Crufts Report - 2006. OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOGS. Judge: Jilly Bennett

Many thanks to my stewards, Eddie Dale and Ray Owen who helped create a lovely atmosphere around the ring, making my day so much easier. The build up to Crufts is exciting for everyone, especially for a judge. I thank everyone who entered and I know some travelled long distances. I'd so looked forward to the day as would anyone, given the honour to judge at Crufts. There was anticipation and excitement, along with the responsibility: I'd be seeing and handling a ring full of beautiful dogs (and yes, there were some beautiful dogs), but as the day wore on, I got more and more concerned at the overall state of our breed and its lack of depth of quality. I think back to our Centenary Show in 1988 when the ring was filled with beautifully constructed, soundly moving dogs. It's just not like that anymore.

All breeds go thru good and bad patches. I've judged in many countries abroad, including America, Europe and Scandinavia and compared to their dogs, I think the breed, overall, is at a low ebb in the UK at the moment. Of course there are some notable exceptions to this and those dogs and bitches will hopefully play their part in improving real depth of quality in the breed and not just producing the occasional good show dog. Looking at the breed, in depth, we are losing breed type and certainly movement leaves much to be desired.

I've thought long and hard about what I'd write but it seems to me that if you can't say how you perceive a breed after judging Crufts, then when can you? No one likes to be told that their much-loved dog isn't good enough but truly, there were some exhibits who simply shouldn't have qualified in the first place.

I had a clear image in mind of what I was looking for: breed type, with good front and rear angulation, giving a good reach of neck and therefore, the style I was looking for - a dog who could also move with reach and drive. In so many cases, tho, when I had a good moving dog when viewed side on, then it lacked width and strength when viewed from the rear. Or if I had a dog that moved well from the rear, then it lacked front reach.

How wonderful it would have been to finish with beautiful even line-ups and had I gone for the 'look' only, yes, it would have been possible, but for goodness sake, our breed has to move. Movement, with some notable exceptions, is woeful. So compromise was the order of the day. In some classes no two dogs looked the same. How confusing this must be to newcomers and I wonder how they will learn what is correct type and correct movement.

I had three exhibits whose legs were too short. There's a difference between a dog with the correct length of leg, but who is long in loin, and a dog whose legs are too short in proportion to the rest.

There were some good quality coats but unfortunately I did find some really soft ones too. A correct topline, an absolute requirement of our breed, is lacking and in some cases falling away. Heads were mixed - some good ones, but many lacking width of jaw and depth of underjaw. Eye colour was mixed too. Far too many dogs lacked muscle and good width at the rear. Again, yes, there were some good dogs but they were few and far between and so many that looked the part disappointed on closer examination.

Handling needs a brief mention simply because some dogs, who could have been placed higher, suffered thru bad handling. Some had been trained to look up at their owners, as obedience dogs do, and this throws the movement out of alignment. Others were all over the place with movement hard to assess. Incidentally, I was totally consistent in what I asked for - a triangle - and then a trot back to the end of the line. It doesn't take long to watch one or two dogs being handled, see what the judge is asking for and then get it right when it's your turn.

What enables a dog to move with good front extension and rear drive is correct front and rear angulation. He should be short coupled with enough length of loin in which to move but he can't do it without correct angulation in the first place. Please take a look at my Best of Breed winner, Int. Ch. Reata's Cosmopolitan. He moves as an OES, in my opinion, should move and with superb timing. He is beautifully balanced, deep in body, has beautiful angulation front and rear, wonderful reach of neck, superb strong topline and he absolutely floats around the ring, moving with reach and drive.

Going back to earlier comments in this report, it's not just the breeders but judges too who play a very important part as custodians of the breed, and I am proud to have played mine in giving BOB to a dog I consider to be a superb example of an OES. Congratulations to his breeder and to his owner/handler.

Veteran Dog 10. (Abs: 0)

1. Orn's INT CH BLOCKHEAD`S KNOCKOUT. Smaller dog of excellent breed type, well balanced, lovely head, excellent wide foreface, dark well pigmented eyes. Compact with good angulation and moving well.

