Back...

Judge : Dave Brennan – Inkunzi Bull Terriers

It is not often that when you are appointed to judge a show that everything runs so smoothly. The committee must be commended in organizing contracts, accommodation and overall hospitality. I had looked forward to judging this show for some time having not been exposed to many dogs up country allowing me to see how the standard currently stood within the country. 

It was excellent to have received so many entries, 39 in total and I would like to thank all those exhibitors who supported me. 

There were some really good puppy dogs that show a lot of promise for the future and I need to mention two in particular being Minor puppy – Wilbod White Night - A big white puppy with plenty of bone, good head and upstanding with fairly good movement for age.  The other being Rimich the Undisputed living up to his name he is a well balanced puppy with great head and expression and sound movement and his overall virtues made him my “undisputed” Best Puppy. 

My CC dog, Shodan Alaric Ruler is worth a mention in that he had a good head with ample turn and fill and excellent confirmation, which was supported by his outstanding movement. Personally I would have liked to see a more powerful dog but that is my preference however his overall virtues secured him the CC. 

The RCC dog, Bukavi Huye is a striking dog with an excellent frontal expression but was not able to compete on movement and overall confirmation with the CC dog. 

Judging the Champion Dog Class was an honour with some outstanding dogs competing all who are worthy of their titles. Ch Ipon the Rock was my winner, a black brindle dog with excellent smooth turn of head, plenty of fill, good reach of neck and level topline. He moves well in all directions and is in peak physical condition being well muscled without any excess fat. (A difficult dog to fault that oozes virtues).  My second place dog Ch Tintins Perfect Storm of Carradice pushed my first placed dog hard having an outstanding head, being turned and well filled, good confirmation but lacked in overall movement. 

I could quite easily have taken either of these dogs home with Me.!!!! 

One of the strange things with Bull Terriers in South Africa is how the quality swings between the dogs and the bitches. This can be seen also by the winners of the major trophies when for a few years the bitches dominate and then a cycle when it’s the dogs turn. I have not seen the same trend overseas and have wondered why this happens in South Africa. With this in mind it seems that the bitches do not have the depth of quality currently of the dogs. 

My CC bitch Elru Lara Croft of Narciano stood out in that she had a good head, expression and good confirmation, moved well but could have had a slightly shorter back. The RCC bitch Rizen Tiara compared favorably in head and confirmation but did not have the movement of the CC winner. In the Challenge classes for BOB etc. the bitches did not have the overall quality of the dogs and hence it was the dogs who dominated. 

To summarize, I thoroughly enjoyed the day judging and it is refreshing to be an outsider when judging up country, void of politics or familiarity with the Bullies being shown. I was also pleased to see that my BOB dog was also rated the Top Dog at the inter provincial judged by David Harrison and Nico du Preez. 

The Club must be congratulated for their organization and hospitality and I look forward to being able to support them in the years ahead. Lastly I would like to thank all the exhibitors who entered their dogs under me and I would like to wish them all the best in the future and hope to see them in the show ring in the future.