MESSIAH'S  OLV  TRUE LOVE

           (Mastiff  female, Fawn, 08/16/2003. Breeder: Karin Leahy)

                      "SAMANTHA"

                         CRUFTS BEST OF BREED 2007.

                                                                                    " TRUE LOVE"

 Back in august 2000, on a trip travelling through some of the east coast states, visiting several American Mastiff breeders, we both fell in love with ELSA at the home of Karin Leahy at Messiah's Mastiffs . It was love at first sight when we met this beautiful fawn female. We hoped then and there, that one day Karin would be able to send us a puppy out of her girl. Three years later after having kept in close contact, Karin finally called us up to propose us a puppy from Elsa's daughter OLIVIA (almost the clone of her mother but with a bigger frame) bred to the American Champion male DOC HOLIDAY. A gorgeous wide eyed fawn bitch with a very black mask was finally chosen and we waited  for 3 months whilst various paperwork and flights were arranged to bring her to France. It was heart wrenching in the end for Karin to let her go, but she knew that Sammy would be loved and hopefully shown at some of  the best shows in Europe if all went well.

 Why Sammy & why True Love? Well to cut a long story short.......I love musicals. And she is an East Coast Girl. As was "Samantha"(Grace Kelly) in"High Society". Where you have that eternal love song; " I give to you what you give to me, TRUE LOVE, TRUE LOVE ." Voila!

Sammy started off her show career in December 2004 taking her first CACS at the international show in Caen and the Reserve  CACIB behind her Brullemail sister MINK. This was followed by a string of CAC's , CACIB's and even BOB's throughout France.

After only one and a half years Sammy won the CACS at the French National Specialty in Spetember 2005, which was all she needed to add to her results to become FRENCH CHAMPION. After 5 CACIB & 2 BOB in 6 international shows to the age of 22months.

The famous Dutch judge Bas Bosch wrote;"Bitch of high quality, rare to meet".

It wasn't long before, in December of the same year, she got the title of INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION by having won 4 CACIB titles, in 3 different countries, under 3 different judges, all within one year! Samantha was the N°1 Mastiff in France for 2005.

In 2006 Sammy began the year by representing the Mastiff Breed at the Paris Agricultural Show. She came second in the working group along with some of the best females from all over France. She then went on to win succesively 7 BOB handled proudly by Bernard throughout the year from Mouscron to Metz, and was always in the shortlist for the group.

In November it was my turn to take over the lead and  accompany Sammy along with her house sister Rosie on the 2800km trek to Poznan and the WORLD DOG SHOW.Many people hadn't seen Sammy in a while and were taken aback by her new found size and beauty,coming into her prime. It was a great show and she finlly came away with the rare title of Vice World Champion and an excellent commentary from the English judge Terry Thorn.

All of this looks good for 2007. Hopefully if all goes well she will participate for the first time at the world famous CRUFTS. Karin said she may come over for this special occasion. One of the first American Mastiffs to take place at this dream of a dog show.

And who knows? We hope that it will also be the year that she has her first litter of Brullemail pups with our handsome champion PERCY.

Whatever the future may hold, one thing is sure is that Samantha is truly a beautiful Mastiff. Probably unique in Europe at the present time due to her size and extraordinary presence. At home she loves to play with all of the other dogs and also retreating to her cosy little corners for her daily long snooze.   She has a way of looking at you as if she is asking a hundred different questions along with her gentle squeek and whine,which Karin says is typical of all the girls in this family. Thanks Karin and thankyou Sammy.

