Crufts

Crufts Critique Thank you so much for the invitation to judge Pointers at Crufts. Also huge thanks to my two excellent stewards. I have had Pointers since 1977 and have witnessed many changes through the years. Today I was presented with some excellent quality, making some decisions very hard, and sadly some quality specimens had to go home cardless. Thank you to all who entered giving me an entry of 263 Pointers. I have long thought that Pointers should have two judges given the entries they tend to get. There are points that need watching, some of which I have mentioned previously. So many with short upright pasterns and round cat feet, this is not correct for a Pointer. In some cases I had to ignore this because of the overall quality of the dog. Another thing I came across were many that were long in the couplings, they should be short-coupled. High tail carriage I hate to see too, and where are the pronounced occiputs? Finally movement left a lot to be desired in a fair few. Having said all that there were many beautiful heads, balanced construction, neat tails, and flowing lines which give the essence of the Pointer. When we come to the individual dogs I’m afraid my critiques will be fairly short as, owing to the size of the entry and the timescale given, my notes were brief. Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog - (11) 1st - Philo’s Sunhouse Black Is Back At Salmonmist JW (AI) - sound moving b/w shown in spanking condition. Well balanced fore and aft with correct topline and good muscle tone. Low set hocks. Pleasing head with skull of medium breadth and well defined stop. Fine leathers of correct shape. 2nd - Stilgoe & Fox’s Teisgol Sweet William JW JCH - another well balanced dog, this one o/w. He flows from his well arched neck into correct front, deep brisket, well sprung ribs and muscled hindquarters with tail coming straight off his correct topline. Pleasing in head and expression. Just not quite the steady movement of 1st. 3rd - Tregaskis’ Moenfair Sanguineum Luna JW - heavier l/w I think needs to lose a pound or two. He has a nice shape and shown in gleaming coat. Good in feet and pasterns, low set hocks. Neat tail. Minor Puppy Dog - (2) 1st - Oliver’s Wilchrimane Florin To Olivesong - promising 8 months o/w with a lovely head and expression. Well laid shoulder, good depth and well sprung ribs. A little erratic on the move, or should I say bouncy, but he is still a baby. 2nd - Harrison’s Millpoint Mr Loverman. 8 months b/w. Another promising puppy. Good front and rear angulations, deep in brisket and well sprung ribs. Neat tail. Long arched neck. Pleasing in head and expression. I feel he is at the awkward stage right now. Puppy Dog - (4) 1st - Galloway’s Chesterhope Agent Orange. 10 months o/w stylish puppy. Beautiful head with well defined stop showing slight dish faced appearance. Dark expressive eyes, soft turn of lip, fine leathers. Long neck flowing into his slightly sloping topline with correct tailset. Well angulated fore and aft. Moved well. Best Puppy. 2nd - Bardossy’s Shadybrook Saregresi Laced White Night. Another 10 months o/w. Stylish, typy dog with a lovely shape, balanced fore and aft. Slightly broader in skull than 1st but he has a well defined stop giving the slightly dished face appearance, and nice turn of lip. Sloping pasterns and low set hocks. 3rd - Martin’s Sunhouse Quintessential. 11 months b/w. Pleasing in head with well defined stop, dark eyes, well turned lip and fine leathers. Well balanced angulation fore and aft. Shown in excellent coat and muscular condition. Well sprung ribs and depth of brisket. Junior Dog - (12) 1st - Scotland’s Daledancer Victor Mcdade. Very typy o/w with a lovely head, dark expressive eyes and defined stop. Well sprung ribs and deep brisket. Neat tail coming straight off his topline. Moved well with lashing tail. 2nd - Siddle, Siddle & Mazzeo’s Wilchrimane Cereal Killer. Quality b/w with super balanced outline. Pleasing in head and eye, long neck flowing into well laid shoulders and strong topline. Close up to 1st. Just a little apprehensive when he first moved but then his tail came up and he went well. 3rd - O’Neill’s Tenshilling Hello Stranger. Another quality b/w with balanced head, defined stop, nice turn of lip and fine leathers. Good in depth of brisket