I very much enjoyed awarding my first set of CC’s to Malamutes having observed the breed since the early 80’s. It’s true to say that I have watched the breed evolve through all this time from the days of Janet Edmonds to what we see today, so I have indeed seen a lot of super Malamutes! This was quite a small selection of dogs, but I did have some quality. Type seems to be very varied as does construction. All were extremely well presented, though some seemed a little overdone with product. This is a natural working breed and I expect all to be well muscled and fit for function.

Special Beginners Dog/Bitch (1,0)
1st: Facer’s Chayo Unlock The Power. Mature puppy. Masculine. Head is broad but not coarse. Muzzle of decent width. Almond shaped eyes. Ears are ok for shape and size. Strong neck. Well laid shoulders. Upper arm could angle back slightly more. Chest developing in line with age, Back slightly sloping. Well angulated stifles. Tail is well set and presents a waving plume. Moves soundly. BPIB

Puppy Dog (1,0)
1st: Facer’s Chayo Unlock The Power

Yearling Dog (1,0)
1st: Smith’s Cash The Check Shamanrock at Snowshoes (Cze Imp) JW. A large upstanding Malamute. Impressive in outline and has bags of ring presence. Broad skull without coarseness. Correct degree of stop. Muzzle is large in relation to skull and scarcely diminishes in width and depth as the standard states. Lovely dark , almond shaped eyes. Ears are of good size, triangular in shape with slightly rounded tips. Well laid shoulders. Moderate return of upper arm. Strong bone. Chest is deep and strong. Muscular loins. Well bent stifles and low set hocks. Tail is a little tighter than I prefer and would prefer a more waving plume. Low set hocks. Large, compact feet. In fabulous coat and condition. Moved with reach and drive in the typical rhythmical action of the breed. So well handled to show off his virtues. CC & BOB

Limit Dog (1,0)
1st: Phoenix’s Snow Legend Zenith Of Fame Nordicwinds JW (Imp Rus) JW. An impressive Malamute of lovely overall construction. Masculine head. Broad skull. Not overdone in stop. Muzzle tapers just a fraction too much for my personal taste. Ears are well set. Muscular neck set into well laid shoulders. Good return of upper arm. Deep chest. Perhaps slightly more length of foreleg would give ideal balance. Topline slopes to rear. Sufficient angulation of stifles and low set hocks. Tail presents as a waving plume. Really covers the ground in profile. Could be slightly tidier out and back. Extremely well handled.

Open Dog (4,0)
1st: Phoenix’s Nordicwinds Grtest Showman JW. One I have judged and liked before. Super show dog. Masculine head with broad skull and correct proportions of skull to muzzle. Muzzle tapers a tad too much but is large enough compared to skull. Almond shaped eyes. Ears set well. Moderate arch to neck which is muscular and leads to well laid shoulders. Good return of upper arm. Great bone for size. Slightly sloping pasterns. Deep chest of ideal width. Slightly sloping topline. Strong, muscular loins. Moderate turn of stifles and low set hocks. Great tail set and good waving plume. Great reach and drive on the move, Just lacking the coat and finishing touches of the CC winner on the day, but thoroughly deserving of the RCC which I learnt afterwards made him up. Congrats!
2nd: Ellis-Payne’s Chayo Trust Magic. I very much liked his head which was nice and broad in skull without being overdone. Excellent muzzle which scarcely diminishes in width or depth. Medium stop. Almond shaped eyes and nice expression. Muscular neck leading to well laid shoulders. Good return to upper arm. Moderate bone for size. Deep chest which is broad enough. Topline a little concave being higher at withers and rear and dipping slightly in the middle. Moderate turn of stifles and low set hocks. Tail set moderately high, rather sparse of hair on the day. Very sound mover with lovely profile gait. Just feel he needs to mature and muscle up. Well presented.

Veteran Dog (1,0)
1st: Lovegrove’s Weyekin’s Light My Fire Within Arctictribe. A lovely Malamute of a type I like. Excellent masculine had with great skull and muzzle. Not coarse in anyway. Lovely eyes and ears. Great neck. Super shoulder and upper arm. Deep chest. Topline has slight slope. Well angulated stifles. Tail set moderately high and presents a waving plume, Moved well with reach and drive. In fantastic coat and condition.

Puppy Bitch (1,0)
1st: Lovegrove’s Arctictribes Living Thing. What a character! A bigger bitch that certainly makes you smile with her happy disposition. Developing along nice lines. Feminine head with strength. Chest is deep for age and ribs are carried well back. Moved very well when settled.

Post Graduate Bitch (1,0)
1st Forsey’s Muzoku Veil of Voodoo. A larger and well-proportioned bitch. She is very feminine but with enough strength in head, Broad skull. Correct muzzle for width and depth. Lovely medium size almond shaped eyes. Ears are set quite well. Muscular neck leading to very well laid shoulders. Excellent return to upper arm. Deep chest reaching to elbows. Ideal bone for size. Well-turned stifles and low set hocks. Tail set moderately high and presents a waving plume. Super mover in profile. Such a lovey bond between dog and handler.

Limit Bitch (3,0)
1st: Copley Holland’s Katabatics Troubleshooter. JW. An extremely attractive Malamute. Feminine head but retains strength and power. Broad enough in skull. Correct ratio of skull to muzzle and muzzle retains its width and depth. Eyes are almond shaped and well set. Ears are small, triangular and widely spaced. Maybe just set a little far back on skull. Muscular neck. Well laid shoulders. Super return of upper arm. Deep, wide chest. Long enough in ribcage. Supe muscular loins and strong topline. Well-turned stifles and low set hocks. Tail is set moderately high and presents a waving plume. A strong, muscular and extremely well-presented bitch. Superb mover. Cracking bitch. RCC
2nd: Phoenix’s Nordicwinds Miss Marvel. Another attractive bitch with good head proportions, eyes and ears. Super expression. Smaller end of the standard. Muscular neck. Rather open angles fore and aft for my preference and a little light in frame. Topline slopes slightly, Well set tail. Sound and balanced on the move, but I just want ‘more’ reach and drive.

Open Bitch (3,0)
1st: Forsey’s Ch Muzoku You’re My Obsession. An easy winner of this class. Super feminine Malamute with the strength defined in the standard. Broad skull. Medium stop. Well-proportioned head. Muzzle is ideal for depth and width and only tapers very slightly. Beautiful, expressive almond shaped eyes. Lovey ears with slightly rounded tips and are well spaced. Super muscular neck. Excellent shoulders and upper arms position her forelegs well under her. Chest reaches to elbows. Ideal width to chest and ribs carried well back. Firm muscular loins. Well angulated stifles that perfectly balance the front. Low set hocks. Tail is set well and carried perfectly on the move. The best mover in this class by some distance. Reaching and driving in the typical fashion of the breed. Super feet and pasterns. I think she is a real beauty. Nothing overdone, but all Malamute. Despite her nakedness, she could not be denied the CC. Love her. Well handled.
2nd: Lovegrove’s Snow Place Like Nome from Dreamwolves. Attractive head with much to admire, Super eyes for shape and set. Good broad skull and excellent muzzle. Ears are well set. Well angulated fore and aft. A little heavy through the chest. Back is firm and loins are quite well muscled. Tail set correctly and shows a slight waving plume. Quite sound on the move. Beat a nice bitch in 3rd who wasn’t too settled on the day.

Judge: Krystyan Greenland