East Midlands SBTC Diamond Jubilee Ch Show


DOGS



This was a very special day for me and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone involved for what seemed ( I was limited in what I could see as I was busy all day) to be a super show. There was a terrific crowd and a super atmosphere.

My thanks go to my two stewards who were great and kept me on the straight and narrow all day, to Maureen, Janet and Ray for a good laugh the night before, and all the committee for the warm welcome in the morning.

I would add that everything below is only one persons opinion, make of it what you will, I’ll pitch up when you are judging to see what you think of my dogs



For most of the last year or so the general ringside consensus has been that the dogs are not all that exciting. I would like to report that this is not the case, but sadly I can’t because it isn’t, they are not that great at the moment.

To offer some qualification on that. Most of the classes were competitive, but at a level lower than what I think they should be. We are not overflowing with rubbishy dogs, so please don’t anybody be thinking that. What we are short of is a bit of star quality. Hopefully this is a short term issue.

Looking at the bitches over the last wee while, they look to be a level above and if stud dogs are found for them the next generation of really smart dogs may only be just one breeding away, at least we can all hope so.

BIS was the dog Ramblestaff Ebeneezer Good JW. He is in my opinion a very good dog, he is clean, sound and fits the standard pretty much all round. He has balance without exaggeration and is a super example of the breed.


If I may offer a view on what I was looking for. The Stafford is in my view, a compact dog, who optimally falls within the bounds of 16” and 38lbs, has plenty about him and a bit of get up and go. Get up and go is in short supply nowadays due to the times we live in, but that shouldn’t stop the dog being in very good order and up on his toes. Generally speaking being soft to the touch ended a dogs involvement at the sharp end. Lack of condition is not really defendable. I have said it before and will say it again, if you are going to compete with your dog, get rid of the reasons to get beat first. No matter how good you think your dog is, it is a competitive sport and having long nails, dirty coats, lifting aroma and dirty teeth is pretty much certain not to endear your dog to the judge. You might not have the very best dog, but you can have one of the best turned out.

I am not a fan of heads like 50 bob cabbages nor do I like a dog with long legs and no bone. As objectionable as the manchester terrier comment was to some, having tanks wandering about the place is no better and for sure, two wrongs do not make a right.

Instead of moving further out to the perimeters with exaggeration of height, weight, substance etc, try and regain the middle ground, that is where the breed needs to be in my view. Offering what the other guy does as justification for your idea of what’s right, is no justification. Ours may not be the best written standard in the world, but at least pay it lip service.

Having said all that, thank you to everyone that came and sought my opinion, you’ll find me easily enough if you want to discuss it more. Thanks for the totally sporting way in which everyone took the decisions, the shaking of hands and congratulations being shared round gladdened this old stagers heart.

MPD (8)

Quite a modest class.

1. Lister’s Mafia Don, compact Bl/br. At this stage he has a decent head, good bone, a short back, dark eyes and a decent expression. He moved very well behind. Could well have a bright future.

2. Hirst & Bibby’s Taraeil Dizzy Rascal. This chap doesn’t help himself at all, but maybe this will improve with age. He is a smidge lighter made up than the winner and most of the same remarks could and do apply here. On the odd occasion that he settled he moved OK, but a better performance is needed to be competitive.

3. Desmond’s Noblestaff Firecracker at Elitebull. Quite a good head on this one. He has a dark eye, enough bone, a level topline and his backend is OK. He moved quite well.


PD (14,2)

1. Davidson’s Waystaff Dutch Minister. A brindle dog who is quite positive in a lot of areas. He has a strong foreface, enough stop, dark enough eyes and his ears are good. He has a strong neck, a straight front and good bone. His feet are neat with short nails. He has a level topline , standing and on the move. He has a short back, a bit of a waist and that leads into a decent backend. He carries sufficient muscle tone for his age and he moved pretty well. He won BPIS and another couple of classes along the way. Could well develop into a genuine contender at a later date.
2. Gibb’s Wannevilles Lucky Dragon. A black brindle dog whose head I liked quite a lot. He has a good expression, strong muzzle and dark eyes. He is not so forward or as compact as the winner and looks to be a bit behind in maturity terms. If he bodies up to match his head he could do well in the future. He moves OK and that could also get better as he gets older.
3. Keirl’s Oscellsies Dark Venger. Another dark brindle. He has a decent head although I would prefer smaller ears, he has good bone, a decent front and his topline is ok. He carried decent muscle tone and looked to be a progressive sort.


JD (16,1)

1. Birney's Sebsonic Jealous Guy. This was the first dog who looked like he could be in the frame. I was taken with him from the outset. He is a good sized dog and would be very close to the ideal for weight as well I would guess. He looks to have a pretty good head, I say looks to because much to my annoyance I could not get to be into it just as much as I would like as he is a serious livewire and gets himself well worked up. Having said that I saw enough of his head to like it, but he shot himself in the foot later, you have to be able to see it to give it a CC. Anyway, his muzzle is short and blunt, good stop, enough skull and dark enough eyes. Strong neck, decent front when his handler leaves him alone, short back, level topline, close coupled and a decent back end. He was in tip top condition and if a word could be had with him as to what is wanted at a show, who knows. Good luck with him.

