SMOOTH FOX CRUFTS 2010

Fox Terrier (Smooth)

Judge(s): MRS J THORNTON


BEST OF BREED ROTUR CELTIC DESIRES OF ADAIRES Bitch Owner: MR P HORSPOOL
BEST PUPPY SANAMARIS SPILL THE BEANS Bitch Owner: MRS S J MORRIS
DOG CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE MERCURYFOX HUGO SANCHEZ [ATC AK00422HUN] Dog Owner: MR J MITNYAN
BITCH CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE ROTUR CELTIC DESIRES OF ADAIRES Bitch Owner: MR P HORSPOOL
RESERVE DOG CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE SHILLELAGH USHAKA Dog Owner: MR R DELMAR
RESERVE BITCH CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE THUNDERCLAP MACSWEENEYBitch Owner: MR J & MRS S SMITH

FOX SMOOTH JUDGE CRUFTS 10

Firstly I would like to thank the Crufts committee for inviting me to judge the breed at what is recognised to be the World’s greatest dog show, I had a wonderful day. My stewards, Dave & Jane Allman were excellent & kept everything moving along well. Finally to the exhibitors a huge thank you for the support you gave by entering your dogs under me, an excellent entry of 73. It was a truly international affair with exhibits from a variety of European countries, Latvia, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Belgium, France and of course the 4 countries of the British Isles. Obviously you cannot please everyone and I have to say in a number of classes I was spoiled for choice as they were strong both in numbers and quality. I am happy to say however I did please myself!
As ever at Crufts some dogs thrived on the atmosphere while others were not so comfortable. Being second in the ring, the hall had filled up and of course was noisy and it became quite humid causing some dogs not to show to best advantage.
Often judges in their preamble see fit to make comment on the problems that the breed might have in regards to movement, construction and general type and we seem to be told that the breed isn’t what it was. Criticism such as this I feel is counter productive when people are doing their best to keep the breed going with the gene pool available, particularly here at home where we are very much limited to using UK based dogs. The same people travel up and down the country week in and week out supporting the breed at all manner of shows not to mention events such as Discover Dogs and Vulnerable Breeds parades in order to promote Smooth Fox Terriers and everyone should be applauded for their commitment. Often the critics have neither had nor bred a Smooth & I would like to suggest to them that they show us all how it is done and I will await the results with interest. I will therefore restrict my comments on the breed to the individual dogs.

VD (2,0):
A lovely way to start the day.

1.Saunders’ Star Turn of Galleyshine. 7 year old t/w dog who has been a stalwart of the breed since he was 6 months old. Good head, ears, neck & shoulders, good body, tailset & quarters, moved & showed well.

2. Skaarup’s Int/Dk/Se/Pl/Ch Egelykke Dustin. 8 year old t/w with grand body, enjoying his day and still moving well.

SPD (1,0): 1. Eddon’s Terrahawk Tam O’ Shanter. White dog with a few tan markings on his head. Very light in body at the moment. Good head but rather flighty with his ears today.

SJD (5,0): 1. Cuoghi’s Star Pride Lots of Love. Nearly all white dog with a few tan head markings in beautiful coat & condition. He is very stylish with a good head, neat ears which he used all the time, great neck & shoulders, good body, tail on top and excellent quarters. Moved & showed well & expertly handled.

2. Griffiths & Jones Yoxella White Tie. I have admired this smart b/w dog from the ringside and going over him did not disappoint. He has a good head, neck & shoulders, strong body with good tailset & quarters. Unfortunately today he was not using his ears to best advantage and did not co-operate with his handler on the move which was a pity.

3. Spagna Rosario’s Agria Zambia. B/w dog with an excellent head and smart all through. Showed very well. Just preferred hind angulation of the first two.

PGD (6,0):

1. Tindle’s Jesuie Un Rock Star. T/w dog who has a long head with correct expression. Good neck into clean shoulders, short back, good tailset, well angulated quarters, good bone, legs & feet. Moved well. Just carrying a few ounces extra weight today which precluded him from gaining top honours.

2. Crouch’s Yoxella Writers Block among Oaxaca. Smart b/w dog which looked a picture standing. Enough head to be balanced, great topline, good tail set. Moved well in front but failed a little in rear today.

3. Brookes’ Mischief in Disguise. Showy t/w dog in good order. Good head & lovely body shape, moved OK. Well handled.


LD (11,0):
The biggest dog class of the day numerically and quite a challenge to judge.

1. Mitnyan’s Mercuryfox Hugo Sanchez. Dog with all white body and tan tick markings and a flash tan head. This dog came to the show in first class condition and with great attitude. Lovely head piece with clean back skull and powerful foreface. Correctly placed ears which he used well. Lovely neck & shoulders & strong body with appropriate depth of brisket. Good topline, tail bang on top & well carried, well muscled quarters and the best of bone, legs & feet. This dog’s movement in profile was exemplary, flowing around the ring with ease and style. He was handled to perfection and I was pleased to award him the CC.

2. Combelle’s Bonzai de Malvau. Lightly marked t/w with good head & ears. Correct front, neck & shoulders, good body with level topline. Moved & showed well. Unlucky to meet 1in such good form.

