Northumberland & Durham Labrador Retriever Club

Northumberland and Durham Labrador Retriever Club

18-02-2024

Dogs

Judge: Anthony Allen

My thanks to the committee for inviting me and to the exhibitors for entering. To my super steward Lorriane Tooth, my thanks for keep me on the straight and narrow.

Times have changed since the early eighties when I first began attending dog shows, some changes are for the good, others not so. This was my 12th time awarding CC’s in the breed.

Numbers and correspondingly quality is not what it was. In comparison to the last time I judged males there were a few issues that concerned me.

The first was the lack of depth of quality in the younger classes and this is a real concern for the future, where is the next generation of top-class Labradors coming from? As a breed we seem to be retaining more bitches and less males and this is adding to the conundrum.

Personally, I think heads are changing for the worse, many are just getting too strong for my tastes, often with round starey eyes. We are losing that lovely kind expression that the breed was known for.

Another issue was a number of dogs which were short in leg and in my opinion, too deep in body, with the depth of chest coming down below the elbow. This is a significant change to the breed and to me unbalances the dog and I do wonder if they would be able to get over a five-bar gate.

There were many with thick, soft coats, devoid of the required undercoat.

I was thrilled with my principal winners, I had a number of dogs that I would have happily awarded a CC to, so performance and finish came into the final decisions. My DOG CC winner was the black SHANNORELL BLACK SABBATH AT HALSHIMOOR. My RESERVE DOG CC went to the topflight SH CH CREMINO CALABRESE. I thought my Best Puppy dog SHANNORELL SEAMUS COLEMAN AT HALSHIMOOR a very exciting prospect.

My co-judge, Pat Ayres and I agreed on all the decision, and I think we had a very typey line up. BEST IN SHOW went to the young black bitch, WYNFAUL CARBON COPY AT BESKERBY, with RESERVE BEST IN SHOW going to my DCC winner SHANORRELL BLACK SABBATH AT HALSHIMOOR. BEST PUPPY IN SHOW was awarded to SHANORRELL SEAMUS COLEMAN AT HALSHIMOOR and RESERVE BEST PUPPY IN SHOW to KIMBAJAK PLATINUM PRINCESS. From two super veterans we decided BEST VETERAN IN SHOW should be SH CH PONIEL REASON TO BELIEVE AT BRUADARACH and RESERVE BEST VETERAN IN SHOW to the ever-young SH CH FOXRUSH SPUN GOLD JW.

VETERAN DOG (3-0 Abs)

1st Sh Ch Poniel Reason to Believe at Bruadarach ShCEx VW

Last judged this boy some 5 years ago when he won a good limit class under me. I note he has gone on to take his title since then and matured into a topflight boy. Now ten and half year old he was looking super and I was thrilled to get the chance to judge him again. He has a pleasing head shape and masculine expression. A super clean reach of neck, shoulder placement is OK. Good legs with a decent amount of bone, correctly proportioned length of body with enough spring of rib. Well-made quarters with good angulation, hocks well let down. Movement was sound and the correct action fore and aft and in profile. Delighted to award him Best Veteran Dog and later with my co-judges’ agreement Best Veteran in Show.

2nd Shaymiloney Schinus Afinmore

Grand black chap, seven and a half, he has a pleasing head and the kindest of expressions, a clean reach of neck and well-set shoulders. Correct front angulation with a good depth of fore chest. Level top line, in super coat. A shade heavy for me today, Well-made quarters. He had a good action on the move but not quite as fluid and lacked the drive of the winner today.

3rd Millroseglen Bona Fide

MINOR PUPPY DOG: (8 - 2)

1st Loretta Rise & Reign Over Talard

Smart young man, he has a pleasing head and expression. Clean reach of neck which led into well-placed shoulders, stands on well boned legs and neat feet. Correct front angulation, good return of upper arm. Needs to drop in to his chest which he will as he matures. Proportionate length of body with a good level top line, ribs springing nicely. Well-made quarters with good angles. He moved round the ring positively and once settled into his stride was the best in the class. Should have a bright future ahead of him.

2nd Tullochmohr Ultimo Finale

Nicely made young man, has lots of potential and was certainly enjoying his day out. He has a pleasing head shape and a masculine expression. Good reach of neck and decent lay back of shoulder, standing on good legs and neat feet. Good length of body with well-made quarters. Just needs to firm up in topline. When he settled, he was a positive mover with a good action.

3rd Foxrush Hot Gossip

PUPPY DOG (4 – 0)

Some exciting puppies in this class that should have a bright future ahead of them.

