Mid Herts Gundog Club

Mid Herts Gundog Club Premier Open Show

Sunday 30th October 2022

Critiques for Flatcoated Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Junior Handling and Adult Handling

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge at such a lovely show. It was really well organised and I was lucky to have two excellent stewards who did a grand job of keeping it all moving with some big classes in the Goldens. Overall the quality of dogs in both breeds was great, thank you all for bringing them - congratulations to my two BOB winners who went on to BIS (Flatcoat) and 4th BIS (Golden). Although not huge numbers in the handling the quality there was also lovely to see and bodes well for the future!

Flatcoated Retrievers

I always enjoy judging Flatcoats as they’re the breed I’ve grown up with and it's even more enjoyable with great quality dogs so thank you all for bringing them.

Puppy (1, 0a)

1. Campbell & Brown’s Ronevorg Firefly Fantasy. A lovely dog of 6 months with good substance all through. He has a one piece head with dark eyes and correct reach of neck into well laid back shoulders. His level topline leads into the correct tail set with strong hindquarters. He stands straight at the front and rear and moves freely. Although he stood alone, he very much deserved BPIB.

Junior (2, 1a)

1. Gulbis’s Blacklake Lysander For Gayplume. A 16 month old dog with a maculine one piece head that’s moderately broad with dark eyes. Good reach in neck flowing into a solid topline. He stands straight and is well ribbed with short coupling which with his moderate angulation allows him to move soundly around the ring.

Post Graduate (5, 1a)

1. Goodman’s Blacklake Isabella. A 6 year old bitch of the classic type which shows in her lovely long, well moulded head with kind expression. Great reach of neck into well laid back shoulders with correct forechest. She is well balanced with strong hindquarters to match her front with a level topline and good tailset. She moves soundly and accurately with purpose. RBOB.

2. Gulbis’s Blacklake Angelo For Gayplume. A 4 year old dog of good substance who unsurprisingly has the same Dam as 1 as they share many of the same qualities. He has a masculine one piece head with dark eyes and a clean reach of neck. He has good forechest and strong hindquarters with moderately bent stifles. Carries his tail straight off of his topline and stands true all round. Moved accurately.

Open (3, 0a)

1. Phipps-Baker & Baker’s Never Say Never Oasis Of Peace To Maddouse. 3 year old bitch who looks like she’s coming into her prime. Her head is just beautiful - one piece, feminine, dark eyes slightly side set with a cheeky expression. Great reach of neck into well laid back shoulders, correct forechest and equal upper arm with equally correct strong hindquarters. She’s well ribbed and holds a level topline into her tail carried straight off of her back which makes a super balanced outline. She moves so soundly with reach and drive, holding her shape. Would love to see her win her title. I was pleased to award her BOB and thrilled to watch her go Best In Show under Anne Falconer, congratulations!

2. Goodman’s Blacklake Cordelia. A 9 year old bitch who doesn’t show her age and is Dam to 1st in PG. She has a beautiful classical head with clean reach of neck into good shoulders and correct forehand construction which is mirrored at the rear with well-bent stifles. Standing straight and true she moves freely and accurately around the ring holding her balanced, classic outline well. RBOB.

Golden Retrievers

What a great entry, thank you to all who entered and brought your lovely Goldens for me to judge. It was really refreshing to see so many beginners - I hope you all enjoyed your day!

Puppy (13, 3a)

1. Leonard’s Wynrita Smoke’n Mirrors. A light gold bitch of 7 months with good substance who caught my eye from the start, freestanding with a balanced outline and wagging tail. Pretty, feminine head and kind expression with a lovely clean reach of neck. Super forehand construction with equal lengths of shoulder and upper arm, into well sprung ribs, short coupling and strong hindquarters with the correct bend of stifle. On the move it all came together held with a level topline, moving soundly and straight and true in front and rear. Fully deserved to win this large class and I hope to see her do well in the future, BPIB.

2. Brown’s Sansue Love Note. A pale cream bitch of 10 months maturing nicely. She has a lovely feminine, balanced head into great reach of neck into well laid back shoulders and good forechest. Longer in body than 1 but with a larger frame all round she carries it well. She has a level topline held well throughout and stands straight and true on round, catlike feet when viewed from both front and rear. Moved soundly with balance. 

Junior (11, 5a)

1. Dean’s Pearlbarn Pasha At Rugglestone. A 15 month old dog with good substance and a big blonde coat hiding his construction. He’s got a masculine head with soft expression and dark pigment. Good reach of neck into great forehand construction with well laid back shoulders and his legs well under his body. Good spring of rib with short coupling and level topline. Standing straight with round, strong feet. Moved with drive.

2. Leonard’s Wynrita Smoke’n Mirrors. 1st in Puppy.

Graduate (11, 6a)

1. Moss’s Molbram Venosa At Carianjo. A 3 year old bitch cream bitch with a lot to like. As soon as she stood she made a super balanced outline which I hoped would fulfil its initial promise - which it did. She has a feminine, well chiselled head set on a good reach of neck into well laid back shoulders, good forechest and return of upper arm. Good spring of rib with short coupling and level topline held throughout. Her hindquarters were balanced with her front with well-bent stifles and in good condition. Standing on straight legs with good bone it all came together on the move. She went around the ring with reach and drive, holding her outline. Happily awarded her BOB and great to watch her win 4th BIS. Good luck for the future - I think she’s lovely.

