Judge Mr Chris Thomas

The French Bulldog Club of England held a championship show on Sunday 18th April at the Bisley Pavilion, Surrey. My thanks to the committee for a most enjoyable appointment at this most impressive venue. I was very impressed with the entry overall and although I was pleased with all of my winners I felt there was more depth of quality in the bitch classes. Fronts need watching, as one or two were a little overdone, with a shade too much turn of forearm. Weak pasterns on a couple spoilt otherwise good front construction. We certainly seem to be getting more variation in type than was perhaps the case in the past - fortunately there were sufficient of correct type to be found in each class.

MPD. (8.) 1st Pearce’s Hetana Hot Gossip. Fawn. Masculine young man of lovely type. A strong head with good width between the ears, and a nicely shaped , well padded foreface. A dark mask and good expression completed the picture. Correct bodyshape but with a little too much substance to be able to really appreciate his lines. 2nd Krall’s Jafrak Pistols at Dorn. Fawn. Another first class head and expression with high, well set, ears. Still very much a baby but he already has a nice width across the shoulder and the squarest of fronts with strong pasterns and tight feet. With an attractive roach and good hind angulation he is another very promising youngster. 3rd Mavro-Michaelis’ Shoebridge Buzet.

PD. (6.2) 1st Bryant’s Risethor Tiger Tiger. Brindle. Lovely size with a handsome head and expression. Square skull with correct earset and lovely width between the eyes. Nice topline and although could perhaps be a shade higher on the foreleg, which should come with maturity, he has an overall good bodyshape with ample depth. BPD. 2nd Akhurst’s Tillcarr Didier Hotshot for Volens. Brindle. Slightly larger type but lots to like about him. He has a lovely bodyshape with a well set-on front and shoulder. Not quite the expression of the winner at the moment but he uses his correctly shaped, well placed ears to advantage. 3rd Duce’s Risethor Bulletproof at Alfiam.

JD (6.2) 1st Phillips’ Fatboy Bouncer. Brindle. Cracking head and expression with good width between his dark, round eyes and a nose set at just the right height correctly placed between. Lovely bodyshape with a good front and shoulder and ample bone down to good feet and pasterns. Pleasing roach finishing off nicely at a well angulated hindquarter. Another youngster full of promise. 2nd Williamson’s Kingfriend Mr. Oscar. Fawn. Lovely head and expression with super width between the eyes and a square skull. He has a well padded foreface of good width and depth although he could have a little neater in fit of underjaw. Pleasing bodyshape and tailset but rather on the leg at the moment and just needs to drop a little in brisket which should come with maturity. 3rd Haines’ D’Accoro Renee le Coste.

YD (2.) 1st Piper’s Ageancourt Jimson Weed at Heidsieck. Brindle. Nicely balanced head with a square skull giving ample width between correctly placed ears. Eyes set well apart. Cobby bodyshape with a nice front and shoulder, neat feet and a strong hindquarter. 2nd Hutchison-Hudson’s Birique Yoshi Brindle. A strong head but lacks maturity at the moment and muzzle needs to shorten a little as the head breaks up. Not quite the compactness of the winner but has a good topline, ample bone and a very nice back-end.

PGD (5.3) 1st Howell’s Skybull Philipe Auguste. Brindle. A strong head with plenty of work and good width between the eyes, a well padded foreface and correct nose placement. Lovely bodyshape overall, with a good spring of rib, but a little overdone in front and pasterns could be slightly firmer. Good hindquarter angulation and overall of good type. 2nd Thick’s Ageancourt French Thyme. Brindle. Lovely head shape and not quite as coarse in head as the winner. A cobby body which is just a little too short in back giving a level topline rather than the desired roach, although he still has much to like about him.

LD (3) 1st Barham’s Hetana Celtic Gold. Fawn. What a nicely balanced head with ears set high and wide on the squarest of skulls with correctly domed forehead and correct amount of work. Excellent nose placement between dark round eyes and good width and depth of foreface. Pleasing bodyshape with square front and neat feet. Ample spring of rib, cobby and compact, but with sufficient length of back to facilitate a roach. He had decided by the challenge that he really had exerted himself enough for one day. 2nd Mavro-Michaelis’ Shoebridge Francs. Brindle. A different type to the winner. Strong, square head with nice width and length of skull but could be a little shorter in muzzle. Square front, neat feet and good topline but a shade long in the loin, although overall still a quality exhibit. 3rd Towner’s Twinhoe Brian.

OD (2) 1st Pearce’s Ch. Hetana Paddy O’Reilly. Brindle. This dog has a strong head without any hint of coarseness and a finely wrinkled skull of good size with a correctly domed forehead. He has nicely shaped ears set high and wide. A deep stop separates round, dark and correctly set eyes. Muzzle of ideal proportions to balance head and good depth of underjaw with enough turn-up and super dentition. Compact bodyshape with plenty of substance throughout and a good front and shoulder. A little lethargic on the move. One from the top drawer. CC & BOS. 2nd Friend’s Multi/Int. Ch. Wham v.Fivelzight at Kingfriend. Brindle. Although slightly less substantial than the winner, everything is still in balance. A strong head with the squarest of skulls and lovely earset and placement. Excellent shoulder and strong bone with plenty of width to the front although pasterns could be a little stronger. He has an arched neck running into a pleasing topline. To be hypercritical he could be slightly shorter coupled, but he has a nice roached back, a good tuck-up and super hindquarter angulation. One of the best moving dogs here today. RCC.

