Crufts
Judge: Mr Kevin Grewcock
It is never easy taking on another person's entry but even more so when it is Crufts. You are well aware of the expectations of the judge and their disappointment at not being able to carry out their role. So it was in this case more so because Jenny wanted to do this so much. We can do no more than to hope she receives the very best of treatment. People in the breed and those who know me well will appreciate that Jenny and I have one thing in common, we share a passion for this breed. Although we were active in the early '70s the breed has always stayed with my wife and I. I have watched all the changes and developments, and some dismays throughout the last 40 years. The breed like many breeds has changed over all this time in many areas, type has in general been upheld which cannot be said of some other breeds. I have noticed in the last few years and today was confirmation that this, the strength of any breed is coming under threat. In the early classes there were too many examples of dog/bitches becomes 'stilted', tall on the leg, lacking depth of body, appearing quite rangy and with this comes the fineness in heads and bone. This is in no way a condemnation and I am certainly not foretelling doom and gloom, merely I am pointing out to those breeders who still retain the ability to influence the positive development of the breed that care should be the order of the day. This is a great breed with a great history and success both working and in the show ring, it deserves your protection. Coat type has been an issue with soft shiny coats and no undercoat protection but I am pleased to say that there were a good number here with correct type coat retaining that slight harshness of touch and sufficient density to give good protection to the elements. I thank the sporting exhibitors for their generous support and their appreciation of my decisions also their generosity in accepting me as their judge for this prestigious day.
VD (10,1) A class of youthful veterans. 1 Brown's Montalba Maurice ShCM, Solid masculine and of good type. Nice balance in head with good depth, proportions and well ribbed body. Powerful mover. 2 Potter's Ivoravon Snow Storm ShCM, Soundly constructed, and of good proportions, not quite the depth or quarters of my winner but covered his ground well. 3 Adams' Sh Ch Barleyarch Alvar JW ShCM, Sorry no critique but exhibit had left the ring and could not be found.
PD (3) 1 Brown & Burns' Magregor Threesacrowd at Pothouse, This little man has everything going for him at the moment, lovely size and type with correct proportions. Growing in proportion is not always easy but this dog has depth and balance, lovely outline just needs to continue as he grows and he should have a bright future. Best Puppy. 2 Wilkinson's Zarozinia Beinn An Oir, Unlucky to come up against such solid competition. Quality puppy with a clean yet masculine outline, not the balance in body of one, a bit rangey. Kept a good topline standing and on the move just needs to body up as he matures. 3 Reilly's Smilek Idyllic Idwal, Completing a lovely trio and another growing on nicely. Not quite such a clean steady movement as those above today.
YD (6,1) 1 Hawksby's Benboee Beguiling at Delahawk, This dog surprised me, as he took my attention and I examined him further I was pleased to find a soundly constructed dog with good breed type. The clean outline revealing a strong reachy neck and firm topline, quality head and expression. Proportions and body depth and balance were as I require, moving with a clean purposeful action I was happy to award him not just the class but Res. CC. 2 Court's Ballyheige Burretiokentia, Good type, size and construction, moving clean and free but just could not help his handler when standing and never really settled. 3 Moodie's Wilholme Black Sabbath, Another quality dog with similar attributes to above but when standing insisted on leaning back and spoiling his outline. Not the animation when moving of those above.
PGD (3) 1 Mould & Bird's Koolwaters Cream Cracker, Striking male, very clean and graceful outline, liked his bone, forechest, neck, topline and quarters. Correct size and type. Won this class on those attributes and his ability to cover his ground with a clean free action in a purposeful manner. 2 Tudor's My Little Old Man at Brocador, Compact male of good size and shape, sound construction but not the shoulders or coupling of my winner, lost his topline on the move but still a worthy contender. 3 Tierney's Puddledub Pyjama, Likeable male having many good attributes, could do with a little more body to improve his balance. Longer in back and coupling which made his topline a little whippy on the move.
LD (8, 3) 1 Duncan's Kavacanne Hun Toint Retreve JW ShCM, Although not the strongest class of the day I was happy with my placings. Masculine in both head and body, sound in bone and correct depth of chest and ribbing. Nicely coupled, firm over loin, nicely muscled quarters, best mover in the class. 2 Marsh's Koolwaters Pacific at Kilnrae, Correct size, shape and general proportions. Clean outline, well off for bone, good feet and depth. Losing his topline when standing and moving which cost him today. 3 Prior's Booton Imperial, Honest dog, head of correct proportions, although no glaring faults and many fine attributes does nothing to help his handler never really settled standing but earned his place on his sound free movement.
