National Gundog Association

National Gundog Association – 3 August 2025

Curly Coated Retrievers

I am always excited to judge the Curly Coated Retriever and being able to judge the breed at NGA was an honour. Thank you all for your support. My main winners were pulled from dogs that showed strength in conformation and movement without exaggeration. Size was varied throughout the entry but my main focus was the correct construction of the dog that would enable it to work a day in the field without injury or fatigue. It saddened me to see an increase in upright shoulders and a loss of level tail carriage due to incorrect croup and tail sets. I was very happy to see the majority of dogs had excellent coats, both black and liver and I didn’t encounter any mouth problems.

Veteran Dog 1 (0)

1 Tarellis’ Hunters Pride Juraska Gwiazda at Tarockwood (Imp Pol). A masculine 7 year old dog with a dark eye, well constructed with excellent bone and very good angulation front and rear, correct length of body with strength in loin and a level topline. I would have liked to see him moved a little faster with a tad less weight than he was carrying to improve his momentum. Very happy to award Best Veteran. BV

Puppy Dog 4 (0)

1 Clayton’s Violeta Borboleta Jacques Du Moulin Du Paulu. Well constructed 11 month old black puppy dog. Masculine head with kind expression and dark eye, very well balanced for one so young, very good length of neck with appropriate forechest and correct lay of shoulder, strong body holding a level topline and correct tail set. Strong movement front and rear when settled and beautiful black crisp curls throughout.

2 Dooley’s Violeta Mariposa Horance du Moulin du Paulu (Imp Fra). Litter brother of 1 with very little to choose between them. The same head, expression and dark eye, very good length of neck and correct lay of shoulder. Nice moderate rear angulation. Slightly more compact than 1 but equally strong body, level topline and correct tail set. On the move this boy was slightly more erratic than 1 but when settled his rear movement was more precise than his front. Black crisp curls thoughout.

Junior Dog 5 (0)

1 Clack, Clack, Battle-Hunter & Edderys’ Krisbos Leonidas with Molokain (IKC). A very well presented 15 month old compact liver dog with a kind expression and traditional wedge shaped head with correct ear size, set close to the skull. Excellent overall conformation with correct moderate angulation and clean lines, without any sign of exaggeration. Strength in loin, level topline and correct tail set complete the picture. Covered the ground well on the move. Excellent coat of crisp curls.

2 Sutton,Whitehead & Whiteheads’ Foxriever Immortal Sprit. A 13 month old masculine black dog. With lots of maturing still to do he presents as a strong and upstanding dog with excellent bone and feet. Good angulations overall with a level top line. He moved well for his young age and enthusiasm, working his handler hard on the day, he is still very young for a dog of his substance so will enjoy seeing him as he matures. A very good thick coat of black curls.

Novice Dog 0 (0)

Graduate Dog 3 (0)

1 Dick’s Firecurl Excalibur. Lovely dark liver dog with a kind expression and wedge shaped head with moderate stop and correct ear set. Very good angulation front and rear creating a balanced outline. Another boy full of enthusiasm who moved well when settled with his rear action being more precise than the front. Beautiful coat of tight liver curls.

2 Edworthys’ Brightmeadow Man of Steel. Another lovely liver boy with more substance than 1 with a masculine head and kind expression. Very good angulation all round with a very good lay of shoulder. Longer in body than 1 but still holds a good top line with correct tail set. Particularly attractive second thigh creates balance. Movement was good but would benefit from faster handling to really bring out his reach and drive. Another very good full thick coat of liver curls.

Post Graduate Dog 1 (0)

1 Miller & Millichamps’ Foxriever Solent Solstice at Wightcurls. Upstanding black dog with a wedge shaped head, excellent ear set, very kind expression and dark eye. Good angulations with very good bone and tight feet. Excellent muscle definition and perfect weight for a boy of this size, not over-done. His movement was easy and free flowing with more precise action at the front than rear. Holding his tail a little high today. Another example of a full curly coat.

Limit Dog 5 (0)

1 Boorman & Browns’ Kahawei Star Catcher. A handsome upstanding and masculine, liver dog with excellent conformation and lots of substance. Correct head proportions with a kind expression and blended eye colour and pigment. Excellent angulation front and rear with a good lay of shoulder and moderate rear angle. Plenty of bone and nice tight feet. Perfect length of body with strong loin and well-muscled throughout. This boy moved freely with a precise action front and rear with plenty of drive and enthusiasm. Excellent coat of crisp liver curls. RDCC

2 Stephens’ Brightmeadow Rumour Has it JW. An excellent and upstanding black dog with a lovely head with correct proportions and very kind expression and dark eye. Perfect ear set and size. Plenty of bone and lovely tight feet. Very good angulations creating balance, with an excellent second thigh and in good hard condition, slightly longer in loin than 1, topline good with perfect tail set. Excellent movement with more precise action in rear than front. Exceptional full deep black coat with tight crisp curls.

