Ulster Golden Retriever Club

Thank you to all the exhibitors for their entry, it was numerically small but the quality was nice. Also to the committee for their kind invitation to judge their Championship show and giving their time to run a good show in the most lovely setting of the Castle Grounds. It was however the most cold, wet, windy day for September it felt like December! While I was judging an article I had read recently on FB came to mind. Written by Mr H Hilverda, and titled a silent breed killer, he talks about how we all get used to changes within a breed. In many cases it even goes so far that these changes are gradually lifted to the level of required characteristics. Having owned and exhibited for over 40 years and judged at championship show level for 24 years, I certainly have seen many changes and fashions in the breed, I would say that the dogs today are much heavier than when I started, possibly too much for a dog who is supposed to be able to work all day and have the endurance and athleticism. There is a prevalence of greater angulation particularly the rear, and a keel front, both of which which seems to go with greater length of body. There are still a few that are too long and low, but to my sadness there is a distinct change in heads, with an overlay strong skull, particularly in the back skull, and a distinct lack of chistling, and a change in the eye shape and a predominance of a very dark eye, the combination of which have altered the expression. Tail carriage is improving. I must say though that my dog and bitch CC really filled my eye and I found them to have excellent breed type and well chiseled heads with the gentle expression I so love in the breed. I believe that there is absolutely no mistaking that both of them are sound and upstanding well proportioned and have strong breed type. Maybe not fashionable today, but if anything I was drawn to their lack of exaggeration. Veteran dog (3-1) Two lovely quality veterans, both are 9 years 1st Gerhold’s Sh Ch Jaymardy Indigo Percific JW shown in super condition for his age, nice proportions and extent double coat, strong masculine head of a nice shape with a good dark nose and kind eye, strong well set neck, straight front, strong pasterns and good feet, well sprung rib, level topline and correct bend of stifle into hocks well let down, moved well. 2nd Kelly’s Golden Rose-Bays Original Sin for Zenevieva (Imp BEL). Ir Jun Ch. he has the most lovely head with pleasing kind expression and good balance between his skull and muzzle, defined stop, nice ear set, strong neck, balanced angulation, I just found him long in back and today a bit unsettled on the move, but love his happy extrovert typical disposition and he was really enjoying his day. Junior Dog (2) two lovely quality males 1st Middlemiss and Brown’s Harmarjoy You’re My Love JW very eye catching young dog who is very balanced for his age, and standing four square with correct length of back and strong level topline, he has a very gentle expression, and nicely balanced head, good reach of neck into well laid shoulder and correct return of upper arm, which is tightly fitting to his brisket, straight front correct pasterns and tight catlike feet, excellent spring of rib, good croup and tail set, correct turn of stifle with a deep thigh, in super double coat, he moved out nicely with a lovely tail slashing gate, correct foot fall and good driving action. 2nd Heffernan’s Lisartan Texas. Hs. Is a nice young dog, with good type, who needs a bit of time to come together and finish, and this is correct for the breed, he has a strong masculine head, with a nice shape of eye and a well proportioned strong muzzle, defined stop, and correct ear set, strong well set neck level topline, balanced angulation, elbow could be tighter, nice bone, slightly knuckling over, good croup and tail set, deep thighs and well let down hocks, moved out with enthusiasm but a little loose. Yearling Dog (2) 1st McGugan’s Westlow the Legend Of Fingal to Invergoil Culzean. At 21 months and as a big well grown dog he needs a bit of time to finish, he dose have excellent muscular development, like his profile and proportions, he has a strong clearly masculine head, good reach of neck, well fitting elbow, straight front, well bone, pasterns and lovely tight catlike feet, dense double coat of good texture and condition, short back, strong topline and good depth and length of rib, very angulated in the rear, rolled a lot on the move. 2nd Heffernan’s Lisartan Texas