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MTS JUDGES REPORT 2009
NICO DU PREEZ
I would like to express my sincere
thanks to the MTSOC for the honour and pleasure of being given the
assignment to judge this year’s Bull Terrier MTS. More importantly, I
would like to thank the exhibitors who entered, giving us such a high
quality and diverse entry to judge.
I herewith offer some general
comment of what I was looking for and/or faced with during my judging of
this event. In my selection, type was very important in rewarding dogs for
being true Bull Terriers. I was looking for dogs and bitches with the
primary breed virtues of a quality head, ample solid bone and overall body
substance and balance in conformity to the standard. These are rather
difficult combinations to find, however I do think that our Dog of the
Year and the Supreme Bull Terrier (Bitch of the Year) both possess these
qualities and their wonderful breed type is a compliment to South African
Bull Terriers. Having travelled to most of the international shows around
the globe and by studying the current available material, I hold the firm
belief that both these animals could stand their own and seriously compete
for the top honours in any show ring around the world. During the judging
I found that some dogs were often separated by single faults or single
virtues. In picking my winners I also found that some dogs were of equal
quality but of different type, which lead to me choosing on my preference
of type (middle of the road). As judges, we are asked to select and award
animals who posses virtues that are capable of moving the breed forward. I
can truly say with confidence that our winners, and even some who were
not, possess these requisite virtues in abundance. I still found too many
exhibits that have in-standing canines and like the rest of the world we
need to keep this problem in check before it gets out of hand.
IMPORTED DOGS
Judges: Mollentze and Brits.
As there was a split decision
between the only two entries, I was required to act as the referee in this
class. The two competing dogs were of different type and both had as many
faults and virtues as the other with little to choose in the end between
the two. It was far from an easy decision as both dogs are certainly
worthy of the honour. In the end I opted for the superior head quality,
overall type and lovely rich brindle of the winner No 3 Ch Bullyview
Leading Role to Navada (Imp UK), a strong middle of the road type,
rich dark brindle and white dog with a top class powerful head that,
although a bit short in foreface, is wide and filled with good depth and
pleasing smooth profile. Although his eyes are a bit kind, they are
correctly placed and dark in colour and his ears are small and placed
correctly on top of his head. To be critical, I would have liked to have
seen a bit more length of head. Mouth is level with correct canines. I
particularly liked the length of neck that connects well with his lovely
wide ribcage and deep brisket. He has a straight front with ample bone for
his size and well laid shoulders. I would have preferred a shorter back on
this dog, however, he has a strong rump with lovely bent and muscled
stifles and short hocks. His tail is set on low. On the move he is a bit
close behind, but has sufficient drive from the side, in the front he
pounds with his feet but the legs are parallel and straight. Ideally I
would have liked to see him an inch shorter in back or an inch taller in
the leg. Well presented on the day by his crafty handler.
No 1 Ch Bilboen Rebel in Red at
Stelron (Imp UK), a big upstanding red and
white dog with splashes on his back and side, he is of a distinctly
different type than the winner. This dog has a rather plain unimpressive
head that in my opinion is a bit small for such a big dog and rather
lacking the power, depth and turn compared to that of the winner. Correct
mouth. Good eye placement but ears could be better placed and stronger.
Strong muscular neck flowing into a well sprung ribcage with deep brisket
and solid strong top-line. His front is not his forte, although his legs
are straight, he turns out with his left foot and he could have more bone
on the leg for such a big dog. Well angulated and muscular hindquarters.
His tail is set on a bit high resulting in a high tail carriage. On the
move he is wider than the winner behind, also possessing good drive from
the side but his front is not as parallel as the winner with his left
front foot paddling out to the side.
ORMANDY VASE FOR DOGS UNDER
TWO YEARS
Judges: Mollentze and Du Preez.
