North Riding Gundog Club

            Thank you to North Riding Gundog Club for the invitation to judge Golden and Flat Coated Retrievers at their August Open Show. A big thanks to my able steward Fiona who kept the ring running smoothly and to the exhibitors for the opportunity to assess their dogs. Good atmosphere around the ring was not dampened by the extremely heavy shower we experienced! A lovely quality of entry; no mouth issues observed and as expected temperaments appeared exemplary. I was delighted with the quality of the exhibits and lovely to see the Golden Best of Breed awarded Best in Show 4, and Best Veteran in Breed go on to take Best Veteran in Show.

Golden Retrievers

MP (6,2a) A lovely class of promising puppies. 1. Foster’s AURISTELA SINGING HINNIE. What a wee poppet! 6 months bitch at her first show, presents a very balanced and clean outline. Sweet head with darkest of pigment and soft expression. Well angulated front and rear without any exaggerations and though lighter in bone than others in this class she is perfectly in proportion. Very well-presented blonde coat. Moved effortlessly with correct footfall and at one with handler. 2. Clark-Gear’s DEWMIST DANZATORE WITH OUSEVALE.7.5 months dog who oozes quality. Looked a perfect picture of balance and symmetry when standing. Lovely masculine head with gentle expression and a touch of mischief. Kind eye of correct shape and colour complimented by the darkest pigment. Well angulated front with excellent layback of shoulders and corresponding return of upper arm. Well bent stifles, and hocks well let down. He is well boned but not overdone in any way. Well-presented full blonde coat. Thought he would be my class winner, but his movement was affected by a change of handler making it difficult to assess. Sure he will have a bright future. 3.Clarkson’s’ DRUMKILTY NOLLAIG SHONA.

P (8, 3a) 1. Jame’s TSARMONT OH SO STARSTRUCK (AI). 11 months bitch and very much more mature than the other puppies in this class. Feminine all through with nice head and pleasing expression with dark points. Nicely proportioned with good length to back and short coupled. Good depth and spring of ribs for a youngster. Well angulated front and rear assembly. Forelegs straight and plenty of forechest. Stands on neat catlike feet. Well-presented mid gold coat. Moved out well with good reach and drive. BP. 2. Foster’s AURISTELA SINGING HINNIE. 3. Clark-Gear’s DEWMIST DANZATORE WITH OUSEVALE.

J (8, 1a) 1. Towers & Henderson’s BARCIA BELLA DIVINO. 13 month’s dog who presents a stunning balanced outline. Lovely head which is masculine but without a hint of coarseness and darkest of pigment. He is carrying an impressive blonde coat, underneath his conformation does not disappoint. He has an excellent front assembly; layback of shoulders and return of upper arm placing elbows well under body and with plenty of forechest. Well bent stifles and short neat rear pasterns. Feet well-padded and cat-like. Firm level topline held on the move and maintaining level tail carriage. Moved very well fore and aft. Very well handled. This boy stole my heart. BOB & BIS 4. 2. List’s HAYDENGOLD MOMENT IN TIME. 16 months bitch. Nicely proportioned, she has a dead level topline standing and maintained when moving. Unmistakably feminine she has a nice head with sweet expression and dark pigment. Correct reach of neck flows into well laid shoulders. Well angulated front and rear quarters, she is a compact package with no exaggerations. Moved straight and true with good reach and drive, perfect tail carriage and attentive to handler. Well-presented mid gold coat of good texture. Liked her a lot; unlucky to meet the class winner today. 3. James’s TSARMONT OH SO STARSTRUCK (AI).