repeat. Post Grad (5) dogs were all at different stages of development, 1st Warden’s Holinbrae Zoom Toime at Glentochty I really liked the type of this dog and his lovely typical balanced head, he is certainly masculine but not over done in any way, he has enough bone and substance and still has time and the frame to mature further, good reach and set of neck, nice lay of shoulder and return of upper arm into a well fitting elbow, straight front, strong pasterns, catlike feet, correct sprung, deep ribs, with a strong topline, closely coupled, and correct turn of stifle, he moved very nicely in profile and front and rear. 2nd Black’s Bench Just in Time Del Avrain JW IR JCH a stronger masculine dog who moved out very truly, masculine head, but not overdone, good balance between skull and muzzle and a defined stop, good dark pigment, straight front good bone, well sprung rib and level topline, well bent stifle into hocks well let down. 3rd Burrow’ Dilworthey Secret Santa Res. Lewis’s Fairwinds In Space Man JW Limit Dog (4) two very nice masculine dogs, who were difficult to split and in many ways similar over all conformation, number one was more finished and much more steady than two particularly on the move. Both have nice proportions, strong masculine heads with nice expressions, plenty of bone and substance, straight fronts, well sprung ribcage and level top lines, well bent stifles with good depth of thigh. 1st Gerhold’s Navilis Vivat Vivaldi JW (imp UKR) excellent dense double coat, and good general condition, has a good will to please and never put a paw out of place, liked him on the move. 2nd Brown’s Ipcress Oracle. Carrying a little bit too much weight and unfortunately blowing his coat, a super quality dog who I am sure will settle. 3rd Foreman’s Abersun Alive and Kicking Res. Warden’s Holinbrae Zoom Time at Glentochty Open Dog (10-2) good class overall, with depth of quality 1st Warden’s Noblemoon Tak The High Road to Glentochty Dog CC and BIS really fell for his traditional head. It’s masculine, but not overdone in anyway he has a good shaped skull he has excellent chiseling a lovely dark eye and a nice strong muzzle, good reach of clean neck. He could do with a little more forehand angulation but has enough and I see this as more typical than some of the keel fronts that are so common today. Good length of visible leg, correct pasterns and catlike feet, correct length of back with a strong level topline and correct croup, nice sprung ribs, close coupled, well bent stifle. He moves out very freely with correct foot fall and nice reach and drive, Just oozes breed type. 2nd McCormack’s Flyngalee Signature JW res CC like this masculine dog, who demonstrates correct proportion, balance and symmetry. Good bone and substance, good head with balance between muzzle and skull, and correct stop, kind eye, strong slightly crested neck, well set into well laid shoulder, and return of upper arm, elbow close fitting, deep well sprung rib, strong level topline and correct turn of stifle into hock well let down, in excellent double coat and good condition, moved out freely with reach and drive. 3rd Mcgeoch’s Nedlezah Lochlea Res. Kelly’s Sh Ch/Ir Sh Ch Ramchaine You Spin Me Right Round in Zenevieva JW Veteran B. (5) 1st Lewis’s Sh Ch Lovehayne Bijou Among Fairwinds. BVIS Res CC super quality bitch who is shown to advantage, has that sleek and refined look about her, with well prepared double coat, symmetrical angulation front and rear, pleasing feminine head, with a gentle expression, good reach of neck into well laid shoulder, straight front good pasterns and feet, good bone and substance, strong level topline, flows from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail, well sprung ribs, nice coupling and good deep thighs, hocks well let down, moved out very freely with good reach and drive. 