"Joint Golden Retriever Clubs' Championship Show"

JOINT GRC CLUBS’ CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

HOSTED BY NGRA

2 APRIL 2022

Thank you to Northern Golden Retriever Association for inviting me to judge this well supported show. The work involved running two Championship Shows on the same day must have been phenomenal but they both ran like clockwork under the watch of the super-capable Secretary, Angela Aulton.

Thank you too, to the exhibitors, I had a superb entry with every type you could wish for & the full range of coat colours which was delightful. Presentation & handling was excellent & my hands were virtually clean at the end of a long day, the dogs were a real credit to their owners. I found rear angulation to be very much back on track, nothing excessive & tail carriage on most was as per the standard. Weight too was correct, as was leg length to body ratio. The long, low profiles seem to have been rectified, though I do think some bitches are a little too long in the loin which detracts from overall balance & some mature bitches were lacking spring of rib.

Overall the entry was wonderful, I thoroughly enjoyed my day & loved my paperweight gift from the Club. The weather was cold but the hospitality & atmosphere were warm & the female examples of our breed here today made me feel that we have much to be proud of.

BITCH CRITIQUE

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (8 Entries, 0 Absent)

1st Taylor & Tenn’s STRETTONHILL’S WITH PASSION

Compact, very sweet 6 month old pale baby at her first show. I loved her balanced outline, sweet head with nice chiselling, dark eye, straight well boned front, dead level topline & cat like feet. Shown in full, well presented coat, she moved as her conformation predicted, straight & true & I’m sure she has a promising future.

2nd Gregory’s BERNEWODE EVITA

Longer cast, attractive, elegant 7 month old pale bitch. Balanced angles front & rear, good reach of neck & layback of shoulder, level topline & good feet. Body depth is good & she moved with lovely head carriage & plenty of reach & drive

3rd Stonebridge’s TOSELAND TENACITY

Similar type, body properties & close up to my 2nd place. At just 8 months, this pale bitch was also elegant, has a balanced profile with front angles complimenting rear. She has a sweet head & dark, alert eye. Moved well & completed a trio of lovely minor puppies who will change places at future shows I’m sure.

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PUPPY BITCH (12 Entries, 2 Absent)

1st Clarkson’s DRUMKILTY VENETIAN GLASS

Very pretty pale bitch shown in great condition. Lovely head with dark eye, kind expression & good pigment. Reachy neck into good shoulder layback & dead level topline. Good breadth of thigh & leg length & neat feet. She moved so well for her expert handler, holding her head & tail perfectly & with the best rear movement of all the puppies. Pleased to find out later that this weekend she has achieved her JW. BPB & then in agreement with my co-judge, BPIS, another with a great future ahead

2nd Foster’s EAU MY GOLD VD CORNER BROOK FOR AURISTELA (IMP NLD)

More compact happy pale bitch with a sweet head, dark eye & kind expression. Angles front & rear were in perfect harmony & she has good bone & neat feet. Good body depth & well sprung ribs. Splitting hairs but I felt my 1st place had the edge on movement today.

3rd Maddison’s JAYMARDY SWEET CAROLINE

Pretty pale bitch shown in excellent, dense full coat which tends to make her look heavier than she actually is. Sweet head, dark eye & pigment, neck well set on & good shoulder layback. Dead level topline & strong quarters with good breadth of thigh. She moved happily with reach & drive.

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JUNIOR BITCH (14 Entries, 6 Absent)

1st Ives BALSAMINA BELLINI

Very feminine pale bitch with lovely head & expression. Such a balanced profile with nothing overdone & carrying the correct amount of weight for her frame. Text book front angulation & short coupled. She has strength in her rear quarters & good tail set. She is so light on her feet & covers the ground effortlessly. As she continues to mature I’m sure she will achieve top honours.

