Crufts

I was honoured to be invited to judge Chinese Cresteds at Crufts & thank the committee for this wonderful opportunity. I was lucky to be assisted by 2 very efficient stewards Sian & Barry, who helped both with admin, and much needed traffic management where required. This is a breed that is very close to my heart, and although I have not shown them for many years, I have always remained interested in them. My principal winners all had the required construction, shape & size, but I found too many exhibits with straight fronts, which results in restricted front action. There were also too many exhibits with large round & in some cases light eyes, which ruined their expression. I was delighted to find that most Powderpuffs had correct veil coats, and most of my exhibits had good ears. Tail carriage was also mainly correct with only a few dogs having tails which were too tightly curled. In some larger classes, there were worthy exhibits who missed higher placings as there were others I just preferred. I was very pleased to see my BOB being shortlisted in a very strong Toy group, many congratulations to his owner.

GOOD CITIZEN DOG (8/8)

1. Bower’s RIVERALCA LEWIS Blue & White HL pup. Reasonable type with correct eyes, ears & tail set & carriage. Correct size & shape. Good skin quality. Would have preferred more layback of shoulder, but steady on the move.

2. Baker’s JASSENDUE AMARI Black & White PP. Not quite the head & expression of 1, but correct ears. Good lay back of shoulder. Correct shape & size. Coat texture heavy but well presented. Well set & carried tail. Moved steadily.

3. Oliver’s YNCHREENOO MASTERPIECE AT SARELIDAN

MINOR PUPPY DOG (1/1)

1. Bartlett’s EXOTIC SPIRIT AMAZING ARTIST IN LOVE AVEC MICHADAINE Black with White PP. Nice size, correct body shape, correct feet. Balanced head with good ears, eyes & bite. Well made in front. In good coat for age. A little overawed by the environment but happy on the floor & moved well.

PUPPY DOG (3/3)

1. Crow & Walker’s PETWALK BREAKS THE LAWS WITH CASACAVALLO (KCJ) Easy winner of class. Very promising Blue & White HL who caught my eye when he came into the ring & did not disappoint. Lovely shape & size. Reasonable front angulation. Correct ears, eyes & bite. Skin in lovely condition. Sound & free moving with good tail set & carriage. Balanced standing & on the move. Considered him for top honours, but he had to defer to the older dogs today. One to watch who will have a bright future. BP

2. Bower’s Riveralca Lewis

3. Symon’s RIVERALCA BARRA

JUNIOR DOG (11/10)

1. Boden’s PUFFLEPAWS SOMNIS DE REIS GEMADAR Mahog & White HL. Classic head with correct eye, & well positioned large ears. Correct body shape & size. Correct feet. Wel set & carried tail. I would have preferred a bit more lay back of shoulder but he was balanced & moved out well.

2. Watson’s KARAMOUCHE PANDAMONIUM Black & White PP. I preferred the overall balance & head carriage of 1, but this boy was a good shape & size. Pleasing head with correct eye, ears & bite. Tail correctly set & carried. In good well presented coat. Moved soundly.

3. Fitze’s BE MY DOG’S MICHELANGELO

YEARLING DOG (7/6)

First & second in this class were very different but both had a lot to like about them. It was a difficult decision between them.

1. Moyes, Shaw & Hunter-Ryan’s CH BRYELIS BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN JW Very smart Blue & White HL of correct shape & size. Lovely head with correct eyes, ears & bite. Correct feet. Lovely skin condition. Correct tail set & carriage. I would have preferred more lay back of shoulder, but still a quality dog who was balanced on the move.

2. Fitze’s BE MY DOG'S KUNIKUZUSHI Smaller Mahogany HL male but still correct shape & size. Good ears, correct bite. Correct tail set & carriage. Good front construction, he was free moving with good front extension, I just preferred the overall type of 1. In excellent condition.

3. Jagna & Marczułajtis-Walczak & Walczak BE/CH CH HALNY Z WIOSKI JAGNY PL MULTI J CH

POST GRADUATE DOG (8/5)

1. Piper’s MIATORY SPLIT DECISION FOR ZANJERO JW Mahogany HL. Correct feet. Good ears, well set. Correct tail set & carriage. Good body shape. Best balanced in class however I would have preferred more layback of shoulder to complete the picture. Moved steadily but with little forward reach.

