Welsh Kennel Club

The Welsh Kennel Club Championship Show 15th August 2025 Retriever (Golden) First of all I would like to give my heartfelt thank you to the committee of The Welsh Kennel Club for inviting me to come and judge a beloved breed of mine: Golden Retrievers at their lovely and well organised show. It was a real honour for me to judge this wonderful breed. Many thanks to my two stewards for keeping me on my toes and kept the ring running smoothly. Also a huge thank you to all exhibitors for showing your lovely dogs under me. It was an absolute pleasure to see so many high quality dogs. I was certainly impressed by this although I saw a lot of different types. I was very impressed by heads and expressions, temperaments, strong pasterns and rear angulations. Something to keep an eye on will always be fronts and forechests. It was a nice atmosphere around the ring and thank you for your sportsmanship and for accepting my decisions and placing’s. Veteran Dog (1,1) Minor Puppy Dog (1,0) 1st 2470 Goddard’s Jorby Eternal Flame At Glansevern. Lovely 7 months old puppy dog with already a nice and fair development in head and body. Symmetrical with a good length of leg. Balanced in head with correct length and strong muzzle. He has a nice dark eye with a sweet expression. Lovely pigmentation, correct bite. Nice bone and correct round feet. Well angulated front and rear. Enough forechest, good spring of ribs. Of course on the move still a bit loose but coordinated with a good drive from behind. I loved his naughty and free temperament. Beautiful golden coat colour! Puppy Dog (4,0) 1st 2439 Birkin-Green & Gripton’s Louellabrook Atlantic Star With Sansue. 9,5 months super puppy dog who will have a great future ahead of him. I loved his head! Balanced and well chiselled. No exaggerations in head, correct in skull and a strong muzzle; Deep with a good length. Correct dentition. Lovely pigmentation, dark eye giving him a biddable expression. Strong neck going into level topline, well constructed for his age. Super balance standing and on the move. Strong pasterns, bone and neat feet. Nice ribcage, ribs well sprung. Excellent croupe and tailset. He has a wonderful movement, coming and going, greatly coordinated. Lovely dog with excellent cream coat colour and texture, nice feathering. Super outline and happy to reward him Best Puppy Dog. 2nd 2463 Forrest’s Orlagold Major Tom. 10 months masculine puppy dog with good size and balance. Correct length of leg. Nice expressive head with good proportions. Correct deep muzzle and good dentition. Excellent dark eye, good pigmentation, lovely earset. He has a nice forechest with excellent shoulder. Lovely bone and catlike feet. Strong pasterns. Nicely balanced in angulations. Level topline standing, on the move it could be a bit stronger. He goes with good drive and covers the ground nicely. Sweet temperament, lovely coat colour with beautiful feathering. No doubt also a good future ahead for him! 3rd 2518 Thomas’ Santandore Mandalay Again. Junior Dog (6,0) 1st 2430 Archibald’s Abinvale Cum Laude (Ai). 12 months old beautiful specimen of the breed. So much to like and a real treat to go over. Masculine and a little bigger size but very balanced and symmetrical and, very important, nothing overdone. He has a lovely head, correct proportions. Such kind expression and a nice dark pigmentation. Strong deep muzzle, correct dentition. Strong neck and topline, very fluent and level. Correct forechest, excellent quality bone and round, cat like feet. Beautiful flat coat, correct texture and feathering. Well developed in ribcage. Excellent croupe and tailset, well carried. Very balanced in front and hind angulations. Covers the ground really well on the move. For perfection he could be a bit stronger behind but that definitely will come with age and further development. Stunning dog! 2nd 2488 Marshall’s Cadwst Spring Fever. 