2. Kirsch's INT/GER CH ARGOVIAN A STEP BACK THE ROOTS A bigger stylish dog with everything to like. Good head, wide jaw, good reach of neck, topline good, coat of good colour. Just slightly favouring a leg on the move today.

3. Hurst's LAKENHAM LUKE AT JULMUST

Spec. Puppy Dog 4 (Abs:0)

1. Jones' WILDAHAR SIR JONNY. A rangy boy at this stage, but with all the right angles. Super outline, with lovely neck and front. Well balanced. Good extension on the move.
2. Booth's GOJOLEGA TRAVELLER Typy dog, pleasing to eye and moving well although not the reach of neck and angles of winner. Well handled, presented and looking the part.
3. Smart's MACOPA DARK STORM

Spec. Junior Dog 3 (abs: 1)

1. Backhouse's BEAUVALLON BARNSTORMER. Nice typy dog. Good head, jaw. Balanced and with a good topline. Coat coming well. Moves well.
2. Gardiner's VARIMAC BLUE DESERT 4th in Puppy. Smaller dog with good topline. Would prefer more stop to head. Needs to settle on the move, rather hocky at present. Shown in dark puppy coat.

Yearling Dog. 7 (abs 3)

1. Serrano's Ch. FANTASTIC EDITION OF BAYROETH DE EDEN. Beautiful angles on this dog, lovely neck and front, good head. Super outline. The frame is there for a very good future. Needs to settle on the move and gain in confidence to show off his qualities.
2. Powell's POUCHYMO PINBALL WIZARD Much more finished than first-placed dog but not the reach of neck and angulation and carrying rather too much weight. Typy and beautifully presented. Moving steadily.
3. Biggar's ZOTTELS JONNY WALKER

Postgrad Dog 9 (abs: 0)

1. Allan's ALLMARK GEORGIO ARMANI Showy dog with good angles and pleasing head. Just over 18 months with coat on the change but what is coming thru looks OK. Moves freely although I'd like a little more strength in hock.
2. Bradley's HIBRAY ROCKABILLY Lovely type of dog and one I've admired before. Smaller and in proportion. Not quite the neck and front reach of winner. Coat darker and of super quality. Moved well. I also liked the super moving third placed dog but who was much longer in loin than those above.
3. Lord's GALUMPHING OF INFINITE JEST

Limit Dog 12 (abs: 0)

1. Harris' BEAUVALLON PHILANDERER JW Beautiful wall-eyed dog well balanced, lovely to handle and with good angles and reach of neck. Still waiting on finish of coat but won this class with his strong free movement. Another good one from this breeder.
2. Bull's VALLEYDELL GIGOLO When I saw this dog I fully expected him to be my winner. Absolutely looking the part, he is a beautiful type, lovely to handle and moves well. However, in the run off he could not match the strong driving movement of the winning dog and this I suspect is due to his lack of muscle. He is in wonderful condition coat-wise but needs exercise to muscle up when he'll doubtless trouble the best.
3. Lord's GALUMPHING OF INFINITE JEST

Open Dog 15 (abs: 4) 3 superb dogs headed this class.

1. Kanales' INT CH REATA'S COSMOPOLITAN - the star of the show for me. This dog is of the most beautiful breed type and boy can he move! He has a lovely head with a wide foreface. He is beautifully balanced with superb front and rear angulation, good bone, super reach of neck, compact deep body with beautiful rising topline, strong loin, fabulous free driving movement, absolutely effortless as he goes around the ring and all finished with a lovely profuse coat. I was proud to see his faultless performance in the big ring later. CC and BOB.
2. Tomes & Reeve's CH BRINKLEY SIR JONNY A lovely looking dog. Well presented and really looking the part. Very showy in outline and nice to handle. Not the front reach of winner.
3. CH BARKSHIRE'S BORN IN THE USA WITH BRINKLEY (IMP)

Good Cit Dog 7 (abs: 1)
1. Evans' BREEDONHILL GEM CONNECTION Shown in profuse coat of good colour, he has a nice head. Shoulders a little upright.
2. Hart's ARUNADUR ANOTHER HERO Bigger style of dog, nicely presented.
3. Pearson's ALLEELOONS TOMMY TWITCHIT AT ALISHEEN JW

