Crufts

CRUFTS 2025 West Highland white terriers Judge Marie Burns (Burneze) Firstly I would like to thank the RKC for inviting me to judge at Crufts. Winning Crufts in 2016 was an amazing experience but judging it in 2025 was an experience I’ll never forget. Leading up to the big day I have to say I was a little nervous, the green carpet at crufts is a big stage to be on. Westie enthusiasts all over the world are watching and I just wanted to do the best possible job I could of placing the dogs in the order of their merits. Crufts will always be a special show for me and to mark the occasion and make it special for the exhibitors I had some sashes and jackets made for the main winners in the crufts traditional colours, Green and gold. Thank you to Kirsten Fox for working so hard with me to design & make these beautiful awards. On the day before I started judging I did have a couple of tears, as my mam was not there to see it. She would have loved to see me judge our wonderful breed at Crufts. Once I got started with my first class the nerves disappeared as I was too busy concentrating on the job at hand. I found some top-quality dogs which is lovely to see for the future of our breed. I was very pleased with my main winners, I thought they were beautiful examples of the breed. I just want to thank all the exhibitors from around the world for entering under me, and for taking my decisions in a great sporting manner. Also thank you to the many who came up to me afterwards to say how much they enjoyed my judging; it really did mean a lot. It was lovely to see so many quality westies from overseas which I’ve never had the opportunity to see before, given that I’m not big on travelling, but I am getting better, and hope to visit some overseas shows in the future. Finally Thank you to Kirsten Fox & my partner Dean Cund for capturing so many photographic memories of the day & also my stewards who kept the day running smoothly. Marie Burns VD 3 (3) PD 3 (1) 1ST Dales LYNNSTO KINGSMAN A compact young dog that never stopped showing. Keen alert expression, good shape head, neat ears, correct bite, level top line, tail on top and carried well. Good rear angulation, correct harsh white coat, very well presented, moved well. BP 2ND Tamutis’ VIVOLUNAR MAKE YOU MINE A masculine young dog, strongly built; deep in chest and back ribs, good head & pigment, level top line, Coat of correct texture, in good body & condition, presented well. JD 7 (1) 1st Stankiene & Stankus’ FOREST SPRITE WHISPER DUSK VIA VIVOLUNAR (IMP POL) A lot to like about this dog, good head shape & ear set, dark pigment, correct bite, sufficient neck leading into well laid shoulders, level top line, good rear angulation giving him drive on the move. Correct coat & in good condition. 2ND Zaccariello’s ZACKSHINE SCUGNIZZO NAPOLETANO Good head & pigment, level top line, tail on top, good rear angulation. Moved & showed well. Correct coat texture & presented in good condition. 3RD Jenny’s SUPER SHOT SUPERBIA PGD 5 1ST Jenny’s SUPER SHOT SUPERBIA This dog placed 3rd in the junior class where he was reluctant on the move, however he came in this class with confidence & alertness which made all the difference and showed of his qualities to advantage, please to award him the 1st place. 2ND Vysniauskiene’s HARVEY BALTOJI AURORA AT CHERRYLEAGUE Really like the head on this dog, skull slightly domed with distinct stop with broad muzzle, dark eye, neat ears, alert expression, compact in body and good bone, moved & showed well. Coat of correct texture & presented well. 3RD Owens FRISBECK HORN PIPE LD 8 (2) 1st Szulzycka’s QUERUBIN NEW GRIFFINDOR A nice dog to go over on the table, lovely head & pigment, good mouth, compact body, strong hind quarters. A bit sluggish on the move but did enough to win him this class. Good coat & well presented. 2ND Tadhunters OTTO THE MAVERICK PRINCE A compact dog with good bone, dark pigment, good mouth, good rear angulation. 