Cheltenham & District Canine Society

Cheltenham & District Canine Society

The Kennel Club Building

Sunday 26th February 2023

Golden Retriever Dogs

My sincere thanks to the Officers and Committee for their invitation to judge at such a friendly and welcoming show. Thank you to all the exhibitors who entered, it was a privilege to judge an overall quality entry. Some decisions were very close.

Puppy Dog {7,1abs}

A very close decision in this class, I look forward to watching these youngsters as they mature.

1. Phillips’s Shebelta Sweet Soul Music. 11 month old, cream dog in good coat and condition. Good dark pigmentation, kind expression, correct bite and well balanced masculine head. Good length of neck, well laid back shoulders, good length of upper arm and straight forelegs. Balanced throughout body with a good depth and spring of rib. Level top line and good tail set, well bent stifles and straight hocks. Well boned throughout and good round feet. Happy and enthusiastic. Moved well with drive. Well-handled and presented. Pleased to award him BPD and with agreement of the bitch judge awarded BPIB. Later awarded PG3.

2. Harris & Ball’s Wemcrest Man of La Mancha. 10 month old mid gold dog in good condition. Smaller in size to 1 but very well balanced and unexaggerated. Nicely balanced head, with good expression and dark pigmentation. Neck of good length and well laid back shoulders. Good depth of rib and well sprung. Balanced throughout body and short coupled. Lovely level top line and good tail set. Well angulated hindquarters. Moved well with good drive and holding his tail level. Very promising young dog and novice handler.

3. Reid’s Sybiton Ginger Nut.

Junior Dog {7,1abs}

1. Liggins & Hodges Silver Passion Glam Fashion at Nunsbrook {IMP DEU} NAF. 14 month old pale dog. In very good coat and condition. He doesn’t immediately ‘stand out’ but the more you look the more there is to like about him. Unexaggerated, well balanced and lovely quality throughout. Nicely balanced head, dark pigmentation and correct dentition. Lovely length of neck, well laid back shoulders, good upper arm length, straight forelegs and nicely rounded feet. Good depth of chest. Ribs are of good depth and well sprung. Balanced throughout the body with a level top line and good tail set. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Moved well with a good stride. Handled and presented very well. I look forward to watching this boy as he continues to mature.

2. Philiips’s Shebelta Sweet Soul Music.

3. Moore’s Purbarn Friends Together.

Post Grad Dog {5, 2abs)

1. Liggins & Hodges Silver Passion Glam Fashion at Nunsbrook {IMP DEU} NAF

2. Ward’s Mitchnel He Who Laughs Last. Nicely balanced 2 year old dog in good condition, just needs time to mature. Nice head and expression, well pigmented and correct bite. Good length of neck and nicely angulated shoulder. Straight forelegs and well-rounded feet. Good depth and spring of rib. Short coupled and balanced through body. Level top line and well angulated hindquarters, Level top line, nice tail set and carriage. Moved well and happy.

3. Williams’s Eveninghill Detroit Red.

Limit Dog {5, 2abs}

1. Liggins & Hodges Silver Passion Glam Fashion at Nunsbrook {IMP DEU} NAF

2. Wallington’s Wynrita School Daze. Lovely well balanced 4 ½ year old dog in good mid gold coat. In nice condition, presented and handled well. Good head and expression, dark pigmentation and correct bite, well laid back shoulder, good length of upper arm and straight forelegs. Good depth of rib and well sprung. Well bent stifles, straight hocks and well set tail, Moved well with good drive and stride. Just a little heavier today than I have previously seen him but still a lovely quality dog.

3. Collis’s Merrimor Outlander at Dorwinion.

Open Dog {4, 0abs}

An extremely close decision between 1 & 2, both of which I have admired on previous occasions from the ringside, neither of them disappointed today.

1. Smith’s Thornywait Illuminati at Goldmarker. Quality 3 ½ year old mid gold dog, in excellent condition and coat. On form today, happy, wagging and attentive to his handler, well presented and handled. Nice head, dark pigmentation and correct bite. Lovely length of neck into well laid back shoulders. Good length of upper arm, straight forelegs and well-rounded feet. Good depth of chest and ribs, ribs well sprung. Nicely balanced through the body. Level top line, good tail set and good tail carriage on the move. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Moved well with good drive and reach when settled. Pleased to award him Best Dog. Unfortunately lost out to the super quality bitch in the challenge.

2. Foreman’s Ambersun Heart and Soul. Quality 3 year old dog in gleaming golden coat and in excellent condition. Showing his socks off today, attentive to handler and never stopped wagging his tail. Lovely balanced head and kind expression. Well pigmented and correct bite. Well laid back shoulder, good upper arm and straight forelegs. Good depth of chest and ribs, ribs well sprung. Nicely balanced through the body and short coupled. Well bent stifle and straight hocks. Lovely level top line, good tail set and he kept his tail level on the move. Moved with drive and enthusiasm. Well presented and handled.

3. Liggins & Hodges Silver Passion Glam Fashion at Nunsbrook {IMP DEU} NAF

Victoria Robertshaw