The Bulldog has a special place in the heart of British people. The crowd of visitors around the ring, up to four ranks, the loud applause, the cheers at each class winner, the encouragements of the British and foreign supporters, the shouts of joy or deception, could sometimes make you feel more as if you’d been at a football game between Man U and Chelsea than at a dog show.
The breed was judged by Mr E. Kenyon, a British breeder and specialist. Several classes were made up of more than 20 entries, and two classes were particularly remarkable, both for the number of dogs entered and for their quality, the Dog Open Class and the Bitch Post Graduate Class. A few foreign breeders had travelled to Birmingham to compete with the best British breeders. The first surprise happened an hour after the judgements began, in the dog Yearling Class, with the victory of French dog Vin Diesel Of Burly Bulky Bull's. An other foreign exhibitor, a Hungarian one, also obtained an excellent result with the fourth place in that class of 19.
The most expected class of the morning was the Dog Open Class, with 24 dogs entered, among which 21 were present. Several foreign dogs were entered, among which French, German, Spanish or Italian ones. Around 12.30 AM, other surprises occurred: the judge awarded the first place of the class to the English dog Ch Mystyle Amos Ocobo, which belongs to prominent breeders, Mr. and Mrs Davis, whose kennel Mystyle/Ocobo is world famous. As for the second place, it was awarded to Fr Ch Buck And Sons Untouchable, an Italian dog belonging to Frenchman M. Nguyen. Finally, a Spanish dog got the Reserve (4th place), Blood Blueboy Islandbull.
The judge then called back on the ring all the dog class winners in order to choose his best male. The Challenge Certificate was awarded to the winner of the Open Class, Ch Mystyle Amos Ocobo, while the Reserve went to the second of the same class, Fr Ch Buck And Sons Untouchable.
After an hour long lunch break, it was the bitches’ turn to be on the ring. A few foreign breeders again got good results, especially in the Open and Limit Class. The latter class was indeed won by the Italian bitch Shakira Dei Guemiri Di Lillipur, whose owners are Mr and Mrs Di Leo.
Around 4 in the afternoon, Mr Kenyon asked all the exhibitors of the class winners to come back on the ring for the judgement of the Bitch Challenge Certificate. The CC was awarded to the winner of the Open Class, Ch Britishpride Cavalli, belonging to Mrs M Goodwin, which would then compete for the Best of Breed against the best dog. The Reserve CC went to Hilbull's Sheeza Snowball Mystyle. Here in picture, the two best Bulldogs of Crufts 2006, with the dog at the foreground.
After 8 hours of judgements, the visitors were still as numerous and enthusiastic for the Best Of Breed as in the early morning for the very first judgements. Finally, the Best of Breed was awarded to the male. This dog, born in August 2003, already has quite a list of achievements, with 9 CC’s and 4 CC’s. Ch Mystyle Amos Ocobo also was UK Best Bulldog Puppy 2004 and UK Best Bulldog 2005. This dog later on brilliantly represented his bred on the main ring during the judgements of the Utility Group, as he finished at an excellent fourth place, behind the Poodle, the Shiba Inu and the Tibetan Terrier.
Watch the complete of the Bulldogs results below.
CH MYSTYLE AMOS OCOBO
Dog
Owner: MRS P DAVIS
IVABULLY FATAL ATTRACTION
Bitch
Owner: MR S & MRS D IVES
CH BRITISHPRIDE CAVALLI
Owner: MRS M GOODWIN
FR CH BUCK AND SONS UNTOUCHABLE [ATC AF00760ITA]
Owner: MR D NGUYEN
HILBULL'S SHEEZA SNOWBALL MYSTYLE
Owner: MR C HOWELLS