UPDATE.March 2007. A Dream Come True.
In the life of many breeders or owners of pedigree dogs, there is one dream that seems to be impossible, especially if the breeder-owner isn't British and even more so if he dares to breed or show one of the great British Breeds. That is, to have a dog win the Best Of Breed at CRUFTS !
As you all know, CRUFTS is not only considered as the biggest dog show in the world (with more than 22 000 dogs) but also as"the Mecca" for show dogs.
Since our first crossing of the channel with our dogs back in 2002, BRULLEMAIL MASTIFFS has come back to Crufts every year since.
2007, is the apotheosis with the victory in the Open class of SAMANTHA, alias Fr-Int MESSIAH'S OLV TRUE LOVE.
This was already more than enough as a fabulous win alone.
But the adventure didn't stop there as SAMANTHA went on to win the Bitch CC and the supreme consecration of all ... the BEST OF BREED !THE UNHOPED-FOR DREAM !
Twice before, the famous breeder and judge Richard Thomas has won the BOB with imported dogs , but to give the BOB to a "foreign" dog, presented by a "foreign" handler/owner, has never been seen before in the Mastiff ring at Crufts.
Bravo and thank you to Mrs Pamela Chidwick to have dared to make this honest and brave gesture.
I must of course begin by thanking Karin Leahy (MESSIAH Mastiffs), the breeder of SAMANTHA to have trusted us and by sending to France one of her most excellent puppies from her home.
Without flattery, we would also like to take the opportunity, due to this exceptional event, to thank the judges, who right at the start could see the outstanding qualities of SAMANTHA .
The 20 judges from 7 nationalities and who in 5 countries gave SAMANTHA a CACIB and/or a BOB over these last 2 years from 2005-2006, results that enabled her to be classed as the Best Mastiff in France for 2 years in a row and thanks to whom she became French and International Champion, as well as the vice World Champion.
Obviously I cannot name them all but they know who are they are.
I wish to espeicially thank Mr René Pras who dared to give a Group victory to SAMANTHA at the Nantes show in 2005.
It is very rare in Europe to see a Mastiff on the podium of a Group.
I would also like to thank Mr Bas Bosch who has judged SAMANTHA 3 times and who gave her the CACS at the National Specialty in France, the CAC-CACIB at the Amsterdam Winner and the very symbolic act in the UK, her first Bitch CC at the MA Championship show in February 2007.
And finally, all of our gratitude goes to Mrs Pamela Chidwick of course, for this stunning victory ,the BOB at Crufts.

    SAMANTHA'S  PRINCESS  DIARY

             3 Months                               4 Months                                         So Cute

                                                                       5 Months & already a Princess.  

                                            Me & BLC at 8 months. First training .1 year     

                                                                          Some photos from the shows.

                March 2005. Angers. BOB.               March 2006 . Poitiers. BOB.        

                                                My first French National Specialty 2005. CACS

                                               My favourite place on the lawn

                                  September 2005                             Autumn 2005

                     Snow Queen  & with my house sister Mink. 2 International Champions.

                                                            Winter 2005.

                      October 2006. Orleans. BOB.        Mastiff Association Championship Show

                                                                      Birmingham. February 2007. CC & BOS

                                                                        CRUFTS 2007

    With Int Ch.Venus Beauté Brullemail (left). The judge, Mrs Pamela Chidwick & BLC.

                                                                CC & BOB

                                                                               Back home to celebrate!