3RD Monachou’s WEEKEND AFFAIR DOLCE CON SPIRITO OD 13 (5) 1ST Van Der Veen’s THE DASHING DEVILS JAWBREAKER This dog was just what I was looking for, full of breed type & quality. Balanced throughout, Masculine dog in great condition. Good head & ear set, well placed shoulders, level top line, good depth of rib, tail on top with plenty behind, strong muscular quarters, allowing him to Move around the ring with reach & drive. BOB 2ND Flynn & Helgerson’s MARGIE MUNRO GET OFF MY CLOUD Another quality dog with lots to like about him. Good head, ear set & pigment, correct bite, well placed shoulder, level top line, Compact body with deep chest. Was really at one with his handler, alert and always showing. Res CC 3RD Zaccariello’s Ch/It Ch ZACKSHINE HIGH TECHNOLOGY GCD 1 1ST Tadhunter’s OTTO THE MAVERICK PRINCE This dog was 2nd in LD VB 4 (1) 1ST Zvirbles’s Lt/Lv/by/rus/ua Ch GLACE CHERRY NEEDED ME 8 ½ years old. Lovely head, pigment & mouth, good shoulder & front, compact in body, good rear angulation, showed & moved well. 2ND Richards Multi Ch MAGIC MYSTERY LADY OF WHITE CASTLE 11 years old, smaller than 1 but another lovely older girl in good condition. 3RD Goldbergs Multi Ch GOLDMOUNTAINS ALL OF ME PB (1) 1ST Harpers WESTIGO LUCKY CHANCE A promising young girl that just needs time. good head, mouth, front & rear. still quite immature in development but time is on her side, although she was sound in temperament & movement, she was a typical puppy and played her handler up at times. 2ND Dales VILLAINVALE HIGH HOPES FOR LYNNSTO This little girl was a picture stood, with some lovely qualities, however I preferred the movement of 1 3RD Vysniauskiene’s PALOMA FATA MORGANA JB 5 1ST Coopers BELLEVUE LUCKY LOVE AT BRORASTAR Liked the make & shape of this girl, good head, pigment & mouth, good neck & shoulder, level top line & well angulated rear, correct coat texture, moved well 2ND Bouwhuis’ KRISMA FINISHING TOUCH FOR LLOVALL Another bitch that I liked, very feminine, nice head, correct bite, good in front & shoulder, tail bang on top, harsh coat. moved around the ring like she owned it. 3RD Croziers DALSKAIRTH KIRKCOLM CUTIE PG 11 (2) 1st Stankiene & Stankus’ VIVOLUNAR IMPRES ME Good head, pigment & mouth, level top line, compact in body, tail bang on top, moved & showed well. 2ND Vysniauskiene’s NINA RICCI BLATAJ AT CHERRYLEAGUE Slightly smaller than 1 but very similar in make & shape, moved & showed well. 3RD Thompsons HILLCLOLUD ECHOWAVE BY ASHGATE LB 10 1ST Fryers GIN AND TONIC SUNSHINE CELEBRATION This girl was lovely to go over, good head, with dark pigment & correct mouth, sufficient neck tapering into well laid shoulder, straight in front, level top line with good rear angulation, tail on top, correct coat texture & presented in good condition, movement was sound both front & rear, she could have just moved with more enthusiasm on the day, but her overall quality & soundness won her the res CC 2ND Croziers DALSKAIRTH GLAMIS GIRL I really liked this girl too, another that is lovely to go over, just not the finishing touches of 1 3RD Skrobiszewska’s STIKE A POSE VERTRAGUS int jch OB 17 (5) 1ST Skrobiszewska & Cross & Skrobiszewska & Askin’s AM CH WAIT FOR IT VERTRAGUS The minute she came in the ring she took my eye, and I was not disappointed going over her on the table, good shaped head, correct mouth, good pigment, good angulations both front & rear. level top line, compact in body, tail on top, correct coat texture in pristine condition, presented to perfection, moved soundly & never stopped showing. Please to award her the CC. 2ND Smiths Ch LINGBECK HOLD THE DREAM I have judged this girl before when she was a youngster and thought she had potential, she has since become a champion and I can see why, she has the most beautiful head, good in front & rear, compact in body, good tail set, moved & showed well, pushed hard for the res CC 3RD Kruk & Galeano’s IMAGINE CALIFORNIA MAGIC SUNRISE LOVE GCD 1 1ST Ravell’s APPLEWOOD SILVER LADY Feminine head, correct ear set, good pigment, level top line, tail on top, correct coat texture. Moved with enthusiasm.