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SA Major Trophy Show 2008
07.02.2009

Judge : Mr Jannie Lubbe (Lubjan Bull Terriers, RSA)

It was 19h00 and 5 hours after we started judging, that I glanced at my watch for the first time! What an absorbing experience it had been judging Africa’s most prestigious Bull Terrier show.

The two years since my name was pulled from the hat with those of my co-judges, Gary Evangelides and Rita Alberts, just flew by. The appointment meant that I had to fly under the radar a little - not exhibiting at shows (showing a puppy only at one open show), attending only 4 shows in 2 years (of which I officiated at one in France) and not serving on any committee in that period.  That was just my way (and not in any way prescriptive) to ensure that I would be as objective as possible in fulfilling this most important assignment.

There is a potential nightmare waiting in the wings for any Major Trophy Show judge. The judges are not directly involved in every class (one acts as a referee) - the implication being that, as things unfold, one’s choice for Supreme Bull Terrier may be eliminated from the competition by the other two! One might end up having to choose in the final line-ups for Dog and Bitch of the Year and also for the Supreme exhibit, between animals that are not your favourites and even worse – ones you might not even like at all!

I do not know if there is a solution to this, but it certainly justifies our attention as it could turn into a very frustrating experience.

I was lucky that the one I liked from the moment she entered the ring, indeed  stayed in the competition and eventually, like a diamond on a sorting rack, rose to the top (indeed after nearly falling through the cracks!) to shine for all to see: a real stunner!

Here is how the story unfolded from my perspective. I comment briefly on every single dog I went over and refrain from giving my views on any dog I didn’t personally judge on the day, as I deem that a terribly unfair practice towards one’s co-judges. To comment on the virtues of a dog from the side, while not having gone over it and not having judged the movement from the best vantage point, is a very unfair practice, although I do understand why it is sometimes done in the light of what I pointed out in the previous paragraph.

While in the ring, I meticulously kept record of what I’d seen. I have written a frank report on my perceptions. Remember that I was judging the dogs - not the handlers, owners or breeders. If I criticize your dog, please don’t take it personally. I am fully aware that this is my opinion only. On the day my opinion counted because I was one of the appointed judges, but please feel free to make up your own minds on any aspect that might be deemed unsubstantiated. I am willing, like always, to discuss my decisions with anyone and clear up any possible controversy!

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Imported Dog Class:
Judged by: Evangelides and Alberts
Referee: Lubbe
Decision Unanimous

There were 3 dogs entered. Two were absent and that left Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada (Bellsbully Bonafide at Bullyview X Ch (UK) Kearby’s Bethsheba at Bullyview) bred by JB & A Young (UK) and owned by DE & A Jones, to walk away with the class unchallenged.

Ormandy Vase for SA Bred Dogs under Two Years of Age:
Judged by Lubbe and Evangelides
Decision Unanimous

There were 8 dogs entered for this class, but two were not eligible to be shown because they have links to me and another was absent, leaving 5 to be considered.

Ch Brilows Bonnz Boy (Ch Denerad Mr Ice of Rialzista  X  Brilows Brin Rozee) owned and bred by LM Brits was the unanimous winner.

This dog is a 24 month old, upstanding white of superior construction. His topline is exemplary, his quarters beautifully angulated, tailset low, well-defined second thigh, and his front is straight with ample bone. His chest is wide and deep, shoulders laid back, long-arched neck making for elegant, flowing lines. The feet are small and the toes beautifully angulated.

What Bonzz Boy doesn’t have, is a powerful head: the muzzle isn’t wide nor deep enough and he lacks in profile. What saved him was that the head was long, the eyes placed well and the ears perfectly on top - enough head quality to give him good expression (front-on) even though it lacked in strength.  Mouth was perfect (with long, clean teeth) - a pre-requisite for me to put him up with his lack of head profile.

I’ve had the experience (especially in Europe) of dogs looking beautiful in terms of construction - until they move… and I was eager to see if he would translate his striking show pose, into the movement it promised. And he did: smooth, with lovely drive, parallel coming and going, keeping his top line proud and alert!