14 months symmetrical lovely dog, masculine. Excellent size and proportions. Nice compact well balanced head. Broad skull, well chiselled and a deep and powerful muzzle. Correct bite. Well defined stop, dark pigmentation with nice expression. Good reach of neck, excellent forechest and well developed in ribcage. Pasterns are strong enough. He has a good topline, also on the move with an excellent reach and drive. Super coat, beautifully flat with nice feathering. Excellent texture with a lovely shine. Sweet temperament. Lovely dog who was in the cards in different classes and awarded in the end Best Special Beginner. 3rd 2463 Forrest’s Orlagold Major Tom. Yearling Dog (5,1) 1st 2529 Wooden’s Amilone Smokin Barrel At Salako. 20 months enough masculine dog of excellent type with good proportions. Nice head, broad in skull with enough length of muzzle which is deep and powerful. Correct scissor bite and nice pigmentation. Enough bone and forechest. Good spring of ribs, correct topline. Excellent round and strong feet. Good topline and croupe. Beautiful coat and feathering. Moves freely with the right balance and drive. Kind and friendly temperament. 2nd 2488 Marshall’s Cadwst Spring Fever. Seen dog, second in junior. 3rd 2490 Moore’s Tenfield Klipspringer With Auryngra. Novice Dog (5,2) 1st 2488 Marshall’s Cadwst Spring Fever. Seen dog, second in junior, second in yearling. 2nd 2518 Thomas’ Santandore Mandalay Again. 11 months nice young dog, masculine with a beautiful head. A lovely length and a strong muzzle with a correct bite. Excellent pigmentation. Kind and biddable expression, correct eye shape. He is very friendly in temperament. Enough length of neck, correct topline. Balanced in angulations, front and rear. Enough forechest, correct spring of ribs for his age. Good bone and nice strong round feet. Lovely coat texture. Moves with a good drive from behind. Tail carriage a bit high on the move. 3rd 2473 Henson & Luckham’s Flyngalee Hunky Dory. Graduate Dog (4,0) 1st 2471 Harvey & Anderson’s Alibren Rock Legend For Ashiqua. Just over 3 years old, lovely masculine dog with a beautiful head. I loved his expression, so kind and intelligent due to his dark eye. Correct broad in skull, deep muzzle and a correct dentition. Although he has a strong neck and level strong topline I found him a bit longer in loins. He has enough bone. Correct pasterns and good feet. He is very well developed in ribcage. Good forechest. Nice croupe and correct tailset. Lovely coat with good feathering. He moved with drive and purpose holding a good topline on the move. Straight and true coming and going. Very friendly temperament. Lovely dog! 2nd 2478 Lane-Ridyard & Lane’s Hardyllic Jack Of Diamonds With Kulawand. 27 months lovely dog with a kind and endearing head of correct proportions. Good length of muzzle, deep and strong. Correct bite. He has a nice dark almond shape eye, kind expression. Beautiful pigmentation. Correct neck and topline, good croupe and tailset. Enough bone and correct round catlike feet. He needs more development in ribcage, forechest and front angulation. Correct angulated in the rear. He moves with enough drive. Beautiful flat coat, good feathering, lovely shine. Very sweet temperament and excellent type. 3rd 2501 Riley’s Wylloh Paddington Bear Jw. Post Graduate Dog (9,1) 1st 2520 Webster’s Kulawand Skies Of Blue Over Benjcroft. 2 years old excellent type, eye catching dog who moves very nicely through the ring with good drive. I loved his head, excellent length of muzzle, correct broad in skull, beautiful dark eye, dark rims and intelligent and kind expression. Beautiful pigmentation. He could be a bit tighter in lip and a bit more stop for perfection. Super neck and topline, level standing and on the move. Correct tailset. Enough front angulation, well angulated in the rear. Correct bone and feet. Super coat. A lot to like with this dog! 2nd 2502 Robertshaw’s Akenscales Beau Baron Jw. 3 year old masculine dog of excellent type. Good length of leg, balanced and symmetrical. Broad in skull, good defined stop, dark eye with kind expression. Strong muzzle of good length, correct pigmentation. Well angulated front and rear, long strong neck, level topline and tail well set on. Nice coat texture and feathering. Moved with purpose, covering the ground well. Lovely bone structure and feet. Nice temperament. A strong contender for first place! 