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JUDGE’S REPORT
LIMPOPO BULL TERRIER CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
SHOW
24th July 2010
Andre Strydom, Judge
Thank you, all involved, for
highly honouring me with the invitation to judge your second Championship
Show, especially the people who entered the 45 Bull Terriers of which 17
dogs and 17 bitches, for a total of 34 exhibits, were present. You all
saw to it that our fledgling club emerged stronger than before from a
major leadership crisis, and for a second year running, to stage one of
the country’s biggest Bull Terrier shows.
A special word of thanks to all
the young people and novices who were the vast majority of the
exhibitors. This augurs well for the future of our breed which is in your
capable young hands, and I trust that through my lenient and accommodating
ring conduct I succeeded in encouraging you to keep showing and breeding
and steel yourselves to rise above the constant negative political
nonsense that will plague Bull Terrierdom and all humankind for as long as
we exist on this sinful planet.
Yes, I have never seen a more
unruly mob of Bull Terriers together in one show ring before, but it gave
me great pleasure to use my experience and what expertise I have to help
guide you to become better handlers, trainers and steadfast future showers
which our breed so badly needs right now to ensure its survival. I
believe that any judge with a born and practiced good eye for an animal,
can judge well without the animals being perfectly shown to their best
advantage. But of course it always helps a lot if animals are
well-handled and presented, and I am prepared to give regular, much needed
classes in handling, training and the preparation of dogs for showing, at
my home if the demand arises from Bull Terrier clubs and individuals.
This used to be a regular well attended, successful and pleasant
bring-and-braai event on Sunday mornings many years ago, which resulted in
discussions till late in the afternoons, about breeding and other matters
that led to stronger clubs and committees and the breeding of better Bull
Terriers for the advancement of our breed. Maybe we can revive these
get-togethers to improve things in our breed – but the call must come from
you – not from me!
This could result in some of our
vocal so-called experienced breeder/judges and handlers to refrain from
jealously and maliciously taking dogs, judges and fanciers apart and
seeing only points to criticise in every dog while missing the virtues and
worth of an animal as a whole, thereby frightening young enthusiasts away
from the show ring as so regularly happens now-a-days.
Politics are part of every sphere
of everyday life at international, national and local level wherever
competition is involved in government, business, the workplace, sport,
animal breeding and showing, to name but a few. So, if you want to be
successful at anything in life you have to learn to take politics as well
as unfair criticism in your stride as part of life. It’s no use trying to
get away from or avoid it – it is there in everything anyone ever does or
tries to do. You simply have to learn to handle it or commit suicide as
the only way to get away from it all.
So folks, lets learn to accept
and handle it in Bull Terriers as well and don’t try to flee from it – you
simply show weakness and defeatism. Stand up and be counted and show
your metal and fighting spirit – just like any good Bull Terrier. Show
your Bullies and their fanciers you are worthy of owning them by sticking
it out, come hell or high water.
My report: For the first time in
a long while the dogs were quite a lot better than the bitches. The top
dogs oozed quality, while the vast majority of bitches with the exception
of the winner and a few others were found to be a little lacking in
classiness.
DOGS
Minor Puppy: (Only one entered and
present)
1st No. 3, Mrs D J
Bosch’s Pegradine Irving of Bukaju is a 7 month old white, who could have
a little better head and fully black nose, but nevertheless his head has a
good length and his expression is wicked. His one canine protrudes a
little into the gum. He however has a short body and straight topline.
He moves well behind, but could move a might wider in front. He has
strong round bone and tight feet with plenty of substance.
Junior: (7 entered and all present)
This was a strong class of good
youngsters which I enjoyed judging.
1st No. 21, Mr M van
den Doel’s 12½ month old brindle with a fine head in every respect and a
pitch black nose. He is a fair mover coming and going. He is a nice
height off the ground with plenty of potential and his substance should
improve as he matures. He was the best mover in his class, coming and
going.
2nd No. 16, Mr R
Oosthuizen’s Bellators Golden Boy of Rhizen: A 14½ month old cobby but
grossly over-weight white, giving the impression of being rather dumpy,
therefore too close to the ground in proportion to his excessive width.
He just showed too much body for his height and age and as I thought he
may be likely to broaden with maturity without gaining any more height, I
could not place him ahead of the younger winner. He has a good head, but
it is not as long, shapely and curved as the winner’s and sports a brow
and slight cleft between the eyes. Although he moved fairly well, the
winner was slightly better. I suggested to his owner that he trim his
weight down by a few kilograms, which I later saw he had done, with the
result that with foresight I may have swapped the first two around without
feeling any regrets.
3rd No. 15, Mr F Olivier’s Lubjan Doozra of
Franjan deserves a mention. This upstanding 12
month old white with an excellent topline and pleasing
profile seen from the side, is a dog for
the future, provided his body and head broaden as he
matures.
