Click on the back link to return to the M.A. Event page

MASTIFFS AT CRUFTS 2003

Judge: Mr Nick Waters

 

Never an easy breed to judge but I was well pleased with my winners. Three general comments I would like to make. Firstly temperament; given the noise, tension and the alien surroundings of the NEC, I found temperaments on the whole were good, a few shy ones and only one had a go at me. Secondly - movement: on the whole this did not impress, some were limping around the ring, others were knitting quite nicely both ends, and a few had an attitude of mind that did little to show powerful, easy extension. Some I had judged in the past moved a lot better then. Thirdly bone: there is still some thickening of the hock which I dislike and consider unsoundness. A few, I thought, were too heavy and large in bone. When commenting on this afterwards to someone, I was reminded that the Mastiff should have large bones - true - and that my first Mastiff was a Grangemoor (noted for their bone and substance) - also true. However, there has to be a point when large becomes too large, and I thought a few had bone that was out of proportion and going beyond being functional and verging on the freakish.

BOB - Klanzmun Fire Witch
Dog CC - Ch. Dajent's Peacemaker of Dobunni
Bitch CC - Klanzmun Fire Witch
Res. Dog CC - Ch. Casanove of Bredwardine
Res. Bitch CC - Francis From Burning Mountain (Fr)
Best Puppy - Kumormai As Good As It Gets
Best Veteran - Darkling Gwenhwyfar

Special Puppy Dog (3)

1st - Kumormai As Good As It Gets (Knight)
Nicely balanced, well developed fawn. Well off for bone. Head shape OK, ears a bit large. Angles in front better than behind. Moved the best in the class.
- Best Puppy -
2nd - Santmichal Bulldozer (Wilkes)
Well grown youngster, not so settled in temperament and lost out on movement. Good bone, Head OK. Sufficient rear angulation.
3rd - Salforda Black Panther (Proudfoot)
Lighter made, still plain in head. Sufficient body development for size.

Special Junior Dog (6)

1st - Kumormai Versace (Barker)
Lovely balanced dog. Good head, well boned, good quarters, scored heavily in movement. Correct front, well developed in body. Tail I thought too high and lose eyes spoilt expression.
2nd - Fearnought Dark Destroyer (Payne)
Nicely made brindle. good head, front and quarters. Well boned, well developed body. Not the freedom of movement of the winner.
3rd - Faerdorn Lord Of The Rings (Harvey & Clarke)
Well built fawn, but lost out on topline and movement.
Res. - Rhilaubekan Rave
VHC - Jengais Gunslinger

Post Graduate Dog (13)

1st - Rhilaubekan Sherwood (Raybone)
Won on balance and movement. Head and expression OK. Correct bone for size. Nicely made body, best quarters in the class. Nice overall type.
2nd - Morrigan Mighty Uther at Rumcoat (Quinn)
Taller brindle, correct head and expression. Sufficient bone. Feet OK. Well developed body, quarters and movement adequate.
3rd - Swainsi Celtic Knight (White)
Good headed fawn but rather open in eye. Well developed but lost out in topline.
Res. - Swainsi Hugo Boss
VHC - Faynad King Of Our Cottage

Limit Dog (10)

1st - Jengren Rufus at Carpathian (West)
Not large but balanced. Good head, neck, front and feet. Well developed body, good quarters. Went well enough but slack in topline.
2nd - Kumormai Christmas Angel (Beaumont & Hesketh)
Good headed brindle. Neck and front OK. Slack in pasterns, well developed body. Not the quarters of the winner.
3rd - Beezaville Coram Judice (Taylor)
Good head shape but rather open in eye. Well developed body, rather straight behind.
Res. - Penrichlar Phoenix of Bredwardine
VHC - Faerdorn Tiger Tales

Open Dog (9)

