My thanks to the SKC committee for their invitation and hospitality. An even greater thanks to all the exhibitors who made my day most enjoyable and memorable.
Overall the quality of the entry was very high and some exhibits that I like went cardless. Presentation is now at a far higher level and clever handling made my job that bit more challenging. Temperaments without exception were faultless even on this hot and tiring day. I had far fewer tight tails, weak pasterns and flat feet but dentition is a problem area with many not having complete scissor bites. Movement as a whole was sound with the fitter dogs excelling and not being affected as much by the stuffiness under the canvas. There was a tendency of some of the shorter bodied dogs to roll on rear movement that would not benefit a hard working sled dog.

Puppy Dog (7,1)
1. Lockhart & Semple – Kegluneq Born to Raise Hell. Much to like about this 8 month grey, pleasing head for age, arch of neck, lay of shoulder and depth of chest. Needs to tighten a little in front but quite strong behind. Smart outline developing sloping topline and correct tailset. Strong hocks, no weakness in pasterns and tight feet. Flagged a bit in the puppy challenge.
2. Briggs – Snobruk Cool Runner. 11 month grey again with a head to admire. Not got the topline of 1 and tail a bit tighter. Chest well developed, pasterns strong, bone ok, would prefer bigger feet. Not so fluent as 1 on the move and needs to tighten front and rear.

Junior Dog (5,3)
1. Briggs – Snobruk Cool Runner.
2. Stuart – Trojan Hercules

Yearling Dog (3,0)
1. Copley-Holland – Tailfly Turnaround Glider At Katabatik JW. 20 month lovely grey boy with masculine balanced head, dark eyed with good dentition. Strength in arch of neck, good lay of shoulder and well developed chest. Sloping topline, good tailset, rear quarters in balance with fore and moved easily and true. Should have a bright future in front of him.
2. Fotheringham – Tailfly Suntower Asking. Litter brother to 1 with a lot to like as well. Again a pleasing head, good forehand, depth of chest but slightly down on his pasterns. Sloping topline, tailset ok and rear quarters to match fore. In lovely condition and moving well.

Post Graduate Dog (10,1)
1. Brook – Snobruk Howling Wolf. 2 year old masculine lad that really impressed. Broad skull, strong muzzle, strength throughout forehand, straight legs, strong pasterns and tight feet. Strong arched neck, sloping topline, good tailset and carriage and muscular rear quarters. Moved powerfully with drive and his fitness shone through. A young dog that will continue to get better as he matures and look forward to his future progression. Delighted to award him the RCC.
2. Fotheringham – Tailfly Suntower Asking

Limit Dog (8,1)
1. Sheehan – Hawkam Leading The Trail Via Amaqqut. A worthy winner of the strongest dog class of the day and one I much admired as a junior. 4 year old on the day and presented in great condition, fit and at one with his handler. Strong masculine skull & muzzle, strong neck, well sprung ribs and deep chest. Good bone, strong pasterns and tight feet. Correct topline, tailset and sound rear quarters with strong hocks. Moved powerfully with reach and drive, true coming and going and a pleasure to award him his first CC.
2. Howarth – Hawkam Limited Edition. Litter brother to 1 and another extremely well constructed dog. Also masculine and strong throughout with good bone, pasterns and great feet. Tighter front than 1 and moves with even more drive but would prefer just a little more length of leg. Presented in beautiful condition, fit and with a correctly textured coat.

Open Dog (11,2)
A class with everything in it, types, movement, coats and a real challenge to work out.
1. Burns – Kaytoo Winter Mischief At Napamute SHCM. 8 ½ year grey boy in wonderful condition showing no signs of his age and showing up the younger ones. Fresh faced, keen eyed and clean complete dentition. Being petty I would prefer more width of skull. Strong neck, well developed chest, straight front, tight feet and still got strong pasterns. Lovely outline with complementing tail carriage, moving strongly and true.
2. Lockhart – Kegluneq X-Rated SHCM. 4 year old powerful grey masculine boy. Strong skull, muzzle and alert ears. Deep, well sprung chest, good fore, topline and rear quarters. No weakness in pasterns and moved well with reach and plenty of drive pushing 1 very hard.

