Crufts

CRUFTS 8Th March 2026

Spaniel (Field)

Little did I imagine when we bought our first Field Spaniel over 40 years ago and were taken by his breeder to see the breed at Crufts at Earls Court that I would ever be judging the breed and certainly not judging them at the world’s most prestigious Dog Show; thank you to Crufts for the invitation and most importantly to the exhibitors for the honour and privilege of exhibiting your dogs under me and the sporting way you accepted my decisions, I thought the atmosphere around the ring was excellent. Thank you also to my two stewards who kept things moving smoothly.

Movement was generally excellent and the space on the large green carpeted rings gave the exhibits every opportunity to drive round the ring which in the main they took. One or two of the younger exhibits found the atmosphere a little daunting. However. I was disappointed in the heads of some of the exhibits, they lacked the length of muzzle and chiselling and well defined occiput which is a key feature of the head in our breed which is needed to give that noble look. Mouths too were a cause for concern with some being level rather than the correct scissor bite the breed standard requires; breeders need to pay attention to this again.

GCDSD (4) 1.Elliott’s Elgert Break Every Rule at Portsoy, 6 year old roan in excellent condition, gentle expression would prefer a little more length of muzzle, straight front, good reach of neck, well sprung ribs, good bone, best mover in the class covering the ground well with drive. 2. Porter, Russell & Palm’s Bogdogs Brynnyth at Winsbrook 5 year old liver, OK head, good reach of neck, good size and substance, straight front, correct length not as confident as 1 or as positive on the move.3. Young & Nunn’s Brynnyth Elysian.

PD (1) Stone’s Sonnetend Brothers in Arms, 10 month old black, such a lot to like about this puppy, took my eye as soon as he entered the ring, so mature and confident for his age should have a great future ahead of him. Pleasing head and expression dark eye, good reach of neck, straight front, lovely outline, good turn of stifle, moved with drive BP,

JD (3,1) 1. Stone’s Sonnetend Brothers in Arms. 2. Morris’s Fecimus Joyful Story of Lunakatris, 16 month old liver and tan, slightly smaller than 1, Ok head with kind expression and good drop of ear, very happy on the move however his front movement is not his fortune.

PGD (5,1) 1 Stone’s. Sonnetend Brothers in Arms. 2 Harris’s Thandiwe Mirrorball, 20 month old liver, not the head and expression of 1 good length, correct shoulder placement, well turned stifle, well muscled. Moved OK. 3. Young & Nunn’s Brynnyth Elysian.

LD (4) 1 Harding’s. Kingsmist Remember Me JW, 3 year old liver who I have liked from the ringside and was not disappointed when I went over him, pleasing head and expression, good reach of neck correct shoulder placement, straight front, correct length, well turned stifle, covered the ground with drive in the class but lost out in movement in the challenge, 2. Mrs J & Miss V & Ms A Porter & Russell & Palm’s Bogdogs Brynnyth at Winsbrook 3. Mrs H J & Tye’s Irisbel The Greatest Showman at Tymora JW.

OD (6) Strong class with some excellent exhibits. 1. Bebb-Sutton’s Sonnetend Spellbinder by Cochen, 6 year old liver roan who has matured nicely and is coming to his best; he has a good head with correct chiselling and length of foreface and correct shaped eye and drop of ear, good reach of neck, correct shoulder placement, balanced outlined with correct length, well turned stifle, covered the ground with drive and purpose, pleased to award him RCC.2. Menzies & Henderson’s Sh Ch Nadavin Nabilah at Vrackie 3 year old liver who when I first saw him at 10 weeks I could happily have taken home, pleased to see that he is fulfilling that early promise and is maturing nicely, pleasing head with gentle expression, straight front, slightly shorter in back than 1, good turn of stifle, well feathered tail which he used to good effect on the move covering the ground well. 3. Adams & Lewis’s Sh Ch Nadavin Yaden at Irisbel.

