OLD ENGLISH MASTIFF CLUB CHAMP SHOW AUG 2023

Date: Sunday, 6th August 2023

Location: BEARLEY VILLAGE HALL, Bearley, nr Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 0SR

Critique

OEMC Championship Show 6th August 2023

To say it was an honour to judge the anniversary show for the Old English Mastiff Club would be an understatement. In my fledgling years of attending shows I could never have imagined officiating at such a prestigious event and it will always remain a special memory for me.

My thanks go out to the officers and committee for the hospitality extended to my husband and I, but also for pulling out all the stops and making the day a good one for all who attended, and a special thanks to my stewards who not only had my ring running like clockwork, managed to sort through the mountain of prizes on offer and still provide me with a coat when the rain sneaked in! A strong entry on the day gave me the opportunity to assess some quality mastiffs and I cannot thank the exhibitors enough for trusting me with this role, so I hope I did it justice.

As an ex- health coordinator for the breed it was good to see some quality exhibits and plenty of youngsters in the puppy classes. My main winners especially prove that as a breed it is possible to maintain the structure and integrity of the breed standard and run this parallel with soundness, proving that we can be Fit for Function despite the size

One thing to note, in my time as HC the KC retained dermatitis as a breed watch point of concern to raise awareness of husbandry within the breed, and I was disappointed to see all these years later, the condition of some exhibits. Husbandry is an easy thing for all to get right, it doesn’t take years of breeding and careful selection or health testing to get right. This magnificent breed should be presented in all its glory.

Class 1 VD – 0 entries

Class 2 MPD 5(1)

Gittin’s Nimrod of Sevenoaks at Cwymtysswg (Imp DEU) TAF NAF. Just over 6mth. Well grown lovely fawn, impressive head for one so young, nice, broad, truncated muzzle, good pigment, adequate stop and dark eyes giving a lovely expression that wrinkled correctly when alert. Straight front, good length, nice level top line maintained on the move. Strutted around the ring with ease for such a youngster.
Clarke’s Askuwheteau Eirik, 7 mth brindle , still very much a baby, nice straight front and deep chest but a little high in rear at this current time, neat head with plenty of development to come, moved beautifully with his handler today.

Aidney’s Askuwheteau Earl, litter mate to 2nd place, lighter brindle in colour and not as substantial as his brother but still plenty of development to come.

Class 3 PD 2(0)

Zadeh’s Morganlefay Yanomami by Faynad. 8 month brindle with plenty of substance. Lovely neat head. Broad muzzle, arched neck and straight front. Good length of back with a level top line nicely balanced rear with good bend of stifle. Very exhuberant in the ring for his handler but when he settled he moved well. Pleased to award him best puppy dog today as well as BP

Hazelwood’s Craiglestone Sir Wilfred. 11 mth brindle. Slighter in frame, gentle expression to face with a longer muzzle, at present his length to height ratios are out but this may change as he matures, moved well.

Class 4 JD 3(0)

Chamber’s Elljayart The Great Master of Gigantiffz. Well grown substantial 17 mth fawn. Square head with good stop, Broad muzzle correct bite, nice expression and dark eye. Strong neck, straight front, well let down to chest, deep ribs, nice length of back, and turn of stifle, tail correct to hock, moved well maintained top line.
Wilson’s Hitcher the House Of Art 13 mth clear fawn, good pigment to face and ears, nice long back but weaker to rear which affected the balanced view of the dog, moved well when settled but more training is required to get the best.

Evan’s Castarova Marshall Yellow. 13 mth fawn. Good pigment nice ear placement. A little wary in the ring today but with time may settle.

Class 5 ND 1 (0)

Evans Castorova Marshall Yellow, see previous entry

Class 6 PGD 3(1)

Hazelwood’s Craiglestone Sir Rumpletum 22 mth brindle slight in frame adequate wrinkle when alert, moved well.
Miller’s Hallberd Dennis the Menace of Brindaree, well boned brindle just short of 4 years, not happy today in the ring.

