Border Union Agricultural Society

Border Union

Golden Retriever Bitches

Judge: Anthony Allen

I was thrilled to be invited to judge Golden Retriever bitches at Border Union. I absolutely loved this appointment. There were some super dogs for me to go over and a real depth of quality that was really pleasing. There was a great atmosphere with lots of applause for my winners. Special thanks to my stewards who kept me on the straight and narrow during the day.

My Bitch Challenge Certificate winner and with the agreement of my co-judge Best of Breed was the eight-year-old and very beautiful Sh Ch Linirgor Violets Are Blue JW (Miss L Dunbar). My Reserve Bitch Challenge Certificate was awarded to Brekswood Lady Eleanor (Mrs D & P Robbins & Rowark). Best Puppy Bitch, and with the agreement of my co-judge and Best Puppy in Breed was Linirgor Nine to Five (Miss L Dunbar). The Best Veteran award came from the veteran classes in each breed, my Best Veteran Bitch was the lovely Castlegolden Classy Lady JW. In agreement with my co-judge, Best Veteran in Breed was awarded to the super dog Sh Ch Mousseglen Maclaine (ai) JW (Miss I Cuthill)

The only two general comments I would make are: Firstly, please watch your fronts. I found a number with short upper arms which gave a rather unbalance outline and an untidy front action. The other concern was that some were a little straight in front and over angulated behind, while this can look flashy, they did not have the reach and drive that is called for in the standard.

Minor Puppy Bitch

Entries: 10 Absentees: 1

There were some super puppies in these first two classes, it is so encouraging to see so many lovely babies. Many were at different stages in development, and I expect that these girls will change places many times over the next few months.

1st Place Sansue Lovelle (Mrs S Birkin-Green)

A very pretty bitch just six months old, with a lovely head and expression and excellent eye shape and colour. Strong and clean through the neck. Correct lay back of shoulder and front angulation. Standing on good legs. I liked her overall body shape, well developed forechest with good ribs for her age. Loin of correct length, quarters where they need to be in terms of development, top line correct and tail well set. Just finding her feet on the move but has attitude about her, got better as the class went on, a very promising baby.

2nd Place Sandti Tiki Taka (Mr S & Mrs T Williamson)

On my first look round the ring I thought she would be the winner but just kept straightening her front on the stack. I thought she was elegant with a decent front assembly, a tad short in upper arm. Standing on well boned legs. Good body proportions and quarters well-made, stifles well bent. Coat in lovely condition. Decent action on the move, not as together as the winner.

3rd Place Tenfield Sunset Gleaming (Ms K Ellis)

Puppy Bitch

Entries: 12 Absentees: 3

1st Place Linirgor Nine to Five (Miss L Dunbar)

I really liked with this young lady, she has everything in the right place and was very ‘together’. A very pretty bitch of 11months old, with a lovely head and expression, well-set ears, excellent eye colour, all giving a feminine expression. Strong and clean through the neck. Correct lay back of shoulder and good front angulation. Standing on well boned legs and super feet. I liked her overall body shape, well developed forechest for her age with good spring of ribs, loin of proportional length. Quarters well-made, well bent stifles, top line correct and tail well set. She just excelled on the move, super front action for her age and in profile. No hesitation in awarding her Best Puppy Bitch and with my Co-judge’s agreement Best Puppy in Breed. Delighted to be told later she was awarded Puppy Group 3. If she carries on developing in this manner, I think she will have a bright future ahead of her. I will follow her career with interest.

2nd Place Megarvey Deja Vu (Miss P & Mr D Hill & Smith)

Another cracking puppy with a lovely head piece, a super eye to enhance that typical expression. Clean reach of neck into well placed shoulders. Good front angles, her body is developing well, ribs springing nicely and good length to loin. Quarters well made with a good bend of stifle. Couldn’t match the winner on the move as she just needs to settle into her front and tighten in elbow.

3rd Place Linirgor Lady of Cairnglen (Mrs S & Mr J & Mrs E Palmer & White)

Class 1238. Junior Bitch

Entries: 13 Absentees: 4

1st Place Megarvey Clementine (Miss P & Mr D Hill & Smith)

This young lady of 15 months scored on overall construction and make up. She presented a lovely outline on the stack and excelled on the move. Her head is feminine with a mischievous expression, clean through the neck which led into correctly placed shoulder, good front angles and return of upper arm. Standing on well boned legs and neat feet. Good depth of chest for her age. Ribs springing nicely, firm through the loin and super level top line. Well-made quarters with a good bend of stifle. Super on the move with a great front action and rear drive. A very promising youngster.

