Welsh Kennel Club

The Welsh Kennel Club Championship Show - 15th August 2025

Flatcoated Retrievers

Judge: Nicky Colson

Thank you to the Committee, for the invitation to judge and their hospitality, the two stewards who did a great job in keeping track of the seen entries and the exhibitors for their entry. A cooler start to the day, soon warmed up and the covered ring shielded us mostly from the heat, providing ample space to move, allowing the avoidance of the dip in the middle.

Overall, shoulders were well placed and there was reasonable return of upper arm, and adequate width of chest but some dogs lacked the spring and depth of rib making them look narrow and long. There were the inevitable bitches carrying a touch too much weight, but, overall, the bitches had better muscle tone than the dogs. There were some beautiful classical heads but also a number with rounded backs to their skulls. Movement was mixed but several dogs carried their heads high, which spoils the flow of the workman like topline. One thing that surprised me was that dogs were not prepared for the show. With the cluster of summer shows it may not always be possible, or necessary, to bath before every event but several exhibits where matted and coats felt greasy.

I was delighted with my principal winners and very pleased to see that the younger winning dogs from my previous appointment, had fulfilled their potential, and were prominent in the awards.

VD NO ENTRIES

MPD (1 0)

1, Bowen’s Clandrift Make It Funky. At 8 ½ mths he has a lovely one piece head and dark eye. His layback of shoulder is moderate, topline level, feet neat with good bone and is well balanced in profile. I have written ‘wants his Mum’, he needs to relax, which can be difficult when runners are required, but just a baby.

PD (4 1)

1, Holland’s Flatcharm Paper Snow A Ghost. This boy will need time but at 9 ½ mths shows a balanced outline and strong bone. He has a lovely male head and dark eye with a glint of naughtiness. His neck is long, topline level and tail well set on. His chest is deep, and elbows sit against the brisket. He has a good length and spring of rib and moved on a long stride but was a little close behind. BPD.

2, Bowen’s Clandrift Make It Funky.

3, Mcilwaine & Reynolds Flatcharm Mr Heckles For Benoveor.

JD (5 0)

A difficult class, as all at different stages with varying qualities

1, Price & Nicholls’ Llantrussa Fort Lauderdale. He won this class on his overall balance and classical head. His eyes are dark and almond shaped. He has quality bone, but for me his feet could be tighter. He has a good reach of neck, deep chest and is long in rib. He moved on an even stride, maintaining a level topline and tail carried level with his back. Just needs to tighten on his rear movement.

2, Durrant’s Glenturret Wet My Whistle. Another with a lovely head, and dark eye. He has good bone and neat feet. He has a good front assembly and level across his back but needs to develop his underline and strengthen throughout. He covered the ground on the move, but today, lacked drive.

3, Kralj’s Flattie Symphony Lor Elrond.

YD (3 1)

1, Durrant’s Glenturret Wet My Whistle.

2, Kralj’s Flattie Symphony Lor Elron. I would prefer a bit more refinement to his head but such a lot to like about this liver. He has strong bone throughout, with tight feet, a level topline and well let down hocks. Carrying a touch too much weight which did not affect his gait, as he moves on an even stride and drives from his rear. His attitude is bright and active, happy boy.

ND (2 2)

GD (4 0)

1, Brown & Campbell’s Ronevorg King Of Attitude. He has a pleasing masculine head, dark eye and kind expression, although looks a little serious at times. He is balanced in outline, has a well defined brisket, moderate bend of stifle and good bone, down to strong feet. Moving on a good stride, he covered the ground well.

2, Mantle’s Rhiewvalley Ain't Guilty. A little bigger than 1, he has a pleasing head with a kind expression. Strong bone and tight feet and a good layback of shoulder. On the move he maintained a level topline and a happy tail action.

3, Durrant’s Glenturret Wet My Whistle.

PGD (2 0)

1, Buckley’s, Blacktoft Brindisi By Buckleyhill. Showing a more finished outline, and maturer coat and feathering than 2, he has a pleasing male head, neat ears, good reach of neck and well defined brisket and depth of rib. He has quality bone down to round feet and strong, well let down hocks. He maintains a level topline and his tail is well set on, gently wagging. He has a lovely relationship with his handler when standing but he needs to apply that concentration when he is on the move, as he pulls to the side, taking him off balance.

2, Broadbent’s, Gemswin I Am Sailing JW. Another well built male with a moulded head, dark eye, good layback of shoulder, quality bone and feet. He maintains a level topline on the move but lacked drive and the animation of 1.

