It was a great pleasure and honor to judge the CTCA national specialty and was the third time that I have had this privilege. I thought that the quality of the dogs was the highest that I have seen. Presentation and showmanship was excellent. Amateur handlers can meet and rival the professionals in presentation which makes for a much more level playing field. Except for puppies being puppies everyone was exceptionally well behaved and I only found one or two mouths which could have been slightly better but not an issue. On the whole coat texture was excellent and there were many, many lovely heads with proper ear set, breadth of skull, stop and eyes both in placement and colour. On the whole I thought body proportions were good with very few short-legged dogs shown but I suspect that many knew my feelings on this point. There were still problems with fronts, short upper arms, rather upright shoulders and lack of forechest. These issues were reflected in the movement both coming and from the side. Top lines were very good, as was rib spring. A few were a little long in loin but not enough for me to see it as a problem. Tail sets were for the most part good. I found some straight stifles and some rather erratic rear movement as a result. Temperaments were fantastic.

I am certain that some of the spectators went away questioning the issue of size. Although my favorite Cairn was a tall dog, Eng. Am. And Can. Ch. Lofthouse Davey, I really do prefer a more moderate dog and really didn’t expect this to be an issue as I set about the assignment. I had some very lovely dogs throughout the classes and had several to whom I would have been delighted to award Winners and then I came to Open Dog and Counterpoint Christopher Robin. He is not a small dog but as I worked my way through his many, many virtues I could not find anybody to touch him. Lovely head and eye, great neck, firm topline. Tail always on top, moved exceptionally well both coming, going and from the side. Judging is about virtues and in my opinion he could not be matched by his competitors on the day and so emerged with W.D. to be followed by the second in open, Aftonshire’s Dominic, another lovely dog with a great head and eye, good coat and showmanship not quite as good on the move but a lovely balance and size.

Bitches are always my delight and from the moment the baby puppy bitch winner, Skerryvore Against the Wind came in the ring I knew I was in for great time. In most classes my top two could have changed at anytime. In the end WB. Quarrydene’s Black Diamond came from the Bred By Class. A lovely wheaten brindle bitch, lovely head and expression, great coat, good topline and legs, non stop showmanship. She was from the same kennel as my 1st in Bred By Dogs and together they made a fantastic brace as they are spittiing images of one another and yet at least in the first generation are not related. They would get fourth in Brace in Show but to my prejudiced eye could have gone further. My RWB was a heart stealer and almost did it just on my feelings. A lovely red bitch from the 12-18, Hampton Court’s Ashley. Beautiful showman and mover, great expression. She is a little overweight and has a rather full coat which didn’t help her proportions when you looked at her in profile but could reverse with the winner any day.

After lunch my specials came in the ring and once again anyone watching who loves the breed must have taken great pride in the impact of these great Cairns in the ring. Once again I knew many of the dogs from past shows and so was rather interested to see how the class would proceed. Almost immediately I realized that I was going to be back at the issue of size when I went over Ch. Zalazar Walk the Line, a dog which I had never seen before. This is a stallion of a dog with a gorgeous, head, eye, and bone. He is dead sound with a topline which is a delight and a bang-up tail which he never stops carrying up and showing. He would emerge as BOB, looked fantastic in the BIS ring and made the cut. Later a judge from England approached my and told me that he had made him best in Stockholm at the World Show this year—quite a year for an eighteen month old dog. B.O.S. was a lovely back brindle bitch, Ch. Terriwood Mojo. Much more in line with what I usually reward in size and appearance, very sound, and appealing with great coat texture. B.W went to the Winners dog who made a rather fantastic appearance when I brought him out with my BOB.

Once again it was a beautiful day and I thank the membership for the opportunity.

James G. Reynolds

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It was an abbreviated specialty weekend for me this year since I was invited to judge puppy sweeps and I opted not to show at Hatboro the days before my judging assignment—I arrived in Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon and looked forward to the morning.  I didn’t sleep well that night (whoever does at dog shows anyway?) but once I got into the large ring in the ballroom of our hotel and as the precocious puppies filled the space I felt great and ready to roll.

Here were my observations and choices:

Puppy, 6-9 months dogs:

There are 8 present in this strong class and it’s a great way to start my judging.  First in this class is a red brindle puppy who is poised well beyond his age with an unbelievable temperament and disposition (Maverston Red Baron).  I’m also fond of his outline and that he keeps his tail in the right place at all times.  He is sound and never puts a foot wrong and he looks like he will make a very good show dog.  Right behind him I placed a quality but leggier deep red puppy who is not as mature right now but looks full of promise and possibilities (Cairnstone’s I Dig Everything).  This puppy is in a shorter coat but its texture is hard and correct and although he lacks furnishings now you can still see his keen eye and game expression.  On a different day in a future season, he might win this class, but for today he is in the right position but marked with a bullet.  The third puppy is very similar in type to the first and carries a similar coat (Yellowbrick Road Wring of Fire).  He is showy and has a particularly appealing head and pleasing expression and will have a bright future.  It’s to his disadvantage on this day that puppy one and two are so outstanding.  The fourth puppy is a clear red with nice proportions and a good attitude and lovely side gait.  I liked him very much and was very glad I could award him the last ribbon in the class (Cairnhavn’s A Star is Born).  There were several others in this class that were also very deserving but sadly I just ran out of ribbons.

