Leeds City & District Canine Association

Leeds City & District Canine Association Championship Dog Show

First Day: Thursday, 24 July 2025

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Judge: Jenny Smith (Willowstaff)

My thanks to the Leeds Committee for the invitation to judge at this very well organised show. I also wish to express my thanks to all exhibitors who travelled and supported me with an excellent entry of (118 [128]) which was the top Terrier entry and joint 3rd highest entry overall. The quality of the dogs I found to be the best I have judged in a while and the bitch entry was as usual, to a very high standard. I was extremely pleased with my final lineups and principal winners which reflected the type of Stafford I seek. The atmosphere was great, with lots of applause for the winners, and I can’t recall an appointment in recent years that I enjoyed more. On a final note, I found no health issues of concern including those associated with nostrils/breathing and dentition. Temperament was, without exception, excellent.

Best of Breed: McPhail’s Bethaleese’s Ice’n A’Slice For Scorguie

Dog CC/Best Opposite Sex: Watson’s Dringshaw Masterpiece at Sparkstaff

Res Dog CC: Jackson’s Ch Jackabyte Javikah

Bitch CC: McPhail’s Bethaleese’s Ice’n A’Slice For Scorguie

Res Bitch CC: Blake’s Llanstaffs The One At Rigantona

Best Puppy: Southworth’s Valglo Tigerlilly With Staffmaster

Best Opp. Sex Puppy: Gutierrez Gonzalez & Hirst’s Dusklight Small Town Boy at Maskalon

Best Veteran: Johnson’s Ellchansha Hotshot

Best Special Beginner/SB Group 2: Bowman’s Sikaistaff Lil Monster At Kamiflo JW

SBD/B (14 3 Abs.)

A difficult class to judge: having both sexes and an age range of 6 months - 3½ years.

1 Bowman’s Sikaistaff Lil Monster At Kamiflo JW (B) A good quality, standard black/brindle with a well-defined head of good strength and attractive expression. She has correct dentition, dark round eyes and neat ears. Muzzle of good strength but prefer cleaner lip. Straight fronted and of good balance with correct rear quarters. Would benefit from being a shade fitter. Moved well. Best Special Beginner and went on to achieve SB Group 2. Congratulations – a great achievement.

2 Vause’s Skyestaff Thinking Out Loud (B) Another nice black/brindle that has a shade more ‘lift’ than 1 and a close decision. She has a different head/expression to 1, marginally erring towards the terrier. An attractive head of good proportions, tidy enough ears, clean muzzle with strong underjaw. Body is balanced with good rear angulation. Not quite as clean off the shoulder line as 1, but was slightly fitter. Moved ok.

3 Walbey’s Tyneview Rizzius Lusso (D) Mahogany brindle with white front/socks. He is an attractive dog with a lovely head and expression. He is clean muzzled, has big canines, correct ear carriage and a good level of fitness. However, he possesses more substance and does not quite have the athletic outline I desire.

MPD (3)

1 Gutierrez Gonzalez & Hirst’s Dusklight Small Town Boy at Maskalon - 7 months’

Skewbald. A very attractive puppy that was giving away a degree of maturity to 2. Overall, I preferred his front and cleanliness of head/balance to 2. He has a straight front of good width and correct bone. His head is well proportioned with sufficient development for age. Neat ears, mouth correct and decent underjaw. Well balanced in body with correct rear angulations. A promising puppy that moved well. Best Puppy Dog – well done and good luck for the future.

2 Seymour’s Thee Real Slim Shady From Dekayro - 9 months’ brindle/white front. He is a good-looking dog that was more mature and bigger all round than 1. Strong headed with defined stop, correct dentition and neat ears. Well boned front of good width but prefer cleaner shoulder line. Correct rear quarters. Moved ok.

3 McCrystal’s Kenbloom Poker – black/brindle of just 6 months who was at his first show and unplaced in a big SB class. Pleasing head shape with correct ear carriage and dark enough eyes, but slightly heavier in the muzzle than I prefer. A strong puppy that was straight in the stifle and lacked upper arm.