2nd Falconer’s SONEVE SIMPLY SPECIAL FOR SIATHAM

Pretty pale bitch shown in lovely coat & condition & with heaps of character. Balanced profile with good bone. Sweet head, neck flowing into good shoulders & upper arm,. Topline dead level & strong rear quarters. Happy & correct on the move, she well deserved her 2nd place

3rd Murray’s RATHCLOON LAW AND ORDER

Balanced more scopy pale bitch presenting a good outline both standing & on the move. Feminine head, good front assembly, level topline & excellent tailset. Depth through the chest & plenty of body strength. Nothing overdone with this girl, everything in harmony & she moved well around the ring.

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YEARLING BITCH (21 Entries, 5 Absent)

1st Zubair’s THORNYWAIT I SPY (AI)

This super gold bitch won a fabulous class. She is of good substance yet still ultra-feminine. She was shown in full, well textured coat & excellent condition. Balanced head with kind expression & good carriage on the move. Excellent bone & feet, deep through heart, well sprung ribs & short couplings. Plenty of strength over the loin & well-muscled rear quarters with well let down hocks. When moving she comes alive with correct foot placement, particularly from the rear & with plenty of drive. I seriously considered her for higher honours.

2nd Nelson & Ashton’s WILLOWLAWN STAYCATION AT CADWST

Impressive, feminine pale gold bitch who was so attentive to her handler.. Sweet, well chiselled head & kind eye. Neck flowing to good shoulder layback, straight front with elbows well tucked in, dead level topline held when moving. She has strong rear quarters & well let down hocks. Excellent on the move & more finished than my 3rd place.

3rd Wooden’s CATENAE CANDY FLOSS AT SALAKO

So close up to 2nd, she is a very pretty & well balanced pale gold bitch, shown free standing four square & presented to perfection. She has the loveliest of heads & an expressive eye. Good layback of shoulder, front & rear angles totally complementing each other, short couplings. She has good bone & stands on neat, well-padded feet. Moved correctly holding her topline & at one with her handler. Completed a trio of fabulous young ladies.

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NOVICE BITCH (21 Entries, 3 Absent)

1st Clarkson’s DRUMKILTY VENETIAN GLASS

2nd Foster’s EAU MY GOLD VD CORNER BROOK FOR AURISTELA (IMP NLD)

3rd Maddison’s JAYMARDY SWEET CAROLINE

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TYRO BITCH (11 Entries, 3 Absent)

1st Foster’s EAU MY GOLD VD CORNER BROOK FOR AURISTELA (IMP NLD)

2nd Maddison’s JAYMARDY SWEET CAROLINE

3rd Towers ALIBREN HEIDI HIGH

Plenty to like about this stylish mid gold bitch. Shown in full coat & in good condition, she has a balanced head with kind dark eye, correct body to leg ratio. Good substance with well-muscled rear quarters, good turn of stifle & is a free & sound mover.

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UNDERGRADUATE BITCH (9 Entries, 3 Absent)

1st Ives BALSAMINA BELLINI

What a pretty bitch she is, super feminine & clearly adores her handler. She has a beautiful head & excellent reach of neck into correct front assembly, straight forelegs on neat feet. Superb topline, short couplings & tail straight off the back. She looks good both standing & on the move. I will follow her show career with interest.

2nd Turner’s AMILONE PINKSTER (AI)

Very smart bitch with good overall balance & coming back into coat. Sweet head, dark alert eyes & good chiselling. Strong neck leading to good shoulder layback & angle of upper arm. Text book topline & tail set. Ribs well back into strong loin. Good breadth of thigh & neat feet. Very positive movement & good ground coverage

3rd Maddison’s JAYMARDY SWEET CAROLINE

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GRADUATE BITCH (15 Entries, 3 Absent)

1st Vernon’s GRACELEIGH FIRENZE

I love the clean, balanced outline this light gold bitch presents. Delightful breed type, beautifully presented, she caught my eye as soon as I looked round the ring & held her lovely profile throughout the class. She has such a sweet head & alert expression, well set on neck flowing into good shoulder layback & firm level topline. Ribs well back into short loin, hocks well let down. She moved soundly & effortlessly driving from strong rear quarters. Pleased to award her the RCC

2nd Lane & Lane-Ridyard’s KULAWAND SKY WITH DIAMONDS

Another impressive pale bitch with balanced outline, Shown in good, well presented coat & lovely condition she has substance without losing femininity. Good head with gentle expression, neck well set on & good front assembly. Level topline, well sprung ribs & well muscled rear quarters. On the move she was enthusiastic, accurate & has lovely head & tail carriage.

