Three Counties Agricultural Society

Three Counties Championship show

Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)

Judge: Mr A C Allen

Thank you for a fabulous entry. I had two fantastic stewards to keep me on the straight and narrow, some super dogs to judge and a lovely atmosphere around the ring, it was lovely to hear the class winners greeted with such applause.  The puppy classes were especially full with lots of quality which is really great for the future of the breed. My thanks to those who entered and took my decisions with such sportsmanship.

My only general observation is that many exhibits were being moved too fast and this spoils that typical Toller jaunty gait, with many looking like generic fast moving gundogs.

Class 1785 PD (8 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: 6368 BARKER Mrs P Eusanit Silvr Dream Machine

A smart dog who is very promising, I liked his overall balance, very together for his age. He has a super double coat. Well-proportioned head of good wedge shape, pleasing eye shape, well set ears. Strong through the neck, shoulders well placed with good return of upper-arm. Body of good proportioned, ribs needs to spring but right for his age. Excellent quarters with a good bend of stifle. Needs to tighten a little in front but has a good jaunty action on the move, with plenty of drive.

2nd: 6363 ADSHEAD, Ms A M & ADSHEAD Miss A L Afonbach Winter Is Coming

Happy chap who moved positively with a good action and drive, just needs to settle in front action. His head is a good wedge shape and he has a lovely eye shape to enhance his expression. Shoulders well placed and standing on good well boned legs. Good through the ribs, well sprung, a shade long in loin. Quarters well developed with well bent stifles.

3rd: 6390 NEWSON, Ms D & NEWSON Miss T Tivalake Let's Misbehave

Class 1786 JD (6 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 6368 BARKER Mrs P Eusanit Silvr Dream Machine

2nd: 6363 ADSHEAD, Ms A M & ADSHEAD Miss A L Afonbach Winter Is Coming

3rd: 6390 NEWSON, Ms D & NEWSON Miss T Tivalake Let's Misbehave

Class 1787 PGD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 6392 OBERN Mrs L Tivalake Rock Me Baby

Smart dog, clean in outline but would have like a little more length of leg to balance him out. Head well developed with a good eye colour and well placed ears, a little cheeky. Shoulders well placed and a good return of upper arm. Stand on well boned legs. Good depth to forechest. Well-made through the body, ribs well spring, just slightly long in loin. Quarters well developed with well bent stifles. Moved out well and held his top line well.

Class 1788 OD (6 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 6387 MORGAN Mrs C A & Erikachen O' Ruadh For Deltandamba JW Sh.CM

Very impressive dog who excels on the move with that jaunty action called for in the standard. I liked his head and kind eye that gave him a masculine expression. Strong through the neck which led in to well-assembled front, stood on good legs and tidy feet. Body of good proportions, ribs well sprung through to a firm loin, level top line which he held throughout. Well-developed quarters with stifles well bent. Sound on the move. Thought he was a smart dog with bags of potential, delighted to award him Best Dog.

2nd: 6401 STREVENS Miss H Sh Ch Erikachen Conaire At Tollisty JW Sh.CM

A dog I am very familiar with, I have judged him on a number of occasions and he always impresses. He was my BOB last time I judged and RBD on the occasion before that, so pleased to see him here again today. Not with his normal handler but easy to recognise with his quality. Classic head piece, lovely dark eye. Strong through the neck which led on to a super angulated front, shoulders well set and standing on good legs and neat feet. Good depth to the body, ribs well sprung and loin muscular. Level in top line. Quarters well-made and muscled, stifles well bent. One of the best movers of the day, very impressive action in profile. Correct tail carriage on the move. Coat good with correct texture. He was winning the class up until the final run off but was untidy in front as he came towards me and this gave the edge to the first who it transpires is his litter brother.

3rd: 6386 MACLEOD, Mrs C M & HUSSEY Mrs M R Camusmor Stargazer JW

Class 1789 VD (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: 6393 PALFREY Mrs L A & Mr T Foxdown Bertie Allsorts Sh.CM

Another that I have judged before and who has done well under me, he is now 7 years of age. He has a good double coat and rich colour. He has a balanced head and was presented in good condition. He has a decent front assembly with a good lay back of shoulder.  Well made in body with a firm, level topline. Well made quarters with a good bend of stifle, well-muscled. Sound on the move with a good action.

Class 1790 PB (10 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: 6403 SMITH Mrs K Tivalake Anything Goes At Tollisty

Eight months, very together and she is very promising. Definitely enjoying her day out. She has a lovely head and expression. Good lay back of shoulder and front assembly. Standing on good legs and neat feet. Body of good proportion with ribs and loin developing well. Quarters well made with a good bend of stifle. She strode out really well on the move with a good action. In the challenge I considered her for top honours but she tired a little at that point. Delighted to make her Best Puppy and I suspect that she will have a bright future ahead of her if she carries on growing in this direction.

