Goyt Valley Gundog Society

Goyt Valley Gundog Society

Manchester Health Academy

Sunday 8th January 2023

Golden Retrievers

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. Unfortunately, due to floor surface, I found the movement of a lot of the exhibits to not be as good as I have seen on previous occasions, a lot were slipping or not moving with their normal drive.

Puppy (9, 5abs)

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

1. Murray’s Shebelta Sweet Talkin’ Guy. So much to like about this dog. 9 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 once settled. Well-handled and presented. BP.

2. Hill’s Sanduala Forest of Dreams. Lovely 6 month old, mid gold bitch. Such a well-balanced, pretty baby. Balanced feminine head and lovely expression. Good dark pigmentation and correct bite. Good length of neck, nicely angulated front, straight forelegs and well-rounded feet. Good depth and spring of rib, short coupled and level top line. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Good tail set and tail carriage on the move. Moved well for such a baby. Well presented and handled.

3. Harvey’s Shebelta Sweet Charlotte.

Junior (5,1abs)

1. Millington’s Golmas Guard of Honour at Jarabees JW. Eye-catching 16 month old dog in excellent mid gold coat. Lovely masculine head, with soft expression, correct bite and dark pigmentation. Well balanced throughout and not exaggerated in any way. Good length of neck, well laid back shoulders with a good length of upper arm. Straight forelegs and well-rounded feet. Good depth and spring of rib. Short coupled and strong through loin. Straight hock, well bent stifles and in muscular condition. Level tail set and top line, which he held on the move. Moved with good drive and stride, covering the ground effortlessly. Very happy and attentive. Pleased to award him BOB.

2. Sloan’s Palmonas Glitterball. I judged this young lady only 4 months ago and liked her then, awarding her BP that day. Now nearly 14 months old she is maturing nicely. In good pale gold coat with dark pigmentation and correct dentition. Balanced feminine head and gentle expression. Nice length of neck and well angulated front, straight forelegs and rounded feet. Good depth and spring of rib, level top line and well bent stifles and straight hocks. Good tail set and carriage on the move. Moved well but not with her usual drive due to the floor. Well presented and handled.

3. Harvey’s Shebelta Sweet Charlotte.

Post Grad (6,2abs)

A very strong class, I was ‘splitting hairs’ between 1 and 2, different in styles but both of lovely quality.

1. Loverock & Waldron-Smith's Thornywait Save my Space at Lovissa. Well balanced and symmetrical, not exaggerated in any way. 2 year old dog, in good coat and condition, beautifully presented and handled. Well balanced, masculine head with soft expression, dark eye and pigmentation. Correct bite. Good reach of neck, well laid back shoulders and good upper arm. Straight forelegs and nicely rounded feet. Good depth of chest, deep and well spring ribs. Nice length through body with a level top line and good tail set. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Moved well but not at his best on the slippery floor, just preferred his head to that of 2.

2. Baxter & Riley’s Bermary Captain Hastings JW. 2 year old dog in good muscular condition. Just starting to drop his pale gold coat but still having enough. Well balanced outline, not exaggerated or overdone. Good dark pigmentation and correct bite. Good length of neck. Well laid back shoulders, good upper arm length and straight fore legs. Good depth through chest, ribs and strong through the body. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Nice level top line standing and on the move. Again moved well but not as well as he can on the slippery floor. Would have just preferred a little more definition to his head.

3. Taylors Laurenley Leon.

Limit (3,2abs)

1. Taylor's Laurenley Leon. 4 year old dog in lovely rich golden coat. Well balanced and symmetrical. Lovely balanced head and soft expression. Good dark eye and pigmentation. Correct bite. Nice length of neck and well angulated throughout the body. Short coupled with a good depth and spring of rib. Level top line and good tail set. He moved well, with drive, keeping his top line and tail set level. At his first ever show with his novice handler and thoroughly enjoying the experience. Both dog and handler did a fantastic job, really hoping they continue to show as he could have a promising show career ahead.

Open Dog (4,0abs)

1. Loverock's Putjade Peaky Blinder at Lovissa. Caught my eye as soon as he entered the ring. 5 year old dog in great, mid gold, coat and condition, beautifully handled and presented. Mature, symmetrical and well balanced, not exaggerated in any way. Masculine head, good expression, correct bite and dark pigmentation. Good length of neck and good depth through chest. Well laid back shoulder, straight forelegs and well-rounded feet. Good depth and spring of rib. Short coupled and strong through the loin. Good bend of stifle and straight hocks. Level top line, good tail set and tail carriage. Moved well, not with his usual drive due to the floor but very happy and attentive.

2. Grave's Bowbarl TwistNTurn. Lovely balanced 4 year old dog, in good mid gold coat and condition. Nice head and expression. Dark pigmentation and correct bite. Nice length of neck and well angulated front. Good depth and spring of rib. Short coupled and strong through the loin. Well bent stifles and straight hocks. Well rounded feet. Lovely level top line and good tail set. Moved well, but again another I have seen move better but not as settled on the floor. His owner needs to be mindful when trimming his neck as it is currently making him look unbalanced at the front.

3. Millington’s Carneval od Golden Duck-Cobey at Jarabees (IMP SRB)

Open Bitch (2,0abs)

1. Nelson's Cadwst Eternal Flame. Lovely quality 3 year old bitch. In good mid gold coat and condition. Nicely balanced outline. Good feminine head and soft expression with dark pigmentation and correct bite. Good reach of neck and nice depth of chest. Nicely laid back shoulders and good length of upper arm. Straight fore legs and well-rounded feet. Depth and spring of rib was good. Strong throughout the body and well-muscled. Good bend of stifle and straight hocks. Level top line both on the stand and move. Moved well, I would like to see this lady move in the future on a non-slip floor, I am sure she could move with more drive and stride.

2. Carrington’s Largymore Lustre JW. Another quality bitch, in excellent gold coat and presented well. 6 ½ years old and fully matured. Lovely feminine head and gentle expression. Good dark pigmentation and correct bite. Nice length of neck and good depth of chest, well laid back shoulders, good length of upper arm and straight forelegs. Well balanced through the body with a good depth and spring of rib. Well bend stifles and straight hocks. Level top line and good tail carriage on the move. Not exaggerated in any way. Moved well but not at her best on this floor, which was a shame as there is so much to like about her.

Mrs Victoria Robertshaw

Akenscales