Crufts

CRUFTS 2025

BULLMASTIFF

Firstly I wish to thank Crufts Committee for their kind invitation to judge at this show as well as for the excellent arrangements. I consider it an honour to have been invited to judge this very British and wonderful breed. I have had the pleasure of judging Bullmastiffs at CC level in the UK since 2006. I would like to thank my able stewards for the efficient running of the ring. So pleasant to have an enthusiastic ringside audience who so generously applauded the winners. Whereas I was very happy with my main winners and judged a number of very interesting and promising young dogs, I would like to voice some concern over the great variation in heads. I had a few which I considered bordering on untypical. Temperaments were wonderful. All in all I very much enjoyed my final day at Crufts assessing this super breed.

VETERAN (1): 1. Cox’ Ardhub Ar Ais Sa Dubh at Rainwilds, seven year old dark brindle male. Sluggish and lazy, not wanting to please his poor handler in the ring. Masculine medium sized male with good bone and feet. Would like less wrinkle on his head. Dark eye. Needs a stronger rear. Reluctant on the move despite enthusiastic support from the ringside!

MINOR PUPPY (2 ): 1. Colliass’ Optimus Jim Beam at Oldwell (ai), seven and half month old masculine fawn puppy dog of pleasing type. Promising head of correct shape. Good width of underjaw. Correct mask. Good eye and expression. Nice bone, tight feet. Well developed body for age and decent rear angulation. Topline needs to settle. 2. Downs & Myers’ Optimus Johnnie Walker (ai), litter brother to 1st. Slightly longer cast and hence a better mover at this stage. Good skull, would like better stop and expression. Correct mouth. Feet a little flat. Moves well in profile, but needs to tighten in front movement.

PUPPY (2): 1. Jones’ King of the Manor by Sundabish, 12 month old masculine puppy dog with plenty to like about him. Fawn dog of very good size. Super bone. He is very soundly made. Good skull, needs better stop. Good expression. Very nice mask. Well developed body and strong sound quarters. Very good mover for age. 2. Armstrong’s Copperbulls Picasso at Dunnaney, 11 month old smaller puppy. Head is breaking well and has excellent eye and expression and well carried ears. Would like better mouth. Medium bone. A little east-west in front at this stage and front movement needs to settle. Tail a little short and carriage too high thus spoiling his outline a little.

JUNIOR (8-1 abs.): 1. Latter’s Stoneglad Gigolo, 16 month old masculine fawn junior who shows a lot of promise for the future and I liked him a great deal. Excels in head qualities and has an excellent black mask. Dark eye and super expression. Good width of underjaw. Strong neck. Excellent bone. Very good ribcage and body. Carries himself to advantage and is a very sound and purposeful mover. Will watch his career with interest. 2. Warren’s Copperfield Jonas Mudge JW, 14 month old masculine youngster. Well handled. Head needs to break a little more and carries some excess wrinkling. Medium brown sound eye, kind expression. Excels in quality bone and very good feet. Now needs to firm up a little. Well made with medium rear angulation. Very good mover. 3. Priest’s Big Boy Brucie

YEARLING (3-1 abs.): 1. Lindley’s Hyerdunscar All About Keith through Optimus. 18 months old, excellent size, masculine fawn dog Super dark eye and excellent typical expression. Very good mask. Wide underjaw. Quality bone. I feel his body needs a little more time and he could be a tad shorter. Excellent mover. I see his dam is CH. Pardn My French who I crowned at WELKS in 2022 .2. Cox’ Blue Thunder of Black Hunar at Rainwilds (Imp NLD), 17 month old masculine red male. Good skull, but needs a more definite stop. Would prefer better eye and expression. Good mask. Good body, moderately angulated. Needs better reach and drive.

POST GRADUATE DOG (7-1 abs.): This was not an easy class to judge 1. Holzherr’s Crimlisk Nightfury, three and half year old fawn male who won this class with ease. He has a gorgeous headpiece with lovely dark eye and excellent expression. Quality bone and nice feet. Would like him just a little shorter. Moves well, although would benefit from better drive behind. 2. Garratt’s Marchmanor Played a Blinder (ai), also three and a half year old masculine dark brindle male of medium size. Could have been a little more interested in showing off his good points. He has a very pleasing head with good detail. Good bone. Well bodied. Would like a stronger rear and more drive in rear movement. 3. Warren & Green’s Copperfield Hubble

LIMIT (6-2 abs.): 1. Brearley’s Fowlerheights Artax at Tatroyd, almost three year old masculine medium sized fawn male. He has an excellent head, good mask. Super dark eye of correct shape and wonderful expression. Good width of underjaw. Super neck. Very good bone and neat feet. Needs a little more body. Efficient mover. 2. George’s Priambulls Tiger Bean, two and half year old red brindle male. Excellent skull, but muzzle a little short. Excellent dark eye and well set and carried ears. Quality bone, well bodied. Could have stronger rear and better drive behind. 3. Aldcroft’s Marchmanor Rasto Legacy at Fowlerheight

OPEN DOG (11-1 abs.): 1. Aston & Pavesi’s CH. Angel’s Phoenix Ron Weasley Astonpride JW (Imp ITA), at three years this male is absolutely stunning! He is all Bullmastiff from top to toe and oozes quality. Masculine, balanced, shown in fit condition and ably handled to bring out the best in him. His head is very much a blueprint of how a correct male head should look like. Plenty of detail and that heart melting expression. Super mask. He has bone, is very soundly made and a strong, true breed representative. Capable mover. I was happy to find such an outstanding dog in this entry. Worthy CC winner and Best of Breed. 2. Myers’ CH/NLD CH. Optimus Douglas ShEx, now four and half years old fawn male shown in first class condition. I first met him as a fun loving and lively youngster at WELKS in 2022 when I awarded him his first CC. Now fully mature and a top quality male with many fine attributes. Super head, excellent eye and expression. Flews could be a little tidier. Very good mask. Super neck. Excellent bone. Very soundly made with strong body and sound quarters. Could be a tad shorter in loin. First class mover. Pleased to award him the res. CC 3. Martinho’s Multi CH. Stardust de L’arche des Loups Anges

