Queens Island Canine Club

Curly Coated Retriever Club Open Show – 15th February 2020 

Many thanks to the Curly Coated Retriever Club committee for such an enjoyable day, and thanks to my stewards for being so friendly and efficient. It was an honour and pleasure to judge this wonderful breed. 

The ‘Curly’ is a breed I have been interested for over 35 years and I had the great pleasure of seeing the impressive Champion Darelyn Rifleman throughout his show career – he made a lasting impression on me. 

The temperaments of the dogs I judged were excellent, all of the dogs presented by the handlers were clean and good muscular condition. Coats, in general, were good showing the crisp tight curl and were well presented  

I did have some untypical heads – for me, the wedge shaped head of a Curly is a definitive breed point and the broad Labrador type heads that are creeping in are undesirable.  

I had a couple of suspect mouths. 

Lastly I have to mention the feet – keeping the nails short is so important in any breed, when a dog stands or walks on a long clawed paw it puts pressure on the wrong parts of the foot, causing pain and discomfort. To try and minimise this pain your dog may move slightly differently, which in turn may make them more susceptible to other joint injuries; it makes the foot flat, splays the toes and compromises the movement. 

Veteran Dog (2, 1ab) 

1st  Bett’s Elerrina Untouchable (imp NLD). This boy gives the impression of balance, strength and elegance on the stack. He possesses the wedge shape head, slight stop, soft expressive oval shaped eyes, and strong muzzle. Strong neck leading to correct lay of shoulder, firm topline which was held perfectly on the move. Correct length in back and the firmest of loins. Strong well muscled quarters, with a well defined second thigh and tight round feet with short nails. Quality curly coat that was presented to advantage.  His profile movement is true & effortless and was straight fore and aft. Presented in excellent muscle and coat condition. Very pleased to award him the BD and RBIS 

Puppy Dog (2,1ab) 

1st  Tarelli’s Firecurl Some Like It Hot At Tarockwood (AI), Pleasing boy who possesses a good topline and underline on the stack and on the move. His head is a little broad over the skull for me but he has a well shaped eye and excellent ear set. His coat texture is a softer than I would like but this should improve with age. Moved with good reach but would like a bit more drive. 

Yearling Dog  (2,1ab) 

1st  Driscoll’s Fleetpaw One For Arthur. Strong masculine head that needs to refine in back skull.  Oval dark hazel eyes that harmonise with the Liver coat colour, giving a soft expression. Small ears set on well. Correct neck, straight foreleg and slightly sloping croup. Didn’t quite have the length of back that I was looking for. Tight curl to the coat that was crisp in texture. Feet need attention. Moved steadily. 

Graduate Dog 3,1ab) 

1st  Masson & Glover’s Tessmene Summer Solstice. Loved this young man for his balance, and appealing expression. Excellent shape with elegance & strength combined. Wedged shaped head with a good eye & expression. Pleasing reach of neck with an excellent layback of shoulder, firm level topline, good tailset & carriage. In good coat and muscle condition. Moved freely 

2nd  Opie’s Kelsmere Khumba. Finer throughout than 1st, but lots of breed type. Wedged shape to head with the kindest of expressions. Strong neck leading in to well-placed shoulders, level topline and short couplings. Moved true when he settled.   

Post Graduate Dog (4,2ab) 

1st  Masson & Glover’s Tessmene Summer Solstice - Repeat 

2nd  Tarelli’s Hunters Pride Jurajska Gwiazda At Tarockwood (imp POL) Super coat to this young man. Out of a finer mould than 1, however he has sufficient depth to chest and is short coupled. His muscle tone is good.  Slightly over–reaching on the move today and is proud of his tail. Feet need attention and his confidence needs to develop 

Limit Dog (4,1ab) 

1st     Stephens’s Myosotisis Glenfiddich At Brightmeadow (imp NLD) Pleasing boy. He has good bone, balanced fore and aft and is in good muscle condition. Moved true with a level tail carriage.  

2nd  Carlin’s Haneslau Cousin Jack.  Immature boy that with patience and training should develop well. A little broad in back skull for me but has a kind eye. Pleasing proportions, moved steadily but lacking animation. First-rate textured curly coat. 

3rd  Edworthy’s Maycourt Cadillac 

Open Dog (5,3ab) 

1st  Mercer & Thomas’s Elkysar Black Arrow Over Stormacre. Lovely headed dog with correct wedge planes. Best of legs and feet that are well boned. Coat of correct texture. Firm topline with a good tail set. Moved with reach and drive. RBD 

2nd  Phillips’s Gladrags Ain’t Misbehaving, This dog had the best curled and textured coat of the day. Out of a finer mould than 1, and I would like a more refined head - however he is balanced, short coupled & is in good muscle tone.  Today he was somewhat erratic on the move.  

Veteran Bitch (1) 

1st  Bardwell’s Spingcurl Carol Ann Duffy Good body and type on this bitch, she is classic in outline.  Good head proportions and lovely expression Balanced fore and aft she moved with purpose and drive using her tail to advantage. Such a happy girl.   RBV 

Minor Puppy Bitch (1) 

1st  Fleetwoods Sundevil Empress Among Foxriever (imp USA). Presents a most pleasing overall picture with a look of balance. Pretty head with the wedge shape in front and side profile. She is very feminine but with substance, good depth and strength of body. Moved steadily, another that needs her nails attending to. 

Puppy Bitch (3,1ab) 

1st  Fleetwoods Sundevil Empress Among Foxriever (imp USA) - Repeat 

2nd  McKenzie’s Firecurl Pop Goes The Weasel At Beddgelert. Super eye and expression. Needs time to develop but she has good balance and she moves freely. 

Junior Bitch (4,2ab) 

1st Mercer & Thomas’s Tynesides My Heart Will Go On To Stormacre (imp USA) Love this girl’s head – true wedge shape from front and side profile. Oval eye giving a melting expression. Well constructed with good depth, strong loin and cracking hindquarters. Well muscled which gave true movement fore and aft.  Feminine girl that oozes attitude - Seriously considered her for RBB 

2nd  McKenzie’s Firecurl Pop Goes The Weasel At Beddgelert  - Repeat 

Yearling Bitch (2,1ab) 

1st  Moskowitz’s Blue Willow At Ravenho. I liked the overall balance to this girl. Well proportion head with a lovely expression, set on to a slightly arched neck. Good front and rear angulation ribs well sprung. Coat texture is very good. On the move this girl needs a bit more training to get the best out of her. 

Novice Bitch (1) 

1st  Moskowitz’s Blue Willow At Ravenho  - Repeat 

Graduate Bitch (2, 1ab) 

1st  Moskowitz’s Blue Willow At Ravenho  - Repeat 

Open Bitch (6,3ab) 

1st  Courtier’s Sh Ch Maycourt Crimson Moon   Loved this girl for her superb movement, typical wedged shaped feminine head and a lovely dark & slightly oval eye. Strong neck of good length, lovely bone, legs and good feet, short well muscled loin, correct topline and underline, strongly muscled hindquarters with well let down hocks.  Moved effortlessly, covering the ground with ease and keeping her topline throughout. Excellent curl and coat texture.  Handled well and presented in tiptop condition.  BB & BIS 

2nd  Mercer & Thomas’s Stormacre Marguerita Time. Pleasing head to this girl but finer than 1st. Kind expression. Strong neck, not as clean over the shoulders as 1st but she is well off for bone has strong coupling, good feet and in good coat. Moved well, carrying her tail level.  

3rd  Phillips’s Gladrags Cream In My Coffee 

Christine Schofield