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SA Major Trophy Show 2008
07.02.2009

Judge:  Mrs Rita Alberts [Riberts Bull Terriers] 

I want to thank the Major Trophy Show Organising Committee and SABTC for yet another wonderful and memorable Trophy Show.  The quality was world class and what an honour to judge such a prestigious event a second time – the first in 1996!   Congratulations to all the exhibitors/owners of the dogs that qualified.  It was a privilege to judge and I enjoyed every moment of it, and it was an honour to have Gary Evangelides and Jannie Lubbe as co-judges.  Thanks also to the ring steward, Steve MacLean – he is the best!

All the competitors were great dogs and there was no easy winner.  In general I want to make a few comments that concern me a lot.   There were a few very bad feet, eg. splayed  toes.  I ask myself : “Where are the neat, cat-like feet that the Standard calls for, and what about poor conformation, bad hind-quarters and not such good fronts, resulting in poor movement and bad toplines”?   I appeal to breeders and judges: Let’s do something to fix these problems!

SABTC CANDLE STICKS FOR BEST IMPORTED DOG.
Judges: Alberts and Evangelides

Only one dog was present: No. 1, Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada (Imp UK).  When he entered the ring he immediately impressed with his ring presence and strength.  What a dog! With his beautiful, gun barrel front and deep, broad chest, carrying heavy, round bone.  He has a massive, well-filled head with strong underjaw, scissors bite and correctly placed canines.  His ears are right on top of the scull and he has dark eyes with a keen expression, a long, arched neck, flowing into well laid-back shoulders.  His well-sprung ribs, well developed thighs and second thighs, and well angulated hindquarters add to the pleasing picture.  He moves with reach and free, easy strides, parallel in front, owning the ring and enjoying every moment.  He was handled to perfection.   The decision was unanimous.

ORMANDY VASE FOR DOGS YOUNGER THAN TWO YEARS.
Judges:  Lubbe and Evangelides

My co-judges  agreed unanimously on the winner, No. 5, Brilows Bonnz Boy.

ORMANDY JUG FOR DOGS OLDER THAN TWO YEARS.
Judges: Alberts and Lubbe
Referee: Evangelides

In this large, very strong, class of quality dogs, my winner was No. 19, Ch Navada Eye Bandit, the defending Supreme Bull Terrier.  He stood out as a very short bodied white with strongly developed hindquarters, well-bent stifles with good hind angulation – the reason for the thrust and power with which he moves.  He possesses a well-filled head with excellent profile, scissors bite and correctly placed canines.   His ears are on top of the scull and he has dark, wicked eyes, giving him an excellent expression.  A lovely, long neck flowing into well laid-back shoulders, a deep broad chest and overall hard show condition make him impressive.  He moves with great power and reach, and covers the ground with ease.  Again, he was handled to perfection. 

Another dog that caught my eye was No. 15, Ch Carradice Free Spirit.  He was in good, hard show condition and short-bodied with a good head and strong under-jaw, but on the day just lacked showing himself off.   His brother, No. 22, Ch Tintins Perfect Storm of Carradice, also impressed with his beautiful head, short body and perfect tail set – a quality dog! 

Unfortunately, my co-judge chose No. 16, Ch Ipon the Rock, and the referee was called in, who decided on Eye Bandit.  I found The Rock not as impressive, with stilted hind movement and an incorrect, undershot bite, although he was in good, hard condition.

RHEEDER TROPHY FOR BEST COLOURED DOG.
Judges: Evangelides and Alberts

My co-judge and I agreed unanimously on No.1, Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada (Imp. UK), already described in my report.

WENTWORTH TROPHY FOR BEST IMPORTED BITCH
Judges: Evangelides and Lubbe

The only entry, No. 23, Ch Stamic High Ambition of Kunjury (Imp. UK) was unanimously awarded this trophy. 

ORMANDY VASE FOR BITCHES YOUNGER THAN TWO YEARS
Judges: Alberts and Lubbe

As the bitches entered the ring, I realised that each had the quality to win this class.  They are all beautiful with good heads.  My choice, No. 29, Niroux Spirits Pride of Carradice, a great-headed bitch with scissors bite and correctly placed canines, head well-filled with excellent profile, dark wicked eye, ears right on top, making for a wicked expression, stole my heart.  She has a classy front with well-developed and angulated hindquarters.  What specially caught my attention was her free, easy movement going away.  But on the down side she was reluctant to use her good ears to her best advantage.  When urged by the handler, she lifted and held them on top.  I regard her as a great bitch in a strong line-up.

My co-judge selected No. 25, Elru Lara Croft of Narciano, and the referee was called, who decided on Lara Croft.

ORMANDY JUG FOR BITCHES OVER TWO YEARS.
Judges: Evangelides and Alberts

My co-judge and I were unanimous about the winner, No. 4O, Ch Piketberg Harrys Snoozy of Niroux.  She is a typey, well-balanced, mature bitch with good front, tight elbows and deep brisket and well laid back shoulders.  She carries adequate bone and a straight, gun-barrel front.  She’s short bodied with well angulated hindquarters, moves well coming and going, has a well-filled head with a wicked eye and expression.  She was handled to perfection and showed well.

RHINESTONE SHIELD FOR BEST COLOURED BITCH.
Judges:  Lubbe and Evangelides

The judges agreed on  No.34, Ch Ipon Electra.

BEST IMPORTED BULL TERRIER OF THE YEAR.
Judges: Alberts and Lubbe

I went over the bitch, No. 23, Ch Stamic High Ambition of Kunjury  [Imp. UK], because I had not seen her before, while my co-judge did the same with No. 1, Ch Bullyview Leading Role to Navada [Imp. UK].  We were unanimous in putting up No. 1, Leading Role.

BEST COLOURED BULL TERRIER OF THE YEAR.
Judges: Evangelides and Alberts

We were unanimous that Leading Role was better than the bitch, Electra.

BEST MOVER OF THE YEAR.
Judges: Lubbe and Evangelides

My co-judges agreed on No.5, Ch. Brilows Bonnz Boy.

BEST HEAD OF THE YEAR.
Judges:  Alberts and Lubbe
Referee: Evangelides

Here we had a good line-up.   I started eliminating by finding the biggest, best filled head with strong underjaw, correct bite and meanest expression. Without doubt, my decision went to No. 1, Leading Role, for his head’s length, depth, fill and expression.  His main opponent, was his kennel mate, Eye Bandit.  My co-judge chose No. 7, Ice Man of Bukavi, but the referee also went for Leading Role.

DOG OF THE YEAR.
Judges: Evangelides and Alberts

This was a very difficult decision because of the quality of the three competitors that qualified by winning their individual categories.   At this stage I had not yet judged the Vase winner, Bonnz Boy. I I found him well put-together, but unfortunately he could not match the heads of his two rivals.  We were unanimous that Leading Role was the winner, while the other contestant, Eye Bandit, with his excellent head, was let down by his handler because his owner was handling his other dog, Leading Role.

BITCH OF THE YEAR.
Judges: Lubbe and Evangelides

They unanimously selected No. 25, Elru Lara Croft of Narciano.

SUPREME BULL TERRIER 2008.
Judges:  Alberts, Evangelides and Lubbe

For me Leading Role was a better dog with his presence, quality and strength, overwhelming the bitch completely, but I was overruled by my co-judges.  The winner of the Supreme title was Elru Lara Croft of Narciano.  Congratulations to her owner, Dirk Rupping, and breeder, Adri Els.