Downlands Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club

Downlands Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club 2022

Judge: Mr David Levy

Bitch CC: Miss C Arntzen & Mrs G McDermott's        CATSTAFF SAY GOODBYE

Res Bitch CC: Mr J D & Mrs S M Hammond's             HAMMYSTAFF LOVE BOMB (JW)

Best Puppy Bitch Miss T Hamilton & Mr R Murphy's  BONNIE LASS OF ANGELS PEAK SHAWRIGG

Best Veteran Bitch: Mrs K Y & Mr S Thomas'              BIGGLESWICK FUNKY DEVIL (JW)

Thank you to the club and committee for inviting me to judge at the Downlands SBTC show; to my fellow judge Gary for agreeing to swop sexes so that I can still judge at Crufts in March and especially to all the exhibitors for bringing some lovely dogs and bitches for us to consider.

Reputations can be very difficult to overcome. Many years ago I was standing at a show holding my brindle dog and brindle/white pied bitch. Someone came up and apologised that they hadn’t entered the following week where I was judging as “you only ever have reds”!

After this Downlands show, someone asked me if I’d ever awarded a CC to a brindle before. As I say, hard to overcome. By the way, the answer is yes; both in the UK and overseas. All judges should be aiming to select the best animals that meet the standard as closely as possible but can only judge what comes before them.

A few general observations since I last judged before the pandemic. I noted then that there seemed to be an increasing proportion of dogs and bitches walking correctly, i.e. legs parallel rather than crossing at the back and pulling the ground as they moved forward rather than seeming to float over it. Similarly, toplines seemed generally very good. These improving attributes were gratifyingly evident today as well. However, on the negative side there are still a lot of soft feet with long spread toes and quite a few bitches with noticeably small teeth. Breeding must have been very difficult over the past couple of years but maybe it’s time to really concentrate on these points which must remain part of the ideal Stafford.

Class 13 Veteran Bitch

1st: Mrs K Y & Mr S Thomas’ BIGGLESWICK OOH LA LA

8-year-old red with white vest, displaying a broad front, strong, balanced outline, well-muscled, good bone, excellent rib, deep brisket and short coupled. Her topline is noticeably well held and she moved well. She has tidy ears, round dark eyes and a good mouth in a strong shapely skull. {BVB}

2nd: Mrs K Y & Mr S Thomas’ BIGGLESWICK YIN YANG

Brindle with white markings, litter sister to 1st and displaying many similar characteristics. Perhaps slightly lighter-boned but equally well-built ribcage, level topline and deep brisket and also moved nicely.

3rd: Mrs J Roper & Ms B Harrison’s CH TRAWDEN ICE AND SPICE

Class 14 Minor Puppy Bitch

1st: Mrs M Duffield & Mr T Mansell-Duffield’s HAMASON THIS IS ME AT DUFFMAN

An 8½ month old red with white vest and paws. She is developing nicely. has a scissor bite, round dark eyes and holds her ears well. She has a shapely skull, broad front and is beginning to gain muscle, rib and brisket. She moved with purpose and held a level topline. She and 2nd rather stood out to me in a large class and it’ll be interesting to watch this young lady grow.

2nd: Miss L Hands & Mr T Wyatt’s SKYSTAFF’S TAKE ME ON

Another one to watch is this very neat 6½ month old brindle giving away too much in development time but certainly heading in the right direction. She has a nice head, very tidy lips, perfect bite and keen expression. For her age, her chest is proportionate as is her rib development and brisket. Her thighs are nicely rounded and she moved well holding the topline.

3rd: Mr T B & Mrs D Taylor’s NIATONA SISSY THAT WALK

Class 15 Puppy Bitch

1st: Miss T Hamilton & Mr R Murphy’s BONNIE LASS OF ANGELS PEAK SHAWRIGG

Yes, I know, another red and white but an outstanding one and well deserving of best puppy in show. She’s 11½ months old, has a strong feminine head and keen expression with tidy lips, scissor bite and good pigmentation. She is well balanced and set four square on well-padded feet. Her neck slopes down to muscular well-rounded shoulders while her chest, rib cage and brisket are all in typical balance with her overall size. Her muscled thigh and turn of stifle give a real sense of hindquarter power and her very positive parallel movement demonstrates real drive. {BPIS}

2nd: Mr M J Burton’s TRUFFLESTAFF BAMBENIE AT BARBARY

A 10½ month old mahogany brindle with round dark eyes, good mouth and tidy rose ears. Still maturing but her general structure is OK for her age. Moved nicely and is well balanced.

3rd: G&C Thomas & C&J Griffiths’ SKYESTAFF TRUEST DESIRE FOR GAZSTAFF

Class 16 Junior Bitch

1st: Mr J D & Mrs S M Hammond HAMMYSTAFF LOVE BOMB (JW) [RCC]

A very mature 13½ month-old red and white pied bitch exuding balanced power. She has a strong shapely head with round dark eyes, perfect bite, tidy lips and good-sized teeth. Her skull, muzzle and well-sprung ribs are all broad set but balanced and her deep brisket and defined muscle give her a very pleasant and typical overall shape. She has neat feet and moved with a sense of power belying her age. {RBB}

2nd: Mr R O’Sullivan’s JUNOSTAFF SPLISH SPLASH

This 17-month-old red/white bitch has a strong front, neat ears, dark round eyes, perfect bite and broad muzzle. She has excellent rib, deep brisket and moves well holding a level topline.