Y. (7.0a) 1. Towers & Henderson’s BARCIA BELLA DIVINO. 2. List’s HAYDENGOLD MOMENT IN TIME. 3. Walker & Robert’s LAMANCHA TRUST YOUR HEART WITH GLOI JW

G. (4,1wd) 1. Towers & Henderson’s BARCIA BELLA DIVINO. 2. List’s HAYDENGOLD MOMENT IN TIME. 3. Wright’s PALTON PLATINO

PG. (2,2a)

L. (7, 1a) 1. Beck’s SIMON BASSET DE RIA VELA FOR BEINANGUS JW (IMP ESP) 3.5 years dog who has a perfectly balanced outline; shown in mid gold well-presented coat. Head of good proportions with masculine but very soft expression, kind eye and dark points. Good reach of neck. Well angulated front and rear quarters; he is free of exaggeration. Plenty of substance and stands on well-padded feet. Firm level topline held on the move. Moved well with correct footfall. He pushed hard in the challenge but just lacked the extra sparkle. RBOB. 2. Walker & Robert’s GLOI YOU MAKE LOVING FUN. 3 years bitch who appears to have a lively disposition. Has a nice head with cheeky alert expression and very attentive to handler. Stands foursquare with ever wagging tail. Correctly angulated front and rear quarters. Well-proportioned body with good depth and spring of ribs, short coupled with level topline. Shown in mid gold wavy coat which looks challenging to control. Would not want her to carry any more weight. Moved well giving full attention to handler and maintaining a level topline and tail carriage. Handled well. 3. Wood’s AMIRENE DEVINE.

O. (3,0a) This class contained 3 lovely veterans who are a credit to their owners. 1. Johnson’s JAYMARDY LILY THE PINK. 9 years eye-catching mature bitch who belies her age. Clean in outline and very feminine. Has a lovely head with melting expression and good pigmentation. Well angulated front, good amount of forechest and corresponding rear assembly. Well boned with straight forelegs and well-padded feet. Good spring of ribs. A little long in loin which may have caused her to lose her topline a little when standing. However, moved effortlessly with her topline and tail carriage held level. Well-presented cream coat. BV & BVIS. 2. Wright’s PALTON PANATELA VW. 11 years dog. Very balanced, well-proportioned outline. Lovely typical masculine head with kindly expression and good eye shape. Good pigment especially for his age. Well angulated front and rear quarters with no exaggerations. Very well boned with lovely, padded cat-like feet. Well-developed forechest. Level topline and tail carriage maintained both standing and on the move. Well-presented wavy golden coat. Moved OK but preferred the more precise movement of 1. 3. Taylor’s Stormford Honeysuckle ShCM

Flat Coated Retrievers

            Considering the classification a numerically small entry, which was disappointing. However, the quality of the exhibits was outstanding, and I thank the owner of the 3 flat coats for the opportunity to assess them.

P. No entries

J. No entries

G. (1, 0a) 1. Walker & Robert’s GLOI DUBH LADY MUCK JW. Alone but worthy winner. 21 months black bitch who has a typical racy clean outline. Nicely moulded 1 piece head with minimal stop. Correct size for a bitch, really liked her proportions, balanced with well angulated front and rear quarters. Correct ribbing. Well boned and stands on well-padded feet. Well-presented coat of fine texture, dense and flat. Shown with ever wagging tail. Moved enthusiastically with good reach and drive. Attentive to handler. RBOB

O. (2,0a) 1. Walker & Robert’s GLOI DUBH KRISTOFER ROBIN JW. 2 years black dog who has a lovely balanced clean-cut outline. Not a big dog but in proportion and exudes typical flat coat outgoing personality. Unmistakably masculine head, broad with minimal gentle stop and correct eye colour and shape. He has good substance, straight forelegs and well-padded feet. Good forechest, layback of shoulders and return of upper arm. Correct ribbing & firm topline. Well bent stifles and straight rear pasterns. This boy excels on the move with good reach and drive and enthusiastic tail action. Very exuberant and at one with handler who had to work hard to contain his enthusiasm, in good coat and condition. BOB. 2. Walker & Robert’s GLOI DUBH GIGHA JW. 8 years black bitch. Balanced nicely proportioned mature bitch, full of quality and breed type. Typical. head and expression with good eye shape and colour. Nicely angled front and rear quarters. Moved out steadily with correct footfall but not the exuberance or enthusiasm of 1. Not handled by owner today which probably affected her demeanour, ideally coat would be flatter, this detracted from her otherwise good topline. BV.

Tina Williamson (Sandti)