Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club Of UK

I should like to extend my sincere thanks to the Officers and Committee for inviting me to judge at this show.  It was an absolute honour and privilege to Judge this breed at their Open Show – it is a breed that I follow and hold dear to me. I very much appreciated the opportunity of this appointment to assess some lovely dogs.  

The hospitality and friendliness extended to me throughout the day was exemplary – thank you. 

My gracious thanks are also extended to my stewards – Bill and Julie - who provided me with help and efficiency in keeping things flowing throughout the day.

I must also extend my sincere gratitude to all exhibitors for blessing me such a lovely entry and trusting my opinion of their dogs and the reception given to all my winners. It really was a well organised and very friendly show.

Veteran Dog or Bitch (6):

1ST Harding & Whitehall, Mesdames B & E, Glendermacki Fox Cragg At Brizewood: An 8½ year old male, demonstrating super breed type all through. Clean-cut skull, well placed ears, dentition, correct, clean and complete. Strong neck that is well set on - a fraction heavy over the shoulder however he has the correct layback and return of upper arm. Chest of good depth and width. Strong loin. Well bent stifles,. Quality bone all through with neat, tight feet with short nails. Moved accurately and soundly. Best Veteran In Show. 

2ND Moult & Savory, S A & S J, Acanuck Soul Rebel Of Croftwell: An 8 year old male, again with many breed type virtues that I look for. Correct head slightly wedge shaped, moderate stop, dentition correct, clean and complete. Strong neck of moderate length into well placed shoulders. Good width and depth to chest. Well made hindquarters. I felt that he did not move with the drive of my class winner today.

3RD Fielder, Mr P G & Mrs J, Playing The Fielder At Cretshengan

Puppy Dog (5):

1ST Elkin, Miss M L, Tollelkin Caife Americano: A dog of just over 6 months of age. I thought that this young dog has all the makings of something quite special. Excels in quality bone all through. Of good overall proportions, Good head with flat cheeks, well placed ears, dentition correct, clean and complete. Neck of correct length into very good forehand assembly. Well sprung ribs, strong loin with moderate tuck up. Well bent stifles. Very good tight feet with short nails. Moved soundly and accurately whenever asked.

2ND Hassan, K J, Cretshengan Sky Blu: Another pleasing young dog of 8 months of age, well made all through, Good overall balance and breed type. Correct head shape with tapered muzzle, correct eye shape and colour, dentition correct, clean and complete, moderate length of neck into well laid shoulder and return of upper arm. Well made hindquarters, feet correct with short nails – moved soundly and accurately but not with the forward reach and drive of my first placed exhibit.  

3RD Mohan, Mr A and Mrs N, Tivalake Make Way

Junior Dog (5):

1ST Elkin, Miss M L, Tollelkin Caife Americano: 

2ND Wardrope, Ms C E, Alter Ego Rustyfox (IMP CZE): A 14 month dog of the type that I look for but today did not move with the enthusiasm and drive of first placed exhibit but he did move soundly both fore, aft and in side profile. Good head and expression, correct, clean and complete dentition, well made forequarters with good depth to chest and spring of rib. Moderate hindquarters with well bent stifles. Very good bone all through.

3RD Mohan, Mr A and Mrs N, Tivalake Make Way

Novice Dog (5):

1ST Garton, Mr B, Stacearella Forget Me Not: A dog of 3½ year of age, not in the best of coats, but I found him to be balanced and without exaggeration in all departments. Not one that I could refer to as ultra masculine but in no way feminine, just sound and balanced. Pleasing head and expression, dentition, correct, clean and complete, good length of neck into well placed forehand assembly. Muscular loin, stifles well bent, feet could have been tighter and nails a fraction shorter. Moved soundly and accurately.

2ND Elkin, Miss M L, Tollelkin Caife Americano:  

3RD Johnson, Mrs J P, Tarnlaikers Red Hefin

Graduate Dog (3):

1ST Wardrope, Ms C E, Alter Ego Rustyfox (IMP CZE)

2ND Fincham, Miss A, Danehaven Ralph: A dog of 19 months of age, of pleasing type, Good head, dentition, correct, clean and complete. Adequate forehand angulation but just dipping behind the withers. Well sprung ribcage with loin of optimum length. Good bone and feet with short nails. Moved soundly but lacked spirit and drive of my first placed exhibit.

3RD Johnson, Mrs J P, Stellenbosch Alameda Of Tarnlaikers (AI)

Post Graduate Dog (4):

1ST Adshead, Ms A M & Miss A L, Afonbach Winter Is Coming JW: What an excellent example of the breed this young dog of just 2 years of age is. Presents absolute quality in all departments, the very best of heads, both broad and rounded with eye of correct shape and colour, dentition correct, clean and complete, Neck of moderate length, muscular into excellent forehand angulation with elbows close to body. Chest of good depth and width, well sprung ribs, strong loin, the very best of hindquarter assemblies. Tight, neat feet with shortest of nails, quality bone all through, excellent overall balance, moved soundly, maintaining a firm and level topline and moved with accuracy at all times – Just missed Best Dog today by the smallest of margins but a very worthy winner of Reserve Best Dog.