                                           SHOW RESULTS

2004
Décembre ROUEN (Mme Tompousky) 1ere Exc CIF CACS-Reserve CACIB
Décembre CAEN (Mr Moreau) 1ere Exc CIF CACS-Reserve CACIB
2005
27 Mars ANGERS (R. Pras) 1ere Exc CIF CACS-CACIB & BOB
17 Avril BRABO-ANVERS B. (J. Van Hummelen B.) 1ere exc COF CACS-CACIB
24 Avril CHATEAUROUX (A.M. Class) 1ere exc CIF CACS-CACIB
15 Mai SAINT BRIEUC (JC Masson) 1ere Exc CIF, CACS-CACIB
28 Mai MANTES la JOLIE (M. Censi It) 1ere Exc CIF, CACS-CACIB
5 Juin TULLN-VIENNE (A) (H. Bierwolf A) 1ere Exc CIF CACA
11 Juin LYON Championnat de France SCC (Mme Guivier) 1er Exc CIF Reserve CACS
26 Juin CHARTRES (R. Soulat) Speciale, 1er Exc. CACS
17 Juillet DOUAI (Mme Tompousky) Speciale, 1er Exc. CACS-CACIB, BOB, BISS, GROUP 4
11 Septembre MONTAGNY (B. Bosch NL) NATIONALE D'ELEVAGE, 1er Exc. Select. CACS.
22 Octobre LAUSANNE CH (Mme Mach CH) 1er Exc. COF, Reserve CAC-CACIB
23 Octobre LAUSANNE CH (Mme Lafay) 1er Exc. COF, CAC-CACIB (Qualifiée Crufts)
30 Octobre NANTES (Mme Laamanen Fin.) Spéciale, 1er exc. COF CACS-CACIB, BOB, GROUP 1
6 Novembre METZ (J. Otto D) Spéciale, 1er Exc. COF, CACS-CACIB, BOB, Group shortlisted.
19 Novembre COURTRAI (B) (Mr Doyle Irl.) 2e Exc. Reserve CACS_CACIB.
3 Decembre AMSTERDAM WINNER (B. Bosch NL.) 1er Exc. CAC-CACIB, Winner 2005
4 Decembre ROUEN (J. Senecat Fr) 1er Exc. CACS-CACIB, BOB, Shortlisted
18 Décembre ALENCON (M. Frebourg) 1er Exc. CACS-CACIB, BOB, Group 5 shortlisted

SUMMARY OF 2005
18 shows.
SAMMY was always CAC or Reserve : 15 CAC & 3 Reserve CAC.
In 16 International shows SAMMY won 12 CACIB + 2 Reserves & 6 BOB.
She was only beaten by the European Champion of 2004, 2005, World Junior Champion 2005 whom she nevertheless beat under different judges on other occasions.
6 Best Of Breed, 1 Group 4th et 1 Group 1st.
SAMANTHA was the Mastiff N°1 in France for 2005.
CHAMPION OF FRANCE   &   CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL.

2006
7 Janvier PARIS DOG SHOW (J. Sanchez-Pardo Esp) 1er exc. CACS-CACIB
28 Janvier MOUSCRON B. (L. Denis) 1er exc. CACS-CACIB & BOB, shortlisted
4 Fevrier TROYES (M. Touron) 1er exc. CACS-CACIB & BOB, shortlisted
11 Fevier NIORT (M. Le Magnan) 1er exc. CACS-CACIB & BOB, shortlisted
27 Fevrier PARIS CGA (Leblond-Mansencal) 2e du Groupe
12 Mars POITIERS (Mme Lafay) Spéciale, 1er Exc. CACIB & BOB
12 Octobre ORLEANS (J Medard Ringuet) 1er Exc CACIB & BOB, shortlisted
29 0ctobre NANTES (A Leblond) 1er Exc CACIB & BOB, shortlisted
5 Novembre METZ (Malo Alcrudo Esp) 1er Exc CACIB & BOB, shortlisted
11 Novembre POZNAN (T Thorn GB) CHAMPIONNAT DU MONDE
2e Exc Reserve CACIB
3 Decembre ROUEN (Mme Tompousky) 1er Exc CACIB & BOB

In 10 International shows, SAMMY won  9 CACIB & 1 Reserve CACIB as well as 8 BOB under 10 different judges.
 

TOTAL 2005/2006 : 19 CACIB & 4 Reserve IB + 14 BOB + 1 GR1 & 1 GR4.

2007
6 Janvier PARIS DOG SHOW (L. Denis) Spéciale 1er exc. CACS-CACIB & BOB
17 Fevrier BIRMINGHAM M.A. Championship show (B.Bosch) 1st OB, CC & BOS
9 Mars CRUFTS (Pamela Chidwick GB) 1st OB, CC & BOB