Crufts

I thoroughly enjoyed my day judging our beautiful breed on the famous green carpet at Crufts. I had some quality dogs and outstanding bitches entered on the day and would like to thank the exhibitors for their support and the lovely atmosphere around the ring with the winners receiving warm applause. My stewards were excellent and kept the ring running smoothly. Whilst I've raised concerns in the past about bad mouths in the breed I found none that concerned me today.

Bitches

Class 1744 A class of quality bitches. Veteran (6,1) 1st Grimsdell's Sh Ch Tattersett Dark Honey, Such a beautiful girl and it was a pleasure to judge her today and see her looking so well. Her head is long and lean with such a gentle expression. Good front, excels in shoulder with good length to upper arm and shoulders carried well back. Ribs well sprung, strong and short through the loin, excellent topline and tailset. Strong well angulated quarters, she looked an absolute picture standing and moving, soundly covering the ground with ease. Pleased to award her the RCC and BV in excellent company. 2nd Tucker's Niddbeck Smokey Opal at Walshaw, Another favourite of mine having previously awarded her a RCC. Lovely to see her again today. Elegant in outline with a beautiful head, dark eye and showing plenty of work above the brow. Good front with elbows well tucked in. Correct shoulder angulation with good length to upper arm, shoulders well laid, deep in chest and well ribbed. Short and strong through the loin, strong well angulated quarters, straight level topline, good tailset and carriage. Very sound on the move with positive front and rear action. 3rd Welburn's Culverwell Sea Breeze at Oshowa, Another lovely bitch, well balanced with no exaggerations. She has a pretty head with a soft gentle expression, correct front, well constructed shoulder, deep ribs, good topline and tailset. Strong well let down stifles. She covered the ground well on the move.

Class 1745 Minor Puppy (0,0)

Class 1746 A promising class of babies. Puppy (4,0) 1st Stephenson's Bournehouse in Dreams at Steeplow, a quality orange belton bitch puppy and just at the right stage of development with a lovely head and soft expression, correct front, well angulated shoulders, ribs developing well, short loin, correct in topline and tailset. Strong hind angulation with good development of second thigh. She is a very sound mover and shows promise for the future. 2nd Bayliss's Dyrham Girl On Fire, Another quality puppy. Not quite the balance of the winner at the moment, but she is still a lovely bitch with a quality head, good reach of neck, well constructed shoulders, deep in chest, short and strong in the back. Stifles well bent. She moved out well but just needs to settle slightly on the move. 3rd Welburn's Oshowa Just A Dream, a close decision with second as she is more balanced at the moment. Very pretty head, nice dark eye, good front, correct angulation in front and rear. Short and strong through the loin, tail well set. Just needs to settle into her stride on the move which she will do as she develops further.

Class 1747 An interesting class. Junior (7,4) 1st Hoskin's Scillysett One Vision, although the youngest in the class she was very well balanced both standing and on the move. Very pretty in head, good shoulders, correct angulation. Deep in brisket and short coupled. Strong quarters, good topline and tailset. Whilst she was naughty for her owner she was lovely to watch on the move being very sound and covering the ground with ease. 2nd Rainey's Culverwell Touch of Fortune at Wolmersdon, an orange belton that stands over more ground than my winner. She has a lovely head which is long and lean, dark eye and gentle expression. Correct angulation to shoulder and her ribs are carried well back. Well let down behind, tail well set and correctly carried on the move. Once settled into her stride she moved well. 3rd Tompsett's Radbrooks Walk of Life, a quality dark blue possessing a lovely head. She looks well standing with a good forehand, correct front, deep in ribs, strong well muscled quarters. Correct topline and tailset, sound mover covering the ground.

Class 1748 A strong class. Yearling (14,2) 1st Sykes's Sharnyx Springtime at Daraquist, beautiful orange that caught my eyes immediately. She has good bone and substance but still retains her elegance. Lovely head with the softest of expressions. Good front showing plenty of heart room, shoulders well placed, good length to upper arm. Deep in brisket, short and strong through the loin, stifles well let down with plenty of muscle. Level topline and correct tailset. Very sound mover, covering the ground with a long forward stride and powers off her hocks. 2nd Hutchinson & Dennis's Mariglen My Heart Will Go On with Monaysbridge, another top class bitch. Blue belton with the prettiest of heads, gentle expression, elegant and feminine with correct angulation through the shoulder. Ribs carried well back, short and strong in the loin, stifles well let down with good width to second thigh. Level topline and correct set of tail. Once she settled into her stride she moved well both in front and rear. 3rd Corfield, Derry & Schoneville's Balvenie Loch Maree, a very pretty bitch that I don't recall having seen before. Well balanced with no exaggerations, clean over neck and shoulders, deep in brisket and well ribbed. Good topline and tailset, strong quarters, moved very well.