2ND Burgess, Camusmor King Rob: A dog of nearly 4 years of age, well balanced, quality bone all through, super head and expression. Very good eye shape and colour with ears correctly set. Dentition, correct, clean and complete. Strong neck leading to well placed shoulder. Good depth of chest and correct spring of rib. Strong loin. Well made hindquarters. Feet neat with short nails. Moved soundly.

3RD Ward, Mr D C & Mrs C J, Melanitta Palmata JW

Limit Dog (5, 2abs):

1ST Burchell & Scott, Mr N C & Mrs Y S & Mrs M, Tivalake Make ‘Em Laugh JW: A dog of 4 years of age looking very mature. Of excellent quality in all areas. A very balanced and typical example of the breed. Excellent head and expression with lovely eye of correct shape and colour. Ears at times were not correctly held almost as if the dog had been distracted BUT when it mattered they were correctly held. Correct, clean and complete dentition. The strongest of necks into textbook forehand assembly. Very good width and depth to chest. Well sprung ribs with strong loin. Very good and unexaggerated hindquarters with good width of second thigh. Quality bone and excellent feet with the shortest of nails. Moved accurately both fore, aft and in side profile, showing good forward reach and drive from the rear and maintaining topline at all times – in the challenge for best in show, my deciding factor was that on the day, I felt that he was carrying just of fraction too much weight over his shoulders which slightly detracted an otherwise unblemished outline. Reserve Best In Show & Best Opposite Sex. 

2ND Newson, Ms D & Miss T, Tivalake Let’s Misbehave JW: A very well balanced dog of 2 years of age, giving away a lot of maturity against the class winner. Good overall balance presenting a good outline. Very good and true head with moderate stop, flat cheeks and good ear set. Eye of correct colour and shape, dentition correct, clean and complete, well laid shoulder and return of upper arm. Chest of good depth and width, correct rib and loin. Well made hindquarters. Moved well fore and aft and with good length of stride in profile, the tightest and neatest feet with short nails. 

3RD Fuard, Miss M Y, Tollelkin Bay Of Ice

Open Dog (3):

1ST Titovets & Eremin, Mrs Y & Mrs S, Macdreams Trent From Cashel Vale JW,RL3 (IMP NLD): I have judged this dog before and on a number of occasions and now reaching his best. He is extremely well balanced in all areas, medium size yet powerful with quality bone and muscle all through. Excellent wedge-shaped head with moderate stop and flat cheeks. Dentition correct, clean and complete. Strong moderate length neck set well onto shoulders and corresponding length of upper arm. Chest of good depth and width. Well ribbed back leading to strong loin and excellent powerful hindquarters. The very best of tight, neat feet with the shortest of nails. Moved with good reach and drive.

2ND Garton, Mr B, Stacearella Forget Me Not

3RD Pashley, Miss S, NUC/SU(U)CH NUCH SE U CH Chrilkas Eventyrlige Egon (IMP NOR)

Puppy Bitch (4):

1ST Collins & Powley, Misses D & C, Deveron Duchess Of Danehaven: An extremely well balanced bitch of just 11 months of age, very feminine, balanced and well made all through. Very good head and expression with moderate stop and lovely eye of correct shape and colour. Dentition correct, clean and complete. Neck well set on to excellent shoulder placement and return of upper arm. Well ribbed back with short loin. Well bent stifles. Good bone, neat tight feet and short nails. She had a very nice attitude and moved soundly with drive. Best Puppy In Show

2ND Fielder, Mr P G & Mrs J, Cretshengan Signy: A bitch of just 8 months of age, balanced and slightly longer on the leg than the first placed exhibit. Pleasing head and expression with flat cheeks and dentition that was correct, clean and complete. Well laid shoulder and return of upper arm. Good depth and width of chest for her age. Well ribbed back. Correct hindquarters with good bone and feet. Moved steadily with a good sound and accurate stride.

3RD Wakely, Mr R & Mrs J, Cretshengan Emerald Lake

Junior Bitch (7, 1abs):

1ST Burland, T, Eusanit Lily The Pink: A 15 month old bitch, extremely well made and balanced all through. Presented a good outline. Excellent head and expression with well set ears and flat cheeks, eye of correct colour and shape, dentition correct, clean and complete. She scored in forehand construction. Deep chest of good width, well ribbed back. Strong hindquarter assembly. Tight feet with short nails. Moved well.

2ND Powley, Miss C, Gaberlunzie Parsnip: At just 14 months of age, this bitch excels in bone all through. Of good size and overall proportions and in coat of good quality. Very good feminine head with medium eye. Dentition correct, clean and complete. Fore and hindquarter assemblies good with elbows close to body. Tight round feet spoilt by nails that were too long for me. Moved well and soundly.

