Crufts

Crufts 2025

I would like to repeat what many others have already written and said; of the honour it is to officiate at the worlds greatest dog show. The hype didn't disappoint, with dogs from many countries, surprisingly even having a no show entry from the United States (quite rare, for our vulnerable native breed) which diminished the entry slightly with this and a few more absentees, initially having an entry of 48 Mastiffs making 49 entries. My BOB, DCC, RCC winners and many others could hold their own in any competition, filling my enthusiasm and vison for the future of our breed. Quality was from all classes, some having their own minor culpability to nit-pick over, but generally the quality outshone any miniscule issue there might have been. Dogs unusually were of a better standard than bitches on the day. Many of the breeds issues have dissipated and soundness was highly graded, with only one dog who's age had mildly affected them and their ambulation on the day. On the whole the vast majority of exhibits had good temperaments with only a tiny fraction being somewhat overawed by the big day. I would also like to say how welcome the applause was, for each winning class. Creating a lovely memory for your judge to reminisce on.

VD 3.0

1st Andrews’s Ch Collateral To The Future Bailey. 7yr old fawn boy of substance, strong headed boy with good muzzle stop and expression, excellent length of body and good conformation well boned fore and hind with lovely short hocks, would prefer a stronger topline but held and performed on the move joyously with his very young and capable handler. 2nd Le Courtois & King’s Int Ch Cabezon R3 Californian Boy For Brullemail. Tall fawn boy of 7yrs (not showing his age) Cleaner head and longer muzzle to head ratio than 1st, good conformation, fitness and condition on longer legs, would prefer more length of body but carried himself around the ring with aplomb. 3rd Popp’s Cyberus Apollo Of Penychen VW.

PD 0.0

JD 0.0

PGD 2.0

1st Coulman-Hole’s Womlu Destined To Be King. 20mth old dark brindle of some size and excellent length, creating a lovely silhouette moving and static, in gleaming coat condition. Strong headed with good head to muzzle ratio, good bite eye and ear set. A tiny bit overawed by the hustle and bustle of the big show. Good general musculature and conformation on well boned limbs which moved him well around the ring. 2nd Evans’s Castorava Mellow Yellow. Slightly older fawn boy, not as mature as 1st. Lovely kind expression with good pigment, good bite. Would prefer to see more hind musculature and angulation behind. Moved ok with reach.

LD 11.3

1st Whelan’s Arleith After Darkness Infinite Beauty (Imp Pol). Impressive apricot brindle of size and quality possessing a gleaming coat and body condition. Very strong headed boy with good ratios and planes to skull, clear expressive eyes with great width and depth of muzzle. Body of good length flowing from front component to hind held up on well boned legs, good topline and musculature which propelled him well around the ring, with a happy carefree demeaner. Still maturing to good effect. 2nd Antoci’s Ice Cream Dell’Antica Mola. 2yr old fawn/apricot that took my eye when entering the ring. Beautiful 2yr old and rising of old type showing excellent head ratios, good eye, nares and ear set. Excellent body length of substance, held up by well boned and constructed limbs. A little overawed by the day affecting his demeaner slightly, but worthy of this placement, moved how you’d expect one so well made to do so. 3rd Blok’s, Aram Of Cabaretoux Infinite Beauty (Pol).

OD 11.2

1st Kaseckaja’s Int Ch Briulik infinite Beauty (Pol). Wow what a large and impressive fawn boy of great substance and personality. 3yrs and rising but the character of a puppy. Body creating an impressive outline static and on the move with an impressive characterful head that matched, showing good skull/muzzle ratio, and equally good eye, nose, bite and pigment to mask. Larger than life character that fills your eye. Lovely body length, depth and width with substance in abundance but moves like a dog half his size showing great reach and drive. Well boned, holding up that impressive frame dog and handler as one, exhibiting a great bond, well worthy of the DCC. 2nd Miksi’s Hun Ch Matra Szikla Ormi Asta Hun JCh. Very attractive pale fawn boy with well-structured, clean head, correct shaped clear eye, wide muzzle with dense pigment. Neat lean body of depth and width of rib, shown in hard condition possessing strength and musculature, would just prefer a little more length of back. Well angulated limbs fore and aft, up on pasterns with good tight feet and level topline. Animated mover showing poise and aplomb round the ring, handled to good advantage RDCC. 3rd Antoci’s It Ch Zoran Del Fracasso It Jun Ch.

