National Gundog Association

NATIONAL GUNDOG CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW.

Sunday 6th August 2023

Retriever (Curly Coated) .

I would like to take this opportunity to thank NGA for their invitation, and for you, the exhibitors, for allowing me the honour of accessing your dogs.

It has been a few years since I have judged the breed, and I feel the current breeders need to focus on the size and also the movement of the dogs.

I felt overall, that the movement was poor in some, although some who were moved too fast their drive was still poor. Others were long in the hock which led to unstable movement which I penalised severely. On the issue of size I felt some of the males – although within standard – were edging very close to the minimum….. which detracted from the STRONG, UPSTANDING dog listed in the Breed Standard.

Generally, coats were very good with small tight curl …. even on those whose coat were just on the turn. Temperament was excellent in majority of exhibits with just a couple of youngsters being a little over awed by their day in the outside ring.

I felt the quality was better in the bitches and so it is important that when selecting a mate for their next litter(s) full consideration must be given to the sire selected both from his attributes, and possibly more importantly, the qualities that lies behind him by researching his linage.

DCC Sh Ch Brightmeadow Never Say Die JW ShCM (Mr J & Mrs M B Stephens)

RDCC Foxriever Mystic Marvel at Elkysar (Mr K & Mrs M Solomon)

BCC Tessmene The Cats Whiskers (Mrs F & Miss C Carrick)

RBCC Gorchest's Pendlecurls's Rising Star at Pepperiever (Imp Usa) (Miss V & Mrs N & Mrs L & Ms C Hayes & Biglin & Walton & Chattwood)

BOB - Tessmene The Cats Whiskers (Mrs F & Miss C Carrick)

BP - Tessmene Tickety Boo (Mrs F & Miss C Carrick)

BV - Sh Ch Kelsmere Kamana for Foxriever ShCM (Mr A M & Mrs D J Whitehead)

BSB - Kelsmere Kaddington (Mrs E Sutton)

Veteran Dog

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST - Curlabull Iron Lion Zion ShCM (Mr P & Ms B Miller & Millichamp

Excellent coat on this 11-year-old black d – typical head with dark eye and correct pigmentation – length of neck ok - good depth of rib - good topline – tail set slightly low – moved ok for age.

Puppy Dog

Entries: 3 Absentees: 2

1ST - Foxriever Grey Ghost (Mrs E & Mrs D & Mr A Sutton & Whitehead & Whitehead)

Such a happy character in this puppy – Good colour liver, coat tight curl but a little (possibly) patching . correct length of neck into ok shoulder placement. Depth rib ok but would like better forechest – crabbed on outward move but a little better when settled.

Junior Dog

Entries: 6 Absentees: 2

1ST - Molokain Doing The Do at Cetgueli (Ms S Finch)

 Black d in excellent coat throughout – good size for age – lovely head with strong muzzle – muscular neck into well laid shoulders – good depth chest and level topline on move and stood – would like slightly better turn of stifle - hocks well let down – moved well

2ND - Foxriever Grey Ghost (Mrs E & Mrs D & Mr A Sutton & Whitehead & Whitehead)

 3RD WITHHELD

Special Beginners Dog

Entries: 4 Absentees: 1

1ST - Kelsmere Kaddington (Mrs E Sutton)

 Older D who was presented in great coat – balanced head – dark eye – nice bone throughout – depth and spring of rib good – level topline - slightly over angulated at rear -moved well

2ND - Rowancurl Pullman Porter (Mrs Vc & Mr Km Dooley)

 Smaller black d in good coat – head ok but would like darker eye – prefer more bone throughout – strong rear quarters - moved ok but did crab at times

Novice Dog

Entries: 3 Absentees: 1

1ST - Kelsmere Kaddington (Mrs E Sutton)

Graduate Dog

Entries: 2 Absentees: 1

1ST - Molokain Doing The Do at Cetgueli (Ms S Finch)

Post Graduate Dog

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST - Molokain Doing The Do at Cetgueli (Ms S Finch)

2ND 919 - Rowancurl Pullman Porter (Mrs Vc & Mr Km Dooley)

Limit Dog

Entries: 7 Absentees: 1

1ST - Lizallwood Mr Bojangles JW (Miss Clayton)

 Lovely outline in this liver D - wedge shaped head with correct eye colour and strong muzzle – good reach neck which was well-muscled - correct bone throughout – level topline – strong rear quarters – moved well - would just prefer a bigger D.