3RD Strevens, Miss H, Tollelkin Caife Gaelach At Tollisty

Novice Bitch (8, 1abs):

1ST Burland, T, Eusanit Lily The Pink

2ND Strevens, Miss H, Tollelkin Caife Gaelach At Tollisty: At just 6 months of age, this bitch was really raw but so well constructed, balanced all through completely sound and very accurate on the move Attractive and very feminine bitch, good size and proportions for age, although obviously not as mature as the first placed exhibit. Very nice head and soft expression. Correct, clean and complete dentition. Correct ear placement and carriage. Super neck into well placed shoulders and corresponding return of upper arm. Well made hindquarters with moderate turn of stifle. Moved extremely well on feet that were tight, neat and with short nails

3RD Ormes & Halpin, Miss R & Mr T, Danehaven Ottertail

Graduate Bitch (6):

1ST Sharpe, Miss L A, Tivalake Crystal Ball At Rosettia JW RL2 AW(B): A fully balanced bitch of excellent proportions, clean, feminine head with moderate stop. Dentition correct, clean and complete. Good layback of shoulder. Long well sprung ribcage leading to short muscular loin. Well made hindquarter assembly with well let down hocks. Good bone and feet with the shortest of nails..  

2ND Moult & Savory, S A & S J, Croftwell Tickety Boo: A very nice overall type of bitch. Very attractive and feminine correct size and proportions for age. Lovely head and expression. Correct, clean and complete dentition. Good ear placement and carriage. Super neck into well placed shoulders. Nicely bodied with well made hindquarters. Very good bone and feet. Moved well showing accurate movement both fore and aft – just not holding her topline as firmly as my first placed exhibit.

3RD Ormes & Halpin, Miss R & Mr T, Danehaven Ottertail

Post Graduate Bitch (9, 1abs):

1ST Edwards, Mrs S K, Afonbach Song Of Ice And Fire: What a truly lovely young bitch this is and only of 2 years of age. She epitomises quality and breed type in every department – I loved her the moment she stepped into my ring and did not disappoint me. So very well balanced all through. Presented in super condition and a lovely picture in outline and profile. Excellent and slightly wedge-shaped feminine head with moderate stop, and correct eye giving soft expression. Medium size high set ears. Correct, clean and complete dentition. Strong neck into well placed shoulders and corresponding return of upper arm with deep chest of good width with brisket reaching the elbows. Level topline. Good spring of rib, with strong loin and well muscled hindquarters. Tight round feet with short nails. Super quality bone all through. Moved well and accurately both fore, aft and in profile whenever asked. Best Bitch and Best In Show.

2ND Sharpe, Miss L A, Tivalake Crystal Ball At Rosettia JW RL2 AW(B)

3RD Adshead, Ms A M & Miss A L, Afonbach Dance With Dragons JW

Limit Bitch (8):

1ST Pashley, Miss S, Wakaduze Wah Pen Dah Ska: For me, another super quality bitch of just 3 years of age so she will improve further. Extremely well presented and shown. Very feminine bitch lovely head and expression, good shape and colour to eye, ears well set, good neck into well placed shoulders and return of upper arm. Good depth to chest and ribs well sprung leading to strong loin with moderate tuck up. Very good hindquarter assembly with stifles well bent and hocks well let down. Good bone all through, super tight neat feet and short nails. Moved well, accurately and soundly. Reserve Best Bitch. 

2ND Smith, Mrs K, Tivalake Anything Goes At Tollisty JW: A lovely 2 year old bitch again very well balanced all through. Lovely feminine head with gentle intelligent expression. Cheeks flat and ears well placed. Correct, clean and complete dentition. Moderate length of neck leading to well placed shoulders. Deep chest of good width. Well ribbed back with strong loin. Tight round feet with short nails. Moved very well

3RD Adshead, Ms A M & Miss A L, Danehaven Vermillion For Afonbach SHCM.

Open Bitch (3):

1ST Moult & Savory, S A & S J, SH CH Eusanit Naughty But Nice For Croftwell JW: Well made with good overall balance and breed type. Typical head with clean flat cheeks, moderate stop and well placed/set ears. Correct, clean and complete dentition, strong neck of moderate length set well onto shoulders which were of good layback – I would being very ‘picky’ like a little more return of upper arm. Chest of good width and depth with ribs well sprung. Very good hindquarter assembly with hocks well let down. Good bone all through, tight, neat feet with short nails, moved very well and soundly and presented in super coat condition.

2ND Newsom, Ms D & Miss T; SH CH Tivalake More Than Wishes: Another well balanced bitch of again good proportions. Super head and expression, with eye of good colour and shape. Dentition correct, clean and complete. Well made forehand assembly. Chest of good depth and width, good length and spring of ribcage. Short loin with moderate tuck up. Strong back, well made hindquarters. Good bone and feet. Moved well. 

3RD Powley, Miss C, Danehaven Fenelon

Special Working Dog or Bitch (10):

1ST Titovets & Eremin, Mrs Y & Mrs S, Macdreams Trent From Cashel Vale JW,RL3 (IMP NLD)

2ND Edwards, Mrs S K, Afonbach Song Of Ice And Fire

3RD Fielder, Mr P G & Mrs J, Schindow Junior Cowboy With Cretshengan

Martyn J Rees (Judge)