Puppy Bitch (10,4)
1. Wilkinson & Jelfs – Neskyla Star Sopra Lapema. 10 month ever so pretty girl full of youthful exuberance. Quizzical expression, dark eyed and very feminine. Pleasing outline from head, through neck and straight topline. Straight front that she held quite well for a youngster, strong pasterns and tight feet. Moved well and her enthusiasm and seemingly boundless energy carried her to BPIB.
2. Wilkinson – Koldsnap Aprillia Mille. 7 month sweet little girl, seemingly a little phased by it all as was 3. Dark eyed, good mouth but not much use of her ears. I liked her overall profile, coat and movement that will improve with confidence. Pushed 1 hard as this was a quality class and was in turn pushed very hard by another lovely puppy in 3 who suffered from even more stage-fright. Look forward to the futures of these three.

Junior Bitch (7,2)
1. Wilkinson & Jelfs – Neskyla Star Sopra Lapema
2. Campbell & Hutchby – Marahootay Colour Of Magic. 16 month grey who had left her coat at home but probably the coolest mal here. Pleasing head, fore, topline and rear quarters that she liked to sit on. Moved bit erratically but sound and just needs to settle down.

Yearling Bitch (1,0)
1. Barstow – Cinnelli Road Kiss At Ayakulik. 16 month quite tall black girl. Alert expression, good bite, would prefer thicker ear leather. Neck, shoulder, fore all good, topline sloping but needs a bit more length to balance her height. Moved ok but didn’t converge as much as I would like.

Post Graduate Bitch (14,3)
1. Page – Icebound Ice Ice baby For Cedarcreek. 23 month very feminine grey that should have a promising future, featuring strongly in the bitch challenge. Dark eyed, good bite and inquisitive expression. Lovely outline with smooth lines running through arched neck, straight sloping topline and fabulous tailset and carriage. Strong pasterns, tight feet, moving with drive easily and true.
2. Horsman-Phoenix – Shiva Storm. 2 year light grey quality girl who pushed 1 all the way. Has much of the same virtues as 1 but not such a clean outline. Again moved effortlessly and could easily swap places with 1.

Limit Bitch (12,2)
This was THE class of the day and full of quality with a number of girls that I really like going cardless.
1. Forster – Hawkam Leading Lady Of Kachemak. Birthday girl – 4 today and litter sister to the Limit Dog 1 & 2. I fell for this one as a wee girl at WKC 3 years ago giving her the RCC on that occasion and how delighted I was to see how she has matured into this aptly named beautiful lady. Delightful in every facet, the darkest of eyes, small, well furred thick ears. Powerful yet feminine, well boned, strong pasterns and tight feet. Deep chest, well sprung with sloping topline and correct tailset and carriage. Effortless and true movement and absolutely delighted to award her CC no.2 and BOB.
2. Loades – Snowolf Ice Cold Manhatten. 2 year beautiful red girl that also stood out in this class. Soft expression, balanced head, crest of neck and well made forechest. Legs straight, pastern’s strong and good tight feet. Sloping topline, good tailset and well balanced profile. Moved true and easily and I have no doubt will mature into a top class lady.

Open Bitch (9,3)
1. Wilkinson – Gorkeane De Jungla Negra. Absolutely cracking 8 year old that had previously impressed me at WKC. Soft but almost aloof expression, dark eyed, powerful yet feminine head. Strong body throughout with bone unmatched by any bitch. Good fore , deep well sprung chest, still holding her topline on the move showing off a high level of fitness belying her age. In lovely coat and condition and well worth the RCC.
2. Loades – CH Snowolf Manhatten Heatwave. 6 year high quality darker shaded grey girl. Pleasing head and expression, lovely neck and forechest, straight legs, strong pasterns and tight feet. Lighter framed than 1 but still pushed all the way moving effortlessly round the ring.

Judge: Roger Cruden