VD (2.1) 1st Bonsall’s Ch. Muggshotts Casanova. Pied. Such a strong skull with excellent earset and carriage. Good width between eyes of correct shape. well defined cheeks. Could perhaps be a little shorter in muzzle but has well defined cheeks and a well padded foreface. Super bodyshape. One from the top drawer and moved better than most of the youngsters here today. I know his owner is rightly very proud of him and it is hard to believe he is a veteran.

Sp. O. Pied (2) 1st Greensmith’s Gizyjo Remmisson with Nachadbe JW. Sh.CM. Pied. Attractive head with well placed ears and lovely width between the eyes. Nicely domed forehead with well defined cheeks although a little more strength of muzzle would give the head more balance. Lovely front and shoulder with good bone down to neat feet. Short coupled body with a pleasing topline but a little more substance throughout would complete the picture. 2nd Piper’s Pivotal Ebony Snow at Heidsieck. Pied. Nicely made head but could be a little more masculine. Good neck into a short coupled body but a little overdone in front with a shade too much turn of forearm.

Sp. O. Fawn (2.1) 1st Hall’s Risethor Rumbaba at Marbrian. Fawn. Strong headed, although work a little coarse. Excellent width between correctly set round eyes separated by a deep stop and well placed nose. Plenty of bone down to compact feet with good overall bodyshape and a pleasing topline and tailset.

Sp. O. Brindle. (4.1) 1st Piper’s Ageancourt Jimson Weed at Heidsieck. 2nd Howell’s Skybull Philipe Auguste. 3rd Thick’s Ageancourt French Thyme.

MPB (11.1) What a lovely class of babies where at least the first three could have won on another day. 1st Bootle & Harrison’s Tutu Much. Brindle. What a beautiful head and expression this young lady has. She is quite mature for her age and has a lovely earset and carriage and ample width between her expressive round dark eyes. Good spread and depth of foreface for such a youngster with an excellent nose placement. Strong front and shoulder with ample bone, a very nice topline and well-made back-end. 2nd Chambers’ Glenlee Indian Spirit at Luvum. Fawn. A pretty little bitch that oozes quality and just needs time to mature. Such an attractive head and expression with her black muzzle, dark eyes, good pigmentation and correct ears. First-rate bodyshape with a nice topline and tailset. 3rd Patience’s Portenta Perchance to Dream.

PB (9.2) 1st Rawsthorne’s Risethor Poker Face. Fawn. Very mature youngster with ample substance. A strong square head with just enough work on a beautifully wide skull. Nicely padded foreface of good width and depth, well filled under the eyes. Nice bone and good depth of brisket. Overall a quality bodyshape with a good spring of rib and neat well angulated hindquarters. 2nd Gray’s Muggshott’s Miss Toby Twirl. Brindle. Nicely made head with a lovely earset and carriage. A strong skull with a domed forehead and deep stop. Dark eyes nicely positioned but an otherwise well placed nose needs to shorten slightly as she matures. Good bodyshape, short coupled with a neat tailset. Another very promising youngster. 3rd Friend’s Kingfriend Miss Bubbles.

JB (8.) 1st Chapman & Conway’s Norcairn Dark Angel. Brindle. When I asked how old, to discover she was still a puppy I must admit to be a little surprised as she has the maturity to not look out of place in junior. Such a feminine head and expression with everything in proportion. Lovely ears of correct shape and size used to advantage. Her nose placement is lovely set between dark round eyes. Her muzzle is wide and deep, well padded with no hint of falling away under the eyes. Good depth of underjaw with excellent dentition and sufficient turn to give that correct look with a tight fit of underjaw and just enough chin to complete the picture. Lovely shape to her body with a super roach that actually starts and finishes where it is supposed to with a low tailset and an equally attractive underline finishing with a correct tuck-up. Ample width across the shoulder with straight bone down to strong pasterns and neat feet. She moved around the ring as though she owned it and it was a pleasure to award her the CC, her first, BIS & BPIS. 2nd Ash’s Crindle’s Hot Gossip at Fabelhaft. Brindle. Another most promising youngster. Attractive expression with dark round eyes well set in a strong skull. Slightly too much turn of forearm but otherwise a pleasing bodyshape with good spring of rib and a lovely depth of brisket. Nice topline and tail set with a well angulated hindquarter. 3rd Vaile’s Fayeloui Brunetta.

