A sense of tradition,a unique experience.

Trophy Show

For most Bull Terrier fanciers throughout the world, the highlight of the year is The Bull Terrier Club Trophy Show, where The Bull Terrier Club’s most important competitions of the year, the Major Trophies, are competed for.

This event has now been in existence for well over 60 years, increasing in popularity and has in recent years become a two-day event. It is held in a centrally located Hotel, with the Trophy competitions held on one day and an open show held on the other. A banquet is held in the evening of the first day allowing the opportunity for fanciers worldwide to meet socially and discuss their favourite topic – The Bull Terrier. Judging of the Trophies is undertaken by a panel of selected judges, from throughout the world, the only criteria being that they are “the best judges available”.

Entry to the Trophies themselves is by invitation only – a team of selectors, appointed by The Bull Terrier Club Committee, scour the country in an effort to select the cream of Bull Terriers exhibited at Championship shows throughout the previous year. This means that simply to be invited is an honour in itself, confirming to the breeders and owners that they have one of the very best Bull Terriers in the country. Selecting the best animals is only half the job. The Bull Terrier Club Committee are committed to ensuring the consistency and fairness of the judging of the Major Trophies. Indeed the rules of the trophies state that the committee must select ‘The Best Judges available’. Whilst this is obviously subjective the Committee follow a number of stringent rules and guidelines to ensure that the spirit of the competition is upheld and that not only is justice done, it is seen to be done. Some of the rules and guidelines employed are as follows;

  • Selected Judges should be on the Bull Terrier Club’s Lists
  • They should not be selected to judge the competition in successive years
  • Preferably not more than one member of a family or partnership should judge or Referee at the same Trophy Show
  • A judge should not be selected if they are the owner or joint owner of any invited animal
  • The judge may not be invited if they have been a selector in that same year
  • The selected judges should preferably not have judged after the 30th September of the previous year that the trophies are held.
  • No member of the Bull Terrier Club Committee who owns or has bred a selected competitor are allowed to nominate a Judge or Referee for that year’s competition.
  • In the case of an emergency on the day, a stand in judge needs to be employed, The Officers of the committee will take into account the above guidelinesThe club holds an Open show on the day prior to The Trophy Show. This show is open to all and provides an opportunity for breeders and exhibitors to show the world their stock. With the change in quarantine laws, more and more dogs from overseas are also taking the opportunity to attend this event.​

Awarded to the Best Dog or Bitch first shown at a championship show (where Challenge Certificates are on offer to the breed) during the previous year.

Considered to be the “Ultimate” prize for Bull Terriers. It was first presented to The Bull Terrier Club in 1930 by Dr Geoffrey Vevers, a Bull Terrier breeder and curator of The Regents Park Zoo in London, from where he took the “Regent” affix and applied it to the name of all the dogs that he owned. It is a perpetual trophy and is awarded to (in judge’s opinion) the best Bull Terrier, dog or bitch, first shown at a Championship Show in the United Kingdom where Challange Certificates are on offer to the breed or any equivalent award that counts towards the title of “Champion” in any other country, during the previous year, which means that animals can compete for it only once in their life. Not less than 10 exhibits are selected, of which 4 must be dogs and 6 must be bitches. A reserve dog and reserve bitch are also selected, in the event that any invited animals are unable to take part.

Photograph by Rita Sinclair

Presented to the runner-up to the winner of the Regent Trophy.

First awarded in 1965 by Mr Morgan T. Blair and is to be given to the Runner-up of The Regent Trophy. The rules were altered in 1977 and it was then awarded to the Best Dog (male) in the Regent Trophy until 1981, when they reverted back to the original format.

Photograph by Alice van Kempen

This was presented to The Bull Terrier Club by the Golden State Bull Terrier Club (California, USA).

This is awarded to the Best Opposite Sex to the winner of The Regent Trophy. This may, or may not, also be the Runner-Up.

Photograph by Alice van Kempen

Presented by Raymond H. Oppenheimer, a doyen of the Bull Terrier breed, holder of the “Ormandy” affix and the most successful Bull Terrier Kennel of all time.

10 Bitches and 8 Dogs are invited, plus a first and second reserve of each sex.

Raymond H. Oppenheimer presented the Jugs for the first time in 1947; one for dogs and one for bitches, to accompany The Regent Trophy, as he was keen to see dogs and bitches compete in their own competition. Both Trophies are to be considered of equal standing. He also wanted to afford dogs that matured later in life an opportunity to compete in an annual event, and not be restricted by the rules of The Regent Trophy that limited it to animals who were ‘first’ shown that previous year. This means that a dog can appear in the Jugs more than once, though it is unusual and it has not been common practice for an animal to be invited more than twice. Mr Oppenheimer was insistent that The Ormandy Jugs should not eclipse the Regent Trophy, and drew up a strict set of rules that cannot be easily changed. The winner of each Jug is presented with an engraved Crystal Goblet, a certificate and a plaque. Also, every competitor whether succesful or not, receives a permanent memento of the day.

Photograph by Alice van Kempen

A perpetual Trophy, restricted to Coloured (not white) Bull Terriers.

First awarded in the early 70’s it was presented by David Harrison and Wally Baron, Bull Terrier enthusiast from the then British Colony of Rhodesia. It is awarded to the Best Coloured Bull Terrier, dog or Bitch, exhibited at Championship shows during the previous year. The trophy is awarded to the winner and is held for one year.

Photograph by Alice van Kempen

This Trophy is awarded to the Best of Opposite sex to the winner of the Sandawana Trophy.

This was first presented to the Bull Terrier Club by Mrs Mudge Mankin, a leading breeder, in memory of her young red dog Ch. Blazeaway of Lenster who died tragically young of a brain tumour aged just 2 years 4 months. The original shield went missing in 1998, and a new shield was commissioned, which includes a wooden Bull Terrier head, carved by Bert Crowland, as was the original.

Photograph by Alice van Kempen

Awarded to the Bull Terrier, considered by the judges to be the Best Mover in the Major Trophy Competition.

This is traditionally the final trophy of the day and is competed for by competitors, which are sent forward from each of the previous trophy competitions. 

This Trophy is confined to animals bred outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

A BOS to the competition will be engaged at the same time. This Trophy is competed for on Sunday “Trophy Day”, before The Sandawana Trophy, The Ormandy Jugs and The Regent Trophy judging.

Photograph by Alice van Kempen