2. Boden’s RAVANA'S MIRACLE AVOKADUH FOR GEMADAR (IMP CZE) HL boy with reasonable front angulation, however out at elbow so front movement poor. Correct eye & ears. Good skin condition. Tail curled too tightly over back and he lacked balance on the move.

3. Routledge’s VALENTINO VON SHINBASHI DEL PUFFLEPAWS

LIMIT DOG (10/8)

1. Torras’s MOON HARBOUR VITTO JW Mahogany Laced HL. Easy winner with best balance of the class. Correct feet. Lovely head with good eyes, ears & bite. Good body shape & size. Well set & carried tail. Sound & free moving. A lot to like about him, although I would have preferred a bit more lay back of shoulder to complete the picture.

2. Parker’s RIVERALCA STENNESS AT KHATIRA JW Beautifully presented Black with white PP. Correct shape & size. Good ears. Correct head balance. Well set & carried tail. Moved steadily.

3. YNCHREENOO MASQUERADE AT ANNAMYHA

OPEN DOG (18/14)

1. Alestalo’s FIN CH ARTE FIGURE ONE OF THOSE This beautiful Sable PP caught my eye when I first looked at the class & did not disappoint. Lovely head with excellent ears. Dark eyes, correct bite. Correct body shape & size with well laid shoulders & good hind angulation. Correct, well presented coat. Balanced throughout both standing & on the move. Correct tail set & carriage. He was a joy to watch on the move and I had no hesitation awarding him CC & BOB

2. Hesse’s OSIRIS EMPATHIE EJW24 Beautiful Mahogany Laced HL boy who was unlucky to meet the class winner. Lovely shape & size, beautiful head with correct dark eyes, good ears & good bite. Correct feet. Well constructed body, sound and free moving. Balanced standing and on the move. Lovely skin quality. A quality boy who pushed hard for the top spot RCC

3. Koot-Van Oosten’s CONCRETE CLOUDS SIEGER

VETERAN DOG (9/9)

1. Sojka’s INT/MULTI CH ACHILLES EMPATHIE Clear winner of this class. Very smart Mahogany HL of correct shape & size. Classic head with correct eye, ears & bite. Good feet, well set & carried tail. Well constructed body. Sound & free moving. Excellent skin quality. Another very nice dog who I seriously considered for top honours. BV

2. Coulter’s SCHERZANDO BETELGEUSE Black HL with good head. Correct ears & eyes. Good feet. Balanced body. Sound & steady on the move.

3. Kenney’s BE MY DOG'S VOTE FOR MR RED VIA EPIPHANY (IMP DEU)

GOOD CITIZEN BITCH (6/4)

1. Bowers’s RIVERALCA MORAR JW Mahogany HL. Very pretty head with correct eye, ears & bite. Good feet. Correct tail set & carriage. Would prefer a little more lay back of shoulder, but best mover in class.

2. Gibb’s KARAMOUCHE PRECIOUS PETAL White PP with very pretty head. Good ears, eyes & bite. Correct tail set & carriage. Good feet. Correct & well presented coat. A lot to like about her, but she not show to her best advantage. Attending ringcraft classes should help with this.

3. Lane’s TRANSYLVANIA SASIMA AT KONISHIKI JW (IMP POL)

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (1/1)

1. Panayiotis’s ANNAMYHA MOON ORCHID Very promising Mahogany & White HL baby of lovely shape & size. Correct head balance, good eye & ears. Correct tail set & carriage. A little unsettled by the tannoy, but a nice pup who I look forward to seeing once she is older.

PUPPY BITCH (2/2)

1. Sojka’s SHANTI EMPATHIE Mahogany & White true HL. Lovely shape & size. Pretty head with good ears & eyes. Correct tail set & carriage. Good feet. Lovely skin condition. Would prefer a little more lay back of shoulder, but still a lot to like about her.

2. Gessner’s SARAASAR JAADOO ATREYU SVK JCH White & Choc PP in excellent coat & condition. Lovely head & expression. Good ears, correct eyes & bite. Good body proportions, but a little too much slope over the croup, so tail set lower than ideal.