1st Shanorrell Seamus Coleman

9 months old with a lot to like about him. Good overall outline with correct angles fore and aft. I liked his head and expression, for his age it is well proportioned and has a good shape, he has a lovely eye. Front assembly is well made, a good lay back of shoulder and return of upper arm. Stands on well boned legs and feet. Proportionate length of body. Good shape to his quarters with a decent bend of stifle. Accurate footfall on the move. A promising youngster, Best Puppy Dog and with the agreement of my co-judge Best Puppy in Show.

2nd Teazledown Mystery by Wynfaul

Another promising youngster who has a lot to like about him. His head is well proportioned, and he has a kind expression, shoulders well laid back. Good depth of chest for his age, stands on well boned legs and good feet. Good length of body, quarters developing as they should be, stifles well bent. Needs to settle on the move to complete the picture.

3rd Exelby Norman

JUNIOR DOG (3 – 0)

1st Binnaig Bonnach For Tullochmohr

Yellow male who presented a clean outline. I loved his masculine head and expression, still has to finish but not overdone in anyway. Strong reach of neck which led into well-placed shoulders. Good depth of chest for his age. Correct body proportions, ribs springing nicely. Quarters well angulated, with a reasonable bend of stifle and well let down hocks. He was a bit of a teenager on the stack, but really together on the move for his age, with accuracy of footfall. Shortlisted him in the challenge where he pushed hard for top honours, one for the future in my opinion.

2nd Cremino Celebrity

Different type to one, but still pleasing to my eye, just 12 months and giving a lot away in maturity. He has a good head shape and masculine expression. A clean reach of neck and well-placed shoulders and a decent return of upper arm. Standing on good legs and feet. Plenty of depth to his chest for his age. A decent length of body with well sprung ribs. Well-made quarters, with good overall angulation and second thigh, hocks well let down. Movement was sound, good both fore and aft and in profile with plenty of drive, just a shade proud of his tail.

3rd Velvetine Highland Glen Exelby

YEARLING DOG (6 – 3)

1st Maxfield Sergeant Pepper

Smart young man. Pleasing head and expression. Clean reach of neck which led into well placed shoulders, standing on well boned legs and neat feet. Proportionate length of body with a good level top line, ribs springing nicely. Well-made quarters with good angles. He moved round the ring positively once settled, and was the best in the class in that respect, cut him down to the final six in the challenge, should have a bright future ahead of him.

2nd Rewari Edwardo

This chap looked good standing but wasn’t as together on the move as the winner which counted against him. Head masculine and plenty of work, needs to develop and should finish well. Ok front assembly, clean neck, would like a shade more return of upper arm. Good through the rib and loin and held his topline. Good rear angles with well bent stifles.

3rd Langanhoe Wild Hudson

MAIDEN DOG (4 – 1)

1st Cremino Celebrity

2nd Foxrush Hot Gossip

A young pup, just six months old and everything in the right place. Head is well proportioned, shoulders well laid back, good depth of chest for his age, stands on well boned legs and good feet. Good length of body, quarters developing as they should be. Needs to find his feet on the move but he will do that as he grows up.

3rd Kimbajak Royal Mint

NOVICE DOG (4 – 0)

1st Cremino Celebrity

2nd Tullochmohr Ultimo Finale

3rd Kimbajak Royal Mint

UNDERGRADUATE DOG (1 – 0)

1st Scotsdyke Marchbank Boy

Nice type of dog, two years old. I liked his head piece, masculine with a good eye colour. Angles front and rear are good, he is clean in neck and has a decent front assembly. Stands on good legs and feet. Good spring of rib and firm through the loin. Quarters well developed with a decent bend of stifle. Moved out well, good profile action just a bit untidy as he came towards me.

GRADUATE DOG (4 – 1)

1st Sharouns Inspector Gadget JW

This yellow chap was two and a half. Good clean outline, head of good proportions, reminded me of some of the classic heads from the Poolstead kennel. He has a clean reach of neck into enough lay back of shoulder. Stands on well boned legs and good feet. Ribs well sprung, firm in loin and level topline. Quarters well developed, with a decent bend of stifle. Won this class on movement where he scored in drive, another I shortlisted in the challenge. Should do well in the future.

2nd Wynfaul Second Edition

Black boy, different type to one but still pleasing to my eye. He has a good head shape and proportions, masculine in expression. A clean reach of neck and well-placed shoulders, would like a shade more return of upper arm. Plenty of depth of chest, correct length of body with well sprung ribs, carrying a shade extra weight for my tastes. Well-made quarters with good angulation, hocks well let down. Movement was sound, good both fore and aft and in profile to take this place.