1st - Ch. Dajent's Peace Maker of Dobunni (Hall & Smith)
This dog impressed. Lovely type, good head, neck and front. Lovely body of correct height to length. correct bone and feet. Good quarters. Moved soundly but totally lacked enthusiasm - a great pity.
- Dog CC -
2nd - Ch. Casanova of Bredwardine (Tugwell & Thomas)
Another lovely type, so similar to the winner and what I thought of him applies to this dog. Rather shy. It was a case of do I forgive temperament, or lack of extension and enthusiasm, and the latter won the day.
- Res. Dog CC -
3rd - Int.Ch. Hugedogge Barbirolli Sir Purcel (Le Courtois)
Correct head and neck. Good front, well developed body, bone and feet OK. Moved soundly. Rather straight behind and a short tail spoilt balance.
Res. - Ch. Bulliff Dom
VHC - Ch. Darkling Hector
HC - Rhilaubekan Valentino

Veteran Dog (1)

1st - Irebon Tiverius (Boner)
It is always nice to see the older dogs but I thought day too much for this one.

Special Puppy Bitch (4)

1st - Santmichal Chardoney (Rischmiller)
Nice type, well developed. Head shape OK but loose in eye. Good front and feet. Moved adequately, scored over the others on quarters.
2nd - Darling Jemma's Jessabelle (Ridley)
Better expression than the winner. Head shape OK, good neck and front. Correct body development for age. Rather straight behind - went OK.
3rd - Klanzmun Lochran (Heathcote & Fisher)
Still immature but correct body development for age. Correct bone and feet. Head shape OK.

Special Junior Bitch (10)

1st - Fearnought Pride And Honour (Payne)
Stood ahead in this class and close up with my top winners. Lovely quality brindle who scored in balance and movement. Good front and quarters, correct bone, good head. Body developing well.
2nd - Rumcoat Morgan Princess (Quinn)
Well developed fawn, good neck, front and quarters. Correct body proportions. Moved well. Rather untypical in head.
3rd - Faerdorn Blonde Ambition at Cravemoor (Williams & Jobson)
A nice type of fawn with a better head than 2nd.
Res. - Raffilius Hot Choc at Swainsi
VHC - Nobleheart Silken Andraste

Post Graduate Bitch (13)

1st - Jengais Sunlight Dancer (Green)
Nice type of brindle. Good front, body and quarters, correct bone and feet. Head shape OK, moved well enough.
2nd - Bridie Mulan at Mansuetude (Broomfield)
Rather plain in head, good front, well developed body for age. Went OK. Rather slack in topline.
3rd - Thunderfoot Devoted To You (Facey & Edmeade)
Bigger but not the overall balance at the moment of those above. Head shape OK, well developed body.
Res. - Klanzmun The Sorceress

Limit Bitch (12)

1st - Klanzmun Fire Witch (Knight)
I thought this young bitch excelled in type, balance, construction and she could move. Everything was in proportion. I would just have liked more of her. Lovely head, neck and front. The best of quarters, body development just right. Stood four square on good legs and feet. I was proud to send her into the big ring at Crufts.
- Bitch CC & Best of Breed -
2nd - Farnaby Fallen Woman of Wickaven (Toogood)
Dark brindle who scored in overall type. Good head, neck, front and quarters. Sufficient bone. Rather soft condition.
3rd - Wizadora One of Silverside (Pickering)
Well developed bitch with a good front, but rather straight behind.
Res. - Ready To Experiment from Morganlefay
VHC - Rhilaubekan Medusa

Open Bitch (10)

1st - Francis from The Burning Mountain (Schug & Nordhue)
Well balanced, upstanding fawn. Good head, neck, front and quarters. Correctly proportioned body on good legs and feet. Moved well enough but just lacked the extension of the CC winner.
- Res. Bitch CC -
2nd - Milford Melody (Graham)
Very nice type with correct head shape. Well proportioned body, neck and front OK. Lost on movement and condition to the winner.
3rd - Ch. Bulliff Dacie (Roden)
Correct head, neck and front but carrying too much weight and not moving well.
Res. - Ch. Saltcountry Lady Docker
VHC - April Queen of Sobriety
HC - Ch. Lady Lavinia

Veteran Bitch (1)

1st - Darkling Gwenhwyfar (Ridley)
A very nice type girl with correct head and neck, but carrying to much weight which affected movement.

Home