South Western Gundog Club

South Western Gundog Club

The Matford Centre, Exeter

Saturday 15th April 2023

Golden Retrievers

My sincere thanks to the Officers and Committee for their invitation to judge at such a friendly and welcoming show. It was a pleasure to judge at such a lovely venue with spacious outdoor rings, enjoying the lovely weather and giving the exhibits chance to move to their best. Thank you to all the exhibitors who entered, it was a privilege to judge such a numerically large and quality entry. Some decisions were very close, especially in the puppy classes, some very promising youngsters. The exhibitors that were new to showing should be proud and continue to practice their handling and presentation skills.

Minor Puppy (3,0abs)

1. Gayler’s Carolake X’Marks the Spot. Well balanced 7mth old bitch, in pale gold coat and lovely condition. Feminine balanced head, dark eye and pigmentation and correct bite. Good length of neck, well laid back shoulders and good length of upper arm. Straight forelegs and well-rounded feet. Nicely balanced through the body with a good depth of rib, short coupled, level top line and correct tail set. Well angulated hindquarters and straight hocks. Moved well for a youngster with good stride and drive. Very happy and attentive.

2. Todd’s Van Gogh of Sunshine’s Valley with Toddrosa. Lovely pale 6 ½ mth old dog, in lovely coat and condition. Well balanced and symmetrical. Nice head and expression with dark pigmentation. Good length of neck. Nicely laid back shoulders, good length of upper arm, legs placed well under body. Level top line, good depth of rib, short coupled and good tail set. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Happy on the move, moved with good stride.

3. Dean’s Gunnersgold Crunch Creams at Perrangold.

Puppy (19, 2abs)

I was spoilt for choice in this very large class, I look forward to seeing how some of the youngsters in this class develop.

1. Clunie’s Warrentor Nohkalikai. Beautifully balanced and symmetrical 9mth old bitch, in lovely coat and condition. She caught my eye as she entered the ring with her happy and outgoing personality. Unexaggerated and fit for purpose. Balanced feminine head and lovely expression. Great length of neck and shoulder placement. Straight forelegs and rounded feet. Balanced throughout the body, short coupled and good depth of rib. Correct tail set and carriage. Well angulated hindquarters. Level top line which she held on the move. Moved effortlessly with drive. Beautifully presented and handled. Pleased to award her BP.

2. Henson’s Cinderbank Move It. I have admired this dog before and he did not disappoint, he was unfortunate to be in the same class as such a quality bitch. 11 mth old pale dog and in great condition, well presented and handled. Lovely balanced outline, with great front and rear angulation. Balanced through the body, short coupled and good depth of rib. Level top line and good tail set. Unexaggerated and symmetrical. Moved with drive and lovely free stride.

3. Merrick’s Warrentor Tourmakeady at Stormerick NAF.

Junior (6,1abs)

1. Henson’s Cinderbank Move It.

2. Lockley’s Steval Whathappenedwas. 15mth old mid gold dog in good coat and condition. Lovely outline and well handled. Masculine head with nice expression and correct bite. Good length of neck and well laid back shoulders. Well-rounded feet and straight forelegs. Good depth of rib. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Level top line, which he held on the move. Moved well with drive and very happy.

3. Chan’s Wemcrest Sound of Music.

Special Yearling (6,2abs)

1. Coad’s Tinklersroc Bon Bon. 22mth old mid gold dog in lovely coat and condition. Well balanced and symmetrical, not exaggerated in any way. Masculine balanced head with lovely expression and dark pigmentation. Good length of neck and well angulated front. Good depth of rib and short coupled. Level top line and good tail set. Well angulated hindquarters. Moved very well with good drive and stride. Happy, attentive and well presented.

2. Kirkup & Highmans’ Coldharbour Candycane. Nicely balanced 15 mth old light gold dog. Nice head and good pigmentation. Good reach of neck. Straight forelegs and well-rounded feet. Good depth of rib and short coupled. Level top line. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Just need a little longer to mature into his frame. Moved well for his handler.

3. Gulliver’s Tonara Moon Walk.

Novice (6, 0abs)

1. Winsor-Williams’ Fleur So Sweet. Very pretty and attractive 2 yr old bitch. In beautiful coat and condition. Feminine head and lovely expression. Nicely angulated forequarters with straight foreleg and rounded feet. Good depth and spring of rib. Well coupled and level top line with good tail set. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Slightly longer in the back than what I would normally go for but her outline was still nicely balanced. Moved effortlessly with drive. Well-handled and presented.