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME ( 0 )

VETERAN BITCH (3-1 abs.): 1. Myers’ CH. Optimus Pandora JW (ai),eight year old very spritely veteran bitch shown in excellent fit condition. Fawn bitch of excellent type and balance. Quality feminine head, good mask, pleasing dark eye and lovely expression. Good width of underjaw. Very soundly made and an excellent mover. Best Veteran 2. Lampen & Wilson’s Roscos Centre Stage, seven and half year old dark brindle veteran bitch. Heavier overall with very good bone. Would prefer less wrinkling on her muzzle. Very good dark eye. Needs a stronger rear and more drive in her rear movement.

MINOR PUPPY (3): 1. Myers’ Optimus Juliette, at seven months she is a very neat package indeed! Lovely temperament & busy attitude. Fawn with good black mask. Has quality and is soundly grown. Beautiful head, lovely dark eye and super expression. She is strong and well made. Very good mover for her age. Best Puppy 2. Amor’s Fowlerheight Zoom, at eight months this fawn puppy is rather leggy and needs more time. Head promises well. Would like better bone and she is still rather narrow. Nice mover. 3. Turner’s Song Sudaa

PUPPY BITCH (1): 1. Turner’s Song Sudaa, third in previous class. Eight month old fawn bitch puppy alone in this class. Needs plenty more time for development. Rather plain and I would like more of her. Ears need to settle. Medium angulation, but needs to improve in movement too.

JUNIOR BITCH (4-1 abs.): 1. Latter’s Stoneglad She’s All That, I see she is full sister to the winner of Junior Dog. At 16 months she is a very interesting prospect for the future. Fawn bitch of outstanding quality. Strong and well made. Super temperament. She has a beautiful feminine head and most typical expression. Quality bone and well developed ribcage for age. Excellent body and sound, well angulated quarters. Lovely mover. 2. Trim’s Roycepride Carolinareaper, 17 month old compact junior bitch. Feminine pleasing head, good eye. Very nice bone. Ribcage a tad short. Moves well, but needs more drive and extension. 3. Garratt’s Marchmanor Red Hot Chilli (ai)

YEARLING (5-1 abs.): 1. Hinchley & Connaughton’s Reesley In It to Win It, aptly named! 22 month old fawn pleasing bitch. Super size, feminine and strong. Excels in head qualities and has lovely dark eye and excellent expression. Good mask. Well carried ears. Beautiful neck. Has a well made front, very good body for age and sound, strong quarters. Capable mover, just needs a little more training on the move. One I liked very much. 2. Trim’s Satisfaction dell Urbe Immortale Roycepride, also 22 months old, red with black mask. Medium sized compact bitch. She too has an excellent head with correct eye and kind expression. Very well carried ears. Good bone and well bodied. Would like slightly better rear angulation. Good mover. 3. Colliass’ Hyerdunscar Charmed by Oldwell

POST GRADUATE ( 10-1 abs.): Overall slightly disappointing class. 1. Hinchley & Connaughton’s Reesley In It to Win It, winner of Yearling, please see notes above. 2. Williams’ Kierlaceyan Emma Jayne, two year old strong bitch of very nice type. Very good bone, nice ribcage and body. Strong bitch head, would prefer less wrinkle. Very good dark eyes. Medium angulation fore and aft. Moved well. 3. Hodson’s Sundabish Mrs. Potts,

LIMIT (10): 1. Myers’ Optimus Daisonville Hello Again, two year old top quality female shown in excellent fit condition as were all dogs from this kennel. Fawn with black mask. Feminine from top to toe and has excellent balance. Quality bone. Very soundly made. Sound quarters and good feet. Very nice bitch head, lip a little generous. Carries herself to advantage. Excellent mover. 2. Nield’s Daisonville You Got Me, litter sister to 1st. and in many ways very similar. Fawn with black mask. Full of quality, beautiful female. Strong, well made and well developed for age. Again a very nice headpiece, super eye, ears a little large, but well carried. Strong well made ribcage. Good quarters and an excellent mover. 3. Thomas & Bull’s Phoria’s Eden

OPEN (12-4 abs.): 1. Myers’ CH.& NLD CH. Paris de L’Arche des Loups Anges avec Optimus, five year old feminine quality fawn bitch shown in top condition. Excellent temperament and attitude. She is very feminine from top to toe. Carries herself to advantage. Strong, beautiful head, would prefer slightly darker eye. She has good bone, very well made ribcage and body as well as sound quarters. Could have been a little more enthusiastic on the move, but overall a quality specimen who I was happy to award the CC 2. Zerbi’s Trilly du Temps des Paluns, two and half year old top notch bitch, who would have looked even better in slightly firmer condition. Well developed for her age. Super type and proportions. Beautiful head and lovely expression. Very good bone, excellent ribcage, well bodied and strong quarters. Moved well. Has quality and won a well deserved res.CC 3. Andersson & Dunert’s SE&NO&FI CH. Xint Stars Iveria Int JCH, SEW-23, NOW-23

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME (1): 1. Downs’ Optimus Mulberry, four and half year old delightful bitch with excellent temperament and attitude. Good skull, very nice dark eyes, would like a slightly stronger muzzle and better carried ears. Very good bone and body. Sound mover.

Elina Haapaniemi

Judge