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KC Breed Standard

Archive 08
Archive 09

Crufts 09 Judge

BEDLINGTON CRUFTS 09

BEDLINGTON TERRIER

Judge(s): Mrs P Morton


BEST OF BREED RIVENDOWN ROHAN ASH Bitch Owner: MR R & MRS W & MRS J SCORAH-WILES
BEST PUPPY MITEYMIDGETS HAWKERS COVE Bitch Owner: MRS Y BANNISTER
DOG CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE HONEYMIST SUNNY Dog Owner: MRS S DAVIES
BITCH CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE RIVENDOWN ROHAN ASH Bitch Owner: MR R & MRS W & MRS J SCORAH-WILES
RESERVE DOG CC CH RIVENDOWN RETURN OF THE KING Dog Owner: MR R & MRS W & MRS J SCORAH-WILES
RESERVE BITCH CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE HONEYMIST TEASE N FREEZE Bitch Owner: MRS S DAVIES

BEDLINGTON JUDGE CRUFTS 09

Bedlington Terriers

What an honour it was to be invited to judge at Crufts, especially as this year I will have been involved with Bedlingtons for 60 years, the first with our father’s working dogs, then from 1969 with show dogs.
I cannot speak highly enough of my stewards, Mrs P Chadwick & especially Mr T Colwell for his super efficient organisation of the exhibitors & myself. Thank you both very much.
I am greatly concerned at the lack of quality in the dogs currently being shown. Someone once said to me that a certain person had quality show dogs, my reply was that there are varying degrees of quality, starting with very poor.
I personally feel that the qualifier for Crufts is far too easy for our numerically small breed. There were fewer, better quality, dogs when one had to win a class to qualify. As a numerically small breed it is so easy to qualify any & every dog for Crufts – which appears to be the main goal for the newer exhibitors – but this does not necessarily indicate that it is a good specimen. Surely when a breeder, especially an experienced breeder/exhibitor, sells a puppy it should be made clear that no-one can predict that it will be of a high enough Standard to grace the show ring.
We all have a debt to Bedlingtons to try & maintain the high standard which this breed deserves. While on the subject of breeders, surely when they sell puppies they have a duty to help the new owners with general grooming advice & also show presentation or is it acceptable to just take their money & hope they muddle through. Showing dogs is an expensive hobby so why waste money presenting a dog which has obviously not had much attention regarding preparation.
For the following reasons I found that at least 50 per cent did not meet my interpretation of the Standard, many had more than one fault.
Size is a concern, I gave up very early in the classes on this one as most of the exhibits were over the Standard. Because there were so many oversized exhibits I will not comment on the size of each dog.
Height to length ratio is also an issue, there are a lot of square dogs, Bedlingtons are a working dog & should not be short coupled. Although most fronts were good, a few had very narrow fronts, their front legs would appear to come from one hole, there should be an acceptable width of the brisket giving heartroom.
Many exhibits had very small ears, this is getting more prevalent. The tip of the ear should reach the corner of the mouth. Some were very high set, the top of the ear should be level with the outside corner of the eye.
Something not very often seen in Bedlingtons is Dewlap, for the newer exhibitors this is excess skin under the neck/throat area. This is a fault & should not be overlooked lightly.
Many lacked bone & substance, feeling some front legs I could have thought that I was judging Italian Greyhounds.
The brisket is another concern, it should reach the elbow as well as being deep through the body. Again more than a few did not comply.
I will quote the Standard for this one: ‘Arched loin with curved topline immediately above loins.’ No way can this be interpreted as a point in the middle of the back which is so prevalent in certain lines.
Some breeders are paranoid about over angulation of the hind legs, might I remind them that straight stifles are equally a fault. Again, certain lines are producing such specimens. Some lines are even producing this fault together with the one above.
Poor hind movement & flat backs were prevalent. Just a couple with very wide front movement.
The majority of dogs had a high tail carriage, I am sick of seeing this as it totally spoils the outline of the dog. Many of the dogs are from seasoned exhibitors & as long as they show dogs with this fault the newer exhibitors think it is correct. It is a fault & if we don’t address this soon it will be too late. Another tail carriage fault is a low carried tail sticking out to resemble a pump-handle.
Coats, the old chestnut. I, like most exhibitors, love the darker coats with paler furnishings. Unfortunately, although there were many exhibits which had coats of good texture & colour they fell short in at least one, many in several of the above areas. What is under the coat, the construction of the dog, is of utmost importance to me.
A few of the dogs had very sparse coats both on body & legs. The only time I have seen coats like this is on dogs suffering with cushings syndrome.
I did not find any cracked pads, feet were all of correct shape, just a couple which could have been cleaned out underneath.
Most eyes were of correct size, shape & colour, the new Standard has dropped ‘deep set’, I personally don’t think the Bedlington eye is particularly deep set, it appears so because of the way the head is trimmed.
Dentition was good, but once again I & many judges have commented previously on the lack of dental cleanliness of some exhibits. I take this problem seriously, after handling the mouth of such a dog I then have to examine the mouths of other dogs & who knows what contamination lies within the tartar. It is as an insult to both me & more importantly to your dog not to care for its teeth.
I do hope some of the exhibitors will take note of the foregoing comments & act upon them to protect our breed. Remember when looking for a stud dog, as well as being critical of them, it is most important to be ultra critical of your own animals. As well as matching pedigrees, try to select one that excels in something your bitch may lack & always strive to improve on what you already have.
Because of the above I was not able to judge to type & some dogs with faults were placed. However I was more than pleased with my final choice for the top two placings in most classes of whom I report therefore my notes will be brief.

