British Bulldog Championship Show 2004

The Gold Medal puppy competition and open show at Roade village hall. The weather was good, but with rain forecast, it was decided to hold the event inside in the roomy hall. It is good to know that if and when this event coincides with a sunny period (don’t laugh) there is ample room to go outside on grass.

The three championship show judges for the puppy competition, Sonia Davis ( Rowendale), Tony Darmanin (Sutus) and all rounder Rodney Oldham (Towmena), wasted no time in sorting out the large number of youngsters taking part in the competition. The puppies this year were divided into 6 age related classes, due to last year’s anniversary puppy comp. being held independently of the open show and early in 2008. Each class winner received one of the famous British BC Gold Medals.

The six finalists returned to the ring and after much deliberation the overall winner was announced - Kevin Davis’ Ivabully City Slicker Ocobo, bred by Steve & Debbie Ives.

DOG 01.7.08 - 31.12.08	DOG 01.01.08 - 30.06.08	DOG 15.09.07 - 31.12.07	BITCH 01.7.08 - 31.12.08	BITCH 01.01.08 - 30.06.08	BITCH 15.09.07 - 31.12.07

Davis' Ivabully City Slicker Ocobo	Lunt's Jaqles Bailey	Davis' Pheorm All Eyes On Me Mystyle	Conley's Bullwrinkles Bubblicious	Cole's Whitecole Elegant Miss	Chin & Gao's Silent Dragon al Miyuki

Following a delicious lunch, provided by Wendy Williams and her hard working team, the day proceeded with the open show. On this occasion Swedish bulldog enthusiast and frequent visitor to these shores, Inger Bjorkman (Multums), took centre stage and went about the task in a most professional manner. It is lovely to watch someone judge who really looks as though they are enjoying every minute of the appointment. Inger, who has owned bulldogs for more than 20 years, has owned several top winners including the top winning bulldog of Sweden for three consecutive years. During the past 8 years Inger has spent a large portion of each year in the UK handling and training and has very much become part of the UK’s bulldog scene. From an entry of ninety-nine BIS was awarded to Emma Holmes 14 month old homebred bitch Shuckstun’s Funky Diva.

I had the great pleasure to be invited to judge The British Bulldog Club Open show. “Thank you” to the committee for inviting me and also a big thank you to all the exhibitors for giving me such a fantastic entry, 106 dogs. I was thrilled and excited over that.

As last time I judged in the UK I found the bitches in general better in size and quality than the dogs. I noticed quite a few bad back ends with straight angulation in hock and stifle but in general I was pleased with the movements. I had no obvious health problems, skin and breathing was sound except for one or two dogs.

I enjoyed my day, everyone in the committee took really good care of me and my excellent stewards, Joy Brighton and Melanie Davis made it run smoothly in the ring and easy for me.

8 year old veteran in lovely condition. Nice head with a long flat skull, exc. turn and width of under jaw, good open nostrils and sound eyes. Head looks lovely in profile but ears are a bit lively. Nice straight front with with good turn of shoulder and deep brisket. Good reach of neck. Nice ribs, a bit long in back, nice tail set. Very well angulated behind with low set hocks. Moves very well for an older dog, just a bit close behind.

8 months old brindle & white puppy dog of standard size. Nice head with a long flat skull, dark clear eyes and big nose. Nice rose ears. He looks lovely front on, lovely tacked on shoulders, deep brisket, nice straight bone and good feet. Good reach of neck, lovely topline that finishes off with a correct and low set tail. His back end could be better with better angulation and a stronger movement. Moves well in front.

Red & white standard sized puppy of a nice type. Clear, dark eyes, eye rims could be a bit tighter. Big black nose, flat skull with correct set rose ears. Good turn of under jaw. Nice shoulders and lovely straight bone with nice tight feet. Short cobby body with nice ribs but a bit straight on topline. Good strong back end. Moved very well.

It was very close between these dogs, I prefer the the front and head on 1 but the movement and backend was better on 2. Hopefully movement will settle with age on 1^st.

Red, bigger sized and strong boned dog. Pleasing head but with a lot of work. Nice thin ears that he could carry a little better. Lovely big black nose with open nostrils. Good turn of true under jaw. Lovely straight bone and tight feet. Nice shoulders and a deep brisket with an excellent forechest. Could have a little more neck, nice ribs and a very good topline. Nice tail. Lovely strong backend with good angulation and well muscled thighs. Moved very well without effort.

Fawn & white good sized dog with plenty of bone. Pleasing, strong and clean cut head. Nice skull with well placed ears. Lovely clear, dark eyes. Big nose with open nostrils. Nice turn of wide true under jaw. Wide shoulders, nice straight bone, feet could be a bit tighter. Deep brisket. Short, strong, cobby body. Nice tail.

Standing - this dog is lovely and the type I prefer but unfortunately he didn´t move as well as 1^st.

