I was very honoured to be invited by Garden State Mastiff Fanciers to judge at Trenton Show. The hospitality John and I were given was excellent. Luckily we managed to fly to Newark despite looming volcanic ash problems and after what seemed an interminable delay to get through immigration there were Carl & Bes patiently waiting to transport us to our hotel. Whilst John was judging Bucks I was looked after by Bill & Linda Horton who kindly invited me to their lovely home and made me feel so very welcome. I also met their rescue, Jake, who is a very lucky mastiff indeed to live in the Horton household. Chuck took John and me out for a tour of the area on the Friday and both he and Lucie were fabulous hosts. We visited the Feinsbert’s home and saw all the rescue mastiffs in that lovely setting. I was absolutely awestruck by the superhuman effort that Chuck & Lucie put into rescue. Very many thanks to these people who hosted us and made our time in the US so special and a special thank you to the exhibitors who gave me the honour of judging 120 of their mastiffs.
The day of the show was cold and windy, not so good for the humans but good for the dogs. My two stewards were exceptional and helped me along with the unfamiliar paperwork. Overall I thought that the quality of the mastiffs was high and temperaments were good. I just had one shy little girl but it could well have been the windy conditions that caused her to be unsettled that day and she wasn’t going to play the game. There were a few badly undershot mouths but also some excellent scissor bites. Stifles, on the whole, were excellent although some exhibits had such large bursers, particularly on the hocks, that it spoiled their general outline.
I have two issues to raise that I feel strongly about. The first being baiting. Sometimes I couldn’t see the head properly because the handler’s fingers were literally inside the dog’s mouth with the resulting slobber and the dog turning its head away from the judge looking for more bait. Secondly, some of the dogs were being strung up so severely that it spoiled the overall outline of the head and neck and in one particular case distorted the natural lay of the shoulder. Mastiffs don’t need to be garrotted and asked to run along on tippy-toes - they look very good in their own natural stance.
Puppy 6 months and under 9 months - Dogs
1: ROCKEE TOP GATEHOUSE SO I RIDE
Quality fawn puppy that moved with drive, Good head with nice dark mask and correct eye. Excellent construction with good bone and bend of stifle. Showed well.
2: LAUREL’S PALADIN CYNE-AMEN
Lovely brindle puppy with very pleasing head with excellent stop and kind expression. Sound construction. Showed well.
3: LAUREL MASTIFFS SPECTACULAR SPARTACUS
A typy puppy with good bone. A shade long in loin at the moment but nevertheless good general proportions
12 – 18 month, Dogs
1: TIERNAN’S LOVABLE SEAIMPIN
Handsome youngster with typical head. Plenty of bone and substance with well laid shoulder. Moved freely. Well muscled and in fine condition. At 18 months he can only get better.
2: CELESTIAL DUDE WITH THE TUDE
Quality fawn with good mask, dark eyes and excellent ear set. Good outline, depth of body and nice spring of rib. Moved well round the ring.
3: BEOWULF’S BIT O’BLARNEY
Fawn dog of good size and substance. Nice head with tight eyes and nice expression.
Novice Dogs
1: EASTWINDS MOE FO YO MONEY
Although this dog stood alone in the class I was pleased to award him a first prize. Excellent front end with deep chest, good bend of stifle and level top line.
Bred-by-Exhibitor, Dogs
1: OWENSPRIDE BETTER WEIGHT THAN NEVER. Best of Breed & Best Winners Dog.
An absolute eye catcher who stole the show for me. Substantial fawn dog with well balanced height to length. Fabulous head with dark mask and good ear placement. Plenty of depth, broad front, good angulation. Moved freely. Sympathetically handled.
2: BELLAWOODS SPECIAL AGENT DINOZO
Fawn dog with correct bite. A little short in back but with good rear end angulation and plenty of bone. Moved well
3 LORDS SULLIVAN O’MALLEY
Brindle dog with correct construction overall. Moved OK.
American-bred, Dogs
1: HIS MAJESTY RUDOLPH CHRISTMAS EXPRESS
Outstanding dark brindle dog. Good square head, dark eyes and correct ear set. Splendid bone, nice tight feet. Moved with drive and purpose.
2: LORD EASTWINDS MADE MAN
Dark brindle in excellent condition. Good construction all round. Moved freely round the ring.
3: EASTWINDS IVORY HOT CIDER
Fawn dog with good proportions. Good dark mask and pleasing head.
Open, Dogs
1: EASTWINDS STUGOTS
Apricot brindle with good broad front and depth of chest. Pleasing head. Good length of body. Excellent reach of neck and level top line.
2: MUDDY CREEK PIERRE DOUX
A substantial apricot dog. Good bend of stifle, plenty of depth and good spring of rib; he kept a level top line on the move,
3: LEXINGTON’S CONNECTICUT YANKEE
Light brindle with strong bone and very good bend of stifle.
