The French Bulldog Club Of England
Open Show Sunday 19 June 2011
Critique & Results - Judge: Rodney Oldham
In these days of falling open show entries to be
invited to judge a club show is indeed a rare opportunity for any of us to
experience judging a good number of a breed. This show was no exception and I
really appreciated the turnout on the day and welcomed the chance to further the
learning process. As a non specialist my overall impressions were firstly that
the breed seems to be in a pretty good healthy state, there were no noisy
breathers or real problem eyes and all were able to move freely around the ring
if they so wished. I was very mindful of the standards introduction where it
states “sturdy, compact and solid……….balance essential”. Finding dogs that
fulfilled that description whilst also possessing the other breed requirements
was not always easy! There were quite a few that I considered either too short
on the leg or too long in back and whilst most had reasonable to good spring of
rib many disappointed in the length to ribcage ie. ribs were short and
coupling/loin area too long. The degree of “gently roached back” varied
considerably from totally flat and level to what I would consider overdone thus
the lay to croups causing a variety of tailsets and incorrect hind angulation.
Heads were frequently very well balanced with the desired bat ears set and used
correctly, very few showing too much white in the eye. I felt the degree of open
nostril needs watching since although none were really pinched to cause
breathing difficulties some were close to the mark and possibly the nose leather
set a little low in the head. Some lacked sufficient width and finish to muzzle
with a few looking narrow in muzzle and down faced. These are only observations
that I made as an ‘outsider’ based on the dogs present and examined. Thank you
once again for the entry and hope you enjoyed your day as much as I did.
MPD(3) 1st Rawsthornes Risethor Mr
Brightside, brindle who scored here for balance, at
just turned 6m obviously still quite raw but has the makings of a good head and
expression with ears and dark eyes well placed, he possesses a decent front
assembly and is well ribbed in length and spring for his age, topline displays a
gentle roach and hindquarters are moderately define, just needs time to settle
in action and showmanship.
2nd Pearce & Holmes Sibovelds Sandiego at Hetana, attractive pied who although
also very raw has much appeal, liked the layout to his head with good width to
muzzle already apparent, open nostrils, ribcage developing, earned his place on
good breed type and excellent hindquarters.
3rd Hines Hetana Imperial Envoy.
PD(3) 1st Longdons Alsuma Shady Knight,
well grown br with excellent substance, carrying enough weight and just needing
to firm up all-round, impressive headpiece with broad flat backskull, well
placed ears, defined stop and dark eyes, width to muzzle and firm underjaw, good
broad chest and straight forelimbs, strong neck and very well ribbed up with
firm short loin, some shape to topline but would prefer a little more definition
through stifles, steady willing mover, BPD
& BPIS.
2nd Goodman & Sweetmans Lairdstom Optimus Prime, well mannered pied who needs to
fill out his frame as yet, shows some definition through topline and has sound
moderately defined quarters, true enough on the move. 3rd Neills Bullhill I am
Pierre avec Lordsbarton.
JD(7,3abs) 1st Longdons Alsuma Shady Knight.
2nd Moorings Vaghna’s Leonardo, very showy and most capably handled, ears set in
desired upright position and used to advantage, skull is fairly broad and eyes
dark, stop defined and muzzle in reasonable balance, still needs to fill out in
rib and body, tidy mover.
3rd Hiltons Castlehaines Dare Devil.
PGD(4) 1st Burtons Morvern Frank avec Labanjo ,RBD. well built fawn of good
proportions, head has size and is well balanced with width right through and
full in cheek, ears set high, definite stop between round dark eyes, firm
underjaw and turn-up, straight forelimbs and firm elbows, very well ribbed up,
definition to topline could be more apparent, moderate bend to stifles, very
respectable mover.
2nd Cairns Kidwelly Eight, masculine pied with heard properties well laid out,
nose set high, decent front and strong neck, ribs fairly well sprung, gentle
roach over firm loin, just enough rear definition, steady mover. 3rd English
Feniton Freddy Flintoff at Barmark.
LD(5,3) 1st Drummonds Glenlee Golden Eagle,
very compact fawn with balanced outline, head proportionate to size, fairly
masculine and features well laid out, strong neck of moderate length into tidy
shoulders and front, just enough definition to topline, ribs quite well sprung,
moderate turn of stifle, moves out well and covers the ground easily in profile.
2nd Keats Nokomis Lone Wolf, br with attractive headpiece although could project
himself better, round dark expressive eye, neat ears and placement, balanced
muzzle and firm underjaw, ribs are well sprung, liked his hindquarters and sound
action, preferred more compact outline of 1.
OD(5,2)1st Duce's Ch Risethor Bulletproof
at Alfiam, really liked this br, lovely for
size and compactly constructed, head proportions and expression spot on, broad
flat backskull and full forehead, ears and eyes well placed and muzzle of good
width and depth, best of fronts right down to tight feet, strong neck, very well
ribbed up and carried back, firm loin with gentle roach, defined tuck up, tail
is set and carried low, well modelled and muscled hindquarters, very sound happy
mover, BD & RBIS.
2nd Barhams Hetana Celtic Gold at Karlbull, fawn so well balanced and compact in
outline, strength to his masculine head, powerful neck of moderate length, well
coupled, good front assembly, ribs well sprung, not the hindquarters of 1, sound
mover.
