Northern Golden Retriever Association

Northern Golden Retriever Association Championship Show – 2nd April 2022

Bitch Critique

Judge: Linsey Dunbar

Thank you to the committee for the invitation to judge their championship show. A busy day for the club with them also hosting the Joint Championship Show in the adjacent hall, 4 rings to manage what a huge task to take on but they did so expertly and efficiently.

This was a strong entry with many beautiful bitches to go over. I did feel however that the puppy classes were somewhat disappointing, perhaps previous lockdowns have meant that planned mating’s were delayed.

I always like to see a dog that can stand well on all 4 feet naturally, so I was looking for exhibitors to freestand their dog after being asked to move. Many of the dogs were not trained in doing this, I think it is something that people should work on as for me it is very important to see how a dog will stand naturally as clever handling can hide these things on a stack. I had many beautiful bitches in my final line up and I felt that right to the end 4 were very much in contention so shortlisting to these 4 was important. I was presented with 3 excellent handlers who could present the most beautiful profile image of a stacked dog but I would not be doing my job properly if I just selected the dog who looked best standing so it was a case of round you go and there was for me the clearest of winners who as it happened wasn’t the dog that looked the best stacked but who moved with a long effortless stride with perfect head and tail carriage while maintaining a strong topline. No matter how often I moved her she did not falter and the fact that she was well over 9 years old is a credit to her owner for presenting her in such excellent condition and her breeder for breeding such a correct specimen of the breed.

VETERAN BITCH (11 Entries, 1 Absent)

A super quality class to start my day. What a joy!

1st Wheeldon Mr M & Mrs I CH THORNYWAIT FAME 'N FORTUNE FOR CATNNELS

Classic balanced outline, your hands just flow as you go over her. She has strength yet retains femininity this is shown in her head, size and bone. Strong clean neck flowing in to well set shoulders, correct forehand assembly with good forechest, good length of leg, strong level topline, well sprung ribs, strong in hindquarters with correct angulation. When asked to move she floats effortlessly, she is light but purposeful on her feet. She has the correct head carriage on the move, superb clean reach from front and back and moves with an accurate footfall, her topline remains strong and her tail is carried correctly. After judging this class, I was not necessarily thinking she would be my CC winner, but I could find no other bitch who could match her on the move today, at 9 years old she just simply out classed all the others on the move. It was a pleasure to award her the CC and I am sure in such fine form this will not be her last.

2nd Turner Ms R GRAIN OF GOLD'S ARWEN OF AMILONE (IMP SWE) SGWC

This is another quality bitch and one who I think is unlucky that she does not carry her title. Presents a beautiful outline. Good forehand construction and with a forechest to match. Level topline, well sprung ribs and strong couplings, good bend of stifle and width of thigh. Moved out well but just not quite as effortless as my winner.

3rd Stanfield Mrs CA ROXALI SUMMER LOVING

SPECIAL WORKING BITCH (0 Entries, 0 Absent)

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

1st Vermander Mrs N & Adam Mrs T INT CH/BEL CH PERFECT PRINCESS BY MOON OF SUNSHINE'S VALLEY (ATC BEL)

Quality bitch of substance. Very impressive balanced outline with the correct length of leg, well sprung ribs to a strong short loin. Balanced well-constructed front and rear, strong in thigh. Moves with a very good length of stride but a little close behind today.

2nd O'Gorman Mrs P & Mr S CH RATHCLOON HUNTER IN PINK FOR BERRYMEADE

Quite a different bitch from the winner. Smaller and finer throughout. Keen and alert expression. She has a balanced outline & was carrying just the right amount of weight. Just coming back in to coat. Moved out well

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (8 Entries, 2 Absent)

1st Tarsey Miss MA MITCHNEL YOU PIERCE MY SOUL

Very sweet and gentle head and expression, pretty pale gold coat. Good bone and nice tight feet, level topline and short in couplings. Well bent stifles with good width of thigh and correct length of hock. Moved out well in profile.

2nd Smith Mr T & Mrs LG GOLDMARKER LUMINESS (AI)

Attractive head with excellent pigment. Plenty of forehand angulation, well sprung ribs, good bend of stifle. Needs time to settle on the move.

3rd Taylor Miss CA & Tenn Mr MD STRETTONHILL'S WITH PASSION

PUPPY BITCH (10 Entries, 2 Absent)

1st Clarkson Mrs FM DRUMKILTY VENETIAN GLASS

Balanced bitch of quality. Sweet head, with kind dark eyes. Strong clean neck in to good shoulders, straight forelimbs to decent feet. Tight elbows on well sprung ribs, level topline. Good rear angulation, neat hocks. Moved out well with good tail carriage. BPB and BPIS with agreement of my co-judge

2nd Foster Mr B & Mrs C EAU MY GOLD VD CORNER BROOK FOR AURISTELA (IMP NLD)

Another beautiful bitch of quality. Her cream coat was presented beautifully. Very sweet in head with dark eyes and excellent pigment. Nice length of neck in to well angled shoulders, good return of upperarm, well sprung deep ribs, strength in her topline. Just preferred the stronger rear movement of the winner today.

