Open show 25th February 2024
Judge Kerry Daly-Lees
What an honour and privilege to be invited to judge my first breed club open show for the club I have served on forWhat an honour and privilege to be invited to judge my first breed club open show for the club I have served on for many years now, a massive thank you to the club for my lovely gift. I was also so humbled by the good entry andwhat a lovely rainbow of Stafford colours. Thank you for the comments about being gentle with the dogs and mostof all thank you for allowing me the opportunity to go over your dogs. I arrived at the venue and couldn’t stopsmiling, even when chatting to the KC man. A massive thank you to my Stewards Steve and Tash with Pete helpingtoo, they put up with me being a Diva and asking for matts to be moved and cleaned throughout the show.Now, I am not sure if it’s because it was just a few weeks before Crufts but well done to the owners, these dogs werein a fantastic fit condition. Mouths were better than when I have judged previously and all of those placed were asthey should be, so I won’t mention them further.
Veteran dog (2,0)Thank you so much for bring your oldies out, they melt my heart and what a privilege to go over them and watch them still enjoying their time in the ring.
1. S.C Hopkins - Trufflestaff Papinashuash JW 8-year-old Black brindle dog. Strong head with a good ear set, leading into a nice thick neck. Lovely width ofchest, deep brisket and rib. A lovely pump handle tail that is held on the move. Tight feet that are well padded.Still strutting his stuff with good movement and level top line. Pleased to award him Best Veteran Dog and BestVeteran in Show.
2. Miss V Mitchell - Our Little Cracker VW10-year-old Blue dog. I love, love, love the movement of this dog and have done for many years from ring side, it’s a pleasure to watch. He had nice dark eyes and a nice ear set that frames his head. Still has a muscular neck leading down into good shoulder angulation. Just preferred the over balance of 1 st place.
Minor Puppy dog (2,1)1. Mrs N Moorcroft - Ellchansha Charm the Devil at Moorstar. What a promising puppy, I will be keeping a close eye on this one’s future. Black brindle with white dog, such ahappy puppy. Nice head and ear set, clean tight lips and eye-catching expression. Ribs and brisket are developing nicely, and he is well balanced. Fitness is coming and he is not overdone. Movement was good and will improve with time. It was my pleasure to award him Reserve Best Puppy in Show and Best Opposite Sex Puppy in Show.
Puppy dog (2,0)1. Miss C, Mr S, Mrs R Burton - Maverick of the Lake. Black Brindle dog. Another very excited puppy but still doing what the owner asked. Nice length of muzzle to head ratio. Movement was puppy like and with more practises this will progress. Nice laid-back shoulders and the ribs are starting to develop well.
2. Mr M and Mrs A Johnson - Exodusbulls Boss Adonis Blue, brindle and white dog. He was very excitable and struggled to settle. It was hard to access him and checkhis teeth. He has a strong head that is proportionate to his already well-developed body. He was slightly longer
in cast to my 1 st place. He has a good tail set that is held on the move and has good fitness. Consistent ring craft will help the dog and handler progress.
Junior Dog (3,0)1. Miss S Cokell - Crying Lighting Mark with CarlyquinnWhite and Black pied dog. Strong Head and slightly heavy ears. Nice dark eyes, and neck is developingmuscle covering. Ribs are developing and I would like to see this continue to assist with the balance of thedog. Wow what a lovely movement from this dog, he is powerful yet uses very little effort around the ring.
2. Miss T and Mr I Blagg and Whitehead - Keep it LowkeeRed and White Dog. Now this was a tough decision and, on another day, I could see these two swappingplaces. He has a nice length of muzzle to head ratio. He has good chest width and ribs developing. He was alittle unsettled on the move, but this will come in time.
Novice dog (1,0)1. Mr P Edwards - My Red Hot Boy at RillistaffsRed and white dog. This poor boy had been in the wars which unfortunately happens, but it didn’t seem toaffect him at all. He was a confident boy in the ring and happy to be there wagging his tail and doing as his owner asked. He has nice dark eyes and a well-developed head, with ears that framed his head nicely. He held his tail correctly on the move. Working on his fitness would really help.
Graduate dog (2,0)1. Mrs S Feather - Niatona Bettle CrusherRed and White pied dog. What an expression that draws you into his well-developed head, nice length ofmuzzle and dark eyes. I wrote for his movement ‘lovely and held his top line on the move’. He has a nicewidth to his chest and his fitness is great, second thigh was nicely developed, and the shoulders were notoverdone.
