Northern England Flatcoated Retriever Association

Many thanks to the committee for the kind invitation to act as referee at their Championship show. As the judges agree in their joint decisions, I was not needed but I did get to judge the lovely baby puppies and the Members Class.

Baby Puppy Dog (3)
1st Whittaker’s Touch of Power Black Brianta (Imp Cze)
Headed a lovely class. Beautifully moulded head and dark eye, good shoulders and well placed upper arm. He shows good forechest and depth of rib with short loin and excellent rear angulation with already well developed second thigh. His tail is correctly set and he has quality bone. BPPIS. I will watch with interest
2nd McQuillan’s Flattastic James Sullivan.
At almost 6mths this boy is more up on the leg than 1. Another with a lovely head and expression, he has well placed shoulders and a level topline. He has good length and return of upper arm and good length of rib leading to his short loin. Level topline and tailset. On the move he was steady and held his outline nicely.
3rd Salt’s Culcrieff’s Ferntower Glen of Wetnoses
Completed a nice trio. Another of almost 6mth and also higher on the leg. He shows lovely balance throughout with quality bone and good feet. He moved steadily and is well schooled. I preferred the second thigh on the second placed dog but other than that they are similar in type.

Baby Puppy Bitch (2) This class made me smile, simply because they were having such fun!
1st Leigh’s Hoedun Not On Your Nelly at Willaura
5mths old and just right for her age. She has a pretty head and kind dark eye. Nice front angulation with good forechest. She stands on well boned legs and good feet and has good depth of rib with gradual spring leading to her short loin. On the move she was steady and more together than 2.
2nd Hurstfield’s Idalillie Little Duckling
Almost 6 mths, this young lady was having a great time. Pretty head, nice length of neck and well placed shoulders, deep enough in rib and moderately angulated rear. She is a typical baby, giving her handler a hard time on the move but what I did see what true coming and going and good in profile.

Special Members Open Dog or Bitch (6)
1st Knight & Jacobs’ ShCh Gemswin Erase And Rewind
6 year old male and fully mature. He shows strength without being coarse. Good head and naughty expression, Great shoulder placement with good length and return of upper arm, giving a pronounced forechest. He stands on excellent bone and super tight feet. He has a short loin and moderately angulated rear with good width of thigh. His tail didn’t stop wagging, even on the move when he went with enthusiasm, showing good open stride in profile. In hard condition.
2nd Fox’s Ch Blacktoft Dancing The Blues SGWC
Beautiful bitch who I have admired from the ringside. She is so well balanced in the body, showing good angulation front and rear. She has good bone and feet with well developed rear. Level topline and correctly set tail. She moved well behind but was a little wide coming towards which was the deciding factor today.
3rd Orme’s Hurstclough Joy Of The Moors at Elmstock.
This pretty girl gave some away in age here. Attractive head and expression, Lovely bone and feet. She is moderately angulated and has good depth to her rib. She moved well, showing drive from the rear and good reach in front.

Brace (4,1abs)
1st Smitherman’s
Two bitches of similar head type, both with level topline and matching tailset. On the move they were the most matched going away and coming towards.
2nd Sullivan’s
A dog and a bitch being feminine and masculine versions of each other. Not quite as well matched in the body as the winners but still showing good type. On the move they went well together.
3rd Mullins’
Two dogs who really gave their handler a hard time. Similar in head but the age differences split them. Both had good bone and feet and well angulated rears. On the move they decided that it was much more fun to try to race each other!