JUNIOR BITCH (8/8)

1. Szurmanová’s HANNY Z JASNÉ HVĚZDY Beautiful White & Cream PP who took my eye. Well presented correct coat. Beautiful head & expression with correct shape dark eye. Good bite. Correct feet. Well set & carried tail. Lovely shape & size body with good angulation front & back. Good head carriage. Balanced throughout and sound & free moving. A quality youngster who I could not deny top honours. CC & BOS

2. Hesse’s RUDRA EMPATHIE Mahogany true HL. Lovely shape & size. Would prefer a little more front angulation. Correct eye & ears. Good tail set & carriage. Correct feet. Lovely skin quality. A lot to like but lacked freedom of front movement.

3. Gibb’s KARAMOUCHE PRECIOUS PETAL

YEARLING BITCH (10/10)

1. Szurmanová’s Hanny Z Jasné Hvězdy

2. Moyes, Shaw & Hunter-Ryan’s BRYELIS TALKING BOUT MY GIRL JW Very smart Blue & White HL, unlucky to meet 1. Beautiful head & expression. Correct eye, ears & bite. Correct feet. Good tail set & carriage. A balanced bitch with a great deal to like, but I just preferred the front construction and movement of the class winner.

3. Natelberg’s SWISS/VDH CH RITA KIMMKORN VON NATELBERG

POST GRADUATE BITCH (7/7)

1. Hellmuth’s KARAMOUCHE IT’S MY PARTY AT SHUMLLEA Mahogany & White HL with lovely head & expression. Correct eye, ears & bite. Good tail set & carriage. Good feet. Good body proportions. Well put together, sound & free moving.

2. McGuigan’s ANNAMAC BLACK TULIP Black & White HL Pretty bitch with correct eye, ears & bite. Good tail set & carriage. Correct feet. Moved steadily but could have a little more lay back of shoulder.

3. Lane’s KONISHIKI VENTRESS

LIMIT BITCH (7/6)

1. Moyes & Shaw & Hunter-Ryan & Punton’s BRYELIS OH I WANNABE FAMOUS JW Mahogany & White HL with well proportioned & constructed body. Balanced throughout both standing & on the move. Pretty head with perhaps a little too much stop, and with skin markings on her head which are deceiving, but with correct shape dark eye & good ears. Correct feet. Well set & carried tail. Sound & free moving. Well prepared skin of good quality. A great deal to like about her. RCC

2. Bowers’s BRYELIS I’M ON MY WAY AT RIVERALCA Black & White true HL. Pretty head & expression with good ears. Correct feet. Good tail set & carriage. Skin quality poor but otherwise a nice bitch. Not the angulation of winner.

3. Bowers’s BRYELIS MAID IN SCOTLAND FOR ANNAMAC

OPEN BITCH (21/18)

Difficult decision between 1 & 2, both quality bitches.

1. Bachronova’s INT/MULTI CH GALADRIEL FREUHARTANG CZE JCH White PP in excellent correct coat & condition. Lovely body shape & size. Beautiful head, well carried on good shoulders. Lovely eye, good ears. Correct feet. Wel set & carried tail. Sound & free moving, balanced throughout.

2. Thorvaldsson’s INT/SE/LT/NO/DK CH SIROCCO ROCK THAT BENDS TO NO WIND NORD JV-23 INT JCH Mahogany & White HL Another lovely bitch of super shape & make. Lovely size & proportions. Good head with correct eye, ears. Lovely skin condition. A great deal to like about her, but I just preferred the freedom of movement of the winner.

3. Kirkwood’s CH BRYELIS STAR A'TRACTION JW

VETERAN BITCH (9/8)

1. Bachronova’s INT/MULTI CH VB DAKOTA DEI FREUHARTANG CZE/SK/AUT JCH Cream PP in excellent & correct, well presented coat. Lovely feminine head with good eye & ears. Correct bite. Good tail set & carriage, correct feet. Good construction front & rear. Sound & free moving. A lovely bitch who I seriously considered for higher honours.

2. Koot-Van Oosten’s HAPPY DANCING JONKVROUW KOOT Black & White PP A very different type to winner. Lacking in coat & finish, but with correct body proportions, and good size. Correct head balance with good ears, correct eye & good bite. Correct feet, good tail set & carriage. Sound & happy on the move.