3rd: Mr M & Mrs A Rochelle’s KIRSTAFFS DOLLY’S DAREDEVIL

Class 17 Yearling Bitch

1st: Mr P, Mrs SA & Miss HL Wall’s CH GOLDWYN SHE’S THE ONE

Many excellent characteristics on this 18½ month old red bitch with white markings. A shapely head with distinct stop, wide-set eyes in a broad skull and with a strong muzzle. Decent ear carriage, scissor bite and typical feminine expression. Her front and hindquarters are well-boned and proportionate to her general build. She moved well.

2nd: Mr M & Mrs O Campbell’s FOYLLFORDSAL AN DUI RE

A well-handled, petite brindle with a good mouth and dark round eyes. She moved quite well and held her topline.

Class 18 Maiden Bitch

1st: G&C Thomas & C&J Griffiths’ SKYSTAFF TRUEST DESIRE FOR GAZSTAFF

Both entrants had been in the large Minor Puppy class and at only 6½ months, this brindle with one white paw had been placed. She has a nicely shaped head and a scissor bite but is at a difficult stage of development and a bit ungainly at present.

2nd: Robinson, Robinson-Cox & Cox’s HAMASON REWRITE THE STARS

Slightly older and this red and white bitch also needs some time to develop. She has a decent mouth and moved quite nicely.

Class 19 Novice Bitch

1st: Mr S & Mrs A Lloyd’s KALOSTAFF BLACK ORCHID

A typy balanced young brindle, previously placed in Junior. She has a scissor bite, round eyes, distinct stop and bumpy cheek muscles. She had moved well and maintained her level topline quite nicely.

2nd: Mr R Millar & Mrs S & Mr D Cherry’s FINNSTAFF QUEEN OF THE NORTH

Quite a muscular and well-boned young red with a rather straight front, nice barrel rib and well-rounded hindquarters.

3rd: Miss S Walker’s MAXSTAFF MISS VIVIENNE AT TESHLEYSTAF

Class 20 Graduate Bitch

1st: Mr H & Mrs M Coble’s INDIANSTAFF UP WHERE WE BELONG AT SURESTAFF

A strong balanced black brindle with a well-proportioned shapely head, dark round eyes and a scissor bite with large teeth. I liked her general build including the broad front, deep brisket, spring of rib and well-rounded hindquarters. She moved with intent and retained her level topline.

2nd: Mrs H Badman’s SKYESTAFF DREAM BIG

A smaller brindle with a nice head, decent mouth, tidy lips and medium-sized rose ears. She also moved very well and had a balanced but quite straight front, adequate ribs and a nicely rounded thigh muscle.

3rd: Miss S Pearson & Mr C Lambert’s KODAKNOTT COLD AS ICE

Class 21 Post Graduate Bitch

1st: Mrs K Y & Mr S Thomas’ BIGGLESWICK SHE DEVIL

Excellent pigmentation on this red with white vest and paws but a really dark mask. She has a very shapely head, round dark eyes and a good mouth. She is beautifully balanced with a wide front, well-toned shoulder muscles, excellent spring of rib, a level topline and she moved with purpose.

2nd: Mr M & Mrs O Campbell’s FOYLLFORDSAL BEAN SI

A tidy brindle with white vest and toes, she has a scissor bite, pronounced stop, dark round eyes and a keen expression. She has an ample chest, decent ribs, level topline and moved parallel.

3rd: Mrs N Windsor Smith’s MAGICGEM FIRE STAR AT REMSTAFF

Class 22 Mid Limit Bitch

1st: Mrs L A Emery’s ECLYPSTAFF STRANGE MAGIC FOR CASAILS

A very neat brindle with a typical feminine head, excellent expression, scissor bite and tidy ears and lips. She has a level topline and moved well.

2nd: Robinson, Robinson-Cox & Cox’s HAMASON BELLE O’ THE BALL

A well-boned red and white bitch with a decent mouth, large teeth and a classic expression. She has a broad front, good rib, deep brisket and is well-muscled.

3rd: Miss V Mitchell’s VIMAVAL RED ANGEL

Class 23 Limit Bitch

1st: Mrs K Y & Mr S Thomas’ TILICIOUS WHATEVER AT BIGGLESWICK

A well-balanced, well-boned red bitch with a shapely skull, dark round eyes, excellent mouth and tidy lips. She has a nice wide front, plenty of rib, deep brisket and a level topline. Her feet could be a bit tighter but she moved well and held her topline level.

2nd: Miss A Hands & Mr D Freeman’s SKYESTAFF SHE CONQUERED (JW)

Another very typical balanced brindle with a feminine head, tidy ears, scissor bite and well-proportioned muzzle to head. Her front is OK and her topline, rib, brisket and hindquarters are all well set.

3rd: Mrs B Efreme LABRASTAF AFTER DARK AT BINDYESTAFF

Class 24 Open Bitch

1st: Miss C Arntzen & Mrs G McDermott CATSTAFF SAY GOODBYE [CC]

A well-balanced, feminine, black brindle standing solid and looking immovable. She has a well-shaped head, neat rose ears, the darkest round eyes, tight lips and an excellent mouth. Her short neck is set on muscular shoulders and she is blessed with plenty of bone. Her movement is purposeful and parallel, traits that often seem to be ignored these days but are so important for our breed as they highlight the right construction and foundation for all that power. Everything is in balance, so her ribs and brisket are just right and her topline impeccable. She fully deserved her first CC. {BB} and {BOS}

2nd: Mr M & Mrs S Van Wijk’s JUST FLAWLESS V/D BETUWS GLORIE

This young lady was slightly finer than 1st but was also a well-balanced, standard brindle bitch with perfect scissor bite, tidy lips, neat ears and typical expression. I noted her broad chest, barrel ribs and well-muscled hindquarters. She also moved parallel and held her topline level.

3rd: Mrs K Y & Mr S Thomas’ CH LOYALSTAFF BELLA BAMBINA AT EASTSTREET