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.

Dogs

Class 1733 Veteran (5,0) Always a pleasure to judge the veterans. 1st Snook's Dalreavoch Northern Caper, A very handsome dark blue male looking the best I've seen him. A stylish outline, balanced and elegant with good bone, correct angulation to front and rear, ribs carried well back, deep in chest, level topline and good tailset. Stifles strong and well let down. Moved very soundly with plenty of drive from strong quarters. 2nd Lawson's Wansleydale Dorian Gray JW ShCEx, Another handsome boy that I've had the pleasure of judging before and still like him today. He is a very balanced and honest male with a lovely head and kind gentle expression. Long neck set into a clean shoulder line, ribs well sprung and correct topline and tailset. Stifles well let down and well muscled. Sound and true on the move, just not the verve of my winner. 3rd Salmon's Gillancette Day Dreamer, A classic orange that appealed with his lovely head, good eye shape and colour and the gentlest of expressions. Well balanced in body with good front, correct shoulders, deep in chest and well ribbed. Strong hind quarters and moved very soundly. Well handled to get the best out of him.

Class 1734 Minor Puppy (0,0)

Class 1735 Puppy (3,0) 1st Pearson's Bournehouse Augustus at Yessandi, A striking light tri with an appealing head, showing lots of promise for the future. Lovely to go over with a clean and elegant outline, good shoulders showing correct length to upper arm, deep ribs, short and strong through the loin, excellent level topline and correct set of tail. Strong let down stifles and well muscled. Such a free and easy moving youngster with positive front and rear action. BP. 2nd Carr's Bournehouse Dare to Dream, Litter brother to the first and obviously very much alike, although not with the same maturity at the moment. Same elegant outline combining bone with elegance. Good head with correct eye shape and colour. Short in back, level topline and strong through the loin. Well angulated quarters showing plenty of drive on the move. It will be interesting to see how my 1 & 2 develop. 3rd Arkley's Oshowa Dream Lover, Another nice puppy. Just not quite as together as the two that stood above him. He has a lovely head with soft genet le expression. Developing in body with correct front, deep brisket and ribs carried well back. Once he settled he moved well.

Class 1736 Junior (5,0) 1st Derry, Schoneville & Williamson's Hawklawn Hazzard County at Balvenie, A very smart Tri with beautiful head and dark eye. Balanced in outline with correct shoulder angulation, ribs well sprung, deep chest, strong through the loin, level topline, good tailset, no exaggerations throughout. He was presented in a very fit and well muscled condition. Moved really well with correct forward reach and drive from his strong quarters. 2nd Tompsett's Radbrooks Brothers in Arms, A quality dark blue with a lovely head, gentlest of expressions, plenty of heart room, deep brisket and ribs carried well back. I would have liked less length through the loin, however he was strong in topline. Well angulated quarters with plenty of muscle, he moved soundly with true front and rear action. 3rd Kaye's Scillysett Love Bites, Another sound and honest male with no exaggerations. A pleasing head that just needs further time to develop. Good front and reach of neck, correct angulations to front and rear. Sound mover and held his topline well on the move.

Class 1737 Yearling (7,1) A strong class. 1st Goutorbe's Wansleydale Beekeeper at Redhara, I really liked this promising young Tri. Although not a big dog he is perfectly balanced. He has a lovely head, correct raised brow, with good eye shape and colour. Good bone but still with the elegance I look for. Excellent shoulders with good length to upper arm. Strong topline, deep in rib, short through the loin. Correct tailset and carriage with well muscled hindquarters. Short hocks. A powerful mover with long forward reach and good drive . 2nd Osman's Bournehouse Sirocco over Marissolo, This very handsome male stands over more ground than my winner but he is also perfectly balanced. Such a lovely head and the gentlest of expressions. Long neck set into a well placed shoulder, deep in chest, elbows well tucked in, ribs carried well back and strong through the loin. Well let down in stifle. He moved soundly although not with the power of my winner. 3rd Tucker's Walshaw One More Night, Another quality male and still developing at this stage. A lovely headed boy with dark gentle eye . Good front, plenty of forechest, correct spring of rib carried well back to a strong loin, level topline and good tailset, wide powerful quarters. Very sound on the move and covers the ground with ease.

