It’s 6 years since I last judged Mini Wires and I have previously expressed concerns about too many with nervous temperaments. On this occasion, I have to say this was not a major issue and there were plenty of happy, confident dogs on the table and on the move. Coats were disappointing and very few had true harsh double coats. It’s one more challenge Wire breeders have to contend with when choosing a puppy, but it is a characteristic that should set them apart. If there is one thing I would encourage breeders to focus on improving, it would be front construction. Many dogs need longer upper arms, more layback of shoulder, and they would then have more forward reach when on the move, instead of a short pitter-patter stride. I know that some people do not support the KC decision to allow champions to be crowned with 2CCs and 5 RCCs but it’s worth remembering that 7 judges have signed a certificate to say these dogs are worthy of the title “Champion”. I was, therefore, delighted to make one up this way at WKC with her 2nd CC and also award her BOB. Veteran Dog (1 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: BRUTY, Mrs Geraldene Jantar Red Horses Imp Poland Harsh coated chocolate wild boar. Compact proportions. Well-angulated behind. A confident little dog. Reasonable amount of forechest. Coat needs tidying up a bit. Short well let-down hocks. Reasonable underline. Good tail carriage. Minor Puppy Dog (1 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: MILLS- JONES, Mrs C Bimini Moonrise Wild boar of just 6 months with a reasonably good coat. Good head shape but slightly round in the eye. Good amount of ground clearance and a tidy underline. Prominent forechest but not overdone. He was running up very slightly behind on the move. Still a baby and plenty of time to mature and settle. Puppy Dog (3 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: JONES, Mrs Sabrina Bimini Song Sung Blue Absolutely super harsh coated wild boar boy with lovely balance and overall type in profile. Good reach of neck. Very tidy underline. Good amount of forechest. Well bent stifle. Held his topline on the move and looks a picture when stacked. Very promising puppy, sired by my Dog CC winner. 2nd: MULLEN, Mrs Ruth Rozelle Fools Gold 11 month shaded red with dark pigment. Not quite the bend of stifle of 1 and softer in the coat. Good length of upper arm. Firm topline and neat underline, not cutting up. Correct parallel movement going away from me. More settled and confident than 3. 3rd: KAY, Mrs J & KAY, Miss J Kaytian The Suncaller Postgraduate Dog (2 Entries) Abs: 1 1st: BEACH, Mr Liam John & PARTRIDGE, Mr Michael Cardaxians Bambam Baby Super upstanding, houndy type with a really tight harsh coat. Very good ground clearance. Lovely proportions and presented in hard, muscled condition. Good head shape and strong powerful teeth and correct bite. Strong head on reachy neck. Good bend of stifle and not over-angulated behind. A very happy little dog and super to watch his profile movement where he covered the ground so well. RCC. Limit Dog (3 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: 2327 KIRKWOOD, Mr G Beetlejuice Vitoraz At Helydon (Czech Imp) A smaller red dog but his coat is not his fortune and needs some work. Overall, a balanced, compact shape. Well-angulated behind and moved absolutely parallel with correct width going away. Good dark pigment. Reasonable amount of forechest. Held a good topline on the move which placed him ahead of 2. 2nd: MOSS, Mrs Louise & SILVESTER, Mr Nathan Griffingate I Have A Dream Better in the front, with good shoulder placement, than in the hindquarters where he needs more bend of stifle. Good ground clearance on this dog and very clean underline. Would prefer a bit more reach of neck. He has a really good coat. Moved true coming towards me with good width. 3rd: GILKES, Mrs Susan & STORTON, Mrs. & Mr. H.M. & D.G Dereheath Shaken Not Stired At Birichino Open Dog (3 Entries) Abs: 1 2 worthy champions in this class. 1st: THORN ANDREWS, Mrs Z Ch Drakesleat Kumquat May Wild boar with correct length-height proportions. Lovely topline which he held at all times. Super front construction with good layback of shoulder and tightfitting elbows. Has good reach of neck, lovely head carriage and a really dark eye. Very true parallel movement coming towards me and good front reach in profile movement. Dog CC. 2nd: DANCE, Mrs M Ch Emem Solar Power JW Quality wild boar with good reach of neck running into a firm topline. A little bit looser in the elbow than 1. Tidy underline. Moved parallel going away but appeared to run up very slightly in profile movement as he doesn’t have quite the bend of stifle of 1. However, he stands level when stacked. Veteran Bitch (1 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: WEST, Mrs C Byabye Brillare With Archidax JW Lovely little red bitch but slightly soft in the coat. Interesting to see she has Finnish and Italian breeding. Really neat, well-constructed and angulated front. Good bend of stifle and not over-exaggerated behind with well let-down hocks. Moved very true coming towards me and going away. Held her topline at all times. A little bit round in the eye but good dark pigment. Minor Puppy Bitch (2 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: DANCE, Mrs M Emem Joyful Sunshine Really compact wild boar bitch with a super outgoing temperament and presented in great condition. Really tight-fitting elbows. Prominent but not overdone forechest. Ribbing came reasonably well back. Lovely underline but needs to settle slightly in the topline on the move. Well-angulated behind and absolutely parallel going away. One to watch. 