Class 1749 Again another strong class with some tough decisions having to be made. Post Graduate (10,1) 1st Buckley's Fishwick Fortune Cookie, Such a lovely dark tri with the prettiest of heads and soft and gentle in expression. Excellent outline and well balanced all through. Correct front, shoulders showing good length to upper arm and well laid. Very well ribbed, strong and short through the loin. Excellent topline and correctly set tail. Strong well angulated quarters, very powerful on the move with plenty of drive in rear action. . 2nd Paton's Bournehouse Eternal Flame for Meadowfoot, a close decision with the winner. A lovely orange belton, elegant and feminine with a beautiful head. Good front, elbows well let down, ribs carried well back, short and strong in the loin. Level topline and good tailset, strong quarters and well muscled. She looked a picture standing and moving. 3rd Welburn's Oshawa Dream Come True, Another lovely bitch that looked really well today. She has a good outline and is well balanced in body. Prettiest of heads with dark eye and soft expression. Correct angulation both front and rear, strong and well muscled quarters and she strode out well on the move.

Class 1750 A quality class. Limit (9,3) 1st Dykes's Caleydene Connextion, A really pretty, elegant orange with a well balanced outline and no exaggerations. Correct front and well constructed shoulders, good ribs, deep in chest, short and strong through the loin. Her stifles are well bent and she is short from hock to ground. Moved really well covering the ground with drive showing her correct topline on the move. 2nd Stubbington's Quensha's Viva La Vida Bondgate, Not seen this quality dark tri before. Her head is exquisite with plenty of work above the brow, dark eyes, melting expression. She combines substance with elegance and is totally balanced in outline. Correct through the shoulder, deep in rib and short through the loin. Stifles are well bent, level topline, good tailset and moved very soundly at a steady pace. 3rd Jennings-Sharman & Sharman's Wansleydale Mayfly with Canteris, and yet another quality tri that was certainly close up to first and second. She has a lovely head, dark eye and gentle expression. Correct front, well angulated shoulders, clean in outline, short coupled and well ribbed. Strong level topline and correct set tail. Well let down stifle with good width to second thigh. Very sound on the move coming and going.

Class 1751 Open (5,3) 1st Williams' Sh Ch Bournehouse Eternal Love, A beautiful orange bitch in immaculate condition that commands attention. She has a fabulous outline, a lovely head and a soft gentle expression. Good front with plenty of heart room, excels in shoulder with good length to upper arm. Deep in rib and short and strong through the loin. Well bent stifles with plenty of muscle tone, strong level topline and well set tail. She looked an absolute picture today and she covered the ground with a strong positive action, both in front and rear movement. She was handled to get the very best out of her and I had no hesitation in awarding her the CC. 2nd Paton's Bournehouse Secret Destiny for Meadowfoot, another top quality orange looking really well today and also in lovely condition. Prettiest of heads with a dark eye and soft expression. Totally balanced with correct angulation both front and rear. Good front and elbows well let down. Ribs carried well back, short coupled and strong through the loin. Excellent topline and correct set to tail, well angulated quarters, short from hock to ground, u;tra sound on the move with a long forward reach and plenty of drive in rear action.

Class 1752 Field Trial (0,0)

Class 1753 Special Working Gundog (0,0)

Class 1754 Good Citizen Dog (4,0) Three quality bitches all from the same kennel. 1st Beasley's Wansleydale Amaretto at Latjeata, such a pretty girl with a lovely head and soft gentle expression. Good front, clean over the neck and shoulder line, elbows well let down, well ribbed, short and strong through the loin. Strong quarters with good muscle. She moved out well with a good length of stride and covered the ground. 2nd Bennet's Wansleydale Busy As A Bee at Caprow, This lovely bitch pushed the winner hard. She is very balanced in outline, has the prettiest of heads with dark eye and gentle expression. Good front, well placed shoulder, deep in chest and ribs carried well back. Strong through the loin, stifles well let down, level topline and well carried tail. Moved well but not with quite the drive as my winner. 3rd Howell's Wansleydale Bee In A Bonnet, This bitch looked really well standing. Has a pretty head, dark eye and gentle expression. Well angulated shoulders showing good length to upper arm, ribs carried well back, correct level topline and tail well set. Strong hind angulation. Whilst she was true in action she lacked a little bit of animation compared to the other two.