Open Dog 10 (2)

1 Stubbs’s Brightmeadow Take Your Time at Densdale. This is a very well presented handsome black dog of breed type with no exaggerations. He has a clean wedge shaped head, moderate stop and a dark eye with kind expression. His ear position and size are correct being set close to the head. A strong neck flows into well laid back shoulders and a true, moderate bend of stifle creates a balanced picture of a strong yet agile curly. On the move he drives from the rear whilst maintaining a strong topline and carrying a level tail with a precise movement at the front. His immaculately presented crisp black curls, his excellent bone and tight, compact feet with muscle driving him throughout, all add to his elegance whilst maintaining a workmanlike presence in the ring. DCC

2 Hodson’s Rowancurl Gentle Gaelor. Another handsome black dog that perfectly illustrates breed type. As with 1 this boy has an equally good head with dark eye and pleasing expression. He too presents a strong and agile dog with no exaggerations of the standard. Perfectly moderate in angulation front and rear he demonstrates his strength and agility. His balance was slightly affected today by a little more “tuck-up” than I have seen him with previously, he may benefit from a couple more pounds around his waist. On the move when settled his action was precise and he covered the ground effortlessly, holding a level topline and carrying his tail well. He was certainly a challenge for his handler but his quality shone through.

Special Beginners 1 (0)

1 Kear & Morreys’ Foxriever Infinite Spirit. A lovely, well presented 9 month old dark liver dog with a pleasing expression. He has very good conformation with lots of growing to do. He has a very good head with blended eye and pigmentation. He has plenty of bone and is longer in body, again lots to grow into. His movement was free and he has plenty of enthusiasm, something to be valued in the breed. I look forward to seeing him mature. Very happy to award him BSB.

Veteran Bitch 0 (0)

Puppy Bitch 2 (0)

Cummings’s Maycourt Island Girl for Breichside. A beautiful 9 month black bitch with feminine head and dark eye. Correct head proportions with correct ear size, set close to head. Excellent conformation throughout and balanced in her development even at this young age. She has a clean and recognisable outline with a stunning coat of crisp black curls. When settled her movement was sound, I look forward to watching this girl’s development. BP

Junior Bitch 2 (1)

1 Whitehead’s Foxriever Sea Fyre. Very pretty 13 month black bitch with dark eye and kind expression. Very good length of neck flowing into laid back shoulders with a nicely balanced moderate bend of stifle. Well sprung ribs and a short strong loin with just enough “tuck up” creates a pleasing and clean outline with level topline and correct tail set. She moved well and with drive, not quite as precise in front but to be expected at this age. Very good thick curly coat.

Novice Bitch 2 (1)

1 Whitehead’s Foxriever Sea Fyre.

Graduate Bitch 3 (1)

1 Findlows’ Roughyeds Gold Stick Cellar. Feminine black bitch with dark eye and sweet expression. Wedge shaped head with correct proportions and ears set close to head. Excellent reach of neck into well laid back shoulders with moderate bend of stifle. Well sprung ribs and a short strong loin with a level topline and just enough “tuck-up” create a clean, balanced outline. Well developed muscle throughout allows her free flowing movement with reach and drive, covering the ground easily. All topped off with an excellent coat of crisp black curls.

2 Whiteheads’ Foxriever Sea Fyre

Post Graduate Bitch 4 (0)

1 Findlows’ Roughyeds Gold Stick Cellar

2 Harrisons’ Brightmeadow Never Can Say for Glenbrows. A lovely black bitch with a feminine head, dark eye and kind expression. Good lay of shoulder and moderate bend of stifle create balance and as with 1 she is in tip top condition with very good muscle definition. On the move her rear drive was more accurate than her front with topline and tail carriage being my deciding factor for placement.

Limit Bitch 6 (3)

1 Gill & Peakes’ Ravenho Midnight Miracle at Saxonholme. An attractive, feminine black bitch with dark eye. Well balanced with a very good lay of shoulder and moderate bend of stifle creating a clean and recognisable outline. Well sprung rib with strength in loin and excellent bone. She holds herself well with a level top line at all times along with a correct tailset and carriage. Straight forelegs and neat, tight feet coupled with excellent muscle definition, especially at the rear. Her movement was easy with excellent rear drive.

2 Evans’ Rowancurl Beachcomber. A confident and feminine pretty black bitch with very good angulation throughout, another beautifully muscled dog shown in hard condition. Front angulation good with excellent and moderate bend of stifle presenting a classic, strong and agile curly outline. She moved out well with enthusiasm with her rear action being more precise than her front but still covered the ground with ease.

Open Bitch 8 (1)

1 Stephens’ Sh Ch Ravenho Up Town Girl for Brightmeadow. A beautifully elegant black bitch of superb quality and true to breed type. Correct head proportions with correct ear size, set close to the head, her head profile being immediately identifiable. A good reach of neck flowing into well laid back shoulders with excellent front and rear angulations create a clean and elegant outline. Well sprung ribs and a short, strong loin with excellent muscle definition and a pleasing width of thigh are all proven on the move with a precise and driven, ground covering action. Her level topline and tail carriage were maintained when stood and on the move. All finished off with a crisp tightly curled coat. BCC BOB

2 Clack, Eddery & Clacks’ Sh Ch Molokain Hocus Pocus. Another beautifully elegant black bitch of superb quality and breed type. This was a very difficult class to judge with quality way past the 1st and 2nd placings. I had the unenviable task of separating these two bitches. Again this bitch was beautifully balanced with excellent angulations throughout. Her clean outline and strong construction equalled 1. On the move she covered the ground well with drive and purpose with a very slightly less precise action than 1. Again this girl had a coat full of crisp, tight curls. RBCC

Caron Chattwood (Pendlecurl)