125th Anniversary Champ Show 2017

Judge: Mr Chris Thomas (Kingrock)

Results

BIS Lee’s Ch. Milasha Preacher Man Mystyle

RBIS Davis’ Ch. Milasha No Retreat Ocobo

BPIS Nealing’s Neptunebull Connierose

BVIS Collins & Gillingwater’s Warson Mrs. Doubtfire at Lindfordpride Sh. CM

DCC Lee’s Ch. Milasha Preacher Man Mystyle

RDCC Davis’ Ch. Milasha No Retreat Ocobo 

Critique

The British Bulldog Club’s 125th Anniversary Championship Show was held at the Royal Court Hotel, Coventry on Sunday 19th November 2017. It was an honour to be invited to judge this prestigious appointment and although my 18th time awarding CCs in the breed, it will go down as one of the most memorable. With 162 dogs entered it was a busy day, but a pleasure from start to finish and my efficient stewards and an exceptionally hard-working committee ensured the smooth running of the entire day - not always easy in a new venue! My overall impression of the breed is still extremely positive with virtually no health concerns and just one exhibit becoming a little warm in the afternoon, when it did become a little airless. What constitutes a ‘good head’ will always be open for discussion with such a complicated and highly detailed breed standard, but another essential of the breed, the tacked-on front and shoulder, should be much easier to agree upon. I was rather surprised at the number of exhibits lacking the correct front conformation with front legs much too close together and little impression of the correctly tacked-on shoulder when viewed from above. We must be careful not to lose this fundamental characteristic feature of the bulldog.

