Thank you to everyone who made my whole Crufts
experience so special & memorable. Truly a day that I will never forget being
with the breed & dedicated exhibitors whom I love & appreciate. My two stewards
Helen Sutton & Gary Southgate were certainly efficient with keeping everything
running smoothly & sharing my sense of humour. We finished judging in good time
without being rushed.
Not having judged our variety for some time it’s fair to
say that most were new to me for hands-on examination. From what can be
described as a representative entry I have to say I found the quality of our
hounds mixed &, in some classes, hard work to sort out. It does come down to
personal preference & taking the overall quality of the dog presented to you. We
seem to have lost the noble head & expression we associate with this variety as
in both dogs & bitches many had broad skulls, thick muzzles & in many cases
lacked some strength in underjaw. On the whole an improvement has been made in
front construction with fewer narrow ones, ribbing remains broad & full in the
majority, but it’s the hindquarters that in my opinion are once again seriously
letting us down. The large ring certainly gave us the opportunity to move our
dogs but in many the profile action showed lack of drive & correct follow
through from behind. Presentation was extremely high & teeth gleaming. Over the
years we have seen highs & lows for consistent quality, at the moment I think we
are somewhere in the middle & need to aim higher. Our revised Standard calls for
ground clearance together with moderation & not exaggeration. For me a Dachshund
should not be as tall on the leg as it is long, ground clearance is one thing
but little long dogs on stilts is not for me. Today I felt the quality of the
males was far greater than bitches. Your applause & support throughout was
appreciated as was your sportsmanship inside our ring, a credit to all concerned
& was the icing on the cake to a once in a lifetime event for me, thank you
VD (6,1a) 1 Dare’s Ch Bronia Salvador
of Darsoms, old favourite, full of quality & even at 9 years everything about
him flows & knits together when you go over him & when he is on the move. The
angulation both fore & aft on this s/red boy is so correct & stands out. Super
head & expression, long well arched neck which he uses so well on the move, copy
book shoulders, plenty of forechest, ribbing is long & deep on correct top &
underlines, short thick loins, well angulated hammy quarters with strong firm
parallel hocks, still very sound coming & going keeping a fabulous outline in
profile. His coat & condition was faultless; 2 Geeson’s Ch Abydachs Kicks Up A
Storm, another favourite, 7 year s/red with a fabulous head & dark almond eye,
strong jaws & teeth, long elegant well arched neck leading into very good
shoulders, super legs & feet hold plenty of fore chest with neat fitting deep
oval front with plenty of width, super body & ribbing with correct top &
underlines, not quite the angulation behind as one, but what he has he uses so
well. Lovely elegant free mover in profile that really catches your eye.
Fabulous coat & condition; 3 Wood’s Rogermardax Senor Mirlo, 8 year c/red, so
well muscled solid throughout, not the head or shoulders of 1 & 2 but excels
behind with good length of second thigh & firm parallel hocks. In great coat &
beautifully presented keeping a good overall outline in profile. PD
(5) 1 & BP Mitchell’s Bronia Zethan, well grown 10 month b/t full of quality &
great promise. Most stunning head & expression, well set ears with correct
length, plenty of neck that leads into very good shoulders, elbows are tight on
super legs & feet, plenty of forechest with keel extending well back, ribbing is
long & deep with good top & underlines, short thick loins lead into very well
constructed quarters, good strong hocks, tail well set & correctly carried at
all times. Sound enough coming & going for one so young keeping a lovely outline
in profile. He maybe longer than some but he is all in proportion & balanced.