A unanimous decision that went to
No 8 Ch Lubjan Monchou of Rhizen (AI), an overwhelming dog of great
virtue, a true heavyweight carrying great power and overall substance for
his size. In my opinion he possesses lovely make and shape, that even
without his very good head, you know this is a true Bull Terrier! He has a
strong head packed with power and sufficient fill and a gentle curve and
nice nose drop viewed from the side, with a strong under jaw. His mouth is
correct. He has small correctly placed dark eyes and ears on top of his
head leaving him with a mean expression. To be critical, his ears,
although correctly placed, are a bit soft on the move and he has some
scarring on the right ear. He has a masculine neck of moderate length
flowing nicely into a well sprung ribcage with a magnificent deep solid
brisket. He has excellent bodylines with a short strong back finished off
by wide muscular and powerful hindquarters. He has a strong correct
topline which holds true on the move. Excellent front, straight as a gun
barrel and with heavy solid round bone from the top to the feet which are
tight and compact for such a large and heavy dog. His elbows are tucked in
nicely under the body. He has a correct tail set that is sometimes carried
high in excitement. Although he has a wide deep chest, I would have liked
to see a bit more upper arm that would give him a little more fore-chest.
He moved freely with sufficient drive and is square coming and going. Well
muscled, hard and solid throughout, he was in tiptop show condition and
handled very well on the day. With his overall substance, masculinity and
true type he was the obvious choice, almost standing in a class of his
own.
ORMANDY JUG FOR DOGS OVER
TWO YEARS
Judges: Du Preez and Brits
Referee: Mollentze
There was a split decision in this
class between the obvious two contenders and the service of the referee
was required.
My choice was No 17 Ch Ipon the
Rock, a big upstanding black brindle and white dog with lots of power
and style with an excellent head. He has a long, strong head combining
fill, depth and width along with a beautiful gently curved profile and
strong under-jaw. He has a slight mouth fault with his two front incisors
being level, canines are correct. For a coloured dog he has a dark, well
placed wicked eye and lovely small ears that are carried correctly. He
has a strong well arched neck that flows into a solid topline. He has a
deep brisket and very well sprung rib cage. He has the tightest fitting
skin and was rock hard and solid and in superb show condition, making it a
pleasure to go over him. He has sufficient bone for his size and a
straight front with compact tight feet. He is a bit long in back, but
holds his top line well, standing and on the move. Although his hind
quarters are substantially muscled, I would have liked to see more
angulation. On the move he is parallel in front but close behind lacking
in drive. Even with his faults I liked his overall type and outstanding
head, which is the trade mark of the Bull Terrier breed and something to
cherish.
I had no real problem with the
choice of my co-judge and the referee, as this dog was my second choice
and a very good dog indeed. The winner of this class was No 19 Ch
Morningside Denzel So Sweet, a very typey white dog with black head
markings. He has a strong head with good muzzle power but lacked a bit in
overall smoothness and finish on his head compared to that of my choice.
He has a rather rough head with distinct eye brows and a groove between
the eyes. He has a lovely strong under-jaw and his mouth is correct. On
the down-side he has a rather stuffy neck that is a bit on the short side
together with a longish back that spoils the overall picture for me. That
said, he is a powerful dog with a lovely deep brisket and well sprung rib
cage with a dead straight front carrying ample bone. His hind-quarters are
well angulated and muscular with a well developed second thigh and well
let down hocks, and his tail is set on correctly. His movement is true and
square coming and going with good drive, moving effortlessly from all
angles, and for me, the best mover of the day.
COLOURED DOGS
Judges: Brits and Mollentze
Referee: Du Preez
There was once again a split
decision between No 3 Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada and No 17 Ch
Ipon the Rock and I was called to referee.
This was a very difficult decision
for me as I particularly liked both animals, but for different reasons.
What the one dog lacks the other has in abundance and visa versa. As
neither of them is a particularly good mover, I in the end, chose No 17
Ipon The Rock because of his longer smoother head and overall hard
condition and substance.
