Berkshire Downs & Chilterns Golden Retriever Club

Firstly I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge today and to the exhibitors for entering their dogs and allowing me the privilege of assessing them. On the whole I found the quality was high and although a few were in need of more ringcraft after the long break from showing, I was impressed with the confidence of the younger dogs, some of whom have had a very short showing career. I was surprised at the number of lighter eyes in some of the dogs and a few carried too much weight which spoils the outline and movement. In many classes I was splitting hairs and was very spoiled for choice.

In the challenges my co-judge Heather Morss and I agreed on all the awards except for the best puppy in show. We were of the opinion that both were super examples of the breed and we therefore asked the referee, Gloria Gargan to decide for us.

SV Special Veteran

1. McCormack’s Sh Ch Flyngalee Alonso. Despite being a veteran this boy is able to stride around the ring with such ease showing a lot of the younger dogs how it's done. He is totally balanced with a kind masculine head, good reach of neck, super laid back shoulders and well angulated front. He has well sprung ribs, is short coupled with short neat let down hocks. His topline is level both static and on the move and he has an ever wagging tail. He displays a super outline. BVIS

2. Linfield’s Tonara Rio Grande JW ShCM. Many of the same attributes as the first apply with his dog but in a smaller package. I found him to be in excellent coat and condition with tight neat feet. He has short let down hocks allowing him to move with drive presenting a long flowing stride when viewed from the side.

3. Warden’s Eyevalley Macallan of Glentochty ShCM VW. Sadly not in his best coat today. Slightly longer cast than the previous two but still balanced and another super mover. Well muscled and carrying the correct amount of condition.

MP

1. Haines Leighsham Tullamore. This puppy was well presented with a super coat and looked just right for his age. He has an attractive head, good reach of neck, well balanced angles front and rear and moved with drive from well let down hocks. He has super tight feet, straight forelegs and good substance. His elbows were tight to his ribcage and he had depth through the chest and was short in his couplings.

2. Gulliver’s Tonara Moon Walk. Balanced mid gold puppy with an attractive masculine head. He has a straight front with catlike feet, well angulated and when settled moved with drive despite giving his handler a hard time. Short coupled, level topline and good spring of rib.

3. Wheeldon and Hurry’s Catnnels Greatest Dancer. Not in his best coat which detracted from his outline. Straight front, balanced angles, short coupled, moved ok.

P

1. BP and BPIS Bawden’s Balsamina Beachcomber at Darthill. This puppy has the most appealing outline and was presented in perfect coat and condition. He has the most attractive head and expression, clean muscular neck and well laid back shoulders. His chest is deep with a good spring of rib, short coupled and a good width of thigh. For a youngster he is well muscled and has neat short let down hocks. He moves with drive and covers the ground when viewed from the side.

2. Collis and Tregaskis’ Rendez Vous Avec Steval du Bois de La Rayere (IMP FRA). A larger framed puppy who has lots to like about him. Super cat-like feet and straight front. He moves true coming and going and covers the ground with such ease. His head is masculine with good stop, excellent neck and level topline. Balanced angulation and level topline.

3. Beck’s Simon Basset de Ria Vela for Beinangus (IMP ESP) This boy has just moved into puppy and is not as mature as the previous two but is still right for his age. He possesses a balanced outline with a masculine head and good neck and shoulders. Moved OK from well let down hocks.

J

The first three dogs in this class were super and could change places on another day.

1. Kelly’s Ramchaine You Spin Me Right Round in Zenevieva. Exciting youngster of nearly 18 months who presents a super outline and was shown to advantage. He has a masculine attractive head with a good stop. Super neck which flows on to correctly constructed shoulders. His elbows were tight to his body with deep chest, well sprung ribs and balanced angulated quarters with good width of thigh and well let down hocks. He moved effortlessly coming and going and when viewed from the side he flows covering the ground with ease which won him this class.

