WIRE HAIRED
It is a great honour to be asked to judge
one’s own breed at Crufts, and I appreciated the entry. I had two very efficient
stewards – thank you. Disappointing to have so few veterans and good citizens
entered – surely this was the year when we should have been demonstrating the
health, longevity and obedience of our breed! Last time I judged I commented on
a problem with hind movement. Today, it was interesting to see which dogs were
“obviously” absent! I was pleased to see that I also had fewer of the heavier
type. As ever, I was looking for absolute soundness in a fit, well muscled dog
of the correct size. In a reasonably large ring with a level, carpeted surface,
it was clear that there are definitely problems with hind movement, and if we
are not careful this will become accepted as normal. Flashy profile movement is
not the same as correct driving movement from a full, broad rump - many were too
weak behind. Correct length of upperarm is still a problem but this seems to
have improved at the expense of hindquarter angulation. It did seem as if the
dogs with the very best front construction were not so good behind. In addition,
I was surprised by the number of incorrect mouths – ranging from the odd missing
pre-molar, to missing molars, incorrectly placed incisors and in one instance a
wry jaw. I have refrained from commenting on this in individual dogs – teeth are
easy to check, and the degree to which this affected my placings related to the
seriousness of the fault. This problem was more prevalent in dogs than in
bitches. Teeth were however much cleaner than last time – thank you! I only
found a few exhibits lacking adequate ground clearance and these were penalised.
Sadly, I had to ask one exhibitor if she would like to remove her dog from the
ring, as he growled at me twice on the table – I appreciate that this upset her
but this is not at all typical of our breed and cannot be tolerated. The KC
suggested beforehand that placings should be withheld if dogs were not of the
desired quality – I am convinced that some sort of grading system would make
this easier to do. I was very pleased with my principal winners and would
happily take both the dog and bitch CC winners home with me if given the chance.
SPD (6) All these puppies were far too big! 1. Carruthers’ Tannahill
Valentino, red, good coat, excellent head and bite, a little short in upper arm
so front movement not as true as it could be but moved more freely than others.
2. Williams’ Swincombes Noss Mayo, brindle, coat not at its best but presented a
balanced picture, moved soundly and stood four square. 3. Derrys’ Abbeydac
Parsley with Andlouis, brindle, looked lovely standing and good to go over but
seemed to make hard work of moving around the ring, scored in front over.
4.Edwards & Lavin’s Swincombes Darite.
SJD (3,1) 1.Lapworth’s Tendrow Jury’s Out, very dark brindle, coat
needs attention but is of good texture, far too big, but well put together,
moves soundly and freely holding a good shape although topline can tend to rise
towards the rear, pleasing head and expression. 2.Locksmiths’ Abbeydac Barley, a
better size and coat was in better condition, but almost impossible to assess
due to exuberant temperament.
PGD (9,1 ) Difficult class, none stood out and all too big except 1st
and 4th. 1. Harris’ Ritlo Black Myr’Lyn, very sound harsh coated brindle dog who
could have moved with more verve but was sound and balanced. 2. McCalmonts’
Silvae Paradigm, very long and low good coated light brindle, very eye catching
on the move but appears unbalanced due to hind angulation which makes his
quarters look “tacked on”. 3.Marian’s Pi Da Quinta D’Abroeira, surprised to find
this dog in this class, lovely type with good angulation, good coat, he is too
deep in ribbing and his legs are too long, however he is so sound and impressive
on the move he could not be denied this place. 4.Kent & Dible’s Monisi On The
Town – thought at first look this would be my winner but not moving with any
scope in front today.
LD (14,2) Best dog class of the day 1.Dible’s Lieblings Stormin Norman,
outstanding young red with good coat, correct size and type, good head, good
bone, well angulated both ends, good ground clearance and very free moving, good
temperament and easily the best male here, CC. 2. Lever’s Reveldown Glenmorangie
, correct size, possibly a little long in loin but a good coated brindle looking
better than I have ever seen him, moved very freely and soundly, good head, good
angulation both ends. A slight tendency to hollow his back when moved too fast
(so please don’t!) however he won RCC on size, type and movement. 3. McCalmonts’
Silvae Abraxus, much bigger light brindle very sound to and fro and moved
freely, scored on balance over. 4. Marian’s Pi Da Quinta D’Abroeira who scored
in front construction over rest of class.
OD (8,2) Disappointing - I can now see there were two dogs entered I
had hoped might be entered – one was absent for the worst possible reason and I
commiserate with his owners/handler on their sad loss. The other was present and
for size and type was the best dog in the class by far, but was very
apprehensive on the table and had a serious problem with hind movement and so
went unplaced. His handler did not wish to discuss this with me, her choice. 1.
McCalmonts’ Silvae Patriot, brindle, too big and too low to ground but did move
freely, well balanced and held shape on move. 2.Rollinsons’ Ch & Ir Ch Nosinllor
Grenadier ShCM, very sound, honest and well-balanced brindle with excellent coat
and good front, not quite as free on the move as winner. 3. Derrys’ Ch Andlouis
The Tempest, has finished up too deep in body for me and lacked freedom of
movement, but preferred his size to 4. Dible & Moon’s Ch & Ir Ch Liebling Cross
The Pond To Barmaud.
