KC Breed Standard

Southern Counties 15 Judge

STAFFORDSHIRE BULL SOUTHERN COUNTIES 15

Judge(s): DAVID LEVY

DCC GOLDEN BOY TRUFFLESTAFF OF SPIRIT-STAFF (IMP DEU) ( HOPKINS & GABEL)
RDCC BIGGLESWICK FUNKY DEVIL JW (Mr S & K THOMAS & THOMAS)
BCC RUADONIS DELILAH'S DELIGHT JW (MR J & MRS A ELRICK)
RBCC ASHBULL OMEE (MRS N MOORCROFT)
BOB GOLDEN BOY TRUFFLESTAFF OF SPIRIT-STAFF (IMP DEU) ( HOPKINS & GABEL)
BP BRAUNSTAFF FROM HASBURY (MR N DAVIES)

STAFFORDSHIRE BULL JUDGE SOUTHERN COUNTIES 15

Staffordshire Bull Terriers

I was delighted to have such an excellent entry in terms of both quantity & quality with very few absentees & I must begin by thanking all the exhibitors who brought their Staffords under me. I was pleased to find mouths vastly improved compared to my recent judging experience & although movement is still not a strong point in the breed I didn’t find any extreme problems. There were some exaggerations & mismatches in terms of size & weight but generally speaking, the majority of exhibits were fit & healthy & typical of the breed.

I did notice a few light eyes. In some cases these might come under the phrase ‘may bear some relation to coat colour’ but in my time I have seen large round dark eyes in Staffords of every coat colour so the genes are there. It would be a great shame if the typical intense Stafford expression were to become weakened by losing the deep brown coloured eye.

Of course one problem of judging is that ideally we are able to select winners of similar type but that can make distinguishing them in these notes quite difficult. I apologise if it seems I am repeating myself but balance & conformity with the breed Standard is the name of the game so my intention is always to select the specimens displaying those ideal characteristics that typify this great breed.

As dogs tend to live longer these days, maybe it is time for ‘the powers that be’ to consider splitting veteran classes; perhaps 7 to 10 years & over 10. Maybe 20 years ago we still got to see the famous past Ch still ‘strutting their stuff’ & clearly enjoying the temporary return to the scene of their glorious victories. Now the gap seems so great between the 7 & 12 year olds that the older ch are rarely seen. I think this is a loss for these great dogs as well as the public.

SCCA is a well run society & Val & I were both made to feel very welcome both at our hotel & at the show itself so a big thank you to the committee for appointing me & for your generous hospitality. Just one very little point was that many exhibits, dogs & bitches tried to walk sniffing at the ground. Obviously this was second day of the show but if there’s anything that can be done to minimise odours it would make for fewer re-walks.

MPD

1 Rowe & South’s Illori Akinlana, this fit 9 months balanced brindle with a well shaped head, broad skull, excellent mouth, round dark eyes & pronounced cheeks fitted into a clean outline. He has good bone, tidy shoulders & developing brisket & ribcage consistent with his age, a level topline & moved well;

2 Papworth’s Tiezelstaff Moonshine Bay, generally larger despite being only 8½ months, this red was carrying some puppy fat but has all the necessary qualities to improve as he matures. He has a strong head, excellent pigmentation, correct bite & tidy lips.

PD

1 Davies’ Braunstaff from Hasbury, only 9½ months but this traditional brindle presents almost the complete picture. He demonstrates both strength & balance in a neat & tidy package. He has a strong & well shaped head with breadth, ideal proportion of muzzle to skull, perfect scissor bite, rose ears & round dark eyes. He has pronounced cheek muscles & although his lips are a bit heavy they are OK. His body is also very well balanced, standing foursquare & pleasing to the eye. He has a broad front, excellent rib & adequate brisket considering his young age. He is well muscled with strong bone, a level topline & well-muscled hindquarters. He moved well although without the drive & power that might come as he matures. An excellent specimen & well worth BP;

2 Rowbotham’s Elitebull Black And Brass, although a couple of days older than 1, this b/br lad is quite immature so less of him to appreciate. However, he does display many excellent qualities including a well-shaped head, excellent bite & round, dark eyes. He has good bone, adequate rib, a level topline & also moves well enough though without the driving power - yet.