PD (6 1)

1 Bassford-Lane’s Jojalane I Drink Wine - 9 months. A very lively red/white front with black muzzle that was something of a handful for his owner. He is a nice, clean headed dog with neat ears, dark eyes, correct mouth and strong muzzle. He has a straight front and was presented in good condition with correct hind quarters. Moved well once settled. Just preferred the cleaner lines/athleticism of the MP in the challenge.

2 Cockeram’s Bullybranch Clever Coal. 9½ months’ fawn. Unplaced in SB class. A different style of dog to 1 & 3. Head is of sufficient strength for age, having pleasing expression, correct eye shade and good mouth. Ears a little flighty but may settle on maturity. He is straight fronted with neat feet and adequate ‘lift’ giving a clean outline and good balance. Preferred the head properties and superior fitness of 1.

3 Walsh & Lloyd’s Geordiestoon Defiant Boy - almost 12 months. A smart mahogany brindle with white front/legs. Defined head, good underjaw, correct mouth, clean muzzle, neat ear carriage. Shown in fit condition with well-muscled hind quarters. Stronger through than my ideal and lacks upper arm and therefore does not exhibit the balance I seek when viewed in profile.

JD (7)

1 Emery’s Casails Fight Or Fall – A super quality red with white front/socks. Not quite the definition of some of the older dogs, but time is on his side. He is a top size, well balanced dog with a straight front, well-shaped head and super expression. He has a clean muzzle with good depth of underjaw and correct eye shade. Good rear quarters and correct tail carriage. Moved out well. My style of dog.

2 Funnell’s Powerpack Jack In The Box JW – A very nice, standard black/brindle with a head of good proportions, complemented by dark eyes and neat ears. He has good dentition and a strong muzzle but not quite as clean as 1. He is straight fronted and short coupled with a level topline. Just prefer a bit more upper arm for better overall balance.

3 Butler’s Joemikeste Dark Legacy. I preferred his more athletic outline to 2, however at present he lacks width of fore chest, although this may improve over time. An attractive, top size dog with plenty of ring presence that has a strong, well-defined head with good underjaw and depth of muzzle, defined stop and good balance.

YD (4)

1 Cushley’s Bullbrothers Montecristo. Red with white front and feet. A lovely dog that is fit and well balanced. He has a correctly proportioned head, with a keen expression, deep through skull, round eyes and neat ears. Sufficient strength without coarseness, straight fronted, well boned, clean, short coat and well-padded feet. Really liked him – moved out well with positivity.

2 Hall’s Geordiestaff Local Hero - Mahogany brindle/white front/feet. An attractive dog that has a powerful head with good strength and depth of muzzle, correct dentition, neat ear carriage and dark, round eyes. An upstanding dog with a straight front, level topline and correctly angulated rear quarters that moved well.A shade taller and not as fit as 1.

3 Robinson, Robinson, Robinson-Cox & Cox’s Hamason Sweet Little Mystery – An eye-catching mahogany brindle with lots of white. He has a head of good strength which is clean, well defined and deep through with a strong muzzle and sufficient stop. He has good width to front and is well boned. Topline level and correct rear quarters. A sound dog, however he is a little stronger overall than my preference.

PGD (3 1)

1 Jamieson-Bramley’s Tyneview Etna Nero – Tiger brindle – super dog. Lovely clean head, excellent mouth, good underjaw, correct balance of head with body. Short coupled – could be a tad fitter for my preference. Good weight of bone and lovely balance overall. Moved with drive.

2 Mills’ Stormbreakers Vengeance At Milarke Bull. Viewed in profile slightly preferred the topline and more balanced outline of 1. Slightly longer cast but a super dog in good condition. Liked his head and expression, clean in muzzle, good stop and ear carriage. Nice rear quarters. Moved well.

LD (9 1)

1 Watson’s Dringshaw Masterpiece at Sparkstaff - A dog I previously judged as a minor puppy and awarded him BPD – nice to see him realise his early potential and have the opportunity to reward his many virtues. Predominantly white/skewbald possessing a lovely clean front of good width, superb head in balance with body which was in immaculate condition. Clean lines all round – good rear angulation, nothing overdone, well boned, neat feet, correct ear carriage, coal black eyes. Strong in muzzle without surplus flesh, correct scissor bite. Moved with purpose and drive. A top-quality dog that I was delighted to award the CC - his first. Dog CC & Best Opposite Sex. Congratulations and good luck for the future.

