Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

My thanks to the society for their kind invitation to judge Labradors today, this was my 8th appointment in the breed and it’s always interesting as a breed specialist, although no longer actively involved in the breed, to see how things have changed, or not, as the case may be. I was concerned at a number of mouths with either level or border-line level bites, there were a few carrying more weight than I prefer, I don’t like a skinny Lab but please don’t be mistaken in equating fat with substance, carrying too much weight also makes your dog look short on leg, there were 1 or 2 heads that I would have liked to have seen with more length of muzzle to balance them but overall heads were good, particularly those of my top placings, as always, temperaments were exemplary. It’s that time of year when many were not in their best jackets but as long as I could see semblance of undercoat I had to forgive a slight lack of coat in some. Overall bitches are better than dogs currently. Thank you to all the exhibitors who brought their dogs for my consideration, I was very pleased with my top awards and delighted my RDCC/BPIB went on to take Gundog Puppy Group 4..

Class 1190 VD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1. McCrory’s Sh Ch Millroseglen Make My Day With Meadovillabs 10y Y well balanced, good angulation, still holds a good topline with correct tailset, neat feet, felt he was stronger in hindquarters than 2 which showed in his movement, unlucky to meet the bitch in the challenge for BV. 2. Mullett’s Shaymiloney Schinus Afinmore 10y B slightly heavier all through than 1 and a little stronger in head, soundly constructed all through with good bone and feet, presented in correct coat, moved ok but not quite the drive of 1

Class 1191 MPD (7 Entries) Abs: 1

1. Hopkinson’s Bellamar Mikado 8m B, lovely pup, well-boned, super head even at this stage with dark expressive eyes, mature for his age but not overdone, strong topline, correct tailset & otter tail, feet need to be a little tighter but this will come with time, a sound, steady mover. 2. Smith’s Flyenpyg Jurgen Chopp JW it was nit-picking between 1 &2, 2 is a couple of weeks older and similar remarks apply, slightly finer in bone but certainly not lacking, lovely head & expression, strong neck, well angulated all through, lovely feet, good topline, just preferred tail carriage of 1 on the move, another good mover for a baby. I’m sure these two will swap places many times. 3. Baron’s Landebec Ventura

Class 1192 PD (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1. McLellan’s Saranden I'm On Fire slightly darker Y of 11m who stood away in this class, super head with dark pigment, soft, gentle expression, good length of neck into well-laid shoulders, well boned legs down to tight feet, correctly angulated hindquarters with depth of thigh and good second thigh for a youngster, carries the correct topline & tailset and on the move he was footfall perfect moving straight out and back and with lovely drive in profile, pushed hard for the CC today and only lost out on maturity but happy to award him the RCC, BPD, BPIB and delighted he went on to take Puppy Group 4. 2. Edwards’ Frewlings Justin Rose At Bearstone one day short of 12m this B was slightly stronger in head than 1, good front assembly, strong topline & correct tailset, well boned, moved well once settled. 3. Mullett’s Seatallan Damson

Class 1193 JD (7 Entries) Abs: 2

1. Cook’s Exelby Norman 16m B, liked his head and expression, lovely dark soft eye, balanced angulation fore & aft, strong topline with correct tailset and probably the best otter tail of the day, strong, well-boned legs and good feet, in good coat but a little wavy, sound mover. 2. F, Justin Rose At B. repeat of 2nd PD. 3. Percival’s Teazledown Mystery By Wynfaul

Class 1194 YD (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1. Young’s Potterspiney. My Sovereign 14m paler Y, head still needs to finish, ok for pigment, correct earset, strong neck into good shoulders, I would have liked a fraction more length of leg to balance him overall, good tailset and carriage & moved well.

Class 1195 ND (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1. Baron’s Landebec Ventura 6m Y who I thought quite lovely and unlucky to meet the 2 more mature boys in MPD today, sweet head which is just right at this age, good pigment and eye colour, not the biggest of boys but balanced with good angulation, elbows tight and well-boned legs to tight feet, moved very soundly for just 6m. 2. Edwards’ Frewlings Gary Player At Bearstone litter brother to 2nd in PD & JD, another black, his head was ok but lacked the soft expression I was looking for, he is pigeon-chested and quite heavy all through and short on leg, topline & tailset ok, moved ok but a bit erratic

Class 1196 GD (4 Entries) Abs: 1

1. Bambrook’s Winsleywood Waghorn At Ravoakar JW 2y paler yellow, loved this boys head, soft expressive dark eye, pigment could be a little darker but again, it’s that time of year so I had to forgive this, clean neck, good forechest, well-constructed front and rear angles to match, good legs and neat feet all of which he uses to good effect on the move where he is sound and ground covering holding a strong topline and tail carriage. 2. Ganney’s Darrabol Sand Dollar (ai) darker Y, longer cast than 1 and not the strength behind but good angulation, he is balanced with a good length of leg, strong neck flowing into good shoulders, topline & tailset, his head was ok but too much wrinkle across the skull for me, sound mover. 3. Rose’s Netherdene Sea Captain

