Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club Of Great Britain

JUDGES REPORT SCWT CLUB PLATINUM JUBILEE 5th APRIL 2025

It was a great honour to be asked to judge this special show, I was extremely pleased with both the quantity and the quality of the entry, the overall standard being as good, if not better than it has ever been. There was not one class where I had to consider the quality of my winners. When it comes to the challenge and at least half a dozen are in contention it must be a good sign. Going back to the 80s and 90s the idea of bringing in dogs from overseas was frowned upon for fear of the bad things they would bring to the breed, luckily a few made it and improved the breed considerably. In recent years even more so where we have seen access to some of the best bloodlines worldwide and it has almost eliminated some of the worst traits in the breed. I have not encountered a single bad mouth and the dropped teeth that were almost the norm have been improved dramatically, there are still the odd ones but only very slight and well within the bite. Eyes are all nice and dark, as is the pigment. Conformation has improved and rear movement is generally much better, nowhere near as close and with good angulation and drive, although a few are still a bit loose in front. Coats are generally very good in texture and colour and I feel that we have reached a consistant and attractive level of presentation. The only downside that I see is some tailsets need watching, the tail should stand upright from the base. The quality of some fabulous pups and youngsters on show makes for a promising future. I know that breeding numbers are down in the current climate but hopefully when things improve the breed should be in a good place going forward. I would like to thank the committee and all exhibitors for making it a lovely day. (and Ken Francis for being an excellent steward ).

Class 1 Baby PuppyDog ( 1 entry) 1st Gent & Lees SUMRICK EYE OF THE STORM (AI) almost 5 months old baby, lovely shape and size for his age, behaved well, moved very nicely, shows promise.

Veteran Dog (3) 1st Dowdy’s CH GREENTREE GOLD MOMBO TO DENZILLY ( imp USA)

Some time ago I judged the breed at Richmond, the ring was awful, full of ruts and holes making it very difficult to assess movement, this 6 month old puppy at his first show strolled around as if he were on a bowling green and such was his quality that I had no hesitation in awarding him CC and BOB. The steward on the day questioned both my decision and my sanity! So here we are 9 years and a breed record 43 CC’s later, I will not list his many qualities, 40 odd other judges have already done so in great detail, just read the breed standard, it’s all there ! Last time my critique concluded WOW What a Puppy, today I amend that to WOW WHAT A DOG ! CC and BEST IN SHOW

2nd Satherley’s CH/AM/CAN CH SILKCROFT FREEZE FRAME JW JWW18 BEL JCH

At 7 ½ In fine fettle in great condition and worthy of all his titles, moved very well

3rd Williams’ FLAXELLA LIVING LEGEND OF GWENDONYDD up against tough opposition in this class but nevertheless didn’t look out of place, well proportioned and moved well.

Puppy Dog ( 3 ) 1st Satherley & Bye’s SILKCROFT PERFECT SYMMETRY (AI) at almost 12 months his name says it all, has panache and impressed all the way through, a real showman, superb movement, so well balanced, should have a great future. BEST PUPPY, Res DOG CC and RESERVE BEST IN SHOW

2nd Stevens’ CROFfTYSOFTY BEE BRAVE very nice puppy, slightly younger but very close to 1 in so many respects, put up a good show, lovely puppy.

3rd Cleverly’s JANEYJIMJAMS JINJA BEER Another nice one, came up against strong competition on the day but shows much promise.

Junior Dog (2) 1st Gale’s CALVANACE SHAKE YOUR GROOVE Well proportioned, strong head, lovely coat coming through, moved very well.

2nd Croffty softy Bee Brave

Special Beginners Dog (2) 1st CROFFTY SOFTY BEE BRAVE

2nd Amel-Azizpour’s CROFFTYSOFTY HAY JUDE same breeding as 1 but previous litter, nice proportions but not quite as steady on the move.

Post Graduate Dog (3) 1st Lines-Barrett & Barrett’s ABIQUA WILD IN MY BLUE JEANS good size, nice outline, Nice head and neck, good mouth, steady on the move.

2nd CROFFTYSOFTY HAY JUDE

3rd Mulholland & Howell’s DENZILLY MR TRICKSTER Could easily have reversed the positions on another day, nice dog, lovely coat, sadly not quite as steady on the move today.

Limit Dog (2) 1stSatherley & Winter’s LAKKAS YANKEE SWEET SILKCROFT (IMP SWE) JW Nice looking boy, good head and neck, level topline and correct tailset, lovely coat of good colour, moved with drive.

2nd Gent’s CALVANACE HOUSE OF FUN Another nice one, well proportioned, lots of good qualities very close decision

Open Dog (4) 1st Walsh & Hanna’s TEAGHLACH ANGEL KINAELAN (IMP ESP) Worthy winner of a very strong class, almost nit picking to choose the placings, lovely Irish coat, comforms well to breed standard, impressed on the move.

