Merseyside Gundog Club

BEST IN SHOW

I was honoured to receive this invitation to judge at this most prestigious Gundog Club. To add to this was the delight to judge both Best In Show and Best Puppy in show. I thank the Committee for a lovely day. This was a slick operation from the start of the day right through to Best In Show, a truly experienced and knowledgeable team at the helm.

I had a full compliment to choose from and many young stars for the future were put through by my fellow judges for my consideration. My final four placers where of top quality and could grace any championship group ring on another day. A very close decision between Best and Reserve Best in Show but ultimately the most exquisite head and sheer quality in the young Pointer bitch just inched it over the terrific moving Bracco Italiano. 1. POINTER Dyer, Oddie, Oddie & Coles SHARNPHILLY SERENDIPITY. Only 16 months and already a Champion I found out at the end of the day. Yes, easy to see why. I could go into writing reams about her but safe to say simply….. classy, curvy, honest, elegant, typical and with moderation and true balance. What more can you ask for? She is all Pointer but without excess. And a head to die for with the most lovely expression. Loved every ounce of her and she is so typical in movement with the ever desireable bee-sting action as she goes. With parents like she has in that pedigree she will be worth watching. So pleased to have her here in this line up. I’m sure big things await! 2. BRACCO ITALIANO. Nencini’s IT CH POLCEVERAS ANNIBALE. Well put together, typical and fluid in movement. She is strong and powerful without excess. I loved her constructional qualities and when she moved well, she demanded to be considered for the top spots. I love it when a dog makes me sit up and pay attention. She was first off and placed herself firmly in my mind as they came through. She held herself well on the around and has great reach and drive. Quality bone and good feet, great depth and ribbing. She’s got a good head and eye and is most typical. Loved her for type, soundness and showmanship. 3. SUSSEX SPANIEL Grahams EALD DANCES WITH WOLVES AMONG NYLIRAM JW All the essentials in one small package. Quality construction, with a very good head and topline. Great ribs and super fore and aft. Standing on quality bone and feet. Moved with great enthusiasm and carriage. Effortless easy and positive on the move. So much to like. 4. NOVA SCOTIA DUCK TOLLING RET. Moult & Savory’s SH CH EUSANIT NAUGHTY BUT NICE FOR CROFTWELL JW Fabulous head and expression – just loved it! Excelled in overall balance and type. Attractive from all angles and another who had made herself known to me on initial assessment. Loved her angles fore and aft and put down in excellent order with the very best of musculature. Good bone and feet and moved sound out and back with the characteristic spring in her step on the around. Very nice indeed. 

BEST PUPPY IN SHOW: A good selection of puppies to choose from, many with great quality but as is normal, all developing at different rates and some needing more time to come together. That being said, I was more than delighted with my winners. 1. SPANISH WATER DOG Hodgkinson-Rutherford & Rutherford’s FERRYLANDS HUNTING HIGH AND LOW FOR CHANDERHILL (IMP). Now this one I found quite exceptional. The best of bone and feet, great balance fore and aft. Cracking topline and the best of ribs. Strong in body and with great musculature and the very best of coats. Good height to length proportions, correct for the breed. Sound as a pound out and back and carried herself so well on the around. Footfalls were precise and true. Dark eye with correct head proportions. Hard to fault which was delightful. This one was the one to beat. From the very best of moulds, she has it all going on. A future star in the making. 2. FLAT COATED RETRIEVER Buckley’s STEELRIVER HIT THE BEACH WITH BUCKLEYHILL Nicely constructed and moved with some style and panache. Typey and with appealing head and expression. Super front and great depth already. Good proportions all round and with complimentary angles front and rear. Strong in first and second thigh and well muscled throughout. Loved his togetherness on the around, keeping the topline intact. 3. GOLDEN RETRIEVER Ashtons WILLOWLAWN WYLDSTYLE Gorgeous head and eye. Clean in neck into shoulder. Great angles front and rear, super depth and spring of rib. Correct leg length to body depth comparative to overall body length. Super topline. The best of bone and feet. Moved out well fore and aft. Moved around with reach and drive. 4. WELSH SPRINGER SPNAIEL Grahams NYLIRAM LETS TWIST AGAIN. Pleasing head and eye. Nicely made and with good amount of bone, neat feet. Really excels in width over hindquarters. Presented in excellent coat and the very best of muscle. Judged him earlier in the morning and he was a different dog by this time in the day. He’d really started to come into himself by now and moved out well and gave a lot more of himself both standing and moving. Loved his balance and proportions. 

WELSH SPRINGER SPANIELS

Puppy D/B (1,0) 1 & BOB & BPIB Grahams NYLIRAM LETS TWIST AGAIN Full of breed type. Pleasing in head and eye, straight in front and the best of bone and feet. Super wide in quarters, good bend in stifle. Lovely coat and condition.

Junior D/B (1, 0) Grahams N LETS TWIST AGAIN. As above.

Post Graduate D/B (1,0) 1 & RBOB Phillipson MENSTONIA METEOR Straight bone and good feet. Straight in front, great upper arm and layback of shoulder. Not so developed in rear, a shade steep in croup. Put down in good condition. Lovely head and expression, good in foreface and muzzle.