Class 1197 PGD (6 Entries) Abs: 2

1. Young’s Potterspiney Potterzuri Aramis JW B with a lovely head and expression, balanced angles, correct topline & tailset with super otter tail, coat a little wavy, he won this class on his movement which impressed, he was straight & true on the out and back and really drives from behind covering his ground with ease.. 2. Metcalfe’s Rumhill Bertie Wooster By Baileydale JW good coloured C who was a little out of coat, well made and balanced, nice head with correct length of muzzle and good eye colour, strong topline, being critical I felt his tailset was just a little high, moved well although not quite so positively as 1 and was going a little wide in front coming towards me but a nice boy. 3. Shirton’s Woolman Day Dream Believer

Class 1198 LD (8 Entries) Abs: 2

1. Broadburn, Lawson & Sarti’s Landebec Happy Hour With Tipibear just over 3y mid-Y who caught my eye on first look round the ring, lovely head, pigment dark enough, lovely dark eye giving a soft expression, strong neck into good front construction, enough forechest, lovely tight elbows, excellent depth of chest and spring of rib, his rear angulation compliments the front, he is short-coupled with a strong topline & correct tailset and good otter tail, well-boned legs finished off with neat feet, on the move he was so sound and ground-covering, looks like he could easily cope with a day’s work, in my final line up he kept catching my eye and although pushed hard by the PD I couldn’t deny him the CC today, well done a first for both dog and owner I understand, I think he’s just coming to his best now so hope he goes on to further top honours as he deserves to. 2. Hallgarth’s Amberstope Gold Label At Chapelmanor (ai) smart type Y, stronger in head than 1 but not overdone, good neck, well-laid shoulder, good in forechest and well angled hindquarters, not quite the depth of 1, good mover. 3. Harvey Major’s Just The Joker In Linjor

Class 1199 OD (6 Entries) Abs: 2

1. Hodge’s Sh Ch Ir Sh Ch Naiken Elite Envoy (ai) JW Ir J Ch 6y C, cobby dog who stands fore-square, good head with just enough length of muzzle, lovely expression, strong clean neck, good in forechest, good depth and spring of rib, tight elbows, lovely hindquarters, well muscled, good in coat and tail, sound mover, a worthy champion. 2. Dawson’s Beskerby Pageant rising 6y Y, nice shape and balance with good angulation fore & aft, liked his head and expression, good topline with tail straight off and carried well on the move which was so calm & sound, just carrying a tad too much weight for me. 3. Harvey Major’s Floki The Jester In Linjor Jw

Class 1200 VB (7 Entries) Abs: 3

1. Pattison’s Pattilands Shining Star 12y pale Y, my notes say ”what a cracker”, lovely feminine head and gentle expression, strong neck into well laid shoulder & correct front, good topline & tailset, well angulated rear, not carrying an extra ounce of weight this girl absolutely flew round the ring like a youngster, with ground covering drive, hard to believe she’s 12 years old as she out-moved a lot of the younger dogs here today, in the challenge she certainly was the shining star as she just kept giving it her all and couldn’t be denied BVIB, a credit to her owners. 2. Parkinson’s Burnthorn Box Office 7y Y, pretty head with good eye colour but lacking a little pigmentation colour today, another who wasn’t carrying any excess weight, nicely angulated all round, good feet, strong topline & tailset, moved well but unlucky to meet 1. 3. Gannway-Jones’s Scarisbrick Skyfall Into Mossland

Class 1201 MPB (6 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Hopkinson’s Rocheby Jasmin just 7 months old Y who has a lovely clean outline, good depth, tight elbows, sweet head that is just right for her age, good pigment, well angulated with a strong topline and correct tailset, moved really well for a baby pleased to award her BPB. 2. Head’s Quinstone Sapphire Storm B who is just a few days older than 1 I loved this baby’s head and gentle expression, nice neck into good shoulder placement, good in forechest, correct depth all through with nice angulation, she tended to drop her topline a little and just needs to strengthen all through but that should come with time, a nice sound, sensible mover. 3. Baron’s Landebec Villanelle

Class 1202 PB (6 Entries) Abs: 3

Although only 3 in this class it was probably the most difficult to decide between so far as all 3 are full of promise and will no doubt change places on many occasions 1. Charlton’s Foxrush Hermione Y of 11m, the most mature of the class she has a well-developed head with good eye colour & correct expression, lovely shape and make with correct angulation all round, strong topline and good tail set and carriage, excels in depth and forechest, moved soundly with drive. 2. Metcalfe’s Trendlewood Its Only Love To Baileydale 12m B with a lovely head and dark eye, strong neck into well-laid shoulders, good in topline but a tendency to carry her tail a little high at this stage, excellent depth and good angles fore & aft, strong legs and good feet, not quite the maturity of 1 at this stage but another who moved well for a baby. 3. McLellan;s Saranden Book Of Dreams

