would like to thank the WKC committee for inviting me to judge my first CC appointment; particularly min smooths which I love and feel are one of the strongest of the dachshund varieties at the moment. I would also like to thank the exhibitors for entering their dogs. I had some excellent exhibits to choose from; there were some classes which were very difficult as any one of them I could have placed first and some which ended up down the line were still of real quality. What I was the most pleased to see was the excellent puppies on show today. It's great to know that some quality is being produced for the next generation of min. smooths and there are quite a few I am looking forward to watching mature. The other thing I was really pleased to see was the excellent temperaments throughout. I had no nervous dogs and many which were the opposite, tails wagging and enjoying their day which is something I think is vitally important to any breed. Well done to the min. smooth exhibitors for making temperaments a priority alongside excellent type.

MPD (4,1) 1 Russell's Russteck Figgy Duff, B&T dog puppy of excellent type and substance. Loved his head neck and prominent forechest. Moved with reach and drive. Immature at just 6 months but look forward to watching him develop. 2 Carey's Debbiejay Izzy Whizzy, very immature red dog. Good head, prominent forechest, kept a good topline. 3 Williams' Cwmdarhian Mr Cool.

PD (5,1) 1 Smith's Bronia Gregorio, super smart B&T. Really powered around the ring like he owned it. Reachy neck, well placed shoulders, tight feet, excellent topline and well muscled quarters. Pushed hard in the challenge. BPD. 2 Hunt's Carpaccio Red Adair, Shaded red dog of good type. Well placed shoulders and strong hindquarters. Moved soundly. Just preferred style of 1st. 3 Shutt's Shantallah All Spiced Up For Donnadoon.

JD (7,1) 1 Daykin's Barratini Johnny Cash, shaded red dog. Lovely masculine head, good topline, sound mover. Well trained and in excellent condition. 2 Wolsey's Donnadoon Jolly Roger for Glyndwr, close up to 1. Lovely red of excellent type, just needed a little more ring training. 3 Burton's Swingletrees Razzamatazz.

PGD (2) 1 Burton's Swingletrees Razzamatazz, lovely head and neck, good topline and ribbing, moved well, driving out well behind. 2 Jones' Cwmdax Red Robin, good head, lovely prominent forechest, good ribbing, kept a good topline.

LD (4,1)1 Burton's Swingletrees Just-In-Time, red dog, good head, lovely length of neck, prominent forechest with good depth, hammy well angulated quarters. His driving action won him this class.2 Worton's Cwmdarhian Little Monty, well made dog with good head and well constructed front, good topline and hammy quarters. Just preferred drive on 1. 3 Phillips' Jentiki Red Chilli Pepper Of Robinwood.

OD (8,1) 1 Kent's Lokmadi Ocean's Eleven JW. Shaded red dog. Excels in construction, classic head with lovely dark almond shaped eyes, excellent prominent forechest with good depth, good length and spring of rib, short loin, tight feet, well muscled hindquarters and sound mover. CC. 2 Andison & Peel's Clentry Black Pudding. Really love the shape and movement of this dog, one I have admired and was not disappointed. Had to pay the price for his weight today. 3 Williams & Moes' Cwndarhian Can't Touch This.

MPD (5,2) 1 Shutt's Donnadoon Amber Angel. Really loved this puppy. Very immature but of excellent type. When settled on the move she really drove out, extending well in front and keeping a lovely shape. Very pretty correct head and eye, lovely length of neck, good forechest, kept her topline at all times, well angled hindquarters which she used on the move. Could have taken her home. BP. 2 Andison & Peel's Clentry Goldigga, very pretty puppy with excellent temperament and close up to 1st. Was splitting hairs between the two. Very well made and another I think will mature well. 3 Scott's Wolferlow Anthea.

PB (6,3) 1 Scott's Wolferlow Anthea. B&T bitch puppy, 3rd in the previous class but by no means poor quality. Really liked her construction and in excellent condition, just preferred the type of 1 & 2 in MPB. 2 Rollinson's Cwmdarhian Lady Marmalade by Diamonddax, pretty shaded red. Good head, prominent forechest, lovely hammy quarters. 3 Alderman's Cwmdarhian Cleopatra At Mojaka.

JB (8,3) 1 Kent's Lokmadi On Silent Wings, love this girl. Not completely on form today with false pregnancy but couldn't deny her this class on her shape and movement, her hormones will pass. Moves so well, reaching out in front and driving with well muscled, well angled hind quarters. Another classic head from this kennel, lovely forechest and depth, well laid back ribbing, kept excellent topline throughout and moved soundly with her tail wagging. 2 Andison & Peel's Clentry Despicable Me, quality red bitch, again another with excellent temperament from this kennel. Lovely head, would prefer better pigment but can't deny her construction or movement. 3 Baker's Welcumen Florence.

PGB (7,3) 1 Kent's Lokmadi Paper Tiger. B&T bitch with fantastic temperament, tail never stopped. Won the class on movement, particularly her rear drive. Held herself well, keeping a good topline. 2 Scott's Wolferlow Facinating Aida. 3 Fraser's Donlaynes Dainty Dinah.

LB (10,5) This was a really difficult class. As I watched every one of these exhibits enter the ring I thought I had seen a winner. Out of the 5, I could have placed any one of them first without hesitation in other company, I had to split hairs here. 1 Daykin's Barratini Margo, just love everything about this bitch. Completely my type. I could make a long list of everything I liked about her but the things which excelled to me were her pretty head, her lovely lengthy neck, her length, her topline and the way she just floated around the ring with absolute style. Not overdone in any way, just beautifully made, in excellent condition and with a little sparkle. CC & BOB. 2 Burton's Swingletrees Amazing-Grace, clear red bitch of excellent type. Really moved out well with super hind drive, kept a super topline, loved her head and neck especially, prominent forechest, good ribbing, well muscled hind quarters. In excellent condition with a gleaming coat. Very close decision. Res CC. 3 Melbourne's Golden Algonquinette of Melriding.

OB (4,2) 1 Hunt's Ch Cwmdarhian Back To Alabama At Carpaccio JW, very well made B&T bitch with everything in the right place, a worthy champion. Excellent body shape with lovely hammy quarters which she used well on the move driving around the ring. A lot to like about her. 2 Melbourne's Melriding Berengaria, another very well made B&T bitch. Excellent shoulder placement, prominent forechest with good depth, good length and spring of rib with short loin and hammy quarters. Didn't move out as well as 1. 

Heather Blackburn-Bennett