Welsh Kennel Club

WELSH KENNEL CLUB AUGUST 2023

GOLDEN RETRIEVERS.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day judging this charming breed at one of my favourite shows and many thanks to Graham & Ann Hill and their committee for this appointment. The ring was the perfect size allowing each dog every chance to shine. Thank you also to my very able stewards, Steve Brown and Norrie Dyker and to all of the exhibitors for their sporting and appreciative attitude to my judging throughout the day. I was delighted & thrilled to learn that the Challenge Certificates awarded were the ‘crowning’ certificates for both the male and the female.

Today I found that the overall movement in the breed is still sadly not great in many of the dogs that I judged. I was looking for ‘true’ action both coming and going with a long and easy stride in side-gait. In all honesty this was the exception rather than the rule. ‘Gay’ tail-carriage is a concern as is the tendency of too great a slope to the croup and a few incorrect bites. Temperaments and presentation were faultless. The strength today lay most definitely in favour of the females, where I would have been happy to have awarded several with top honours.

VD (6 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Sh Ch Jaymardy Indigo Pacific JW. A very good start to the day. A dog that I have judged before twice and he has done well both times. I love his make and shape and his head is glorious with a terrific eye and expression. He screams breed type, is totally balanced and is hard to fault on the stack. Today I felt that he has just begun to show his age a touch on the move but was nonetheless still in contention for top honours.

2nd: Bluebraes Boogie Woogie at Strathlon. Another good one here who pushed the winner all the way. I loved him too for his compact and once he settled, his balanced outline. His head and expression are superb. He has a great front assembly; he also showed some positive drive from behind. He was presented in good jacket.

3rd: Lovissa Space Dust Sh.CM. This dog completed a very fine trio.

PD (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Kulawand Skies of Blue Over Benjcroft. A promising if slightly un-coordinated youngster who presents a lovely flowing outline. He has a charming head and expression and is well-bodied with good depth and excellent ribs. I liked his bone and muscle-tone, and he has excellent tight feet. On the move he was a bit ‘all over the place’ but he is young, and I saw enough positive action, and I am sure that once he grows into himself fully that he will have an exciting future. BPD.

2nd: Berrymeade Billy Summers (A.I.). Here was another good one, presenting a great shape, he too has a lovely balanced, masculine head and a biddable expression. He is rather at the ‘in-between’ stage body wise and needs to fill his frame plus, like the winner, just needs time to sort himself out properly on the up and down.

3rd: Purbarn Goin To Be Cloudy

1st: Fairwinds In Space Man. Despite this dog needing to really body up, for me, today he was just so well put together and so fluid and easy and accurate on the move that he won this mixed class with some to spare. He has a beautiful head shape and a wonderful expressive eye. His shoulders are textbook, as are his angles front and back. I would love to seem him when he has filled his frame as I think that he is an outstanding future prospect. I really liked him.

2nd: Strathlon Island Lad. A different but equally lovely ‘type’ here and he appealed immensely too. He was in excellent condition with good body covering and is compactly made. He just could not match the winner for fluidity or accuracy on the move today.

3rd: Bencoe Big Time Operator

YD (7 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: Silver Passion Glam Fashion at Nunsbrook JW (Imp G). Heading a mixed class, this dog scores in many breed points. For me, I would prefer a little more work in his head, but he is still young and has time on his side. His feet were perhaps the best of the day and his action powerfully driving away was sublime. He presents a picture of perfect flow and once settled his tail-carriage was acceptable.

2nd: Navilis Vivat Vivaldi (imp UKR) JW. Another good dog with lots to admire. He is very compactly put together with a lovely head shape with real work and a good eye. I liked his flowing outline on the stack, his spot-on tail-set, and his feet. On the move he needs to tighten at the elbow and strengthen going away, which was the deciding factor for me in favour of the one above.

3rd: Bencoe Big Time Operator

MD (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Berrymeade Billy Summers (A.I.). Repeat.

Class 2532 ND (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Berrymeade Billy Summers (A.I.). Repeat.

2nd: Bencoe Big Time Operator. Shown in superb coat and condition he scores in head type and expression. Like many here today, he most definitely needs to sort out his action in all directions.

DD (4 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Berrymeade Billy Summers (A.I.). Repeat.

2nd: Bencoe Big Time Operator. Repeat.

3rd: Purbarn Friends Together

GD (6 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Alibren Aldaniti At Tannadice JW. This young dog headed a lovely class. I particularly liked his head and expression which I thought just fantastic. He has excellent flow of neck into perfectly laid-back shoulders with a firm top-line and spot-on tail-set and carriage. His front action is good, he just needs to sort out his rear to complete the overall perfect picture.

2nd: Guard Of Honour at Jarabees JW. Pushing the winner all the way was another good one here. He has wonderful shoulders, superb bone, and tight feet. His outline on the stack is as good as the winner but like the one above just needs to firm up going away and. It was his tail-carriage that cost him the top spot today.