Class 1738 Post Graduate (10,3) Two quality males headed this class and it was a close decision between the two.1st Hendry's Ilexset Sunny Disposition, A very handsome Tri that took my eye straight away for his overall balance. Lovely headed boy with dark eye, a soft gentle expression, good front, elbows well let down. Excels in shoulders, well ribbed up, short strong loin, well bent stifles, moved with purpose. 2nd Warrington's Culverwell Sundancer, Striking orange with a good outline and attractive head also with dark eyes and soft expression. Lovely to go over with correct angulation to shoulders, well ribbed and a short strong loin. Good bend of stifle and short strong hocks. Moved out well with correct front and rear movement. 3rd Montell's Culverwell Super Scrumpy, Another very well balanced male. Correct front with plenty of heart room. Clean over the neck and shoulders, good ribs and strong through the loin. Well angulated quarters showing plenty of muscle tone. Sound mover with good forward reach and positive rear.

Class 1739 Limit (6,0) 1st Williams' Bournehouse Abracadabra, a top quality Tri that was bang on form today. Presented to perfection as always from this kennel. He is a masculine male with a lovely head and dark eyes, soft gentle expression and having the required elegance with substance that I was looking for. Good front with plenty of heart room, elbows well let down, well ribbed, short and strong through the loin. Good length to upper arm and shoulders well laid. Excellent topline and tailset, strong well angulated quarters. He looked a picture on the move with good reach in front movement and very positive hind action. RCC . 2nd Collins' Dyrham The Artful Dodger from Chilworth, an orange belton male of quality, balanced all through. Has a lovely head with dark expressive eyes. Correct angulation to front and rear, deep in ribs, short and strong through the loin. Tail well set, well bent stifles with well developed second thigh. Very true on the move with positive front and rear action. 3rd Williams' Richecca Midwinter, deserved his place in this class. He is honest and balanced, appeals in head with soft expression, stands on good feet, deep body, strong quarters, correct topline and tailset and although he moved well not quite as positive as the two above him.

Class 1740 Open (8,1) 1st Mckiernan's Sh Ch Ir Ch Bushbane Celtic Rant, Love this boy. I have watched him develop from a promising puppy to the top quality male he is today. Such a lovely head with dark eye and kind expression. Good front, elbows well tucked in, excellent shoulders with correct length to upper arm. Ribs well sprung and carried well back to a short strong loin. Level topline and correct tailset, muscular quarters, well let down and strong from hock to ground. He combines substance with elegance and looked an absolute picture today. The ultimate showman, his movement is very powerful, covering the ground with a long forward reach and strong rear action with plenty of drive. CC, BOB and thrilled to see him shortlisted in the Group. 2nd Pitts & Normansell's Sh Ch Larrenie Heartstopper, Top class orange belton, looking really well and developing just as he should be for his age. Classic head with correct eye shape and dark eye. He is elegant in outline and combines good bone with substance. Correct front, good shoulders with good length to upper arm, elbows well let down, good ribs carried well back to a strong loin. Strong level topline, tail well set and carried, strong hind angulation. Lovely to watch on the move with positive front and rear action. Certainly considered him for top honours. 3rd Cook's Sh Ch Pernickety Quiddity, I have judge this quality orange male before and I'm pleased to see that he is developing just as I thought he would do. A very stylish boy with a lovely head, good front and correct shoulder angulation. His ribs are deep and carried well back. Less short coupled than the males that stood above him, but it is not detrimental as he holds his topline correctly. Tail well set, well muscled quarters, moved out well with a good length of stride and drove off strong hocks. Well presented and in good condition.

Class 1741 Field Trial (0,0)

Class 1742 Special Working Gundog (0,0)

Class 1743 Good Citizen (4,0) 1st Salmon's Gillancette Day Dreamer, a classic orange that appealed with his lovely head, good eye shape and colour and the gentlest of expressions. Well balanced in body with good front, correct shoulders, deep in chest and well ribbed. Strong hind quarters and moved very soundly. Well handled to get the best out of him once again, outmoving the others in the class. 2nd Hingley's Wansleydale Bee Quick, looked really well standing, with a balanced outline and no exaggerations. A nice headed boy with a soft and gentle expression, well laid shoulder, good ribs and short through the loin. Level topline and good tailset. A well bent stifle but would have just liked a little move drive in rear action. 3rd Hopper's Bramstorm Forest Sprite, another handsome male and also balanced while stacked. Good front, elbows well let down, deep in chest with good ribs. Short and strong through the loin, well muscled quarters, positive front action but I would have liked a little more strength in rear movement.