3rd 2438 Birkin-Green & Gripton’s Sansue Love Flame (re-import) Mid Limit Dog (4,1) 1st 2515 Taylor’s Alibren Aldaniti At Tannadice Jw. 4 years old masculine dog, correct in type, just a little heavy in head for my liking. Beautiful expression though. Very dark pigmentation, dark eye and correct dentition. Good neck and topline, enough front angulation but his pasterns could be a bit stronger, also on the move. Enough forechest and he has good bone and round strong feet. Well angulated in the rear. He moved with a level topline and good drive from behind. Excellent coat texture and lovely temperament. 2nd 2436 Bednall & Milledge’s Gunhills Time Traveller. 6 years old, very different type than number one. Lovely endearing head but skull could be a bit more developed. Excellent length of muzzle, enough strength, correct bite, excellent pigmentation. Dark eye, kind expression. Nice neck and topline. Strong pasterns and feet, could do with a bit more bone. Excellent coat, nice feathering. Tailset okay. He could do with a bit more drive from behind but very balanced and coordinated seen from the side. Sweet temperament. 3rd 2494 Pounds-Longhurst’s Mossburn Galloping Major Jw. Limit Dog (6,0) 1st 2469 Gerhold’s Navilis Vivat Vivaldi (Imp Ukr) Jw. 3 years old lovely dog of excellent type. Masculine but stylish and so balanced. He is just full of the type I can appreciate. A beautiful head with excellent proportions. Deep, strong muzzle with a good length, defined stop, correct earset. He has dark eyes giving him a very kind and biddable expression. This boy has a strong neck and a super topline, which he could hold on the move. He moved with purpose and drive. Super bone and nice feet. Well developed in body and ribcage. Outstanding in angulations front and rear, short coupled and excellent tailset. His coat was in super condition, his temperament friendly. Such an eye catcher in the ring so I was happy to reward him the RCC. Well deserved! 2nd 2437 Bednall & Milledge’s Bencove Big Time Operator. 3 year old, another lovely boy with excellent type and super topline. A beautiful head, which I really liked. Super muzzle, correct bite. Defined stop and broad in skull. Textbook in head and expression. He has a good reach of neck and a level topline. Correct in bone and round feet. I would prefer a bit more forechest and front angulation but well and correct angulated in the rear. Well developed in ribs, correct elbows. He moved with excellent drive through the ring. Super coat quality and the sweetest temperament. 3rd 2434 Baxter’s Bermary Captain Hastings Jw. Open Dog (10,0) 1st 2477 Lane-Ridyard & Lane’s Kulawand Skywalker. In my notes was the first thing that I wrote: Stunning dog! The second thing was: ‘nothing more to wish for…’ I just thought he was a super dog, full of quality and style. I loved his head, his expression was beautiful. Excellent proportions in a well chiselled head, correct length of muzzle, deep and strong. Defined stop and an excellent broad skull. Super neck, topline and tailset. Well sprung in ribs, short coupled. So well balanced in angulations. Nothing overdone in this boy. Correct bone, feet and a beautiful cream coat of excellent texture and feathering. Excellently handled to the best of his abilities so he gave all others a run for their money. I was honoured and happy to give him the dog CC, which later I found out it was his third and crowning CC making him a well deserved UK Champion. 2nd 2428 Archibald’s Sh Ch& Ir Sh Ch Abinvale Firestorm (Ai). A 5 year old champion quality dog with such a soft and kind head. Super balance and excellent symmetrical proportions. A beautiful appearance in this lovely class of dogs. Strong muzzle, correct bite, kind expression with his dark eye. Excellent neck and very level topline, which he could hold on the move although I found him a tat long in loins. Excellent forechest, correct angulated in a good front assembly and well angulated in the rear providing him a excellent reach and drive. Good spring of ribs, nice tailset and super cream coat. Beautiful dog! A big contender for the two top spots. 3rd 2519 Vermander’s Ch Wild Wild West Of Sunshine’s Valley. Special Beginner Dog or Bitch (4,0) 1st 2488 Marshall’s Cadwst Spring Fever. Seen dog, 2nd in Junior, 2nd in Yearling, 1st in Novice. Congratulations in being awarded Best Special Beginners. 