National Gundog Association

NATIONAL GUNDOG ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 7TH AUGUST 2022

Golden Retriever Dogs.

Many thanks to the Committee for inviting me to judge at their superbly organised and run 50th Anniversary Group Championship Show. Also, I am very grateful to my two excellent Stewards for keeping me on the straight and narrow. Many thanks to my co-judge, Penny Gayler. We were, despite my concerns, in full agreement regarding our ‘Best in Breed’ Awards. Penny had drawn a good entry of Mid-gold to Gold, whereas my own entry was largely the pale end of the spectrum – despite the fact that I own the full range of coat colours-. As a breed specialist I have watched with interest how the ‘All-rounders’ deal with our breed. Movement being tantamount to good construction, very often confirming what the hands discover. In the younger classes there were a large number of dogs which I considered to be over-angulated in the rear, long in the couplings and/or lacking front, hence good movement was lacking. This was not restricted to just the youngsters but quite obvious in a number of mature dogs. The Breed Standard asks for ‘short coupled body’ and ‘straight and true movement in front and rear’. I found no clear evidence of incorrect bites and all dogs appeared ‘fit for purpose’.

Veteran Dog. (8, 1abs) 1. Loverock & Waldron-Smith’s Lovissa Space Dust ShCM. BVD & BV & Res BVIS. A Mid Gold 7yo. Dog, balanced and symmetrical in outline. A nice balanced head set on a good length of neck. Well boned and straight forelegs. Deep through ribs and short coupled with a good level top line and correct tail carriage. Good second thighs and well bent stifles which were straight when viewed from rear. Good feet. Moved with drive and power. Straight and true in front and rear with a good long and free stride. Very pleased to hear he went Reserve Best Veteran in Show. 2. Baxter & Riley’s Bermary Duke of Wellington. A 7 y.o. Pale Dog. I have liked this boy since first seeing him. A symmetrical, balanced dog. A well chiselled head with kindly expression set on good length of neck. Well laid back in shoulders with good depth of chest. Short coupled and well bent stifles. Moved straight and true in front and rear. 3. Birkin-Green & Gripton’s Sansue Golden Dreams JW.

 Minor Puppy Dog. (3) 1. Gargan’s Siagar Sinatra. BPD. A seven & half month old Pale dog. Looked good for his age, balanced and symmetrical. A good head for a youngster which is set on a good length of neck. Good scissor bite. Well boned with straight forelegs and well bent stifles. Good depth of chest and short coupled. Nice cat-like feet. Moved with power and drive and his straight and true movement in front and rear made him stand out from the other puppies. My pleasure to award him BPD. 2. Lockley’s Steval Whathappenedwas. Mid-gold 6 months old dog. Shows promise but lost out on movement. Balanced appearance with a nice balanced head for his age. Good length of neck. Forelegs straight with good bone and good shoulders. Good depth of ribs and level top-line. Nice cat-like feet. Plenty of drive on the move. 3. Moore’s Purnbarn Friends Together.

Puppy Dog. (3) 1. Gargan’s Siagar Sinatra. 2.Garget & Morriss’ Goldmarker Coming Home to Garvin (ai). Balanced out-line with a nice well-chiselled and balanced head set on a good length of neck. Forelegs straight with good bone. Short-coupled. Good level top-line that showed well on move. Good tail carriage carried level with back. Strode out freely with good drive. 3. Taylor & Tenn’s Strettonhill’s Ultimatum.

Junior Dog. (9,2abs) 1. Oakes’ Drumkilty Vanadium. A very nice 15 moth old pale dog. General appearance symmetrical and balanced with a lovely balanced and well-chiselled head set on a good length of neck. Preferred his heads to 2nd place. Straight front legs with close fitting elbow. Short-coupled and well sprung. Well let down on hock with strong muscular hindquarters. Good tail-set carried level with back. Moved well with drive which contributed to him winning the class. 2. Haines’ Leighsham Tullamore (JW). Splitting hairs between 1st & 2nd. This 16 months old Mid-gold dog has all the same attributes as 1st place with the addition of nice cat-like feet. I would have liked a slightly stronger head and truer movement. 3. Millington’s Golmas Guard of Honour at Jarabees.