2. Ogbourne’s Welshstaff Credit Crunch. Another compact dog, and another who wasn’t helping himself that much either. I liked his head and expression, he has a straight front, a short back, good topline and a decent backend. He couldn’t compete with the condition of the winner (and that can be fixed), and in my view, if this chap is brought to a peak he has definite possibilities.

3. Stewart's Ranolien Run For Home. This dog was the best mover in the class. He is also compact, a good size and is obviously very sound. I preferred the head on the second and he also couldn’t compete with the winner on condition. Get him spot on and who knows.


MD (4)

1. Davidson’s Waystaff Dutch Minister

2. Hirst & Bibby’s Taraeil Dizzy Rascal.

3. McComiskie & Dick's Bourtie Ay Ay Fit Like



ND (7)

1. Davidson’s Waystaff Dutch Minister

2. Hirst & Bibby’s Taraeil Dizzy Rascal.

3. Nicholson’s Valglo Diplomat at Ballindonna


GD (12,1)

1. Birney's Sebsonic Jealous Guy.

2. Cooch & Maud’s Gnobulls Funk Odyssey, fawn and white dog in very good condition. Good strong , clean head, good bone, good front and feet. Short back with a level topline and a good cut in at the waist. He has a decent backend and he moved well enough.

3. Folwell & Morris’s Rowellstaff Mr Ferguson. Red dog who is not fully tuned up. He has a good head which has strength and depth and a good expression. His front and bone are OK, but his feet need attention. Good neck, short back, OK topline. In better condition and with more attention to detail he can go further than this.


PG (21,3)

A competitive class.

1. Meara & Millgate’s Ramblestaff Solo Eclipse at Millamear, compact bl brindle dog who has a bit to commend him. He has a decent head and although I would prefer his muzzle a smidge shorter there is enough strength there. He has a dark eye and neat ears. His neck is strong, his front straight and well boned and his feet are fine. He has a short back, is close coupled and has a waist. His backend is well muscled and he moved well enough. Good dog.

2. Rastall & Durham’s Merimna Ahead Inline. A lot of the above remarks apply here. The winner has a darker eye and has a tad more spring of rib giving the impression of a being a bit shorter in back, but there’s not much in it. This chap is also in pretty good nick and he was made the most of.

3. Gibbins' Crossguns Fred Astaire. He looked the winner early on. He has a good head, front, body and movement. In the end I took the view that one and two were just that bit more positive, but he is a stylish and typy dog and a credit to his owner



LD (33,6)

1. Scarlett & Reid’s Ramblestaff Ebenezer Good JW, CC & BIS. I have admired this chap since he was a puppy and he did not disappoint. He has a good head with a muzzle of correct length and strength. He has dark eyes, neat ears and a good stop. He has a strong neck and good shoulders. His front is good with correct bone and good feet. He has a short back with a level topline, good rib and a waist. His backend is good with correct shape and musculation. He moved out well and in the final analysis he wasn’t overly pushed to win the CC. I think he is a lovely dog and hope the other 2 CC’s come along directly, he is well worth a title.

2. Samby & Frost’s Sunnystone Wizard of Oz. RCC. Now here’s a dog with a lot more to come. He is not fully tuned up and when he is he will give most a run for their money. He has a good head, good front, is well boned, has a good length of back and a good backend. All of these virtues with be enhanced when he is as fit as he should be. His virtues allowed him to carry that lack of fine tuning. He is a very typy dog who will get better.

3. Evans' Kalhol Dark Maruda. This is a bigger and stronger dog than one and two. He has a powerful head with a decent expression, he has lots of bone, a short back and a good waist on him. His backend is powerful and he is overall a good dog who will surely be sporting a title ere too long. I liked him a lot.



OD (12,2)

1. Callaghan’s Ch Bourtie Wot A Boy. Its very easy to see why this chap is a champion. He has a clean strong head, with big teeth, dark eyes and neat ears. He has a strong neck and a bang straight front. He has a short back, a waist and a decent topline. His backend is fine and he moves well.

2. Woolett's Ashstock Red Miller, smart red dog with a decent head, good bone, a short enough back, good waist and good condition generally. He moved OK.

3. Marachowski’s Kalhols Black Magic at Passernomen, a well conditioned bl, br who has a good head and a short back. I didn’t think he went at his best today and he paid the price.





VD (4,1)

1. Lay's Ch Carnig Positive Profile High class dog who is just beginning to show his age, however as with the second dog class is permanent and this fella has it in abundance. Moved and showed like a trouper.

2. Waters' Ch Ashstock By Jupiter Another class act who is getting on a bit now, he has a lovely head and still looks well.

3. Fairhirst's Yorks One Time For Fairlenium. Smashing chap who was up against it with these two, but he showed well and went about his business with a bit of verve.

I love and hate this class in equal measure. I know each of these dogs and I was ashamed to have to put one of them last. I would be proud to own or have bred any of them and they are each a credit to the breed. Thankyou for giving me the honour of judging these three.



Alan Hedges