2nd: JONES, Mrs Sabrina Bimini Moonlight A longer type and not quite as good a coat as 1, being a bit softer. She had more hind angulation than 1 and did keep a slightly better topline on the move, in profile. Good amount of forechest. Could easily swap places with 1. Puppy Bitch (6 Entries) Abs: 3 1st: KILROY, Mrs J Rozelle Rosalie At Janacop This was a close decision between these two but, on balance, I preferred this red bitch as she was slightly more compact. She has good front construction and moved absolutely parallel coming towards me. Would prefer a slightly darker eye. Reasonably good coat. Adequate amount of chest. She impressed me in profile movement. Best Puppy. 2nd: BLACKBURN, Mrs Ellen P Stargang Aurora Silver dapple who was more angulated behind, with a longer lower thigh and moved slightly wider going away from me than 1. Really good head shape but slightly round in the eye. She held a good topline in profile movement and has a lovely underline. Her coat looks like it's quite hard work. 3rd: 2331 MARSTON TEAL, Mrs Sonia Lordscairnie Peaceful. Love Junior Bitch (5 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: KIRKWOOD-EMERY, Misses A & A Helydon Tartan Talula Jw Really harsh coated wild boar. Super presentation, well turned-out. Good reach of neck with correct shaped head and proportions. She did tend to run up slightly in the topline on the move. Good bend of stifle. Good amount of forechest running into a tidy underline. 2nd: MILLS- JONES, Mrs C Carlita Jellie Baby Another really good type. Slightly longer in the body and softer in the coat than 1. Very good front angulation with well laid-back shoulder. Prominent forechest. Not quite the bend of stifle of 1 but moved very true and parallel coming towards me. 3rd: 2343 SIEMINSKI, Ms Tracy J Dajean Surely A Vision Postgraduate Bitch (8 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: KIRKWOOD, Mr G Helydon Vexy Vixen JW Very good coated, compact wild boar with a good amount of ground clearance. Elegant reach of neck and good head shape. Moved out really well with good forward reach and reasonable hind end extension. Well let-down hocks. 2nd: CROSSMAN, Mr T & KENNEDY, Mrs Ann Moonshe May Bee Another compact type but softer in the coat. Really striking black and tan. A little bit stuffy in the neck compared with 1 and not the same ground clear clearance. Well angulated behind and moved parallel going away from me, holding a good topline in profile. 3rd: 2330 MARSTON TEAL, Mrs Sonia Lordscairnie Love To Dazzle Limit Bitch (6 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: DANCE, Mrs M Emem Hope For Sunshine JW Close decision between these two in this class two equally quality bitches. First was a compact type with good ground clearance, although a little short in the keel. She was more extrovert than 2, which I preferred. Good reach of neck and not over-exaggerated in the forechest. Held her topline on the move and was parallel going away from me. 2nd: THORN ANDREWS, Mrs Z Drakesleat See No Evil Not as outgoing as 1. Lovely, feminine head and very good reach of neck. Really lovely front construction with very tight-fitting elbows. Well laid-back shoulder and good length of upper arm. Reasonable length of ribbing. Good topline on the move and in profile. 3rd: MULLEN, Mrs Ruth Rozelle Kamira's Year Open Bitch (5 Entries) Abs: 2 1st: WEST, Mrs C Archidax Dark Phoenix Very pretty, correct-sized, red bitch with correct length-height proportions. Adequate amount of ground clearance. Really tidy, and well presented, harsh coat. Good amount of forechest and good reach of neck. She stood with her hocks absolutely perpendicular to the ground. Bunchy, tight feet. Overall, she presented a really balanced picture, moved with purpose and I couldn’t take my eyes off her in the bitch challenge. CC and BOB. I thought she looked very well in the Hound Group. Delighted to hear this made her a Champion (subject to RKC confirmation). 2nd: 2305 BLACKBURN, Mrs Ellen P Stargang Sapphire And Steel Silver dapple who is a longer type with more angulation behind and not the ground clearance of 1. Prominent forechest but not excessive. Super reach of neck and good front angulation with really tight-fitting elbows. Very clean, tidy underline with no cut-up keel. A quality bitch with lots of potential. 3rd: 2313 DANCE, Mrs M Emem Autumnal Sunshine JW Special Beginners Bitch (2 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: 2343 SIEMINSKI, Ms Tracy J Dajean Surely A Vision Red bitch of compact type. Running up in the topline and could do with more bend of stifle. Really good harsh coat, well turned out. Prominent forechest and reasonable reach of neck. Slightly round in the eye but dark pigment. Parallel in front coming towards me. Congratulations on being placed 4th in the SB Group competition. 2nd: 2342 ROSE, Mrs B J Barratini Song And Dance With Rosencrantz