As with all breeds entries are dropping, but I find it concerning that the quality is dropping also. 15-20 years ago the ring was fully of quality exhibits and to qualify for Cruft’s was an achievement. Sadly today that is not the case, you can qualify by simply turning up. Although it is inevitable that numbers will decrease, we must strive to maintain the quality. Type and size is very mixed, the influence of foreign blood seems to have improved some areas, but weakened others. The tail carriage on Smooth’s on the whole used to be good, but many exhibits today were unacceptable or border line. The bitches today were of better quality, some of which on another day could get top honours, but I struggled to find many quality males. Hopefully they are at home?

PD (1,0). 1 TrundleyB4s Lilymead Agamennon b/m. Just 6 months and very promising. Head very clean for age. Nice rounded muzzle and flat back skull. Ears need to rise. Good angulation front and rear. Tailset good. Needs more ringcraft to improve on the move.

JD (2,1). 1 Forbes’ Pelghart Pied Piper. Nice size, with good clean head, flat back skull. Ears well set, but flying slightly. Could do with more weight. Coat black, but white markings exceed withers, and onto rib cage. Well off for bone and good rear angulation. Tailed just acceptable. Movement ok.

PGD (5,1). 1 Wallis’ Norfield Soul Mate. Nice up to size s/w with a good overall balance and shape. Masculine clean head. Moved ok but tail rather high. 2 Eke’s Foxearth Fred Perry. This very smart tri caught my eye the moment he entered the ring. Very well balanced throughout. Head handles very well. Clean cheeks, sweet dark eye of correct shape and good flat back skull. Ample bone, level top line, Well set tail. Moved well. If only his ears were not flying he would have challenged for top honours. 3 Arksey’s Norfield Checkmate.

LD (4,0). 1 Evans’ Manordeifi Smart Guy at Southcombe. There is not much to dislike about this 2 yrs old s/w. Medium sized and completely balanced. Head of good length and proportions. Rounded muzzle, filling in well as he matures. Sweetest obliquely set eye, very well balanced and flat backskull. Good length of neck leading to very well placed shoulders. Well angulated straight front. Level top line, back of good length, with well rounded croup and solid rear. Stood and showed to perfection, and his forte was his effortless movement. Pleased to award him DCC & BOB, and pleased to learn that this was his crowning CC. 2 Griffiths Alopex Highland Fling. Awarded this very smart tri best puppy the last time I judged. He is a nice size and is maturing well. Head of good balance with well placed ears. Body of good proportions and angulated well fore and aft. Ample bone and well set tail. As with all dogs from this kennel and the CC winning kennel, movement was excellent. RCC. 3 Haywards Foxearth French’y. OD (2,1). 1 WHD. 2 Arksey’s Norfield Checkmate Brother to PG winner and placed lower down in PG & L. Well grown s/w, too immature for open. Strong head pattern. Good bone, well made front and rib cage. Coat of very good texture but very open. Moved ok, but tail carried too high. Handled well.

PB (4,1). 1 Burgess’ Lilymead Appanchi. Just 6 mths, but very promising tri. Beautiful over all shape and balance. Sweetest of heads, with dark eye. Ears well set, but just tending to fly. Very clean cheeks and good back skull. Nice length of neck which she used well. Level top line, well set tail. Still erratic on the move. Lovely out going disposition. BP. 2 Trundley’s Lilymead Alisia 3rd puppy from this same litter, and many of the same point apply. Not quite the head quality of her sister, slightly more open coated. but still very promising. Nice size and shape. Very out going, but needs to settle on the move. 3 Gibsons Pelghart Perhaps Perhaps.

JB (3,1). 1 Coates Starlight Spirit at Pencloda. Sweet headed blue, very well balanced throughout. Good level top line, well made front and rear which produced excellent movement. 2 Gibson’s Pelghart Pure Gold, s/w too fine in muzzle for me, and not the sweetness of 1. Good flat back skull with well set and used ears. Nice front angulations and level top line. Rear angulations also good. Tight coat. Moved well, tail just acceptable.

PGB (5,1). Hardest class of the days. 4 bitches that all had good qualities and could easily swap places on another day. 1 Bullion’s Foxearth Flame of Love at Ostarain. Have admired and judged this very pretty tri before. Very balanced throughout, and for me a perfect size. Her head is very clean and she has the sweetest dark eyes. Flat back skull, ears well set are used. Ample neck leading to good shoulders. Beautifully rounded croup and well set tail. Carrying too much weight which effected her movement, which nearly cost her, but I could not get past her overall qualities and breed type. RCC. 2 Taylor’s Snuggletooth Fillys Fancy among Trageeda. Very well present tri, in top condition. Not quite as good in eye as one but. Body of good shape and balance. Jet black coat of good texture. A pity she was determined to play her handler up on the move. 3 Moores’ Manordeifi Party Doll.

LB (5,1). 1 Whittingham’s Southcombe Society Girl. I have admired this very smart tri since I first set eyes on her over a year ago, and was pleased to have the opportunity to judge her. She has the classic smooth shape that was in abundance when I first entered the breed, that is sadly lacking today. Her head is very clean and balanced and of good length. Eye well placed, but could be darker to give a sweeter expression. Ears well set and used. Very good length of neck., leading to good shoulders, level top line and nicely rounded croup. Tail well set. Movement ok, but tending to look at handler rather then concentrating on where she was going. This cost her the challenge for BOB, but as with the dog, this was her crowning CC. 2 Robinsons Hilltarn Valentine JW. Another very nice tri, this time a more workmanlike type, and not quite the femininity of 1, being very solid through out, with a slightly stronger head pattern than the first. Strong muzzle, good under jaw. Level back skull, ears well set and used. Strong neck and once again good top line. Ample bone, good ribbing. Adequate angulations fore and aft. Jacket of good texture, but could be tighter. moved very well. 3 Taylors Snuggletooth. FF among T.

OB (3,1). 1 Macgregor’s Ch Southcombe Sophisticate at Rowvale. Up to size stylish tri, presented in immaculate condition as always from this kennel. Head handles well, very well rounded muzzle, and flat back skull. Nice eye, well used ears. Strong neck and very good shoulders. Ample bone and ribbing. Nice level and length of back, rounded croup and well angulated rear. Tail very well set. Moved well going away, but tending to roll on the front. 2 Robinson’s Ch. Southcombe Sweet as a Nut. 4 yrs s/w that I have done well in the past. Today though she did not have the same sparkle or spring in her step. Nice overall size and shape, Head of good length, clean cheeks, neat well used ears. Eye could be sweeter. Very well made body, being very well angulated at all quarters. Correct coat of good texture. Moved and handled well.

Nick Smith