2nd Middlemiss’ Harmarjoy Winter Story lacked the finish of one and could be in harder condition, but a pretty bitch with a super head good chistling, balance between the skull and muzzle, correct stop and a kind eye with a gentle expression, strong neck, into well laid shoulder and return of upper arm, nice close fitting elbow, straight front, good pasterns and feet, well sprung deep rib, little longer in back than 1, good turn of stifle, in profuse double coat, 3rd Rogers’ Sh Ch Rojillair Evening Magic of Odarla JW. Res. Burrow’s Dilworthey Princess Lottie JW Minor Puppy B. (3-1) 1st Clarkson’s Drumkilty Nollaig Shona, very balanced for her age, lovely outline, very feminine, nice texture of coat, well chiseled head, with good skull and muzzle and a pleasing expression, excellent reach of neck set smoothly into well laid shoulder, good return of upper arm and elbow close fitting, straight front and good bone, well sprung rib, level topline and good quarters, loose and erratic on the move, but plenty of time to tighten up, a super example from a clever breeder. Pleased to award her BPIS 2nd Mcalpine’s Lampcien Full O’charm, she is indeed a charming puppy, she has a bit more growing to do, lots of bone and substance, sweet head, good neck, well angulated front and rear, deep thighs and hocks well let down, profuse coat, very loose at the moment on the move. Puppy B (2) repeat 1st Clarkson’s Drumkilty Nollaig Shona 2ndMcalpine’s Lampcien Full O’charm repeat Junior B. (4-2) 1st Tobin’s Clonabay Legacy of Love NAF not in her best of coats today, but really like her femininity and typical well chiseled head, nice neck, into well laid shoulder, return of upper arm and close fitting elbow, good length of visible leg, straight front, good pasterns and tight feet, correct body for her age, nice turn of stifle, a bit erratic on the move but once settled moves correctly. 2nd Russell’s Graveyards Field of Gold JW strong young lady with lots of bone and substance, strong head with good dark pigment, pronounced stop and very deep muzzle, strong neck, straight front good pasterns and cat like feet, well sprung rib, excellent turn of stifle, in lovely dense double coat, unsettled on the move today. Yearling B (1) 1st Tobin’s Clonabay Legacy of Love NAF repeat Novice B (2) 1st Clarkson’s Drumkilty Nollaig Shona Repeat 2nd Tobin’s Clonabay Legacy of Love NAF repeat Graduate B (1) 1st Foreman’s Ambersun Passione of Odarla JW lovely quality balanced bitch with a feminine outline, pleasing head and expression, good reach of neck into well laid shoulder and return of upper arm, close fitting elbow, straight front, correct pasterns and tight cat like feet, strong level topline, really flows from her head along to the tip of her tail, well sprung rib, nice turn of stifle into hocks well let down. Post Grad B. (5) 1st Arnold’s Balibeau Keep ‘er Lit really like the femininity and smooth clean lines of this bitch, nicely chiseled head, with a good skull and defined stop, strong muzzle, and a kind dark eye, nice neck, symmetrical angulation, straight front good pasterns and feet, well sprung rib, good topline and tail set, moved out freely with good reach of stride. 2nd. Foreman’s Ambersun All of my Heart a very attractive bitch with super animation and showmanship, a temperament typical of the breed, like her balance and she has a lovely head with a good stop and kind dark eye, good reach of neck into well laid shoulder and good return of upper arm, well set elbow, straight front, correct bone, good depth and spring of rib, strong level topline with nice turn of stifle and hocks well let down, moved nicely. 3rd Mccormack’s Flyngalee Busy Boo. Res. Clarkson’s Drumkilty Yours Truly JW Limit B (9-2) 1st Arnold’s Balibeau Keep ‘er Lit repeat 2nd Russell’s Graveyards Call Me Madam JW quality bitch of good proportions, has balance and symmetry, very nice head, good reach of neck into well laid shoulder, well fitted elbow, straight front, level top line, good spring of rib, well bent stifle into hock well let down, moved out freely with good reach and drive, close decision between 1+2 and easily change places another day. 3rd Foreman’s Ambersun Heart of Gold Res. Harper’s Tullochmohr Shooting Star at Glynerva JW Open B. (7-1) 1st Moran’s Clonabay Time To Return at Woodmore B.CC Res BIS like her elegant feminine outline and good length of visible leg. She has the most lovely chiseled head that is refined and well proportioned, good reach of neck, straight front, correct bone, pasterns and feet, well sprung rib, and level topline, flows from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail, strong coupling and well bent stifle with deep thighs, hocks well let down, she moves so well with good reach and drive giving her a smooth forward moving gate. 2nd Clarkson’s Glitters Rainbow Over Drumkilty JW (imp Bel) over all stronger bitch who is in better coat than 1 but unfortunately carrying a little too much weight today, but could not deny her the place on her appealing head, over all nice conformation and moved out enthusiastically with good reach and drive. 3rd Kelly’s Sh C Fairwinds In Motion With Zenevieva JW Res. Heffernan’s Lisartan Poker Face