Crufts

Crufts 2025 Bloodhounds - Judge: Ms J Parker (Azuli).

Thank you to the Royal Kennel Club and Crufts committee for inviting me to judge and my hard-working stewards Joanne and Hazel.

The quality and high standard of the entry this year is a tribute to the hard work, dedication and foresight of breeders, aided by the breed clubs, to prove this breed truly is “fit for function”.

Most of all I would l would like to thank the exhibitors for trusting me with their top-quality hounds. Without you there would be no Crufts. I am honoured and privileged.

Best of Breed and Dog Challenge Certificate 2906 Farlap Keepsake (Miss S Clark)

Reserve Dog Challenge Certificate 2914 - Ch Marksbury Malfoy (Mrs T J & Mrs S Howie & Emrys-Jones)

Bitch Challenge Certificate 2907 - Ch Farlap Qui Martha (ai) (Miss S & Mrs L Clark & Hayden)

Reserve Bitch Challenge Certificate 2919 - Marksbury Regina at Millvery (Mr K & Mrs P & Mr C & Mrs T & Mrs S Miller & Miller & Avery & Howie & Emrys-Jones)

Class 526. Junior Dog Entries: 4 Absentees: 0 Strong competition between these youngsters all excellent in their own way.

1st 2901 Farlap Kashmir (Mrs J Adshead) substantial young hound at 18 months maturing nicely. Good head and reach of neck leading into well laid shoulder. Well bodied with matching hind angulation and let down of hock. Long easy profile gait, still to mature on out and back movement.

2nd 2909 - Castledee Last Christmas at Harvidene (Mr L Cudlip) Compact well balance young hound. Great matching fore and hind angulation. Very sound on the move. Pushed hard for 1st place.

3rd 2929 - Farlap Kaleb (Mrs S & Mr S Westron)

Reserve 2924 - Houndseeker Falcon (ai) (Mr J & Mrs A Prior)

Class 527. Post Graduate Dog Entries: 4 Absentees: 1

1st 2906 - Farlap Keepsake (Miss S Clark) Great example of correct construction, movement and temperament in any hound breed. Classic head combined with the best of eyes whilst retaining breed type. Correctly set leathers with the desired length and curl. Balanced, correct fore and hind angulation, well boned down to the best of feet. Sound and true on the move with long, active gait putting that beautiful construction to full use to a beautiful rhythmic cadence. Fit for purpose. To top it all a classic, strong, scimitar stern carried on the move. Proud to award DCC and BOB.

2nd 2902 - Marksbury Rockerfella at Karames (Mr James Bates) Substantial hound with nice head, good shoulder and return of upper arm. Well bodied with great depth of brisket. Good bone down to nice feet. Good profile movement.

3rd 2916 - Graceminster Rumble (ai) (Mrs J Hudson) Lots to like but still a lot more to come from this hound. Great front and shoulder balance to rear angles. Profile movement long and relaxed.

Class 528. Limit Dog Entries: 3 Absentees: 1

1st 2923 - Houndseeker Dauntless JW (Mr J & Mrs A Prior) Substantial red hound with good bone, well balanced in fore and hind angulation with good lay of shoulder and well let down hock. Strong level topline. Moved with drive.

2nd 2910 - Badgershill Played All The Fools (IKC) (Mrs D Dixon) Beautiful hound with the best of eye whilst maintaining all the standard requirements in a head for the breed. Well-constructed, clean lines with correct angulation and good feet. Sadly, didn’t settle on the move.

Class 529. Open Dog Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1st 2914 - Ch Marksbury Malfoy (Mrs T J & Mrs S Howie & Emrys-Jones) superb, mature hound with a balanced frame from the Marksbury kennel. Quality head with lovely planes and furnishings. Great clear eye. Long, fine, correctly curled leathers. Correct angulation to body length giving sound and accurate, free movement, with long elastic stride. Handled to perfection RDCC.