IMPORTED BITCHES
Judges: Du Preez and Mollentze
This was a unanimous decision with
the winner being No 25 Ch Stamic High Ambition of Kunjuri (Imp UK),
this lovely white, substantial, mature bitch was an easy winner in this
class with her rival being still a bit too immature to compete against her
at this level. This bitch has a strong, yet feminine head with enough
power but rather lacking a bit in curve and downface. Good eye placement
and ears carried well on top of the head. The mouth is correct. She has an
elegant, yet strong neck that flows well into a substantial body with
lovely, marked spring of rib. She has a deep brisket with straight front
and good bone for her size, her feet could be tighter. She is a bit long
in the back and she shows a slight dip in her topline on the move. Tail
set on low and she has strong well angulated and muscular hindquarters.
Movement is not her forte, although she has drive she was close behind and
not enough reach in the front.
ORMANDY VASE FOR BITCHES
UNDER TWO YEARS
Judges: Brits and Du Preez
Once again this was a unanimous
decision with the winner being No 32 Reithsons Clareece. An
outstanding white bitch with black head marking, a true diamond in a class
full of treasures. The more one studies her, the more her many assets
command your attention in particular her superb Bull Terrier type, overall
style and quality. She combines the virtue of both the bull and the
terrier in a pleasing way with her style, grace, tidiness with sufficient
power and substance for her size, without anything being overdone in any
way and still remaining feminine. She has a feminine yet powerful head
that is long and well-filled with a gentle yet distinct curve without
being extreme. Ears small and placed on top of the head, with her eyes
dark and triangular but a little bit on the large side; however this does
not distract too much from her outstanding head quality that completely
fills your hands on examination. Her mouth is correct. She has a lovely
shapely long neck flowing well into her forequarters and strong top line.
Good spring of rib with a deep chest and straight front and correct
shoulder placement. She has lovely strong bone for such a young bitch and
her front is a pleasure to observe. To be critical she is a tad long in
back but her topline holds true standing and on the move. She has
well-angulated and powerful hindquarters with good muscling and her hocks
are well let down. Her tail could be set on a little lower but she does
not carry it too high to be a distraction. She is a good mover coming and
going being parallel in the front with good drive from the rear. A high
quality bitch of world-class standard in an excellent class of good
bitches. She was presented well by her handler and in top-notch show
condition.
ORMANDY JUG FOR BITCHES OVER
TWO YEARS
Judges: Brits and Mollentze
Referee: Du Preez
Another split decision between
No 40 Ch Ipon Glamazon of Carradice and No 42 Ch Niroux Spirits
Pride of Carradice.
Glamazon
is an upstanding white bitch with red markings on her left eye. Her head
is long and not exaggerated in profile or fill and rather lacks a bit in
finish. Ears are strong and well placed. She has a mouth fault. Her front
is straight but she lacks in bone for such a large bitch. She is a bit
upright in shoulder and she is too long in the back for my liking. Good
strong hindquarters. Movement was close behind and toed in, in the front.
As I have said, I would have liked to see more power in the head and a
little more bone throughout.
The winner was Spirits Pride,
a much more substantial white bitch than her rival with a good, solid,
strong head, displaying good ear and eye placement. Her mouth is correct,
although I would have liked to see a stronger under-jaw. Her front is
straight with ample quality rounded bone and she has a deep brisket with
good spring of rib. Her neck flows properly in an unbroken arch into her
shoulders. Her topline is correct, although she is a bit long in the back,
she is nicely rounded over her rear with a good tail set. She has a
well-angulated rear with ample muscling of the thighs. A little close
behind on the move with sufficient drive, her front movement is
acceptable. Overall she has a lot of body mass and substance moulded into
a shapely body.
COLOURED BITCHES
Judges: Mollentze and Du Preez
Referee: Brits
There was another split decision
in this class with my co-judge and I not agreeing on the winner and the
Referee being called in to make the final decision. My co- judge picked
No 36 Wild Thing a tri-colour bitch that is on the smallish side for
my liking. She has a lovely head packed with power and her mouth is
correct. She is a bit upright in shoulder but has good bone and a straight
front. I would also have liked to see a longer upper arm and thus more
fore-chest. Her topline was level although she was a tad long in the back
for her size. Well bent and muscled stifles and a good tail set. Her
movement was acceptable both coming and going.
