Crufts

Crufts 2025 

Flatcoated Retriever Dogs.

Thank-you to the RKC for inviting me to judge at such a special show, it lived up to all my expectations, I had a wonderful day. Thank-you to the exhibitors for giving me such a large entry to go over, I’m sorry some of you went home disappointed and a huge thanks to my 2 stewards who kept me, and the ring, organised throughout the day.

A few points of concern that we need to watch going forward are; bites, many of the dogs were level, we don’t want this to become the norm, secondly front movement, which was loose causing the front legs to flap or paddle in some exhibits and does not provide the driving movement required in our breed. Finally some dogs, although still balanced, are starting to get very tall, making those of the correct size look small. I was however very pleased with my final line-up. 

 Veteran Dog: (16)

1st – Janickova’s se/cze/sk/pl Ch/cze Gch Diamante Blu Nella Mia Stanza At/sk/cze Jch. Lovely balanced dog of 8 years in full coat. Correct all round angulation, good front with well pronounced sternum, well boned with tight feet. Lovely head with dark eye, good reach of neck, level topline held on the move with tail carried straight off his back. Best mover in the class.  

2nd - Smitherman and Roberts Seaheart Crian at Gloi JW 7 years, similar in size and type to winner, presented in full coat, typical head with gentle expression and dark eye, good reach of neck into well laid shoulders, pronounced sternum, good bone and feet, level topline and correct tail set and carriage good turn of stifle flowed round ring with drive.  

3rd – MacDonald’s Sh.Ch. Deringwood English Oak

Minor Puppy (1)

1st – Bellamy’s Affinity Promises Kept for Woodfinch (ai) (Imp Can) At 8 months very much a baby and at that leggy stage, not phased by the occasion he moved with confidence and a constantly wagging tail. Up to size, well moulded head, dark eye, good reach of neck to level topline which he held on the move correct amount of bone for his age, good tight feet.

Puppy (13,2)

1st – Bates Marsalland I Do At 9 months he headed a strong class, I wrote beautiful puppy in my notes, well coated, of correct size presented a balanced outline standing and on the move. Typical head, good length of neck, correct front and rear angulation helping him to move straight and true carrying his wagging tail straight off his back. In agreement with my co-judge awarded best puppy in breed, well done! 

2nd – Pierce’s Wychwizard Forester Another at 9 months and a close decision between these two boys. Presented in gleaming coat and balanced in profile, lovely head with kind expression, good length of neck, well laid shoulders, level topline and correct tail carriage on the move, good bend of stifle, moved true but not with quite the drive of winner. 

3rd – Fox’s Westoncruive Ace of Spades at Blacktoft

 Junior (5)

1st – Bright’s Hopevalley Morning Magic 13 month boy, balanced throughout, typical head, good length of neck, correct front and rear angulation with good bend of stifle, appropriate bone and feathering for age, nice tight feet. Lovely profile on the move holding a level topline with his tail carried straight off his back, won the class on his movement.

2nd - Bell’s Curlycrest’s Sweet Home Chicago (imp Nor) 13 months, similar in size but more bodied than winner at this stage. Lovely head with melting expression and dark eyes, well off for bone and tight feet. Pronounced sternum good front and rear angulation enabling true movement coming and going with level topline and tail carriage.       

3rd – Knight & Jacob’s Gemswin Innocent Man.

Yearling (13,1)

1st – Mancikova’s Calzeat I’m Back for Sure. Int Jch. At 22 months a very animated boy with wonderful driving movement, he flew round the ring presenting a super profile. Typical head and lovely expression, good length to neck set into well laid shoulders, level topline, correct bend of stifle, in hard condition. Considered for the reserve CC, I’m sure his day will come.  

2nd – Hall’s Hightyne Night Train At 19 months similar in size to my winner, presented in super coat with all trimmings, classic head and alert expression, good reach of neck and all round angulation, excellent bone and tight feet. Another with true driving movement and a lovely profile, close decision between the two.

3rd – Varty-Lindsay’s Levliann Big Bang.

Undergraduate (17,2)

1st – Map Sauer-Laumen’s Beautyfield’s Optimus Prime Well presented boy in gleaming well feathered coat and hard condition, created a balanced picture standing and on the move with his tail carried straight off his back. Super head and melting expression good all round angulation which enabled his true driving movement on the tightest of feet.

2nd Clark’s Esined Bright Idea Of correct size and balanced on the move, in good coat with all trimmings, typical head with lovely melting expression, super reach of neck and correct all round angulation, good bone and tight feet, presented a lovely profile whilst standing and moving.

3rd – Tinker’s Kelvincross Smokey Joe

Graduate (8)

1st – Hall’s Hightyne Night Train Second in Yearling Class.

2nd – Tinker’s Kelvincross Smokey Joe Third in Undergraduate, a well balanced Liver boy with a nice dark coat, good body and bone, typical head good reach of neck correct lay of shoulder and a level topline both standing and on the move, moved with drive and a constantly wagging tail carried straight off his back.

