Crufts

CRUFTS 9TH MARCH 2025

SAINT BERNARDS

JUDGE: Karen Fitzsimmons

It was such a great honour to be able to judge our fantastic breed at Crufts this year and I was thrilled with the quality of the entry and the very few absentees on the day. It was good to see such a packed ringside and the applause for each class was so good to hear, as was the great sportsmanship shown by the exhibitors. It is exciting to see some very promising youngsters, who must be heading for very bright futures. My top winners were full of quality and great examples of the breed. As a huge advocate for the health and welfare of the breed over many years, to have my Best of Breed failed at the vet check was incredibly disappointing and upsetting for all involved. In my opinion, the dog did not have any of eye conditions highlighted in the Category 3 breed watch list and I would not have awarded top honours to an unhealthy dog. I do not want this situation to overshadow the great day we all had and feel the breed is in good hands.

DOGS

VETERAN (2)

1. Bendl’s Int.Ch. Danger Od Strazcu Hor Ew19 Ww18 Jww17 Multi Jch

This upstanding 8 year old smooth really impressed and is a great credit to his owner. He has a broad skull of good proportions with good eyes and correct width and depth of muzzle. He is well off for bone throughout and has broad chest, strong back and is so very well balanced. He moved extremely well in all directions. I was delighted to award him Best Veteran in breed. Many congratulations.

2. Forrest & March’s Ch. Tombears Who Dares Wins over Philandros

This 7 year old has a very lovely head with the most delightful benevolent expression that is such a breed characteristic. He has super bone throughout. He was just carrying a tad too much weight, which affected his overall balance and was not as positive on the move as the winner.

PUPPY (2)

1. Meyrick & Thorpe’s Coldlea Shaken Not Stirred

What a very exciting puppy this young lad is and I am sure he is destined for a very bright future. Everything is as it should be at this age. He has a very handsome head with a broad skull, well defined stop and a delightful expression. He is well off for bone and substance and is so very well balanced for such a young puppy. When his owner relaxed and he settled on the move, he moved with good reach and drive. I shall follow his progress with interest and I was delighted to award him Best Puppy Dog and then Best Puppy in Breed. Many congratulations.

2. Venable-Smith’s Svanasjons Xtra Special (Imp Sweden)

Another promising puppy, who has a very pleasing head, well defined stop and good length of neck. Has good width to chest and well off for bone. At this stage, he is not as well balanced as the winner as has obviously had a growth spurt. Moved well in all directions.

JUNIOR (4, 1 abs)

1. Deegan & Grainger’s Chandlimore High Flyer

This young man is certainly already living up to his name and surely must have an incredibly bright future. Another top class dog from this wonderful kennel and a great credit to his breeder and owners. My notes say “simply stunning” and there is nothing I would change at this stage. He has the most delightful head with broad skull, well defined stop and strength and width of muzzle. He has the most wonderful benevolent expression and has great bone and substance. He moved so very well with such reach and drive and was handled to get the very best from him. I was delighted to award him the RDCC and shall follow his career with interest. Many congratulations

2. Forrest & Lucas’ Bernmont Sergeant at Philandros

Another very promising youngster, who exudes breed type. He has a super head with a broad skull and muzzle and a well defined stop. He is well off for bone throughout and is well balanced. Good width to chest and body and moved very well in all directions.

3. Salter’s Chandlimore Good Fortune for Olafsaints

This young dog was unlucky to come up against the first 2 in this class and is another with a really super head, broad skull and deep stop. Well off for bone throughout. Just not quite as balanced in outline as the 1st and 2nd . Moved soundly in all directions.

POST-GRADUATE (5)

1. Kimberley & Doherty’s Towerviewsaints Red Mist (IKC)

A lot to like about this dog, who has a masculine head of good proportions with a broad skull and muzzle and well defined stop. He is well off for bone and has super compact feet. He has a broad deep chest and is well angulated front and rear giving a well balanced outline. He moved very soundly in all directions.

2. Salter’s Chandlimore Stormin Norman at Olafsaints

Another very good dog who has a strong masculine head with strength of skull and muzzle. He has good strong bone with a broad deep chest. Well angulated front and rear and shown in super condition. Moved well with reach and drive and pushed the winner hard for top spot in this class.

3. Mokryk & Jeffries & Bell’s Streillys Hugo The Boss by Bellfries

This young handler gives a masterclass in how to handle a St Bernard to get the very best from them. She is a very accomplished calm young lady, who is a true asset to our breed. This dog has a very lovely head with a delightful expression. He is well off for bone and body and shown in good muscular condition. Not quite as balanced as the first two, but moved very soundly in all directions.