Special Beginners Dog. (3,1abs, 1w.) 1. Wallis’ Lamanacha Roll on Good Times. Sadly, this 18 months old Pale-gold dog was on his own in the class, but he still deserved his 1st place in this and the Yearling Class. A symmetrical and balanced dog with a balanced and well chiselled head set on a good length of neck. Deep through heart and short-coupled with a nice level top line. Well let down on the hock with good rear angulation and straight when viewed from rear. Nice tight cat-like feet. Moved with power and drive with a long and free stride.

Yearling Dog. (6, 1abs) 1. Wallis’ Lamanacha Roll on Good Times. Deserved his win in this stronger class. 2. Kelly’s Ramchaine You Spin Me Right Round in Zenevieva (IKC) JW. A very close 2nd to the winner. This 21 months old Mid-gold dog has very similar attributes to the winning dog, Symmetrical and balanced with a balanced and well chiselled head. A good level top-line held well on move. Strong and muscular hindquarters with very well bent stifles. Good cat-like feet. Moved with power and with long and free stride. Lost out on movement when compared with 1st place. 3. Baxter & Riley’s Bermary Captain Hastings JW.

Novice Dog. (5, 1abs) 1. Garget & Morriss’ Goldmarker Coming Home to Garvin (ai). 2.Halliday’s Purnbarn a Gust In The Valley. A mid-gold 6 years old dog. Nice head set on a good length of neck. Well laid-back shoulders. Deep through ribs and short coupled. Very well angulated in rear with good bend of stifle. Nice tight feet. Moved with drive and a long, free stride pattern. 3. Etherington’s Wildbryher Joie De Vivre of Gemasu.

Undergraduate Dog. (5, 1abs) 1. Pounds-Longhurst’s Mossburn Galloping Major (JW). A nice 21 months old Mid-gold dog. Symmetrical and balanced. Well chiselled head with a kindly expression set on a good length of neck. Straight and well boned forelegs. Good close-fitting elbows and depth of chest. Short coupled. Level top line which was held on the move. Good cat-like feet. Moved with power and drive, straight and true in front and rear. 2. Williams’ Evenghill Detroit Red. A 21 months Mid-gold dog. Well chiselled head set on a good length of clean and muscular neck. Well laid-back shoulders and good cat-like feet. Level top line. Moved with drive. 3. Taylor’s Alibren Aldaniti at Tannadice.

Graduate Dog. (7, 2abs) 1. Monteverde’s Angelonato Shakespeare Olvinglay. A Pale-gold to Mid-gold 22months old dog in fine condition. Symmetrical and balanced with a balanced and well-chiselled head carried on a good clean reach of neck. Forelegs straight and with good bone. Good round, cat-like feet. Elbows close fitting. Balanced in body, short coupled and deep through chest. Good level top-line, held on the move. Strong and muscular in hindquarters with well bent stifles. Moved with drive in a long and free stride. 2. Bawden’s Balsamina Beachcomber at Darthill JW. A Pale-gold 20 months old dog. Splitting hairs with 1st place. Symmetrical and balanced in outline although slightly strong in front. A nice well-chiselled head with a kindly expression set on a good length of clean neck. Well laid-back shoulders. Short coupled. Hindquarters strong with good second thighs and well bent stifles. Lost out on movement. 3. Jackson-Haines’ Leighsham Looney Tunes.

Post Graduate Dog. (14, 3abs) Numerically a strong class but also had quality in depth. 1.Haxton’s Dantassie Double Take. I have watched this dog closely from being a puppy, but nice to get my hands on him. A Mid-gold 3 years old. Symmetrical and balanced with a well chiselled head set on a good length of clean strong neck. Good straight forelegs and nice feet. Close fitting elbows with good depth of rib. Short coupled with a good level top-line. Stride was long and free, displaying power and drive. 2. Ellis’ Tenfield Rex Imperator JW. Another dog that has taken my eye from first being shown. Sadly, a rarity on the day being a Gold coloured dog. Pushed 1st place hard having many similar attributes to the winner of the class. Symmetrical and balanced. Good length of neck. Well laid-back shoulders. Deep through heart and ribs and short coupled. Muscular hindquarters with well bent stifles. Moved straight and true with drive. 3. Gaembaek’s Play That Funky Tune (Imp Dk).