3. Frame’s CH MYVALLO INCLINED TO DANCE AT ELFALLONS

I was honoured to be invited to judge Chinese Cresteds at Crufts & thank the committee for this wonderful opportunity. I was lucky to be assisted by 2 very efficient stewards Sian & Barry, who helped both with admin, and much needed traffic management where required. This is a breed that is very close to my heart, and although I have not shown them for many years, I have always remained interested in them. My principal winners all had the required construction, shape & size, but I found too many exhibits with straight fronts, which results in restricted front action. There were also too many exhibits with large round & in some cases light eyes, which ruined their expression. I was delighted to find that most Powderpuffs had correct veil coats, and most of my exhibits had good ears. Tail carriage was also mainly correct with only a few dogs having tails which were too tightly curled. In some larger classes, there were worthy exhibits who missed higher placings as there were others I just preferred. I was very pleased to see my BOB being shortlisted in a very strong Toy group, many congratulations to his owner.

GOOD CITIZEN DOG (8/8)

1. Bower’s RIVERALCA LEWIS Blue & White HL pup. Reasonable type with correct eyes, ears & tail set & carriage. Correct size & shape. Good skin quality. Would have preferred more layback of shoulder, but steady on the move.

2. Baker’s JASSENDUE AMARI Black & White PP. Not quite the head & expression of 1, but correct ears. Good lay back of shoulder. Correct shape & size. Coat texture heavy but well presented. Well set & carried tail. Moved steadily.

3. Oliver’s YNCHREENOO MASTERPIECE AT SARELIDAN

MINOR PUPPY DOG (1/1)

1. Bartlett’s EXOTIC SPIRIT AMAZING ARTIST IN LOVE AVEC MICHADAINE Black with White PP. Nice size, correct body shape, correct feet. Balanced head with good ears, eyes & bite. Well made in front. In good coat for age. A little overawed by the environment but happy on the floor & moved well.

PUPPY DOG (3/3)

1. Crow & Walker’s PETWALK BREAKS THE LAWS WITH CASACAVALLO (KCJ) Easy winner of class. Very promising Blue & White HL who caught my eye when he came into the ring & did not disappoint. Lovely shape & size. Reasonable front angulation. Correct ears, eyes & bite. Skin in lovely condition. Sound & free moving with good tail set & carriage. Balanced standing & on the move. Considered him for top honours, but he had to defer to the older dogs today. One to watch who will have a bright future. BP

2. Bower’s Riveralca Lewis

3. Symon’s RIVERALCA BARRA

JUNIOR DOG (11/10)

1. Boden’s PUFFLEPAWS SOMNIS DE REIS GEMADAR Mahog & White HL. Classic head with correct eye, & well positioned large ears. Correct body shape & size. Correct feet. Wel set & carried tail. I would have preferred a bit more lay back of shoulder but he was balanced & moved out well.

2. Watson’s KARAMOUCHE PANDAMONIUM Black & White PP. I preferred the overall balance & head carriage of 1, but this boy was a good shape & size. Pleasing head with correct eye, ears & bite. Tail correctly set & carried. In good well presented coat. Moved soundly.

3. Fitze’s BE MY DOG’S MICHELANGELO

YEARLING DOG (7/6)

First & second in this class were very different but both had a lot to like about them. It was a difficult decision between them.

1. Moyes, Shaw & Hunter-Ryan’s CH BRYELIS BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN JW Very smart Blue & White HL of correct shape & size. Lovely head with correct eyes, ears & bite. Correct feet. Lovely skin condition. Correct tail set & carriage. I would have preferred more lay back of shoulder, but still a quality dog who was balanced on the move.

2. Fitze’s BE MY DOG'S KUNIKUZUSHI Smaller Mahogany HL male but still correct shape & size. Good ears, correct bite. Correct tail set & carriage. Good front construction, he was free moving with good front extension, I just preferred the overall type of 1. In excellent condition.

3. Jagna & Marczułajtis-Walczak & Walczak BE/CH CH HALNY Z WIOSKI JAGNY PL MULTI J CH

POST GRADUATE DOG (8/5)

1. Piper’s MIATORY SPLIT DECISION FOR ZANJERO JW Mahogany HL. Correct feet. Good ears, well set. Correct tail set & carriage. Good body shape. Best balanced in class however I would have preferred more layback of shoulder to complete the picture. Moved steadily but with little forward reach.

