Coalville & District Canine Society

Coalville & District Canine Society, Saturday 13th January 2024. 

Flatcoated Retriever critiques.

Thank you to the committee for my invitation to judge; I had a lovely entry and thoroughly enjoyed my day. A big thank you to my steward Siobhan for keeping the ring running smoothly and a heartfelt thank you to the exhibitors who allowed me the honour of judging your dogs.

Puppy 3, (0 abs)

1st - Hewison’s - Benvellyn Marakele into Casblaidd. 11.5 month old baby, who for me is at the right level of maturity for her age. Classical feminine head with correct depth and length of muzzle, dark almond shaped eye, clean through the neck leading to well laid back shoulder, pronounced forechest and straight forelegs. Gradual spring of rib and short loin. Moderate rear angulation with well let down hocks and well arched feet. Moved the best of the class, straight and true, holding a level topline. Pleased to award her BP. 

2nd - Hedge’s - Satinbaze Tranquil Sea. Lovely puppy but was just not as together nor as tidy in movement today as the winner. Pretty feminine head and dark eye, good reach of neck well set into shoulders and well defined brisket. Muscled rear quarters with well let down hocks. Good depth of chest and level topline, good oval bone and dense coat completed the picture.

3rd - Punter’s - Benvellyn Zion. A lovely puppy with many of the same attributes as the other two in the class, was just giving her handler a hard time today, which made it difficult to assess movement.

Junior 3, (0 abs)

1st - Wild’s - Kvicksans the Master Piper at Bluewaters (IMP SWE). Balanced 1 year old male; lovely one piece head with good length of muzzle and slight stop leading into a flat skull, kind dark eye giving a soft expression. Lovely reach of neck set into well laid back shoulder and good return of upper arm, pronounced forechest, which was one of the best of the day. Foreribs were flat with a gradual spring of rib which gave him his length through the body, correct couplings and well muscled moderate rear angulation. Moved with reach and drive, showing ‘power without lumber’ which helped him win this class.

2nd - Clark’s - Hurstclough Night Owl at Flanova. 17 month old male who I admired as a baby, he is maturing nicely and was shown in lovely condition. Masculine head with small neat ears, moderate angulation both fore and aft with quality bone and well rounded feet. Lacked the drive of the winner today and I preferred the overall length of body of the winner, but there are many qualities to this boy and I am sure he will have a good future. 

3rd - Hewison’s - Benvellyn Marakele into Casblaidd (1st in Puppy) 

Graduate 7, (2 abs) 

1st - Hewison’s - Benvellyn Marakele into Casblaidd (1st in Puppy, 3rd in Junior) 

2nd - Stevenson’s - Feldkirk Rose N’Roses. Medium sized workman like bitch who had quality bone, just lacking furnishings today. Pretty head although I would prefer more length of muzzle, super forechest and good front angulation. Gradual spring of rib leading to correct couplings, holding a level topline. Moderate bend of stifle with well let down hocks and neat feet. Moved well.

3rd - Turner’s - Angel Undercover Take my Breath Away. 19 month old bitch who had such a sweet character, one piece head, kind dark eye with soft expression and small neat ears. Good forechest and depth of chest, muscled hind quarters, although slightly longer from stifle to hock at this stage. Level topline and correct tailset, lovely condition with just the right furnishings for her age.

4th - Perry’s - Glenturret Bumbleberry Pie for Casanjay 

5th - Punter’s - Benvellyn Zion

Post Graduate 8, (1 abs)

1st - Wild’s - Bitcon Alliance with Bluewaters (AI) JW. Typical male who is balanced all through, showing no exaggeration and sympathetically handled. Moulded one piece head with small neat ears, neck well set into shoulders with good return of upper arm, defined brisket and gradual spring of rib with correct depth, muscled rear quarters and well let down hocks, standing true all round on neat round feet. Moved well, flowing freely around the ring; not in his full coat today but pleased to award him RBOB and will continue to watch him with interest.

2nd - Powell’s - Bonnyhilbrae Love of Joy JW. I really liked this bitch for her moderate size and happy outgoing attitude. Feminine moulded head with dark eye and small ears. Good reach of neck set well into her shoulders, equal return of upper arm, nice length of rib and moderate rear angulation. Held her topline on the move with correct tailset that was constantly wagging, moved well; being picky I would prefer slightly stronger front pasterns and tighter feet.

3rd - Clark’s - Riverglide Santa Barbara at Flanova

4th - Turner’s - Angel Undercover Take my Breath Away (3rd in Graduate)

5th - Churchard’s - Flatcharm Griffin Dark at Churchking

Open 3, (0 abs)

1st - Romeo-Dieste’s - Hopevalley Morning Wicked. It was such a pleasure to go over this bitch, she caught my eye as soon as she came into the ring, presenting a balanced outline of medium size with no exaggeration, she flowed from her head through to the end of her tail which never stopped wagging. Feminine moulded head with flat skull, correct eye shape, with that twinkling expression, neck was well set into her shoulders which were well laid back. Chest deep, with correct breadth which allowed her front movement to be straight and true. Length of body came from the gradual spring of rib with correct couplings; muscled rear quarters with good width of both first and second thigh, well let down hocks and small neat feet, she moved effortlessly around the ring. Pleased to award her BOB and it was lovely to see her take Group 3.

2nd - Wilson’s - Hameldowntor Music of the Night. Another lovely bitch who I have admired from afar and it was lovely to be able to go over her. Lovely head with long muzzle, slight stop leading to a broad flat skull and small neat ears, clean through the neck to correct fore angulation, pronounced forechest with straight forelegs, and strong pasterns, well ribbed up body, muscled rear quarters and well let down hocks. Shown in lovely condition. Just didn’t move with the same drive as the winner today.

3rd - Leavy’s - Hopevalley Morning Shine over Wychwizard

Sarah Egginton 

Pajanbeck