I last judged Smooths in 2008 and I have to say that, overall, I don't think quality has improved greatly in that time. In particular, too may dogs do not meet the 2:1 length/height criteria in the Breed Standard. In general, this is because they are too long in the loin; an inch or so shorter in loin and they would more closely meet the Standard. Some were shown in very soft condition and felt like they could do with some decent exercise to build muscle and body condition. My top winners were all well muscled and able to step round the ring at a good pace. Temperaments were, by and large, excellent. Size too, was generally more acceptable, with fewer over-size dogs.

PD(1) 1 Paget &Carroll's Bronia Top Gun At Marvale. 9 month red dog, already well up to size and, I have to say, not really my type as he is very deep in the chest and lacks ground clearance. Reasonably well-angulated at both ends and he moved with good parallel action both coming and going. Tidy underline. He has wrinkle on his forelegs and a curl in his tail which spoils his profile. Could do with more muscletone. Best Puppy Dog and Best Puppy in Breed.

JD(1) 1 Higgins' Leveliss Saucy Sailor. Correctly proportioned b/t dog of 17 months. Good length of neck, but a touch upright in shoulder so he didn't step out with quite enough reach in front and also moved slightly close coming towards me. Moved very true and parallel moving away. Good amount of forechest and correct ground clearance, with a very neat underline and good length of ribbing. Shown in lovely hard condition.

PGD(1) 1 Jones &Jones' Hampdach Who Made Who For Adnerb. Red dog shown in well muscled condition, although he could perhaps do with a bit more bone. Elegant neck running into firm topline which he held in profile. Ribbing goes back well. He stands with good hind angulation, but this does tend to straighten-up a bit on the move and he was slightly wide moving away from me. Adequate ground clearance, but a little bit more crook coming towards me than I prefer. Overall, a good honest little dog who should be able to hold his own in classes where he has competition.

LD(2, 1) 1 Seago &Gibbard's Amlida Dramatiker. Large red dog, who just wasn't elegant enough for my linking. Too deep in the body, lacking the required ground clearance, and I found his forechest was mostly fat, rather than a prominent prosternum. Tidy underline and he held a good topline on the move. Too long in the loin. Slight wrinkle on his front legs. Very well angulated behind and he moved perfectly parallel going away from me. Good, bunchy back feet.

OD(5) 1 Starkey's Carpaccio Jasper From Hamoura. Handsome b/t dog with the correct proportions and ground clearance, presented in fantastic, hard condition. Lovely head and elegant reach of neck. Good length of upper arm and well laid back shoulder placement. Along with my Bitch CC winner he probably had the most true movement coming towards me and going away (others had one, or other). Good length of ribbing and short loin. Tidy underline and topline held at all times. I have seen him move with more verve, but he did make good progress round the ring and well deserved his second CC and BOS. 2 Macdonald's Ch, Am Grand, Dual Ch Bensarka Phoenix Sun. Quality red dog of longer type than first and with more depth of chest who looks very impressive on the move. Elegant neck. Really good front construction and well angulated behind and he drives well in profile, plus moving parallel going away. Holds a good topline on the move. Presented in lovely, muscled condition. Reserve Dog CC. 3 Norton's Matzell Man Of The Moment.

JB(4, 1) 1 Cooper's Sontag Shanda Leah. Correct proportions and good size on this 13 month red bitch. Moved absolutely true coming and going away. Elegant neck. Better length of ribbing than second and a neat underline. Good amount of forechest; not over-done. Could do with a bit more bend of stifle. 2 Hunt's Carpaccio Hershey Kisses. Lovely sized chocolate/tan bitch and another with the correct 2:1 length/height proportions and a similar type to first. Slightly better ground clearance than first. Lovely reach of neck. Good amount of forechest. Not quite as true moving away from me; slightly closer behind than first. 3 Hone's Oxondachs Candy Girl.

PGB(5, 1) 1 Hone's Oxondachs Bon Bon. Pretty b/t bitch of slightly longer type than I normally prefer, but she was easily the best mover in this class and she really stepped out with good drive front and rear. Very true parallel movement in both directions. Elegant neck running into well laid-back shoulder; good amount of forechest. Good bend of stifle. Kept a good topline on the move. Pleased to award her the Reserve Bitch CC. 2 Marsh's Marshwick Harmony. Although this b/t bitch was more correct than forst in her proportions, she did not move with the same drive or energy. Good size. Adequate amount of ground clearance and a neat underline with short loin. Held a good topline at all times and this put her ahead of third. 3 Cooper's Sontag Shanda Leah.

LB(2) 1 Lovick-Gibbs' Gameron In Kahoots With Roleta. Outgoing red bitch of the correct size and without exaggeration in length of body. Well laid shoulder placement and excellent length of upper arm. Flowing underline and good length of ribbing, with short loin. Could do with a bit more length in the lower thigh to give more hind angulation and drive, although she did move true going away. She stood with her topline slightly running up. 2 Armstrong's Lauralee Alexandrova. Unfortunately, this red bitch was not very confident on the table which made her difficult to assess. She does have good front construction with an elegant neck, well laid-back shoulder and good length of upper arm. She is deep in the chest and lacks the required ground clearance, but has a neat, tidy underline. Tended to move slightly sickle-hocked in profile and with a bit of a dip in her topline.

OB(7) 1 Higgins' Leveliss What She Said. I just loved this b/t bitch from the moment I watched her step out round the ring. Absolutely the right length to height proportions and with the required clearance to allow her to cover the ground effortlessly. Presented in beautiful hard, well-muscled condition, she is a real credit to her owner. Elegant neck, good length of upper arm; well laid back shoulder. Moves perfectly parallel both coming and going and drives at both ends in profile movement. Bitch CC (her 4th) and Best of Breed. 2 Hunt's Ch Carpaccio Cognac Diamond. Beautifully turned out chocolate/tan bitch of the correct size and proportions. Not quite the ground clearance of first, nor the hind angulation or length of ribbing. Her front has spot-on construction; good length of upper arm, well laid shoulders and tight-fitting elbows. A bitch to be proud of. 3 Norton's Ch Matzell Maid In Time.

Ian J Seath