2 Wilson’s Baalzstarz Zibal - Mahogany brindle with white front/socks. A top size dog with plenty of ring presence. He has a clean, well-defined head, piercing expression, dark eyes, muzzle of good strength and acceptable ear carriage. He has a straight, well-boned front, was presented in excellent condition with a level topline, well-muscled rear quarters, is well balanced and moved positively. An eye-catching dog that I liked.

3 Marsden’s Jayneze Dr Jimmy at Modlife – Brindle. Slightly stronger in the head than I personally prefer for overall balance, but nevertheless he is a super quality dog with many positive virtues. He has a good head of correct proportions with a strong muzzle, excellent mouth, dark eyes, good balance, straight front, correct rear quarters, well up to size. Presented in fit condition and moved well.

OD (8 1)

1 Jackson’s Ch Jackabyte Javikah – A top quality black/brindle that is every inch a Champion and presented in very fit condition. He has a superb head and expression complemented by neat ears and the darkest of eyes. He has a straight, well boned front with nice amount of ‘lift’, level topline and superbly balanced in body. Moved with discernible drive. An impressive dog that was on his toes throughout and I liked him very much. Delighted to award him Reserve Dog CC – Congratulations.

2 Stanway’s Waystaff Strike Action. Another top-quality dog and a close decision. Predominantly white/skewbald that is clean as a whistle all round, and very much of the type I like. He has a level top line held on the move, super clean front and superb balance and fitness. Head of good strength without exaggeration, strong muzzle, black eyes, neat ears, correct dentition, well boned, neat feet. Well-presented and moved well.

3 Jones’ Kamaristaffs Royal Rumour JW. A very nice dog in a trio of quality dogs in this class. He has just a shade less ‘lift’ than 1 & 2, but enough for good balance. He has a lovely head that is not overdone, is well defined with sufficient strength complemented by a super expression, dark eyes, defined stop, and sufficient underjaw. He has sound rear quarters and a clean, close coat. Moved well.

VD (4)

1 Johnson’s Ellchansha Hotshot. 7½ years’ brindle. A lovely dog and a slightly different style to 2 & 3 that I liked very much. He has a head of good strength with super expression, correct dentition, dark round eyes and tidy ears. He is balanced in body and presented in good condition. Moved well once settled. Challenged his sister for BV; my compliments to their breeder. Best Veteran – Congratulations.

2 Rowe & South’s Illori Akinlana JW, Sh.cm, Vw. 11 years’ black/brindle. A favourite of mine – now almost 11 and as expected, beginning to show his age and giving away a lot to 1. However, he still exhibits many of the attributes I have admired and rewarded in the past. He has good head properties, is well balanced and clean in outline with neat feet and level topline. Moved well.

3 Funnell & Wiggins’ Powerpack Kilgobnet JW. 8 years’ black/brindle. Another quality dog of the type I like and who was my RCC last time out. He possesses many of the attributes of 1 & 2, having a great head and expression, level topline and moved well. At this point in time he has a cleaner front than 1 & 2, but not quite in the same condition and a shade longer in the back. Splitting hairs between these 3 super boys.

MPB (3 1)

1 Southworth’s Valglo Tigerlilly With Staffmaster – 7 months. A very smart brindle/white markings. She has a head of correct proportions with lovely expression, dark eyes and neat ears. She has a clean muzzle, lovely white teeth and strong underjaw. Her front is straight and body balanced with correct rear quarters. Moved ok.

BPB & Best Puppy In Breed – Congratulations and good luck for the future.

2 Bullen’s Bb27162707* (*as quoted in Catalogue) 8½ months. Predominantly white with brindle markings. A very nice youngster that I liked and had I been able to adequately assess her, might well have challenged 1st place. She has a lovely head and expression, is clean fronted with correct rear quarters and super balance. I hope her owner perseveres and takes her to a handling class, as she is well worth investing time and patience in order to get the best out of her.