Mid Limit Dog. (8, 1abs) Numerically a small class containing some quality dogs. 1. Woods’ Daily Rays of Hope of Heart to Amirene. Res CC. This Mid-gold boy stood out from the start. He ticked all the right boxes in the breed standard and certainly was only a whisker away from winning top honours. Symmetrical and balanced with a really nice strong head. A good length of clean and muscular neck. Really good forequarters with close fitting elbows. Short coupled, deep in ribs and a level top-line which was held on the move. Good strong hindquarters and well bent stifles. Movement was spot on, straight and true with power and drive. 2. Taylor’s Alibren Eccles at Tannadice JW. Pushed 1st place very hard. A Pale-gold youngster whose outline was symmetrical and well balanced. Good head and length of neck. Shoulders well laid back with straight and well boned forelegs. Good body. Strong and muscular hindquarters which showed on move. Good bend of stifles. 3. Smith’s Thornywait Iluminati at Goldmarker.

Limit Dog. (14, 4abs) Another strong class with some high-quality dogs who closely missed out on high awards. 1. Clarke-Gear’s Ousevale Tobermory JW. A Pale-gold Dog. Symmetrical and balanced. Good head and skull with a kindly expression. Good length of clean and muscular neck. Balanced in body, deep through chest and well sprung. Really good front and nice cat-like feet. Good hindquarters with well bent stifles. Level top-line with excellent tail carriage. Moved with a long and free stride. 2. Mcdonald’s Lamancha Magical Moments JW. Gave this boy Best Puppy at GRC of Scotland (Open) in 2018, so it was very nice to see him as a mature 5 years old dog. Symmetrical and balanced with a good length of neck. Lovely mature head, well chiselled and balanced, carried on a good clean length of neck. Well boned and straight forelegs. with good round feet. Well laid-back shoulders, deep in rib and short coupled. Strong and muscular hindquarters and good bend of stifle. He moved round the ring, holding a level top-line, with power, drive and a long free stride. 3. Clarkson’s Drumkilty Quest for Stardom (re Imp).

Open Dog. (9) 1. Dunbar’s Sh Ch Linigor Tomich (JW) CC & BOB. This Mid-gold, almost 6 years old dog stood out in what was a very strong class. I have not really watched him in the past and it is the first time I have had my hands on him. I was not disappointed. He ticked all the right boxes. A lovely, balanced dog with a really good head set on a good length, clean and muscular neck. Good straight front with close fitting elbows. Short coupled and deep through the chest. Strong and muscular hindquarters with well bent stifles. Level top-line with correct tail set which was maintained on a display of powerful, free flowing movement. A real pleasure to award him top honours. 2. Mcdonald’s Lamancha Just Meant To Be. JW. ShCM. Gave this boy Best in Show at GRC of Scotland (Open) in 2018 and he still stands out. A symmetrical, balanced dog with a level top line. A balanced and well chiselled head set on a good length of neck. Forelegs straight and with good bone and well laid-back shoulders. Short coupled, deep through heart with good deep ribs. Strong and muscular hindquarters and good bend of stifle. Level top-line and correct tail-set. Moved with power and drive with a long, free stride. 3. Monteverde’s It/int Sh Ch Olvinglay Visionaire.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog. (3) Having already met in UG, I found no reason to reverse my earlier decision. 1. Pounds-Longhurst’s Mossburn Galloping Major. 2. Taylor’s Alibren Aldaniti at Tannadice. A Mid-gold 14 months old dog. Symmetrical and balanced. Nice but still immature head. Shoulders well laid back. Good depth of rib but slightly long in couplings. Strong hindquarters but slightly over-angulated which showed clearly when on the move.

Judge John S Shaw