Vet. D/B (2) 1st Collins & Gillingwater’s Warson Mrs. Doubtfire at Lindfordpride Sh. CM. R/W. What a lovely head and expression this bitch has and her appearance certainly belies her age. She has a shapely body with good bone down to tight feet and strong pasterns. She is compact and moves well.
2nd Hall & Wesson’s Outdoors Parker of Karbecabull. He may be over 7 but sadly no one had told him! In the split second he kept all four feet on the floor at the same time, he looked balanced throughout and nicely put together. He has a strong head, good front assembly with plenty of bone and a shapely backend! Two great ambassadors for the breed and I am sure their owners are rightly very proud of them!
MPD (19.2) 1st Garside’s Iceglint I’m Fabian. R/W. A cracking puppy that just oozes quality. He has a lovely head and expression with a good length of skull, a great width between the ears and correct nose placement. He has plenty of spread to the foreface and a nice fit of underjaw. I loved his front and shoulder with good depth through the brisket. A shapely topline and neat backend completes the picture of this most promising youngster.
2nd Holmes’ Shuckstun’s Milky Bar Kid. White. Another promising youngster but not quite the maturity of the winner. He has a strong head with good length and width to the skull and although he is a little domed at the moment when his head starts to flatten out it will accentuate his width between the ears. He has a well-padded foreface, a deep stop and excellent nose placement. I liked his overall length of head with ample depth through. A nicely arched neck into a well-constructed front with a tacked-on shoulder and plenty of depth to the brisket. He needs to mature a little in body but he has the correct shape and is very typical of his breed. Nicely presented and moved well.
3rd Squires & Fowler’s Kadreya Rough and Tough.
PD (5.1) 1st Paul’s Blondella Charles Xavier. BPD & RBPIS. W/R. What a lovely head for such a youngster. He has great width between his ears that are set high and bang on the corners of a long, flat skull. He has a lovely width between the eyes with a deep stop between and a nose set perfectly to mature into the perfect lay-back. I loved his depth though the foreface which is well cushioned under the eyes and he has a super fit to the underjaw. He has the makings of the correct stand-off expression that we seem to be losing but is so important in this breed. He has a nicely shaped front with plenty of bone down to strong pasterns and tight, well-knuckled feet. Although he needs to drop a little in chest and brisket he has a pleasing bodyshape with a shapely topline and well-made hindquarter.
2nd Saxon’s Bagibeli Billy Ray. R/W. A nicely balanced head with a strong skull that has ample work without any hint of coarseness. The skull is well divided by a furrow running from a deep stop to the occiput. His head still needs to break-up and his nose placement will settle between his round dark eyes that are placed well apart. He has a good fit of underjaw and there is good depth to the foreface which needs to fill out as he matures. A square front with a correctly tacked-on shoulder but needs to deepen through the body and strengthen a little in topline as he matures.
3rd Haines’ Justafiabull Sabaftina.
JD (12.4) 1st Dearlove’s Lumbuse Mr Douglas Home for Ryjarlow. A flashy dark red & white with a most pleasing expression. He has a lovely length from eye to ear and his skull is flat between the ears which are set high. He has a plenty of width between his round, dark eyes and a lovely deep stop between. His nose placement is good and he has well-rounded cheeks. A nicely padded foreface of good depth and an underjaw fitting correctly gives this youngster the making of a cracking head. Nicely tacked on shoulders and enough depth to the brisket looks good from the front and in profile; he is balanced with a cobby body, lovely topline and tailset, which is long and straight, and a good spring to the rib. Moved and presented well.
2nd Meakin’s Bollinger Junior Boy at Meakabull. R/W. Good length of skull with high-set ears, used well. He has a pleasing expression and his head is well-proportioned, with a wide padded foreface of sufficient depth. He has a shapely square front with round bone down to strong pasterns and neat feet. He has a shapely body with a nice topline and good depth to the rib
3rd Sainsbury’s Seehurst’s Redemption Man.
ND (3.1) 1st Eaton’s Ricatori Redesigned. W/R. The making of the correct sour expression with his good nose placement and neat fit to his wide underjaw.He has a beautiful length of skull which is also wide and flat and his ears are set high and carried beautifully. His round, dark eyes are set wide apart and he has a deep stop between. I loved his brick-shaped head, which is getting harder to find. He has a nicely tacked-on shoulder but lacks depth through the chest and brisket. As he matures he should drop enough in body to complete the picture, as otherwise he has a very nice bodyshape.
2nd Hill’s Britishpride Colossus of Taranisbull. White. More work in the head than the winner with a nice length to the skull and ears set wide apart. He has a nose set correctly between the eyes and he has well-rounded cheeks. Plenty of bone and enough width across the front with good depth to the brisket.
UGD (3) 1st Papworth’s Terralynda I Get Around Leximus. R/W. A strong head with plenty of work on a strong skull. He has good width between the eyes and the nose is nicely placed. He has a good front and shoulder with plenty of bone down to strong pasterns and tight, well-knuckled feet. Could be a little firmer in topline but otherwise pleasing bodyshape.
2nd Ross’ Britishicon That Tickles. Br/W. A nice head and expression with a well-divided skull and deep stop. He has an excellent nose placement and enough foreface to balance the head. I liked his fit of underjaw and length of upper lip. Although he could be a little wider in front he does have straight bone down to neat, well knuckled feet and a well-balanced body. Looks good in profile as he is short coupled with a nice arch of neck.
