It has been 6 years since I last judged Wires and I would like to thank the exhibitors for giving me the biggest entry this year other than Crufts. I really enjoyed getting my hands on dogs I have seen from the ringside and with only one exception, all were happy, extrovert dogs. Nowhere in this critique will you find me describing a dog as "long, low and level", because nowhere in the Breed Standard does it ask for this. I looked for dogs that were the correct 2:1 proportion, who had adequate ground clearance and who could cover the ground when moving. My winners stepped out with good extension in front and rear, and easily lapped the ring leaving those with more stilted construction behind. Overall, I found too many that were too long in the loin, resulting in exaggerated length. Toplines on the move left a lot to be desired, particularly among the bitches, where many in the lower classes run up behind both standing and on the move. Judging is always a compromise between what you'd like to see and what is placed in front of you. In the Wires, you inevitably have to set aside short upper arms and a lack of prosternum, but these days it is also hard to find one that moves with true parallel movement going away. This is probably due to the trend towards over-long lower thighs. These dogs' movement may look flashy in profile, but is anything but parallel moving away. I felt the quality of the dogs was better than that of the bitches and I found a couple of bitches with sizeable hernias.

MPD (1) 1 Patton's Lesandnic Lil Eetee. Red dog of just 7 months who has a super coat. Overall well balanced. Good length of upper arm and reasonable layback of shoulder. Reachy neck. Good amount of forechest for a youngster. Well ribbed up and neat, tidy underline. Needs to settle in topline on the move. Parallel coming towards me. Could do with a bit more bend of stifle and he toed-in slightly when moving away.

PD (5,1)1 Coverley's Aventine Jamaica Inn. Handsome, outgoing, young dog of the correct size and with the required ground clearance. Very prominent forechest and a really tightly-fitting front assembly. Reasonable ribbing. Well-angulated behind, hence very free moving in profile. True coming and going away. Held his topline on the move. Best Dog Puppy and Best Puppy. 2 Patton's Lesandnic Lil Eetee. 3 Bedford's P Aventine The King's General Res Rollinson's Bellavin Invincible At Nosinllor

JD (2)1 Bubb's Teckelgarth Leapoffaith. Extrovert, Brindle dog of correct size and with adequate ground clearance. Good amount of forechest and acceptable length of ribbing. Reasonable topline on the move. Could be a bit shorter in the hock and he lacked drive from behind as he was slightly under himself in profile.

PGD (2,1) 1 Weatherer's Salixian Levante Via Itsuitzuz. Brindle dog of the correct size, with a good, tidy coat. Short in upper arm and slightly loose in elbow. Reasonable length of neck and adequate forechest. Tidy underline and adequate ground clearance. Although he looks reasonably well-angulated when stacked, he lacked rear extension and drive on the move.

LD (5)1 Hasting's Lesandnic Sublimity Sh.CM. This honest red dog perhaps gives the impression of being too long in the body, but my photograph shows he is spot on the 2:1 required ratio, so I suspect in the flesh his lighter colour tricks the eye. His front construction is a strength, with good length of upper arm and layback of shoulder. Nice tight-fitting elbows. Good reach of neck. Well-angulated behind and he moved with true parallel movement in both directions. RDCC and brother to my DCC. 2 McPherson & Paterson's Fransin Brasilian T P Panettone Sh.CM. Such a handsome dog, presented in lovely hard condition, who I thought would be my class winner here as his profile movement is such a joy to watch. Lovely size, elegant and a really balanced picture on the move with firm topline and neat underline. Good ground clearance. He is a touch too long in the lower thigh and, as a result, his movement going away wasn't as firm or true as 1. 3 Davies' Atahira Joie De Bleu. Res Rowe Boloria'a Cadbury Surprise VHC Hooper's Strutting Arch at Starhill

OD (6)1 Patton's Ir Ch Lesandnic Sea The Stars. Although not stated in the catalogue, I understand this dog is also a UK Champion, winning his 4th CC today. He is a really handsome boy who steps out with drive from both ends meaning he covers the ground so well. Correct proportions and with good ground clearance. Good amount of forechest and well-constructed in front with good tight-fitting elbows. Lovely coat and presented in hard, fit condition. Moved absolutely parallel going away from me. DCC and BOB. 2 McCalmont's Ch Silvae Zealot. Quality brindle dog of slightly longer and larger type than 1. Super front construction, including an elegant reach of neck and a good amount of forechest. Lovely profile movement. Longer in lower thigh than 1 which resulted in slightly less true movement going away from me. 3 Gibson's Allfreys Rock Of Gibralter Res Vine's Ch Allfreys To Catch A Thief at Cishelvine VHC Rollinson's Ir Ch Bystock Double O' Seven At Nosinllor

GCD (1)1 Patton's Ir Ch Int Ch Lesandnic Larsson. GC Bronze level. Happy-going, dark brindle Pin Wire of a more Continental type, with a bit less bone and a bit more ground clearance than even I prefer. Elegant reach of neck, but he has a dip in the topline behind the shoulder which is evident on the move. Runs up slightly behind. Reasonably true movement going away from me.