Red, bigger sized dog. Pleasing head with a long flat skull, neat, well placed ears. Good turn of true under jaw and a big black nose with open nostrils. Dark well spaced eyes. Nice straight bone and tight feet. Lacks a bit brisket. Shoulder angulation is a bit straight. Short compact body with a nice topline and big ribs. Tail is ok. Moved well.

Brindle & white bigger sized dog. Nice head with nice details, strong foreface, long flat skull. Dark, clear eyes, well spaced. Big black nose. Good layback and nice turn of true under jaw. Neat ears. Very upfaced but a big overnose wrinkle spoils expression a bit. Nice front with straight bone. Good reach of neck, nice topline and good length of back. Good ribs. Enough angulation behind, movement could be better.

Fawn & white flashy dog. Clean cut head with a nice long flat skull, nice neat ears, well placed. Strong wide foreface, Nice under jaw with good turn. Eyes, clear and dark. Could need a bit more fore chest, nice tacked on shoulders, straight, strong front, tight feet. Short cobby body with nice topline and good ribs. Enough angulation behind, movement nice. Shown in a lovely condition. Judged this dog as a puppy and gave him reserve best of breed, nice to see this dog has matured so well.

White standard dog in excellent condition. He has plenty of substance all over and a lovely outline. Pleasing head with a long flat skull, wide foreface, nice thin ears and clear, round, darkest of eyes. Nice true under jaw. Big black nose. Very well pigmentated. Nice straight front and tight feet. Lacks a bit brisket. Pleasing topline and correct length of back. Nice tail. Good angulation behind, free mover but moves a bit close in front. Lost to 1 on front movement.

White dog of a nice type. Strong, masculine, pleasing head with flat skull, thin ears, well placed and clear, dark eyes. Very nice sweep of under jaw and big black nose. Nostrils could be a bit better. Nice straight front with good shoulders and very nice, tight feet. Deep body with good ribs and a good topline. Low set tail. Free and easy mover but could be better angulated in front and rear. Handled better than 2^nd.

Red & white dog. Pleasing head with a flat skull and well placed correct rose ears. Big, clear, round, dark eyes. Big black nose, set high between the eyes. Nostrils are open. Nice straight front, feet could be a bit tighter. Correct topline ending with a nice tail. Could have bigger ribs. Nice tuckup. Strong muscular backend with low set hocks. Moved well. Unfortunately he didn´t handle very well, he could have won this class.

1. 51 Bullpei William Butler. Mr D Hodgkinson. BEST DOG, BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX.

Red & white bigger sized but well balanced dog with lovely outline. Pleasing head with a long, flat skull, nice ears, dark clear eyes and strong, wide foreface. Big black nose, well placed. Quite big overnose wrinkle. Nice turn of under jaw. Lovely square front with nice feet. Correct length of leg. Deep brisket. Walks his width. A shade long. Very good topline ending in a nice tail. Lovely tuck up. Strong, muscular and correct angulated backend. A very well moving dog and well presented.

Dark red brindle, big dog in nice condition. Head with quite heavy wrinkles. Strong fore face, lovely lay back with correct placed nose. Nostrils could be better. Nice sweep of under jaw. Dark, well spaced eyes. Broad skull. Well pigmentated. Nice square front and lovely shoulders. Feet a little flat. Deep brisket. Shorter than 1^st. Correct topline and low set tail. Enough angulated backend. Moves well. Colour could be clearer.

Red & white lovely feminine bitch of standard size. Lovely head and expression with the darkest, clear, round eyes. Big, black nose that should have been better layed back. Long flat skull and well placed ears. Nice turn of true under jaw. Lovely square front with lovely tacked on shoulders, straight bone and nice feet. A shade long in back but she has a correct topline that ends in a lovely straight tail. Nice ribs. Enough angulated behind and moves very well. She carries her tail a bit high on the move. Still very much a baby but a very promising puppy with a lovely, happy outgoing temperament.

Fawn & white, a bit bigger but very feminine bitch. Strong in body and bone. Pleasing head with nice flat skull, nice ears and clear, dark eyes. Lacks some pigment around the eyes. Strong foreface. Nice turn of true under jaw. Lovely square front, straight bone and tight feet. Correct length of back, good spring of rib and a very good topline. Nice tail. A bit straight on backend but moved very well.

2 very nice bitches, 1 is still a bit immature but wins on her better size and lovely expression.

1. 57 Milasha Movin On Up. Mr & Mrs Lee. BEST PUPPY BITCH, BEST PUPPY IN SHOW.

Lovely red & white bitch of standard size. Very feminine with a lovely expression and excellent outline. Quality bitch. Pleasing, clean cut head with a broad, flat skull, nice small ears, well spaced, clear, darkest of eyes and a big black nose with open nostrils. Very good turn of true under jaw. Lovely layback. Lovely straight front with lovely shoulders and a deep brisket. Feet could be a bit tighter. A shade long in back but with correct topline. Nice big ribs. Nice tail and tailset. Strong well angulated back end. Free and easy movement. Well handled.