Bonzz Boy’s virtues of construction, balance, elegance, animation and presence, in the end outweighed the lack of power in the head, but I need to warn that lack of strength and quality in the head is a serious shortcoming in Bull Terriers (and in any breed for that matter) where the head is the trademark of the breed.

He made the best of what he had though, and in the process accentuated the many structural deficiencies of the dogs around him.  It needs to be mentioned that he had a skin condition on the day - something that could have played a role in the final stages against tougher competition.  The other contenders (with cursory remarks - and not in any specific order) were:

Bellators Gladius : This 24 month old white owns a powerful, packed head with excellent expression. He has good bone but his construction did not match that of the winner and while he moved with good drive, he was close coming and going. His mouth fault was the final nail in the coffin.

Carradice Golden Bullet of Elru: Well-marked, compact 23 month old red with a quality head but lacked badly in hind angulation. His hind action was very erratic and he moved without drive, and the extent of his fault - it is really serious - cost him dearly.

Iceman of Bukavi: 16 month old white with a very powerful head: filled, turned and deep, with correct dentition and strong, deep under-jaw. His conformation wasn’t good, shoulders loose, but in particular, his quarters lacked angulation that, of course, led to very average movement.

Natuli Solo Sebastian: Very tall 15 month old white. He has good hindquarters he used well, good layback of shoulder, with a long elegant neck. But he is long cast, not wide enough for a dog that tall, lacked bone and had a head that seemed too small for his body. I will admit, though, that a lot of these features could improve with maturity: I had the distinct impression that he is still ‘puppy’- he was soft and lacked muscle tone.

Ormandy Jug for SA Bred Dogs over Two Years of Age:
Judged by Alberts and Lubbe
Referee Evangelides
Split Decision

There were 11 dogs entered in this class. Two were absent.

This was a very, very competitive class - unfortunately not because of the exceptional quality of the competitors - but simply because of very similar quality.

Although almost anyone of the 9 in the ring (6 of them Champions) could have won, the overall standard of our senior dog class was very disappointing. All of them indeed had outstanding breed qualities on the positive side, but the problem was the serious nature of the faults that formed part of the package.

My choice in the end was Ch Ipon The Rock
(Dajamani Lord Aramis x Ch Bellators Divine Godess of Ipon) Owned and bred by M van den Doel.

This well-marked and substantial 28 month old black brindle was shown in hard condition - very different from most dogs in the ring. He has a quality head, long, strong, deep and smooth; small, dark and correctly placed eyes and the mouth was correct. For a large dog he had rather small, correctly placed ears that he used very well to accentuate a gentle curve in profile and good expression.

What I liked most about him was his deep, broad chest, with well-sprung ribs. There was no fat - just real substance. He had enough bone, a perfectly straight front and well laid shoulders.  I thought he was compact enough for such a tall dog and he showed with a good topline.  Unfortunately his hindquarters lacked the correct angulation in terms of turn of stifle. While the lack of turn could be hidden a little in the stationary position, it was in his movement that the implication was shown up: he moved without real drive and seen from the side he was bouncing - to me a huge disappointment.

Ch Bukavi Diesel ‘n Dust of Wilbod : This 39 month old white fell into the same category; even while in soft condition he also made a pretty picture until he moved and showed a loose elbow, lack of drive and was close coming and going. Add to that the instanding canine and one not-so-perfect ear and there were just too many faults to win this one.

Ch Carradice Free Spirit : This 41 month old white gave his handler a hard time and was not showing himself to his best advantage.  I do not like his front -too narrow to my liking and that, in my humble opinion, throws him out of balance. He did move with some freedom, but also very close behind. On the plus side he does own a good head.

Ch Navada Eye Bandit : This 43 month old white also looked good from a distance as he seemed to be well- proportioned in profile. But I was disappointed by his lack of power as I went over him - particularly looking at him head on.  It’s not because he’s small (there is no size standard), it’s about a lack of power.