2nd Place Drumkilty Venetian Glass JW (Mrs F M Clarkson)

Another very typy young lady, just 12 months so was giving away quite a bit in maturity to the winner, not quite as together on the move. On the stack she has a super shape, clean in outline. She has a lovely feminine head and expression, with a kind eye. Clean in neck into a good lay back of shoulder, would like a tad more length of forearm. Enough depth to chest and ribs have correct spring for her age, good loin into some super well angulated quarters. Had good drive on the move, would have liked her a little tidier as she came towards me. Very promising as with the winner, I am sure will have a bright future ahead of her.

3rd Place Eau My Gold V D Corner Brook for Auristela (Imp Nld) (Mr B & Mrs C Foster)

Yearling Bitch

Entries: 11 Absentees: 3

1st Place Drumkilty Toodle Pip (Mr M & Miss M Mcneish)

Very smart young lady who scored in movement over the second. Pleasing head and expression, with a kind eye. Good lay-back of shoulder. She has good angles front and rear, enough depth of chest for her age and ribs well sprung. Stands on well boned legs. Held her topline throughout. Super quarters with stifles well bent. Good footfall on the move with the better forward extension, would have liked a little more drive.

2nd Place Lamancha Question The Truth (Miss M Mcdonald)

I liked this lady on the stack, lovely headpiece and a pleasing feminine expression. She has a good outline, clean neck into well set shoulders. Balanced angles front and rear, good through the body with ribs well sprung. Super quarters on her, stifle well bent and good from hock to heel. Had a good amount of drive, was just untidy as she came towards me and that cost her the class. Nice type of bitch.

3rd Place Alibren Heidi High (Mr D & Mrs S Towers)

Novice Bitch

Entries: 13 Absentees: 0

1st Place Linirgor Lady of Cairnglen (Mrs S & Mr J & Mrs E Palmer & White)

Another smart one, just 11months and I see is the sister to my best puppy. A lot to like about this lady, head is feminine with a kind eye which enhances her expression. Clean reach of neck into a good front assembly, stands on good legs and feet. Body well-proportioned with a level topline. Decent rear assembly, stifles well bent and good angles. Accurate on the move with good footfall.

2nd Place Tenfield Sunset Gleaming (Ms K Ellis)

What a lovely baby really fell for her, just six months old and giving away a lot in her earlier class. She has everything in the right place, head developing nicely, clean reach of neck, well set shoulders. Body of balanced proportions and correct angles front and rear. A very promising youngster.

3rd Place Tullochmohr Shooting Star at Glynerva NAF (Miss L A Harper)

Graduate Bitch

Entries: 14 Absentees:

Close decision between these two with Classy Lassy scoring in front angulation over Sky with Diamonds, which gave her the edge.

1st Place Castlegolden Classy Lassy (Mr K & Mrs S Magson)

Feminine pale lady with a pleasing outline. Lovely head piece on her, kind eye and pleasing expression. Good reach of neck, shoulder well laid back. Stands on good legs and super feet. Body well-proportioned with ribs well sprung, firm in loin. Quarters well made, stifles well bent and good from hock to heel. Moved out well with drive. Shown in super condition and was in great bloom to complete the picture.

2nd Place Kulawand Sky with Diamonds (Mr & Mrs R S & Mrs P Lane & Lane-Ridyard)

Another smart girl, not quite the finish of the winner today. Head is very pleasing with expressive eyes. Good reach of neck and a decent lay back of shoulder. Needs to drop into her front but will do that as she matures. Body of good overall proportions, decent spring of rib and firm in loin. Enough quarters, and bend of stifle. Moved out well with an even gate.

3rd Place Alibren Crystal Ocean (Miss H Turnbull)

Post Graduate Bitch

Entries: 9 Absentees: 2

1st Place Brekswood Lady Eleanor (Mrs D & P Robbins & Rowark)

I liked this bitch, rising 3 years, she has a pleasing head and expression with well-set ears. Strong and clean through the neck, correct lay back of shoulder. Good overall body shape with a well-developed forechest with good spring of rib. Correct length & depth of loin, quarters well-made, well bent stifles, standing on well boned legs, level top line with correct tail set. Moved well with a good action. In the challenge she just got better and better and on the final run off she upped her game and told me the RCC was hers. Good luck with her, I think she has a bright future ahead of her.

2nd Place Leynosk Gold Card (Miss G Brown)

I liked her head and expression, very refined. Good through the neck, shoulders well placed but a tad short in upper arm. Good depth to forechest and stands on well boned legs. Ribs well sprung and firm loin giving a level top line. Excellent well-developed quarters. On the move she had drive but today not the accuracy in front action of the winner.