2. Barber’s Louisdor Copper Kettle. A 2 year old gold bitch who is feminine all through. Balanced head with dark pigment, good reach of neck into well laid back shoulders with equal length of upper arm . Well-sprung ribs with short coupling and level topline. Would like her to be slightly stronger in her hindquarters but she has a good turn of stifle. She stands on straight legs and moves soundly.

Post Graduate (9, 1a)

1. Moss’s Molbram Venosa At Carianjo. 1st in Graduate.

2. Seamons & Beeson’s Messano Just Dance. A well-presented 2 year old cream bitch of similar type to 1. She has a feminine head with a clean reach of neck into good shoulders, correct forechest and nice return of upper arm. Her hindquarters balance her front with well-bent stifles and hocks well let down. She held her topline with her tail level and stood on straight legs with round feet. Moved freely and accurately whilst holding her outline. RBOB and Reserve Best RBOB.

Open (14, 8a)

1. Foreman’s Ambersun Alive And Kicking. A 3 year old cream dog with good substance who didn’t want to show himself off today but he has it all there! I loved his kind expression on his well balanced, masculine head. Good reach of neck into great forehand construction. Good spring of rib and short coupling. He holds a level topline with good tailset and strong hindquarters with well-bent stifles and well let down hocks. Moved well in profile and straight and true when coming and going. 

2. Roper’s Catnnels Inside Story For Brensham SGWC. A 7 year old gold dog in lovely coat and great condition. He has a kind expression on a well balanced head, I would just prefer it to be slightly broader for a dog. Good reach of neck into well laid back shoulders and good forechest. Moderately angled at both front and rear which gives him the balanced outline he holds soundly on the move. Standing on straight legs with good bone and round, catlike feet.

Junior Handling Association

6 - 11 years (2, 0a)

A very close call between these two young handlers as both did a great job.

1. Lyla-Rose Kirby aged 10 handling a Welsh Springer Spaniel. A smart and polite handler who presented her dog to its best. She made sure her charge was stood perfectly and kept the lead short and tidy throughout the class. When asked to show the teeth Lyla-Rose showed me all three sides clearly. Her triangle was very neat with straight lines and on her return stacked her dog a good distance from my feet. In the challenge, Lyra-Rose continued talking to her dog with encouragement and used all of the ring on the around whilst moving her dog at the right pace. Overall, an excellent performance deserving of Best Junior Handler - well done.

2. Evelyn aged 8 handing a Gordon Setter. Another polite and smartly dressed handler, in a cherry coloured skirt suit to compliment her dog. Despite the dog being quite big for her, Evelyn kept in control by talking to her dog who worked with her which was great to see. She made sure her dog was stacked correctly at all times. Her triangle was very neat - with a stronger dog Evelyn needed to turn on the corners, but she kept the dog moving at the right pace and stacked her charge well when she returned to me. A great performance well done.

12 - 16 years (4, 1a)

1. Megan Slack aged 14 handling an English Springer Spaniel of 6 months. Megan handled this puppy quietly and sympathetically, encouraging it every step of the way. She showed me the teeth clearly and patiently. Her triangle had straight lines with good corners and on her return stacked the dog a nice distance from my feet and thanked me before using all of the ring to rejoin the other handlers. Dressed smartly to complement her dog, Megan put on an excellent performance. In the challenge her puppy gave her a more difficult time which lost Megan’s great lead control and use of the whole ring on the move which with two excellent juniors made my close decision but with such a young puppy very well done!

2. Eva Rhodes aged 14 handling a Pointer. A polite and quiet handler who stacked her dog perfectly throughout the class. Eva kept good lead control and gently showed me the teeth clearly. Her triangle was super neat with tight corners and moved her dog at a good pace to join the end of the line. On the return from the triangle, I would’ve preferred Eva to bring the dog back to my feet and then move about 6 paces away before standing her dog to give me the best view. Another great performance - well done.

Adult Handling

17 - 39 years (3, 2a)

1. Roxanne Mcdonald handling an Irish Red & White Setter. This handler spoke to her dog throughout the class so it knew what was expected and they worked as one. Roxanne stacked her dog perfectly with great control of the lead both when standing and moving. On the move, she used the whole ring to get the best from her dog. The teeth were shown efficiently and clearly. Roxanne’s triangle had straight lines with tight corners and she stood her dog a good distance away when she returned to me. If I was to be picky I would prefer slightly quieter encouragement. She may have stood alone in her class but it was an excellent performance - well done! Best Adult Handler.

40+ years (3, 1a)

1. Paul Osbourne handling an English Springer Spaniel. A very smart handler at one with his dog. He stacked his dog perfectly with the lead draped over he dog’s shoulders and the teeth were shown well. Paul’s triangle had straight lines with very neat corners, using all of the ring. On his return the dog free stood well and then moved beautifully back around the ring at the right pace with a controlled, slack lead. He came very close in the challenge but I would’ve preferred the lead being held at all times when stacking. A polished performance well done.

2. Mrs A Brown handling a Golden Retriever. A smartly dressed handler who got the best out of her dog. She stacked her dog well and kept good control of the lead. The teeth were shown clearly. This handler’s triangle was very tidy with straight lines using the whole ring at the right pace and on her return stopped a good distance away from my feet. I would prefer the lead was kept a little bit more slack when standing and on the move which I think will come when the handler relaxes a bit more but well done!

Meaylee Lewis (Fairwinds)