Crufts

Crufts 8 March 2026 Cocker Spaniels (bitches)

BCC, Best of Breed and Group 2 Sh Ch Zheridons Blanche (Mr D C & Mr M D Todd & Rahman)

RBCC and BVB Sh Ch Coedcernyw Calendar Girl JW (Mr I & Mrs S Hillier)

BPB Crowmere Candy Floss (Ms P Whitehead)

In 1991 I exhibited at Crufts for the first time. Like so many other exhibitors Jane and I were just delighted to have qualified and then delighted to be shortlisted in our class. At that stage we had been breeding and exhibiting for only around six years, had just qualified our first junior warrant winner and I had absolutely no desire or plan to judge. Then the telephone rang. It was the late great Ernie Darby of Classicway fame, ringing to invite me to judge cocker spaniels at the Birmingham Gundog and Terrier Club open show, which he ran with his dear wife Daphne. All of us who fondly remember Ernie will understand that when Ernie invited you to do something you did not say no! I judged the show, enjoyed it, obviously didn’t make too big a mess and so the journey began. Thankyou Ernie and Daphne for putting me on a road that led me here, thirty-five years later, to Crufts 2026.

Very special thanks go to the Crufts Committee for inviting me to judge at this extraordinary show. The wait had been long but when the day finally dawned it turned out to be an incredible experience and undoubtedly the pinnacle of my judging career.

The entry in bitches was huge so I had no time to waste and I have to thank my two efficient stewards and all the exhibitors who supported me in getting through the numbers in good time. Quantity in the classes did not always equate to great depth of quality but I was delighted with all the class winners and my final unbeaten lineup was a pleasure to see and it narrowed down to a final shortlist of five outstanding bitches.

In the end it came down to two breed greats battling it out for the CC. My detail critiques appear under the classes but I can say that Sh Ch Zheridons Blanche (Suzie) and Sh Ch Coedcernyw Calendar Girl (Chloe) are both absolutely textbook for cocker type, construction and movement. Separating the two of them was therefore a joyous headache and both they and their owners gave everything to the challenge. In the end I can do no better than quote a favourite song lyric to explain Suzie’s ascendance to the crown – “She seems to have an invisible touch, she reaches in, and grabs right hold of your heart”. Suzie certainly grabbed my heart today, and I know, many others. She moved effortlessly from the CC win through to Best of Breed with my co judge’s agreement, and then gave a faultless performance in the gundog group, only losing out to the eventual Best in Show winner.

For her part Chloe did not put a foot wrong either and as a judge I can only be grateful to see two generational cocker talents together. Cockers this good do not come along very often and to see two of such quality overlap their careers was something very special.

On the negative side construction in many failed to give the flowing angulation I was searching for which in turn gives us the flowing movement which the breed should demonstrate. I did encounter a small number of suspect mouths, some sore eyes, and a small number who were flummoxed by the loud and regular loudspeaker announcements. All had to pay the price. I also encountered a slightly mystifying phenomenon from a small number of exhibitors who inserted a thin cloth under the bitch’s rear feet when setting them up. Thankfully they removed said cloth at my request when I explained that I wanted to judge all exhibits standing on the same surface. Hope this does not catch on.

GCDSB (16, 2)

1 Sheigra Simply A Star JW ShCEx OSW VW (Mrs C A West) won the class for her honest cocker type. Very compact in build with excellent angulation. Shown in great condition and coat. Moved very happily and positively.

2 Crimicar Blu Diamond JW (Miss A J Salmon) catches the eye for her type and excellent presentation. Very square in outline and feminine all through. Great condition with stunning coat which is so well prepared, very happy positive mover. 

3 Sheigra Special Secret with Balaambeck (Mrs H Beckwith)

MPB (2, 0)

Two very promising puppies.

1 Bartonholm Bellecoeur (Mrs L M Duncan) lovely headed blue who has beautiful construction all through. Excellent strength in body. Really moved out well which won her this class. 

2 Topday Up Town Girl (Miss J Mcbride) Excellent compact type of cocker who is well made all through. Close up to winner, her confidence in movement will grow, I’m sure. 

PB (22,1)

Good class overall but variable in type.

1 Crowmere Candy Floss (Ms P Whitehead) has everything I was looking for including that extra presence which took her through to my final CC shortlist and Best Puppy Bitch. Scores for correct compact cocker type, beautiful angulation all through. Moved out and showed really well, an exciting youngster. 

2 Chezza Marnier Crush (Mrs C Stokes-Harrell) very pretty and feminine orange who has less maturity than winner but really scores for her quality, excellent angulation and balance. Lovely head and the makings of a beautiful coat, she is a very happy sound mover. 

3 Ziennes Disco Dolly (Mr G A Steele)

JB(13,4) 

Slightly disappointing class overall

1 Annilann Miss Woopsi Poopsi (Miss S J Whiting) won here for her correct compact and strong cocker type. Uncomplicated but full of type. A happy outgoing mover 

2 Craigdean Cindy Oh Cindy (Mrs S Ewan) a quality black, not as short as the winner but has a very good head, lovely coat and moved out well. 

3Suguire’s Eyes On Me (Mr R K Maguire)

YB (30,0)

 A strong class headed by two lovely blacks.

1 Chataway Motzi Mabuse (Mr D C & Mr M D Todd & Rahman) won here for her maturity and strength in body. Has a very pleasing head, excellent angulation throughout and is in great coat. Wonderful happy and free movement. Very well handled. Shortlisted for CC. 

