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Crufts Championship Show 2024 Critique

Having failed to meet my Crufts judging appointment last year because of snow and flight cancellations it was particularly sweet to have a second bite of the cherry so soon. A very sincere thanks to the exhibitors who provided this wonderful entry and of course to my ring steward who was simply exceptional, proficient, and thoroughly good company. Type, conformation and temperament are paramount elements and I found many exhibits fulfilling that criteria. Movement reveals conformation and so to that end a number of hounds had a tendency to flatten in top line on the move. A Deerhound should have the sweeping curvature of a “rough coated greyhound” moving or standing and be comfortable in its frame, upright fronts and pasterns can make this a challenge.

Veteran dog (1,0)

1st(Samways)Erpingham Magnus Cassacre

In great fettle at almost 8 years old in excellent condition and carrying quite a lot of coat. Well constructed forehand and quarters with a nice topline held on the move.

Puppy dog.(1,0)

1st (Greenhalgh) Kilbourne Ablaize at Leksmoor

Well grown dark puppy, nicely boned, well laid shoulder and return of upper arm, moved freely in profile retaining his shape.

Junior dog (4,0)

1st (McPherson , Paterson) Antonius Vertragus The-Ngong-Hills.

Smallish male of quality and type. Well made on good angles with a good forehand complimenting a sweeping topline and correct hindquarters. Should be nice if time and maturity augments his shapely frame and stature.

2nd (Sandells,Lovell) Packway Blue Moon.

Stronger male although less mature, very pleasing outline with nice croup and hind angulation. Good shoulder and angle on front pasterns. Nice head and eye although ears could have been smaller.

3rd(Anderson,White) Humbiehounds Velvet Tattie

Post Graduate dog (7,0)

1st( Taylor) Ormanstar Ezra .

Stood out with his dark ,harsh jacket, quality, type and conformation. Very shapely on good angles, well knuckled feet, moving soundly and effortlessly in all directions. Very promising youngster just out of junior and one to watch with interest.

2nd (Sharp) Chuilinn Faolan at Coronach

Different type, very powerful dog in outstanding coat and condition. Excellent bone and feet, well ribbed back and strongly coupled with good topline and fallaway. Moved soundly with drive.

3rd (Dorking) These Blue Skies

Limit Dog (11,0)

1st (Stuart ,Holt) Ollandsheart Oberon

A male exuding breed type . Very good outline with lovely gentle rise in loin and fallaway to drooping hindquarters and nicely bent stifles. Enough depth in the brisket and well ribbed. Masculine head and eye. Very balanced in all directions standing and moving.(Res C.C.)

2nd (Wilce-Quinton,Quinton) Kirjojax Harris

Different type, in excellent coat and muscular condition. Good ears and masculine head set on a strong neck although a shade short. Deep brisket and well drawn up. Very well boned on tight feet. Moved with drive. Tending to be upright in front and quarters and a tad level on top.

3rd (Mariscakova) Irvine Parker Irater

Open Dog (9,0)

1ST (Taylor) CH. Ormanstar Dark Shadow

very masculine dog with great ring presence .Shown in wonderful condition he carried himself to best advantage without loosing his substantial conformation at any moment. The spotlight is a lonely ,exposed place for winners to be critically dissected and in moments he could over arch on top or straighten on front pasterns but over all a dog which is much greater than the sum of all his parts. He cast a giant Shadow today. (C.C.)

2nd (PEACH) Quantastico Guiseppe to Kilbourne

Dark hound in good coat and condition. Pleasing masculine head and eye. Ample heart room and back ribbing. Moved soundly on soft angles and good bone and feet.

3rd(Fritz,Kruger) Fritzens the Muthaiga Club.

Veteran Bitch (6,0)

1st (Llewellyn) Kilbourne Mistress Martha at Matahari

Very appealing typical hound in great order. Moving soundly in all directions

2nd (Bailey) CH. Greyflax Lady Sings The Blues

Different type heavily coated bitch. Very nice head and eye. Good outline and balance to frame.

3rd.(Thom) Luckhurst Panini

Puppy Bitch(4,0)

1st (Stuart,Holt) Ollandsheart Matilda

Thought her an outstanding puppy and prospect today. Eye catching curving graceful outline sweeping from neck to tail ,well coupled arched loin, low hocks, sweet head and eye and dark dense jacket (Best puppy)

2nd(Peach) Kilbourne Danny’s Annie . Curvy well grown on good bone and feet. Tidy ears on nice head with good eye. In very good condition and coat

3rd (Bailey) Greyflax Minnie The Moocher

Junior Bitch(5,0)

1st (Stuart.Holt) Packway Cora Sundrop at Ollandsheart

Very nice youngster. Very nice frame with balance and scope .Good topline and underline with nice spring and ribbing. Good length of first and second thigh with nice angle and low hocks. Moved freely maintaining a typical deerhound gait.

2nd (Lucas,Dargonne) Packway The Enigma

Sister to the first place and same notes apply . Not quite the scope of her sister at the moment but “peas in a pod")

3rd (Kermack) Beardswood Xinia

Post Graduate Bitch(13,0)

1st (Lucas,Dargonne) Packway Ecotrailer.

Feminine bitch with a classic “roughcoated greyhound” outline. Very good forehand construction and nicely drooped quarters . Very nice typical girl retaining her shape on the move. In good coat and condition.

2nd (Abbott) Wildshore Olympia.

Stronger exhibit of nice type. Well bodied and ribbed with good depth and well drawn up. Free strong mover.

3rd (Swanson) Zeldini Oren At Altimarch

Limit Bitch(15,2)

1st (Spring-Arnold) Hyndsight Only In My Dreams.

Quality exhibit. Excellent feet and bone . Very good conformation and outline maintained effortlessly on the move on correct angles fore and aft. In excellent condition and coat.

2nd(Edwards) Quantastico Lucia to Kilbourne

Feminine, pretty bitch in excellent condition and coat .Showed and presented very well moving soundly in all directions . Not as rangey in frame as the winner but earned her place in a strong class.

3rd (Stuart,Holt) Ollandsheart Desdemona

Open Bitch(14,3)

1ST (Bailey)

CH. Greyflax Pearls A Singer . Has quality and breed type in abundance which she amply displayed at rest or on the move. In great coat and condition on a galloping fame she moved with soundness and drive in all directions. Never stopped showing with no loss of energy or enthusiasm. Worthy C.C and BoB.

2nd (Helps)

CH. Beardswood Verbena. Very correctly made understated bitch of lovely size and conformation. Balanced throughout and in excellent coat, condition and muscle she presented a lovely example of the breed both in carriage and type (Res CC).

3RD (Lucas,Dargonne) Packway Smackfarthing

Good citizens dog scheme Bitch(2,1) 1st (McKie) Anyanka Chase of Lycanfold