Superb coat & condition, an exciting boy that should be useful to many; 2
Metcalfe-Bilgin’s Metadale Maloney, 9 month red, another lovely baby full of
promise, good head & expression, enough neck leading into very good shoulders,
plenty of width throughout, very good bone & feet, top line is firm at all times
on super ribbing, short thick loins lead into good quarters with plenty of
length of second thigh, ultra sound coming & going for one so young & goes well
in profile. Shade more compact than 1 being less exaggerated, lovely coat &
condition; 3 Duchesne’s Darsoms Zyjosh Of Scandell, 10 month s/red, beautiful
type, excels in shoulders & ribbing, masculine head & dark oval shaped eye,
plenty of neck, good shoulders on very good legs & feet, ribbing is already
long, deep & well sprung, good thick loins, level topline, not quite the angles
behind as 1 & 2 very sound coming & going & moves out well in profile, promising
boy. JD (3,1) 1 Garlick’s Ranglewood McNab, super headed 14
month b/t, real teenager at the moment, long well arched neck that he uses to
project himself so well in profile, firm well muscled front, very good body with
excellent ribbing, good thick loins lead into well angulated quarters with the
desired length of second thigh. Hocks are firm & parallel, very sound coming &
going & moves out well in profile, a real showman; 2 Hughes’ Rossanne Lets Go
Riley, 14 month red also going through his teenage stage, well proportioned head
with very good teeth & strong jaws, enough neck leading into fair shoulders,
very good ribbing, good top line, well made behind with tail correctly set &
carried at all times. Sound enough up & down just lacking the overall drive of 1
in profile, super condition. PGD (9) 1, Horn’s Darsoms Zabbi, 2
year s/red, lovely sized well balanced dog that excels in angulation fore & aft,
houndy head if a little broad over the skull, plenty of neck that leads into
lovely shoulders, tight elbows that fit so well on good legs & feet, enough
forechest with plenty of width throughout, very good body & ribbing with correct
top & underlines, short thick loins, well constructed behind with good strong
parallel hocks, sound enough coming & going, goes well in profile showing good
reach & follow through keeping an attractive outline. Lovely coat & condition; 2
Duchesne’s Darsoms Zamba of Scandell, well made 2½ year s/red, another that’s a
touch too broad over the skull, long well arched neck that leads into very good
shoulders, lovely angles, good bone & feet, plenty of front that all fits so
well, good ribbing that extends well back, short in loins, tail well set &
correctly carried, not quite the precise angles behind as 1, ultra sound coming
towards me, goes well in profile with a lovely carriage, just not quite covering
the ground as 1, in great condition throughout; 3 Hirst’s Ranglewood Lantana at
Kejana, 2 year b/t in gleaming coat & condition, well made & balanced
throughout, certainly active & full of character, excels in body, ribbing &
beautifully made quarters which he uses so well on the move producing great
driving action which can be seen as he powers away & in profile keeping a
pleasing overall picture. Hard as nails & so fit throughout. LD
(10) Dare’s Darsoms Zamson, very well balanced 2 year red, all in proportion &
your hands flow going over him, good head with strong jaws & teeth, ears
correctly set & carried, long well arched neck lead into very good shoulders,
precise angles with tight elbows, plenty of front & width with keel extending
well back, good ribbing on correct top & underlines, short thick loins, broad
well made strong quarters with tail correctly set & carried at all times. Ultra
sound up & down & moves out so freely in profile keeping an eye catching
outline. Plenty of reach in front & drive from behind gives us a lovely overall
picture which is complemented by a beautifully presented coat; 2 Marks &
Johnson’s Africandawns Night Hawk, favourite of mine, 3 year s/red, lovely type,
so well made throughout, beautiful head & expression, correct ratios from muzzle
to skull, enough neck, lovely shoulders with correct angles, plenty of fore
chest on very good legs & feet, very good ribbing, deep & well sprung, firm
backline, short thick loins. Very well made hindquarters, neat parallel hocks,
well feathered tail which is correctly carried, ultra sound coming & going,
moving out well in profile. Shorter coupled throughout than 1 although in
proportion & not quite in full coat. A good honest dog; 3 Fricker’s Dachslur In
His Prime, this 7 year s/red has always appealed to me, certainly reminds me of
an old fashioned Long & his type really appeals to me. Very good head & dark
almond eye, plenty of neck leading into very good shoulders, very good legs &
feet, a shade narrower through than 1 & 2, very good length of ribbing with a
good firm topline, sound enough coming & going & looked lovely in profile,
lovely coat & condition. OD (10,1) Really lovely class to sort
out. 1, CC & BOB, Dare’s Ch Darsoms Zyjack, 6 year s/red whom I awarded a RCC to
as a youngster. In peak condition & bang on form, solid all through & so well
made. His overall outline & performance was just what I was looking for, real
stallion houndy head with the darkest of points, lovely long well arched neck
that he uses so well at all times & gives him that air of dignity about him.