3rd Livingstone’s Ruakuri On The Road Again at Jacobella.
PGD (10.4) 1st Simoncsik’s Kupakos Ethan. R/W. I loved the make and shape of this dog. He has a lovely head and expression with a strong skull with just enough work, a lovely width between his round dark eyes and a super nose placement. His foreface is wide and deep and he has well-rounded cheeks and a cracking fit to the underjaw. A square front is enhanced by his fantastic bone with strong pasterns and tight, well-knuckled feet. Although he could be a little shorter coupled, he has a pleasing bodyshape and moved well.
2nd Davies’ Baalzebul Rawks. R/W. Very similar in type to the winner. A strong head with ample length and depth. Enough work without being coarse and the skull is nicely divided. Not quite the nose placement of the winner but a pleasing head overall. An arched neck, plenty of bone in front and a well-constructed hindquarter give a pleasing profile. Moved well.
3rd Ghent’s Bollinger Snoopy Blue at Danickies.
LD (12.2) 1st Chetwynd’s Rhydycroesau White Magic. W/R. A cracking head and expression with terrific width between the eyes, a wide skull and excellent nose placement. He has a deep stop and enough work to look all male but not in any way coarse. I loved the depth through his skull and his foreface, which is well padded and filled under the eyes. A square front with plenty of shoulder and a shapely body completes the picture.
2nd Parker’s Albionpride A Kind of Magic JW. A quality head with the widest of skulls and ears set wide apart and high. He has a lovely length from eye to ear and terrific width between his round, dark eyes. A large nose is perfectly placed between the eyes and he has a lovely width and depth to the foreface. He has a nicely arched neck of correct length and a square front with plenty of bone. Moved well.
3rd Manders’ Erimusbulls Mannion JW.
OD (9.3) 1st Lee’s Ch. Milasha Preacher Man Mystyle. R/W. I was spoilt for choice and the first two could change places on another day. As the same breeder produced them both, I am sure that will not bother them too much. They should be commended for their consistency. I loved this dog’s head, which is so balanced. He has dark, round eyes set well apart and his nose placement is fantastic. He has a deep stop and a furrow which correctly divides the skull with symmetrical work either side. He has a lovely width to the under jaw and the fit is so correct, showing plenty of under lip with the flews correctly dropping either side. He has plenty of depth to the foreface and he is well-filled under the eyes. He has well defined cheeks and the whole head just shouts quality. A square front with plenty of bone and a shapely body carried him through and it was a great pleasure to award him the CC & BIS.
2nd Davis’ Ch. Milasha No Retreat Ocobo. W/R. Another from the top drawer and perhaps not surprisingly of similar type to my winner. It is hard to find something not to like about this dog. He has a quality head which is so balanced throughout with a lovely length of skull and good depth. I loved his fit of underjaw and depth and spread of foreface. He has a good width between the canines and a nice turn to the underjaw. A correctly arched neck into a very pleasing topline and good tuck-up. A neatly made back-end with good width through the second thigh and short hocks. He looked good coming and going. RCC. & RBIS
3rd Ellison’s Ch. Ellsberry Heart and Soul.
MPB (20.4) 1st Nealing’s Neptunebull Connierose. R/W. What a cracking puppy and although quite a baby in head she has it all in body and just needs to keep going the way she is! I loved her length of head – that combination of a great length from eye to ear and a lovely length of foreface. The makings of a brick-shaped head is there in the making. A good nose placement and a well divided skull completed a lovely head. She has a square front with the correctly tacked-on shoulder and a lovely barrelled rib. She has depth to the chest and brisket and a super topline and tailset. I loved her from the front but even more in profile – what an exciting baby! BPIS.
2nd Eaton’s Midlandbulls Candy Crush Ricatori . Almost a rarely seen red smut. I loved the expression of this puppy. She reminded me very much of a puppy I showed in the 70’s who was not only a similar colour but very much of her type. Round dark eyes set well apart with a correctly tilted nose between and a well-padded foreface below all help to give that typical sour look we desire. Her correctly shaped ears are set high on a wide flat skull which is divided and symmetrically wrinkled. She has a nice front a shapely neck into a flowing topline leading to a neat hindquarter. Looks quality from any angle.
3rd Lockwood-Brown & Curtin’s Shiloh Madonna.
PB (11.2) 1st Sibbick’s Nobozz Lightening Strike over Treasurabull. R/W. A beautifully balanced head with a clean skull and lovely length from eye to ear. She has a deep stop and a deep furrow dividing the skull with just enough work. Her ears are set high and wide apart and she has well-rounded cheeks. She needs to strengthen a little in foreface, which should come with time but she has a quality head. She has a nicely tacked-on shoulder and a square front. Her topline and underline are shapely and she has a well-constructed hindquarter.
2nd Harris & Mathews’ Dracobulls She’s The One. R/W. Was making her handler work for her placing but it was easy to see a look of overall quality with a beautiful length of skull, round dark eyes and a beautiful nose placement. She has a good fit of underjaw, a naturally square front with enough bone down to strong pasterns and neat feet. She really comes into her own in profile, as she has good depth through the body with a shapely topline and she is short coupled.