VB (3,0) 1.Robinsons’ Ir Ch Tagundnacht The Rag Nymph, 11 years brindle
bitch, the oldest here but most active and free mover in class, would prefer her
to have a tighter front but she held her shape well and was in lovely condition
and a nice size, good hind angulation. 2.Dicks’ Ritterburg Lady Guinevere at
Andlouis, immaculately presented brindle of correct size, very sound but not as
free on the move. 3.Harris’ Ritlo In Merry Mood – and she was! Carrying slightly
too much weight and more intent on enjoying herself than allowing me to assess
her movement.
SPB (6,0) 1.Gibson’s Allfreys Starduster, red of correct size, in
between coats at present but good texture, lovely head and expression, well
angulated although front movement is a little loose at present, very sound and
free flowing in profile, very promising, Best Puppy. 2.Barrett’s Ablebody
Pulcinella, harsher red coat than winner, nice to go over on the table but
rather stuffy on the move, think she might be better on a loose lead as she was
resisting her choke chain. 3.Mease’s Weaverwires Florin, nice sized dark brindle
with correct front , unbalanced behind but the more she moved the better she
went, coat not of correct texture, scored on size over 4.Paskins’ Sonic Fancy
Free at Kindace.
SJB (5,1) Very good class for size and type, I liked all four.
1.Gibson’s Allfreys Grace Kelly, dark brindle, pleasing head and expression,
lovely size, very free on the move, sound both ways, correct proportions,
seriously considered for top honours, very close decision between 1 & 2 but
preferred her coat, hind end and top line to 2.Seath’s Sunsong Gypsy Music,
lighter brindle not helped by this light, again a very sound free mover with a
better front but weaker behind and in topline. 3.Locksmiths’ Abbeydac Rosemary,
nice type but not as sound and balanced as winners, better in front than 4.
Scott’s Ablebody Tarantino.
PGB (12,1) Two excellent bitches headed this class and stood away from
the others. 1. Patersons’ Cloudside Isadora at Ambiesque, has matured into a
very elegant and hard coated brindle who looked fantastic today, nice for size,
moved really well both ways and very freely in profile,lovely to go over with
good head and bite, strong underjaw, well angulated, just lacked slightly in
body maturity (not a fault at her age) in challenge so had to settle for RCC in
good company. 2.Pughe & Fraser’s Bystock Black Inca, very nice type with
excellent coat, slightly lower and not quite so positive behind, preferred head
proportions of winner. 3.Vine’s Fen Fatale amongst Chiselvine, completely
different type, she carried too much weight and not in the coat of first two,
lower to ground but pleasing shape, good angulation, sound and free on the move,
as was 4.Gowlett’s Tendrow Mirror Image at Minalsa.
LB (8,2) Difficult class as all different types. 1.Speaks’ Rodnan The
Goddess Athene, well balanced, sound, free moving, brindle, won on her lovely
head and eye, excellent coat and good hind movement. In the challenge appeared
on the heavy side, but a lovely type Very close decision with 2.Seath’s Sunsong
Gypsy Rose, light chocolate, colour again not helped by NEC lighting, super for
size and type, also well balanced, sound and free moving, good front angulation
and movement , preferred winner behind 3. Heffernans’ Ritterburg La Traviata at
Mamutik, dark brindle, lovely head, good angulation but too deep for me, very
sound and free on the move with excellent temperament, better for size than 4.
Hitchens & Lewis’ Ashihna Hi Jean at Trixhund.
OB (6,1) Good quality class, if disappointing in numbers. All five here
were of certificate quality. 1. McCalmonts’ Ch Silvae Mystic, beautiful light
brindle bitch who is absolutely fantastic to go over, lovely size and type,
everything in the right place topped with a good coat, perfectly presented and
with a super head and expression, well balanced and free on the move. Her hind
movement away was not always as positive as I wanted at first, but she got
better each time she was asked to move. Looked the complete picture in the
challenge against two very promising younger bitches, CC, and BOB over the
lovely dog on her more graceful neck and better developed front - he is only
nineteen months and I am sure they will meet again – I was delighted to find
these two today! I thought she looked super in the big ring too. 2. Kent’s
Liebling Sweet Charity, lovely balanced brindle bitch of correct size with good
head and front, showing the younger bitches how to move at six years old and
after a litter, sound, free and holding her shape, better size than 3. Pughe &
Fraser’s Ch Bystock Pumpkin Pie, larger and deeper brindle bitch who is a lovely
shape and very sound both ends, not quite as free on the move as the first two
but better in front than 4. Rollinsons’ Ch Nosinllor Joan of Arc.
Good Cit (1,0) 1.Rowe’s Boloria Anastasia, quality chocolate bitch,
very nice type, well angulated both ends, good coat, very sound, a lovely size
but slightly too low to ground and carrying too much weight today which meant
that although in her class I thought she would be a contender for top honours
she looked too heavy in the challenge.
Lesley Patton
