Page 27 - K9 News Digital - Issue 11 May2020

CRUFTS 2020

Photos: RBT

Pastoral Group Critique well. Head, skull, coat all great type and in great

condition overall to make the complete package.
First of all I would like to thank the Chairman of
Running a very close second was the Australian
Crufts Committee, Tom Mather, for the lovely
Shepherd which you can only describe as
welcome and hospitality shown to me at Crufts,
which is as they say the greatest dog show on gorgeous. Excellent conformation and expression
with absolutely fantastic movement and coat
earth. For me as an FCI judge it is a particular
condition. Clearly this was a very close decision
honour to be asked to do the group at Crufts. Even
and on another day might have just been switched
though I have judged all groups and BIS five times
round the other way but there can only be one
in the UK, Crufts remains the ultimate honour.
The atmosphere in the main ring was fantastic, a winner
unique atmosphere that I enjoyed so much. What can I say about the beautiful Samoyed who
epitomises the breed, the happy smiling Sammy?
Equally fantastic was the group of 35 excellent
This dog has staying power and I found him very
representatives of their breeds which after half
sound. Important for me was that he is not too big,
an hour of assessment I had to make a short list.
a good size which is important in this breed. The
I must say that I was impressed with the quality
of all the dogs in the group but especially so with same applied to the lovely blue merle Sheltie which
also was a good size and a beautiful expression.
my final eight. Any of these dogs in the final cut
were capable of winning the group, but you have Once more my thanks to Crufts and any fellow
to choose just one winner on the day. judges having the honour of doing a group at
Crufts, go and enjoy it, what a fantastic experience.
Taking the group in the end was the spectacular
Old English Sheepdog which had very sound Luis Pinto Texiera
movement. This outstanding example of the breed
was in excellent condition with a super coat as

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