2nd: 6409 WESTWOOD, Mrs T & WESTWOOD Miss S Eusanit Gonna Make You A Star

Another typy puppy but at the growing stage so not as balanced as the winner. She has a super head piece and a good overall shape, with a good back of shoulder. Good legs and feet. Body developing well with ribs and loin where you would expect them at this age. Did ok on the move, had plenty of enthusiasm, needs to settle in to her front action but another promising puppy. I think these two may change places a lot in the future.

3rd: 6379 EDWARDS Mrs S Afonbach Song Of Ice And Fire

Class 1791 JB (8 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 6403 SMITH Mrs K Tivalake Anything Goes At Tollisty

2nd: 6409 WESTWOOD, Mrs T & WESTWOOD Miss S Eusanit Gonna Make You A Star

3rd: 6379 EDWARDS Mrs S Afonbach Song Of Ice And Fire

Class 1792 PGB (11 Entries) Abs: 4

1st: 6384 LITTLEHALES Mrs K Melanitta Ambrose

A nice outline on this bitch, feminine in head and expression. Good through neck and decent front assembly with the correct lay back of shoulder. Ribs well sprung and firm in loin. Stifle well bent and good rear angulation, coat in good condition. Moved out well.

2nd: 6375 COX Mrs J Alliance De La Vie Red Thistle In Icestorm (Imp)

This bitch has a pleasing head of the correct shape and feminine expression. Good reach of neck, correct layback of shoulder. Would have liked her a little tidier in front. Good overall shape with balanced body proportioned. Correct spring of rib and firm loin. Quarters well made with well bent stifles, would like a little more muscle tone. Just not as fluid I front action on the move as the winner.

3rd: 6365 ADSHEAD, Ms A M & ADSHEAD Miss A L Danehaven Vermilion For Afonbach

Class 1793 OB (6 Entries) Abs: 0

Now this was a decision and a half, the winner was my best bitch last time I judged and the second a bitch that I have watched often from the ring side and admired.

1st: 6391 NEWSON, Ms D & NEWSON Miss T Tivalake More Than Wishes

Pleased to see this lady again today as the more finished article. She presented with a classic outline on the finer side but still correct. Good overall size and proportions. Beautiful in head, typical wedge shape, correct breadth and eye shape that gave that appealing expression. Strong through the neck leading into well placed shoulders, standing on well boned legs and neat feet. Correct depth of body, ribs well spring and strong level top line. Well-developed quarters with moderately bent stifles. On the move she had good footfall, occasionally can skip a bit behind if she goes too fast but once she was slowed down was easy to see the typical Toller gate. Best Bitch and subsequently Best of Breed, congratulations.

2nd: 6410 WESTWOOD, Mrs T & WESTWOOD Miss S Multi Ch Eusanit Apple Of One's Eye JW CW17

On my first walk round I thought this lady would be my winner. Beautiful in head, typical wedge shape, correct breadth and eye shape and well placed ears that gave that appealing expression. Strong through the neck leading into well placed shoulder, standing on well boned legs and neat feet. Correct depth of body for her age, ribs springing nicely, strong level topline. Well-developed quarters with well bent stifles. Excellent tail carriage. On the move she was just on a mission today and charged around the ring, her handler in hot pursuit, unfortunately she just lost her action as a consequence and the class. Delighted to be able to award her Reserve Best Bitch, one I really liked.

3rd: 6372 BURCHELL Mrs Y S & Mr N C Tivalake Cover Girl RL1

Class 1794 VB (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: 6394 PALFREY Mrs L A & Mr T Flushpoint Whata Accident For Melanitta (Imp)

I see from my records that this lady was my Reserve Best Bitch last time I judged and I still like her. Now eight years old I found her a very typy bitch with a pleasing head shape and good eye. Good overall construction with a decent front assembly and a good return of upper arm. Stood on good legs. Well ribbed up and strong loin. Quarters well developed with a good bend to her stifles. She had drive on the move with a good action which gave her the class.

2nd: 6402 STREVENS Miss H Decoymans Piper Cinder At Tollisty RL2

This eight year old lady presented a smart outline. Very pretty girl with a pleasing head and expressions. Well made with good depth to chest and spring of rib. Stood on super feet. Fluid on the move but not quite the drive of the winner. Clearly enjoying her day out in the sun which was great to see.