3rd Towers Mr D & Mrs S ALIBREN HEIDI HIGH

JUNIOR BITCH (15 Entries, 7 Absent)

1st Ives Mrs T & Miss A BALSAMINA BELLINI

A very neat little package. Lower down the standard on height but that there is a no preference in the standard that says 20 inches is less desirable than 22. She absolutely retains her balanced proportions, she excels in forehand construction, a clean neck flows seamlessly in to well laidback shoulders. Good return of upperarm and tight elbows. Good length of straight legs. Well ribbed with short couplings. A very feminine sweet well-made bitch. Moved out well with a correct tail carriage.

2nd Clarkson Mrs FM DRUMKILTY TRISKELE JW

This larger stronger girl is probably at opposite ends of the height requirements. Yet again she retains balance, her stronger qualities suit her stature, she has stronger bone yet retains femininity all through. She is probably closer to my own personal type but I am not here to judge what dogs are most like my own. Similar remarks about balance and construction apply as the winner but I just felt that my winner had the edge on movement today.

3rd Murray Ms OM RATHCLOON LAW AND ORDER

YEARLING BITCH (23 Entries, 7 Absent)

1st Zubair Mrs SM THORNYWAIT I SPY (AI)

This young bitch was one of my 4 shortlisted in the challenge. She is again strong yet undeniably feminine. She impresses with her immaculate outline, neck of the correct length and leads to a well laid shoulder and correct return of upper arm. Straight forelegs placed well under the body and standing on catlike feet. She has the correct length of leg to length of body ratio. Her rear is strong with correct stifle and straight neat hocks. In side profile she just opens up and shows what impressive reach she has. As always presented and handled to perfection by this owner.

2nd Murray Ms OM RATHCLOON HIGHWAYS N BYWAYS

A compact four square bitch who spreads her weight evenly. She has an attractive alert and kindly head with good dark eyes and excellent pigment, well set ears. Clean, strong and well set neck. Excellent feet and strong in pasterns. Not quite the sparkle of the winner but I liked this bitch very much. Moved with drive and carried her head and tail correctly.

3rd Wooden Mrs P CATENAE CANDY FLOSS AT SALAKO

NOVICE BITCH (18 Entries, 7 Absent)

1st Clarkson Mrs FM DRUMKILTY VENETIAN GLASS

2nd Foster Mr B & Mrs C EAU MY GOLD VD CORNER BROOK FOR AURISTELA (IMP NLD)

3rd Towers Mr D & Mrs S ALIBREN HEIDI HIGH

TYRO BITCH (10 Entries, 5 Absent)

1st Foster Mr B & Mrs C EAU MY GOLD VD CORNER BROOK FOR AURISTELA (IMP NLD)

2nd Towers Mr D & Mrs S ALIBREN HEIDI HIGH

Upstanding bitch, presented in her profuse puppy coat. Strong yet feminine head with excellent pigment, good forechest . Just a little looser on the move today but I’m sure will tighten with maturity.

3rd Mandley Mrs VL MALTQUDOS MISS NORDIC ISLA

UNDERGRADUATE BITCH (9 Entries, 5 Absent)

1st Ives Mrs T & Miss A BALSAMINA BELLINI

2nd Turner Ms R AMILONE PINKSTER (AI)

A very nice bitch with a pretty head with beautiful dark eyes and excellent pigment. Super reach of neck in to good shoulders with corresponding forehand angulation, deep through the heart. Stands on good legs with quality bone and neat feet. Close fitting elbows, well sprung ribs. Nicely made rear construction. She moved out well with good stride.

3rd Towers Mr D & Mrs S ALIBREN HEIDI HIGH

GRADUATE BITCH (15 Entries, 5 Absent)

1st May Mrs J CHERRYGOLD STORYTELLER JW

Compact, classic outline. I find the balance of this bitch to be her greatest quality. There is no feature that detracts from another in this bitch. Nothing is too much and nothing is too little. She has a beautiful head with a kind soft expression, balanced proportions with a good width of muzzle. She absolutely stands her ground well and on the best of limbs and feet. She moves accurately but I would have liked to see a little more drive through the ground.

2nd Foreman Mr G & Mrs T AMBERSUN HEART OF GOLD

A rich dark golden bitch, dark eyes and super pigment, clean in neck to excellent shoulders, good angulations front and back. I would prefer a slightly rounder shaped foot. She moved out well with good extension.