LD (5 0)

A difficult class to judge, as each had qualities,

1, May’s Ronevorg Dark Angel At Lussac JW SGWS. At 5 years old this dog is maturing nicely and has plenty of furnishings. He is balanced in outline and has strong bone throughout. His head is masculine, with a flat skull, moderately broad, a kind eye and open nostrils. It is well set on his neck but handler should be careful not to alter this by pushing it back when baiting him, as it shortens him and distracts from his well laid shoulders and return in upper arm. He is well muscled and moved with reach and drive covering the ground. RCC. ,

2, Ramunno’s, Flatcharm Serious Pig. Slightly more refined in head and racier in frame than 1, I liked this size and balance. His chest is deep and has flat foreribs, a gradual spring, and a short strong loin. He is moderate in bend of stifle, muscled, and has quality oval bone to strong, tight feet. He used his tail well as he moved with a positive open gait but not the drive of 1st. I would prefer a more natural presentation of his neck.

3, Wilson’s Hameldowntor Pedro Ximenez.

OD (5 2)

1, Nicholls & Price’s Sh Ch Llantrussa As Big As The Ritz. On form today, I was ticking off the breed standard in my head. Bright and active, medium sized, moderate, workman like, power without lumber, raciness without weediness, and optimism. He has a classical head, long with a slight stop, his almond shaped eyes are hazel with a glint of naughtiness. He has a long, slightly arched, neck that flows down to his well placed shoulders, an even length and return of upper arm matched in his rear assembly, which is muscular. The chest is deep and moderately wide, ribs long and well sprung, with a short square loin. He moved true, fore and aft, driving from well let down hocks. DCC.

2, Macpherson’s, Rachanmill Columbo. A mature male with a masculine head but not the refinement of 1. His eyes are dark and full of expression although I would prefer them to be tighter. His neck is long, chest deep with plenty of heart room, forelegs are straight with strong bone down to good feet. He held his topline standing and, on the move, and covered the ground, driving from the rear.

3, Bowen’s Clandrift Bring Me Sunshine JW, KCWGC, SGWC.

SBD/B (5 1)

1, Leavy’s Wychwizard Painted Lady. At 14 months this bitch is looking raw and a little lighter in bone than some, but she is still a baby. She won the class for her overall type. She has a lovely classical head with a dark eye and lovely expression. Her topline is level, standing and on the move, feet are neat and has a moderate bend of stifle.

2 Clark’s Hurstclough Night Owl At Flanova. Medium sized dog with a masculine head, dark eye and lovely expression. He has a balanced outline and is moderate throughout. His bone is good and his topline level, maintained on the move. He has a good lay of shoulder, but I would prefer a better return of upper arm. He moved on an even stride but was not driving from the rear. In limit he lacked the maturity and finish of his peers.

3, Young’s Gemswin Just Like Heaven At Larksburn.

VB (4 1)

1, Wilson’s Hameldowntor Music Of The Night VW. Headed a class of three lovely bitches. She has a pleasing feminine head, with a naughty expression and neat ears. Her neck is moderately long and flows down to well laid shoulders. She moves freely, fore and aft, with a steady gait but I would prefer more drive BV.

2, Staff’s Bonnyhilbrae Lasting Joy. Slighter bigger all over, she has a well moulded head with open nostrils. Her eyes are perhaps a touch round, but this does not distract from her kind expression. She has a good layback of shoulder, deep chest, with a gradual spring of rib, her loin is strong but a tad long. Her second thigh is muscled. She is short of coat, highlighting that she is moderate throughout. Moved on a long, even stride.

3, Simons’ Rainesgift Royal Mint I Coedylan JW VW. I really liked this bitch, so bright and active and full of mischief but sadly carrying too much weight on her ribs, affecting her movement.

MPB (4 0)

1, Markillie’s Hopevalley Morning Minuet. At 6 months, she has a lovely head with sweet expression and dark eye, a good reach of neck into well placed shoulder with adequate length and return of upper arm. She has good bone down to neat feet. Her topline is level standing and on the move, ribs long and loin short, with moderate rear assembly. She moved positively and with confidence fore and aft. Very well put to together and balanced for age. BP. After 3 classes she was beginning to tire but coped very well in the group.

2, Bellamy’s Moontorn Chasing The Dream. At 8 months she has the similar qualities to 1. Very well put together with good layback of shoulders. Strong topline, and correct tail carriage, moving on a good even stride. Confident and very well behaved, standing four square. I just preferred the head and eye of 1st.

3, Racic & Weber’s, Glamour Shine Pricey Pricey Lady.

PB (7 1)

1, Markillie’s Hopevalley Morning Minuet.

2, Holland’s Flatcharm Regina Phalange. Upstanding 9 month bitch with a feminine head, long and nicely moulded. Her eye is dark and has a bright alert expression, paying attention to her handler. Her bone is strong and stands on good feet. Moderate bend of stifle and well let down hocks. She covered the ground on a long stride but did not have the flow from nose to tail, in her topline, of 1st.

3, Prior’s Gemswin Wherever I Lay My Hat At Finnashember.