2. Boden’s RAVANA'S MIRACLE AVOKADUH FOR GEMADAR (IMP CZE) HL boy with reasonable front angulation, however out at elbow so front movement poor. Correct eye & ears. Good skin condition. Tail curled too tightly over back and he lacked balance on the move.

3. Routledge’s VALENTINO VON SHINBASHI DEL PUFFLEPAWS

LIMIT DOG (10/8)

1. Torras’s MOON HARBOUR VITTO JW Mahogany Laced HL. Easy winner with best balance of the class. Correct feet. Lovely head with good eyes, ears & bite. Good body shape & size. Well set & carried tail. Sound & free moving. A lot to like about him, although I would have preferred a bit more lay back of shoulder to complete the picture.

2. Parker’s RIVERALCA STENNESS AT KHATIRA JW Beautifully presented Black with white PP. Correct shape & size. Good ears. Correct head balance. Well set & carried tail. Moved steadily.

3. YNCHREENOO MASQUERADE AT ANNAMYHA

OPEN DOG (18/14)

1. Alestalo’s FIN CH ARTE FIGURE ONE OF THOSE This beautiful Sable PP caught my eye when I first looked at the class & did not disappoint. Lovely head with excellent ears. Dark eyes, correct bite. Correct body shape & size with well laid shoulders & good hind angulation. Correct, well presented coat. Balanced throughout both standing & on the move. Correct tail set & carriage. He was a joy to watch on the move and I had no hesitation awarding him CC & BOB

2. Hesse’s OSIRIS EMPATHIE EJW24 Beautiful Mahogany Laced HL boy who was unlucky to meet the class winner. Lovely shape & size, beautiful head with correct dark eyes, good ears & good bite. Correct feet. Well constructed body, sound and free moving. Balanced standing and on the move. Lovely skin quality. A quality boy who pushed hard for the top spot RCC

3. Koot-Van Oosten’s CONCRETE CLOUDS SIEGER

VETERAN DOG (9/9)

1. Sojka’s INT/MULTI CH ACHILLES EMPATHIE Clear winner of this class. Very smart Mahogany HL of correct shape & size. Classic head with correct eye, ears & bite. Good feet, well set & carried tail. Well constructed body. Sound & free moving. Excellent skin quality. Another very nice dog who I seriously considered for top honours. BV

2. Coulter’s SCHERZANDO BETELGEUSE Black HL with good head. Correct ears & eyes. Good feet. Balanced body. Sound & steady on the move.

3. Kenney’s BE MY DOG'S VOTE FOR MR RED VIA EPIPHANY (IMP DEU)

GOOD CITIZEN BITCH (6/4)

1. Bowers’s RIVERALCA MORAR JW Mahogany HL. Very pretty head with correct eye, ears & bite. Good feet. Correct tail set & carriage. Would prefer a little more lay back of shoulder, but best mover in class.

2. Gibb’s KARAMOUCHE PRECIOUS PETAL White PP with very pretty head. Good ears, eyes & bite. Correct tail set & carriage. Good feet. Correct & well presented coat. A lot to like about her, but she not show to her best advantage. Attending ringcraft classes should help with this.

3. Lane’s TRANSYLVANIA SASIMA AT KONISHIKI JW (IMP POL)

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (1/1)

1. Panayiotis’s ANNAMYHA MOON ORCHID Very promising Mahogany & White HL baby of lovely shape & size. Correct head balance, good eye & ears. Correct tail set & carriage. A little unsettled by the tannoy, but a nice pup who I look forward to seeing once she is older.

PUPPY BITCH (2/2)

1. Sojka’s SHANTI EMPATHIE Mahogany & White true HL. Lovely shape & size. Pretty head with good ears & eyes. Correct tail set & carriage. Good feet. Lovely skin condition. Would prefer a little more lay back of shoulder, but still a lot to like about her.

2. Gessner’s SARAASAR JAADOO ATREYU SVK JCH White & Choc PP in excellent coat & condition. Lovely head & expression. Good ears, correct eyes & bite. Good body proportions, but a little too much slope over the croup, so tail set lower than ideal.