VD (6,1a)

1 Bannister’s Ch Moltyke Taggles with Miteymidgets, super fit for age, not exaggerated in any department, moved correctly with ease;

2 Graham’s Ruffsfurze Athos The Achiever, different type to 1. A better sized solid dog, not glamorous but purposeful. Moved well but beginning to show his age;

3 Yearley’s Lowbrook Lambent Laurel.

PD (4)

1 Walshaw’s Janmark Blue Encounter, although tall a pleasing youngster, well presented with everything in the right place & no exaggeration. Dewlap lost him BP;

2 Neville’s Abben Blue Buttons, again size is a problem otherwise no glaring faults. Not as confident as 1 & flattened on the move. Hopefully this will alter as he matures & tightens up;

3 Hewitt-Taylor’s Mollora Innovation.

JD (3)

1 Cumming’s Honeymist Blue Flame at Rocabec, super balanced dog, excellent proportions, looks the part & with maturity will challenge the best. Lovely to go over, with beautiful presentation & correct angulation his movement was a pleasure to behold. New handlers could learn a lot watching this dog;

2 Braisby’s Rivendown Sword And Sorcery, compared to 1 still immature. This said he lacked nothing & excelled in ribcage. A little sloppy on the move, needs to tighten up but has time on his side;

3 Tredgett’s Sevray Rebus.

PGD (11)

1 Baldwin’s Woolytop Lucky Star, the best head of the day, long & strong but not coarse, deep ribcage, plenty of body with correct proportions;

2 McManus’ Bosom Friends Call Me Chrom, balanced dog of correct proportion without exaggeration, correct angulation, I didn’t realise he was Swedish, according to some critics all dogs from this country are over angulated, this dog proves them wrong. Moved well;

3 Phillips’ Rathsrigg Ask Im.

LD (6,1)

1 Ross’ Cedar Of The Manor, solid dog with terrific bone & substance, tip-top condition, everything in proportion, excellent presentation, a credit to his owner;

2 B Friends Call Me Chrom;

3 Caines’ Burmington And Me Too.

OD (15,1)

1 Davies’ Honeymist Sunny, not my choice of coat but cannot fault the expert presentation. Beneath this coat is a cracking, well balanced dog, lovely to go over with density of bone complemented by good muscletone, a fit dog with everything in the right place, clean masculine head with good eye shape & colour, well placed ears of correct shape & length, excelled in length & depth of brisket, correct angulation which together with his fitness gave him drive, held his shape on the move, could not deny him the CC;