MPB (7,2)1 McCalmont's Silvae Solo. What a promising young bitch who looks like she will be the correct size when fully grown. Lovely type with correct proportions and really the only one in this class who held the required topline on the move. All the others had toplines which ran up behind, on the move (and some when stacked). Super front construction, with tight-fitting elbows and she moved true both coming and going. Excellent coat. 2 May's Waggington Diamond. Neat little brindle bitch who was lovely to go over, but was clearly something of a handful for her handler. However, I can forgive that in a puppy. Lovely elegant reach of neck. Good amount of forechest. Correct proportions, including ground clearance, and correct size. 3 Littleworth's Somniferum Flyin High. Res Patton's Lesandnic Lilla, VHC Phillips' Hototo Swellegant Gal At Tendrow

PB (5)1 Moore and Downe's Aventine My Cousin Rachel. Another very promising puppy of similar size and proportions to 2. Her coat was at the point of needing stripping, but this was a minor consideration compared with her lovely construction. She has excellent front construction, good length of upper arm and tight-fitting elbows. Tidy underline. Well-angulated behind, although a little unsettled moving away from me. She held a good topline in profile movement and just edged ahead of 2 on maturity. 2 5 McCalmont's Silvae Solo 3 Gibson's Allfreys Sternchen Alrisha. Res Littleworth's Somniferum Flyin High. VHC Pattonss Lesandnic Lilla

JB (7,1) 1 Paterson & Paterson's Ambiesque Agna. This bitch was lovely to go over and I will be interested to watch her mature. She is the correct size and can easily cover the ground. Good reach of neck. Elbows fit tightly. Reasonable feet. Could do with a bit more length of keel, although her length of ribbing is acceptable. She held a very good topline on the move. Perhaps a little long in the lower thigh. 2 Stile's Cishelvine Sea Spray. Extrovert red bitch who stepped out with drive in profile, but is too long for my liking, with too much length of loin. Elegant neck, acceptable amount of forechest. Well-angulated behind. Moved true coming and going. 3 Smith's Tendrow Rouge Et Noire At Salixian Res Glanville-Biggs's Brimarville Dreamed A Dream VHC Vine's Cishelvine Enigma of the Sea

PGB (10,1) 1 Morris' Wagsford Winona Of Rocinda. This bitch just screamed quality when she moved round the ring and was a stand-out winner. She has the correct proportions, is the right size, and looks like she could go round the ring forever, with fabulous drive front and rear. Lovely front construction, with correct tight-fitting elbows, well laid back shoulder placement and good forechest. Good bend of stifle and so easily the best profile movement in this class. So true, with parallel movement coming and going. I was delighted to award her and her owner their first CC. 2 Wharton's Derochaise Zigana. Dark brindle bitch of slightly longer type than 1, her extra length coming from the loin. Elegant length of neck. Coat is soft on her legs. Parallel front movement coming towards me. Reasonably well-angulated behind, although not quite as true going away as 1. 3 Stockdale's Wirelinc Cooks Companion Res Stile's Cishelvine Sea Spray VHC May's Wagsford Molly May

LB (6,2) 1 Rowe and Rowe's Boloria's Naughty But Nice. Correctly proportioned Chocolate and Tan bitch who looks absolutely lovely in profile movement and who stepped out leaving the others well behind. Correct size. Adequate forechest and good length of upper arm. Lovely reach of neck. Good length of ribbing, with a tidy underline and a good topline which she held at all times. True, parallel movement going away from me. A quality bitch. 2 Borman's Ambiesque Adjure Brindle bitch with a lovely harsh coat, but perhaps carrying a bit too much weight today. Good reach of neck, but more depth of body and less ground clearance than I would prefer. Tightly-fitting elbows and good layback of shoulder. Adequate amount of forechest. Lovely, tidy underline. Held her topline on the move. Drove well from her quarters. 3 Bates & Maes-Jones' Derochaise Elegancia JW Res Warren's Wagsford Florance

OB (9,3)1 Pughe and Fraser's Ch Bystock Pussy Galore. This beautiful bitch is turned out to perfection, with not a hair out of place. Totally correct proportions and ground clearance. Good forechest and a classic keel running into a tidy underline. Super coat. Holds her topline at all times and just strides out round the ring with so much drive, she pretty much leaves everyone else behind. A joy to watch and a well-deserved Champion. RCC. 2 McCalmont's Silvae Quartet. Brindle bitch of longer type than 1, which again comes from length of loin. Very good bone and substance. Super, reachy neck. Classic front construction with all the right angles and everything fitting neatly. Good underline. Well-angulated behind, but not so true moving away as 1. 3 Patton's Ir Ch Bardings By The Way Res Rollinson's Ir Ch Nosinllor Artemis VHC: Coverley's Ir Ch Aventine Shaken Not Stirred

VB (1) 1 Bates & Maes-Jones' Watermans Martha of Derochaise. You'd never guess this girl is 11; she is in fantastic condition and clearly enjoyed her day out. Lovely in front construction, moving very true coming towards me, but could do with more bend of stifle. Held her topline on the move. Good length of ribbing.

GCB (1)1 Baxter's Cishelvine August Breeze with Hotwire. GC Bronze level. Longer and rangier type than I prefer. I found her to be loose in elbow and lacking in bend of stifle. Good reach of neck. Good coat.

Ian J Seath