JUNIOR BITCH (8/8)

1. Szurmanová’s HANNY Z JASNÉ HVĚZDY Beautiful White & Cream PP who took my eye. Well presented correct coat. Beautiful head & expression with correct shape dark eye. Good bite. Correct feet. Well set & carried tail. Lovely shape & size body with good angulation front & back. Good head carriage. Balanced throughout and sound & free moving. A quality youngster who I could not deny top honours. CC & BOS

2. Hesse’s RUDRA EMPATHIE Mahogany true HL. Lovely shape & size. Would prefer a little more front angulation. Correct eye & ears. Good tail set & carriage. Correct feet. Lovely skin quality. A lot to like but lacked freedom of front movement.

3. Gibb’s KARAMOUCHE PRECIOUS PETAL

YEARLING BITCH (10/10)

1. Szurmanová’s Hanny Z Jasné Hvězdy

2. Moyes, Shaw & Hunter-Ryan’s BRYELIS TALKING BOUT MY GIRL JW Very smart Blue & White HL, unlucky to meet 1. Beautiful head & expression. Correct eye, ears & bite. Correct feet. Good tail set & carriage. A balanced bitch with a great deal to like, but I just preferred the front construction and movement of the class winner.

3. Natelberg’s SWISS/VDH CH RITA KIMMKORN VON NATELBERG

POST GRADUATE BITCH (7/7)

1. Hellmuth’s KARAMOUCHE IT’S MY PARTY AT SHUMLLEA Mahogany & White HL with lovely head & expression. Correct eye, ears & bite. Good tail set & carriage. Good feet. Good body proportions. Well put together, sound & free moving.

2. McGuigan’s ANNAMAC BLACK TULIP Black & White HL Pretty bitch with correct eye, ears & bite. Good tail set & carriage. Correct feet. Moved steadily but could have a little more lay back of shoulder.

3. Lane’s KONISHIKI VENTRESS

LIMIT BITCH (7/6)

1. Moyes & Shaw & Hunter-Ryan & Punton’s BRYELIS OH I WANNABE FAMOUS JW Mahogany & White HL with well proportioned & constructed body. Balanced throughout both standing & on the move. Pretty head with perhaps a little too much stop, and with skin markings on her head which are deceiving, but with correct shape dark eye & good ears. Correct feet. Well set & carried tail. Sound & free moving. Well prepared skin of good quality. A great deal to like about her. RCC

2. Bowers’s BRYELIS I’M ON MY WAY AT RIVERALCA Black & White true HL. Pretty head & expression with good ears. Correct feet. Good tail set & carriage. Skin quality poor but otherwise a nice bitch. Not the angulation of winner.

3. Bowers’s BRYELIS MAID IN SCOTLAND FOR ANNAMAC

OPEN BITCH (21/18)

Difficult decision between 1 & 2, both quality bitches.

1. Bachronova’s INT/MULTI CH GALADRIEL FREUHARTANG CZE JCH White PP in excellent correct coat & condition. Lovely body shape & size. Beautiful head, well carried on good shoulders. Lovely eye, good ears. Correct feet. Wel set & carried tail. Sound & free moving, balanced throughout.

2. Thorvaldsson’s INT/SE/LT/NO/DK CH SIROCCO ROCK THAT BENDS TO NO WIND NORD JV-23 INT JCH Mahogany & White HL Another lovely bitch of super shape & make. Lovely size & proportions. Good head with correct eye, ears. Lovely skin condition. A great deal to like about her, but I just preferred the freedom of movement of the winner.

3. Kirkwood’s CH BRYELIS STAR A'TRACTION JW

VETERAN BITCH (9/8)

1. Bachronova’s INT/MULTI CH VB DAKOTA DEI FREUHARTANG CZE/SK/AUT JCH Cream PP in excellent & correct, well presented coat. Lovely feminine head with good eye & ears. Correct bite. Good tail set & carriage, correct feet. Good construction front & rear. Sound & free moving. A lovely bitch who I seriously considered for higher honours.

2. Koot-Van Oosten’s HAPPY DANCING JONKVROUW KOOT Black & White PP A very different type to winner. Lacking in coat & finish, but with correct body proportions, and good size. Correct head balance with good ears, correct eye & good bite. Correct feet, good tail set & carriage. Sound & happy on the move.

3. Frame’s CH MYVALLO INCLINED TO DANCE AT ELFALLONS