3rd Lane Mr R & Mrs S & Lane-Ridyard Mrs P KULAWAND SKY WITH DIAMONDS

POSTGRADUATE BITCH (12 Entries, 2 Absent)

1st Strobel Mrs A PEARLY IRRESISTIBLE DUST DU BOIS DE LA RAYERE (ATC FRA)

Superb balanced outline on this rich gold coated bitch. Sweet head with kindly intelligent expression. She has a clean muscular well-set neck that flows in to good shoulders, good return of upperarm, well ribbed, with strong couplings, strong in topline which was maintained on the move. Stands her ground well with good bone and feet. She has a good bend stifle and strong rear quarters. Moved well with drive and power. RCC

2nd Haxton Mrs C DANTASSIE DANCING MOONBEAM

Strongly made bitch who is well constructed throughout and in full coat, good angulations fore and aft, good bone and catlike feet. Well sprung ribs with a short strong loin. Presented in fit condition which allowed her to move through the ground with drive and maintaining her level topline.

3rd Porter Mrs MA & Miss S SHEARSTONE MUCK FE JW

MID LIMIT BITCH (14 Entries, 1 Absent)

1st Hill Miss P SANDAULA KISS FROM A ROSE (AI) JW

Well balanced all through with good length to height ratio. Sweet head with good chiselling beneath the eyes. Reachy neck leading to well laid shoulders and corresponding return of upper arm. Good bone and feet. Good angulation to her rear with well let down hocks. Moved with good extension and drive just had a very slight tendency to lose her topline at times.

2nd Russell Mrs J GRASSYARDS CALL ME MADAM JW

Similar bitch to the winner. Very nice head with a kindly expression, clean reachy neck to good shoulders with well angled upperarm, neat fitting elbows. For me I would just prefer a shade more length in the ribs and a little less in the loin. She moved out well with good extension and accuracy and carried her tail correctly.

3rd Neil Miss M MOLOKO AM I BOVVERED

LIMIT BITCH (15 Entries, 4 Absent)

1st Clarkson Mrs FM GLITTERS RAINBOW OVER DRUMKILTY (IMP BEL) JW

Striking bitch with fabulous outline. She is a strong bitch throughout and is well up to standard. She is balanced with having good length of leg, not too long in the back, well sprung ribs and short strong couplings. Well constructed fore and aft, stands on strong straight legs with good feet. Used her strength to power around the ring. She was shortlisted to my final 4 in the challenge. I appreciate her superb balance, wonderful condition and coat, driving movement but she just does not have the chiselled head and eye shape that I am looking for and it was the main factor that stopped her going higher.

2nd Vermander Mrs N & Adam Mrs T AMILONE LEGEND OF THE STONE

Beautiful kind head and expression, good neck and excellent shoulders, upper arm and forechest. Presented in a beautiful pale gold wavy coat of good condition. Well sprung deep ribs, would prefer a fraction shorter loin. Well bent stifles, good width of thigh. Moved out well especially in profile.

3rd Ives Mrs T & Miss A TREWATER BUSY LIZZIE AT BALSAMINA

OPEN BITCH (12 Entries, 4 Absent)

A difficult decision between two stunning bitches who both impressed greatly with breed type and soundness of construction and movement with very minor points separating them.

1st Lopez Mr A A STAR IS BORN DE RIA VELA (ATC ESP)

Quality bitch with an impressive balanced outline, nothing jars the eye. Strong neck leading to well laid back shoulders and corresponding return of upper arm. Deep chest with good length of leg and elbows close to the body. Well sprung ribs with correct length of loin. Level topline, her stifles are correct and have good width of thigh. The hocks are placed neatly and were correct when viewed from the rear. Moved well in the class but when she returned to the challenge her movement was unsettled and unfortunately this spoilt her chances of going further today.

Noferi Mrs S & Saz Orozco Mr A ESP CH TERRA DI SIENA LILITH LA LUNA NERA (ATC ESP)

Excellent bitch with the most beautiful kindly typical head. A head that I adore as it is well chiselled, has the correct eye shape and ear set and good width of muzzle. She is strong yet utterly feminine. Good clean neck in to well placed shoulders, good bone and feet with tight fitting elbows. Presented in good coat and condition and handled expertly. Moved out well with drive.

3rd Clarkson Mrs FM DRUMKILTY LISDOONVARNA JW

KC GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME BITCH (3 Entries, 1 Absent)

1st Wooden Mrs P CATENAE CANDY FLOSS AT SALAKO

3rd in yearling where she impressed but just gave way to maturity. Balanced construction with good length of leg to body ratio. Kind head and expression, good bone and feet. A bitch who excels on the move in particular where she has a light easy stride and moves with ease.

 2nd James Miss AS TSARMONT STARLET

Very sweet headed bitch who has maturing to do. At that slightly awkward teenage stage and is waiting on her full coat to return. Has a nicely balanced outline just needing to se