3rd Hiltons Castlehaines Dare Devil.
VD(1) 1st English Sadepa Bighorn at Barmark,
9yo fawn shown in good firm condition, skull is flat and broad with defined
stop, still possesses a good mouth, strong neck into respectable topline with
gentle roach, firm loin, low set tail, moderate hind angulation, sprightly
mover.
SpOPied 1st Cairns Kidwelly Eight.
SpOFawn 1st Halls Risethor Rumbaba,
well grown fawn of much substance, head rather stronger than ideal but features
well proportioned and placed, broad chest and straight limbs, well ribbed and
quite short coupled, some definition to topline, stifles well turned and
developed second thigh, low set tail, sound true mover.
SpOBr(3,1) 1st Bryants Risethor Tiger Tiger
with Archness, paler br, good for head and
expression, ears correctly set and used, balanced skull to muzzle, touch low on
leg, fair spring to ribs, roach somewhat more than gentle, respectable
hindquarters and moves out with style. 2nd Hiltons Castlehaines Dare Devil,
stronger coloured with defined brindling, possesses a very attractive head with
masculine features well laid out, lovely eye, expression and finish to mouth,
enough rib and gentle roach, fair hindquarters, touch unsettled today and never
really got into his correct stride.
MPB(8,3) 1st Pearces Hetana Zena Belle,
attractive br baby of 7m, raw but has plenty of potential, strength developing
in skull and foreface, dark eye, good finish to mouth and underjaw, neat ears
when used, best of front assemblies, strong neck, for tender age she is well
ribbed up and carried back, desired topline with gentle rise plus tuck up,
scored here in hindquarters, moved out steadily and true. 2nd Rawsthorne
Risethor Poppiholla, very similar in most respects and was splitting hairs, just
preferred pastern and feet of 1, another tidy sound mover.
3rd Richardsons Sibovelds Savannah at Riccibet.
PB(4,2) 1st Hines & Ashards Rycolah
Motorama Girl,
BPB. fawn with black
mask, compact and short coupled presenting a very balanced outline, head is
quite well developed for age, well filled with good finish to mouth, decent
shoulder with straight front to good feet, good neck, ribs are well sprung for
age and extend back well, gentle roach to topline, moderate definition to
stifles, good true mover. 2nd Betts Lairdstom Mols Back for Good, br which by
comparison is rather long caste, dark expressive eyes, open nostrils, ribs quite
well formed for age, topline touch dippy and tailset high, moderate angulation
to rear, steady mover.
JB(3,2) 1st Tanners Bespokebully Lil Mis
London Bexbull, 14m br, well grown with substance
and in proportion, broad head, definite stop, dark eyes, strong neck, good
spring to ribs, shade long in couplings, good low set tail, some rear
definition, pale toenails, sound enough on the move and steady in her showing.
PGB(5,1) 1st Hines & Ashards Bredwardine
Rydyah, br who presents a very neat compact
package, very attractive head and expression, broad skull, dark eyes, deep stop,
muzzle with good width, decent neck, shoulder and front down to tidy feet, ribs
developing, firm topline with gentle roach, excellent hindquarters, sound true
mover. 2nd Edwards Fayeloui Blanche, fawn, another very neat package, head well
laid out but not quite the intense expression of 1, clean neck and shoulder,
well ribbed and good for topline, she too has sound hindquarters and moves out
freely, ably handled. 3rd Englishs Feniton Flippertygibbet at Barmark.
LB(8,2) 1st Pearces Hetana Angel,
this pied has much appeal, handy size, compact with attractive head and
expression, ribs well formed and coupling short, good for topline with gently
defined roach, lay to croup giving low set tail and strong quarters with
definition to stifles, steady showgirl who demonstrated sound true action, very
worthy RBB. 2nd
Quins Nirojo Imperial Rose, ultra feminine but br could be better defined, very
neat headpiece, enough bone for size, lovely eye and expression, strong neck,
very well ribbed up, firm loin with gentle rise, really scored here on hind
angulation and low set hocks, good sound and true mover. 3rd Martins Skybull
Blanche D’Castle.
OB(2) 1st Conway & Chapman's Ch Norcairn
Dark Angel, sturdily built and all dog whilst
retaining femininity, loved her head with complimenting features well laid out
without exaggeration, correct balance between skull and muzzle, dark eyes well
placed aside good stop, nose correctly placed, good finish to underjaw, strong
neck, well ribbed up and firm in loin with gently roached topline, good low
tailset, super hindquarters and action, shows so steadily and projects herself
to advantage, BIS.
2nd Quins Abbeymills Javu Day at Nirojo, ultra feminine in clean outline,
perfectly balanced, well laid shoulders, good topline with roach and ribs
sprung, tidy hindquarters and truest of movers.
VB(1) 1st Harrisons Tommyville Thora
Thorndyke, fawn/BM, soundly and strongly put
together, at 10.1/2 is in great condition and can make her presence felt, clear
eyes and good finish to mouth, broad chest, gentle definition to quarters, moves
out sprightly with purpose.
SpOBr 1st Quins Abbeymills Javu Day at
Nirojo.
Rodney Oldham
(Judge)