Class 7 LD 6(0)

Burgoine’s Hallberd Finbar well grown 23 month dark brindle, nice square head with pleasing clean expression, good stop, nice eye and correct ears. Straight front, deep chest, correct length of back and a level top line that was maintained on the move. Good turn of stifle and balanced from front to rear giving a pleasing outline overall. Standing on four tight feet, moved well and I was happy to give him the RDCC today.
Graham’s Cwmtysswg Titan at Odextin 4 yrs, compact apricot, good stop, correct ear set, nice dark eye and correct pigment giving a pleasing look, well let down in chest and a beautiful balanced outline, moved beautifully for handler.
Dickinson’s Trojan Titan brindle of 6 years, a little over wrinkled in head but some good points despite this spoiling his look. Straight front, good length to height ratios and movement today gave him his third place.

Class 8 OD 5(0)

Hill’s Fragilis Ffawydd 3 yr brindle. What can I say about this boy. His size and substance combined with his balance and movement is living proof that Mastiffs can have it all. Immediately catching my eye he didn’t disappoint. Providing beautiful views from front to side. Correct massive bone, providing a framework for ample hard cover throughout. Massive square head with small neat ears broad muzzle and correct lip. Well let down in chest deep ribs good height/length ratios, enough bend of stifle, excellent tail set/ length.stood four square on beautiful correct feet and covered the ring in beautiful strides driving from the rear. Excellent handling and shown in gleaming condition. He spoke for himself, providing balance substance and soundness throughout. An absolute pleasure to award him DCC and BIS today.
Coulman-Hole’s Incanto Del Fracasso for Womlu (Imp Ita) Jun Ch Lux/Ire/Swiss. 22 mth fawn. Still a relatively young dog but with a strong headpiece, although a little too much lip spoilt the squareness of the view. Arched neck, straight front and deep chest. His level top line leading to a nice wide rear. Handled beautifully.
Andrew’s Cyberus Collateral Damage 3 yr heavy set fawn, deep chest, good length of back and turn of stifle, well of for bone, handled well but dipping in the top line, slightly too much wrinkle which spoilt his overall expression.

Class 9 VB 2(0)

Hill’s Ch Fragilis Fausta, fawn 1 month over her 7th birthday. Beautiful older female, showing signs of grey to muzzle but retained her lovely head with a correct muzzle good stop and ear placement, deep chest spring of ribs lovely length to height ratios and a level top line which she maintained on the move. Displaying good movement it was a pleasure to award her not only her first place but also BV
Harding’s NL Ch Mulaloo Midnight Moonbeam. 7 1/2 yr fawn. Another beautiful girl who has aged well. Lovely head with stunning pigment despite age. Carrying just a little too much weight through the body giving the illusion of the head being smaller than it is. Lovely deep chest with a good top line and extremely happy to be in the ring today. By far one of my favourite classes of the day, and so good to see everyone applauding the veterans.

Class 10 MPB 8(1)

Clarke’s Askuwheteau Elka 7 mth fawn, nice head shape, pleasing pretty expression with good pigment to face. Straight front good length of back and a level top line maintained on the move, good turn of stifle, tail let down to hock, moved confidently with handler and covered her ground well, pleased to award her best puppy bitch today.
Bowdery’s Morganlefay Sentinelese. 8 mth strong front, good length of back, a little high in rear but not unusual given age, good angulation to rear, lovely pigment, would benefit from further training to make the most of herself but Definately enjoyed herself in the ring today.
Fox’s Driving Miss Daisy. Brindle just over 6 mth. Nice clean head with pleasing expression, good bone level top line and turn of stifle, another who would benefit from training but enjoyed herself nonetheless.

Class 11 PB 3(0)

Clark’s Hallberd Georgia 11 mth fawn lovely head with good stop, nice front, correct length of back and well angulated to rear, did pace on moving but possibly due to handling issues.
Bowdery’s Morganlefay Suri 8 mth heavy coated fawn. Although often penalised, I consider the heavy coat just a flaw like any other and this youngster had too many good points to be discounted at this point. With lovely pigment and a pleasing head, straight front and correct length of back, although slightly high in rear but with good angulation, moved well when settled.
Hazelwood’s Craiglestone Miss Jelly Tot , clean head, gentle expression, good length of back moved well although slight in frame.

