Judging – Elaine

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Southern Counties CA

June 1st 2019

Firstly I’d like to thank you all for bringing your dogs for me to see and accepting my decisions sportingly as I would expect from the Stafford community. I’d also like to thank SCCA for the invitation, albeit as a replacement for judge elect Jim Beaufoy and I hope Jim is soon returned to full health. We were provided with a large ring giving ample space to show off the dog’s movement.

My stewards Alan Hard and Tec kept the ring running like clockwork – again thank you.
Staffords are just the best breed and all accepted their role as a show dog with varying degrees of enthusiasm but temperament was first rate by all exhibits as I would expect.
The breed is on Breed Watch by the KC for inverted canines of which there were none and for breathing difficulties and I can only query this as on a hot sunny day there was no evidence whatsoever of any dog so much as panting any more than would be considered normal let alone breathing heavily

What can I say – I just love this dog. He is top notch from head to tail. He has an outline just to die for and all parts are blended together to produce a picture of perfect soundness and balance exhibited in his free active, agile movement. Now for that head – where to start – wide and deep through with round dark eyes showing a keen, alert expression aided by well used, neat rose ears and all offset by a strong muzzle with adequate length and depth. A dog with no excess flesh, a short close fitting coat and muscles on his muscles. He is the dogs do dahs but wish he’d keep that tail down.

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movement covering the ground with long easy strides. Her body is close coupled with length of back balanced to length of leg and depth of brisket. A well deserved CC was hers for the taking – thank you for bringing her.

He is close coupled with adequate rib and a good bend of stifle all of which produce a typy balanced dog.  I loved his head and wicked expression but not sure about the Good Citizen bit as he was an unruly customer in close up with the rest of his contemporaries. Excelled on the move as he should with his construction.

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tight feet. Bodily she is at the right stage for her age and already has a powerful backend. She is a confident girl with a ring presence that belies her tender years. I just loved her face, so pretty with the sweetest of expressions yet a look of innocence all hiding a set of the biggest white teeth. Had no hesitation in awarding her the RCC and wish she was mine.

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Must say I was very taken with this Bl/br. She has great balance throughout with all bits blending together to make such a lovely outline. Her face is so clean, set off by the darkest of round, correctly sized and placed eyes and enhanced by neat well used rose ears. Bodily she scores heavily on the right amount of bone in her straight front and elbows that are tucked into her well ribbed body. She strode round the ring like a good ‘un and was my Best Junior and went on to third place in the Terrier Junior Group.

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National Terrier – Bitches

1st April 2017

I would like to thank all of you who brought out their dogs and accepted my placings with good grace. I’d also like to thank my two lady stewards who kept me in order throughout the day. I found the quality was good in depth with many smashing bitches going home cardless especially in Junior, Yearling and Limit. Mouths were all good with just the odd misplaced tooth but some looked like 50 a day smokers!!

I was looking for a blend between bull and terrier and many I thought fitted the bill lost out as they were so slab sided. It goes without saying temperament was faultless and I wouldn’t expect it to be any different.

There are no exhibitors that can produce atmosphere ringside like us Stafford enthusiasts and long may that remain.

Bitch CC  Sophie Boulton’s – Nizeva Va Nessa 

Well – what can I say – I’m pretty sure everyone who knows how I see a Stafford bitch would also know I would love this black brindle girl and my notes simply say – loved her. She lit up the ring for me with that keen face so full of life and naughtiness. She has large, round dark eyes and the neatest of rose ears that were on the go all the time. Her front is spot on with enough bone and width and showing no weakness at her pasterns. She has a lovely crest of neck leading to well laid shoulders. Her rib when you look down on her body balances out so well and all is finished off by a strong backend with broad hams.  She was as hard as nails and strode out showing free active movement when she settled to the job in hand. Thank you for bringing her and wish she was mine. I was pleased to award her the CC and she was also best opposite sex. 

