room for improvement, breeders please be mindful a wheaten should have both reach and drive whilst moving. Finally, I was pleased to note the temperament of all exbibits was excellent. VD (4) 1. Mapson’s CH/AM CH Abiqua Wild Jack of Hearts ShCM (re-Imp) I have judged this dog before & awarded him top honours; and he still impresses having lost none of his appeal. Now 12yrs he belies his age, he has lovely balance throughout, good depth to chest, straight front. Lovely coat for colour & texture, moving out with reach & drive. Pleased to award him BVIB 2. Van Gompel-Hoeks’ NL/BE/LUX/DE/INT Ch Extra's Oxygen JW. 9yrs & has a very masculine head with correct scissor bite. Excellent neck & well-placed shoulders. Well sprung ribs & good outline. Coat of correct texture, another moving out with reach & drive. 3. Isene’s INT/NORD/PL/CH Wheatenhamran's Father to Son. PD (5:1a) 1. Jutting’s Janeyjimjams Jinja Zinga. 9m old dog clearly enjoying the atmosphere of Crufts which can be so overwhelming for many of the youngsters. Good head properties, dark eye & using his ears to advantage. Lovely neck & correct shoulder placement, chest down to elbow. Has great overall balance standing with straight front. Coat has correct colour and is maturing nicely. Positive on the move coming & going. I am sure he will have a bright future. Pleased to award him BPIB 2. Cleverly’s Janeyjimjams Jinja Beer. Littermate to class winner & another with good head properties, nice reach of neck leading into decent shoulders. Deeper in chest than 1. Level topline & correct tail carriage, enough rear angulation. Moved out well. I am sure these two dogs will change places at future shows, close decision. 3. Gale’s Calvenace Shake Your Groove PGD (4) 1. Lines - Barrett & Barrett’s Abiqua Wild in My Blue Jeans. Masculine head with parallel planes & flat skull. Dark eye, neat ears. Would like a little more neck, good layback of shoulders, deep chest. Enough rear angulation, well-muscled hind quarters. Moved out well with handler getting the best from him 2. Amel-Azizpour Crofftysofty Hay Jude. Lot’s to like about this young dog. Strong head, good scissor bite & dark hazel eye. Could use his ears a little more to enhance expression. Deeper in chest than 1, decent topline & tail set. Coat of correct colour, wave coming. Just lost his sparkle on the move today. 3. Brooks’ Loofahsa King of The Pippins (ai) LD (7) Very close decision between first two, differing in type but both having many positive attributes 1. Cremerius’ Rouxboos Space Cadet Glow. Quality dog throughout, well balanced. Flat skull, dark eye & neat ears which he used well to enhance his expression. Enough neck into excellent shoulders. Deep chest with lovely straight front, well sprung ribs & strong bone. Level topline with tail on top. Coat of correct colour & wave, moved out with purpose. 2. Walsh & Hanna’s Teaghlach Angel Kinaelan (Imp Esp) Irish type, great for size & balance. Excellent head properties, exudes correct terrier expression. Good reach of neck flowing into well placed shoulders. Well sprung ribs. Coat has good clear colour & correct loose wave. Moved out with reach & drive. 3. Gent’s Calvenace House of Fun OD (7) 1. Wesley’s CAN/GCHB Honeywheat's Circle of Life. A dog from the top drawer, very impressive & did not disappoint on assessment. Good Type & balance, correct size. Head is masculine, strong but not course, correct properties, & dentition. Lovely reach of neck into well-laid-back shoulders. Excellent front assembly, well sprung ribs & excellent bone all through. Excellent topline with tail set bang on top. Coat is soft & has a strong wheaten colour, with wave. Well angulated rear, moved out with reach & drive. Pleased to award him DCC. 2. Moeller-Sieber’s Wheaten Rebels Why Not Vom Diekhof. Another strong male who has great breed type & overall balance. Strong in muzzle with correct dentition. Correct dark eye, used his ears to advantage having great ear set & carriage. Good length of neck into well-laid-back shoulders. Chest down to elbows, well sprung ribs & short coupled. Moved out well displaying reach & drive. Pleased to award him RCC 3. Charleton’s CH House of Softy Indus (Imp Swe) ShCEx GCDSD (3) 1. Grimes-Watson’s Janeyjimjams Jem Devlin. Correct flat skull, dark hazel eye & correct ear set. Enough neck leading into well-laid-back shoulders, deep chest & strong bone. Moderate rear angulation. Coat of deep wheaten colour with a loose wave. Moved out straight forward & back. 2. Mcintyre’s Thistlebe Master of The Malt. Nice for size. Masculine head with correct dark eye & good dentition. Enough neck, good depth of chest. Adequate bend of stifle, well-muscled rear quarters. Moved out steadily but would like to see a little more animation. Mature coat, deep wheaten colour with correct texture & wave. 3. Amel-Azizpour’s Crofftysofty Hay Jude VB (4) 1. Hughlock’s CH Janeyjimjams Jolene at Keevasdream VW. An exhibit of high quality throughout, lovely feminine expression, dark eye & using her well set ears to advantage. Great reach of neck into well-laid-back shoulders. Strong level topline held on the move. Coat of correct colour with desired wave. Good rear angulation, moved out with reach & drive. 2. Howell’s Abiqua Wild Piannisima. Feminine head with strong muzzle, correct dentition & dark eye. Enough neck into good shoulder placement. Good depth of chest & spring of rib. Coat has correct soft texture. Well-muscled rear with plenty of angulation. Moved out with purpose showing reach & drive. 