Graduate: (2 entered and
present)
1st No. 10, Mr G Koorts’ Geko Red Devil: A
very good 22 month old upstanding white with a
smart head and one of the best movers in both
directions.
2nd No. 9, Mr C Harmse’s 20 months old
white, Wilbod White Warrior: Another very good
headed white, but there just wasn’t as much of him as
of the winner.
SA Bred: (Three entered,
only one present)
1st No. 6, Mr S J P Ehlers’ Admira
Terminator: A long-headed 14 month old black brindle with good roman
finish, but with canines not quite correct. He is a good mover in both
directions.
Open: (7 entered, 5
present)
Undoubtedly the class of the show, with two stunning
dogs entering the ring in a high grade class. My old heart swelled when
these dogs entered the ring.
1st No 18, Best in Show, CC and Best
Coloured in Show; Mr G P M Schoeman’s Brilows Bezzaz Blitz of Joruma: It
is generally known that I dislike tri-coloureds, especially when they have
big white body splashes, but because none of these features are faults, I
do not discriminate against them and judge them fairly and squarely
according to the standard. This was one of them, but my heart skipped a
beat when this 3 year old appeared in the ring with his meaningful height
and size, which we have generally lost in South Africa over the past 20
years. He clearly stamped his presence on the ring with his massive,
well-filled, long and deep head and pronounced roman finish right to the
tip of his black nose. His much needed height and size resembles giants
of the breed such as the late Australian Ch. Bekmar Billy Idol, whom I
judged a few years ago, and European Ch. Lord of the Timar, whom I went
over in England last year, as well as some of the English and South
African greats of the 1980’s (too many to mention here), some of which I
had the pleasure of breeding and showing to their titles.
His body may seem long when viewed from the top, but
when you stand away he is an extremely square, well-balanced animal. He
has sound, round, heavy bone, but could have heavier thighs, although it
must be noted that the top long distance human athletes, like the tall
Kenyans, have long, lean, but powerful leg muscles, very much like my
winner. He is a good mover coming and going, but when he stands, his
right forefoot turns out like the front feet of a Stafford. He has
wonderful width of body and substance, but I could not give him best
substance because of his hanging paunch. His handler confirmed my
question in the ring, that he had been mistakenly overfed that same
morning.
Although he has a super head and a much needed, heavier
and better filled muzzle right to its tip than any other dog in the show,
I also could not give him best head, because his erect ears appeared
slightly soft on the move and his perfectly placed teeth were dirty,
yellow, had one broken upper canine as well as two warn lower canines of
which the very tips were slightly warn down. Because I could not give him
best head and best substance because of the superficial reasons mentioned
above, and therefore gave these titles to my Reserve Best in Show and RCC
winner, my tri-colour was all-round comfortably the best Bull Terrier in
the show. It’s a great pity that according information gleaned by me
after the show, this dog has been shown only at three or so shows, winning
an RCC at one of them.
I’m not saying: “use this dog”, but my message is to
breed to such types of dogs and bitches to retrieve our lost height and
size. No matter what some so-called experts say, there are and will
always be four recognised types of Bull Terrier – the heavy, low-slung
Bulldog type; the light terrier-type; the tall Dalmation-type and the
combination of the three – the ideal middle-of-the-road-type. We need all
three the archetypes to produce and maintain the ideal type, and the old
hands will tell you that our ideal types are losing size because for many
years we haven’t had a big and tall Dalmation-Bulldog combination in our
pedigrees. Last year’s Regent Trophy Winner in England, Ch. Emred
Huntsman, is to my mind the perfect middle-of-the-road-type, but he is way
taller than anything we have in our country at present with the exception
of my tri-coloured winner, the essential, huge Dalmation-Bulldog
combination.
2nd No. 17, Reserve Best in Show, RCC, Best
Head and Best Substance: Mr R L Sadie’s Lubjan le Patron of Niroux.
Another outstanding, compact, substantial, well prepared and handled dog I
could easily have put top of the pyramid without losing any sleep over my
decision. He is a sure-fire champion in every respect, and just as in the
case of the winner, it gave me great pride to sign all their certificates
with the words: “I am clearly of the opinion that this exhibit is of such
outstanding merit as to be worthy of qualifying for the title of
champion”. This 28 month old superb white has strong ears on top of his
egg-shaped head with its most wicked expression and perfect teeth.
Although his muzzle could be a little longer and broader, it is still
strong and deep enough to have earned him best head in the light of the
superficial weaknesses I mentioned in the winning dog’s case. I have
mentioned his bodily virtues above, but add to that a perfect topline,
powerful quarters, strongly rounded bone and fair movement, together with
plenty of other virtues, too many to mention (as in the case of the
winner), and you will understand why I say he is a certain champion. He
is a lovely middle=of-the-road type, but not as big and tall as my ideal,
Huntsman. His only obvious and distracting fault is his red patch on the
roach near the root of his tail. I hardly regard this superficial mismark
as a fault, but if I were required to award and subtract points out of 100
for virtues or faults in the whole dog (obviously I don’t consider such
nonsensical things as points when judging) I would subtract up to a mere 5
points out of an overall 100 for this minor fault.