Super shoulders, correct angles, fabulous bone throughout on very good tightly
bunched feet, plenty of forechest & width throughout, ribbing is deep, well
sprung & oval, rock solid topline & correct underline, short thick loins that
lead into correctly made strong hammy quarters, tail is correctly set, feathered
& carried at all times. Ultra sound out & back & covers the ground in great
style with correct reach & follow through from behind keeping a faultless
outline. His dark mahogany coat was presented in first class order & on the day
he ticked all my boxes to represent our breed in the big ring, a delight to
judge again & for me the nearest to my interpretation of our Standard on the
day. Congratulations; 2 & RCC, Mitchell’s Ch Bronia Lotario, another favourite
who seems to have been around forever! This 7 year s/red never fails to perform
& his profile movement along with his willingness to please is a joy to see.
Good head with strong teeth & jaws, well muscled neck leading into well placed
shoulders, good tight elbows on very good legs & feet, his ribbing extends well
back with correct top & underlines, his quarters are well made & precise &
possesses muscles a body builder would be proud off. So sound coming & going &
projects himself so well in profile with correct reach & follow through. A shade
lower to ground than one & shorter coupled. For me though he just gets better
with age & without doubt will see a lot more of him, the closest decision today;
3 McNaughton’s Ch Tekel Rumor Has It; 2 year s/red that has appealed so many
times in the past, beautiful type & stunning colour. Beautiful head &
expression, long mobile neck, good shoulders, excels in body & ribbing, good
firm topline that he holds at all times, very good quarters, nicely angled on
strong hocks, very sound coming & going & in profile he projects himself so well
with his eagerness to please, stunning condition, another very good Long.
GCD (6,1) 1 Hutton’s Ch River Rumpus through Dachalune, very
well made 7 year b/t, beautiful type, balanced throughout & in proportion,
lovely head & expression, small dark oval shaped eye, well arched neck leading
into very good shoulders, plenty of front that fits so correctly, good ribbing
that extends well back with good firm top line, short thick loins that lead into
well made quarters, hocks a small, strong & parallel. Ultra sound out & back &
covers the ground in great style in profile with great follow through from
behind. In great coat & condition & close up in the final awards, a really
lovely boy; 2 Hagan & Borsuk’s Ir Ch Badamtam’s Via Baltica at Follypaws; 5 year
b/t, shade taller & narrower throughout than 1, good head & expression, well
placed & carried ears of correct length, tight elbows on good legs & feet, very
good body & ribbing, correct topline, not the angulation behind of 1 & a shade
longer in hocks although they certainly are firm & strong. Moves out well in
profile with a lovely head carriage & attractive outline; 3 Wilson’s Rogermardax
Senor Dougal, 5 year b/t, excels in ribbing & quarters, longer cast throughout
than 1 & 2 but in proportion, presented in super coat & condition keeping a good
outline in profile, certainly has an eagerness to please.
VB (5,1) 1 & RCC, Garlick’s Ch
Ranglewood Genista, such a well made b/t bitch carrying her 8½ years lightly,
lovely size & so well balanced, beautiful feminine head & expression, long well
arched neck that leads into very good shoulders, tight elbows on very good legs
& feet, her front construction is quite something & fits so well, super ribbing
that extends well back, cast iron topline, short loins that lead into very well
made quarters, hocks are small, strong & parallel. Totally sound coming & going
with her profile action being an object lesson in correctness for all to see,
super reach in front & follow through behind. Bang on form & a credit to her
owner & handler. For me she has always been a touch plain but her construction &
perfect movement justified this win today; 2 Fricker’s Village Storm at Dachslur,
larger mould but such a lovely type & full of quality. 10 year s/red that’s also
such an active free mover. Lovely head & expression, long elegant neck, very
good shoulders & front, super bone & feet, excellent body & ribbing, good
topline, not quite the precise angulation behind as 1, but what she has she uses
so well, sound enough & covers some ground in profile, in lovely coat &
condition; 3 Dimon’s Dimerlin Isolde, lovely size 8½ year b/t, lovely head &
shoulders, very good body & ribbing, not the angulation behind of the winners &
slightly longer in hocks, went well in profile, presented & shown so well.