3. Gleeson’s Glendowan Golden Brandy. PB (4) 1. Witheyman’s Fantasa Blonde Xtasey. Lovely puppy who shows great promise. Correct scissor bite, dark eye, flat skull, great ear carriage. Good reach of neck into well-laid-back shoulders, strong topline with good tail set. Excellent rear angulation, moved out straight displaying desired reach & drive from behind. One to watch as she progresses. 2. Fallon’s Crofftysofty Bee Yonce. Very close to 1 in many aspects with good overall balance, another with a good length of neck leading into well placed shoulders. For her age she excels in coat quality, although still maturing her coat is soft & has a clear wheaten colour. Good rear angulation & moved out with reach & drive. I am confident both puppies will have a great show career and change places many times. 3. Cooper’s Janeyjimjams Jinja Rogers. JB (4:1a) 1. Thoburn’s Northridge Wolf Bluff. A bitch displaying many positive attributes. Feminine head, correct dentition, dark eye, terrier expression. Plenty of neck into well-laid-back shoulders. Chest down to elbow, level topline & tail on top. Excellent rear angulation, moved out with positivity. Finished off with a coat of good colour & loose waves. Just out of puppy but pushed hard for the RCC today. 2. Davies’ Brynhir Betty Boop. A finer bitch throughout. Displays correct overall balance, good reach of neck into well placed shoulders, a little longer in coupling than 1. Her coat texture is soft with correct wave starting to form which is in keeping with her age. Moderate rear angulation, steady mover, I would have liked to have seen more animation as she moves out. 3. Gal’s Murphy's Muffins Zsazsa Mcduff. PGB (4) 1. Grimes-Watson’s Keevasdream Purple Bliss for Spudler. I have admired this bitch from ringside & she did not disappoint on assessment. Lovely expression, correct scissor bite & dark eye. Excellent reach of neck into good lay-back of shoulder. Strength in topline, correct tail set which is well carried. Excellent rear angulation, moved out well with correct foot fall. Coat is soft with desired loose wave, another who was considered for the RCC. 2. Mapson’s Abiqua Wild Burlesque. Lovely head properties, parallel planes & good stop. Correct scissor bite & dark hazel eye colour. Enough neck into good shoulders, straight front & good depth of chest. Level topline, well ribbed & short coupled. Moderate rear angulation, well-muscled & moved out well. 3. Taylor’s Raisingsands Girl in Amber (ai) LB (9) A close decision between the first three exhibits, each having many virtues. 1. Grant’s Dannebriel Me and My Girl (ai) JW. Stood out in the line-up for overall balance & size. Lovely expression with correct head proportions. Correct scissor bite & dark eye. Moderate reach of neck into excellent well-laid-back shoulders. Level topline which she held on the move. Great tail set & correct carriage. Good bend of stifle & well-muscled rear. Coat soft with wave. Moving out extremely well to take the class, however in the challenge her movement was not as positive. 2. Hughlock’s Keevasdream Ballerina Blue JW. Another who is nicely balanced. Slightly finer in head than 1, correct dentition & dark eye. Good reach of neck into well-laid-back shoulders. Well sprung ribs, a little longer cast than 1. Excellent coat for texture, colour & wave. Plenty of rear angulation & scored in movement, displaying good reach & drive. 3. Munn’s Snowmeadow Treacle Toffee OB (6) Two very feminine quality bitches headed this class & in my opinion they could easily change places on another day, however today first placed took the class on movement, she simply excelled & was not going to allow herself to be beaten. 1. Bradford & Hobson’s Bonney Abiqua Wild Desert Whispers (Imp Usa) Loved her overall balance & she has excellent quality throughout. Lovely feminine head, with great properties & a wicked dark eye. Good reach of neck into excellent shoulder placement & correct depth of chest. Super topline & tailset. Excellent rear angulation, when asked to move her consistent positive movement won her the CC in tough competition. In the challenge for BOB she turned on the style & clearly out moved the opposition. Pleased to award her the CC & BOB, congratulations as I understand this was her crowning CC. 2. Barrett’s Saffini The Sweetest Taboo. Close up to 1, exquisite head with correct properties & lovely terrier expression. Dark eye & correctly set neat ears used to advantage. Good length of neck flowing into correct shoulder placement. Chest down to elbow & well ribbed, short coupled. Strong level topline & good tailset. Very good rear angulation, moving out with reach & drive. Lovely soft coat of good colour but I would like to see a little more wave to complete the picture. 3. Satherley’s CH Silkcroft Never Miss A Beat GCDSB (3) Charleton’s House of Softy Indi Janeyjimjams (Imp Swe) Lovely for size, shape & overall balance. Good terrier expression, very good length of neck into correct shoulder placement. Level topline with tail well set on with correct carriage. Coat has correct texture, colour & loose curls. Moved out well with positive action. 2. Mason’s Emalot Livin On A Prayer. A size up on winner but is very well balanced. Good reach of neck into well-laid-back shoulders. Straight in front with good depth of chest, a little longer cast than 1. Good bend of stifle, moved out well. 3. Walsh’s Crofftysofty Hay Siri

GRAHAM DOWDY