By all means use this dog at stud, but I would avoid
close relatives that may carry the mismark gene recessively or bitches
without a pedigree/background clear of mismarks.
3rd No. 12, Best Red: Miss M Mattheys’
Bukavi Thunderball: Also a very good-headed, nicely bodied-up red, but
with a slight mouth fault. He won the title of Best Red in Show.
4th No 14, Mr C W Nel’s white, Morningside
Danny Play Me: Another good, worthy animal of virtue with a fine body.
His head is okay, but not quite in the same league as the three dogs
placed ahead of him.
Veteran: (Only one absent
entry)
Champion: (One entered
and present)
1st No 4, Mr L M Brits’ white Ch. Brilows
Bonnz Boy. This 3½ year old half-brother of my winner is very close to
the ideal size of my perfect middle-of-the-road type. He has a great body
and topline and was the best mover among the dogs, but unfortunately he
lacks quite substantially in head quality, shape and overall fill of
muzzle. Nevertheless, his virtues of body, substance, soundness and
movement make him a worthy champion.
BITCHES
Minor Puppy: (4 entered,
3 present)
1st No 62, Mr D Janse van Vuuren’s Brilows
Beula of Dewanze: A perfect mouth and good-moving daughter of my best
moving dog and Champion Dog class winner.
2nd No 58 Mrs Y Dercksen’s Risckan Avantee:
A good youngster with an unfortunate in-growing left lower canine.
Puppy: (Two entered and
present)
1st No 59, RCC, Best Puppy and Best Mover in
Show; Mrs N. Ferreira’s Sinosted Kyla: A highly promising 11 month old
youngster with a very good head, perfect bite, plenty of substance and the
only Bull Terrier in show that moved perfectly parallel coming and going.
She was easily the second best bitch in the show.
2nd No 61, Mr E Grobler’s Jilook Black
Diamond: Another good 11 month old youngster, but not as much of
everything as the winner.
Junior: (6 entered, 3
present)
1st No 66, Mr D R Nel’s Morningside Vhusiku:
A very good 13½ month old good headed youngster with commendable substance
and movement.
2nd No 51, Mrs M Alberts’ Riberts Moet: A
good-headed white with a slight mouth fault, but not properly bodied up,
giving the impression of being too long – not properly prepared for
showing.
3rd No 67, Mr J P Nel’s Brilows Blossom Babe
of Drakensig: There was just not enough of her at 16 months.
Graduate: (One entered
and present)
1st No 69, Mr J P Nel’s Brilows Borrys
Bringirl of Drakensig: A very good, nicely coloured brindle that growled
at me because of being wrongly restrained by her handler, who obviously
made her feel the need to protect him. I asked him to let her go after
which she calmed down completely, took a titbit from me and allowed me to
cuddle her. She has a good head and sound teeth and moved well.
SA Bred: (5 entered 3
present)
1st No 65, CC and Best Bitch in Show: Miss
M Mattheys’ Bukavi Thunder Girl was the only real star among the bitches,
and it was good to see two representatives from this kennel with its new
young owner, back in the ring. We trust we will see more of her in
future. This 2 year old mature white has an outstanding well-filled head,
with excellent expression and sound bite, which in a feminine context, is
close to those of the two top dogs. She has a short, powerful,
well-balanced body and quarters and is a sound mover. She stood clearly
ahead of all the other bitches and was beaten only by the two top dogs.
2nd No 57, Mr J de Bod’s Wilbod La Dee Dah:
This 20 month old is another good one, with a good head, but not as good a
mover as the winner.
3rd No 68, Mr J P Nel’s Navada Lotta Bouver
of Drakensig: This 3 year old was just not typey enough to my liking.
Open: (5 entered and
present)
1st Mr M H Mills’ Bukavi Daniella Lee: A
nice 2 year old red with a classy head and a good mover, but a little ring
shy and needed a bit of coaxing to bring the best out of her.
2nd Mr L M Brits’ Brilows Bezzas Brin-ice:
A 3 year old brindle pushing the winner hard for first place.
3rd Mr G J Cloete’s Ipon Lady Ciska: A very
powerful 17 month old white with a well constructed body, but not as
strong in head and movement as the two standing ahead of her.
4th Mr T M Balfour’s Tendaji Delta Dawn.
5th Messrs Le Roux & R L Sadie’s Bonwitt
Berry Blossom.
Veteran & Champion: (None
entered)
Finally, thanks again for entering this LBTC show under
me. Please follow this example and enter all shows under all judges in
large numbers, irrespective of who or what they are, in the interests of
our breed and its continued existence and ultimately, in our own interests.
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