He was in soft condition. I think to be at his competitive best, he needed better muscle tone. His shoulders were loose - he showed that standing still, and when he moved it was even more pronounced. He moved with good drive from his biggest asset - his hindquarters - but close, because he seems to have restricted reach in front and therefore the thrust from behind has nowhere to go. He has a good eye, making for excellent expression, but when I ran my hand down his muzzle his foreface was without power and not deep enough. His ears were also not his forte. In my opinion he lacks real virtue and had just too many faults to win this class.  I wouldn’t have placed him among the top 4.

Ch Shodan Alaric Ruler: The 31 month old brindle is a very true mover - parallel coming and going and one of only two dogs in the entire show that I could say that about! For that very reason he pushed very hard in this class. Unfortunately he lacked substance and in my opinion there was just not enough of him either in body or in head to force my hand (he is over 30 months old and matured).

Ch Tintins Perfect Storm of Carradice is a typey  34 month old white that showed like a dream. He is compact, owns a very powerful head - just a fraction too short - but deep and wide. But again - his hindquarters was his downfall as it spoiled the overall picture dramatically in show pose – but it was even worse on the move.

Izighalo Lead The Storm is a well marked, 37 month old red with good layback of shoulder and he moved correctly in front – parallel, with good reach - one of the few in the show with that virtue. Unfortunately he doesn’t have enough depth nor width of muzzle, is long in the back, which spoils his balance and he moved close behind. There was just no cracking virtue that could pull him from the pack and the long back spoilt his lines - not compact enough.

Bestonia Blanco Initia : A medium sized, compact 26 month old white with an elegant neck due to good layback of shoulder.  He has a good head, but it is not spectacular. Again his quarters were not well enough bent and he moved very close behind, without drive, bouncing along and wasting energy.

Bestonia Midnight Melody: A  well proportioned 43 month old red and white with a big mouth fault. He refused to show and underperformed on the day.

In the end I put up Ch Ipon the Rock with his lovely, clean, quality head; his real, rock hard substance; good front – in my opinion, the one with the most virtues, in spite of his very obvious and serious flaw: his hindquarters.

My co-judge, Rita Alberts, opted for Ch Navada Eye Bandit, and the Referee in this class, Gary Evangelides, also gave Eye Bandit the nod, making him the winner.

Coloured Dogs:
Judged by Evangelides and Alberts
Unanimous decision in favour of brindle Ch Bullyview Leading Role of Navada (IMP UK)

Imported Bitch Class:
Judges Evangelides and Lubbe
Unanimous decision

Only one bitch was entered: Ch Stamic High Ambition of Kunjury (IMP UK): She is a 34 month old white that brought me a huge sigh of relief, as for the first time that day I went over a dog that I thought was a potential Supreme! (Take note that at that stage I still hadn’t had the opportunity to go over Leading Role!).

She is a substantial, though feminine bitch, beautifully balanced and with elegant lines - just slightly long cast. She has a good enough head: correct eye placement, well placed ears, adequate length and fill of muzzle, and a correct mouth – there is just a hint of an eye brow that detracted from the overall quality of her head.

She has a lovely layback of shoulder and super hindquarters - wide and well bent. Obviously the tailset is correct - a welcome picture after all the straight stifles in the dog classes!

Her front movement was good (just a hint of a flicking left front foot), but going away she was close.  I have seen better feet and she showed a slight dip behind the withers, while she shows a bit of an under-carriage. I later found out that she had a litter not long ago - something I suspected after going over her.

Overall she impressed me.

Ormandy Vase for Bitches under Two Years of Age
Judges Lubbe and Alberts
Referee Evangelides
Split Decision

There were 9 entered: 5 were present with one that couldn’t be shown because of links to Gary.

My winner was Elru Lara Croft of Narciano ( Ch Bukavi Diesel ‘n Dust X Ch Elru Joanie)
bred by a Els : owned by DJ Rupping:

Striking 20 month old white female right out of the top drawer. She made a beautiful picture of feminine elegance with her lovely long, tapering neck, flowing into a short enough body, finished with a low tail set, well bent stifles and short hocks.  She had a long head with a sweeping, yet unexaggerated profile, enough fill and depth, beautiful placement of the darkest of eyes, great expression, and neat ears she never stopped using.  She showed a lovely tuck-up and the topline was  that of a well-conformed adolescent unaffected by maternal duties.  She doesn’t have spectacular hind movement - she moves too close - but she moves with ample drive and held her topline.  Coming she moved parallel and with good reach, carrying her head proudly and alert. Her mouth is not perfect as she has a level bite with two incisors misplaced in the top jaw - but the canines are placed perfectly. She was in beautiful show condition with gleaming coat and far less than usual wear and tear. She showed non-stop. From her black nose to the tip of her tail she spelt quality and was my easy winner of this class.

