Crufts

Crufts 2026: Estrela Mountain Dog

Thank you to the Crufts Committee for this very special invitation and to my most efficient stewards Angela Codling and Lisa Wakefield who did a tremendous job.

A small but quality entry, big on breed type and soundness; an absolute pleasure to judge with well contested placings. I was delighted to watch my choice for Best of Breed give such a good account of herself in the Pastoral Group Final.

Different handler today, so wasn't sure at the time of judging, but interested to later find that my Best of Breed winner was the same as when I last judged the breed. Back then she was winning from the puppy class - a potentially contentious decision for such a slow maturing Giant Breed but she was so foot perfect and exuded breed type in her silhouette that day that I felt justified in my judgement - later that day she was awarded an Adult Group Shortlist by Mrs Christina Chapman and was Puppy Group 4 Winner under Mr Tom Mather, so I felt encouraged that other judges could also see that special something. Heartening to see how she has fulfilled her exciting early promise and that maturity has served her well. I was also thrilled to find that my RBD and RBB, different owners and poles apart in age, a very promising Yearling Male Long Coat and a fabulous 8 years old Short Coated Veteran Female were both from the Quinta Moinho das Almas kennel.

Junior Dog (3,0)

Very close decision between these two very nice youngsters. 

1st Ares Da Quinta Moinhos Das Almas (Mrs M Zwesken)

Wolf Grey Long Coat with full black mask and correct pigmentation. Well balanced masculine head with the requisite breadth across the skull and ample length relative to size. Correctly shaped rose ear set high and carried close. Strong jaw with big teeth. Excellent eye of the correct shape. Well bodied with good breadth to the chest. Short coupled and broad across the loin with ribs well sprung. Excellent topline and tailset. Round bone and well shaped feet. Excellent width of thigh. Moved with drive. Excellent coat with profuse neck ruff. Excellent tailset. In super body condition. Reserve Best Dog

2nd Lad's Unesco Da Estrela (Miss G C & Miss J A Reid & Haslett)

An exciting Long Coated Fawn with Black Mask, full of quality and breed type, though at this point going through a typical stage of yearling development and so still to completely fill his frame. His well balanced head is masculine with strong muzzle and teeth, the desired broad skull, good length to it and characteristically large nose. Excellent eye of correct medium size. Ear set correctly moderately high. He stands true front and back with balanced angulation in correct moderation. Excellent topline and correct tailset. Neck ruff evident and an abundantly feather tail carried beautifully on the move though a little out of coat elsewhere. Strong bone of correct round shape. Moved freely with an impressive side gait and carriage. 

3rd Thor Taborda Da Quinta De S Fernando (Mr D Taborda)

Post Graduate Dog (2,0)

1st Estjak Valley Teixera (Lady S & Mr A Mckinlay & Johnson)

Robust in his makeup, this Long Coated Fawn Black Mask presents a truly balanced outline. He has the correct balance between skull and muzzle with moderation through the stop. Dark eye of correct shape and size framed by prominent eyebrows. Ears well set and placed. Clean, short neck with thick ruff. Well furnished coat with ample density and correct level of coarseness. Well made in front with correct angulation. Strong body of good depth, ribbed well back and short coupled. Short backed with correct topline and slope to croup lending to low set tail with characteristic hook. Excellent hindquarters with correct moderate angulation and plenty of strength and width to first and second thighs. Firm hocks on stack. Moved soundly with purpose and ease of gait. Best Dog. 

2nd Thor Taborda Da Quinta De S Fernando (Mr D Taborda)

Powerfully built Wolf Grey Long Coat. Broad skull with characteristic small, well-set ears. He is slightly shorter in muzzle relative to length of skull though his muzzle is very strong with the desired large teeth. Moderate in stop. Eye of correct size though a shade pale. Strong neck. Correct bone and well padded feet. Plenty depth to body. Muscular hindquarters. Firm topline. Well coated with excellent hard ruff to throat, ample feathering to limbs and tail. Correct level topline, short backed with plenty spring to ribs which extend well back. He proved hard work for his handler at times but when he settled his movement was sound.

Open Dog (1,0)

1st Thor Taborda Da Quinta De S Fernando (Mr D Taborda) Repeat 

Junior Bitch (1,0)

1st Estjak Valley Zezere (Lady S & Mr A Mckinlay & Johnson)

Fawn Black Mask. Typical youngster who, despite her immaturity, presents a well balanced outline with correct proportions all through. Feminine head with correct eye. Strong neck. Coat still developing though furnishings are evident with the thicker ruff to the throat coming on. Correct ratio of leg length to depth of body. Well made front with strong bone and pasterns. Hindquarters equally well made with good breadth to the first and second thighs. Stood foot perfect in stack on return from move. Firm, well padded feet. Good topline and tailset. Correct length to hock.

Open Bitch (2,0)

1st Kayarrach Wish Upon A Star (Ms S L & Mr A D & Mrs R & Mr K Mckinlay & Johnson & Hall & Hall)

Almost 3 Years old Black Masked Fawn with so much quality. Loved her substance. She stands and moves so sure of foot and is sturdy in her limbs. Her head is excellent with parallel planes and the most beautifully expressive dark eye of correct shape and size. Her head has good length, with plenty breadth to the skull, and is very strong whilst still ultra feminine. Good sized nose, strong muzzle and teeth with correct moderation to the stop. Neat ears are well shaped and set. Excellent pigmentation all through. Excellent feet with super bone of correct, round shape. Strong neck with characteristic, well coated hard ruff to the throat. Strength continues throughout the body and hindquarters. Ample depth of body with excellent topline and tailset. Strong hocks and hindquarters with plenty of breadth . Excellent low set tail carried in hooked formation at the end. BB and Best of Breed

2nd Galliagh Alya with Milagre (Miss G C Reid)

Another Fawn with plenty of quality, typical in outline and again with excellent proportions all through. Strong in build, yet clearly feminine. Correct shaped eye to her powerful, balanced head comparing muzzle to skull. Ear set moderately high and close with outer edge visible. Strong neck. Ample length of leg relative to depth of body. Good bone for size. Excellent topline and tailset. Well sprung ribs set well back. Excellent rear with plenty width to thighs and moderate angulation to balance with the forequarters. Correct slope to croup. Firm hocks set relatively low to ground. Powered around the ring with ease and soundness. 

Veteran Bitch (1,0)

1st Prt Ch Seia Da Quinta Moinhos Das Almas with Milagre (Imp Prt) (Miss G C Reid)

Brindle with the correct amount of coarse texture and excellent density to her Short Coat. Excellent pigmentation. Robust in her makeup which is so important in consideration of the breed’s function. Balanced head with correct, well set rose ear. Slightly rounded skull and strong jaw. Good strength in neck. Really strong build through her forechest and forelimbs. Strongly made in pasterns. Plenty strength through the body with a good underline and ribs extending well back. Correct moderate angulation front and back. Movement in side profile is so well balanced. Plenty width through the thighs bringing strength to her hindquarters. Topline giving just a little at times when stacked but at 8 years old not unexpected and she presented a pleasing outline on the move. Correct set to tailset from well angulated croup. Very pleased to have her as my RBB. I liked her a lot! 

Nicola Spencer (Judge)