and well sprung ribs. Just losing his topline a shade. Yearling Dog - (11) 1st - Clinton’s Sonham Just Over The Moon At Oramiss (AI) JW. Balanced b/w, well angulated fore and aft. Pleasing in head and eye, ample reach of neck, well turned stifle and low set hocks. Neat tail. Moved okay. 2nd - Stilgoe & Fox’s Teisgol Sweet William JW JCH. 2nd in Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog. 3rd - Beston & Smith’s Sonham Just Because (AI). B/w of finer build but stylish lad with pleasing head, long neck leading into correct topline and good tailset. Post Graduate Dog - (25) 1st - Stilgoe & Fox’s Teisgol Magic. B/w with lovely shape. Long neck leading into well laid shoulder angulation. Deep in brisket. Slightly sloping topline finished off with a neat tail. Low set hocks. Pleasing in head and expression. Moved well. 2nd - Bush’s Piasharn Rocka Rolla. B/w unlucky to meet 1st. Prefer the head & expression of this lad. Lovely clean lines with long neck, good in front angulation, topline, well set tail. Not quite as positive on the move as 1st. 3rd - O’Neill’s Tenshilling Shboom JW. Another quality b/w. Liked his head & expression. Long neck flowing into good shoulder placement, deep brisket and spring of rib. Losing his topline a shade in the stack. Mid Limit Dog - (23). Quality class. 1st - Millett’s Riowood Orange Twist. Really liked this o/w lad. He is so well balanced from his lovely head to the tip of his tail. Long neck, slightly sloping topline with correct tailset. Well angulated fore and aft. Slightly sloping pasterns, oval feet, and low set hocks. Excellent spring and depth of rib. Moved on a good stride. 2nd - Henshaw & Goodchild’s Berseydale Straight Flush With Peteshe. Quality b/w with shapely body. Another lovely head and expression with defined stop, nice turn of lip and thin leathers. Correct in body with good layback of shoulder and return of upper arm, deep brisket and lovely turn of stifle with low set hocks. 3rd - Rose’s De Las Navazuelas Stormcloud At Ridanflight (Imp ESP). Another b/w I really liked. Same remarks as 2nd, just needs to mature on. He has sloping pasterns and low set hocks. A well balanced quality lad. Limit Dog - (12) 1st - Bird’s Droveborough’s The Gambit At Vinepoint. Stylish b/w with balanced head, defined stop, nice turn of lip, and dark expressive eye. Well balanced in body, neat feet with sloping pasterns. Hocks low set. Tends to fight his handler on the move but when he steadies he moves well. 2nd - Allen’s Dondaig Wooden Heart. Quality b/w with well chiselled head, dark eye , neat leathers. Well angulated fore and aft. Good feet and pasterns, low set hocks. Excellent topline with well sprung ribs and depth of brisket. Tail coming straight off the back. 3rd - Tibbs’ Raigmore Keep The Faith JW. A favourite of mine who just wasn’t co-operating on the day. Super in head with lovely chiselling, soft lip and dark eye, good body shape with spring and depth of rib. Moved well with lashing tail. Open Dog - (17) 1st - Oddie’s Sh.Ch. Chesterhope One Way Ticket (AI) (Imp NZL). Love this b/w lad. He is so curvy giving flowing lines from nose to tail. Beautiful chiselling in head with a lovely dark eye, fine ears of correct shape. Well angulated fore and aft with correct topline and tail coming straight off the back. Well sprung ribs and depth of brisket. Low set hocks, slightly sloping pasterns. I thought he would be my best dog but he was moving slightly close behind today but lovely footfall in profile movement. A quality dog shown in tip top condition. RDCC. 2nd - Feichtinger’s Berseydale Poker Face. Quality b/w, another I really liked. Beautifully worked head with dark eye. Well balanced angulation fore and aft, in a larger frame than 1st. He has sloping pasterns and low set hocks. Moved well. 3rd - Lewis, Macara, Blackburn Bennett & Ashfield’s Sh.Ch. Kanix Snapdragon At Fallowfield. Lovely shape to this o/w lad. Angles in all the right places. Another shown in tip top condition. Moved well. Special Working Gundog Dog - (3) 1st - Henshaw & Goodchild’s Ir.Ch/Ch Sharnphilly Vice Versa With Peteshe SGWC. My surprise of the day. Beautiful 7 year old b/w dog with flowing lines from nose to tail. Beautiful head and eye, thin leathers, long arched neck flowing into slightly sloping topline with tail coming straight off