(This bitch later on in 2017 went on to achieve Champion status)

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NESBTC – Championship Show – Dogs

20/09/2015  – 9 classes – 94, 102 entries

I was very pleased with my final line up and thought that all fitted the breed standard well and were full of breed type. Temperament was excellent throughout – as I would expect of any Stafford. I did find a number with thick, heavy lips which spoil the overall expression and make teeth difficult to find! –  but no real mouth faults – just the odd tight bite or misplaced incisors. Movement was acceptable throughout and virtually all were reasonably fit even when their nails were too long, spoiling their feet.

Dog CC & BIS – Ken Baldwin’s – Elitebull Night Mission 

A cracking quality class to win (Junior)  – this boy is a strong, topsized bl/br with a great body outline, showing balance from all angles. He has the headshape I was looking for with a deep through, broad skull and good length and depth of muzzle. His stop creates round, dark, well spaced eyes and his expression is aided by his correctly placed, rose ears. Great front showing good bone and width balanced with length topped off by tight feet and short, black nails. He has good spring and depth of rib and a short coupling  – all in all just what I’d hoped to find today and was pleased to award him the CC and he was BOB on the referee’s decision.

Debbie looks to have recovered – she was in total shock when Elaine gave her the CC

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Western SBTC – Championship Show – Bitches

12/10/2013  – 11 classes – 95 dogs, 113 entries

Where decisions are close it is up to the owner to present their bitches in tip top condition and in some instances this was not the case – there were a number carrying the excesses of too many good meals and not enough exercise plus long nails to boot – all of which are under the owners control. Mouths were generally fine but there were a number of untidy ones – more so in the lower classes.

Bitch CC  Ray & Jan Wilson’s – Eclypstaff There You Go at Kalverin

This girl is sheer class and the eye can’t help but be drawn to her. She has, for me, the best of headpieces with class and yet strength and eyes that watch you all the time.  She is as clean as a whistle and was presented as hard as they come with a gleaming close coat that fit her like a glove. From all angles she exuded strength and balance and was close coupled, with the hardest and strongest of backends. Her front and rear angulations were in balance. 

It was a pleasure to award her first CC and with agreement with my co judge Best in Show

Reserve Bitch CC – Desmond’s  – Elitebull Serenity

It was really hard to separate these two beauties  (the CC winner). I loved her outline and balance but she could not compete with the winner on her general presentation and hard condition.  Her face is super with a soft expression to die for. She has a true front which is well boned, and of length to balance with the widths of her chest, depth of brisket and length of back. Her bend of stifle is good and hocks well let down. Overall she is a cracking bitch to be proud of and well deserved her RCC.

Best Puppy – Raynsford & Stevens  – Raynstaff Didja Ever

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Auvergne-Limousin (France) – Open Show

30th September 2012 – SBT –  11 classes, 34 dogs

Best Bitch & Best of Breed – Samantha Avoscan’s  – Golden Force Red Seinti

I would like to thank the club for inviting me to judge the show and also thank Elena, not forgetting Helena and Justyna for their kindness and hospitality plus Karen for stepping in acting as my ring steward and controlling the ring and keeping the paperwork in order.
The venue for the show was a sight to behold – beautiful can only describe the setting!
I would like to thank all the people who brought out their dogs for me to see and the sporting manner my decisions were accepted.
I found the dogs in general to be of mixed quality, a good number possessing good, typical, breed type and correct balance, with clean, unexaggerated, head shapes. However a good number of otherwise nice exhibits were spoilt by excess weight in most cases and lack of weight in a couple of cases, all of which destroys the animals balance. In addition I found a large number with long nails – all the above can be rectified by the dogs owner, whereas structural faults are out of the owners remit.
Also handling left much to be desired – please try to make your dog look as good as it possibly can – it often gives your dog a degree of advantage. Also please try to move at a speed that shows off your dogs movement at its very best – there is no better sight than seeing a sound Stafford moving on a loose lead.