2. Baxter and Riley’s Bermary Captain Hastings. This dog is just into Junior so not quite the finish of the first but similar attributes apply. He moved well, once he settled, with a lovely side gate covering the ground. I loved his head with dark eyes and super expression. He is very balanced and everything is there with lovely angles front and rear and deep, well sprung ribs.

3. Loach and Zubair’s Putjade Push The Button. This youngster just lacked the coat and finish of the previous two but similar remarks apply. Masculine head, well bodied and angled, moved well with drive.

Y

1. Vermander and Adam’s Slov Ch/Lux Sh Ch Totally In Love of Sunshine’s Valley. Lovely dog in excellent coat and condition. Attractive head with super reach of neck and correctly laid back shoulders. He has a straight front with the most perfect catlike feet, excellent bone and substance. He moved around the ring with drive. He possesses a good spring of rib, level topline with perfect tailset and good width of thigh.

2. Kelly’s Ramchaine You Spin Me Right Round in Zenevieva

3. McGeoch’s Nedlezah Lochlea. What a super young dog in excellent coat and condition. He stands on well boned limbs with neat cat-like feet. His hocks were short and well let down which he used to advantage on the move.

M

1. Collis and Tregaskis’ Rendez Vous Avec Steval du Bois de La Rayere (IMP FRA)

2. Haines Leighsham Tullamore

3. Carter and Masters’ Kadaka Kauldrun. This youngster was placed 4th in the very strong Junior class and has a super balanced outline. Shown in good coat and condition he moves well with drive. He has good depth through the chest and is short coupled in body with good angles front and rear.

N

1. Haines Leighsham Tullamore

2. Carter and Masters’ Kadaka Kauldrun

3. Rose’s Whetu Magical Mayhem. Shown in super coat and condition but would benefit from trimming more around the neck to enhance his outline. He has a gentle masculine head with excellent pigment. He is well angled front and rear and moved with drive.

UG

1. Rose’s Whetu Magical Mayhem

2. Weeks and Brown’s Sylahra Super Moon. Paler gold coated dog with an attractive head, well developed body, level topline and neat feet. Moved well.

3. Edwards Glanwye Cheating Lights. Longer cast dog with attractive head and good body proportions. Moved well

G

1. Towers, Henderson and Bolano’s Grey Goose November Rain (IMP ESP). This compact dog has a super wavy Golden coat and was in super condition throughout. He has a gentle masculine head, good reach of neck and correct laid back shoulders. He has a short coupled body with depth through his chest with well sprung ribs. His rear quarters had plenty of width of thigh and well let down hocks. Another who moved well covering the ground with effortless strides.

2. O’Gormon’s Berrymeade Moscow Mule. This dog has many similar attributes as the first but I preferred the firsts overall outline and substance. His head is masculine, he has a lovely reach of neck with correct lay of shoulders leading to a dead level topline. This boy had good body proportions and moved with drive.

3. Keene’s Shinehill Scotch Toddy. I liked his masculine head with good proportions, clean muscular neck, well laid back shoulders, good rear assembly with well let down hocks. He was in a super dark golden coat and in hard condition. When this youngster settled he moved out well.

PG

1. Main’s Denmarella Mr Bright Skies over Gwyngala. I really liked his gentle but masculine head with a good stop and pleasing expression. He possesses a lovely reach of neck with a correctly angulated front with tight elbows and plenty of heart room. He is short in his couplings with a good width of thigh and well let down hocks. His topline is level and his tail flows perfectly off his back. He showed positive driving movement when viewed from every angle.

2. Wood’s Daily Rays Hope of Hearts to Amirene. He has a very attractive masculine head, clean muscular neck and well laid back shoulders. Level topline, short coupled body with good spring of rib. His movement was positive coming and going and covered the ground with easy strides when viewed from the side.

3. Happier de Ria Vela at Beinangus (IMP ESP). This balanced larger framed dog was well angled front and rear. He moved well with drive, had neat feet and well let down hocks.