Puppy 6 months and under 9 months, Bitches
1: BANYON’S JOSEPHINE ROSE
Most attractive fawn girl with lovely feminine head for one so young. Good bend of stifle and correct construction all-round. A very promising puppy indeed.
2: LAZYD’S CHARMED N DANGEROUS
Another very promising fawn young lady. Excellent expression, kept a good top line on the move. Plenty of bone and good rear angulation.
3: LEXINGTON’S ALOHOMORA
Fawn puppy with pleasing head and god pigmentation. Excellent bend of stifle.
Puppy 9 months and under 12 months, Bitches
1: MOUNTAINVIEWS KISSA MY FACE CONTESSA
Super fawn bitch. Good bone and pleasing head with good expression. Strong quarters and good bend of stifle. Moved freely.
2: GUNSLINGER SHOOT FOR THE STARS
Attractive apricot brindle who pushed No.1 very closely. Very strong bone and depth of body. Fit and well conditioned.
3:BEOWULFS ROMA
Brindle with feminine head and excellent stop. A well made youngster.
12 to 18 month, Bitches
1: PEERLESS ROCKEE TOP TALK TO THE PAW
Fabulous dark brindle bitch with plenty of substance, excellent head with good expression and nice dark eyes. Good bone and depth of body. A quality mastiff.
2: CELESTIAL HORIZON ENCHANTED BEAUTY
Fawn with excellent head, good stop and eye. Good length of body and angulation.
Moved well.
3: JADEMS GOTTA LUV LUCY
Again, another good quality fawn girl. Pleasing with such a kind expression. Plenty of bone and depth.
Bred-by-Exhibitor, Bitches
1: OWENSPRIDE ABSOLUTE APLOMB
Quality bitch with good body and bone. Well angulated and powerful quarters. Beautiful head with keen intelligent expression.
2: VICTORY’S BENEVOLENT INSURRECTION
An attractive fawn lady who was a little reluctant to move today. However she has a good clean outline, well placed shoulders and plenty of bone.
3: LEODESS’ MYSTICAL MUSE
Attractive brindle with nice head, well defined stop. Well muscled and shown in good condition.
American-bred, Bitches
1: OWENSPRIDE CRANBERRY OF SHERWOOD
Outstanding bitch of good type and overall balance. Sound construction with powerful quarters. Good head. Well handled and presented.
2: R’NEGADE’S BELLE OF THE BALL
A 22 month old dark brindle bitch. A very promising youngster with very good tight feet, broad front and pleasing head. Fit and well muscled, shown in top condition.
Open, Bitches
1: HOOSIER DREAM GIRL Best of Winners - Bitches
A top quality fawn bitch with excellent bone and confirmation. Very good head, level top line and good powerful movement. Very confident and interested in what she is doing.
2: BOBARAS BEST KEPT SECRET OF KHARISMA
Fawn bitch with lovely head, good stop and nice expression. Plenty of bone and correct construction with good length of body and deep chest.
3: MOUNTAINVIEW’S DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN
A tall bitch with good head but rather straight in the shoulder. Moved OK.
Veteran Class, Dogs
1: CH HIS MAJESTY MIGHTY JOE YOUNG BEARHILL
Outstanding dark brindle with everything going for him. Masculine head, excellent construction. Moved well. Shown in first rate condition
2:CH. BRAVEHEART’S LETHAL WEAPON.
Substantial fawn dog with excellent bone. Broad front & good depth of body. Moved well.
3: CH KHARISMAS CRENSHAW ETCHED IN STONE
Another quality mastiff with typical head, substantial bone, length of body and good rear angulation.
Veteran Class, Bitches
1: CH GOLDEN BEARS K.C.’S SILVER LINING
A fawn senior citizen still with excellent outline and freedom of movement. Nice expression and sound construction.
2: CH CHARISMAS WALKS LIKE AN EGYPTIAN
Attractive fawn bitch still looking young for a veteran class. Slightly narrow in muzzle but good strong deep body and bone. Shown in good condition..
3:CH LEODESS’ THAT’S ALL FOLKS
Courage and grandeur – that is how I describe this grand old lady enjoying her day out.
Best of Breed
OWENSPRIDE BETTER WEIGHT THAN NEVER
(I understand that this lovely mastiff dog was made up after this placing)
Best Opposite Sex
CH BLACKMAGICS MAJOR TEMPTATION
Impressive apricot fawn bitch. A true show girl. Correct height to length of body. Powerful quarters and excellent head with good dark eyes and pleasing ear set. Nice reach of neck, good depth at the front and strong rear end.
AWARDS OF MERIT
Ch. Tamarack Poudre of Brownspride
Ch Beowulf’s Get A Load Of Me – Mt. W’s Willie
Ch Miller’s Big Bad Baron Of Victory
Ch Beowulf’s Rockin The Boat