the back. Well angulated fore and aft, well sprung ribs with depth. Super feet and long slightly sloping pasterns. Hocks set low. Lashes his tail on the move. DCC, Best Veteran & BOB. 2nd - Sweeney’s Ger.Ch. Lundgarth Wild Yarrow SGWC. Typy b/w dog with good angles fore and aft. Well sprung ribs with depth of brisket. Good in feet and pasterns, low set hocks. Veteran Dog - (7) 1st - Fydal Caprio At Salmonmist JW ShCM OSW ShCEx VW. Almost 9 years o/w. He has a lovely head and eye with fine leathers of correct shape. Well angled front and back. Good bone. Lovely sloping pasterns, oval feet and hocks set low. Moved well using his tail. 2nd - Bowen-Brooks’ Tenshilling Blowin Smoke. Cracking b/w. 9 years old. Very close up to 1st here. A very balanced lad in hard fit condition. Angles in all the right places. Would have liked more defined stop. Hocks set low. Moved well. 3rd - Jamieson, Macara & Blackburn-Bennett’s Sh.Ch. Kanix Peri Peri With Glenfinnan. 8 years old o/w. Another quality dog shown in fit hard condition. Well angulated fore and aft, depth and spring of rib. Pleasing head and eye. Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch - (10) 1st - Klaiber’s Hawkfield Scandalous. Very nice o/w with sweet head and expressive dark eyes. Well angled fore and aft giving flowing lines. Excellent spring and depth of rib. Moved on a good stride. 2nd - Cardiff’s Tenshilling Let’s Pretend With Prosperity. Quality b/w with lovely head, soft well turned lip and dark eye. Well balanced angles. Hocks set low. 3rd - Barham’s Droveborough Witchy Woman JW. Very nice l/w. Not much to split these 3. Another well balanced girl with flowing lines. Low set hocks. Minor Puppy Bitch - (2) 1st - Blake’s Wilchrimane Flomotion. Quality o/w of 8 months who just needs to drop in brisket and fill out. Glorious head and eye. Long neck leading into strong topline with tail coming straight off . Moved well with lovely footfall. Puppy Bitch - (7) Best Puppy Bitch came from the Junior class and was - Gordon’s Hawkfield Bewitched. 11 months very pretty o/w with feminine head and eye, soft lip and fine leathers. Long neck flowing into well constructed body. Flowing lines from nose to tail. 1st - Gordon’s Hawkfield Black Comedy. Sweet b/w of 10 months with good angulations fore and aft. Liked her sloping pasterns and oval feet. Hocks set low. Shown in hard muscular condition. Lovely dark expressive eyes in a well chiselled head. 2nd - Harrison’s Millpoint Silver Wings. Quality b/w of 11 months built on a larger frame than 1st. Excellent angulations front and rear, well sprung ribs and depth of brisket. Like her sloping pasterns and oval feet. Pleasing head and expression. 3rd - Welch & Hazeltine’s Corotine Noir Blossom With Hookwood. Another quality b/w of 11 months who flows from nose to tail. Well chiselled head, lovely dark eye, and turn of lip. Long neck flowing into strong topline. Well angled fore and aft. Hard to split those 3. Junior Bitch - (17). Lovely class. 1st - Siddle’s Wilchrimane Hex Appeal. This b/w has lovely clean lines, shown in spanking condition. Pleasing in head and eye, thin leathers of correct shape. Clean neck flowing into shapely and well balanced construction. Moved well. 2nd - Hinton, Luke & Leman’s Fleurfield Betty Barclay. Quality b/w with reachy neck flowing smoothly into well laid shoulder and return of upper arm. Good in width of thigh. Shown in fit, hard condition. Close up to 1st. 3rd - Booth’s Lundgarth Ticket To Fly JW. Another quality b/w. Balanced with all the correct angles. Reachy neck flowing smoothly into slightly sloping topline with neat tail coming straight off the back. Correct angulation front and rear with good expanse of thigh. Another class where it was hard to split the first 3. Yearling Bitch - (11) 1st - Wilkinson’s Ferndel Sapphire Mist Over Stocksfell. Quality b/w with feminine head and dark eye. Long arched neck, well angled front and back. Lengthy sloping pasterns, oval feet, and low set hocks. 2nd - Matthews’ Sonham Just A Pretty Belle (AI) JW. Quality l/w with long neck flowing into well balanced construction. Good expanse of thigh. Liked her low set hocks. 3rd - Stilgoe & Fox’s Teisgol Rose Campion JW. Very nice o/w with no exaggerations. Very typy with feminine head, dark eye and nicely turned soft lip. Well balanced. Post Graduate Bitch - (25). What a class. 