PB (3 1)

1 Petts’ Arkenstaff Shes The One – 9½ months black/brindle. Unplaced in the mixed SB class. An attractive puppy, possessing a head of good strength with clean muzzle and good depth of underjaw. She has correct dentition, dark eyes, neat ears, straight front and good overall balance. Moved reasonably well once settled. Preferred more positive movement of the Minor Puppy in the challenge.

2 Martinez’s Bullbrothers Black Oil – 11½ months. A stronger, shorter type of bitch than 1 altogether and more powerful than my preference. However, she has a great head, deep through with defined stop and pronounced cheek muscles, correct bite, strong muzzle and underjaw, short neck, longer cast than 1, moved ok.

JB (12 2)

1 Smith & Christie-Smith’s Tillcarr Fire Phoenix At Troystaff. A very attractive standard, black/brindle with a lovely expression. She has a well-defined head in balance with body, neat ears, dark eyes and correct dentition. She has good width to front with sufficient bone and presents a pleasing outline. Good overall balance but handler tends to overstretch back legs, resulting in reduced rear angulation.

2 Stanway’s Waystaff Creating Mayhem. A smart Skewbald that I liked very much. She has a super head and expression, is tight lipped with coal black eyes and neat ears. Straight front but prefer slightly more weight of bone. She is clean all round, has sound rear quarters and a level topline which she held on the move. Close decision.

3 Robinson & Charville’s Marstaff Red Arizona At Priordan. A very nice red/white front. Just a shade less width to front for my preference, but still has time on her side. She has lovely head properties, is clean lipped, with good depth of underjaw, correct mouth, straight front, is well balanced and has correctly angulated rear quarters. Moved & handled well.

YB (12) A super class with several quality bitches

1 Bennett’s Sikaistaff Thug Rose For Elmissico JW – A lovely black/brindle I liked very much. She has a well-proportioned head which is feminine and of good strength, complemented by dark eyes, nice ear carriage and correct dentition. She is very well balanced, straight fronted with adequate upper arm, in fit condition with defined waist and correct bend of stifle. Moved out well with a level topline.

2 Hudson’s Fairlenium’s Cloak N Dagger At Canisstaff – Another that I really liked. A beautiful pied bitch who pushed 1 all the way. She has a lovely head type with super expression, clean in muzzle, good depth of underjaw and ears carried correctly. Well balanced with sound rear quarters and straight front. Just preferred the ‘lift’ and slightly more athletic outline of 1.

3 Greaves’ Delacour Amazing Grace. Attractive red with white chest/paws. She has a well-proportioned head of good strength with defined stop, clean muzzle, dark eyes and neat enough ears. She is balanced with sound rear quarters and movement. Would prefer cleaner shoulder line.

PGB(14)

1 Winrow & Greaves Jayneze Miss Attitude – A super quality, top size brindle. She has a strong, well-defined head of correct proportions which is in balance with body. She has a lovely expression complemented by dark eyes and neat ears. She is nicely balanced, is light in loin and in fit condition, presenting a clean outline. Front straight with correctly angulated rear quarters. Moved well. I am sure she has a bright future.

2 Squibb’s Sikaistaff Coz I’m Happy. Another lovely bitch – brindle/white front that I also liked very much. Slightly less of her than 1, but another that has a clean front, sufficient lift, good overall balance and presents a clean outline. She has a lovely expression and good head proportions with neat ear carriage and good depth of underjaw, but not quite the muzzle strength or athleticism of 1.

3 Jones & Harkin’s Kamaristaffs Royal Duchess. Black/brindle. Slightly more of her than 2, being a shade stronger off the front and not quite the lift/athleticism I prefer, but a very attractive bitch with a super expression. She has a clean, well-shaped head of correct proportions, dark round eyes, good depth of muzzle and is short coupled with good tuck in. She was in good condition and moved well.

