HAMASON SBT

Critique

Bridgend & District Kennel Association - PREMIER OPEN SHOW - Sunday 1st March 2020

Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

My thanks go to the Association & their committee for inviting me to judge this, their 130th Anniversary PREMIER Open Show. Also, many thanks to my two very capable ring stewards - John Dare & Nicole Clark - for keeping the ring moving well and enabling me to focus on the job in hand. Finally, thank you to all of the exhibitors for bringing along your dogs for my opinion and for the way in which you accepted my decisions in the most sporting of ways.

I was absolutely thrilled to have the highest Terrier Entry and the joint highest entry overall, many thanks to everyone involved in making this happen.

The ring was of good size, allowing sufficient room for all dogs to get into their stride. I became aware after judging had been completed of the slipperiness of the floor which did impact on some dogs as they were stacked (eg their feet struggled to grip and gave an impression of splayed feet) and also some dogs on the move. However, all dogs stood and moved on the same surface so I do not believe any particular dog had any kind of unfair advantage, though my observations on the day on things such as feet and movement may very well have differed in different ring surface conditions.

PUPPY 5 (2)
1: Thomas & Ford's - KALL'S BLACK BEAUTY (B) 29.04.2019 (Beckash Up N'Atem X Once Upon A Black Night). Black Brindle bitch, 10 months of age. Nicely proportioned skull, dark eyes, neat ears, good bite, good width of chest, short coupled, dark nails, tail carried correctly and moved well. BEST PUPPY IN BREED.

2: Logan's - ASSILIO SHOOTING STAR (B) 29.06.2019 (Dazmarnic Know Wot I Mean X Assilio Red Contessa). Red bitch of slighter build than my 1st placed bitch. Good skull to muzzle ratio, dark eyes, neat ears, dark nails, tail carried nicely, moved OK - a very close decision between 1st & 2nd just preferring the strength of my 1st placed on the day.

3: Corti's - ASSILIO STAR TURN (B) 29.06.2019 (Dazmarnic Know Wot I Mean x Assilio Red Contessa).

JUNIOR 6 (1)
1: Antonio's - GAZSTAFF'S MAN IN BLACK FOR ANTONIOSTAFF (D) 26.10.2018 (CH Elitebulls Challenger X Cwmcalon Lady Million For Gazstaff). Black brindle dog with eye-catching head and clean-faced expression, good skull to muzzle ratio, dark eyes and eye rims, correct bite, neat ears, sturdy neck leading to good front. Well off for bone, lovely neat feet with dark nails. Short in the back, good tail set on and carriage, moved well and shown in great condition with lovely coat.

2: Mayer's - SUGAR'S SHADOW (B) 08.10.2018 (CH Maxsta Prince Of Celts X Freya's Dream). Black brindle bitch who had the strength I like with plenty of bone and substance. A bitch that you really need to get your hands on to appreciate her fitness. Good strong muzzle to skull ratio, ears carried OK, compact in body and gained her 2nd place on movement over 3rd placed bitch on the day. Preferred the darker eye rims and cleaner expression of my 1st placed dog today but this bitch has a lovely outline and was shown in nice condition.

3: Hands & Freeman's - GAZSTAFF'S BLACK VELVET AT SKYESTAFF (B) 26.10.2018 (CH Elitebulls Challenger X Cwmcalon Lady Million For Gazstaff).

4: Connor's - CAYMENSTAFFS EBONY OF RINGABLOK (B) 09.02.2019 (Caymenstaffs Carlos Way x Starlitebulls Artemis At Caymenstaffs)

POST GRAD 3 (0)
1: Hands & Freeman's - GAZSTAFF'S BLACK VELVET AT SKYESTAFF (B) 26.10.2018 (CH Elitebulls Challenger X Cwmcalon Lady Million For Gazstaff). Black brindle bitch that I have judged before as a Puppy. She is maturing nicely with a wicked expression. Nicely shaped head and neat ears with correct bite. Decent width of chest and OK for bone and substance. Tail set and carried well and held topline when stacked and on the move.

2: Corti's - BIGGLESWICK BILLY NO MATES (D) 25.07.2017 (Biggleswick Call Of Duty X Dazmarnic Eastern Promise At Biggleswick). Stunning red dog with black mask. Gorgeous expression, good skull to muzzle ratio, neat ears and dark eyes and eye rims and correct scissor bite. Plenty of bone and substance, good width of chest and straight front. Shown in great condition, just preferred the neater feet and topline of my first placed today but on another day and another surface this dog would probably have been pushing very hard for top honours.

3: Hunter's - MOURNESTAFFS MAGIES LEAP (B) 12.02.2018 (CH Zakstaff What's The Story At Molru X Mournestaffs Hypnotyze)

OPEN 6 (1)
1: Hunter's - ROWENDA BROWN BOMBER (D) 12.06.2016 (Braunstaff From Hasbury X Rowenda Celtic Caper). Lovely brindle dog who possesses the "great strength for size" that the breed standard asks for and I was looking for. Pleasing expression with neat ears and a correct scissor bite. Great skull to muzzle ratio with nicely developed cheek bumps. Plenty of bone and substance giving a strong short neck without stuffiness, great width of chest and straight front. Excellent forechest and spring of rib with a pleasing lightness in loin. Moved OK and his maturity won him his class today. Shown in very fit hard condition and pleased to award him BEST OF BREED.

2: Thomas & Griffith's - GAZSTAFF'S BLACK MAGIC (D) 26.10.2018 (CH Elitebulls Challenger X Cwmcalon Lady Million For Gazstaff). Black brindle dog with a beautiful head and expression, lovely dark eyes and eye rims, neat ears and correct bite. Decent bone and substance with width and depth of chest developing nicely for his age. Very neat, tight feet and this dog was really up on his toes the whole time. He moved very well, holding his topline on the move as well as when stacked. He showed himself superbly throughout which just clinched him RESERVE BEST OF BREED over his litter brother (who was placed 1st in JUNIOR). He just lost out today on 1st place in this class on maturity but this dog (and his littermates) have time on their side and are destined for greater things I'm sure.

3: Jordan's - DAZMARNIC KNOW WOT I MEAN JW ShCM (D) 25.02.2016 (CH Cazomic Crime Fighter JW X Dazmarnic Kiss N'Tell). Top size red dog that I have also judged before. Really liked the condition he was shown in today, a real credit to his lady owner. Just preferred the more compact and overall balanced picture of my 1st & 2nd today.

4: Thomas & Ford's - ONCE UPON A BLACK NIGHT (B) 01.06.2017 (Harlequin Prince X Skellyblues Fransimo Lady (A.I.))

5: Logan's - ASSILIO SHOOTING STAR (B) 29.06.2019 (Dazmarnic Know Wot I Mean X Assilio Red Contessa). Placed 2nd in PUPPY.

JUDGE: Clare Robinson-Cox (HAMASON)