2 Merrysoul Donatella Versace with Bocablue (Miss J K Pop) very feminine and compact black who scores for classic cocker type. In excellent coat and moved very soundly and happily. 

3 Manchela Soul Sister JW (Mr M J & Mr M F Masters & Dott)

UGB (23,4)

A good class where movement decided the top placings 

1 Ryallcourt Silent Night (Mr M & Mrs C Norie-Miller) ultra feminine tri of great quality and type. Very pretty head, she won here for her great angulation and happy outgoing movement. Her best is yet to come 

2 Ryallcourt Timeless Thread (Ms P Whitehead) not moving as confidently as the winner but placed for her outstanding front angulation and short body. Quality all the way 

3 Cassom Dancing Queen at Regaltav JW (Mrs E L Tavernor)

GB (18,3)

1 Chativore Sea La Vie (Mrs S Gladman) short and balanced with excellent angulation. Won for her shortness and cockery movement. A very correct cocker 

2 Chavez Golden Glow with Withiflor (Miss S J M Ellison) eye catching red put down beautifully in stunning coat and condition. Excellent substance and very happy mover. 

3 Wightroche Calla Lilly (Ms C & Mr I Blackley & Salero)

PGB (26,4)

1 Canyonn Classic Vision JW (Miss D & Mrs S Young) quality black who won this class for her excellent angulation and free movement combined with excellent substance. Very honest correct cocker  

2 Granrose Three Times A Lady by Charmwen (Mr A & Mrs C Burnet) very feminine blue who scores for great front angulation. Short in body with fantastic coat quantity and quality. Beaten by the more positive movement of the winner 

3 Cassom Blue Muse at Regaltav (Mrs E L Tavernor)

MLB (13,3)

1 Rosecourt Romance (Mrs K Nuttall) very honest but high quality blue who won this class for her all-round cocker type and movement. She has an attractive head and is completely unexaggerated with great balance. An uncomplicated correct cocker who I shortlisted for the CC. 

2 Plaiglen Biker Babe to Helenwood JW (Mr N Woods) very impressive black who combines substance and quality. Very good head and excellent overall construction. Just lost out to the more positive hind action of winner. 

3 Glowhill Annika at Lararth (Mr D C & Mrs S L Bowen)

LB (16,4)

1 Misperros Incandescent at Carmelfair JW (Mrs J & Mrs M Fairbairn & Madigan) very feminine dark blue who won here for her collected, cockery movement. She is very honest in type and construction, strictly no exaggerations and great balance. Has a beautiful head combined with excellent angulation fore and aft. Excellent cat and condition. 

2 Chativore Violet Sky (Mrs S Gladman) quality dark blue who couldn’t match the precise movement of the winner today. Has excellent substance and compact construction. In excellent coat, happy mover. 

3 Tessa De L'orme À Lieue (N De Paule)

OB (41,6)

Huge class where my challenge was to narrow down to the top quality I was searching for. I managed this and shortlisted a wonderful eight exhibits from which the winner stood heads and shoulders above the rest.

1 Sh Ch Zheridons Blanche (Mr D C & Mr M D Todd & Rahman) my notes say “easy, easy like Sunday morning”, although it was Sunday afternoon by the time I judged her. She really does make it easy for you as a judge. Everything about her is in the right place and fits so perfectly together. She has a sweet head but it is her eye which starts to suck you in. As required her expression is gentle, intelligent and wide awake but there is more, these eyes talk to you! And as I discovered later resistance is futile! Her forearm construction is about as good as it gets and means that your hands just flow from the front to the rear of her, at the same time as you are marvelling at the great substance which her beauty and femininity have all but concealed. But there’s more, lots more, her coat quality today was as near perfect as I have ever encountered, as flat and close fitting as you could ask for, more than adequate feathering but with a shine that not just grabbed me on the table but shone out across the breed ring and later the massive group ring. Did I mention her movement, because she covers the ground like no other cocker, smooth, sound and enormously powerful, everything a cocker should be. The bond with her handler is remarkable, but then it should be as she is coupled with the best handler of our generation. Case closed! CC, Best of Breed, Gundog Group 2 

2 Riondel Solitaire (Miss C Morris) dark blue who score for great substance combined with her very positive cockery movement. Has a very attractive head and eye, excellent body combined with great angulation all through. In excellent full, top quality coat. 

3 Ir Sh Ch Sparklette Shines at Charbonnel JW Ir/int Jch (Mrs K Brennan)

FTB (0,0)

SWGB (0,0)

VB (32,10) 

Lovely class of golden oldies headed by the ultimate queen of golden oldies!

1 Sh Ch Coedcernyw Calendar Girl JW (Mr I & Mrs S Hillier) eight years old red, whose type, quality and condition is extraordinary, an enormous credit to her owners. She has a stunning head and eye, her construction and angulation are close to perfection and all this is combined with lovely substance. Today she moved out with real verve and enthusiasm, giving her absolute all in the challenge. A very worthy Reserve CC, best veteran bitch and Best Veteran in Breed. 

2 Annilann Miss Magicstar at Beckaby (Mrs D L & Mr G P Driver) super cobby and cockery blue who scores for her compact type and wonderful attitude on the move. Attractive head and eye, excellent in ribs and strength of construction, in great coat and condition. 

3 Kerriglow Honesty JW (Miss L Davies)

Andrew Jones (Judge)