OD (8,2) 1 Barnett's Puddledub Poit Dhubh, All the superlatives were there, size, depth, balance in head and body. Construction, type, outline. Had all of these plus masculine in character and ring presence, even though his handler was a little nervous he never let her down. Put in a great performance and is a fine example of the breed. Only lost out in the final challenge for BOB as the bitch was more purposeful and animated on the move. Delighted to award him the Dog CC. 2 Rose & Gaffney's Sh Ch/ Ned Ch Kavacanne Toff at The Top JW ShCM, With very little to separate exhibits of this quality it made for enjoyable judging. This dog has everything to like and is sound all through with lovely balance. Good breed type, well handled. Just preferred the quarters and cleaner action of my winner. 3 Tulleth's Galloway & Anderson, Sh Ch Alayglow Um Um Raicher ShCM, Completing a trio of quality dogs where construction, type, proportion and balance are all called into play. The determining factor was the overall presence, balance and action on the day with the split decision going to my winner.
Field Trial (2) 1 Dymond's Friarsbelle Marsh Mellow, What a credit to his owner, this dog epitomises what the HPR stands for, a dual-purpose gundog. Not only fulfilling that role but when put before a show judge can be placed on his merits as a fine and representative example of the breed. We should never forget that showing is a measure against the breed standard but that working is the primary function for which the breed was created. Lovely masculine and typical GSP, sound all through with the correct size and balance required, hard condition and well muscled, moved well.
Good Citizen Dog (1) 1 Stainsby-Soanes' Kazanpaul Sticky Toffee Pud of Whistlecraft ShCM, Another that has subjected it's talents to gain awards in another discipline and for which it should receive acknowledgement. Coupled with the show qualities which in his case are supportive of a quality exhibit of sound construction, type, balance and clean free movement. All though standing alone a worthy winner on merit.
VB (7) 1 Galloway & Anderson's Ir Sh Ch Alayglow Dakka. Really liked this bitch, fine example of the breed, true to type. Correct size, graceful in outline, very feminine well balanced head, expression alert questioning and kind. Soundly made with an easy ground covering action. 2 Cotton's Winterwell Miss Tified. Another full of quality and style. Standing well up with a pleasing outline, good construction and all around balance. Just not the animation when moving of my first but earned her place in a strong class. 3 Attwood & Turner's Patterscourt Sukianna. Slightly differing type, showing a bit more length in back and ribbing but another offering good proportions of body to height. Soundly made but not the elegant femininity of the previous two.
MPB (1) 1 Berresford's Tuptonsett Sophie The Diva. At a difficult stage of growth, appears to have grown up but not yet out. Her shortness in back and ribbing cannot yet be balanced with her lack of depth in body. I really would not despair but fear patience may be the order of the day, allow her to mature further whilst practicing her show pose. She is quite tense and spoils her outline, just needs to relax both standing and on the move. Has no great issues of exaggeration or construction and could yet emerge as a future prospect.
PB (4) It was noticeable in this class that coat type and condition was correct for the breed, good to see for future prospects. 1 Prior's Jolicoem Jevington of Whinchat, Full of potential and lovely type. Handler worked hard at standing her but never really got her standing well up and enjoying the experience. Likewise on the move she is built to go at a good stride but both handler and 'runner' need to get her there. Thought she has such good potential and has great balance and construction, clean free and true action when allowed to show herself off. One to watch for the future. 2 Tierney's Puddledub Pour Moi. Quality, feminine example, nice graceful outline with good construction and substance for her age. Still maturing but nothing under or overdone. Sound in movement. 3 Berresford, Tuptonsett Sophie The Diva.
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B (6) 1 Gain & Dixon's Kavacanne. A Vimto for Molkara JW. No point in labouring the pluses that this bitch has, better to say that she has everything in place to take her to the top. Just what the breed needs to maintain type, soundness and her movement delivers that eye catching action that is missing in so many. Handler does a fine job in presenting her at her best. 2 Whitehouse's Kazanpaul Creme De La Creme. In a strong class this bitch complimented my line up. Typical graceful outline, sound all through, lovely front, feet and quarters. Presents well, lovely feminine expression. Moving true but had to give way to the animation and presence of the winner. No doubt with this quality she will always be a challenger for those top spots. 3 Salter's Kavacanne A Sprite, Another very feminine example but not the same 'stamp' as the previous two. A little more tuck up at this stage than I wanted, more body depth would improve her balance. Junior can be a difficult time and only time will tell. Earned her place with her type and sound movement.