GCD 1.1

VB 1.1

PB 2.0

1st Barrett’s Phoebe Of Seven Oaks At Valdenton (imp Deu). Fawn girl of some body length, maturing nicely for age. Good pigment, eye, and bite. Good body depth and width. Pleasing conformation and topline for age. Would prefer a little more stop to skull but this should come with maturity. Moved with enthusiasm and vigour BP. 2nd Dickens’s Cyberus Poised To Impress. Fawn girl younger and less mature than 1st place but has similar attributes, with a lovely temperament. Good eye, bite and ear placement embellished by good pigment. Topline will improve as she matures to effect. Moved very well, enjoyed her day out with her kind and gentle handler.

JB 2.0

1st Burgoine & Nicholas's Suncamo Jocelyn. Pale fawn girl with a charming and correct head and muzzle, with complimentary dark mask. Good reach of neck into level topline, body that flowed from every aspect of her frame. Showing good depth, width and length for age on sound limbs and feet. Moved well around the ring if slightly hesitantly today, well handled. 2nd Coulman-Hole's Womlu Causing A Storm. Larger and more mature fawn girl of substance. Sweet disposition and kind expression, would just like a little more pigment to compliment head. Moderate angles holding up a body of great depth, and width for age. Would prefer more length of back, held topline when moved around the ring.

PGB 5.0

1st Rowley's Oriana of Seven Oaks. Fawn girl of 20mths long cast body. Clean head possessing good clear eye, good bite with complimentary pigment to mask and ears. Good moderate angulation especially behind. Would prefer more fill of chest, but at this stage still a lot more to come. Should mature to great effect moved well round the ring with handler. 2nd Corsie's Cyberus Zulla. Medium sized pale fawn girl who's more mature than 1st, clean head and muzzle with good pigment. would prefer a smaller eye rim. Balanced body and angulation fore and aft overall a neat girl who moved well round the ring additionally showing balance when static. 3rd Lyons's Cyberus Infinite Grace.

LB 2.0

1st Blok's Cabaretou Hyacinth. Good sized fawn girl of substance and strong breed type, strong head and muzzle with good bite. Well shaped skull, stop and profile, exhibiting plenty of expression. Long cast body of depth and width. good angulation on well boned legs that moved her soundly around the ring. Would just prefer a little more of an alert expression and animation on the move. 2nd Beaumont & Hesketh's Karysmhor Mists of the Tor. Smaller brindle girl with plainer head and longer muzzle ratio. Table-top topline showing depth and width of body. Would prefer slightly more hind angulation. Lovely temperament and bond with handler as they went well round the ring.

OB 8.0

1st S & T Andrews's Sculpted by Nature at Elljayart. Brindle girl of quality and spirit, keeping her handler on her toes. Beautiful lines and silhouette, creating a lovely flow and outline atop and below, crowned by a head of beautiful planes and structure, wrinkled when displaying attention with a well pigmented mask, clean bright eye showing a glint of mischief, good well used ear set and good bite. Neck arched into level topline leading to correct set tail down to hocks. Depth and width of body set on well boned legs. Great demeanour and high spirits on the move creating a battle of wills going round the ring. The quality she had couldn't be denied BCC & BOB. 2nd Popieul's Sunset Boulevard Brullemail. Mature fawn bitch who had recently had a litter, overall substance in abundance. Exhibiting smart expressive, but clean head piece with good pigment and planes. Body of great length, depth and width to match. Moderate angulation. Would just prefer a stronger topline but held well on the move with good even footfall RBCC. 3rd S & T Andrews's, Cyberus Erinyes.

Colin R Hill

(Fragilis Mastiffs)