LB (12 1)

1 Blake’s Llanstaffs The One At Rigantona. A super quality brindle with lovely expression that caught my eye in this strong class and a tough decision between 3 lovely bitches with little to choose between them. She has a superb head which is clean and of good strength and definition, whilst retaining femininity. She is strong in muzzle, has a defined stop, darkest of eyes, correct ear carriage and scissor bite. Straight, well boned front with clean shoulder line and sufficient ‘lift’. She has the balance I look for, presented in fit condition with well-defined rear quarters, level topline and excellent movement. Bitch Reserve CC – Congratulations.

2 Winrow & Greaves Jayneze Ramona. Brindle who was my BPOB when I last judged. Delighted to see she has fulfilled her early promise. She pushed 1 extremely hard with a whisker between them and a tough decision. She is a pretty bitch with a feminine expression, dark round eyes, neat enough ears, super head properties with good underjaw. Fit, clean as a whistle and balanced throughout. She has good bone, well angulated rear quarters and moved well. Very well handled but on occasions is set too wide, spoiling shoulder line. Marginally preferred the head/expression and front of 1.

3 Gutierrez Gonzalez & Hirst’s Dringshaw Sugar Moon At Maskalon – completing a quality trio in this strong class. Another lovely bitch who I liked a lot and reminds me of one I own. She has a lovely expression and head of sufficient strength and in balance with body. She has a straight front of sufficient width, a nice amount of ‘lift’ with resultant clean outline. Just the right amount of rear angulation. Moved well. She has a shade less substance than 1 & 2 and not quite their level of fitness. I later noted she is the litter sister to the Dog CC and OB VHC – congratulations to the breeder.

OB (7)

1 McPhail’s Bethaleese’s Ice’n A’Slice For Scorguie – A fabulous, predominantly white bitch that was just the style I like. She has a superb head which is of sufficient strength for good overall balance, complemented by a wonderful alert expression. She has the darkest of eyes, correct mouth and ear carriage. She is fit and athletic and has the all round clean lines that I look for. Straight fronted with desired lift, level backline, well-muscled rear quarters, moved with drive. A very nice bitch that was animated and on her toes throughout. Delighted to award her the Bitch CC & BOB (her 1st). Congratulations and best of luck for the future.

2 Liggins & Curd’s Ellchansah Under Your Spell At Knockon JW. Black/brindle and another lovely, eye-catching bitch. She has super head properties, with correct muzzle to skull ratio, darkest of eyes, neat ear carriage, strong underjaw and correct dentition. She has a straight, well boned front and has very good overall balance. Shown in fit condition with well-muscled rear quarters. Moved well. Slightly stronger through and not quite as clean as 1 on the shoulder line. However, she is a top-quality bitch who should go all the way.

3 Bowman’s Sikaistaff All Of Me At Kamiflo Shcex – VHC in a very strong Limit class. Black/brindle/white front. She has a well-defined head and lovely expression, dark eyes, good underjaw, defined stop and neat ears. She has a straight front, was shown in fit condition with well-muscled hind quarters. Moved extremely well. Mid cast - just preferred the more compact outline of 2.

VB (7 1)

1 Johnson’s Ch Ellchansha Once Upon A Time JW. 7½ years’ Black/brindle. She is slightly stronger through than I usually go for, but she oozes quality and I liked her. She has a strong head with clean muzzle, good underjaw and a fabulous expression, correct ears and the darkest of eyes. She is well up to size, well boned, balanced and shown in fit condition. Just lost out to her brother on his overall cleaner outline in the BV challenge.

2 Funnell’s Powerpack Alura Finvarra JW. 8 years. Another quality brindle with a lovely head and expression. Her head is of good strength/correct proportions and well defined with a strong muzzle and underjaw. She has neat enough ears, dark eyes and a straight front. Body is short coupled, well balanced with a level topline and correct rear quarters. Preferred the more positive movement and condition of 1.

3 Batten’s Hammystaff Happiness. 11 years’ red/white. As expected, she is beginning to show her age and was giving away a few years to 1 & 2. She has a lovely expression and still retains good head properties, with dark eyes and good muzzle strength, ears slightly flighty. Straight, well boned front with enough width, level topline and good rear quarters. A nice style of bitch that moved ok.

Jenny Smith (Judge)

1 August 2025