2 Scorah-Wiles’ Ch Rivendown Return Of The King, pity to meet 1. Well boned & muscled, fit dog, longer cast than 1 but still balanced. Other than a different coat & presentation the above attributes apply also to this dog. Just lost out on movement. RCC;

3 Richardson’s Uptnorth Quicksilver.

GCD (2)

1 Colley’s Burmington Jack Bojangles, no glaring faults with this dog & with time & practice from both dog & novice handler could have a reasonable future. Won on movement;

2 B And Me Too, similar stamp to 1. This handler prefers agility & dance so dog is super fit. Did not cooperate when moving.

VB (6,2)

1 Bannister’s Ch Mollora Enchantment with Miteymidgets, these exhibitors do not go for glamour but this does not detract from the quality of their exhibits. A sound, fit bitch who does not show her age, it was a pleasure to go over her. I was splitting hairs later when asked to choose best veteran but she just pipped her kennelmate for BV;

2 Phimister’s Elizdrew Extra Special, preferred her size, correct in all departments;

3 Garbutt’s Airview Debutante.

PB (8,1)

1 Bannister’s Miteymidgets Hawkers Cove, lovely young lady which is maturing nicely, good head, nice shoulders & correct front with plenty of heartroom, correct body shape with good depth & length, arch over loin, well muscled quarters, kept her shape on the move. BP;

2 Hewitt-Taylor’s Mollora Archangelica for Tobanie, lovely textured dark coat, still immature compared to 1 but should come on. A credit to her handler;

3 Burns’ Cassdenal Serendipity.

JB (5,1)

1 Welsh’s Wudrusjuk Work Of Art, lovely size, still quite a baby & cheeky with it. Has to mature but has good potential. This is the one I would choose to take home;

2 Hardy’s Miteymidgets Carleon Cove, similar comments to her sibling in the Puppy class but not as mature. Well presented & handled;

3 Lacey’s Bowlingbrook My Blue Heaven.

PGB (14)

1 Collier’s Mollora Little Rosie at Pocoblu, dark coated correct length & size, stood out in this very mediocre class, expertly handled & presented;

2 Godden’s Seaofiron Where Angels Play, good coated bitch, nice body shape, well handled;

3 Bannister’s Miteymidgets Matilda.

LB (10,1)

1 Scorah-Wiles’ Rivendown Rohan Ash, well here we go again, I love this bitch. No exaggeration in any department, not fancy, just a good, sound, honest bitch, height to length excellent with correct depth of brisket, good bone & muscletone, moved correctly holding her topline on the move, at one with her handler. CC & BOB;

2 Ross’ Honeymist Gaviota, lovely bitch of correct size, very feminine but as hard as nails, terrific body proportions & good quarters, excellent angulation which enabled her to flow so fluidly, held her shape on the move, superb presentation from a relatively new show handler. Pity she came up against 1. Time is definitely on her side & I am sure she will take top honours;

3 Hurley’s Fralex Culibre Sapphire.

OB (13,2)

1 Davies’ Honeymist Tease N Freeze, superb exhibit from this breeder, who, because of her style of presentation does not always get her just rewards. Expertly presented but don’t be fooled there is a very sound animal beneath the coat. She has good bone, something lacking in many bitches & there is strength, without coarseness in the muscletone, as hard as she is she is so feminine. Perfect height/length ratio, lovely forequarters & a ribcage to die for, arch over loin, good hindquarters with correct angulation, everything is in proportion, moved with drive & held her topline. Pity she did not want to move in the challenge which may have lost her the CC. RCC;

2 Hurley’s Ch Fralex Culibre Heather, very well presented liver, well proportioned with good depth of ribcage, excellent mover but not quite the sparkle of 1;

3 Richardson’s Ch Uptnorth Sister Bliss. GCB (4,3) 1 Shorrock’s Rotherview Isadora, without being unkind I have to say she is not the best show specimen but what a happy dog & handler. Have fun with her.

PAM MORTON

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