3rd Campion’s FENPINQUE GLAMOURGLOW

Very feminine pale bitch whose tail never stopped wagging. Freestanding four square she has a super head, dark expressive eye & kind expression with that hint of mischief. Good front & rear angles & depth of body with neat feet. Happy on the move, she was sound & true both coming & going.

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POSTGRADUATE BITCH (13 Entries, 2 Absent)

1st Strobel’s PEARLY IRRESISTIBLE DUST DU BOIS DE LA RAYERE (ATC FRA)

Very well presented & handled, this rich gold bitch has a striking outline. Gentle expression to her well chiselled head & darkest of pigment. Strong neck leading to nice front angles & the best cat like feet. She has good body depth, a level topline, strength over the loin & with good angles to her rear quarters. On the move she carried her head & tail well, had good footfall & was very sound from all angles

2nd Neil’s MOLOKO AM I BOVVERED

Such a neat bitch, I see I have given her BP in the past. Love her kind head & expression enhanced by dark pigment. Reachy neck flowing into excellent layback of shoulder & upper arm. Level topline with depth to her ribcage giving plenty of heart room. Short coupled & neat hocks. She was presented to perfection & movement was effortless, sound & correct both coming & going.

3rd Haxton’s DANTASSIE DANCING MOONBEAM

Mature gold bitch carrying a beautifully presented dense gold coat. Lovely head with good eye shape, pigment & nice ear carriage. Body proportions are all symmetrical & her well set on neck flows into good front assembly, powerful, nicely angulated rear quarters . She has ample bone, neat feet & moved well.

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MID LIMIT BITCH (11 Entries, 1 Absent)

1st Hill’s SANDAULA KISS FROM A ROSE (AI) JW

Lovely mid gold bitch who has great ring presence, shown free standing & four square. She has a very pretty head & kind well-shaped eye enhanced by dark pigment. Strong neck set on good front assembly, she has depth to her chest, a level topline & plenty of strength over the loin. Very exhuberant on the move but once settled she showed how capable she was of correct gait & movement was sound.

2nd Smyth’s KADAKA KISSAGRAM JW

Well presented gold bitch with plenty of substance & shown in good coat & condition. Such a sweet head & gentle expression, balanced front & rear angles & good feet. She held that lovely level topline on the move & was close up to 1st

3rd O'Gorman’s TERRA DI SIENA ARE YOU WITH ME BERRYMEADE (IMP ESP) JW

Gold bitch shown in excellent condition & very well handled.. Liked her head & she has that “want to please” expression, balanced in profile & a true & steady mover, she covered the ground well. Again I was truly splitting hairs with these Golden ladies in 2nd & 3rd place, as both have so much to offer.

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LIMIT BITCH (17 Entries, 4 Absent)

1st Vermander & Adam AMILONE LEGEND OF THE STONE

Stunning outline to this lovely bitch & such a happy disposition. She has a beautiful well chiselled head with a kind eye. Good layback of shoulder & return of upper arm. Table top topline, plenty of strength in rear quarters with dead straight & well let down hocks. Superbly handled she flowed on the move, making such good use of the large ring. I liked her very much!

2nd Ives TREWATER BUSY LIZZIE AT BALSAMINA

Mother of my UG winner, & unlucky to meet my winner in such good form, this super, balanced & very feminine bitch is extremely eye-catching. Gorgeous head & expression with dark eye & pigment. Reachy neck into well laid back shoulder placement & good return of upper arm. Straight front onto neat feet & well muscled rear quarters. Stylish & accurate on the move she is one to watch in the future.