2ND - Bazzy Inti Anka at Molokain (Imp Cz) (Mr St & Mrs Ed Clack)

Again a quality D but just on the smaller scale for me – great liver coat – good head and expression – good depth of rib but just slightly wide at front - moved well

3RD - Firecurl Some Like It Hot at Tarockwood (ai) (Mr R M & Mrs W Tarelli)

Open Dog

Entries: 5 Absentees: 0

1ST - Sh Ch Brightmeadow Never Say Die JW ShCM (Mr J & Mrs M B Stephens)

 A quality dog shown and moved well – super coat and curl in this black D Typical head – well muscled neck – great depth of rib and strong forechest – level topline – strong rear quarters – moved with drive and power CC

2ND - Foxriever Mystic Marvel at Elkysar (Mr K & Mrs M Solomon)

Another quality black D – well presented – similar qualities to above with good depth and spring of rib – level topline – correct tailset – good bone – well muscled rear – moved well but not with the drive of 1. Res CC

3RD - Tengore Mr Moonlight (Mrs Parker-Miles)

Veteran Bitch

Entries: 2 Absentees: 1

1ST - Sh Ch Kelsmere Kamana for Foxriever ShCM (Mr A M & Mrs D J Whitehead)

 This rising 10 B was in great coat - very typical feminine head - reach of neck good into ok shoulders – would prefer a bit more bone – good depth and spring of rib – moved ok BV

Puppy Bitch

Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1ST - Tessmene Tickety Boo (Mrs F & Miss C Carrick)

 Admired this B as she entered ring – in thick crisp curl black coat – feminine head with dark eye and correct pigmentation – good forechest and spring of rib – level topline – muscular rear –good feet - moved well. BP

2ND - Foxriever Moon Dancer (Mrs K & Mr D Hutchins)

Another quality liver B – just not in best coat today – pleasing head and expression – depth of chest good – adequate forechest – well muscled rear but slightly overangulated – moved out well.

3RD - Maycourt Miss Sweetness at Tengore (Mr B J & Mrs S M Perkins)

Junior Bitch

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1ST - Ravenho Up Town Girl for Brightmeadow (Mr J & Mrs M B Stephens)

 Good sized black b in full coat – such a pleasing and typical head - correct eye set and colour– good bone – level topline on move and stood – good spring rib – well muscled rear which showed on move .

2ND - Molokain Hocus Pocus (Mr St & Mrs Ed Clack)

 Again, a good size – in full coat – good bone – nice feet – good depth and spring of rib – good rear quarters – again as 1 moved well and covered the ground well.

3RD - Maycourt Take Me Top The Top (Miss D M Courtier)

Novice Bitch

Entries: 3 Absentees: 2

1ST- Echoes of Thunder from Tornado Beta with Ricanded (Imp Ltu) (Dr N B & Mrs L P Eden)

 22 month compact happy B – shown in full black coat – pleasing head with dark eye – good depth and length of rib – bone good – just watch front foot turning out – moved ok

 Graduate Bitch

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST Withheld

Post Graduate Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 2

1ST- Gorchest's Pendlecurls's Rising Star at Pepperiever (Imp Usa) (Miss V & Mrs N & Mrs L & Ms C Hayes & Biglin & Walton & Chattwood)

 Lovely compact b in full crisp curled coat typical feminine head – muscular neck into well laid shoulders – prefer better forechest but had good depth and spring of rib – typical rear quarters well-muscled and hocks well let down – moved well whenever asked – Res CC

2ND - Gypsy’s Soul First Lady for Foxriever (Imp Est) (Mr A M & Mrs D J Whitehead)

 Another quality B in great coat – feminine head and expression – balanced head – muscular neck into well laid shoulders – good for bone throughout -level topline – correct tail set – moved ok when settled

3RD - Overbore's Ace of Hearts (Mrs S & Mr H Parker-Miles)

Limit Bitch

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST - Tengore Ruby Tuesday (Mr B J & Mrs S M Perkins)

 Good sized black b in full coat - well muscled throughout – good front quarters with good depth of rib – correct feet – topline good – rear quarters ok– didn’t put great effort on the move.

Open Bitch

Entries: 9 Absentees: 5

1ST - Tessmene The Cats Whiskers (Mrs F & Miss C Carrick)

 Delightful outline on this black b – just loved her head and sweet feminine expression – great neck into well laid shoulders – good depth of rib – well sprung rib – level topline and correct tailset – well muscled rear and hock well let down – moved with purpose and drive - a delight to award her CC and BOB.

2ND - Maycourt Stairway to Heaven JW (Miss D M Courtier)

 Another quality b in good liver coat – slightly strong over skull for me – good muscular neck into well laid shoulders – correct bone throughout – feet ok – strong loin – topline ok – didn’t move with the drive of 1.

3RD - Molokain Enchanted One (Mrs J Cummings)

Judge – Alistair M. Scott ( Largymore).