Manchester Dog Show Society

Manchester Dog Show Society 19/1/2020

Golden Retriever Dogs

My thanks to the society for inviting me to judge dogs at this lovely show, to the exhibitors for a fabulous entry, and for the lovely sporting atmosphere which prevailed. I am very happy to report I found no bad mouths, lovely temperament was very much in evidence, and the overall quality bodes well for our breed.

Minor Puppy (13, 2 abs)

1.Paxton’s Dantassie Double Take. Loved this 6m mid-gold baby and could happily have popped him in my car. Very together and balanced for age, ample bone but not cloddy, super reach of neck leading to level topline, excellent forehand, neatest of feet, straight and sound limbs, and moved like a pro! Should have a bright future. 2. Bates’ Akenscales Waterloo. Loved this cream 8m old’s outline, he has a super flow of neck leading into well laid back shoulders, he has a larger frame to fill than my winner but has everything I would want, just right for age, and moved soundly. 3. Kipps’ Flash Flame to Wheatcroft. Completed a trio of lovely babies.

Puppy (12, 3 abs)

 1. Grainger’s Amilone Flintstone. Could not tear my eyes away from this beautiful cream boy. Has substance, depth and masculinity but in no way overdone. Loved everything about him, clearly destined for the top. He has a stunning outline, neatest of feet, tons of bone, a gorgeous head with super pigment, his topline is dead level and he moved soundly and accurately. BPD, unlucky to meet a stunning bitch puppy in the challenge. 2. Lokere’s Super Hero du Viver Au Bois, pressed very hard, another gorgeous puppy but giving his handler a hard time. A darker boy otherwise sharing many of my winner’s attributes. A superb example of the breed. 3. Zanini’s Pinkerly Into the Blue.

Junior (11, 2 abs)

A difficult class to judge with a diversity of types and quality.

1. Morss’ Olvinglay Soothsayer (Imp Ita) JW. I had not been drawn to this youngster before but today he really impressed. He is a large, scopey boy who has correct length of leg to body ratio, and is looking just right for his age. He is lovely to go over, and a pleasing head and expression. Moved well when he decided to settle, although played up in the challenge. 2. Clarke’s Ousevale Tobermory JW, slightly shorter in leg than winner but a favourite of mine with textbook construction and stylish movement. Particularly liked his forehand assembly, and eye shape and set. 3. Loverock and Waldron-Smith’s Thornywait Space Cowboy at Lovissa.

Yearling (11,3 abs)

1. Birkin-Green and Gripton’s Sansue Keep the Magic JW. This dog has everything I would want and is just right for his age. He is utterly balanced, with no exaggerations. Most beautiful chiselled head with soft expression, he greeted me with a gentle wag of the tail. Well made all through and beautifully presented in wavy cream coat, he completed the picture with excellent movement, loved him enough to award the RCC in excellent company. 2. Jones and Athey's Ninell Jefferson, also a lovely dog to go over, a well-made boy of good size, he presented a super outline when stood, just slightly proud of his tail on the move (although by no means as proud as some in this class today, a hazard of being a yearling!) 3. Copley’s Monchique Imperial Beau at Emmabe JW Ir J Ch

Graduate (12, 4 abs)

1. Catterall and Jackson’s Golmas Guardsman JW This rich gold dog has a very eye-catching and balanced outline, I loved his set of neck into shoulders which were well laid back on a level topline, beautiful head and expression, dark pigment and moved with reach and drive. 2. Robinson’s Baricia Emporio Diamond JW came a very close second, I loved this cream dog’s type and overall construction, just slightly preferred winner’s length of leg to body ratio. 3. Woods’ Daily Ray’s Hope of Heart to Amirene.

Post Graduate (18, 6 abs)

 A very mixed class which presented a challenge to sort out, but very satisfied with my placed dogs. 1. Ayling-Jones’ Leighsham Cococabana at Raiveslake. Just stood out for condition, presentation and movement. Rich gold coat with not a hair out of place, masculine d. of good size yet elegant, a pleasure to over, nothing at all jarred or disappointed. 2. Angell’s Millanza Toy Story JW. A different type to 1, but again loved his balance and found him very pleasing hands on. I think he was not in as profuse coat as I have seen him, which was actually to his advantage. Gorgeous head and pigment, correct bite, and his topline was level despite his coat trying to make it look otherwise! 3. Phipps-Baker’s Maddouse Top Hat.

Limit (22, 4abs)

Wow what a super class, bursting with quality, both a nightmare and a pleasure to judge! Had I shortlisted every dog I liked, very few would have left the ring so I had to be brutal. 1. Wedge’s Riverscharm Mr McGregor JW. What a beautifully balanced, sound-moving dog with no exaggerations. I loved everything about him and surprised even myself when it was an easy decision and a pleasure to later award him the CC, delighted when my co-judge agreed he should be BOB over a beautiful bitch I also love but she was not in full coat today. 2. Joy’s Shardanell Just Like That JW A favourite of mine, was unlucky to meet the winner in top form. I love this dog’s head, he has good length of leg, a deep mature body, super angles and straight, sound limbs, he was a joy to go over but was not quite as together on the move as the winner. 3. Giltsoff’s Endellion Spinnaker.

Open (15, 5abs)

An amazing class, my sincere thanks to exhibitors for bringing their outstanding dogs for me to judge. 1. Saarnit’s Multi Ch Linirgor Pied Piper at Meiepere Jun Ch. I have judged this beautiful dog before and my opinion has not changed, he is a pleasure to go over and for me, he epitomises the breed standard. When I was awarding him this class I thought I would be also awarding him the CC today, but when I moved him again in the challenge I felt he did not do so with his usual drive and enthusiasm and so he had to give way. 2. Archibald’s Sh Ch and Ir Sh Ch Abinvale Levanto is a different type but another who is a joy to go over and is totally at one with his handler, so is a pleasure to watch. Lovely shape, he is masculine yet not overdone, with tons of bone, neatest of catlike feet and straight limbs when viewed from every angle. Dead level topline, and super angulation, he had to be outstanding to beat another dog I really admire 3. Trinder’s Sh Ch Thornywait San Valentino JW ShCM.

Veteran (4, 1 abs)

1. Wild’s Sh Ch Fenwood Ell Masterpiece at Bluewaters JW Best Veteran in Breed. Now 8.5 years young this dog can still outmove the best of them and remains a pleasure to go over. However, he was not without competition today with 2. Baldacchino’s Multi Ch Sunny Rain de Ria Vela, another I have judged before and rate very highly, very impressive, beautifully made dog, gave my winner a run for his money and was a really close decision. 3. White’s Sandusky Zulu Warrior.

Fiona Clarkson (Judge)