ML

1. Kipps’ Cadwst Flash Flame to Wheatcroft. I’ve long admired this dog from the ringside and wasn’t disappointed when going over him. He has a super masculine head with lovely proportions. His clean muscular neck flows into well laid back shoulders and a level topline and perfect tailset. He is deep through the heart, well ribbed and short coupled. He has good angles front and rear and a good width of thigh and short neat hocks. He moves with drive and purpose. A young dog with a bright future.

2. Clarke-Gear’s Ousevale Tobermory JW. Masculine head, deep through the body, elbows tight and ribs well sprung. He was presented in excellent coat and condition. His angles were balanced both front and rear. He moved well with drive.

3. Taylors Alibren Eccles at Tannadice JW. Masculine head with good stop, balanced angles fore and aft and moved well with a level topline.

L

1. Grainger’s Amilone Flintstone. Another dog I have admired from the ringside and on closer examination he didn't disappoint. Paler dog with a lovely outline and in super coat and condition. He has a masculine but gentle head with excellent reach of neck, well laid back shoulders and a level topline. His feet are neat with great bone and substance. He had balanced angles front and rear and good spring to his ribs. His rear quarters were well muscled with good width and his hocks were well let down. He moved effortlessly with drive. I seriously considered him for top honours.

2. Randall’s Kelverquest Portland Bill. This boy is another favourite of mine and today he was looking super. He has really neat feet and strong legs and substance. He has a masculine head with dark eyes. His correct reach of neck flows on to a dead level topline and perfect tailset. He moved with drive from well let down hocks.

3. Catterall and Jackson’s Golmas Guardsman. Another super dog with similar attributes. Today I just preferred the tail carriage of the others on the move.

O

What can I say about this class? I felt humbled to have a class like this to judge and all of the top three have everything I would want in a male but decisions have to be made on the day.

1. Facq’s Terra Di Siena Invictus Du Bois De La Rayere. Golden coated dog with masculine head and melting expression. He stands on neat feet with straight well boned limbs. He possesses a super clean muscular neck which flows into well laid back shoulders and a level topline. He is very balanced and has super angles front and rear. He moved effortlessly with a perfect stride and footfall holding his topline on the move. His rear quarters had a good width of stifle and the neatest of hocks. He was in excellent coat and condition. I was delighted to award him the CC and in agreement with my co judge BIS

2. Giltsoff’s Sh Ch Endellion Spinnaker. This is yet another dog from the top drawer and one that I have long admired. He has many of the same attributes as the winner although his frame is just slightly bigger all over. He has the most fabulous wavy coat which is presented to perfection. I just preferred the movement of the winner today but it really was splitting hairs. RCC and RBIS

3. Birkin-Green and Gripton’s Sh Ch Sansue Keep the Magic JW. I was delighted to be able to go over this boy and hands on he excels in front and rear angulation which he uses to great effect on the move, when he behaves! He has similar attributes as the other two but today he lost out to their more positive movement. However on another day it could be different.

SW Special Working

It was lovely to see four dogs in this class rather than the usual one or two.

1. Towers and Henderson’s Alibren Galileo to Westervane JW SGWC – paler dog in super coat and fit hard condition, moves effortlessly showing he could work all day. Attractive masculine head, excellent reach of neck which flows into a good layback and level topline. Deep through the chest and good spring of rib. Angulation front and rear was balanced and gives a pleasing outline when stood as well as on the move.

2. Phipps Baker and Baker’s Tenfield Night of Thinder for Maddouse Darker more compact dog in excellent coat. Clean muscular neck, level topline, good body properties, preferred the head and overall size of the first.

3. Gorse’s Tasheen Sky Surfer Similar type of dog to second placed and similar remarks apply. Good body proprotions. Neat feet and well let down hocks. Just preferred the overall finish of the other two and his movement was more erratic.

Dawn Rose (Judge)