2. Mr P M and Mrs D M Oram - Kamaristaffs Royal Rumble. Black Brindle dog. This one was a difficult decision and one that could change places on another day. My notes say ‘ fitness WOW’ He had one of the shiniest coats of the day. He has a broad skull, dark eyes, nice length of muzzle and muscular neck. Leading to well-developed shoulders, super tuck and well-muscled rear. He was slight unsettled on the move.
Post Graduate (0)Limit Dog (7,1)1. Mr P D and Mrs L M R Knight - Kalostaffs Dark KnightBlack brindle and white dog. Well develop head that is frame by his ears, muscular neck. A lovely deep brisket, wide chest and is well ribbed. Moved with drive and purpose, lovely tail set that is held on the move and a top line that would hold a book on the move. The fitness level of this boy really is a credit to his owners and was certainly the deciding factor in his placing today. Please to award him Reserve Best Dog.
2. Miss P, Miss K Miss D Raynsford, Raysnford and Stevens - Raynstaff Old Fashioned. Black brindle and white dog. I judge this dog as a puppy, and he has matured into a lovely balanced dog. Broad skull, nice length of muzzle, pronounced cheeky muscles, well-muscled neck and well laid-back shoulders. He stands four square and moved well. Holding his top line on the move. The fitness of 1 st pipped for him today.
Open Dog (3,1)1. Mr A G Norris - Labrastaf Magma at Haidstaff. Brindle Dog. I have seen this dog from ring side on many occasions but what a difference being able to get your hands on a dog makes. A broad skull with pronounced check muscles and distinct stop, lovely ears and give him a look at me expression. He is so fit, muscular neck, leading to well defined shoulder, nice amount of rib and boy does he have a tuck in before his rear that I was certainly jealous off. Then onto his rear, the gift that just kept giving and giving and giving. He has a well-defined muscular rear and is rockhard to the touch. Hocks well let down stifles well bent. He moved with drive but effortlessly around the ring with passion in his belly. My absolute pleasure to award his Best Dog and Best in Show.
2. Mr T and Mrs C Plumstead - Ch Callastaff Son of the Moon. I always pinch myself at the privilege of going over a Champion and he didn’t disappoint. He has a lovely broad skull, distinct stop, neat ear set and plenty of under jaw. Strong neck and well place shoulders. Moves with power and drive, holding a level top line, slightly longer in cast than first. The overall balance and fitness of first place was my deciding factor.
Veteran Bitch (2,2)Minor Puppy Bitch (3,0)1. Mr J D and Mrs S M Hammond - Hammystaff Hot LoveI wrote ‘yes please’ in my notes. This Red and white bitch MINOR PUPPY was my gem of the day. Thebalance of this girl is spot on, oozing substance and yet so feminine. Her head and ear set frame her justperfectly, giving a strong look at me expression. Good length of muzzle to head ratio. Muscular shoulders,nice rib and depth of brisket. Her rear angulation just catches your eye when stood foursquare but alsonoticeable on the move and she moves with drive. I just could not take me eyes of her in the final bitch lineup and had the conversation to myself, can you really pick her from Minor Puppy?, well you know what YES ICAN. Please to award her and her somewhat shocked handler Best Bitch in Show, Best Puppy in Show, Best Opposite Sex and Reserve Best in Show.
2. Mrs A Johnson - Ellchansha Cast a Spell. Black and white brindle bitch. Lovely head and sweet expression. Still very much a baby but everything is starting to develop as it should. She has super tight feet. Slightly longer in cast to number one. She moved lovely once she was settled.
Puppy Bitch (7,0)1. Mesdames G and K Jones and A and D Messrs - Roughstaff Red Velvet. Red and White bitch. Lovely profile. What good dark pigmentation. A nice, developed head with good muzzle length. Her muscle development is coming. She has a lovely balance to her, deep brisket and good width of chest. Seems very chilled in the ring and moves like she has been doing this for years while holding a perfect top line, credit to the handler.
2. Miss S and Mr C Lambert and Pearson - Kodaknott Diggin Up Dirt. White and Black pied who was probably the most excited dog of the day and made her young handler work hard. We settled her down a little by getting her to move first and then going over her. She is nicelybalanced for her size and good development of rib and brisket. A nice dark eye and clean muzzle, nice earset. Still very much a puppy on the walk, with more ring craft and practise then I can see this developing intoa lovely relationship.
Junior Bitch (4,0)1. Miss N and Mrs K Walker - Torkavi the Last Dragon at Teshleystaf. Black brindle bitch. Enough substance to be balanced for her size, up on her toes and a look at me stare. She has a feminine head that is strong but not overdone, with pronounced cheeky muscles and lovely rose bud ears that finish her ‘erm look at me and no one else stare’. Correct rear angulation and well-developed rear. She moved well and holds a level top line, while holding her tail set appropriately.
