It was a special occasion for me to judge this variety at Crufts as I spent many happy times in the ’60s & ’70s with the late Lydia Blair and Doctor George Blair and their Tentsmuir Dachshunds & I hope Mrs Blair would have approved of my decisions.

There were a lot of high quality exhibits but a couple of classes were disappointing for lack of quality. However, my two CC winners pleased me enormously but both were chased home by two youngsters who should both have great careers.

Temperaments, as always with this variety, were delightful & coats were usually of good texture. Nice to hear all the class winners warmly applauded.

Thank you to my stewards who kept everything running smoothly.

VD A great class to start the day. 1 Ch Silvae Pickwick, 10 years, beautifully coated, excellent outline held on the move, well ribbed, excellent head & eye, very good bone & feet, scored in ribbing & coat; 2 Ch/Ir Ch Nosinllor Grenadier, almost 8 years, I liked the proportions of this dog & he moves well & carries an excellent topline. Beautiful bone & feet. Slightly preferred head of winner but another super veteran; 3 Ir Ch Lesandnic Limestone Lad, 8 years, excellent moving dog, very good head. Not quite the coat of the two above. PD 1 Cishelvine Surf Rider, 12 months, appealed for size & construction, well angulated with good length of ribcage, excellent head, eyes & coat. Still needs to finish in front but he went with a good stride & used his quarters well. Needs a little more confidence; 2 Norriska Yellow Diamond, bigger dog of very good type, well ribbed & good coat. Not the feet or front action of winner. Needs to let down a little in quarters now. Good coat texture; 3 Ablebody Razzmatazz, 11 months, very nice to go over on the table & with a real pinwire coat. Excellent bone & feet, excellent rear action. A little wide in front & topline needs to settle. Has promise. JD 1 Aventine Tropic Thunder, excellent type & balance, beautiful coat, very good forehand assembly. Would like him to have a little more length of rear stride. Could be a little stronger in foreface which is a little too long for perfect balance but a real picture. Pleased in this class; 2 Romanchi Alkansea, I preferred his head to the winner but not the ribbing or coat on the day. Could use his hocks more effectively; 3 Salixian Eclat, smaller type & scored in his hindquarters & rear action. Very good coat. I preferred the topline & underline of the two above. PGD 1 Ermewood Joint Venture, very well built, excellent coat. Just a touch heavy in body. Excellent stride at both ends, very good coat. I would prefer him a little cleaner in back skull but his stride put him over 2; 2 Derochaise Mutineer, I preferred his head to winner. Beautiful pin wire coat, in superb condition. Did not have the length of stride at either end of the winner but I liked him a lot on the table. Just needs to drive out better; 3 Swincombes Noss Mayo, won his place on movement & balance. Not the ribbing or underline of winners but has excellent movement at both ends & carried himself well. Not fully mature in body. LD 1 Abbeydac Parsley with Andlouis, of good size & balance, excellent coat, very good quarters, beautiful bone & feet. Still not fully mature but full of type & quality; 2 Silvae Abraxus, beautifully coated, very good coat & quality head & eye. His front & front action are a little narrow but his rear drive put him above 3 Swincombes Darite, well balanced & holds his shape well, has a lot of type, good head. Whilst he scored in front action over the winner I would have liked him to use his hocks more effectively. OD Interesting class of different types. 1 Ch Lieblings Stormin Norman, red, lovely for size & balance, held his shape beautifully on the move, well made throughout. Won CC & pressed hard by 2; 2 Ex Sentia I’m Bond James Bond, wonderful moving dog out of a slightly smaller mould. Beautiful head & coat. Would just like a little more the mature male on the day but pressed very hard. I preferred his head, while the winner was a little tighter in feet. Close up & took RCC, a good future assured; 3 Silvae Paradigm, excellent coat, well constructed. Not quite topline of winners. GCD 1 S Eclat; 2 Bystock Bananarama, almost 10 months, good size & balance. Needs to firm up in topline. Good bone, feet & coat. Rear action could be better; 2 Boloria Calico Jack, good head & coat, quite good in front. His ribbing underline & rear could be better & needs to mature in body.

VB 1 Ch Lankelly Kelsey Rose, 7 years, of lovely size & balance, beautiful head & eye, sound moving holding her shape well. PB 1 Mamutik Velvet Underground, 10 months, lovely quality all through & held her shape well going very truly, excellent bone, feet & front. Just a touch firmer in body than 2. Freedom of action & firm topline took her to BP. Presented in lovely coat; 2 Boloria Anisia Bella, 11 months choc, lovely puppy I liked immensely. Full of quality & a lovely coat. The winner was just a little firmer in topline going round but I would expect this one also to go on to a good career; 3 Cishelvine Sea Charm, quality puppy, beautiful head & eyes, excellent coat. Raw in body & not as firm as the two above but great temperament & potential. JB 1 Atahira Centissima, at a very raw stage & a little uncoordinated on the move but she is well constructed. A little cut up in underline. Long clean head, very good coat; 2 Salixian Elise, looked my winner standing but her topline was disappointing on the move. Liked her size, balance, head & coat; 3 Kindeace See Emily Play, very good coated bitch with quality head. Not the underline or topline of the two above. Excellent bone & feet. PGB Disappointing class. 1 Sonic Fancy Free at Kindeace, brindle, super coat & very good construction & movement. Can firm in topline but a comfortable winner of this class; 2 Tendrow Poetic Justice, red, lovely coat & good length & ribbing. A little uncoordinated in front & tail carriage too high. Scored in bone & substance over 3 Warrsan Dazzler, neat red who moves well & has a good coat. I would like a little more bone & substance but she is not fully mature yet & this might come. LB A complete contrast with a lot of lovely bitches. 1 Derochaise Black Orchid, beautiful bitch all through, beautifully constructed & super on the move for stride & drive, excellent coat. Should have a great career. RCC & only immaturity pipped her for the top award; 2 Tendrow Special Formula, similar in type & quality, excellent coat. Not quite rear drive of winner but super type; 3 Angelique Enigma of Karmas Legacy, very good bitch, super coat & very good profile movement, excellent head & eye. Preferred rear angulation of those above but a top class bitch. OB Excellent class & I see all three from the same kennel. 1 Ch Silvae Mystic, not denying her for shape, balance, coat & carriage. Beautiful bitch in great coat, super type & balance, driving well with good stride in front, full of quality from head to tail. Challenged hard by the lovely young LB but firmness & finish of body & coat just got her home on the day. CC & BOB; 2 Ch/Am Ch Silvae American Beauty, super bitch, loved her shape & balance. Not quite feet of winner. Scored on rib over the beautifully coated 3rd; 3 Ch Silvae Zest, beautiful bitch, scoring in feet over 2 but not fully mature in body & therefore not quite as balanced but should have a great future. GCB 1 Ch/Ir Ch Lesandnic Like A Butterfly, 6 years, excellent size & balance, went with good reach & drive, in good coat; 2 Boloria Anastasia, choc full of quality & shown in excellent condition, very good ribbing. Not the firmness of topline of winner but has a lot of quality; 3 Salixian Elise, good length & coat. A little cut up in underline & topline could have been stronger on the day.
FRANK KANE