It was a pleasure and a privilege to be invited to peer judge the Dominion Bullmastiff Club’s 2022 Specialty Show.

The dogs weren’t too concerned with the dreadful weather, and took the sight of a stranger in hood, mask and glasses in their stride. I was aware that some dogs and handlers had not been out for some time due to the various restraints/lockdowns, and took this into account.

Overall, the standard was high – there are a range of types within our breed, but none presented on the day were incorrect.

My thanks to the exhibitors for your good humour and showing in the awful weather.

Thanks also to our efficient and friendly steward – and to the committee for the super bbq and meal after the show.  It was lovely to catch up with folk I hadn’t seen for years.

And, as the old saying goes, regardless of placings, each one of you took home the best dog…

Cheryl Clarke (Blackmask Bullmastiffs)

A lovely clear fawn coat with good pigmentation, excellent bone for this age.  Good ear set, nice dark eye, nicely balanced pup.  Good movement when he did move, was a little distracted by interesting objects on the ground.  Confident temperament.

This red boy had good pigmentation with a lovely dark mask.  Excellent size and substance.  Good head.  His bite was a little more undershot than preferred.  Very fit with defined muscling, looked and moved as if he could run all day.  Very well handled.  A difficult decision between this fellow and the other class entrant.

A lovely clear red coat, with good pigmentation.  Good head.  Lovely dark eye.  Nice turn of stifle and very well muscled.  Good movement and very well handled.  Would have preferred just a little more depth of flank to fill out his large frame.

      Lovely fawn dog, good pigment, great broad head with good ear set.  A little undershot.  Well up on beautiful cat feet.  Good turn of stifle leading to super movement.  Would have preferred a little more substance.

      Good red coat, great pigmentation for his age although going grey as you would expect.  Good bite. Excellent size and substance, a little straight in stifle.  Looking his age but with great dignity when moving.

A dark brindle with the most gorgeous deep colouring.  Good dark eye and generous bite.  Unfortunately, suffering from rear leg tremors on the day.  Short movement in front giving a slightly choppy gate, although very showy.

Clear dark honey-coloured fawn with deep pigment.  Excellent wide jaw and good bite at this young age.  Good turn of stifle.  Took to the ring fearlessly and movement was so good was called back for the movement class.  One to watch in future.

Lovely clear fawn bitch with good deep pigmentation, best second thigh I’ve seen, with good turn of stifle.  Super wide head and wide jaw.  Excellent movement but needed to be held back as she would have flown otherwise.

Very clear fawn, with good pigmentation, lovely second thigh.  Good head with beautiful wide jaw and bite.  Needs to drop a little in flank but may come with maturity.  A little spooky on the day which affected movement.

A dark fawn with a lovely broad head and deep pigment.  Super wide front and chest.  Excellent topline.  Good second thigh, and great cat feet.  Jaw wide but quite undershot.  Excellent movement and flowed around the ring – very well handled.

A nice clear red coat with lovely dark pigmentation.  Super ear set.  A little high in topline and straightish in stifle.  Very feminine head but with narrow jaw.

A lot to like about this bitch.  Substantial fawn girl with good pigment, and very well developed second thigh and rump.  Wide jaw.  Good movement although wasn’t as keen in the ring as she could have been so didn’t show to her advantage. 

A lovely coloured brindle girl with good pigment.  Would like a slightly darker eye.  The widest jaw ever with excellent bite.  Extremely fit and well turned out.  Flowed around the ring.

      A spritely dark brindle with great pigment.  A little narrow in jaw width and bite very undershot. Extremely happy girl, raring to go in the ring and could show the youngsters a thing or two in movement.  Very well handled and allowed to run.

A nice dark fawn bitch, with excellent pigment.  Good ear set.  Lovely level topline and well developed second thigh.  A little narrow in jaw width and bite very undershot. Moved beautifully and extremely happy in the ring.  Very well handled.