Best Bitch & Best of Breed – Samantha Avoscan’s  – Golden Force Red Seinti – below

Best Dog – Steve Chirol’s – Fast And Furious De Lan Vauxoise, pictured below

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Club Espanol del Staffordshire Bull Terrier

23/06/2012  – 10 classes

Dog CAC & Best of Breed – Zeus De El Doradostaff

Bitch CAC  & Reserve Best of Breed – Earthquake Staffs Don’t Kidding Me

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Downlands SBTC Championship Show – Dogs

3/6/2012 – 11 classes – 45 dogs

Dog CC – Mark & Marie Davies’ – Eclypstaff Cuz I Can

Black brindle with white on chest. His head shape is what I was looking for with dark well spaced round eyes and correct length and depth to muzzle. He scores heavily on body outline from all angles with his length of leg balancing with his depth of brisket and length of back. He has enough bone and tight feet with short black nails. This dog was one of the hardest here today with a strong backend allowing him to show active and agile movement. A gleaming short tight coat completes the picture and I was pleased to award him the CC and went on to RBIS.

Reserve DCC – Alport LocknLoad at Darkridge

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East Anglia SBTC Championship Show – bitches

30th May 2011 – 11 classes – 186 entries

Junior and Limit were both particularly strong with decisions made by splitting hairs and top quality bitches going cardless. Veteran was a pleasure with 12 bitches present – thanks for that.

Bitch CC – Julie Bibby & Stacey Hirst’s – Taraiel Rihanna

The more I looked at this black brindle the more taken I was with her. She has a lovely outline with all parts blending together and nothing hitting you in the face to say exaggeration. Her head is clean with round, well placed, dark eyes leading to a stunning expression. She is soundly built with enough length of leg and bone to balance with the length and depth of her body. She also caused the hardest decision of the day as all these positives were almost outweighed by her obvious hatred of the show ring – but in the end positive overruled negatives and she was awarded CC and Best Opposite sex.

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Dundalk CS (Ireland) General Championship Show

24th July 2010 – SBT – 9 classes – 38 dogs

Green Star Dog & BOB  – James Byrnes, Ch Lackyle Diabhal Dearbhchlo;

Reserve Green Star Dog – Ron Farrelly, Ronstaff The Dragon

Green Star Bitch – Ron Farrelly, Ronstaff Black Jewel;

Reserve Green Star Bitch – McFadden, Minnie Ha Ha

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Australian Capital Territory SBT Club Championship Show

10th April 2010  16 classes – 204 dogs

I would like to thank all concerned in the organisation of the excellently run show (I know from experience the logistics of everything coming together on the day), plus the administrations of my efficient steward.  I would also like to thank the exhibitors for bringing their dogs and accepting my decisions with good grace and also for bearing with me re the technical difficulties caused by my new Dictaphone!!!

I found the quality and depth in quality of the bitches far greater than in the dogs, especially pronounced in the headshape and expression. So many dogs had excessive flesh on their muzzle and this, coupled with the handler using the collar to drag even more flesh onto the head, caused the definition between muzzle and cheek bumps to disappear in a mass of wrinkle.

This aside I found movement to be good with the vast majority holding their outline on the move when viewed from the side – this being the result of general sound construction.

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Richmond Championship Show

12th September 2009  – SBT – 16 classes – 141 dogs, 149 entries

Thank you for a good typical entry. I was especially pleased with my dog line up. However, I found a number of exhibits with large overdone heads, too short muzzles and far too much excessive flesh on the head giving a totally false expression. The large Limit dog class was very good; my final cut with all quality dogs, in my opinion.

Bitch CC & BOBChris Hopkins’ – Ch Trufflestaff Monifa Konika

Every show needs a star and this was my star today. I loved the headshape and expression on this black brindle. Clean strong muzzle balanced with size and depth of skull and expression helped by round dark eyes. She has a true front with good lift and width balancing with her depth of brisket. Not overdone in spring of rib and showing a good tuck up and waistline. Well handled and pleased to give her the CC and BOB.

Dog CC Mick & Kim Dowse’s – Rotherstaff Black Tie

Lively black brindle with zest for life who does his best to hide his light under a bushel. He has the head and expression I was looking for with good stop and clean outline. His cheek bumps are well developed and he has neat rose ears. Good straight front with enough length of leg to balance and strong rear quarters. His body outline is excellent with a close coupled body and good spring of rib balanced with the correct depth of brisket. Movement was sound when he settled. Please to award him his 1st CC

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Finnish SBTY Speciality Championship Show

15th August 2009 – SBT – 6 classes – 79 dogs