Thank you so much to the committee for inviting me to judge my Breed, my passion. A fairly decent entry considering that it was midweek. Since my last judging appointment, I was disappointed that overall the general handling and training wasn’t as good as it used to be, particularly prevalent in the younger classes.  I personally know that it can be challenging sometimes with a puppy or youngster, but I really felt that some had had no formal training or ringcraft at all.  Also, please exhibitors listen to what your judge is asking you to do.  This is your moment to shine with your dog or bitch, your pride and joy.  You don’t have very long to impress the judge, so please don’t mess it up and do a disservice to yourself and your dog or bitch by doing it all wrong, because you either haven’t listened or you haven’t paid attention to the previous classes.  That all said, there were some classes that I was really pleased with generally and overall, temperaments were really good and grooming was exceptional.

MPD (4,0) This was a difficult class to judge as the quality was here but none of the exhibits wanted to either stand or move properly and the handlers really did not seem to get their act together.  Whilst, I made my decisions, I really felt that on another day that with much more practice and training, places could have changed quite easily. 
1^st Rispin  – Icycool Minnesota. This is a really nice puppy who could have made so much more of himself. 6 mths old grey & white, very nicely proportioned. Lovely head with thick ears, scissor bite and such a kind expression. Shown in super coat, lovely tailset with a tail that wagged none stop. Well off for bone.  Would like tighter feet. He  was unsettled to go over and he played around a lot, but once his handler got him moving, there were moments when he looked really smart.  Would like to see this chap when he knows what he’s supposed to do.
2^nd Martin – Wen Magick Happenz at Dreamwolves.  Another lovely puppy. A very attractive 7 mth old seal & white lad who really knew how to make a super shape on the stand. He has a lovely expression with kind eyes, his ears could be a bit smaller but they are correctly set.  Nice Scissor bite. He was shown with a beautiful shiny coat and had medium bone and very nice tight feet. He moved ok around the ring  but did not really get into his stride and although he has a really good tail, he rarely used it.   I was disappointed as he could have been so much better on the move.  

PD (3,0) This class had a standout winner and I was so pleased to see such a super red and white puppy being shown.
1^st Keeling – Kishdigra Smooth Operator. Good looking boy who shows so well and looks very strong standing, well balanced with lovely angulation and nice short hocks. He has such a lovely headpiece and uses his neat ears so well and is very attentive. Correct eye placement with lovely eyes and super pigment generally.  Shown in full coat and his lovely red colour was glistening. Well off for bone and very nice tight feet. He uses himself to advantage on the move and his waving plume completes the picture. Presented very well in the Challenge for Best Puppy. 
2^nd Rispin – Icycool Minnesota (see 1^st MPD).

JD (1,0)
1^st Finan – Gold of Maja Good Day Sunshine (Imp RUS). 14 mth old grey & white who is so exhuberant to the point that he just needs to calm down a bit and focus on his standing and control his movement.  Very mature in size for his age but you can still tell he’s a youngster due to his bouncy demeanour.   He is such a nice dog, very well balanced and makes a great shape when he stands still for long enough. I loved his depth of chest and rear angulation. Gorgeous head with the very best of expressions, nice dark eye, scissor bite. Well off for bone and substance with fabulous tight feet. Thick harsh coat finished off with a very waggy, waving plume. Movement was very sound but erratic at times. Be interesting to see this boy when he fully matures and hopefully presents himself to show off all his virtues.

PGD (3,0)
1^st York – Chardicea Mr McFly with Snowstruck.  Lovely looking 18 mth old grey & white with such an endearing expression, super small ears and clear dark eyes. He is a nice sized dog who knows his craft and stands well showing off his lovely shape. Well turned out with a thick harsh coat. Nice topline and finished with an acceptable tail.  I would have preferred tighter feet. He covered the ground well, moving soundly and was shown empathetically.
2^nd Wilson – Amelhuk Empire of New Era at Arctictundra (Imp RUS). Handsome 4 yr old male with a really lovely headpiece, nice small ears and well set dark eyes. He was balanced throughout and shown in full, harsh coat. I like his tail carriage and well let down hocks. He has good, tight feet but is quite close on the rear when he moves.

LD (3,0) An easy winner again in this class for balance and presentation. 
1^st Page – Snow Legend Believe In You Cedarcreek JW (Imp RUS). Lots to like about this 16mth old grey & white lad who was shown in first class condition and his coat was just sparkling .  Loved his head, super small ears, nice dark oblique eyes giving that kind expression.   He’s well proportioned, adequately boned and fits his frame with correct topline both standing and on the move. He still has time to develop but moved really well and covered the ground with ease. He has very nice tight feet. He has a good tail set and carriage but sometimes forgets to use his tail. In the Challenge with the older dog from Open, I felt that this younger boy moved with more fluidity and his movement was smoother. I was happy to award him the CC and ultimately BOB. It was a pleasure to see him place 2^nd in the Group.
2^nd York – Chardicea McFly with Snowstruck (see 1^st PGD)

OD (3,0)
1^st Smith – Ch Snowshoes King’s Legacy ShCM ShCEx.  This is a very elegant dog who looks balanced from every angle. A 4 yr old grey & white with a really nice headpiece. Correct ear and eye placement and giving that lovely kind expression. Coat shown in tip top condition and it was gleaming. Adequate bone and super tight feet. He carries his tail well and looks smart on the move. I would have liked at this age a bit more substance throughout, but his overall shape, type and presentation secured him the class. In the Challenge I just felt that the younger dog from the limit class had a smoother movement but I was very pleased to award him a well deserved RCC. 
2^nd Keeling – Ir Ch Int Ch Kishdigra Smooth Criminal AnCH18 Ir J. Handsome 3.5 yr old grey & white male who looked impressive on the stand. Slightly shorter in proflle than 1 and not having the same crest of neck. Even so, really liked his strong masculine head. Shown in A1 condition and his coat was immaculate.  He has very good bone and large compact feet. A quality dog who moved with purpose around the ring, holding his topline well but he did not have quite the free movement of 1.