Izighalo Jamali Drive: Well marked, rich red brindle and white  - 15 months old - with a very good head, filled, turned and classy. She lacks bone (even when taking her age into consideration) and is long in the back. She moved parallel in front, but unfortunately her hind action was very close and uneven.

Niroux Spirits Pride of Carradice: Another still  immature 16 month old white with a good head, but very upright in shoulder - spoiling her front movement, which was very close. She did move with good drive though.

Stelron Spirit Dancer : 16 month old quality white- which will get better and better as she matures. She has good conformation, a promising head and moved with good drive, close behind but parallel, and with good reach in front. Unfortunately she was rather disinterested and didn’t give her best on the day, and that was neccessary with the competition as good as it was!

Wilbod Razzle Dazzle: A substantial 13 month old white - very sound and holding much promise. She moved well both ways, has a good head, lovely feet, dark eyes – and has a lot going for her.

My Co-judge, Rita Alberts, put up Niroux Spirits Pride of Carradice.

Gary Evangelides sided with me on this one and Elru Lara Croft was awarded the Vase.

Ormandy Jug for Bitches over Two Year of Age
Judges:  Evangelides and Alberts
Decision Unanimous

Eleven Bitches were entered in this class. One couldn’t be shown because of a link to Gary: six were present.

The winner was Ch Piketberg Harrys Snoozy of Niroux ( Piketberg Harrys Smith x Piketberg Francos Floosy) Bred by ELA Oosthuizen and owned by RL Sadie.

Best Coloured Bitch:
Judges Lubbe and Evangelides
Referee Alberts
Unanimous Decision

Winner: Ch Ipon Electra ( Dajamani Lord Aramis x Ch Bellators Divine Goddess of Ipon) Upstanding and substantial  2 1/2 year old red smut. She is well balanced, elegant with a good enough head, good bone and was shown in very good condition. She was an easy winner of this class despite not being the best mover.

Best Imported Bull Terrier of the Year:
Judged by Alberts and Lubbe
Unanimous

We chose Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada above the other UK Import, Ch Stamic High Ambition of Kunjury. This was my toughest decision of the day.

It was my first opportunity to judge Leading Role.  He is a substantial, matured 50 month old, well marked brindle with a well sprung ribcage, deep and wide - a feature I rate highly. His head is strong and deep in an unspectacular way (in no way overdone), bite level, canines correct, strong under jaw, wide muzzle.  He has good ears that he used well. The only blemishes in my opinion as far as the head is concerned, is that his eyes are a little kind (but that’s nothing strange for a coloured dog) – however, I’ve seen better expression (something I rate highly) and he also showed a hint of an eyebrow. These aspects spoilt the picture to a degree - although he still owns a quality head.

He has well laid shoulders - tucked in very well and his hind quarters are also very well angulated.  Unfortunately he is very long in the back and his top line is less than perfect with a very definite dip behind the withers and – in relation to the length and depth of body - his legs seem too short. That disturbs his balance in the same way a tall dog without width is out of balance.  On the move he is parallel, but I had the very distinct impression that he doesn’t cover ground well on the trot.

High Ambition is the better proportioned and balanced of the two, while Leading Role has the better head and is the superior mover – is spite of my reservations!

Do not under-estimate the impact of Leading Role’s presence and of his outstanding teamwork with his handler.  He is a showman of note in the hands of a very knowledgeable and clever handler - a very important and often neglected part of showing dogs!

In the end this ability tipped the scale in his favour in this class!