2nd Hookway & Mason’s DENZILLY GOLDEN COMPASS Out of my BOB winner and showing much of his Sire’s quality, great hind movement.

3rd Clarke’s FLAXELLA ILLUMINATI (AI) JW Another strong contender could easily win on another day, fabulous coat

Champion Dog (4) Another strong class as the title would suggest and all worthy of their titles, again not much to choose between them just the performance on the day 1st Satherley’s SILKCROFT SHAKE IT OFF JW Caught the eye on the move, well balanced good mouth, nice dark eye, good pigment and a really nice coat.

2nd Satherley’s CH/AM/CAN CH KEEPSAKES NO JACKET REQUIRED (IMP CAN) Close decision, could swap places anytime, highlights what I said about imported bloodlines improving the breed.

3rd Clarke’s CH FLAXELLA PERFECT STORM What can I say, another really nice dog well worthy of his title up against very strong competition

Veteran Bitch (4- 2 absent) 1st Howell’s ABIQUA WILD PIANNISIMA A few days short of her 8th birthday, a nice girl in good order, if slightly overweight!, lovely coat of good colour, moved very well.

2nd Gleeson’s GLENDOWAN GOLDEN BRANDY To an outsider you would not be aware that these are veterans, lots of quality and still looking good.

Special Vintage Bitch (3 -1 absent) 1st Satherley’s CH SILKCROFT SKY FULL OF STARS 11 years and fantastic for her age, very lively and enthusiastic in great condition.

2nd Wright’s KARISKIYE TIP TOP TOO TICKY AT ABBEYMEAD now 12 ½ enjoying her day out still in very good condition

Minor Puppy Bitch (2) 1st Williams’ HOPLA KIA AT GWENDONYDD (IMP DNK) Just 6 months, loved this one, absolutely delightful, lovely make and shape, moved a treat. Happy to give her Best Puppy Bitch and Reserve CC

2nd Black & White’s MAYURASANA CRYSTAL VISIONS Another very nice pup, lots of quality, needs to settle but shows a lot of promise

Puppy Bitch (4- 1 absent) 3 lovely pups, hard class to separate, 1st Satherley & Bye’s SILKCROFT CRYSTAL BALL (AI) At 11 months the most mature and it shows, lovely girl, georgeous coat, a treat to watch on the move.

2nd Fallon’s CROFFTYSOFTY BEE YONCE in contention, so much to like, with more maturity will be very nice.

3rd Cooper’s JANEYJIMJAMS JINJA ROGERS another one with so much to like, not quite as steady on the day.

Junior Bitch (1) Thoburn’s 1st NORTHRIDGE WOLF BLUFF Stood alone but would stand a good chance anyway, a really nice young lady, very well proportioned, great coat and impressive on the move.

Special Beginners Bitch (2-1 absent)1st Ward’s DENZILLY I PUT A SPELL ON YOU stood alone and performed well, glorious coat, nice proportions, moved very well.

Post Graduate Bitch (3) 1st Grimes & Watson’s KEEVASDREAM PURPLE BLISS FOR SPUDLER A little pale in coat but the colour is there, nice body shape, level topline and good tailset, moved well.

2nd Ronan’s DENZILLY POPPET MAGIC similar qualities and a very close decision, better colour but couldn’t quite match the movement on the day.

3rd Mapson’s ABIQUA WILD BURLESQUE good for size and general confirmation, moved well

Limit Bitch (11-2 absent) Really tough class, lots of quality. 1st Grant’s DANNEBRIEL ME AND MY GIRL (AI) JW loved this one, in top form, caught my eye at every turn, beautifully balanced, georgeous coat, very stylish on the move. Pleased to award CC and Best Opposite Sex

2nd Hughlock’s KEEVASDREAM BALLERINA BLUE JW close decision in a really strong class, lots of quality , good colour, impressive on the move.

3rd Thoburn’s NORTHRIDGE HOLD YOUR HORSES competed well in a very strong class, quality bitch with much to commend

Open Bitch (5-2 absent) Only 3 in the class but nothing between them,all quality, just comes down to catching the eye at the right moment. 1st Satherley’s CH SILKCROFT FORTUNE AND GLORY JW top quality just managed that extra spark at the right time.

2nd Barrett’s SAFFINI THE SWEETEST TABOO so very close, the quality is all there, a pleasure to watch.

3rd Charlton’s HOUSE OF INDY JANEY JIMJAMS(IMP SWE) no disgrace to be 3rd in this class.

Champion Bitch (4-1absent) another incredibly strong class, all living up their titles,any one of them could win on their day 1st Satherley’s CH SILKCROFT NEVER MISS A BEAT caught the eye, in superb condition, lovely shape,best head and great on the move.

2nd Paton’s CH DENZILLY RASPBERRY BERET So very close, a true champion,the quality is all there, so very nice

3rd Howes CH FLAXELLA FLIRTINI AT DAISYMAES so much to like, nitpicking but just didn’t quite put it together on final run compared to first 2

Steve Howe Judge