Puppy, 9-12 months dogs:

There are four present in this class and I immediately noticed that the first two dogs are of a similar type and the last two are of another type.  Coincidentally, I placed the four dogs in the exact catalogue order that they entered in.  The first dog (Kinloch’s High Hopes) is very attentive to his handler and would do anything to please her.  This brindle puppy is fleet footed and has no problem getting from point A to point B with speed and confidence.  The puppy I placed second in the class is more stylish in movement and very good type (Kintale’s Harry Bear).  It was splitting hairs between these two puppies but the first dog had the advantage of harder coat quality, a slightly keener expression, and did not miss a beat on that day.  Both dogs should be very useful to the breed.  The third dog was very immature and needs time to develop but I admired his side gait and coat texture very much (Pebble Rock’s Starman).  The fourth dog has an especially lovely head and expression as well and an especially sweet disposition and should mature beautifully (Cairnluv’s I Want to Be a Dentist).

Puppy, 6-9 months bitches:

There are 10 puppy bitches present in this class.  The first puppy in this class is a gray pixie that shows all out and moves with grace, almost like she is walking on air (Skerryvore Against the Wind).  She is intensely feminine and a very moderate size and impossible to miss in this large class.  She is closely followed by a more mature looking dark brindle bitch with a different look and expression but equally effective (Maverston Small Town Girl).  This bitch has proportions I like and her cairn type is unmistakable.  The third bitch is a gray brindle, also with good type and a smooth correct side gait.  I also liked her proportions and with maturity I am certain she will be one class act as she grows into herself (Braemar Scotch Broom Deoiridh).  Her dark brindle litter sister took forth place in this very nice class (Braemar Scoth Broom Eilidh).  This bitch is elegant and alert and makes a pleasing picture standing still or gaiting from the side.  Once again, there were additional very worthy bitches that did not go without notice in this competitive class and they were very worthy of ribbons I did not have to give them but I truly appreciated the quality.

Puppy, 9-12 months bitches:

There are four present in this class and they are all up on their toes and anxious to show themselves off.  The first bitch is a red with black points and a black bib she is especially engaging with one of the prettiest headpieces I have seen in quite some time (Stewart Castle’s Spitfire Girl).  She is feminine with a lovely dark eye and moves well if not always completely in sync with her handler.  Ultimately, I could not deny her charms and awarded her BEST PUPPY IN SWEEPS.  The second bitch in this class is very sound and uses herself well (Aftonshire’s Emma Sinclair).  I preferred the head of the first bitch but I felt this bitch was quite positive in all respects and she is a head turner as well.  The third bitch is a light brindle with a pleasing expression and good attitude (McErin Ruff Cut Diamond).  The bitches in the first two places were of such outstanding quality that there was little room for any others to sneak in but otherwise this bitch in third is a lovely package.  My last bitch is a game red brindle with a showy attitude and good type and I expect her to easily make up her championship (Kinloch’s Homer in the Gloamin).

Junior dog:

There are 10 junior dogs present in this class.  The first dog in this class is a gray brindle and he is on fire today (Aftonshire’s Jethro).  After letting me know he does not appreciate a thorough table examination, he brushed himself off and never looked back nor put another foot wrong.  With a perfect topline, tailset, and reach of neck, he sailed around the ring flaunting a correct side gait to show how well he is put together.  It was a complete pleasure to award him BEST IN SWEEPS.  The second dog in this class is another gray and he is a stunner as well (Quarrydene’s Gambling Man).  He sports a beautiful head with a perfectly placed patch of black on his forehead.  He is elegant, inquisitive, engaging, and moves especially nicely in front.  He shows wonderfully and gives the first dog a run for his money but no one can put out that fire today.  The third dog is a red with a correct hard coat and is very sturdy and masculine (Fairline’s Sonar).  He shows well for his handler and is clearly built for the job he was bred to do.  The fourth dog is quite showy, with good proportions,  and much to like about him.  His coat is short but correct and profuse and his many appealing qualities could not go unappreciated (Celtic Isles Red Knight).

Junior bitch:

There are 12 junior bitches in this class.  The first bitch is an elegant clear red wheaten who is showing her heart out and moving with an easy gait (Thistlegate Moonsprite).  She has a feminine expression and demeanor and she uses everything she has perfectly to make her the standout in this class.  I was happy to award her BEST OF OPPPOSITE TO BEST IN SWEEPS.  The second bitch in this class is also lovely and has a wonderful neck and shoulder (Gremlin’s Charmed).  She moves well also and follows her handler with elegance.  The bitch in first had the advantage of a prettier head, straighter tail, and perfect conditioning.  The third bitch fits in nicely here and is a red brindle who moves with ease also (Caitlin’s Tybee Girl O’Cairnhavn).  She has equally good proportions and showed well.  The fourth bitch is a gray brindle and she closed out my placements for the day on the basis of her lovely type, neck and shoulder, expression, and outline (Scotch Broom Felicity).  Some of the other pleasing bitches in this class were at an awkward growth stage and I am confident that they will mature to useful and lovely specimens of the breed.

Both veteran bitch class winners (Ch.Cairnacre’s Silver Ribbons—Best veteran) and (Ch. Twigbent Neiras) had a great time and were an absolute pleasure to have the ring—I would easily take them both home.  They were sound and saucy and showed like puppies and it was a fitting and most appropriate way to end the day.

After judging, a long-time breeder exhibitor told me later that 15 years ago the sweepstakes was chock full of puppies that usually wouldn’t walk or were somewhat timid in their new surroundings—yet on this day many of the puppy classes, and especially the final lineup of class winners, was like watching a "specials" class.  Whether that is a tribute to breeders extra work training and socializing their youngsters at home or their dedication to breeding for soundness of temperament, I think this improvement bodes very well for the future of the breed and the hard work and effort today’s breeders are putting forth.  I salute you all and thank you for the chance to share my opinions and my day with you.

A final super special thank you to my stewards, Dan Quinn and DiAnn Florey, who did a fantastic job keeping me on the right path and handling everything else so I could keep my focus on the beautiful puppies.

Joe Vernuccio

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