VD (2,1)
1st Lovegrove – Weyekin’s Light My Fire Within Arctictribe. 7 yr old handsome seal & white shown in beautiful coat. Such a lovely expression with correct ear and eye placement. Eye catching boy who looks really good on the stand. He has substance, large compact feet and is well off for bone with nice small hocks. He holds his tail so well on the go around and moves with purpose in side profile, but a bit tight on front and rear on the down and back.

MPB (5,0)
1^st Cameron – Sutarka Sala Delle Asse. The minute I set eyes on this 7 mth old baby girl I was hooked. Very pretty baby with such small ears, dark eyes, scissor bite and a gorgeous sweet expression. Her coat was dense and harsh and beautifully groomed. Picture perfect on the stand with a lovely crest of neck flowing into gently sloping topline finished with a decent tail. Well boned with lovely tidy feet and well let down hocks. Floated around the ring and I was excited to consider her in the Challenge and award her the well deserved RCC and BPIB.
2^nd Lockhart &Semple – Cahppes Never Ending Love (Imp SWED). Very pretty baby girl with lovely markings and such an endearing expression.  Super shape on the stand, showing off her ample bone, well let down hocks and waving plume. Another quality puppy but just not the freedom of movement of 1.

PB (4,2)
1^st Cameron – Sutarka Sala Delle Asse (see 1^st MPB)
2^nd Saye – Makalu Mountain Quest. Happy 6mth old puppy with a pretty head, correct oblique eyes but had slightly larger ears than puppy 1. Very good shape on the stand and super small hocks. Her coat was lying a bit flat but in very good condition. Moved well in side profile with a lovely waving plume.

JB (2,0)
1^st Horsman Phoenix – Nordicwinds In Your Dreams.  18mth old grey & white girl in her summer coat. She’s had a bit of a growth spurt and as she was lacking in coat, she needs to fill out more all round. She has a really pretty face, gorgeous dark eyes but would prefer a slightly smaller ear. She has a really strong topline and good tail, with lovely feet and straight hocks.  She gave her handler a bit of a challenge and was unsettled on the move.  Would love to see her when she bodies up and is in full coat. 
2^nd Padervinskaite – Midnight Iris. 12 mth old grey & white who was also in her summer coat. She was smaller all round than 1. Very nice head, with dark eyes but slightly bigger ear. She’s medium boned , has a lovely tail, good small hocks  and tight feet. Moved a bit erratically.

PGB (5,1)
1^st Jelfs – Lapema Gio Visto JW – 2 year old grey & white, who is so well proportioned and makes a lovely shape in side profile both static and moving. She was shown in good coat and was so sound on the move.  She is well off for bone, has lovely tight feet and a really nice tail set and the carriage is lovely when she used it. 
2^nd Horsman Phoenix – Snow Legend Be My Lucky Nordicwinds JW (Imp RUS) – 16mth old pretty girl with gorgeous expression. Again very nice proportions, adequately boned as was slightly smaller all round than 1, but very well balanced.  She was just coming back into coat, so not the full glamorous picture but moved really well around the ring with a lovely waving plume.  Really nice girl indeed.

LB (3,2)
1^st O’Brien & Hughes – Freezefactor Angel Wings. 3 yr old grey & white girl who was very happy and gave her all when showing. Strong head and well placed ears and eyes with excellent scissor bite. Well off for bone and very nice feet.  Not in full coat. Moved well but front and rear rather tight. 

OB (8,3)
1^st Keeling – Ir Ch Int Ch Kishdigra Criminal Intent Ir J Ch CW1 –  5 yr old quality dark grey & white girl with a very attractive head with strong features. Shown in super coat and presented beautifully. She has substance with really good bone, tight feet but I would have liked them larger. She powered around the ring with her lovely waving plume and I was pleased to award her the CC. She gave her all in the Challenge against the dog and after running them a few times, I finally went with the young boy as I felt that he just held his topline that bit better.  
2^nd Page – Cedarcreek Fozen In Time. 5 yr old girl with lots to like about her and was unlucky to come up against 1. Feminine head with gorgeous dark eyes and well set ears, good scissor bite. Her coat looked lovely and she moved so very well around the ring. She is well boned with nice sized, tight feet. I would just have preferred a looser tail.      

VB (1,0)
1^st Blaney – Ch Windberg Paparazzi to Fenrirkin ShCM VW.  Seal & white girl in great coat who is now 9.5 years old and belies her age as she covers the ground fabulously, showing off her super side gait . I’ve judged this girl a few times now throughout her show career and she is still so sound from every angle. Balanced throughout and was delighted to award her Best Veteran in Breed.  

Sue Ellis