Brindle & white, lovely feminin bitch of a good size. Quality bitch. Pleasing head with broad, flat skull, nice ears, well placed. Lovely clear, round, dark eyes. Big, black nose with open nostrils, nice turn of true under jaw. Lovely layback. A bit more length of leg than 1^st. Nice straight front and tight feet. Nice fore chest and deep brisket. A shade long in back but with a correct topline ending in a correct tail. Would like to see a bit more depth of body. Enough angulation behind. Moved and handled well.

Two very nice bitches. Was a hard decision, but 1 wins on her size and a bit more substance all over.

Red & white, standard size, lovely well balanced bitch with substance and strong bone. Very feminine, quality bitch with a lovely expression. Pleasing, clean cut head with a long, flat skull, nice ears, lovely, dark, clear, round eyes and big black nose. Good turn of true under jaw. Very nice layback. Lovely square front with wide shoulders, deep brisket, straight bones and excellent feet. A shade long in back but with a correct topline and nice tail. Good ribs. Well angulated and moves very well.

2. 19 Celticpride J´Adore At RhydyCroesau. Mr. & Mrs. Chetwynd. RESERVE BEST BITCH & RESERVE BEST IN SHOW.

White, standard sized, lovely bitch. Clean cut, well balanced and very feminine. Pleasing head in all details. Clear, dark eyes but lacks a bit pigment. Big, black, broad nose with open nostrils. Long, flat, broad skull. Nice turn of true under jaw. Nice, well placed ears. Lovely square front with straight bone, nice shoulders and very nice tight feet. Good length of back with correct topline. Good ribs. Very nice tail. Enough angulation behind. Moved very well but a bit close in front.

Red & white standard sized bitch. Pleasing head with long, flat skull, good ears and big nose. Nostrils could be a bit better. Clear, dark eyes that are well spaced. Strong in foreface and nice layback. Nice turn of true under jaw. Nice square front with good, strong shoulders, straight bone and excellent feet. Handler stands her a bit too wide in front. Nice topline. Big ribs and good depth in body. Correct, low set tail. Well angulated behind and moved well.

Red & white, standard sized bitch. Nice head with flat, long skull, dark, sound eyes and nice turn of true under jaw. Good, well spaced ears. Nice front with straight bone and good feet. Lacks a bit brisket. Nice topline with a nice tail. Good ribs. Enough angulated in rear, moved well. Unfortunately a bit out of condition on the day.

Red & white, standard sized bitch with substance and bone. Very feminine with a lovely expression. She carries too much weight on the day. Strong head with broad, flat skull, nice, well placed ears and dark, clear eyes. Big, black, broad nose with open nostrils. Nice turn of under jaw. Nice, square, straight front with very nice feet. Good reach of neck, short in back with correct topline. Big, strong ribs. Nice tail. Nice movement and well angulated both ends. Undercarriage could be better. A happy, outgoing bitch.

Brindle & white bitch, up to size. Strong, well boned, a bit masculine bitch. Pleasing head with a nice skull, good ears, big black nose with good nostrils and nice turn of true under jaw. Lovely layback. Nice clear eyes, a bit light in colour. Very nice square front, straight bone and tight feet. Good reach of neck, deep in body. A bit longer in back than 1st, nice topline, good angulations and a very nice tail. Was a bit reluctant on the move today but moved well when she wanted to.

White with red markings, bitch of standard size and with a nice outline. Very feminine with a lovely expression. Pleasing clean cut head with a long, flat skull, nice ears and the darkest, clear, round, sound eyes. Big, black nose, well placed, with open nostrils. Nice turn of under jaw, but lower incisors a bit uneven. Wide, strong shoulders. Square front, deep brisket and nice tight feet. A shade long in back but with a nice topline and good depth of body. Big, well rounded ribs. Lovely tail. Well muscled back end, low set hocks, maybe a bit over angulated. Moves well front and side on, a bit wide in backend.

Unfortunatly exhibitor left before I could do the critique so this is from photos and my memory.

Red & white bitch, heavier than 1^st. Pleasing head with a broad skull, nice rose ears and dark well placed eyes. Broad, black nose. Very good sweep of under jaw. Strong in foreface. Nice straight front with lovely shoulders, very deep brisket and nice tight feet. Big, well rounded ribs, a bit short in neck but with a good topline. Strong, well muscled backend. Well angulated and moved well. Prefered the head type on 1^st.

Red & white bitch. Pleasing head with long, flat skull, well placed ears, clear, dark, round eyes that seems to be a bit irritated. Big black nose a bit low set. Could have more turn of under jaw and a stronger foreface. Nice square front with straight bone and tight feet. Good reach of neck. She is in good condition. Maybe a shade long in body but with a nice topline. Well angulated both ends. Very nice tail. Moved well.

White standard sized bitch. Very feminine bitch, in a nice clean condition. Pleasing head with clear dark eyes and a big black nose with open nostrils. Ears a bit lively. Nice straight front and tight feet. Needs to mature in body, a bit fine all over. Good length of neck, would like to see a better topline. Moved well.