2nd 2526 Williams’ Aurgentious Mena Dhu. 15 months very masculine dog of very nice quality. Sweet expression and appearance. I would prefer a bit more length in muzzle, which is very strong and deep. Very defined in stop, a bit rounded in his skull. Super pigmentation, beautiful dark eye. Correct bite. Excellent reach of neck, correct angulations in front and rear. Very compact in body with a correct spring of ribs. Nice bone and feet. A bit steep in croupe, tailset could be a bit higher set on. Beautiful coat colour and texture. Moved with enough drive and ground covering. Lovely temperament. 3rd 2444 Buckles’ Brazenbeacon Artemis. Veteran Bitch (3,0) 1st 2449 Clarkson’s Sh Ch Drumkilty Lisdoornvarna Jw. A nine year old beautiful veteran bitch of excellent size and proportions. Very feminine and an excellent head, correct proportions in muzzle and skull, defined stop. Well chiselled, no coarseness, dark eye with kind expression. Excellent reach of neck, nice level topline. Correct in bone and front assembly. Well angulated in the rear. Nice cat like feet. Correct spring of ribs, short coupled. Excellent tail set reaching to hocks. Moved with drive and long stride. Beautiful cream coat colour and feathering. Lovely temperament. 2nd 2503 Rodgers’ Sh Ch Rojillair Evening Magic Of Odaria Jw. Also a lovely veteran bitch of nine years old of excellent quality. Very feminine, symmetrical and balanced. Beautiful head, kind expression, good muzzle, correct dentition. Lovely neck into well laid shoulders, excellent forechest, spring of ribs, bone and feet. Level topline, strong, also on the move. Well angulated front and rear, providing her with an effortless movement. Correct cream coat and feathering. A big contender for the top spot in this excellent class of veterans. 3rd 2453 Crookes’ Sh Ch Quakerhall Pandora’s Bounty. Minor Puppy Bitch No entries Puppy Bitch (8,3) 1st 2466 Furbank’s Kayzaelle Kumbuka Peace. 9 months super quality feminine girl with the greatest potential. Well balanced, well constructed, well proportioned. Lovely head with dark pigmentation, kind expression, correct dentition. Beautiful reach of neck flowing into a good lay of shoulder. Excellent ribcage for her age. Nice bone and neat feet. I was in awe of her topline standing and on the move. Excellent tailset and carriage. ‘Moved like a dream’ covers her great movement for such a young girl. Already a lovely coat and feathering with a very sweet temperament. A real eyecatcher with a bright future ahead. Very happy to give her Best Puppy in Breed. 2nd 2483 List’s Haydengold Latest Gossip Jw. Also a beautiful young girl of super type with excellent proportions, wonderful balance, so even angulated and sound. Unfortunately, in my opinion in a bit rich condition which showed in her topline on the move. Lovely feminine head with correct muzzle, stop and skull. Kind expression. Excellent bone and lovely cat like feet. Ribcage is very well developed, elbows close fitting. Moved with good drive and her coat is in a beautiful condition. Very close to the top spot in this wonderful class of puppies. 3rd 2513 Taylor, Tem & Grindey’s Strettonhills Happy Hour. Junior Bitch (12,8) 1st 2499 Rees’ Drumkilty Merry And Bright For Catenae. Very nice 18 months feminine bitch of excellent quality. Lovely head with strong muzzle, correct dentition. Well chiselled and a very kind expression. Excellent reach of neck going into a level strong topline. She has a correct forechest, standing four square with good bone and strong feet. Well developed in ribcage, short coupled. She moves with purpose, covers the ground well showing a lovely temperament. Well angulated front and rear, beautiful coat texture with lovely feathering. 2nd 2530 Youngson’s Linirgor Adeline At Treeveville Jw. 14 months feminine bitch of very nice type and quality. Lovely gentle expression from her almond shaped dark eye. Excellent length of muzzle, deep and strong with correct bite. Well developed in skull for her age. I would love to see a bit more forechest and development in ribcage. She has nice bone and correct strong feet with enough angulation front and rear. Good length of neck going into level topline and correct tailset. Lovely flat cream coloured coat texture and feathering. Sweet temperament. 