YB (7) A class of varying types, long & short backs, tall and medium heights, possibly all within tolerance but not all within correct proportions. 1 Knowles & Glen's Wilholme Sharpe N Smart at Bessalone. This bitch stood out for her very elegant outline, balanced head with kind, alert expression. Has the size, balance, type ratio that the breed calls for. Clean strong neck flows nicely into a firmly held topline, correct coupling with good width and muscular quarters. Correct bone and construction. The only one in the class that managed to hold the show stand and relaxed movement. 2 Arrowsmith's Fleetapple Thyme. Liked her type, size and all round construction, good short back and depth in chest, would like a little more depth in flank to complete her balance. Sound in construction, muscular in good tone. Very feminine in all aspects. Did not settle well both standing and on the move which was a shame because she has a lot to offer. 3 Court's Ballyheige Bocconia, A little longer in back than I would have ideally liked but could not ignore her qualities of construction and proportion. Would like to see her standing forward to show off her graceful lines and another that made her handler work hard and still refused to show herself at her best. Very little to fault but better presentation would enhance her positions, of that I am convinced.
PGB (9) 1 Sielski's Orchidstar Zid Zaid Zana, Stood out in this class, lovely lines. Typical head and kind expression, strength in neck and topline. Liked her front, bone & feet, depth in chest with correct amount of forechest. Firm all through with lovely balance. Presenting well and covering her ground with a purposeful action on the move. 2 Rusk's Booton Yvette, Quality of type and construction with a pleasing outline. In a good class she earned her position with such a graceful flowing outline, lovely balance and sound construction. True action on the move, a little more animation and she may well have improved her position. 3 Beverley & Beverley's Vinitas Lil Miss Jenni Jai. Another who won on her obvious merits coupled with her sturdy well muscled and workmanlike construction. Well off for bone, firm all through, lovely depth in chest and ribbing and well balanced. Moved steadily and with a clean action.
LB (11,2) First three of good breed type but each gaining their places for differing reasons. 1 Rose's Kavacanne Blowin. A Gale JW, Winner has all the essential required, fits the standard well. In all departments I could find no criticism. Her presentation was flawless, so much so that my examination only confirmed my expectations. With all her attributes she raised her game by taking her handler on a full flowing beautifully animated tour of the ring and literally floated over the carpet with great purpose and stride. It was this aspect of her performance that made the difference when challenging for BOB. Bitch CC & BOB. 2 Hallam's Redic Jetsetter, This bitch surprised me, she does not sparkle like the winner and I preferred the head quality of both the others commented upon. What she does have with her cleanness of outline, balance and sound construction is a very true purposeful action when moving, covering her ground easily. She thoroughly deserved her place for all her merits. 3 Duncan's Kavacanne Gale Storm JW ShCM. Whilst similar comments apply in general construction terms this lady has very good depth throughout and is presented in very fit condition with good muscular tone. She just could not match the other two on the move today.
OB (9,2) 1 Rose, Morris & Evans' Sh Ch Kavacanne Toff Act To Follow JW, Res Bitch CC. Strange when you play back your comments made on the day," these two are quite similar in type, size and shape", they turn out to be litter sisters. There is little separating these two in terms of construction, balance or type. Today the determining factor was presentation and movement on the day. Winner allowed the handler to open up the outline and let the lines flow. When decisions need to be made each aspect plays a part, today, rarely I captured my thoughts in photographs and it is quite revealing. Lovely examples of the breed, little to fault but today the second was tucked up and spoiled her underline and topline and lost her precision on the move to her sister. 2 Rose's Sh Ch/ Ned Ch Kavacanne Toff Talk JW. 3 Tait's Benboee Bordeaux JW, Completing a lovely trio of bitches, this bitch also pushed hard and in a strong class made for some difficult decision making. Where we are looking at the all round merits of any exhibit her owner can be sure that there was little to separate the first three. A lovely quality example of the breed, delighted with this class.
Field Trial Bitch (1) 1 Davison's Sirilta Solitaire, Standing alone, very feminine head, alert, intelligent expression. Strong neck and topline. Good bone, feet, nice depth, well muscled quarters. Soundly constructed, moving free and easy around the ring, just right for working, well done.
Good Citizen Bitch (7,1) 1 Duncan, Kavacanne Gale Storm JW ShCM. 2 Beverley & Beverley's Vinitas Lil Miss Jenni Jai. 3 Whitehouse's Kazanpaul Creme De La Crème.