PB (7) 1, Metcalfe-Bilgin’s Metadale Marcella, such a sweet 9 month red
baby full of promise, beautiful size & so feminine. Good head & expression,
enough neck leading into very good shoulders, nicely angled & everything fits
correctly. Plenty of forechest & width on good legs & feet, good ribbing that
extends well back with firm topline, short loins leading into very good
quarters. Tail correctly set. Still a touch sloppy coming & going but her
profile action certainly shows great promise. In fabulous coat & condition &
showed her socks off. I’m sure we will hear a lot of this young lady; 2 Hutton’s
Dachalune Araxia, attractive 11 month b/t, sweet head & expression, long well
arched neck that leads into very good shoulders, well developed body & ribbing,
correct topline, well angulated quarters with good firm hocks, ultra sound
coming & going, projecting herself well in profile, in good condition, slightly
more exaggerated than 1, beautiful type; 3 Sutton & Pankhurst’s Lilia Rose at
Damai, 11 month s/red, super size, good head though not as feminine as 1 & 2
very good shoulders with super ribbing that extends well back, good topline &
tailset, very sound up & down, such a happy baby that moves out well in profile,
so well presented & handled. JB (5) 1 McNaughton’s Cedavoch
Circe, 16 month s/red, full of quality & in great coat & condition, beautiful
head & expression, long well arched neck that leads into first class shoulders,
super legs & feet, plenty of forechest & width with keel extending well back,
super well sprung ribbing with solid topline, short thick loins that lead into
well angulated quarters with correct length of second thigh, hocks are small,
neat firm & parallel. Very sound coming & going & really dives out in profile.
She certainly appealed to me greatly but kept being naughty at the wrong moments
especially in the challenge. Without a doubt will make up; 2 Hutton’s Dachalune
Annysia, 11 month s/red, in full coat & looking the part, loved her head &
expression, lovely dark points throughout, long elegant neck leading into good
shoulders, not quite the width through her front than 1, very good body leading
into well made quarters. Very sound up & down & can really move out in profile
keeping an attractive overall picture, promising baby indeed; 3 Geeson’s
Abydachs One Night Only, another well made youngster, 14 month s/red with less
exaggeration than 1 & 2, loved her head & expression, good shoulders, very good
well developed ribbing that extends well back. She too is ultra sound coming &
going but felt today she could have opened her gait up more in profile.
Presentation & condition faultless. PGB (10) 1 Clarke’s
Tekalhaus Million To One, 2 year s/red in great coat & condition, really lovely
head & expression, long well arched neck which she uses so well at all times,
very good shoulder angulation, tight elbows on very good legs & feet. Plenty of
forechest & width throughout, good well covered body with ribbing that extends
well back, correct top & underlines. Short thick loins that lead into well
constructed quarters, good strong neat parallel hocks, sound enough up & down &
in profile she is the ultimate showgirl clearly displaying our desired gait
keeping a lovely outline. Handled to perfection, I’m sure will go on to better
things; 2 Lewis’ Trixhund You Are My World, so close to 1, really like this 2
year s/red, appeals for size & type, beautiful head & sweet feminine expression,
her shoulders are very good with correct angles, very good legs & feet, good
body & ribbing with good solid topline. Well made behind with enough angulation,
sound enough coming & going & really drives out in profile with correct reach &
follow through. Super coat & condition taking 1 so very close; 3 Dare & Guy’s
Darsoms Zangel, 2 year s/red that also appealed for type & balance, nothing
exaggerated & all fits so neatly. Felt that she was carrying a touch too much
weight today which made her look heavy, which she isn’t. Another with excellent
profile action. LB (7) A very good class of young ladies. 1
Negus’ Tarramist Krug Rose, 4 year s/red in full bloom, really fell for her
beautiful head & expression, dark points & strong jaws, long elegant neck
carriage, good shoulders with tight fitting elbows, super bone, legs & feet,
plenty of front that all fits so well, her ribbing is well sprung & developed