  RES. Ball’s Beausaints Dark N Stormy

  VHC. Butt & Muggleton’s Bernmont Zamba

LIMIT (3)

1. Forrest & Lucas’ Bernmont Allo Allo at Philandros

Not the biggest of males, but is very well off for bone throughout. Has a broad, deep chest, good spring of rib and strength throughout. He has a strong masculine head with good width to skull and muzzle and well defined stop. Kind, benevolent expression. This dog comes into his own on the move and certainly moved with power around the ring with great reach and drive and held his topline on the move. Handled very well.

2. Kimberley & Doherty’s Chedham Boys Are Best

This dog has a very lovely head with a broad skull, well defined stop and strength of muzzle, Another with a delightful expression. He has super bone throughout and very pleasing compact feet. Well angulated front and rear. Just slightly longer in back than the winner and not quite as positive on the move. However, there is a lot to like about this dog.

3. Outram’s Noralu Bite The Bullet

This is a tall upstanding lad, who has a strong masculine head with good width of skull and strong muzzle. Pleasing expression. Well off for bone throughout and has good width and depth of chest. Preferred the shoulder placement on 1st and 2nd in this class. He certainly powered round the ring and was well handled.

 OPEN (5,1 abs)

1. Kearn’s Parleshan Bowie

This stunning male topped this excellent class. He has the most wonderful head, which just exudes breed type. He has great width to skull and muzzle and a well defined stop. His eyes showed no signs of any problems and he has the most endearing benevolent expression. He has great strong bone throughout with good feet. He has a broad, deep chest with good spring of rib and strength of loin. He has a super strong topline and is so very well balanced throughout. He is well angulated front and rear. This is a strong dog, but with no exaggerations and has the most delightful temperament. Once he settled, he moved with power around the ring and was very sound in all directions. He was shown in fabulous condition and was well muscled throughout. I felt he was extremely worthy of the DCC, which I then found out was his 2nd and I am sure his crowning CC will not be long in coming. Many congratulations to his owners and breeder.

2. Bendl’s Int/Multi Ch. Umberto Od Strazcu Hor Ww24 Cro/Cze Jch

What a truly fabulous smooth boy, who gave a fabulous account of himself. There is absolutely nothing to hide on a smooth and he is well off for bone throughout. He has a broad masculine head with good width and depth of muzzle. He is well angulated front and rear and well muscled throughout. Moved well in all directions with reach and drive. Would just have preferred him to be carrying a tad more weight and would then have certainly put up a challenge for top honours.

3. Deegan & Grainger’s Ch. Chandlimore Boys Night In

This dog has the most delightful of heads with a broad skull, well defined stop and width to muzzle. He has a true benevolent expression. He has good length of neck and width and depth of chest. He has well laid back shoulders. He is not quite as balanced as the 1st and 2nd placed dogs as he is longer in loin and has a tendency to look a tad over angulated in rear. However, he moves extremely well in all directions and shown in super condition.

BITCHES

Puppy (2)

1. Booth’s Chandlimore Reach Out Beausaints

A very promising puppy, who is absolutely just right for her age. Has a very pretty head, which is developing well with width of skull, good stop and width of muzzle. Good length of neck into well laid back shoulders, She is well off for bone throughout and has lovely tight feet. She is very well balanced for one so young. She moved very calmly and sensibly in all directions and is very sound. Should have a bright future. Best Puppy Bitch.

2. Grantham’s Origami Wielkopolski Bernardyn for Lakegiants

Still a minor puppy, who gave a very good account of herself and was not at all overwhelmed by the unique atmosphere of Crufts. She has a very pleasing head, which is developing nicely. Not quite the bone of winner, but is well angulated front and rear. Shown in good condition and very sympathetically handled. Moved very soundly and steadily and shows a lot of promise.

Junior (5, 2 abs)

1. Booth’s Chandlimore Star Struck with Beausaints

Litter sister to the Junior Dog winner and shows the same promise as he does. She is a very exciting prospect for the future and bodes well for the breed. She has a most delightful strong, but feminine head with a broad skull, deep stop and good width to muzzle. She is very well off for bone throughout and has width and depth to chest. Good length of neck into well laid back shoulders and is so very well balanced for a youngster. She just exudes quality and was shown in superb condition. She moved extremely well in all directions with good reach and drive. Handled to get the very best from her and I was absolutely delighted to award her the RBCC. I shall follow her progress with interest. Congratulations to her owners and breeder.