Best Coloured Bull Terrier of the Year:
Judges Evangelides and Alberts
Unanimous Decision

Winner: Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Nevada over Ch Ipon Electra

Best Mover:
Judges Evangelides and Lubbe
Decision unanimous

In my opinion Ch Brilows Bonzz Boy was by far the Best Mover in Show.  No other dog came close to his smooth, gliding, ground-covering, purposeful and balanced movement, with all parts working together in harmony and rhythm.  He proudly, almost defiantly, owned the ring. It was a joy to behold!

Best Head of the Year:
Judges Alberts and Lubbe
Referee Evangelides
Split decision

While my co-judge put up Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada, I thought  there were better heads in the show because, in my opinion, he lacked that paralyzing expression that is so typical of a great head.

In the end I had to choose between Ch Tintins Perfect Storm of Carradice and Iceman of Bukavi. I went for the latter, because of better length of head and with that slightly better eye placement - nearer the ears. Both have extremely powerful heads, wicked expression, good mouths, deep, wide muzzles and good ear placement.

But Leading Role had the slightly better length of head (albeit narrower) – a very important aspect  - and I wasn’t too unhappy when he took Best Head for the second consecutive year, considering the competition he had.

Dog of the Year:
Judges Evangelides and Alberts
Unanimous Decision

In the ring were the Best Import Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada, the Vase winner Ch Brilows Bonz Boy and the Jug Winner Ch Navada Eye Bandit.

Dog of the Year went to Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada.

Bitch of the Year:
Judges Lubbe and Evangelides

There were three bitches in the ring: Ch Stamic High Ambition of Kunjury ( Best Imported Bitch), The Vase Winner, Elru Lara Croft of Narciano, and the Jug Winner, Ch Piketberg Harrys Snoozy of Niroux.

This was my first opportunity to go over Harrys Snoozy - a three and a half year old white of great substance. She has a quality head, powerful yet feminine, excellent expression and a good mouth. She carried good bone and a deep wide chest. She was in excellent condition, with good muscle-tone.  Her hindquarters is her cross: not nearly enough angulation to the extent that standing the top line is spoilt and it shows in her movement. She moves with bounce (wasting energy) and without ample drive behind. She is also close at both ends.

For Bitch of the Year it was between Lara Croft and High Ambition for me. I chose Elru Lara Croft of Narciano. She has the longer, cleaner head; the smoother lines and matched her older rival in substance and movement.

Gary agreed.

Supreme Bull Terrier of Southern Africa
Judges Lubbe, Evangelides and Alberts

Elru Lara Croft of Narciano was my choice. One or both the other judges also chose her. At the time of writing the critique I can only guess who chose what in this class.

When I have to weigh a Dog against a Bitch, I do a simple exercise: I weigh up the Dog against the best Dog I have ever seen and vice versa.

Elru Lara Croft of Narciano (in my opinion) is a better bitch than Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada is a Dog.

Conclusion:
We are in dire straits as far as construction is concerned - that’s the bad news. But it is also true that it is not a new phenomenon! Reading back through my Annuals since 1987 - I have noted that construction has always been a concern.

I am afraid though that we are going backwards in quality if we compare 2008 with 2000/1/2 : think of Ch Booksale Harry Hotspur, Ch Booksale Hermia of Sandawana, Multi Ch Lubjan Rock and Stone, Ch & Ch (Zim) Dajan Soulmates’ to Sandawana, Ch Avonjul Superstarkristi, Ch Pollyssa’s Appretice Arthur of Inkunzi, Ch Kingstonia Ahead of Trouble, Ch Centuria Rogue Robertson, Ch Centuria Red Adair, Ch Brum Home of the Breed at Navada, Ch Rhinestone The Riddler, Ch Rhinestone Rough ‘n Ready - all in the same ring during those years!

There are many good-enough heads - but the construction of particularly our dogs, is reason for serious concern.

We can accept it, keep quiet about it and be happy if we make up our Champions - crippled or not -but we will not improve if we do not get serious about the conformation of our stock!

The place for each of us to begin is with our own breeding stock.  It’s easy to criticize other people’s efforts - but it’s time to really make an honest assessment of what we have - and improve on that! If we all do that, there will be a ripple effect to the benefit of all!

Jannie Lubbe