3rd 2525 Williams’ Aurgentious Ros An Gwel. Yearling Bitch (6,4) 1st 2447 Campion’s Fenpinque Barbie Girl. Almost 2 years old feminine bitch of excellent quality. Nice size and a lovely feminine head. Correct length of muzzle. Good skull and defined stop. Well chiselled and dark pigmentation. Her eyes are dark brown giving her a kind expression. Excellent reach of neck, super forechest, excellent in front angulation. Very well angulated in the rear. A bit longer in loins but that did not affect her level, strong topline. Powerful movement with good drive, correct bone and round feet. Lovely cream coat and feathering. 2nd 2505 Russell’s Rosinante Guinevere Jw. Lovely 20 months old lady who is very feminine with nice proportions. Correct in skull, muzzle and stop. Lovely eye shape and expression, very sweet. She has enough forechest, good reach of neck and a good spring of ribs, level topline. Nicely short coupled. Very nice bone and cat like feet with enough angulations front and rear. I would like her to be more free and confident in temperament, which also affected her movement a little. Tail carriage could be better but a lovely coat texture. Novice Bitch (7,5) 1st 2466 Furbank’s Kayzaelle Kumbuka Peace. Seen bitch, 1st in puppy bitch. 2nd 2525 Williams’ Augentious Ros An Gwel. 15 months bitch of very good quality. For me a little bit heavy in head, very deep in muzzle although she has a very soft and melting expression because of her dark eye and nice dark pigmentation. A bit round in skull. She has a beautiful rich coat colour with good texture and beautiful feathering. Correct bone and cat like round feet. Well angulated front and rear but her front assembly and her topline felt a bit heavy on the move. For her age a nice ribcage, short coupled. Movement could improve with age and exercise. Graduate Bitch (5,0) 1st 2500 Riley’s Jasrolyn Doe Ray Me Among Wylloh Jw. 28 months excellent feminine bitch with a lovely quality about her. Very nicely balanced and symmetrical, excellent length of leg. Beautiful head piece, correct in proportions and a nice dark pigmentation, correct dentition. Super reach of neck and correct topline. Well boned, correct pasterns and round feet. Excellent tail set and carriage. Moved with real purpose and drive. A wavy coat of nice texture and good feathering. Lovely temperament. 2nd 2474 Hill’s Drumkilty One Night Stand For Sanduala Jw. 20 months old bitch with a nice development in body and proportions but for me she could be a tat more feminine in head. A bit heavy in skull, deep in stop and deep in muzzle. Correct bite, dark pigmentation and dark eye. Excellent forechest, front assembly and hind angulation, giving her a nice symmetrical outline. Correct in bone and feet. Beautiful shaped ribcage, loins and tailset. Excellent coat and feathering. Nice temperament. Post Graduate Bitch (7,2) 1st 2508 Stokes’ Flyngalee Only Oakley At Jobeka. A nice 3 year old very feminine girl who is carrying a beautiful head with the kindest expression. I like her muzzle, long but strong, just the right amount of stop and good skull. Correct dentition. She has enough reach of neck with a good topline but she is a bit straight in upper arm so her elbows could be a bit more close fitting to her body. Bone and feet okay. Good spring of rib, nice tailset, correct coat and feathering. Moved with enough drive from behind, provided by a correct rear angulation. Sweet temperament. 2nd 2479 Leeming’s Kadaka Kalypso At Iscadu Jw. 3 years old lovely feminine bitch. She looked a very pretty and elegant picture. Nicely balanced, nothing overdone. Very sweet in head and kind expression. Deep muzzle, defined in stop, well chiselled and the right amount of broadness in skull. Dark eyes. Super neck and topline. Correct lay of shoulder but a bit straight in upperarm. Enough forechest and enough development in ribcage. Good bone and feet. Well angulated in the rear and tail well set on and carried level with her back. Moved with drive. She has an excellent coat texture and feathering. 