2. Bateman & Lazarides’ Alchazandis Sweet Bird of Paradisefound

Another promising youngster, who although has not quite got the strength of head as the winner, has many lovely attributes. She is very well off for bone throughout. Has good width and depth to chest and body. She was very impressive on the move, moving with great reach and drive in all directions.

3. Barr’s Kingdom of Dream Wielkopolski Bernardyn

Another nice youngster who has a very pleasing head of good proportions for age. Well off for bone throughout. Good length of neck and chest is developing. She is slightly longer in back than the 1st and 2nd in this class, so not so well balanced and was a little unsettled on the move on the day.

Post-Graduate (5)

1. Prior’s Bernalicious You Go Girl

A really lovely smooth who won this big class much to her owners surprise. She is an upstanding girl with good bone throughout. Good width and depth to chest. She has a feminine pretty head with good width to skull and muzzle. She is well angulated front and rear and presents a well balanced outline. She moved very soundly in all directions and was handled well.

2. Alderson’s Cyronelle Dixie Princess at Branbar

Another very feminine pretty girl, who is a lovely breed type. She has good width to skull and muzzle and a very benevolent expression. Well off for bone throughout and has super compact feet. She was shown in extremely good condition and obviously has plenty of exercise as had great muscle tone. Moved very well with good reach and drive.

3. Howard’s Pippanabbey Annie’s Legacy

Fabulous head, which just oozes breed type with the most wonderful benevolent expression. She has super bone throughout and another, who has excellent feet. She is just a tad steep over the croup, which was a deciding factor on the day. She moved very soundly in all directions

 Res. Lovell’s Freybears Mini Me

 VHC Phillips’ Surleval Draig Moondancer

Limit (4)

1. Phillips’ Surleval Draig Sisu

This lovely girl just exudes breed type and has the most beautiful head, which has strength throughout with a broad skull, deep stop and good width and depth of muzzle. She has the true benevolent expression associated with the breed. She has a deep broad chest, well sprung ribs and great bone throughout. She is well angulated front and rear. She moved extremely well in all directions and handled to get the very best from her. Pushed hard for top honours, but felt she was carrying a tad too much weight on the day.

2. Edwards’ Cyronelle Pudgie Bear

Another very pretty girl, who like the winner, just exudes breed type. She has good head properties and has such a kind, benevolent expression. She is so very well balanced throughout and has great bone. A shame she decided to leave her coat at home, but this did not detract from her quality. She is super sound on the move and would have pushed the winner very hard if in full coat.

3. Milburn’s Dawstenbears Out in Style

An upstanding girl with good length of leg and well off for bone throughout. She has a pleasing head with good width of skull and muzzle and well defined stop. She is well angulated front and rear and moved well in all directions.

Res. Holloway & Milburn’s Dawnstenbears Rule The World

Open (6, 1 abs)

1. Bendl’s Cze/Sk Ch. For Me Od Strazcu Hor Jww24 Ejw24 Int Jch

To win this very strong class, this young smooth female had to be something special and she certainly was. It is always exciting to find such a super smooth and I feel so lucky to be given the opportunity to judge this upstanding youngster. She has a feminine but strong head with good width to skull and muzzle. She is well off for bone throughout, has good width and depth to chest and is so very well balanced with well laid back shoulders and correct rear angulation. She is well muscled with a super strong topline which she retains on the move. She is ultra sound in all directions and certainly is fit for function. She moved with power around the ring and so very well handled. I was absolutely delighted to award her the BCC and BOS. I shall follow her career with great interest as she must have a very exciting future ahead. Very many congratulations.

2. Deegan & Grainger’s Ch. Chandlimore Heart Beat.

It takes a super girl like the winner of this class to beat this fabulous girl, who I have previously awarded top honours to. She remains a firm favourite who has so many wonderful breed attributes. She has a feminine head with enough strength throughout and a very benevolent kind expression. Has great bone and feet and has a strong firm topline, which she holds on the move. This girl really comes into her own on the move and did not disappoint and moves with such reach and drive and still looks like she could go around the ring all day. I did feel she was carrying a tad too much weight which spoilt her overall balance on the day.

3. Sheehan’s Ir Ch/Ch/Int Ch Parleshan Coco Loco Ir Jun Ch An Ch22 Cent Ch Dw23

Another quality exhibit from this kennel, who just excels in breed type. She has a super head with great width to skull and muzzle. Such a benevolent expression. Has great bone and substance with a deep broad chest and strong back and topline. Well angulated front and rear. Moved well enough in all directions.

  Res. Martin’s Parleshan Majestic Mia

  VHC Muggleton’s Bernmont Sabina