2. Miss B A Turner - Maxtrixstaff Moon Dancer at Tidestaff. Stronger bitch than first place and good rib, bone and terrific substance. She is strong but feminine. A broad skull, nice length of muzzle and underjaw. Well-muscled neck leading to a wide chest and good amount of rib. She moved well today, the handler did well to talk and encourage her. She didn’t have the ring presence of 1 st place but once more confident and up on her toes I think she will do well.
Novice Bitch (7,0)1. Mrs H C Nolan - Kentstars Narcissa. Red and white pied bitch, who I have awarded best puppy to previously, she is maturing so well. I wrote, wow, wow, wow rib, substance and bone, you are spoiling me! Broad skull, with well-developed cheek muscles, nice dark round eyes. She is well defined, what a chest! Leading onto very well sprung ribs. This is one happy Stafford, moves out with power and drive, holds her top line on the move, holding her tail set and making her handler work. Pleased to award her Reserve Best Bitch.
2. Mr M Burton - Trufflestaff Bembenie at Barbary. Brindle bitch. Well-developed head and lovely length of muzzle. She has a tuck up to die for and is up on her toes. Taller and longer in cast than 1 st place. She has a good level of fitness and is well muscled. She moved well and has a cracking relationship with the handler.
Graduate Bitch (7,2)1. Mr S Parry - Berrystock Heart and Soul. Black and white brindle bitch. Another lovely, well boned and Stafford of substance, yet still very feminine. Well defined cheek muscles, nice muzzle length and open nares. Up on her toes and a super expression. Good rear angulation and well laid down hocks. Superb amounts of rib, deep brisket and another tuck up to die for. Moves out with drive but covers the ground effortlessly. What a powerhouse, the owners should take credit for her amazing condition.
2. Mr T and Mrs C Plumstead - Kararistaffs Royal Gem at Jazostaff JW. Again, another Stafford of substance, this really was very close between these girls and could change placeson another day, there was very little between them. A lovely broad skull with pronounced cheek muscles, good length of muzzle and under jaw. Again, like first place, she is powerful, great strength yet ever so feminine. I just preferred the extra rib and rear angulation of first place.
Post Graduate (3,0)1. Mr M J Harvey - Cwnhaf Bring Me Sunshine. Black brindle bitch. She has awesome ring presence; she demands your attention and says ‘look at me’. She is well balanced, a nice blend of bones and fitness. A feminine head with good length of muzzle, nice round dark eyes. A good width of chest and well sprung ribs. She moves well.
2. Miss V Mitchell - Vimaval Red Angel. Red and white bitch. She has pronounced cheek muscles, a nice length of muzzle which is lovely and dark with dark eyes, she is well balanced for her size and has good spring of rib. Good rear and bend of stifle. She moved well and held her top line on the move. She lost out to 1 st on fitness today.
Limit Bitch (3,1)1. Miss S and Mr C Lambert and Pearson - Kodaknott Cold as Ice. Red and white pied bitch. Well-developed broad skull and deep stop, nice ear set that frames her strong but feminine head and dark eyes. Nice width of chest, good spring of rib. Cracking levels of fitness that really did make her stand out and along side a lovely tuck. She moves with drive and purpose.
2. Mrs B Efreme - Labrastaf After Dark at Bindystaff. A brindle with white bitch. A lovely shaped head, dark eyes and nice ear set which gives her a lovely expression. She is a well-balanced bitch with appropriate bone and strength for her size. She has a good spring of rib and was in nice fit hard condition which is a credit to her owner. She has a good rear and bend in stifle. She moved well. Just preferred the over substance of 1 st .
Open (3,1)1. Miss B A Turner - On the Hill Two at Tidestaff. Brindle bitch with white. Strong, well boned bitch. She has a broad skull and very tidy ears. Laid-back shoulders, deep brisket and nice width of chest. Good rear which assisted in her moving well today, holding her top line and correct tail carriage whilst on the move. In really good fit condition with a good tuck and powerful rear.
2. Mr S Bainsborough - Sikaistaff Dark Phoenix.Black brindle bitch. She has a stunning head that is well developed, nice length of muzzle, strong underjawand distinct stop, well developed cheek muscle. Straight front, well balanced with chest width, brisket andrib for her size. Good tail set and carriage which she held on the move, she moved really well for her handlertoday. Slightly finer than 1 st place and that’s what swayed it for me today. These bitches have some similarvirtues that are appropriate to their size, which made this a difficult decision.