3rd: Berrymeade Kilternan of Busheyhall

PGD (8 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Berrymeade Coeur Blimey at Busheyhall. I really liked this dog for his appealing expression and balanced head with some real work in it. He presents an excellent outline with nothing over-done. He simply flows from his nose (which I would prefer to be a touch darker) to his well-placed and well-carried tail. He has real depth, excellent bone with good ribs and a firm top-line. His angles front and back are correct and he was shown in good jacket and was in hard, well-muscled condition, if perhaps needing just a touch more body covering. It was on the move that this dog really shone where he was accurate in all directions and covering the ground effortlessly with precision and style. Quite a find, I thought, and I was pleased to award hm his first Reserve Challenge Certificate in good company and if judged fairly, I would hope that with full maturity he will ‘title’ with ease. He must surely have an exciting career ahead of him.

2nd: Navilis Nouveau Venu (Imp) JW. Here was another very promising dog, screaming breed type and presenting a very balanced and compact outline. Like the winner, many of the same remarks apply including body covering. I just felt that the one above has the edge both on the move and on tail-carriage, but it was a fairly close call. I will watch both of these dogs with interest as they continue their careers.

3rd: Ambersun Heart And Soul

LD (6 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Alibren Eccles at Tannadice JW. I really liked the breed type of this winner. He presents an excellent outline with a firm croup and perfect tail-set, which won him this class over a good dog in second position. He appealed for head and expression and was shown in good jacket with the desired under-coat. He moved OK and once settled carried his tail well.

2nd: KULAWAND SKYWALKER. Another good one here with a different type of head but equally classical and appealing. He has excellent shoulders and was in good coat and condition and like the winner moved OK.

3rd: Applecote Hearts Desire.

OD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Amblemere You Say It Best at Benjcroft. All male and powerful, this substantially made dog has incredible depth. He has an excellent forehand with great bone, tight cat-like round feet and was shown in tip-top condition. I liked his head shape, its work, and his appealing expressive eye. He holds a good top-line, has an excellent croup and perfect tail-set. Although a real ‘handful’ on the move he is accurate on the up and down but the thing that impressed me greatly was the enduring ease and fluidity of this dog in his side-gait. He simply eats up the ground and extends from the front and drives from behind with real ease and could most definitely do the job that this breed is made for….to work in the field all day long. I was pleased to award him the Dog Challenge Certificate, which is his third and ‘crowning’ Certificate. Congratulations.

2nd: Unique Selection Bradley. Here was a totally different and more racy type. He has a kind expressive and dark eye. Although balanced and well-boned, I felt that he, like quite a few today, dropped away at the croup a little too much which spoils his outline. He moved ‘ok’ on the up and down but couldn’t match the winner in his profile action.

VB (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Int Ch Sequins Sabiha. This well put together female headed a strong trio, where there was little separating all three. I really liked the winner for her compact and flowing outline and for her length of leg. Feminine in head and well-conditioned, she moved out with some precision and style.

2nd: Sh Ch Stanroph Still the Same (Imp Esp). Here was a totally different but equally pleasing type and she, like winner had an exceptional top-line and movement for her age. I thought perhaps just not quite the length of leg as the winner, I really was splitting hairs here. She is an undoubted worthy Champion and a credit to her owner.

3rd: Largymore Lustre…. completing a fabulous trio.

MPB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 5151 Tullochmohr Ray of Sunshine at Glynerva. Alone but she most certainly can hold her own, even at this tender age. I absolutely loved her. She just screams quality and breed type. She is everything and more that you would want from a puppy. She is superbly feminine with great flow, excellent substance, and great balance. She holds the perfect top-line with a well-set tail and is a sound and accurate mover, particularly strong in front action and forward extension. She was Best Puppy in Breed and in the Bitch challenge, she pulled out all the stops to take the Reserve C.C. from the equally appealing Limit Bitch winner. She must surely have the most exciting future in front of her.

PB (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Tullochmohr Ray of Sunshine at Glynerva. Repeat.

2nd: Lamancha Trust Your Heart With Gloi. Here was another outstanding youngster who was so unlucky to meet the winner in such good form. I loved this one just as much as the one above, albeit she is different in type and colour (which I really loved), she appealed immensely. She was the truest and easiest of accurate movers. She just lost out for the top spot-on head maturity. She just needs time, and she has that in abundance. She, like the winner, must have the rosiest of future show careers ahead.

3rd: CAROLAKE X'MARKS THE SPOT JW….also completing a fabulous trio.

JB (7 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Strathlon April Bonnie Lass. This juvenile headed a very mixed class. I liked her for her breed type, her femininity, her bone, and her top-line. She moved OK.

2nd Bencoe Book Of Time. This youngster scored for breed type and a superb side-gait where she held a classically strong outline. Today, however, she did not match the winner for accuracy in her front action and subsequently paid the price.

