Crufts

German Shorthaired Pointers Crufts 8th March 2025

It was a great honour to be asked to judge at CRUFTS after well over 40 years in the breed.

I last awarded CCs in 2021 & this time I found more than a few with heads that could not be described as “clean cut” being too heavy with full cheeks & round eyes giving a totally untypical expression. The nasal bone should rise gradually from nose to forehead, the heavy brows on some exhibits gave a definite “stop”. The head should be the first indication that a GSP is “worth it’s salt”. Shoulders should be “close bladed” not almost a hands width apart i.e. when running your hand down an exhibits neck it should flow over the shoulder blades. Well laid shoulder blades with a good return of upper arm placing the forelegs under the body are required. Far too many had either open angles or a good lay of shoulder but a short upper arm, causing the exhibits to have their forelegs too far forward, not under their bodies & almost all of these had no fore chest evident. These issues with heads & angulation need recognising & addressing by breeders.

Having written the foregoing, I did find plenty of exhibits that fitted the Breed Standard & I was pleased with both of my Challenge line ups. There was a great atmosphere round the ring & my decisions were well received. The icing on the cake was my Best of Breed being shortlisted in the Group.

VD (4)

1 Sielski Sh Ch Orchidstar Bonds Of Speed JW ShCM 7 year old who has a masculine head. Correct eye shape & colour with a kind expression. Good reach of neck leads to well laid shoulders. Firm level topline held on the move. He stands on well boned straight limbs. Straight front with forechest & good depth of chest. Well sprung ribs, firm deep loin. Well set & carried tail. Good coat texture. Moved well to take this class & later Best Veteran In Breed.

2 Cook & Lamb Brooke Will Do It Through Milcook 8 year old with a masculine head & dark eye. Good reach of neck into well placed shoulders. Balanced angulation all through with width to his second thigh. Moved out well.

3 Thomas Brainescroft Tahiti

JD (1)

1 Smith Venatur Forest. 13 month solid liver dog who stands on well boned straight limbs & tight feet. Well angulated all through with short rear pasterns. Chest deep with a good spring of rib, short backed. Unsettled on the move today.

PGD (8)

1 Daws Pelenrise Blow A Gasket 19 mth old who presents a balanced picture on the stack. Masculine head well set on neck of moderate length. Firm level topline held on the move. Good lay of shoulder & return of upper arm. Good depth of chest. Short backed with a well set & carried tail. He has good bone & a slight slope to his front pasterns & tight feet. He moved soundly up & down & showed good reach & drive in profile. Close up for top honours.

2 Brown Montalba Mustrum Ridcully JW 2 year old with a masculine head well set on neck of good length leading to well laid shoulders. He stands on straight well boned legs & neat feet. Good spring of ribs which reach well back to a deep firm loin. Well set tail. Good width of second thigh. Moved well when settled.

3 Tudor Orchidstar Memphis Gold At Brocador

LD (6,1)

1 Russell Fraulynzway Lightning Bolt JW 2 year old with a pleasing masculine head well set on neck of good length. Dark eyes & depth of muzzle. Balanced angulation all through with width to his second thigh. Well boned straight limbs & tight neat feet. Firm topline & well set tail. Well sprung ribs reach well back to short deep loin. Shown in fit condition. He moved out well here to take the class but was unsettled on the move in the challenge.

2 Shepherd Orchidstar Full Speed Ahead 4 year old with a good masculine head. Dark eyes & kind expression. Neck of good length leads to well placed shoulders. Balanced angulation all through with a firm level topline held on the move. Well sprung ribs & short deep loin. Moved well when settled.

3 Hill Ceilloch Russian

OD (5,1)

1 Sielski Sh Ch Orchidstar Bolts Of Speed. This dog 4 year old won the RCC from my last appointment, as a Junior, here is the finished article. He presents a balanced picture on the stack & holds his shape well on the move. Masculine head with good depth of muzzle. Eyes are set correctly & have an intelligent expression. Neat ears . Good reach of neck leads to well laid shoulders with a good return of upper arm placing his forelegs under his body. Straight well boned limbs with good bone. Slight slope to pasterns & the best of feet, round with well arched toes. Chest is well let down. Ribs are well sprung & reach well back to a deep loin. He has a firm level topline with a well set & carried tail. Matching angulation behind. He was presented in excellent coat & condition. He uses his well-muscled rear quarters to good effect on the move, showing great reach & drive in profile and is sound out & back. He put on a great performance to take the DCC & later BOB & earned himself a group shortlist. Well done.

2 Brown & Burns Sh Ch Magregor Pop The Dom Over Pothouse. 5 years old. Another good example of the Breed. He has a masculine head of good proportions well set on a good reach of neck which flows into well placed shoulders. Well angulated all through with good width of second thigh. Deep chest. Good spring of rib, short deep loin. Firm topline & correct tailset. Another presented in lovely condition with correct coat texture. He moved very well from all angles. RDCC

3 Brown Montalba Mister Teatime

GCSD (2)

1 Powell Hiccups Leaving A Legacy Well up to size. 2 year old dog with a good head. Good length of neck , well laid shoulders & well turned stifles with a good width of second thigh. He had a good stride in profile though was a little unsettled out & back.