JD

1 Hirst & Bibby’s Taraiel Busta Rhymes, a balanced brindle just over 15 months with a strong head, short foreface, neat ears, pronounced stop, dark eyes & an excellent mouth. He has a deep brisket, well-sprung ribs, level topline, muscled, rounded hindquarters & well knit feet;

2 Sherwood’s Yiskastaff Dark Knight, this darker brindle is only just over the 12 months but is already maturing well with a strong broad shapely head, scissor bite, excellent expression & noticeable cheek muscles. He has strong bone, well-sprung ribs, a level topline & also has tidy, typical feet;

3 Woollett’s Assilio Red Alert.

YD

1 Lavington’s Caymenstaffs One In A Million, a well presented, 22 months, balanced brindle with a typical head, very tidy ears & excellent expression from round, dark eyes. He doesn’t have exaggerated width but remains balanced with proportionate brisket, excellent spring of rib & strong bone. Interestingly his topline looked better – in fact near perfect – while walking which is not common in the breed but is desirable & just won him 1st;

2 Mitchell & Ashton’s Our Little Cracker, there has been a lot of discussion about the prevalence, high prices & limited quality of blue Staffords on the internet & being registered. This 21 month old proves that blue – in this case a bl/br – remains a valid colour for the breed & can still come in a quality package. He was a little tall but thoroughly balanced. He has a shapely skull, very soft & thin, rose ears & an excellent expression although with a slightly lighter eye. He has adequate rib & brisket, a level topline & well-developed hindquarters;

3 Barke’s Rubikanov Wot A Cracker at Starhaze.

GD

1 Hopkins & Gable’s Golden Boy Trufflestaff of Spirit-Staff, a small class, only the one new dog but a good one. A very well balanced brindle just over 16 months but already fully mature & presenting a striking square pose. He has a shapely head with a broad skull, neat ears & tidy lips, a perfect scissor bite with large teeth, a square, wide muzzle & typical Stafford expression from round dark eyes. His body is also excellent with adequate depth of brisket, well sprung ribs, super bone & a level topline that held level as he moved with noticeable drive around the ring. His feet are also tight without being too small & overall he thoroughly deserved the honours on the day. CC & BOB;

2 T Moonshine Bay.

PGD

1 Golden Boy Trufflestaff of S-S;

2 Downes’ Waystaff Double Trouble, a r/w dog in almost all other ways quite similar to the winner. He is compact & well-balanced, has a strong shapely head, broad skull, neat ears, excellent mouth, round, dark eyes & a super expression. He also has a broad front, deep brisket, well-sprung ribs & a level topline held well as he drove round the ring. He was certainly challenging strongly both for the class & the RCC;

3 Davies’ Ginstean Man Of God.

LD

1 Thomas’ Biggleswick Funky Devil, a powerful, r/w pied with a few black spots on the skin, shown fit & in his prime. He is balanced throughout, has a well-shaped head with breadth & depth, neat ears, excellent expression with round, deep, dark eyes. He has a perfect scissor bite & tidy lips. His body is essentially square from all angles with a broad chest, adequate depth of brisket, well-sprung ribs & a level topline. He was another that held his topline when moving around the ring & also gave every indication of drive & power as he moved. RCC;

2 Stanway’s Waystaff What A Cracker, he won Junior under me at WKC nearly 2 years ago & has continued to improve. He is a balanced ‘traditional’ mahogany brindle & it is good to see this colour reappearing in the ring. He has a well-shaped head, perfect scissor bite, well set shoulders, square front, deep brisket & plenty of rib. As last time, he moved well & held his topline on the move;

3 Fletcher & Seedhouse’s Granitangel Supergiant.

OD

1 Membury’s Mitzstaff Fun To Flex, this one was also at WKC & took 2nd in Open plus RCC there. He is a balanced brindle with an excellent head, broad front, well-set shoulders, adequate depth of brisket, well-sprung ribs, a level topline & well-rounded hindquarters. He was one of the best moving dogs on the day;

2 Bruton’s Zakstaff Black Baron, a b/br with a strong head, broad skull, excellent mouth, round dark eyes & scissor bite. He is a well structured dog throughout with ample bone, muscular, plenty of rib & a level topline;

3 Dickenson & Asberg’s Swe Ch Kronsaters Lycktraff.

V

1 Funnell’s Ch Kewaunee Pocahontas for Powerpack, a balanced & fit 7½ years brindle with an excellent head, scissor bite & dark round eyes. She is balanced with plenty of bone, a broad front, adequate brisket & barrel ribs. She has well rounded hindquarters, a level topline & moved well in the class;

2 Hopkins’ Ch Trufflestaff Monifa Kanika, an 8 years brindle with many attributes similar to 1, although showing her age just that little more in terms of the first signs of grey around her muzzle & the topline not supported quite as level as in her younger days;

3 Fletcher & Seedhouse’s Granitangel Solar Flare.

MPB

1 Hopkins & Gabel’s Kahuna Trufflestaff of Spirit-Staffs, a 7 months brindle baby, quite balanced. She does have a well shaped head, perfect scissor bite & a delightful & typical expression. She has enough brisket & rib & a level topline. Her hindquarters are already quite well-muscled & her hocks let down. She was the best mover in the class although all of them were typical of their age & none were really showing up to their potential yet;

2 Johnson’s Ginstean My Girl Lollipop, just a week older & a little more mature & rounded throughout. This brindle also has a typical head, excellent expression, scissor bite, plenty of bone & a deeper brisket;