YB. (5.2) 1st Quin’s Nirojo Imperial Rose JW. Brindle. Very sweet head and expression of super quality with everything in balance. Needs to drop a little in brisket, otherwise pleasing bodyshape with a lovely roached back. Ribcage could be a shade longer which gives her a slightly exaggerated underline and tuck-up, but still of a lovely type overall. 2nd Hines & Ashard’s Bredwardine Matilda. Fawn. Slightly more work in head but with a well-padded black muzzle and well filled under the eyes. Nice shoulder and straight bone, roached back and a short coupled body but still with good length and spring of rib. 3rd Richardson’s Riccibet Pretty Baby.

PGB (7.2) 1st Martin’s Inyawood Suite Francaise. Brindle. Pleasing head with high placed ears with good width between. Nose placement at correct height, but just needs to shorten slightly in muzzle with maturity. Lovely arch of neck into a correctly roached back. Lovely bodyshape with a super front and shoulder and ample bone to strong pasterns and tight feet. 2nd Mavro-Michaelis’ Shoebridge Vouvray. Fawn. Well padded foreface and nice width between the eyes, but could do with a little more fill under. Otherwise everything in proportion giving a pretty, feminine expression. Pleasing topline to a well-rounded back-end. 3rd Ash’s Zandaplatz Pitter Patter.

MLB (2.1) 1st Fisher’s Grandesign’s Centerfold. Brindle. Strong head with good length from eye to ear and a square skull. A little nosey but good width between the eyes which are well-set. Well defined cheeks but foreface could be slightly more cushioned. Good shoulder and nicely roached back. Square front and decent tuck-up. Cobby body but lacks a little in hind angulation.

LB (5.3) 1st Cutter’s Dappledan Paris. Brindle. Plenty of substance. Ears of good shape set well apart. Strong skull with a nicely balanced foreface. Dark eyes, good nose placement and a lovely fit of underjaw. Nice width of chest and good depth of brisket. Plenty of bone with a good topline and strong hindquarters. 2nd Vaile’s Fayeloui Azura. Fawn. Strong skull but could do with a little more work. Needs to shorten a little in muzzle but has a lovely earset. Square front with plenty of bone. A pleasing topline to a well-made back-end.

OB (5.3) 1st Friend’s Iamadorable de la Parure of Kingfriend. Brindle. Lovely head and expression with a good fit of underjaw. Plenty of depth to the underjaw with a correct turn-up and good width between the canines. Nose, with open nostrils, set well back between the eyes at just the right height. Strong skull and a lovely earset which she used to full advantage. Square front with a good shoulder and strong pasterns. Well arched neck into a lovely bodyshape with ample length of rib and correct topline. Her underline could be a little more shapely but she has a strong, well angulated hindquarter and overall she is a cracking bitch, beautifully presented and looked as though she could have moved all day. RCC & RBIS. 2nd Ash’s Rosdyke Fallen Madonna for Zandaplatz. Pied. Pretty femine head with a good nose placement and enough work in her skull. Lovely ear shape and carriage although a little more strength of muzzle would complete the head. Well balanced bodyshape and a strong backend which showed on the move.

VB (4.1) 1st Harrison’s Tommyville Thora Thorndyke. Fawn. 9 years. What a great ambassador for the breed. In superb condition with a head type that could give some of the youngsters a run for their money. Lovely front and shoulder with a good topline and tailset. Showed her socks off and seemed to be enjoying her day out. Moved soundly, showing her super square front and good hind angulation. BVIS. 2nd De’Ath’s Iverfrenchie Coco Chanel. Fawn. 7yrs. Nice width and length of skull with high-set ears well apart. Although not quite the strength of head of the winner she still has an unmistakable look of quality. She has maintained a good overall bodyshape although perhaps carrying a shade too much weight which could easily happen to me when I reach 49! 3rd Martin’s Sadepa Happy Hattie at Skybull.

Sp. O. Pied. (3.1) 1st Stemp’s Hetana Whispa to the Moon of Laudernell. Pied. Very feminine and of a lovely type, although she really did not want to show herself off today. Super front and shoulder, She has a strong skull and a square head of excellent depth. Fantastic width between high, well set, ears. Excellent nose placement and a well padded foreface that balances the head beautifully. What a pleasing bodyshape with a square front with ample bone, neat feet and strong pasterns. Nice short loin with a good topline and pleasing tuck-up, although a little more hind angulation would complete the picture. 2nd Ash’s Rosdyke Fallen Madonna for Zandaplatz.

Sp. O. Fawn (2.1) 1st Harrison’s Tommyville Thora Thorndyke.

Sp. O. Brindle. (2) 1st Chapman & Conway’s Norcairn Dark Angel. 2nd Pearce’s Hetana Mia. Brindle. Very nice type with a strong, beautifully balanced head with a wide skull and excellent ear placement. Eyes of correct shape, set well apart and good nose placement between. Good depth of foreface but could be a little wider. Overall pleasing bodyshape with a nice topline.

Chris Thomas (Judge)

(l to r) Dog CC & & BOS. Pearce's Ch Hetana Paddy O'Reilly; Best Veteran Harrisons' Tommyville Thora Thorndyke; Judge Mr Chris Thomas; Bitch CC & Best in Show - Chapman & Conway's Norcain Dark Angel; Res Bitch CC & Res BIS Friend's lamadrable de la Parure of Kingfriend.