JB (7 1)

1, Leavy’s Wychwizard Painted Lady.

2, Macpherson’s Badcall Dream Weaver. At 13 months she is strong and nicely balanced. She has a lovely expression and eye dark, but I would prefer it to be slightly tighter. She is carrying a little extra weight on her ribs but is muscular in her rear quarters and has good bone and tight feet. I just liked 1st more classical shape and reach of neck.

3, Young’s Gemswin Just Like Heaven At Larksburn.

YB (2 0)

1, Romeo-Dieste’s Hopevalley Morning Xanadu JW. At 18 months, this bitch presents a lovely outline. She has a pretty head and eye. Her chest is deep and brisket well developed, I would prefer a tad more length of neck but her shoulder is well laid and she has a good return of upper arm, fore ribs are flat with gradual spring to short loin and a level topline. Her rear assembly is strong and she has a well muscled second thigh. Moved with ease around the ring.

2, Winter’s Glenturret Bow Bells. A lovely sized bitch who I had liked in her other classes but she was carrying a tad too much weight and lacked sparkle. She is well off for bone, has a pleasing head and dark eye. Her tail is short and well set on, carried correctly on the move.

NB (9 1)

1, Markillie’s Hopevalley Morning Minuet. won this class over 2 on her deeper chest and substance.

2, Leavy’s Wychwizard Painted Lady.

3, Mcilwaine & Reynolds’ Flatcharm Smelly Cat To Benoveor

GB (3 2)

1, Hedges’ Satinbaze Tranquil Sea. A medium sized bitch, moderate throughout, she has a feminine head with dark almond shaped eye and neat ears. With a good reach of neck to well placed shoulder, she is long in rib, well sprung to short square loin, has a level topline and a gently wagging tail. On the move, she reaches forward and covers the ground but was moving wide behind, lacking drive.

PGB (4 1)

Movement in this class was difficult to access.

1, Prior’s Blacktoft Avelino At Finnashember. A honest bitch with a one piece head, dark eye and lovely expression. Her forelegs are straight with oval bone down to tight feet. Her chest is deep, ribs long, with a gradual spring and is short coupled, but is carrying a tad too much weight. She tends to pull away from her handler on the move, anticipating turning but I saw enough to see that she moves forward on a good length of stride and drives from the rear. In the challenge the handler moved her on the right side and she was true fore and aft.

2, Cooves’ Benvellyn Nyanga At Draketor. She is a narrower than 1 but has enough width of chest, flat fore chest and gradual spring of rib. She has an attractive head, with good eye shape and colour. Movement was a little erratic and difficult to assess.

3, Simons’ Coedylan Bambino Caro JW.

LB (11 2)

1, Price & Nicholls’ Llantrussa Dearest Zelda. I would have happily taken this bitch home with me, I judged her in Junior 3 years ago and she has fulfilled her potential. She is moderate throughout and flows from tip to tail. Her dark liver coat is dense and beautifully presented. She has a lovely feminine, moulded head with a dark almond shaped eye. Her neck is long, slightly arched and strong to a well placed shoulder, with a good return of upper arm, chest deep, with plenty of heart room, ribs long and with a gradual spring to a short square loin. Her feet are round and tight and shown in hard condition. On the move she covered the ground freely, driving from the rear and maintaining a firm level topline with correct head and tail carriage. BCC and BOB

2, Mellor’s Flatcharm Guilty Pleasure. Standing four square with a wagging tail, she has a feminine head with an alert expression. Her shoulders are well placed, chest deep and elbows sit neatly against the ribcage allowing freedom of movement. Forelegs are straight, with oval bone, down to good feet. Moderate bend of stifle. She moved well, covering the ground, but didn’t match the flow of 1.

3, Leavy’s Hopevalley Morning Shine Over Wychwizard.

OB (4 0)

1, Bellamy’s Sh Ch Moontorn Better Half Of Me JW ShCEx OSW. A mature bitch with plenty of coat, she has a pleasing head with dark expressive eye. Her chest is deep and fairly broad with a well pronounced prow, foreribs flat, and a gradual spring of rib to strong couplings. Her topline is firm and she maintains this on the move with her tail well set on. She has a moderate bend of stifle and good bone throughout. Moved with drive. RBCC

2, Nicholls & Price’s Llantrussa O'sole Mio. One I have done well for before and again she caught my eye. She is workmanlike in size and very well balanced. Her head is nicely moulded with a naughty expression. Her neck is reasonably long, running well into her back and has a good return on upper arm. She is deep in chest and her length is in her rib but was carrying weight on shoulders and ribs today. She has a moderate bend of stifle and well developed second thigh, moving freely with reach and drive.

3, Romeo-Dieste’s Sh Ch Hopevalley Morning Wicked.

Nicky Colson