3 Payton’s Tonpay Anythin Could Happen.

PB

1 McDermott’s Macadermus Ruby Tuesday, just over 9 months, this brindle has a shapely head, neat ears, round dark eyes, an excellent expression & a perfect scissor bite. She has a deep brisket, well set hindquarters, a level topline & moved with purpose;

2 Thomas’ Sunnystone Bit Of Brimstone, another b/br, also just 9 months with a strong shapely head, neat ears & a short foreface. She has excellent bone, deep brisket, well-muscled hindquarters & a level topline;

3 Barke’s Felkirkstaff at Starhaze.

JB

1 Shipp’s Hammystaff Fine China, at 13½ months this r/w pied somehow reminded me of a slightly old fashioned Stafford. She does have a broad skull but she is generally a little longer than has become popular over the last 15 years or so. She has pronounced cheek muscles, dark round eyes & a perfect scissor bite. Where she does excel is her deep brisket, well sprung ribs, level topline held on the move, her round hindquarters & powerful movement;

2 Thomson’s Starolestaff Lady Bea with Siriustaff, just over 12 months & generally smaller than 1 but this balanced, traditional brindle has a well-shaped head, excellent stop & a scissor bite. I particularly liked the powerful shoulders without being overdone, balanced brisket & rib, her level topline, & developing hindquarters. She has a bit of maturing to do but could come on nicely;

3 Waters’ Pride Staff’s Happy Feet at Ashstock.

YB

1 Elrick’s Ruadonis Delilah’s Delight, barely out of Junior but this power pack of a Stafford bitch really took my eye. She is just so balanced throughout, looking like a compressed box of muscle from every angle. She has a very well proportioned head with a broad skull, dark round eyes, a super expression, strong muzzle, perfect scissor bite with good size teeth & clean lips. However, where she really scores is her powerful, compact body exuding controlled power. She has a broad front, adequate brisket, masses of rib, powerful shoulders, a level topline & such well-developed hindquarters with hocks let down. She wasn’t the very best moving bitch I saw on the day but certainly not far off. CC;

2 Canavan’s Boldstock Am I Bovered, an 18 months brindle with a shapely head, broad skull, typical expression, round dark eyes & scissor bite. She has good bone, a level topline & well muscled hindquarters;

3 Dyer’s Cadarnbull The Sixth Sense.

GB

1 Harris’ Angelmart Pearl Of Luke, a balanced muscled brindle with an excellent head shape, neat ears, round dark eyes & a good mouth. Another with muscular shoulders she also has a deep brisket, level topline, powerful hindquarters & moved well;

2 Hirst & Bibby’s Taraiel Lorde, a finer brindle with long white socks. She has an attractive head & expression, a level topline & well-formed hindquarters.

PGB

1 Tucker’s Stafftastic Grace Delilah, a very well pigmented red with a white vest. This bitch has a typical feminine head & expression with a perfect scissor bite & clean lips. She has a broad front, deep brisket, adequate rib, well-muscled hindquarters, tidy feet & a topline held level as she moved;

2 Wilkes’ Mishdar’s Special Order for Jevaces, a b/br with broad well shaped head, typical expression, neat ears, excellent mouth & tidy lips. She has a broad front, deep brisket, well sprung ribs & a level topline;

3 Thomas’ Sunnystone Olympic Dream.

LB

1 Moorcroft’s Ashbull Omee, a balanced brindle with an excellent head, typical expression, round dark eyes, a strong muzzle with a short foreface, scissor bite & tidy lips. She has a broad front, adequate bone throughout, a deep brisket & a barrel of ribs. She has good feet neither too large nor small, well shaped hindquarters & a level topline. If anything she looked even better in the challenge than she did in her class. RCC;

2 Merrick’s Seabull Temptress Of Fire for Magicgem, primarily a red with mainly white face, vest & socks. She has a super head, dark round eyes, scissor bite, strong underjaw & clean lips. She has a broad front, adequate depth of brisket, masses of rib & well developed hindquarters;

3 Kastner & Blacker’s Bullrichs Burning Heart.

OB

1 Hirst & Bibby’s Ch Taraiel Ciara, yet another from WKC, 2nd in Open & RCC then. Although she is now over 5 years my notes are remarkably similar. She is a balanced brindle bitch with a typically shaped feminine head, neat rose ears, good mouth & prominent cheek muscles. She has a broad front, deep brisket, well-sprung ribs & good bone throughout. She has tidy feet, very well muscled hindquarters & a level topline;

2 Bruton’s Zakstaff Black Duchess, litter sister to 2nd in Open Dog. She is also a balanced brindle with a shapely head, round dark eyes, excellent expression, neat ears, a good mouth & noticeable cheek muscles. Deep brisket & well sprung ribs, level topline, developed hindquarters & moved well the second time;

3 Jones’ Rougestaff Flaming Ice.

DAVID B LEVY

Go To Top Of Page