Class 12 JB 1(0)

Hazelwood’s Craiglestone Miz Damson Jam. 1 yr, clean head nice eye gentle expression, straight front and angulated to rear. Slight in structure, moved well.

Class 13 NB 1(0)

Bowdery’s Morganlefay Suri, see previous entry.

Class 14 PGB 5(2)

Beaumont & Hesketh’s Karysmhor Mists Of The Tor 2 yr brindle. Although not the strongest of heads, it was clean with a neat ear set and tight eye showing no haw. Good pigment, she provided a neat, compact outline and moved well if a little flat for her handler.
Fox’s Miss Doris Day 2 yr fawn with lovely pigment to face and ears, good stop although a little too much haw.
Reyhan’s Wiggenhalls Eleanor 18 mth fawn, good body carriage with level top line. But a lack of stop and length of muzzle affected the overall expression for me.

Class 15 LB 4(0)

Hill’s Fragilis Ffwsia 3 yr brindle provided a balanced outline on entry to the ring. Neat head with correct ear placement good length of muzzle and a neat under jaw, arched neck led me to a well let down chest and a deep rib cage. Excellent length of back and a level top line with well angulated rear assembly and a tail let down to hock. I was pleased to award her the BCC today as well as BOS and RBIS. She was quite “sparky” on the move today and it was this spark that very nearly gave her the top honours in the final challenge when for a moment it shone through and very nearly gave her an edge over her competitor. Good to see a bitch of such size maintain femininity.
Gittin’s Jolene of Sevenoaks at Cwmtysswg (Imp DEU) just under 2 1/2 years substantial apricot bitch with beautiful true black pigment to face and ears. Good ear placement and stop nice eye and correct wrinkling when alert, deep front level top line and a nice wide angulated rear, well covered frame. Difficult to assess movement as playing up for handler today.
Clark’s Hallberd Doris just short of four years brindle, substantial bone long back and angulation to rear the dip in her top line cost her the placings

Class 16 OB 6(3)

Bowdery’s Morganlefay Iron Maiden. 4 yr brindle with good pigment, pretty feminine head, neat ears, broad muzzle, nice bite, good stop and a dark eye. Well off for bone with nice length, angulation, correct tail set and length. Needs to settle more on the move if the handler is to show her potential but again good to see a bitch of substance that retained her femininity. Pleased to award her the RBCC
Iliffe’s Askuwheteau Cholena 5 yrs strong apricot bitch. Lovely length of back with good front and rear assembly. Ear placement slightly too wide affecting the outline of the head. Moved beautifully for handler
Baxter’s Nobleheart Drooling Dolly fawn of 3 yrs with beautiful pigment to head and ears. Good front and rear assembly but her silliness for her handler prevented her making the most of herself.

Class 17 progeny 2(0)

Andrew’s Ch Collateral to the Future Bailey at Cyberus(IKC) 5 yrs substantial fawn strong head with plenty of bone good length but carry just a touch too much wrinkle to head, characteristics that could be seen in all offspring. When moved in tandem all progeny covered the ground at an easy pace driving from the rear.
Bowdery’s Ch Iron Maiden, a seen dog with many of the characteristics present in the progeny, although all were only young, the eldest of which from a puppy class. Would be interesting to repeat in a year or so when the said progeny have matured further.

Class 18 6-11 years Junior Handling 2(1)

Reyhan’s Wiggenhalls Eleanor. Previously seen dog, handled well especially given the age of the handler. Gentle with the dog and listened carefully to my instruction as to what I wanted in the ring, before carrying it out. Was quite nervous but had no need to be as she did really well and her confidence will increase as with more practice she will only improve to become a handler of the future

Class 19 12-16 years Junior Handling 1(0)

Burgoine’s Hallberd Finbar. Previously seen dog. This young lady is definitely a future handler of our breed, and I had noticed her in previous classes. Patient and gentle but firm with the dog, maintaining control and a lovely rapport. She listened to my instructions before executing well. Maintained a calm demeanour throughout, I look forward to watching her progress as her confidence grows.