In the end the Referee agreed with
my choice and the winner was No 35 Ch Sandawana Be Dazzled of Shodan,
a lovely upstanding dark brindle and white bitch with overall quality
and substance carrying true Bull Terrier type. A strong headed bitch with
lots of fill and power but lacking a bit in curve, however she has a
strong under jaw. Mouth is correct. She has dark eyes that are well-placed
on the head but a bit kind in shape. Lovely small ears placed on top of
the head. She has a shapely neck flowing nicely into her front and topline
with a straight front carrying sufficient bone. Her feet are a bit flat
and splayed. Lovely deep brisket and well sprung ribcage. Good solid
topline with strong well-rounded hindquarters that are well angulated and
muscled. Her hocks could be shorter. Her tail is set on correctly and she
has good overall substance and power. Her movement is acceptable both ways
with sufficient drive viewed from the side.
DOG OF THE YEAR
Judges: Brits and Du Preez
The two contenders were, No 8
Ch Lubjan Monchou of Rhizen, the winner of the Ormandy Vase for Dogs
under two years, and No 19 Ch Morningside Denzel So Sweet, the
winner of the Ormandy Dog Jug over two years, as No 3 Ch
Bullyview Leading Role to Navada, the winner of the Imported Dog
Class, was eliminated by No 17 Ch Ipon the Rock in the Coloured Dog
Class, who in turn had been eliminated in the Ormandy Dog Jug Class.
My co-judge and I were in total
agreement as to our winner, No 8 Ch Lubjan Monchou of Rhizen.
Monchou, in comparison to the other dog, just overwhelms him with
breed type, overall substance and power and his superb balance,
compactness and ring presence.
BITCH OF THR YEAR
Judges: Mollentze and Brits
The three contenders were No 25
Ch Stamic High Ambition of Kunjuri, winner of the Imported Bitch
Class, No 32 Reithsons Clareece the winner of the Ormandy Vase for
Bitches under two years, and No 42 Ch Niroux Spirits Pride of
Carradice, winner of the Ormandy Jug for bitches over two years, with
No 32 Reithsons Clareece easily walking away with the title as she
just totally looks the part and commands attention in all ways.
SUPREME BULL TERRIER OF
SOUTHERN AFRICA 2009
I have always had a problem with
dogs competing against the bitches for the top honours as dogs are so
powerful in comparison to the bitches and more than often tend to
overwhelm them with their masculinity and overall power and substance. I
once again found that it was my preference in this case as I went for the
dog because of his overall maximum substance for his size without being
overdone or coarse and his much shorter back for his frame than that of
the bitch. However, both my co-judges opted for the bitch No 32
Reithsons Clareece as the winner. I must immediately say that I
have no problem with this choice as she is a world-class animal that can
stand her own in any company and that she excels in correct breed type
making her impossible to ignore. A well deserved winner of this top title
- congratulations to the breeders and owners of both these two superior
Bull Terriers!!
CHALLENGE CLASSES
BEST COLOURED BULL TERRIER
Judges: Du Preez and Mollentze
The two competitors were No 17
Ch Ipon The Rock and No 35 Ch Sandawana Be Dazzled of Shodan,
with the honours going to No 17 Ch Ipon the Rock.
BEST IMPORTED BULL TERRIER
Judges: Brits and Du Preez
The two
competitors were No 3 Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada and No
25 Ch Stamic High Ambition of Kunjuri with No 3 Ch Bullyview
Leading Role to Navada the winner with his lovely head, breed type
and beautiful brindle colour giving him the edge over the bitch.
BEST HEAD IN SHOW
Judges: Mollentze and Brits
The winner was No 32 Reithsons
Clareece.
BEST MOVER IN SHOW
Judges: Brits and Du Preez
The winner was No 19 CH
Morningside Denzel so Sweet.
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