3rd: Ambersun Passione Of Odarla

YB (4 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Gossip Girl JW. A lovely type here, she is ultra-feminine, has a correct shape head with good working and a lovely, intelligent, and expressive eye. She flows from nose to well-set and well-carried tail, and she always maintains an excellent top-line. She has perfect feet and moves soundly in all directions.

2nd: Tullochmohr Shooting Star At Glynerva JW. I really liked this one too and she has many breed attributes. I loved here for type, for her wonderfully long, well-angulated upper arm and her easy and reaching and controlled forehand action. Today she was just a touch out of coat and could not match the winner for accuracy in her rear action.

3rd: Applecote Love Affair

MB (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Tullochmohr Ray of Sunshine at Glynerva. Repeat.

2nd: Lamancha Trust Your Heart With Gloi. Repeat.

3rd: Ambersun Passione Of Odarla

Class 2544 NB (9 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Tullochmohr Ray of Sunshine at Glynerva. Repeat.

2nd: Lamancha Trust Your Heart With Gloi. Repeat.

3rd: Sandaula Forest Of Dreams

Class 2545 DB (4 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Tullochmohr Ray of Sunshine at Glynerva. Repeat.

2nd: Warrentor Nohkalikai. She’s very feminine and has a lovely head and expression and she has perfect tight and well-cushioned feet. She really needs to body up and ‘coat up’ too. She moved OK.

Class 2546 GB (10 Entries) Abs: 4

1st: Thornywait Starstruck with Lovissa JW. I thought this bitch won this class with some to spare. I really liked her classic shape, her compact and balanced outline, and her outstanding shoulders. She always maintains a good topline and presents a picture of true fluidity in side-gait. She needs to just sort out her rear action going away.

2nd: Fleur So Sweet. This one just appeared just a touch less compact than ideal but she, like the winner has a superb flowing outline with an excellent tail-set and carriage. She also needs to sort out her action going away from the judge.

3rd: CHERRYGOLD STORYTELLEN J.W.

Class 2547 PGB (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Catenae Candy Floss at Salako. Heading a good class, this winner won on her strong driving action from an equally good dog in second spot. I liked this one also for her femininity, outline, balance, and superb flow. She has excellent, tight feet and was accurate coming and going.

2nd: Mossburn Golly Miss Molly JW. A different but equally pleasing type, full of quality and substance. She too has a great, flowing outline, a super head and expression and good top-line and tail-carriage. She lost this class on ‘animation’ and drive on the move.

3rd: Gloi You Make Loving Fun

Class 2548 LB (14 Entries) Abs: 3

1st: Quakerhall Flare by Pandora. I thought that the first three won their places in this class by quite a margin. I am now told that I gave this winner’s mother her first C.C. when I judged the breed for the first time at Boston. This pleases me greatly and remembering back, I can now see many similarities in their type. She appealed immensely and I thought she stood out for make and shape, quality, and substance. She has the perfect top-line, excellent flow and a good tail-set and carriage. She has the correct depth and moves out with style but, splitting hairs, perhaps not quite the precision coming that I was looking for today in the challenge. This just held her back from the top awards, but I am also now told that she is already a title holder, and I can see why. I really liked her.

2nd Sunnyoak The Girl Is Mine. Another good one who was close-up to the winner. She too is very feminine with a compact outline and brimming full of breed type. She has an excellent driving action going away, but like the one above, just needs to firm up for me in front action.

3rd: Kulawand Sky With Diamonds. Completing an excellent trio, this quality and equally appealing bitch was sadly totally lacking in coat today, which was a great pity.

Class 2549 OB (12 Entries) Abs: 4

1st: Linirgor Misty Mornings at Strathlon JW. My notes say: ‘A Class Act!’. I just loved this winner for her breed type, her sensational compact outline, her beautiful feminine head and expression and her excellent flow. She holds a wonderful top-line at all times. She has the perfect tail-set and carriage, has lovely bone, tight feet and was presented and shown in hard, well-muscled condition. Her front angles are sublime and are matched in her well-defined rear quarters. She really uses them to drive away with true precision and style and is foot perfect coming towards you whilst simply extending with real fluidity in side-gait. She was a good C.C. winner for me in excellent company and I was thrilled to learn that this award was her ‘Crowning’ certificate. She took a well-deserved B.O.B. and I will watch her future successes with real interest.

2nd: Sh Ch Lovehayne Bijou Among Fairwinds JW. Handled to perfection, this totally different type was equally appealing in many respects. She has great flow and a strong, hard top-line. I liked her head shape and her expression. She is well-off for bone and has excellent tight feet. She is a free and sound mover with quite some accuracy. I can see why she is a title holder.

3rd: Trevor Sh Ch Goldmarker Luminara. Completing and excellent trio, this was a class which was a pleasure to judge.

Jonathan B Daltrey (Judge)