FLAT COATED RETRIEVER

Puppy D/B (5,1) First two were both quite smart and there was little between them. 1, BOB & BPIB Buckley’s STEELRIVER HIT THE BEACH WITH BUCKLEYHILL. Lovely typey young man with so much to commend. Smart body, good bone and substance. Good in angulation front and rear. Liked him for depth and ribcage. Sound out back and around. 2. Knowles MISTLEDAWN GIRLS GOT RHYTM 3. Salts LEVELMOOR BLACKADDER

Junior D/B (5,1) 1 Buckley’s S HIT THE BEACH WITH B. 2. Bligh’s RAVENCRAG JINGLE ALL THE WAY Nicely put together, really well conditioned. Good moving out and tidy also on the around.

Post Grad D/B (3,1) 1. Bligh’s RAVENCRAG GREAT NORTH STAR Dark eye, but not so keen on the head on this one. Bit strong on head planes. Deep chested, good ribbing, short loin. Short in upper arm and good in prosternum.

Open D/B (3,2) 1. Bligh’s RAVENCRAG FIERY DESTINY In general well put together, not so keen on the croup on this one. Lovely front assembly. Good bone and feet. Depth is good throughout. Very exuberant but lots to like at this level.

AV IMPORTED REGISTER GUNDOG

Grad D/B (2,1) SLOVAKIAN ROUGH HAIRED POINTER 1. Grimes ANSONA JAZZMIN Super little mover and so well put together, with so much to commend. Good in front and rear and plenty depth already. Loved her head properties, lovely muzzle and great character. Really nice on the around. Shows such potential.

ANY VARIETY GUNDOG

Vet D/B (17, 10) ENGLISH SPRINGER Cunliffe’s SHCH/IR SH CH CALVDALE MY GIRL OF FALLENLEAF JW Presented here in the best bib and tucker, with so much to like. Lovely head and eye. Great balance and quality and giving so well here today. Good in topline and croup. In super muscle and condition. Moved with absolute precision and style. 2. Phillipston’s SH CH MENSTONIA MARKSMAN ShCM Pushed the winner really hard. Has all the essentials. Super upper arm and front. Good bone and feet. Great depth and ribs. Straight and true in front.

Minor Puppy D/B GSP Popcock’s FAYEMM SEA THE STARS Clean in outline. No exaggeration. Firm and tight in muscle throughout. Stands on good bone and feet. Cracking topine and tailset. Super shoulder and upper arm. Deep chest. Long light reachy strides. Correct coat texture. Smart. 2. NSDTR Elkins TOLLELKIN CAIFE AMERICANO

Puppy D/B (19, 13) 1. Golden Retriever Ashtons WILLOWLAWN WYLDSTYLE As above. Best Puppy 4. 2. Grahams WELSH SPRINGER SPANIEL Nyliram Lets Twist and Shout. As above.

Junior D/B (29, 17) 1. AMERICAN COCKER SPANIEL Glovers NASAILLEEN ROOSEVELT AT MICKCALS Buff 15 month old boy who moved with purpose. Sound out and back and around. Has plenty under that big coat. Good bone and substance and full in rib. Good topline and tailset and a really nice front. Well padded up and pushed off his strong hocks. 2.LABRADOR Barons MARIANK VANITY FAIR AT LANDEBEC Typey yellow so balanced and well made. Great coat of correct texture. Pleasing head piece with excellent eye. Good topline and good otter tail. Might like a shade more bone.

Post Grad D/B (14, 10) 1. COCKER SPANIEL Burleys CASSOM CANALETTO AT BARNSBUR Of excellent type. Good in size and proportions. Presented immaculately. Good bone and feet and with full spring of rib. Short and cobby with level back and correct tailset. Loved his big ribs. Good angles front and rear with plenty width over first and second thighs. Deep strong and well muscled and put on a nice performance. Pleasant head and dark eye, although a shade more work in foreface would just complete him for me. Liked him as soon as he came in the class. 2. LABRADOR RETRIEVER Birch’s BRUXINHO REWRITE THE STARS. This bitches head was quite lovely with the very best of eye and expression and ample work throughout. Ticks all the boxes on the essentials, head, tail, coat and of course is so nicely put together through her front. Good bone and feet and plenty in the rear. Just a shade short in croup which showed on the move.

Limit D/B (12, 8) 1. COCKER SPANIEL Shinkfield & Lester’s QUETTADENE TOUCH THE STARS JW Pretty headed black bitch, 2 years old and maturing along nicely. Darkest of eye and long lashes. Good pigment throughout. Plenty of chiselling through her head and ear set and length as required. Reachy neck into good shoulder. Good ribbing and short in loin. Correct topline. Super hindquarters which she used to power around the ring. Deep in body and fully coated. A pleasure to have this one here today. 2. GOLDEN RETRIEVER Biddulph’s DIBBLESDAE THE MAGIC GOES ON. Good overall shape and balance. Presented here in rock hard condition and good coat. Super front and rear with the best of ribbing. Good body proportions, excellent bone and feet. Strong in rear pasterns, used himself well on the move.

Open D/B (7, 4) 1. LABRADOR Newtons MEADOWLINE MARIABELLA FOR RALYVILLE Good to have hands on as she is deceiving. A very decent bitch for quality and essentials. Good head, coat and tail and sound as they come. 2. GOLDEN RETRIEVER Griggs MULFIELD AMETHYST ShCM This one is as pretty as they come. She has the best of heads and a melting expression totally drawing you in as you assess her. Good in bone and feet. Put together very nicely all through but just not giving enough of herself to win the class today.

Diane Stewart-Ritchie (Judge)