3rd 2435 Baxter, Riley & Rogerson’s Bermary Whole Lotta Rosie Mid Limit Bitch (5,2) 1st 2482 List’s Haydengold Gossip Girl Jw. 3,5 years beautiful feminine bitch, very eye catching in the ring because of her balance and outstanding movement. Excellent muzzle, defined stop and broad skull without exaggerations. Super expression, dark eye, correct bite. Excellent reach of neck, going into correct shoulders and topline all the way to the tip of her tail, nice and level. I loved her bone, strong pasterns, round feet and her development in ribcage. Short coupled and excellently angulated providing her a very balanced movement. It was straight and true front and rear with the right amount of ground coverage. Super coat quality. She was a real contender for the top spots. Lovely girl bursting with type. 2nd 2450 Clarkson’s Drumkilty Venetian Glass Jw. 4 years old feminine bitch, nice quality with a good head. A bit more length would make it even better. She has a little bit of throatiness, but very nice dark pigmentation. Intelligent expression. Good dentition. Super forechest, enough reach of neck, well angulated in front. Super bone and neat feet, rounded and cat like. Very coordinated in her movement with excellent drive. Beautiful flat coat texture and nice feathering with a lovely temperament. 3rd 2495 Pounds-Longhurst’s Mossburn Golly Miss Molly Jw. Limit Bitch (6,0) 1st 2441 Brown’s Drumkilty Verbena At Glenleddon. 4 years old lovely bitch, enough feminine, excellent proportions, beautifully balanced. Broad in skull, fully matured, kind expression with her dark eye, deep in muzzle, correct dentition, defined stop. She has a strong neck with good reach, strong topline with a nice straight front assembly. Well angulated in the rear. Beautiful developed in ribcage and short coupled. Correct croupe and tailset. Super boned and nice round feet. Moved with purpose, straight and true. Correct coat texture. Very nice bitch, full of quality! 2nd 2504 Rodgers’ Ambersun Passione Of Odaria Jw. Beautiful 3 years old feminine elegant girl with lots to like. Super head piece, excellent muzzle, well chiselled, dark eye and a beautiful expression, soft and sweet. Bite could be better. A wonderful reach of neck, straight and strong topline. Correct ribcage for her age. Enough bone and round cat like feet. Very even in angulations and she moved very free and flowing around the ring with good coordination and drive. The loveliest temperament and nice coat colour, texture and feathering. 3rd 2448 Chan’s Lovissa Hello Dolly Of Wemcrest. Open Bitch (10,4) 1st 2429 Archibald’s Sh Ch & Ir Sh Ch Abinvale Arrieta (Ai). This 5 years old beautiful bitch caught my eye when she entered the ring. She stood her ground in this wonderful class of quality bitches. For me a real champion. The best head of the day for me, so kind and biddable, soft and sweet. Textbook head with dark pigmentation, well chiselled and beautiful almond shaped dark eyes. She was on the top of her game today, great movement provided by balanced angulations, super bone and lovely feet. Excellent forechest, ribcage, loins and croupe. No exaggerations what so ever, only admirations for her. She could not put a foot wrong today, beautifully handled. Tiptop coat condition and a lovely temperament. Very honoured to award her BCC and Best of Breed as she kept it going all the way till the end of a long but wonderful day. 2nd 2464 Fosdike’s Ee Jch Lat Jun Ch Meiepere You Are My Sunshine (Imp Est). Number 2 in this wonderful open class was another mesmerising and outstanding bitch, 8 years old but superb in quality. Just wow! Beautiful head, very much in competition with number 1. Expression to die for if I may say. Kind, soft, intelligent, endearing. Super neck and topline. Very balanced and symmetrical. Correct ribcage, tailset, short coupled and a level topline. No exaggerations in angulations but very correct and providing her with the best movement, straight and true. A beautiful coat condition and feathering giving her an elegant outline. Super temperament and beautifully handled. She was pushing number one for the top spot but I was proud to award her the RBCC and making her Best Veteran in breed. Just fantastic! 3rd 2446 Campion’s Sh Ch Fenpinque Vogue.