3rd Oakhouse Orlover

POST GRADUATE DOG (5 – 0)

1st Lonicerium Jack Sparra

This chap has a decent head shape and masculine expression. A clean reach of neck and well-placed shoulders. A good length of body, well-made quarters with good angulation, hocks well let down. Very clean outline on him which he held on the move. Movement was sound, good footfall and with the appropriate amount of drive.

2nd Carpenny Paddy at Rockledge

One I have judged before, who did well under me then. Good head piece, clean neck into well laid shoulders and a good return of upper arm. Good length of leg, well boned and good feet. Body well proportioned, with ribs well sprung for his age, held his topline well. Quarters good. Carrying a shade too much weight on his shoulders which spoilt his outline and front movement today.

3rd Amberstope Gold Label at Chapelmanor

MID LIMIT DOG (4 – 0)

1st Oakhouse Oot My Way

Well-made two-year-old yellow dog who excels in outline. He has good overall balance and movement. He has a masculine head and expression, a clean reach of neck and good front angulation. Well-developed chest with good depth. Proportionate length of body with the correct spring of rib. Quarters well made with a super bend of stifle. Still needs to ‘fill out’ a bit to complete the picture but that will happen as he matures. Moved out well, just a little proud of his tail.

2nd Sudeo Standard Bearer

Yellow dog with a clean outline, presents a balanced picture. He has a decent head shape and masculine expression. He has a clean reach of neck, shoulder placement OK, needs a little more return of upper arm. Standing on good legs and neat feet. A decent length of body with well sprung ribs. Well-made quarters with good angulation and width of second thigh, hocks well let down. Movement was sound and he covered the ground well.

3rd Knoydar Nixon

LIMIT DOG (6 – 2)

1st Shanorrell Black Sabbath at Halshimoor

Another who won a class under me when I last judged males, but on that day he left his coat at home. Today was just holding on to his jacket and looked the complete picture. He has a pleasing head and masculine expression. A super clean reach of neck and well-placed shoulders. Good legs with a decent amount of bone, decent length of body with well sprung ribs, a shade long in loin, level topline. Well-made quarters with good angulation, hocks well let down. Movement was sound, correct action fore and aft and in profile. In the challenge as I made my final decision, he just had the most superb outline and took the CC over the open dog. I was told afterwards it was his third by a very happy handler – congratulations!

2nd Seatallan Chilli

There is a lot to like about this chap, well-made black dog who excels in outline. He has good overall balance and movement. He has a pleasing head and expression, a clean reach of neck and lay back of shoulder, needs a shade more return of forearm. Proportionate length of body with the correct spring of rib. Quarters well made with a good bend of stifle. Did enough on the move but not quite as fluid in front action as the winner. Coat in good condition.

3rd Claychalk Costa Yen

OPEN DOG (7 – 3)

A cracking class of 4 super dogs, they could have easily change places but today movement played an important part in the decision making.

1st SH CH Cremino Calabrese

I have seen him from the ringside and like him and was pleased to see him walk into the ring. On the move he covered the ground superbly both fore and aft and in profile to take the class. Pleasing head and expression, super clean reach of neck. Well placed shoulders, correct front angulation and just enough depth in forechest and length of body. Level top line and tail correct. Super quarters with good bend of stifle and well developed second thigh, hocks well let down. Shown today in hard condition. So very close to top honours today, just lost his shape at the end and had to give way to the limit winner. I was delighted to be able to award him the RCC, he is top-class in my opinion.

2nd SH CH/IR SH CH Naiken East Meets West JW

Smart black dog with a clean outline, presenting a balanced picture. He has a pleasing head shape and masculine expression. He has a super clean reach of neck. Standing on good legs and neat feet. A decent length of body with well sprung ribs. Well-made quarters with good angulation and width of second thigh, hocks well let down. Movement was sound and he covered the ground well, another top-class dog.

3rd Beskerby Pageant

CHAMPION DOG (2 – 1)

1st SH CH/IR SH CH Naiken Elite Envoy JW IR JCH

This is a good honest chocolate dog who did well under me before as a puppy and I was delighted to see him again. He is all Labrador and is made right. He has a pleasing head shape and a masculine expression. Neck into well placed shoulders was good. Good depth to his chest with ribs well sprung, strong through the loin, Quarters ok with good angulation. Movement was sound and fluid just a shade exuberant, clearly enjoying himself.

SPECIAL OPEN WORKING DOG (2 – 1)

1st CH Wynfaul The Wizard JW

Have judged this chap a few times in his career and he just gets better and better. Now 10 and half still really appeals, he has the most superb head piece with the classic Labrador expression. He is well made through the neck and shoulders and has good front angulation, good depth of chest. Body well-proportioned with a good spring of rib. Quarters well-made and overall presenting a balanced picture. He is an absolute credit to his owner and in super condition, thank you for bringing him again.