3. Darby’s Starpride Devil in Disguise. Tan & white dog which is a good make & shape, very balanced & not overdone in any way. He, like the winner moves well in profile. However today he didn’t seem happy in the surroundings and was somewhat unsettled throughout and not inclined to use his ears.

OD (7,1):

1. Delmar’s Shillelagh Ushaka. T/w with markings and colour which don’t really help him. Like the CC winner he has excellent head qualities reminiscent to me of the Newmaidleys. He is very short coupled and shows well. Sometimes stands a little untidily in front but was well handled to get the very best out of him. Res CC.

2. Broom’s Ch Leconridge Joy Rider with Roxway. Well known champion dog who if my memory serves me correctly gained his title at this show 2 years ago. He is all white with tan head markings and was in lovely coat & condition as I would expect from this kennel. Well constructed throughout and another with a good headpiece but today just lacked a little freedom of movement.

3. Julian’s Scots Guard at Lanyons. Heavy tan marked dog with lots to like. He again excels in head, has lovely neck & shoulders with good body shape. Moved OK. However he seemed a little lack lustre today and did not show off all his virtues to the full.

VB (2,0):

1. Grison’s Fr/Int Ch Snow White Du Breil des Elfes. Almost 9 years old. I judged this b/w bitch in France some years ago, giving her BOB. She still looks well & showed herself off and moved as well as ever. 2. Jacques Jacqspot Red Hot Momma. 9 year old tan & white. Pretty bitch who showed well. She was however more interested in the bits and pieces on the floor than moving on it!

SPB (4,1):

1. Morris’ Sanamaris Spill The Beans. B/w bitch with lovely headpiece. She has a good body shape, short back, good tail, well angulated quarters and has lovely legs and feet. She is very sound in movement. BP.

2. Pearce & Collins Dobelands Smoothly Does It for Alkinra. Very pretty lightly marked b/w youngster. She has everything in the right place & shows off her virtues to advantage. I would just like to see a little more of her all round.

3. Rougvie’s Terrahawk Mons Meg. T/w and a taller rangier type to the first two. She has a neat head but requires more body and weight to complete the picture.

SJB (9,1):
This was a lovely class of quality bitches.

1.Horspool’s Rotur Celtic Desires of Adaires. Like the DCC winner this beautiful b/w bitch came to the show in sparkling form. She has an exquisite headpiece with well set ears which she used all the time. She is a joy to go over with clean neck & shoulders, level topline, good tailset & carriage & well made quarters. She again was expertly handled & showed well at all times. I was pleased to award her the CC (her third) and BOB. Well done to her owner/handler and of course to her breeder on producing such a lovely bitch.

2. Saunders’ Galleyshine Secret Love. All white bitch with black head and full of the correct attitude. A very sound bitch who showed her socks off and moved so soundly. She was unlucky to meet the winner but pressed hard for Res CC and did her owner/breeder/handler proud.

3. Hannar’s Amber’s Ginger Spice. Another good bitch. Lovely head, well made body, good bone, legs & feet. Her ears just need to settle to complete the picture.

PGB (8,1)

: 1. Smith’s Thunderclap Macsweeney. Bright tan marked bitch in great form and condition on the day. Good head, the very best of legs & feet, good body shape, good topline & tailset well made quarters. She moved very soundly on a loose lead. Res CC.

2. Darby’s Dobeland Private Dancer of Classicway. Nearly all white bitch who is a great show lady. Enough head, well made body with appropriate depth of brisket. She really does seem to enjoy her days at the show and moved round the ring with purpose.

3. Tindle’s Jesuie Mystic. This is a very well constructed b/w bitch and presents a lovely shape. Clean head, good neck & shoulder, great body shape with big spring of rib, good tail set & carriage & well made quarters. She moved well but like her litter brother would look better with a little less weight.

LB (11,5):

1. Hughes’ Forgevale Fourstar. Very pretty t/w bitch who is lovely to go over on the table. Good head, clean neck into well laid shoulders, good body & topline. Moved very well and showed steadily all the time.

2. Wilson’s Lizoni Shadow Dancer. Pretty b/w with lovely head, ears & expression. Good neck & shoulders, level topline and short back. Moved well but for me she could do with a touch more weight and also a little more animation in her showmanship but a lovely bitch nevertheless.

3. Hartigan’s Rockenhart Bijou. All white bitch with black ears and bigger all round than the first two. Good body shape, moved & showed well.

OB (12,1):
Another strong class numerically with quite a variation in type.

1.Julian & Carlo’s Ch Lanyon’s Soft Touch. I awarded this t/w bitch CC & BOB when I judged at Belfast in 2007 and the same remarks apply. She was shown in good form and looked the part but had to give way to the youngsters today.

2. Clifford’s Migley Whiteside. Well constructed sound b/w with everything in the right place which won her the second in this class. She moved well for her handler but is another who I feel could be a little more animated in her showmanship.

3. Graffin’s Leconridge Kiss Me Kate. T/w bitch with good head & ears very good topline & tailset. Taller sort all around than the first two and sometimes a bit of a handful on the move.

Jenny Thornton (Judge)

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