1st - Hall & Sarrou’s Gartarry Sassudio. O/w, well chiselled head, lovely eye, soft lip and ample neck leading into shapely construction. Good expanse of thigh. Strong topline with tail coming straight off. 2nd - Matthews’ Sonham Just Good Friends (AI) JW. Another lovely bitch. This l/w has flowing lines from nose to tail. Shapely construction all through. Close up to 1st. 3rd - Edmondson & Robertshaw’s Crookrise Sunbeam. Another shapely l/w with balanced construction fore and aft. Pleasing head and expression with soft lip and fine leathers. Mid Limit Bitch - (22). Another fabulous class. 1st - Gerrard, Bell & Galloway’s Riowood C’mon It’s Time For Carmandine JW. Really liked this b/w. She has an exquisite head with lovely chiselling and dark expressive eye. Flowing lines from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. Lengthy sloping pasterns, oval feet and low set hocks. Neat tail. Moved well. I will watch this one’s career with interest. Noticed she is by my RDCC winner and out of my BCC. No wonder I like her. 2nd - Riowood Tick Tick Boom To Sharnphilly JW. Another lovely b/w with well worked head and dark eye. Balanced fore and aft. Good expanse of thigh. Sloping pasterns and low set hocks. 3rd - Gordon’s Hawkfield Happy Times. Quality o/w. She is so well balanced. Beautiful in head and eye. Flowing lines all through finished with her correct tail coming straight off her topline. Limit Bitch - (16). Another fabulous class! 1st - Siddle’s Wilchrimane Piri Piri. What can I say about this beautiful o/w? She is stunning from her head to her tail. Totally balanced with her flowing lines giving correct construction. Moved well with good footfall in profile. Close up in the challenge but I am sure her day will come. RBCC. 2nd - Guy’s Carofel If I Had Wings JW. Another quality o/w with a beautiful head and dark eye. Well laid shoulder and return of upper arm, good depth and spring of rib. Lovely on the move. So unlucky to come up against 1st. 3rd - Adams’ Joneva Just One Wish JW. Yet another quality o/w. She is built on a larger frame but still completely feminine and well balanced. Open Bitch - (11). Another amazing quality class. 1st - Sharnphilly Tiktok To Riowood. What can I say? This quality b/w ticks all the boxes for me. Beautiful head with lovely chiselling, deep stop and dark intelligent eye, thin leathers of correct shape. Flowing lines from nose to tail. Her movement was first class with correct footfall. BCC. 2nd - Hinton, Luke & Leman’s Sh.Ch. Fleurfield Black Caviar. Another beautiful b/w who I have judged before. She is another who flows from nose to tail. Lovely head and eye with soft lip and fine leathers. Moved well. 3rd - Siddle & Medeiros Sh.Ch. Wilchrimane Frankly Darlin. Well known o/w Sh.Ch. Well defined head with correct stop, fine leathers of correct shape and size. Well balanced in body. Ample reach of neck flowing into correct topline and tail coming straight off the back. Moved well. Special Working Gundog Bitch – (3) 1st - Blowers’ Fowington Lar Ti Dar At Deadaway SGWC. O/w favourite of mine. Shown in hard muscular condition with correct angulations fore and aft. She has a lovely well worked head with dark expressive eye. 2nd - Anderson Rowell’s Raigmore Limelight At Daledancer. Very feminine o/w. She has a lovely well chiselled head with soft lip and fine leathers, long arched neck flowing into balanced angulation. 3rd - Klaiber’s Sharnphilly Gingerbread SGWC. Heavenly ticked o/w built on a larger frame. Shapely in body with good angulation fore and aft. Veteran Bitch - (12) 1st - Siddle’s Ch. Wilchrimane Frankel SGWC (AI). Lovely shape to this well known o/w. She is so well balanced, a series of graceful curves. Feminine in head with good stop, and turn of lip. Low set hocks. Moved on a good stride. 2nd - Mason’s Morgan Van Freebreeze (Imp NLD) ShCEx. Quality o/w with well worked head showing deep stop, fine leathers of good shape. Long arched neck running smoothly into her topline. Good angulation front and rear. Moved well. 3rd - Busuttil’s Int/Multi Ch/Mlt Gr.Ch. Chesterhope Lady Lagertha WW20 RSCE20 Jnr Ch. Yet another quality o/w. Well balanced head showing stop, fine leathers. Long neck flowing into correct topline. Balanced angulation fore and aft. Linda Wilson (Judge).