3rd Place Tenfield Sunloch (Ms K Ellis)

Mid Limit Bitch

Entries: 9 Absentees: 2

1st Place Linchael Livia JW (Mrs L Anderson)

This lady stood out in the class. I liked her head piece, very feminine with a good eye to give a beautiful expression. Good through the neck into well-placed shoulders and a decent lay back of shoulder, good depth of chest for her age. Legs well boned. Her body is well proportioned with ribs well sprung to a firm loin. Super quarters with stifles well bent and good muscle tone. I like her on the move where she had drive, but she was a tad untidy coming towards me today. Considered her for top honours but didn’t quite have the finish of the principal winners.

2nd Place Linirgor Perfect Symphony of Cairnglen (Mrs S & Mr J & Mrs E Palmer & White)

I liked this 4-year-old lady on the stack where she pulls into a very elegant shape, just lost her topline a bit on the move and that cost her. He headpiece is feminine with a lovely expression. Her neck flows into her shoulders, good in ribs which are well sprung, quarters are well developed. Good rear angulation, stifles well bent. She had accurate footfall on the move.

3rd Place Glenrioch Coyoteugly (Miss M & Mrs J Grady)

Limit Bitch

Entries: 7 Absentees: 1

1st Place Quakerhall Pandora's Bounty JW (Mrs D S & Mrs R J Crookes & Jenkinson)

Another one out of the top drawer in my opinion and close up for top honours. Presents a very stylish picture on the stack, clean in outline. Her head is feminine and balanced with a kind eye to give that typical expression I was looking for. Well laid-back shoulders, depth to chest and stands on well boned legs and good feet. Body of good proportions, ribs well sprung and super rear angulation, lovely bend of stifles and hocks well let down. Lot to like about her. In the challenge she was a little exuberant and just not as tidy in action as the principal winners.

2nd Place Auristela Sweet Sixteen JW (Mr B & Mrs C Foster)

She presents a lovely shape on the stack and a super outline. I loved her head and expression, Good through the neck, shoulders well place but a tad short in upper arm. Depth to forechest and stands on well boned legs. Ribs well sprung and firm loin giving a level top line. Excellent well-developed quarters. On the move she had drive, but today not the accuracy in front action of the winner.

3rd Place Leynosk Gold Card (Miss G Brown)

Open Bitch

Entries: 14 Absentees: 6

1st Place Sh Ch Linirgor Violets Are Blue JW (Miss L Dunbar)

I liked this bitch as she entered the ring and did not disappoint when I got my hands on her. Couldn’t believe she was 8 years old! She has a beautiful feminine head. Strong and clean through the neck, with correct lay back of shoulder. I liked her overall body shape, forechest good, with the correct spring of rib. Good length & depth of loin, quarters well-made well bent stifles, stands on well boned legs & neat feet, super level topline which she held on the move, correct tail set. Fluid mover with the most accurate action in the whole entry, she flew round the ring. I was delighted to award her the Bitch CC and subsequently with my co-judge’s agreement Best of Breed.

2nd Place Drumkilty Lisdoonvarna JW (Mrs F M Clarkson)

Good overall shape and balance from this bitch, super head of good proportions. Good through the neck in to well-placed shoulders. Well boned legs and good depth to chest. Ribs well sprung and firm though the loin giving her a level top line. Quarters well made with a good bend to stifle. In good coat and condition. Had drive on the move but not the front action of the winner. Close up for the RCC today.

3rd Place Quakerhall Victory Jubilee JW (Mrs D S & Mrs R J Crookes & Jenkinson)

Veteran Bitch

Entries: 6 Absentees: 1

1st Place Castlegolden Classy Lady JW (Mr K & Mrs S Magson)

What a grand lady, seven years of age and who was enjoying her day out, she is very pretty with a lovely feminine head and kind expression. Well made with a clean reach of neck. Good overall body proportions with good angles fore and aft. Topline level and a lovely finish to her coat. Moved well. Best Veteran Bitch.

2nd Place Glenrioch Peppa Pig (Miss M & Mrs J Grady)

Another who was making the most of her day out, full of life. Lovely shape on her with good angles front and back, classic head piece, kind eye, now a little grey but that just enhanced her lovely expression. Good overall shape held her topline throughout, super quarters on her, stifles well bent, and hocks well let down. Showed the youngsters how to move. A credit to her owner.

3rd Place Gloi Princess Grace (Mrs Carrington)