2 Beresford Tuptonsett Master Dexter. This 18mth dog had a stronger head than the winner. Well laid shoulder blade. Short backed with a deep loin & well set tail. Plenty of bone & tight feet. Good coat texture. Moved OK.

VB (10,4)

1 Russell Gaia’s Novaterra Vom Fraulynzway. 7 year old with a lovely feminine head with soft intelligent expression. Forechest evident. Good reach of neck leads to well placed shoulders. Well angulated all through with width of second thigh. Lovely feet & slight slope to her pastern. She showed good reach & drive in profile.

2 Whittaker Pingarypoint Hot to Trot. 7 year old. Another good head with a gentle expression. Good reach of neck. Balanced angles fore & aft with a good width of second thigh & short rear pasterns. Well sprung ribs & depth of chest. Moved well.

3 Thomas & Taylor Knabynnus Aurora Borealis

JB (3)

1 Sielski Orchidstar Tick Tok 12mth my notes say a pretty head. She has a good length of muzzle & well set ears. Her neck is of good length. She has a firm level topline & is well angulated all through. Stands on well boned legs & tight feet. Sound from any angle. Good coat & condition.

2 Brudenell-Pryke & Gallagher Venatur Indicus 13mth solid liver with a feminine head & soft expression. Presents a balanced picture on the stack with depth to chest & is well angulated all through, with good width & sweep of second thigh. Short backed with a well set tail. A little unsettled on the move.

3 Key Orchidstar Time To Chime

PGB (13,2)

1 Tait Benboee Beeloved. 2 year old with an attractive head of good proportions which is well set on a good reach of neck. Plenty of depth with a good forechest. Ribs are well sprung & reach well back to a firm deep loin. Well angulated all through with a level topline which she holds on the move. Well set tail. Stands on well boned legs & tight feet. Presented in fit condition, she has a coat of correct texture. Sound up & down & she showed reach & drive in profile.

2 Blair Amblairfield Flymaamlewan. 3 year old of a slightly heavier build. Lots to like. Another good head with gentle expression. Stands on well boned legs with slight slope to her pasterns & tight feet. I just preferred the shoulders of the winner. She moved out well from any angle.

3 Russell Fraulynzway Hayleys Comet

LB (6)

1 Barnett Magregor Howl To The Moon Over Tibertich JW 2 year old who I have admired from the ringside & she didn’t disappoint on closer inspection. Best of heads with balance of muzzle to skull well set eyes of correct shape & colour with a soft intelligent expression. Neck of good length leads to close bladed shoulders. She has something which some exhibits lack , a good forechest. Deep chest, well sprung ribs & a deep loin . Well angulated all through. Correct coat texture. A well set & carried tail finishes the picture. Put down in good fit condition. Short backed standing over plenty of ground. She presents a balanced picture on the stack & her movement is fluid with plenty of reach & drive. Pleased to award her what I believe was her crowning BCC. Well done.

2 Tait Benboee Beelieve. 2yr old. Another good example of the breed. Lovely angulation all through with width of second thigh. Again she has forechest, chest of good depth , well sprung ribs & a firm loin. Good topline which she holds on the move. Moved well.

3 Morrison Brozak Rise Of The Phoenix

OB (7,1)

1 Sielski Sh Ch Orchidstar Missing Link JW 3yr old bitch with a lovely balanced feminine head having length & depth of muzzle. Well set on arched neck of good length. Well angulated all through. Forechest evident with good depth of chest. Good bone & tight feet. Well sprung ribs which reach well back to deep loin. Firm level topline held on the move. Very good coat & presented in fit condition. She is sound from any angle & showed lovely reach & drive to take this class & later the RBCC.

2 Garvey Richtig Ragdoll JW Another lovely bitch with a feminine head of correct proportions. Neck of good length leads to well laid shoulders. Balanced angulation all through with width to second thigh. She stands on tight feet & has good bone. Close up she just didn’t have the bloom today of the winner. Moved well.

3 Sielski Sh Ch Orchidstar Jenga

SWGB (2,1)

1 Jackman & Jackman Navigareamor Spring Tide 4th in Limit this 3 year old B/W bitch has a feminine head well set on neck of good length. Balanced angulation all through she stands on well boned legs & tight feet. Good width of second thigh. Good coat texture. Moved out well.

GCB (3,1)

1 Brudenell-Pryke Puddledub Pilis At Venatur. 4th in Post Graduate this 5 year old solid liver bitch was presented in good condition. Feminine head. Good reach of neck. Firm topline held on the move. Good bone. Moved out well.

2 N. Spring Tide

Val Mann