2nd 2921 - Ch Maplemead Malazar of Quikotic (Miss L S Priestley) Mature hound, peak fitness and top musculature. Classic head, deep muzzle, correct furnishings without being overdone. Symmetrical, well balance outline with great reach of neck into correct shoulder and return of upper arm. Strong bone down to nicely sprung pasterns and tight, well knuckled feet, so important to any working hound. Correctly sprung ribs back into strong loin. Sadly, didn’t settle into his stride.,

Class 530. Special Working Trial Dog Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1st 2922 - Marksbury Railway of Quikotic (Miss L S Priestley) Fit, active hound full of type. Lovely musculature supported on great bone. Balanced, correct angulation with well let down hock. Movement active with plenty of drive. Well handled.

2nd - Ch Moorlander Guy Laroche (Miss H Pennington). Clean limbed hound well balanced angulation to body length. Best of eyes. Moved really well, sound and true with a long effortless stride.

Class 534. Junior Bitch Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1st 2913 - Farlap Krumble (Mrs L & Miss S Hayden & Clark) stood alone but worthy winner. 14-month litter sister to my BOB. Has the balance of conformation I look for in any hound. Matching fore and hind angulation correct ratio to the body length producing such impressive movement for age. Sufficient furnishing with beautiful clean eye. Lots of maturing to come but one to watch.

Class 535. Post Graduate Bitch Entries: 3 Absentees: 1

1st 2904 - Houndseeker Dragonfly (Miss E & Mr R Burnside & Manley) Took a while to settle, great, balanced outline with matching fore and rear angulation. Nice clear eye. sufficient furnishings to type. Settled into an active long stride as she went.

2nd 2927 - Graceminster Ryhme (ai) (Mrs A Taylor) Rangier, clean-limbed hound, with balanced, flowing lines. Great head planes. Good lay of shoulder and great front. Moved well with precise footfall.

Class 536. Limit Bitch Entries: 3 Absentees: 2

1st 2908 - Wychway-Crown’s Ghillie Gin’s Island at Culsalmond (Imp Usa) (Mr I & Mrs D Cruickshank). Compact, workman like hound. Deep keel, best of toplines and well let down hock giving a great, active gait with plenty of drive. Shown in fit condition and well handled.

Class 537. Open Bitch Entries: 5 Absentees: 1.

1st 2907 - Ch Farlap Qui Martha (ai) (Miss S & Mrs L Clark & Hayden) Beautiful bitch standing. Full of type with no unnecessary exaggeration. Require head planes, clean eye and lovely furnishings. Low set leathers of correct length and substance allowing the required curl. The very best of level, strong toplines to support classic body height to length ratios and a balanced fore and rear angulation. This all came together when she moved giving effortless impulsion, never losing her topline. Moved true coming and going with long foot perfect, ground covering stride in profile. Expertly handled. BCC and on any other day would have been my BOB.

2nd 2919 - Marksbury Regina at Millvery (Mr K & Mrs P & Mr C & Mrs T & Mrs S Miller & Miller & Avery & Howie & Emrys-Jones). Well bodied balance bitch with a lovely head. Good front and deep brisket giving plenty of heart and lung room necessary for a days work. Moved with an effortless stride on good feet. RBCC

3rd 2915 - Ch Graceminster Ruby Slippers (ai) (Mrs J Hudson). Beautiful constructed, elegant bitch, clean eye and a long easy stride once settled.

Reserve 2903 - Houndseeker Bewitched (ai) (Miss E & Mr R Burnside & Manley)

Class 538. Special Working Trial BitchEntries: 3 Absentees: 0

1st 2912 - Ch Moorlander Cacharel (Miss J Harrington) Mature bitch with beautiful balance. Good head, lovely clear eye without losing the desired furnishings. Good flews, great low set leathers with good length and curl. Great reach of neck. The best bone down to strong, well sprung pasterns and tight well knuckled deep feet. Moved with sound, free gait. Pushed hard for top honours.

2nd 2911 - Immervahr Fryony (Mrs A Freer) Balanced construction. Not wanting to cooperate with her patient handler today but showed enough of her athletic stride and sound movement to earn her place.

3rd 2928 - Maplemead Miss Melba* (Mrs F L Watts)

Class 539. Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1st 2908 - Wychway-Crown’s Ghillie Gin’s Island at Culsalmond (Imp Usa) (Mr I & Mrs D Cruickshank) as above.

2nd 2911 - Immervahr Fryony (Mrs A Freer) as above,