3rd Freeman’s Rosco’s Moondance by Em Testwood.
JB (16.5) 1st Takarangi’s Ruakuri Diamonds in the Sky. W/R. A strong head but still very feminine. She has excellent length to the skull and her small well-shaped ears are correctly set high up and wide apart. She has the correct frontal bones to frame her eyes, which are round dark and set wide apart. Her nose placement is good and her layback well underway. I liked her fit of underjaw and the width between her canines. She has a good depth to the foreface and meaty flews. A correctly arched neck, square front and shapely body, with a nicely angulated hindquarter completes the picture.
2nd Bannister’s Andlare This is Kaboodle. R/W. Another quality youngster although a little heavier set than the winner she is not in any way coarse and her strong head is still very feminine. Lovely width across a flat skull with small correctly shaped ears set high and wide. Plenty of substance to the front, which is correctly tacked-on, square and has plenty of depth to the chest and brisket. She has a good rib and a shapely outline in profile.
3rd Dunn’s Reds Sweetheart Maggie.
NB (12.3) 1st Ashton & Dodwell’s Asharlo Brandy Snap. R/W. I liked her slightly sour expression and her wide skull with ears set as high as they could be but wide apart. She has a lovely width between her eyes and well-rounded cheeks. I very much liked her fit of underjaw and her meaty flews which gave the foreface the required padding. The squarest of fronts with gun-barrel straight bone down to strong pasterns and tight well knuckled feet. Although she is a little long cast she has a shapely topline and moved freely.
2nd Vickers’ Beckybull She’s Nyla Aidabullyz. R/W. A different type to the winner but with much to like. She is cleaner in skull with a great width between the eyes and a good nose placement. She has a beautiful length from eye to ear and good depth to the head. She has a lovely neck into a square front with good depth to the brisket. She is nicely balanced in body with a pleasing topline and well angulated hindquarter.
3rd Dunn’s Reds Sweetheart Maggie.
UGB (2) 1st Davis’ Kentixen Fancy Florin at Tanglemead. F/W. A strong head with good length of skull and nice spread of foreface. Her ears are well-set but a little untidy. She has a square front, lovely length of neck and a shapely topline.
2nd Hanley’s Britishstyle Tigerlily. W/Br. A lovely length of skull which is well divided and with sufficient work. Good nose placement and fit of underjaw. She has plenty of rib and good depth to the body but a little weak in front which affects her overall balance.
PGB (7.2) 1st Dancer- Farren’s Midlandbulls Prim n Proper at Rosielola. Br/W. Such a quality head with no hint of coarseness. She has a strong skull which is well divided by a deep furrow and a lovely width between her round dark eyes. She has a good nose placement and a well-padded foreface with rounded cheeks and nice fit to the underjaw. A square front with correct shoulder and a nicely shaped topline and underline gives her a most pleasing look.
2nd Martin’s Calibra Pretty Woman. R/W. A different head type to the winner but so much to like. A strong skull with plenty of work and good width between the eyes. She has a strong underjaw and nice spread to the foreface. She has a good width across the shoulder and nice bone. A shapely topline and neat backend looks good in profile.
3rd Imms’ Deltrowdream One for My Baby.
LB (14.3) 1st George’s Avaword Connie. R/W. A beautiful head and expression and so balanced. She has a lovely width across her flat skull and her ears are correctly set high and wide apart. The nose is correctly placed between the eyes which are round and dark and wide apart. She has a lovely fit to the underjaw and the foreface is wide and deep. I love her front and shoulder. Her bone is straight and she has strong pasterns and tight, well-knuckled feet. In profile she shouts quality with a shapely topline and neat back-end. She looked lovely on the move. RCC.
2nd Lee’s Milasha Gigi. White. Such a strong head with so much to like. She has a super width between the eyes and a deep stop between. A lovely length of skull with ears set a great distance apart. She has a lovely width to the underjaw and a great fit. She has depth through the foreface which is well padded. I would prefer a little more width across the shoulder but she has good bone and strong pasterns. Cobby in the body with plenty of substance – another from the top drawer.
3rd Hall & Wesson’s Eastenders Essex Girl at Karbecabull.
OB (7.1) 1st Saxon’s Ch. Bagibeli Queen of Hearts. R/W. A strong head but not coarse. She has a beautiful skull which is divided by a furrow, running from a deep stop to the occiput and the work on the skull is equally divided. She has a large, correctly tipped-back nose with open nostrils set beautifully between her round dark eyes. She has depth to the foreface and well-padded flews. I loved her length of upper lip and the fit of her underjaw, which combined with her nose placement gives her the correct layback. What a super front and shoulder, correctly tacked-on and so nice to see such an important characteristic of the breed. With a strong, slightly arched neck of correct length, running into an unexaggerated roached topline and a correctly barrelled rib, the neat, strong, well angulated hindquarters were the final component to complete a very worthy BCC winner.
2nd Martin’s Calibra Clementine. R/W. A strong head with a very wide underjaw. She has strength but still retains her femininity. She has a lovely skull and great width between her round dark eyes with an excellent nose placement and a great spread to the foreface. She has a lovely front and shoulder and looks good from the front or in profile. She has a shapely body and very nicely made hindquarter. Another top quality bitch.
3rd Hanley’s Ch. Sgribble Pip As Blenhiemstar.
Chris Thomas (judge).