3rd Clarkson’s GLITTERS RAINBOW OVER DRUMKILTY (IMP BEL) JW

Pale bitch who looked good in profile. Feminine head & sweet expression, good neck & layback of shoulder. Excellent leg to body ration & strong rear quarters. She moved well but on the day didn’t seem to have the animation of my 1st two places.

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OPEN BITCH (12 Entries, 3 Absent)

1st Macdonald’s SH CH FLYNGALEE TEPPUM

What can I say about this beautiful bitch, she has everything I would want in a female Golden & caught my eye immediately she entered the ring. Oozing quality from top to toe, she has a beautiful head & eye shape, nice chiselling & a very endearing expression. Her whole outline is in harmony, perfectly balanced angles, everything flows, nothing overdone & her body proportions are spot on. She has superb spring of rib & just the right amount of angulation in her rear quarters. All this is wrapped in the most attractive coat with a lovely contrast of deep gold & cream & on the move she showed power & accuracy. I thought she was stunning & could happily have taken her home. Very pleased to award her a well-deserved BCC & with the agreement of my co-judge she went BIS.

2nd Lopez A STAR IS BORN DE RIA VELA (ATC ESP)

Nicely constructed gold bitch who was well presented & expertly handled. Balanced head with good pigment & alert expression. Good overall balance & depth, straight well-boned legs, super feet & powerful hocks. She is a very sound mover with a good stride.

3rd Clarkson’s DRUMKILTY LISDOONVARNA JW

Another lovely pale gold bitch from this kennel & who has had a BP from me in the past. She has fulfilled her early promise, has good height to length & a feminine, well balanced head with good ear carriage. Good angles front & rear, level topline, Beautifully presented & shown to advantage, she moved positively round the ring

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VETERAN BITCH (11 Entries, 3 Absent)

1st Wheeldon’s CH THORNYWAIT FAME 'N FORTUNE FOR CATNNELS

A real credit to her owner, this lovely bitch stood out in the class for movement & her appearance belies her 9 years. She is so well balanced with a very attractive, well chiselled head, very good front assembly matched by rear angulation. She held her level topline around the ring & moved with accuracy & drive. BVB & with the agreement of my co-judge BVIS

2nd Turner’s GRAIN OF GOLD'S ARWEN OF AMILONE (IMP SWE) SGWC

Another 9 year old with more substantial frame, slightly lacking in coat today. Such an enthusiastic & happy temperament. Carrying the correct amount of weight, good leg length to body ration, balanced front & rear angles. She made such good use of the ring & clearly enjoyed her time in the ring.

3rd Magson’s CASTLEGOLDEN CLASSY LADY JW

7 year old pale bitch with a lovely head, good angulation & shown in hard condition. She was beautifully presented, balanced & deep through the chest with good angles front & rear. I just felt she slightly lacked a little sparkle in this class.

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SPECIAL WORKING BITCH (0 Entries, 0 Absent)

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SPECIAL SHOW DOG WORKING BITCH (3 Entries, 1 Absent)

1st Vermander & Adam INT CH/BEL CH PERFECT PRINCESS BY MOON OF SUNSHINE'S VALLEY (ATC BEL)

Ultra feminine pale bitch presented & handled so well. Perfect amount of weight, pretty head & dark eye, superb front angulation & balanced rear quarters. Dead level topline with her tail carried straight off her back. She moved so well around the ring, liked her very much.

2nd Turner’s GRAIN OF GOLD'S ARWEN OF AMILONE (IMP SWE) SGWC

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KC GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME BITCH (5 Entries, 1 Absent)

1st Wooden’s CATENAE CANDY FLOSS AT SALAKO.

2nd James TSARMONT STARLET

Sweet 9 month old with a lovely head, dark eye & balanced outline. Good straight forelegs, dead level topline & neat feet. She was well presented & expertly handled moving accurately. I preferred the overall balance & flowing angulation of my winner.

3rd Clunie’s WARRENTOR SECOND TO NONE

She has a very feminine head & soft expression, level topline & well presented gold coat. She has a balanced outline & was carrying just the right amount of weight. Moved steadily & with accuracy.

JUDGE: Caron French