3rd – Buckley’s Blacktoft Brindisi by Buckleyhill. 

Post Graduate (15)

1st – Clark’s Hurstclough Night Owl at Flanova A dog of correct size and the best mover of the class today, not overdone in anyway, lovely head and expression, good front angulation, level topline with constantly wagging tail carried straight off his back both standing and on the move. Stood on lovely tight feet.

2nd - Gribble’s Jazzanraga Adventurer A balanced and well coated dark liver boy who presented lovely profile both standing and moving. A typical head with gentle expression, good reach of neck, correct lay of shoulder and pronounced sternum, well boned with the tightest of feet. Level topline held on the move, moved true.

3rd – Anson & McManus’s Rotherfield Secret Code

Mid Limit (9,1)

1st – Churchard’s Flatcharm Griffin Dark at Churchking Racey in outline but with good bone, balanced profile both standing and moving, typical head with melting expression well set shoulders good front, level topline with tail carried level with his back sufficient bend of stifle to enable true driving movement.

2nd – Colson’s Windyhollows Ragged Robin JW. Slightly larger in size than winner but still well balanced. Presented in full coat and hard condition. Typical head and expression good length of neck, well laid shoulder, pronounced sternum, level topline with correct tail set and carriage when moving. Moved with drive on well boned legs and super feet.

3rd – Tierling & Fewster’s Lizzlog Moonlighting at Karaholme

Limit (22,2)

1st – May’s Ronevorg Dark Angel at Lussac JW. Sgwc. Balanced boy of correct size, nice head with kind expression and dark eye, good reach of neck into well set shoulders, level topline with tail carried straight off his back, correct front and rear angulation enabling true driving movement to head this strong class. Pleased to see he also won the Gamekeepers class. Well done.

2nd – Hessing’s Hoedun Daddys Eyes at Montechor Similar in size to winner, lovely flat coat with appropriate feathering, balanced both standing and on the move. Correct lay of shoulder, pronounced sternum, level topline and wagging tail straight off his back, good bend of stifle allowing him to move with drive.

3rd – Leavy & Perry’s Glenturret Bumbleberry Pie for Casanjay

Open (16)

1st – Kapczynska’s Int/multi Ch. Olaf Raining Dog I Noticed this boy on my initial walk and move round of the class and going over him I was not disappointed. A lovely liver boy who is so well balanced and who presents a beautiful outline both standing and on the move. Typical head with a gentle melting expression, good reach of neck into correct shoulder and front angulation, to the rear he has a good bend of stifle and a level topline with correct tail set. Good bone and tight feet completed the picture. On the move he is straight and true and his driving movement creates a wonderful profile. Very pleased to award him Dog CC and Best Opposite Sex after a very close decision with my co-judge regarding Best of Breed. 

2nd – Mancik’s Int/sk/at/cro Ch. Cacis Just Need Sweets Another boy of correct size in full coat who presented a typical flatcoat outline both standing and on the move. He has a well moulded head with gentle kind expression, a good reach of neck and correct angulation all round. He moved accurately and with drive his constantly wagging tail carried straight off his back, very much enjoying his day out.

3rd – Thaler’s Slo/aut Ch Gillian’s Choice Pure Passion

Special Working Gundog (10)

1st - Bowen’s Clandrift Bring me Sunshine JW Kcwgc Up to size but balanced displaying excellent bone and tight feet. Classic head with gentle expression and dark eyes, good length of neck into well angulated shoulders and a pronounced sternum. To the rear he has well-muscled quarters and the correct bend of stifle enabling him to drive round the ring holding his topline and carrying his tail straight off his back, moving true both coming and going. Reserve CC. Well done!  

2nd – May’s Ronevorg Dark Angel at Lussac JW Sgwc Winner of Limit and unlucky to meet 1st on such good form today, knocking him out of the challenge.

3rd - Reitmaier’s Pol Ch Miss Mallorys Let’s go Crazy Lt Jch   

Good Citizen Scheme (14,2)

1st – Bowen’s Clandrift Bring me Sunshine JW Kcwgc Winner of Special Working Gundog.

2nd - Romeo-Dieste’s Hopevalley Morning Circus A balanced dog of correct size who moved well, true and with drive carrying his tail straight off his back. Typical head and expression with dark eyes, correct shoulders and good all-round angulation, presented in good coat and condition.

3rd – Buckley’s Blacktoft Brindisi by Buckleyhill 

Pleased to award in full agreement with my co-judge Mr E.Engh the following;

Best of Breed:- Bitch Larsson’s Int /Se/No/Dk Ch. Almanza Dancin’ on the Tables

Best Opposite Sex:- Dog Kapczynska’s Int/Multi Ch Olaf Raining Dog

Best Puppy in Breed:- Dog Bates Marsalland I Do  

Best Veteran in Breed:- Bitch Asp Miko’s No/Se/Fin/Nord Ch. Almanza Why Mess with Success                                                                                                              

Judge:- Karen Joyce (Stranfaer)