Devon County Agricultural Association

DEVON COUNTY PREMIER OPEN SHOW

2nd July 2022

Thank you to the committee for the invite to judge and to the stewards for keeping the ring running so well. I very much enjoyed the day and despite a number of absentees (I suspect due to the BDCGRC open show falling on the same day) I was really delighted with the quality of my top picks. I also very much appreciated the kind comments on the passing of our Pippin from exhibitors after the show.

RETRIEVER (GOLDEN)

POSTGRADUATE DOG (1 Entries, 0 Absent) 

1st Bawden MBE Miss CL BALSAMINA BEACHCOMBER AT DARTHILL JW

One I judged as a puppy almost exactly a year ago and have enjoyed following his success in the ring since. He’s matured beautifully into an impressive masculine youngster. Well-shaped masculine head with good pigment, masculine neck flowing into well laid-back shoulders and a well constructed front. Excellent bone, feet and body, he was standing four-square with the most attractive, balanced outline. He was moving well up and down and with good reach and drive in profile. I liked him a lot indeed, but just felt that the bitch had the edge on maturity on the move. BD, RBOB

LIMIT DOG (3 Entries, 1 Absent) 

1st Main Mrs SL DENMARELLA MR BRIGHT SKIES OVER GWYNGALA

Larger masculine boy with many good points. Loved his happy, confident disposition, he had all the energy and then some! A well-made dog with a strong table-top topline, broad with good depth of chest, standing four-square. Moved around the ring with long powerful strides covering the ground well. RBD

2nd Fenn Mrs D CHALKSVILLE HIGHLANDER AT JANDEBURN

Different in type to 1, a more compact boy with a masculine head and kindly expression. Lovely tight cat-like feet and excellent bone and body with a firm topline, and an impressive profuse deep gold coat. He was presented in a lovely condition, but didn’t quite have the front assembly I was looking for.

OPEN DOG (3 Entries, 0 Absent) 

1st Arnold Mrs P LAMYATE ACER AT AMBERLAND

Good sized masculine mid-gold dog. Masculine head with a kindly expression, good body, bone and tight, cat-like feet. He moved around the ring with ease and accuracy.

2nd Fenn Mrs D CHALKSVILLE BARREGARROW AT JANDEBURN JW SHCM

Seeing that he is the brother to the deep gold boy in the previous class comes as no surprise, as they exhibit many similar traits and many of the same comments apply. Sweet deep gold boy with a gently wagging tail, beautiful golden coat and superb bone and feet. Nice type, but preferred 1 on the move.

3rd Bissell Miss JE WARRENTOR TRIBUTE FOR BISSKIDS

JUNIOR BITCH (4 Entries, 3 Absent) 

1st Callow Ms AM KIDSTON PRIDDY WITH CASSATESS

Good-sized mid gold youngster. Feminine, with a good reach of neck flowing into well laid-back shoulders. Lovely table-top topline and correct tailset. Not very co-operative on the move today and thus appeared to not have the reach and drive of others, but I suspect she could move out well on another day.

POSTGRADUATE BITCH (10 Entries, 5 Absent) 

1st Porter Mrs MA & Miss S SHEARSTONE MUCK FE JW

Another I’d judged as a puppy and was delighted to see come back fully matured. Eye-catching gold bitch with a feminine head and kindly expression. Good reach of neck flowing into well laid-back shoulders and a well constructed front. Firm, level topline and good bend of stifle, balancing the front perfectly. All this shows on the move, where she impressed with her enthusiastic and accurate movement, covering the ground with ease whilst maintaining her topline. She thoroughly enjoyed striding around the ring and it showed in her ever-wagging tail. Delighted to award her BB and BOB.

2nd Ives Mrs T & Miss A BALSAMINA BELLINI JW

Lovely pale bitch with many good points. Feminine head and expression with excellent pigment. Beautifully made front with excellent reach of neck and layback of shoulder. She is balanced overall and moves accurately with good reach and drive, but not yet at full maturity today.

3rd Perry Mr SL & Mrs M STORMHAYES SPRING WILLOW

LIMIT BITCH (4 Entries, 3 Absent) 

1st Marshall Mrs G & Mr J ASHBYGLEN GOLDEN SLUMBERS

A feminine bitch who wasn’t feeling very confident today, as I was told she was a covid puppy who’d not been out much. Finer in build and not in her best coat today, she still needs some time to mature, but delighted to see her gain some confidence by the time I was taking down the critique.

OPEN BITCH (7 Entries, 6 Absent) 

1st Porter Mrs MA & Miss S SHEARSTONE GRACE AND FAVOUR

Dam of BOB and has that same enthusiastic, happy, biddable temperament and free-flowing movement. I enjoyed seeing her gliding around the ring with ease, gently wagging her tail, with excellent reach, drive and accuracy. Lovely bitch who was clearly enjoying every moment of her day out. RBB

Maria Fosdike (née Saarniit) - Meiepere