Class 1203 JB (8 Entries) Abs: 3

1. Stafford’s Farnfield Partridge 15m B, here I found my star of the day, a super girl who is just my type and exactly what I was looking for, loved her head and expressive dark eye, she flows from head to tail, strong, clean neck, super front angles, excellent depth and spring of rib, well angulated hindquarters, tight at elbow with well-boned legs and tight feet, on the move she covers her ground with drive and is as sound as a pound, I had no hesitation in awarding her the CC and BOB in good company, I wasn’t surprised to learn this was her 2nd CC and have no doubt the 3rd won’t be far away as, despite her youth, she certainly is deserving of her title, congratulations and good luck for number 3. 2. Clayton’s Rochevale Harmony, Y of just 12 months, pretty head & expression, good pigmentation, clean neck into correct shoulders, good in forechest, strong topline & correct tailset, balanced angles, moved well. 3. Allen’s Timouron Hush Hush

Class 1204 YB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Ganney, Allen & Hess’s Darrabol Amphitrite With Allenie (ai) JW 19m Y who is so well made all through, lovely head & expression, clean neck into well-laid shoulders, strong topline and correct tailset all held right on the move, well boned with nice neat feet, plenty of depth and heart room, a little exuberant on the move at times, her handler did well to contain her, but when settled she covered the ground with ease, in the challenge she pushed the JB hard for top honours but today had to settle for the RCC, I’m sure her time will come as she’s another who deserves her title. 2. Allen’s Timouron Hush Hush B of 16m who was 3rd in JB, nice head with kind expression topline not as strong as 1, she has a good front and enough angulation behind, nice in forechest with good depth all through, moved soundly.

Class 1205 NB (5 Entries) Abs: 2

1. Rowe’s Rochevale Sapphire pale Y of just 2y, sweet head and expression, good ear placement and uses them well, clean neck, correct shoulders and front, good rear angles, correct topline & tailset, moved well. 2. Q. Sapphire Storm repeat 2nd MPB. 3. L. Villanelle

Class 1206 GB (9 Entries) Abs: 2

1. Davis’s Rochevale Palm Reader JW B with a lovely head, super length of neck into good lay of shoulder, she has depth and spring of rib as well as a good forechest, strong topline & correct tailset and carriage, well muscled and moves out with purpose, sound and true. 2. Markham’s Knowjoes Bwalya Sabine Ania another nice B, many of the same comments apply as 1, good neck and shoulder, strong topline down to a super tail, good depth and nice angles, 1 just in the better jacket today, another sound mover. 3. Pattilands Ms Independent

Class 1207 PGB (6 Entries) Abs: 3

1. Proctor’s Lejie Sugar Almond At Penkaric Y who is a super shape & size, balanced in outline with good angles all round, good head and kind expression, well boned legs to good feet, sound and sensible on the move. 2. Bishop’s The Girl Is Fun From Linjor JW very exuberant slightly darker Y, nice head good neck, well off for depth of chest and spring of rib, strong topline, moved reasonably well once she settled but was throwing a hock at times as she moved away. 3. Manning’s Overmarsh Seventh Hour JW

Class 1208 LB (15 Entries) Abs: 4

Super class of lovely ladies 1. Hopkinson’s Rocheby Hickory B with a beautiful head, strong neck, well constructed front assembly, correct angles all round, strong topline & carrying her tail straight off, sound, driving movement, shortlisted for CC. 2. Percival Wynfaul New Years Eve JW close decision between 1 & 2, I last judged this girl as a MP and did her well that day, she is fulfilling that early promise, she has a lovely head and dark eye giving a gentle expression, depth and strength all through, correct topline & tailset, strength in hindquarters which propel her round the ring soundly with drive, interestingly, the 3rd placed today was also 3rd behind this girl last time I judged. 3. Greenwood’s Harrop Pipe Dreamer

Class 1209 OB (7 Entries) Abs: 3

1. Percival’s Wynfaul Dancing Flame JW another I judged last time and that day I gave her JB, today she deserved her win in OB, lovely Y with a super head & expression, clean, strong neck into well-laid shoulders, lovely front construction and depth of chest, strong topline and good tailset all held on the move, she is well angulated all round and moves true and with drive, shortlisted for the CC & strongly considered for top honours today, unlucky to meet the 2 youngsters. 2. Coode’s Warringah's Pippingarra another close decision between 1 & 2, this Y has a lovely head, good topline & tailset, well boned legs to good feet, balanced all through with good depth, moved soundly, just carrying a little more weight than 1. 3. Bradley’s Sh Ch Nancy's Special Treasure

Elaine Bradley (Judge)