VD (3) 3 quality veterans showing how well our breed matures with age, 1. Haynes’s Nadavin Wensley, 9 year old black who was my RCC winner last time, showed his socks off and was not to be denied today! He has that length of muzzle that was lacking in some, low set ears, correct eye shape, gentle expression, good reach of neck, well placed shoulders, correct length of back, well sprung ribs, well turned stifle correct tail set, flowed effortlessly round the ring pleased to award him CC his 3rd also BV. 2. Harris’s Kingsmist Panther, 9 year old black slightly stronger head than 1, straight front, good length of back, well turned stifle, covered the ground well but didn’t hold his topline as well as 1. 3. Malmberg’s Dk Ch Periwinkle´s Paragon.

GCDSB (5) 1.Mrs S M Harnett’s Redeswell Sweet Serendipity 3 year old black who moved and showed well, at one with her handler, nice head with good chiselling and soft expression, straight front, correct length of back, pleasing outline, good turn of stifle, needs some more feathering to complete the picture, pleased to award her RCC. 2. Sh Ch Sonnetend Faith 9 year old liver with nice head, correct eye shape and colour, with good ear set, good reach of neck, straight front, in good coat but which was not in the best condition, good length, correct turn of stifle, well muscled, moved well. 3. Mcvitty’s Sonnetend Eternal Flame.

PB (2) Promising 10 month old liver litter sisters who gave us all a little amusement on the day I am sure that they will change place many times,1. Murray’s Sonnetend Money for Nothing, still very raw who once settled moved the best, pleasing head, straight front, good outline standing, lost out to her litter brother in the challenge for BP.2.Stone & Parvin’s Sonnetend Expresso Love, preferred head of 1,good length, not as confident as 1 but this will come with more training,

 JB (4) 1. Bebb-Sutton’s Nadavin Aleana Gyda Cochen 16 month old liver who gave her handler a hard time, pleasing head and expression good reach of neck, straight front, good length, well turned stifle, a little unsettled on the move, 2. Cullen Birkett’s Trevoris One More Wine, 13 month old liver, preferred the head and expression of 1, good neck and shoulders, slightly shorter in back than 1, well turned stifle, moved OK 3. Harnett’s Cwcnels Elderberry.

PGB (7,2) 1. Mrs S M Harnett’s Redeswell Sweet Serendipity, 2. Mcvitty’s Sonnetend Eternal Flame 2 year old liver pleasing head with good length of muzzle, straight front, correct length well turned stifle, didn’t move as well as 1 3. Walker-Smith’s Nadavin Nyla.

LB (4) 1. Mrs S M Harnett’s Redeswell Sweet Serendipity. 2. Mr G & Mrs S Wood’s Nadavin Nusa at Sagala 3 year old black, good head and expression with lovely dark eye, well set ears, correct length, good turn of stifle, moved well but not as flowing as 1, 3. Mr A & Mrs H Walker-Smith’s Nadavin Nyla.

OB (6) 3 quality bitches who are all worthy Sh Ch’s and will swap places many times. 1. Barker’s Sh Ch Nadavin Yirki at Tumblebar.6 year old liver just coming to her prime, loved her feminine head and expression not overdone in any way with the correct length of muzzle, correct chiselling and dark eye, good reach of neck, straight front, correct lay of shoulder, beautiful outline, nice turn of stifle, in top condition, moved with drive both in the class and in the challenges worthy CC and BOB winner. 2. Holgate’s Sh Ch Nadavin Exclusive JW 5 year old liver pleasing head and expression with dark eye and good ear set, straight front, slightly shorter in back than 1, well turned stifle, covered the ground well. 3. Mr G & Mrs E A Hazell’s Sh Ch Nadavin Expectation of Vraibleu.

VB (4) another quality veteran class, 1. Holgate’s Sh Ch Nadavin Wenhaver JW, 9 year old liver good head with melting expression, good reach of neck, straight front, good length, well turned stifle, moved well but not quite as well as her litter brother in challenge for BV. 2. Harding’s Kingsmist Miss Marple JW 7 year old black, pleasing head and expression, correct chiselling, good length, moderate turn of stifle, moved OK , 3. Ms M Mcvitty’s Sh Ch Sonnetend Faith.

Howard Taylor (Judge)