2. Kirkup & Highmans’ Coldharbour Candycane.

3. Dingle’s Trebell the Hustle at Tillsun.

Graduate (6,2abs)

1. Hurrell’s Kadaka Kaos at Gillansgold. 2 ½ yr old dog in lovely dork golden coat and great condition. Compact, well balanced and unexaggerated. Balanced head and good expression. Well angulated to fore and rear. Good length of neck. Short coupled and balanced through the body. Level top line and good tail set. Moved well with drive and good stride. Well-handled and presented.

2. Watts Stormhayes Hop into Spring. Nicely balanced 3 yr old dog in good coat and condition. Masculine head and good expression. Nicely angulated throughout and short coupled. Level top line. Moved with good stride and drive but just carried his tail a little high on the move for my preference.

3. Perry’s Stormhayes Spring Willow.

Post Grad (5,1abs)

1. Withey’s Rosinante Major Hero. 3yr old dog in lovely mid gold coat and great condition. Balanced outline without any exaggeration. Lovely masculine head and good expression with dark pigmentation. Well angulated front and rear. Good depth and spring of rib. Short coupled and strong through the loin. Level top line and good tail set. Moved effortlessly round the ring with good stride and drive. Happy and attentive to his handler.

2. Jenkin’s Chriskerry Night Whispers. Lovely 3 ½ yr old mid gold bitch in good condition and coat. Happy attentive, well-handled and presented. Balanced feminine head and good length of neck. Balanced outline and well angulated throughout. Level top line and good tail set. Moved effortlessly with good drive.

3. McCammick’s Creekside Hand in Hand.

Limit (3,2abs)

1. Chan’s Lovissa Hello Dolly of Wemcrest. Alone in the class but fully deserving of the win. 4yr old bitch in beautiful rich golden coat and great condition. Feminine balanced head and good length of neck. Good balanced outline. Well laid back shoulders and good rear angulation. Level top line and good tail set. Moved well with fair drive. Happy, attentive and well handled.

Open Dog (8,3abs)

My class of the day, such depth of quality in the 5 dogs in this class, any one of these boys was a worthy winner of the class, even the almost 11yr old who looked stunning for his age and certainly didn’t show it.

1. Carter’s Kadaka Kauldrun JW. Stunning outline, so balanced and symmetrical. Without any exaggeration. 2 ½ yrs old in great condition and good light gold coat, Balanced masculine head, dark pigmentation and lovely expression. Good length of neck and well laid back shoulders. Good length of upper arm, straight forelegs and well-rounded feet. Good depth of chest, ribs and ribs well sprung. Balanced through the body and short coupled. Strong loins, well bend stifles and straight hocks. Level top line and good tail set. Moved effortlessly with power, drive and good stride, carrying is tail level on the move, a joy to watch. Beautifully presented and handled. Pleasure to award him BOB.

2. Bawden’s Balsamina Beachcomber at Darthill JW. So much to like about this 2 ½ yr old boy, who I have admired previously. Lovely overall balance and great coat and condition. Good masculine head, kind expression and dark pigmentation. Well angulated throughout, good depth and spring of rib and short coupled. Lovely level top line and good tail set and carriage. Moved really well with drive and stride, just a little over exuberant at times which unsettled his flowing movement. Happy and attentive. Very pleased to award him RBOB.

3. Main’s Denmarella Mr Bright Skies over Gwyngala.

Open Bitch (5,1abs)

1. Hewitson’s Seruilia Splash of Class. Beautiful, mature 5 ½ yr old in great light golden coat and condition. Lovely balance feminine head and soft expression. Good length of neck and well laid back shoulders. Straight forelegs and rounded feet. Good depth and spring of ribs. Short coupled and balanced through the body. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Level top line and good tail set. Moved very well around the ring with good stride. Happy and attentive. Beautifully handled and presented.

2. Gayler’s Carolake Remember Me JW. Mature, balanced 7yr old in good mid gold coat. Feminine balanced head and good expression. Nice length of neck and well angulated forequarters. Balanced through the body with good depth of rib. Well angulated hindquarters and good tail set. Moved well. Well-handled and presented.

3. Brewer’s Stradcot Three Wishes.

Victoria Robertshaw (Judge)