with the desired top & underlines, short thick loins, tail is correctly set &
has a full flag, neatly made quarters with no exaggeration, strong neat hocks,
sound enough coming & going, looking the part in profile with her regal head
carriage & driving movement, such powerful thrusts from those back legs, A1 coat
& presentation, a slightly exaggerated bitch all round but balanced & in
proportion & she certainly appealed on the day; 2 Dare’s Darsoms Zyanara, 2 year
s/red, less exaggeration & lower to ground than 1. She is so well made & so
feminine throughout, her shoulders are so correct that you don’t need to touch
them to appreciate the angles. Her prominent breast bone fits so correctly with
her keel extending well back, very good body & ribbing with correct top &
underlines, short thick loins lead into the neatest set of hindquarters, firm,
well angulated & parallel. Ultra sound coming & going, keeping her outline so
well. So fit & hard in condition, today she just didn’t quite match the follow
through behind of 1, but without doubt remains a firm favourite; 3 Metcalfe-Bilgin’s
Metadale Midsummer Dream, this 3 year s/red certainly appeals to me for her size
& balance. She is ultra-feminine. Lovely head & sweet expression, enough neck
leading into good shoulders, very good body & ribbing, short thick loins, good
quarters with enough angulation, another ultra sound bitch up & down, looks very
good in profile striding out well, in lovely coat & condition. Just not as
co-operative at times as she should be & felt she could have given more on the
day. A trio of lovely bitches. OB (5) 1 & CC, McNaughton’s Ch
Cedavoch Kismet, 4 year s/red on top form, she really looked the part today &
left the other bitches standing, she is so beautifully made throughout, as your
hands flow over her everything fits so nicely & flows. Good head with correct
ratios from muzzle to skull. Good strong teeth & jaws with plenty of underjaw,
long elegant well arched neck that leads into beautiful shoulder construction,
correct angles with tight fitting elbows, lovely legs & feet. Prominent
forechest with keel that extends well back. Her ribbing is deep & oval with
correct top & underlines, short firm solid loins, tail correctly set & well
flagged, the length of second thigh give the desired angulation on short neat
parallel hocks. Ultra sound out & back & looks a picture of elegance & precision
in profile, superb reach from the front great drive from behind covering the
ground effortlessly. Stunning gleaming coat & condition, it was a joy to have
her here. For BOB the sheer arrogance & head carriage of Zyjack won him the day,
but two beauties I am very proud to be my Crufts CC winners; 2 Cook & Rhodes’ Ch
Bournder Ruby Empress, this 4 year s/red is so good to go over on the table & is
so well made throughout. Very good head & expression, really dark points
throughout, firm well muscled neck, good shoulders & angulation, plenty of front
that fits so well, very good length of ribbing with firm top line, well made
quarters, strong hocks, not quite as precise coming & going as 1 today, moves
out well in profile with a lovely head carriage & profile action that really
appeals, fit & in such lovely condition; 3 Garlick’s Ranglewood Tempest, another
quality girl with the sweetest of heads, 3 year red, elegant & well made
throughout, excels in ribbing & quarters, ultra sound going away but not as
precise today as 1 & 2 in front movement. Goes really well in profile & produces
an overall attractive picture. Hard in condition & this shows in her powerful
thrusts from behind. GCB (5) 1 Cheese’s Suecaseus, 2 year
feminine b/t with lovely head & expression, enough neck, very good shoulders,
tight elbows, enough forechest, good legs & feet, good body & ribbing, firm
topline, lacks a little in second thigh but certainly uses what she’s got. Sound
enough coming & going holding her outline in profile, in lovely coat &
condition; 2 Eve’s Sundayshill Anastasia, 3 year s/red, not as feminine in
outlook as 1, gives a pleasing picture in profile both stacked & on the move,
very sound coming & going, so well handled in lovely condition; 3 Wilson’s
Rogermardax Lady Willow, 5 year s/red, not quite the coat or feet of 1 & 2 good
head, enough neck, plenty of front, level topline, firm well balanced quarters.
Went better here than in her previous class.
