Driffield Championship Dog Show

DRIFFIELD CHAMPIONSHIP DOG SHOW 

Chesapeake Bay Retriever - August 23rd 2025

Thank you to the Driffield Committee for their kind invitation and to my most efficient and professional stewards Dawn and Don. The dogs were a delight with excellent temperaments and it was a thrill to be ringside to see my choice for Best of Breed be awarded Gundog Group 4 by Mr David Howarth in such strong competition.

Class 935 SBD NO ENTRIES

Class 936 VD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1799 MURRAY, Miss Lorna Takoda Nathan VW

Looking great for his eight and half years and in super condition. Head well balanced between skull and muzzle with good eye of correct colour. Strong neck of medium length. Cleanly built through the shoulder. Strong through the body with the correct balanced ratio comparing body depth to length of leg. Firm in topline. Excellent coat texture. A little moderate in rear angulation. Good feet with hocks well let down. Overall nicely balanced with the correct proportions comparing length to height. Excellent coat. Moved soundly.

Class 937 MPD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1798 MAHON-HUNNS, Mrs Madeleine V & MIDDLETON, Ms Joy & Susqudilla Yankee Shadow (Imp USA)

Typically raw for a baby of his age and so his head is still breaking however he has good overall shape, strength and proportions to his head, with a super eye of good size and colour with well placed ears. Certainly no mistaking he's a boy! Despite his immaturity he is already developing good fill into a strong forechest. Nicely put together in front with decent return of upper arm. Developing nicely through the ribs with good depth and proportionate length of leg. Densely coated with good texture. Hindquarters going through that awkward growth stage so could still do with a touch more angulation through the stifle; that said, he moved very true on the out and back powering round with ease on excellent feet with hocks well let down. BPIB 

Class 938 PD NO ENTRIES

Class 939 JD NO ENTRIES

Class 940 PGD NO ENTRIES

Class 941 LD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1800 MURRAY, Miss Lorna Muireatai Teris Love

Well matured with strong breed type. Balanced head with ears well set and correct eye of good colour. Strong neck. Good length of upper arm and well laid shoulder.

Excellent coat. A little proud of his tail on the move. Plenty strength in rear; broad across his rump with ample width across the thighs. Balanced in proportions comparing length to height and body depth to leg length. 

Class 942 OD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1797 MAHON-HUNNS, Mrs Madeleine V & HUNNS, Mr J & NEWTON Sh Ch Arnac Bay Huron At Bergelle JW

What an impressive boy! The complete package of breed type aplenty coupled with strength and soundness. Typical in outline and best of balance considering all proportions of his conformation coupled with substance. Super head and eye; strength and balance to the skull and muzzle. Handsome in expression from eyes of correct size, shape and colour set well apart and framed by well set ears. Excellent in upper arm and shoulder. Plenty fill and strength in chest with ample depth. Excellent spring of rib and well ribbed back. Short coupled. Very well constructed in hindquarters. Superb double coat of good density and texture. Excels in movement. A very worthy BD, BOB and Group 4

2nd: 1795 BOYLES, Mrs T & BOYLES, Mr G Pixiesrock Mr Tumnus By Bleyos JW

Full of quality. Super head and eye; balanced comparing length of skull to muzzle with moderation through the stop. Masculine in expression. Excellent ears, well set and of correct size. Strong moderate neck. Excellent topline and tailset. Whilst slightly longer cast than one, overall presents a breed typical outline and is well proportioned considering depth of body relative to length of leg. The length comes through the rib so is still relatively short coupled with strength through the body.  Plenty enough width giving strength throughout the first and second thighs. Another very sound and steady mover. RBD

Class 943 SBB NO ENTRIES

Class 944 VB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

Two very nice veterans.

1st: 1802 PONT, Miss C A Sh Ch Oakmarsh Dancing Diva VW

So well put together, both sturdy and true in her stance. Presents a balanced outline with correct proportions all through. Beautiful head and eye, clearly feminine. Her head is particularly well balanced with correct shaping to the muzzle and a medium stop along with excellent ears of correct set and size. Well made through her strong neck of medium length into well laid shoulders. Excellent topline and tailset. Strong body with well sprung ribs, ample depth and short coupled. Strong limbs with good angulation and width to her hindquarters. Rear pasterns of correct moderate length. Excellent bone and coat. Moved out soundly with typical tail carriage. BB and BVIB

2nd: 1803 WATTS, Miss Kirsty Ch Oakmarsh Freedom SGWC

Another with a beautiful, feminine expression from her correctly shaped amber eyes. Well made in head with medium stop, good breadth to the skull and correctly shaped muzzle. Strong, medium neck set into excellent shoulders. Plenty strength through the chest. Slightly finer boned than one but with plenty of strength especially through the neck, body and hindquarters. Typical topline and tailset. Moved out soundly and with ease.

Class 945 MPB NO ENTRIES

Class 946 PB NO ENTRIES

Class 947 JB NO ENTRIES

Class 948 PGB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1805 WATTS, Miss Kirsty Oakmarsh Little Acorn JW

Very soundly made and well balanced. Typical in head and eye with good balance and shaping to the skull and muzzle. Medium neck into clean, well laid shoulders. Enough length in upper arm standing true in front. Excellent feet. Firm topline with excellent tailset. Well made through thighs with excellent angulation in rear. Firm hocks. Moved very soundly. 

2nd: 1796 HEWITSON, Mr Christopher Melseed Dont Stop Believing

Balanced in overall make and shape with good bone for her size. Feminine head with lovely eye Just preferred the earset and carriage of the winner and not quite as well developed through the depth of chest. Plenty enough strength through the neck and chest. Still needing to mature overall. Strong muscle and width to well angulated hindquarters. Excellent topline and tailset.

Class 949 LB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1804 WATTS, Miss Kirsty Oakleaf Manor Bay Of Oakmarsh (Imp) Deu JW

I think her owner would agree this beautiful sedge is currently a work in progress. Overall, she has a pleasing frame which just needs to be filled out to give of her best. Head has good balance with a lovely yellow eye. Good ears. Strong neck. Good breadth to the forechest and well muscled through the forequarters. Excellent topline and tailset. Super feet. Stands true front and back with well muscled thighs of good width. Strides out soundly. 

Class 950 OB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1801 MURRAY, Miss Lorna Muireatai Miracle Of Dreams

Typical in head and expression; feminine with good breadth to skull. Well proportioned comparing height to length and balanced through depth in body to length of leg. Strong neck of medium length with plenty strength through the forechest with upper arms of good length and angulation. Shapely through her firm topline and over the loin with plenty depth in chest. Well sprung ribs and short coupled. Particularly well made in rear with good angulation and width to the first and second thighs. Sound mover. RBB

2nd: 1806 WATTS, Miss Kirsty Oakmarsh Galatea

Nicely made through neck, body and limb. Strength in well shaped muzzle with medium stop and decent width to skull. Tends to fly her ears. Stands true in front with plenty of strength across her chest. Excellent spring of rib and relatively short coupled. Moved well from powerful hindquarters and strong rear pasterns. Excellent coat. Tail carriage a little high.