Veteran Bitch 16 (abs: 4) Lovely class.
1. Betts' STARJANDA NO GREATER LOVE Beautiful free moving bitch viewed from any angle, nice to handle and looking the part.
2. Bruhin & Imholz' INT/I/F/D/ BOBBINGTON KISS CURL Old favourite of mine, exudes breed type and shorter in body than winner. Shown in lovely coat with super free side action. Just showing age in action when viewed from rear.
3. Stein & Gasser's GER/SK/INT BAMBI VOM ELSTERUFER

Spec. Puppy Bitch 8 (abs 1)

1. Wilkinson's KALAJU KLASSY RASCAL Beautiful type, fills the eye. Nice to handle, would prefer a little more reach of neck. Her strong positive movement won her this class. Best puppy.
2. Burns' BOVARON TOUCH OF MAGIC Another lovely bitch with the reach of neck and angles I was looking for and who I thought would be my winner. Balanced, lovely to handle, but not moving as positively as winner today.
3. Terry's SHAGGYLANDS SEX BOMB

Spec. Jun Bitch 11 (abs 4)

1. Tomes & Haldane's BRINKLEY ROYAL RIVAL Won this class on her positive movement. A bigger style of bitch, well balanced with much to like, coat needs to strengthen in quality.
2. Harris' BEAUVALLON SOUTH SEA BUBBLE JW Close up, nice bitch of good type, who went steadily.
3. Crofts' VALLEYDELL HARMONY WITH MALCRO

Yearling Bitch 9 (abs 0)

1. Sutherland's DALEWOOD KATIE CURRENT AT ALJOH. Beautiful feminine bitch, just the type I love. Exudes breed type. Presented beautifully and moving OK.
2. Fieoller & Semmelroth's SHAGGY BLUE BOB'S CHART BREAKER I loved this bitch. She is beautifully made and with better handling could have won the class. She moves with her head constantly looking up at her handler, and so her movement is thrown out of true.
3. Beirendonck-Lembrechts'DIRTY MIND OF SNOWBOOT BEARS

Postgrad. Bitch 14 (abs. 3)

1. Zaza's STOURVALE SONGBIRD Absolutely beautiful bitch. Pretty, typy, good quality coat and superb strong mover. Never put a foot wrong.
2. Adcock's BOBBINGTON FLY FREE AT AMBLEHART. Really looked the part, eye-catching bitch, beautifully presented. Steady mover but not as strong in action as winner. Coat needs to strengthen in quality. I also loved the 3rd placed bitch who really wasn't able to show off her movement.
3. Van Heel-Broekman's LAW OF LOVE TAKE IT FROM THE BOYS

Limit Bitch 16 (abs.1)

1. Haine's DALEWOOD BEEN THERE DUN THAT FOR LAKENHAM Stunning looking bitch and yet another from this consistent breeder who always produces a similar beautiful type. She is beautifully balanced, lovely head, feminine, good topline, moves well with good side action.
2. Lucas' CATCH A FALLING STAR AT LUSADON Another good one. Lovely to handle. Good strong mover.
3. Van Heel-Broekman's LAW OF LOVE TAKE IT FROM THE BOYS

Open Bitch 26 (abs 8)

1. Bailey's CH/LUX CH ZOTTELS ENCORE Lovely feminine bitch of good breed type with a good head. She is beautifully made, balanced. I particularly liked her true movement when viewed from front and rear. An object lesson in sympathetic handling, shown in excellent coat. Very happy to award her the CC and BOS.
2. Kirsch's INT CH HELGA HUFFLEPUFF FROM BEAUTIFUL HIGHLAND Bigger bitch with a lovely head, excellent topline, good angulation and with lovely strong free action. Darker coat of good texture. Slightly longer cast than winner. Reserve CC.
3. Pennie's CH/IR CH KERJALEE SILVER BANGLE AT TWOPEC

Good Cit Bitch 5 (Apologies - no notes on this class)

1. Hudson's Bovaron Pennies from Heaven at Halfnhalf
2. Hudson's Beauvallon Treasure Trove for HalfnHalf
3. Webster's Meisan Moondance

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