It was a great privilege to judge this specialty with a flattering entry of
100 plus. Having read the American breed standard, I was a little concerned
as to how I would cope with judging smaller and lighter Cairns than I am used
to seeing as the English and FCI standards are slightly different where height
and weight are concerned. But I need not have worried, as once I got into the
swing of things I felt quite at home and found that, for the most part, they
fell into place quite easily.
The dogs, I thought, were better than the bitches in quality and thus easier
to judge. There was variance in size, of course, from rather small and stuffy,
to large and very rangy, but in a big entry you would nearly always get the
full range. Some were -- for me -- a little too short on the leg. I like a free
and easy mover and for that you need a little bit of ground clearance. Eyes
and expressions on the whole were good, but I felt there was plenty of room
for improvement in width of under jaw. I am not at all a "teeth fanatic" but
I like to see a good sound bite, large teeth and certainly not a pinched, narrow
under jaw with only room for three or four teeth instead of six between the
canines. A couple did not close their mouths properly and that is not good news.
Coats and presentation in the majority were good and temperaments without exception
were absolutely first class.
The specials class was marvelous. The males dominated in both numbers and quality.
I split them into three lots; then made a first selection followed by a second
cut. I was very taken with my WINNER'S DOG/BOW, Greatscot's Hard To Be Humble,
who came very close to taking the breed. RESERVE WINNER'S DOG, Greatscot's Kilt
By Association, turned out to be his litter brother and the little 6-9 month
dog class winner was also similarly bred. But in the end, my BEST OF BREED was
Ch. Dogwood Pentium Processor, owned by Pam Davis and handled by Peter Green.
Shown in beautiful coat and absolute peak condition, he was at one with his
handler both standing and going around. With a masculine quality head and outlook,
he was sound and animated. I just felt he had the edge on head and overall finish.
But I also loved Hard To Be Humble who's coat was absolute perfection, nicely
balanced, tail well set and carried, attractive head, dark bright eyes. He had
come all the way from Canada with a Swedish pedigree. I recently judged Cairn
bitches at the World Show in Germany where my Best in Breed also came from Sweden
with her nearest rivals from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland. Sorry, I
digressed.
My WINNERS BITCH/BOS was Terriwood Black Pepper, just 15 months old, with RESERVE
WINNERS BITCH going to Skerryvore Will O The Wisp, 17 months old. The latter
was another Canadian visitor. They were two nice youngsters, evenly matched,
I thought, and the decision could have gone either way. "Pepper" tried that
bit harder just when it mattered. Both were good for size, type and coat texture
and moved well.
I had a darling veteran bitch of 11 years. Ch. Ragtime's Ain't She Sweet.
She was absolutely on the ball, bright and full of expression, and showed her
socks off. She was one of my AWARDS OF MERIT along with Ch. Joywood's Moving
On, Ch. Upstarts Sir Winston, and Ch. Terriwood First Mate.
The theme of the CTCSC was Hawaiian and everyone entered into the spirit of
things -- even the dogs hugely enjoyed dressing up in grass skirts. The Great
Western has quite a reputation worldwide and I must confess that i felt both
a little apprehensive and nervous beforehand. But there was such a wave of friendliness
coming across right from the beginning that I instantly felt part of the "CTCSC
family." I greatly appreciated the sporting and courteous attitude of the exhibitors.
Dog showing is -- or should be -- a sport and a hobby to be enjoyed, not a fight
for life or death! We live in a fast, competitive world and sometimes it seems
we do forget the relaxation and enjoyment aspects of our dog sport. The evaluation
of breeding stock is, of course, serious business and you enter to get the particular
judge's opinion on the day. The judge only has a few minutes to form an opinion
based on first impressions. the brief table examination, and the overall performance.
So it can be something of a gamble all around if things don't come together
just at the right moment.
I'm sorry I "bottled out" of giving my views of the breed at the actual dinner
in the evening, but it had been a long day and by this time everyone was in
real Hawaiian party mood -- I might have broken that magical spell had I gone
all serious on you! For my part, I enjoyed the Cairns enormously. I can't thank
you enough -- Karen and Jack Smith, the CTCSC, and my charming, patient and
tolerant steward, Dick Rupert -- for giving me a truly memorable day's judging.
CH DOGWOOD PENTIUM PROCESSOR. RM30524605. 12/1/1999. Dog. By CH
DufDon's TwinTurbo - CH Brocair's Frangipani. Breeder: Greg Davis and Pam
Davis. Owner: Pam Davis . Peter J. Green, Agent.
Best
Opposite
TERRIWOOD BLACK PEPPER. RN00329501. 3/23/2002. Bitch. By CH Terriwood
First Mate - CH Terriwood Bit O Willow. Owner: Tom & Karin Godwin. Breeder:
Linda C Mullin.
Best
of Winners
GREATSCOT'S HARD TO BE HUMBLE. RM36828201. 5/19/2001. Dog. By Greatscot
It's James Blonde - CH Hjohoo's Hjo Want It Hjo Got It. Breeder/Owner: Jane
Nagel.
Awards
of Merit
CH UPSTART'S SIR WINSTON. RM33923103. 3/22/2001. Dog. By CH Penticharm
Stars'N Stripes - Uniquecottage Miss Smudge. Owner: Patricia White. Breeder:
Mary Lashock. Amy Rutherford, Agent.
CH RAGTIME'S AIN'T SHE SWEET. RM04310001. 1/23/1992. Bitch. By CH
Brigadoon's Firestorm - CH Ragtime Aint Mis Behavin. Breeder/Owner: Kathleen
Spelman.
CH TERRIWOOD FIRST MATE. RM30391101. 12/21/2001. Dog. By CH Cairngold
Captain Jack - CH Terriwood Stirling Legacy. Breeder/Owner: Tom & Karin Godwin.
Winners
Dog
GREATSCOT'S HARD TO BE HUMBLE. RM36828201. 5/19/2001. Dog. By Greatscot
It's James Blonde - CH Hjohoo's Hjo Want It Hjo Got It. Breeder/Owner: Jane
Nagel.
Winners
Bitch
TERRIWOOD BLACK PEPPER. RN00329501. 3/23/2002. Bitch. By CH Terriwood
First Mate - CH Terriwood Bit O Willow. Owner: Tom & Karin Godwin. Breeder:
Linda C Mullin.
Reserve
Dog
GREATSCOT KILT BY ASSOCIATION. LJ735250. 5/19/200. Dog. By Greatscot
It's James Blonde - CH Hjohoo's Hjo Want Hjo Got It. Breeder/Owner: Jane
Nagel.
Reserve
Bitch
SKERRYVORE WILL O' THE WISP. MA789548 CN. 1/18/2002. Bitch. By CH
Skerryvore Pipes of Pan - Birselaw Bobby Jo. Breeder/Owner: Gloria M. Mair.
Sweepstakes: Mr. Wayne Jordan
Best
in Sweepstakes
CAIRNDALE GREAT EXPECTATIONS. RN00208301. 3/26/2002. Bitch. By CH Cairndale Special Legacy -
CH Cairndale's Black Tie Affair. Breeder/Owner: Jeanne R. Mortenson .
Best
Opposite to Best in Sweepstakes
BRUMAR'S BCK ROCK SOLID RN00509903. 5/21/2002. Dog. By CH Tribuns Ralph Lauren - CH Goosedown's Tailored Lady.
Owner: Jane Biggerstaff and Alicia F. Richter. Breeder: Mark Kuykendall and Bruce Bullard.