City Of Birmingham Canine Association

City of Birmingham Canine Association

31st August 2025

Retriever Labrador

My thanks to the Committee of City of Birmingham Canine Association for inviting me to judge Labradors in the superb new building. I would like to thank my two excellent stewards, especially Mel who managed to raise the excitement of the spectators to fever pitch while presenting the prize cards, the most noise I’ve heard around a Labrador ring in over 30 years of showing. Thank you to the exhibitors for an excellent entry for my final judging appointment. I thought the quality of the Labradors was very high and in some classes very good dogs went without cards. I apologise if these critiques are somewhat repetitive, I look for the same attributes in each of my winners and in most classes found dogs that met them. Having looked at the colour of most of my top winners I fear my standing with the Yellow Labrador Club may be under threat.

Special Beginners Dog 9(1)

1 Douglas’, Centenalee Whisky Sour At Kyorli. This yellow dog of good substance was presented in excellent condition. He has a good gentle masculine head, strong bone throughout with good angulation front and rear. He moved with drive.

2 Foster’s, Rochevale Beal Jw. This yellow dog was slightly lighter in build and colour to 1 but with similar attributes. He has kind head and expression and moved well. I preferred the tail carriage of 1.

3 EDWARDS’, Frewlings Gary Player At Bearstone

Veteran Dog 5(2)

1 Brown’s, ShCh Ramsayville Revolver. It’s hard to believe that this black dog is 7 years old, at times in the ring he acted like a 2 year old. This kennel does produce the type of dog that fits my interpretation of the breed standard and this dog is no exception. He is well balanced with good bone, has a pleasing masculine head, good length of neck into well placed shoulders, strong level topline held on the move, correct angulation front and rear, well set otter tail. I was pleased to award him Best Veteran, DCC and BOB and later see him placed Veteran Group 4.

2 Smith’s, Flyenpyg Porky Pig JW OSW. This 7 year old yellow dog has many of the attributes of the first, just slightly smaller build and heavier in neck, he has a lovely masculine head. I preferred the build and balance of 1.

3 Bills’, Vetybonbetty Chocolate Box.

Minor Puppy Dog 5(0)

1 Shirton’s, Woolman Free And Easy. A lighter yellow dog, very calm and a pleasure to judge. He is well balanced with good bone, correct angulation front and rear with well let down stifles. He has a kind head with good length of muzzle and dark pigment.

2 Harvey Major’s, Linjor Beringer. 6 month old yellow puppy with good potential but needs to mature. Good overall construction with a pleasing head, correct angulation both front and rear. He moved well for one so young. I will watch his development with interest.

3 Luomanen’s, Tweedledum Date Down Under

Puppy Dog 10(1)

1 Thompson & Gordon-Smith’s, Exelby Botis At Meadowline. This well developed 11 month old yellow puppy shows great potential. He is well built with good bone, correct construction both front and rear with ample length of upper arm. He carries a level topline and has strong rear quarters and  has a nice turn of stifle. I was pleased to award him Best Puppy Dog.

2 Harvey Major’s, Linjor Beringer

3 Moody’s, Trendlewood Hometown Glory

Junior Dog 2 (1) 

1 Harvey Major’s, State Park In Linjor, This yellow dog stood alone in the class but was worthy of his placing. He has a pleasant head and kind expression, good bone but not overdone, level topline and moved well with drive.

Yearling Dog 3(1) 

1 Findjan’s, Rossacre The Duke. This well balanced black dog was in excellent condition. He has a kind head and eye with good length of muzzle, strong, clean neck and level topline, he moved well.

2 Young’s, Fourjays Comets Carnival. This black dog has a pleasing head, strong neck, level topline. I would prefer a little more length of upper arm.

Graduate Dog 7(1)

1 Douglas’, Centenalee Whisky Sour At Kyorli. 1st SBD.

2 Young’s, Potterspiney Optimist Vision. This strongly built yellow dog has a good masculine head and kind eye, he has correct angulation both front and rear and level topline. I preferred the leg length of 1.

3 Ellis & Matulla’s, Dolwen Jackpot

Post Graduate Dog 10(2)

1 Young’s, Potterspiney Potterzuri Aramis Jw. This black dog has the most attractive head, gentle but masculine expression, strong clean neck leading into well placed shoulders and level topline. Correct angulation front and rear, He was in good coat and moved well.

2 Smith’s, Flyenpyg Jurgen Chopp JW. This well made black dog was shown in good coat, well angulated both ends with a level topline. He is of a lighter build than 1.

3 Perkins’ Mcfarwin’s Grey Legacy by Keeninspires JW

Limit Dog 9(2)

1 Hopkinson’s, Rocheby Havana. A well balanced yellow dog with a good kind masculine head and dark pigment. He has good length of neck, clean into well angulated shoulders, firm level topline, powerful hocks with correct rear assembly and good otter tail. He stood four square and moved with drive from his powerful rear quarters. A strong contender for the CC.

2 Ellis & Matulla’s, Dolwen Stargazer. This yellow dog is not quite so strong in bone as 1 but shares many of his attributes. He has a very good, masculine head and good reach of neck, level topline which he held throughout, and correct angulation both front and rear.

3 Perkins’, Carromer Teguila By Keeninspires

Open Dog 3(0)

1 Harvey Major’s, Just The Joker In Linjor. A very lively yellow dog, well off for bone with very good angulation front and rear, a kind masculine head and clean in neck. He has a deep chest, not overdone, level topline flowing into a well set tail and neat feet. He was a bit of a handful but moved well when settled. I was pleased to be able to award him the RCC. 

2 Brackner’s, Sh Ch Original Soundtrack Del Trango For Brupurhat. A close call in this class as this darker yellow dog is also of the construction that I favour but I preferred the longer upper arm of the winner bringing his front legs further under his body.

3 Johnson’s, Sh Ch Cremino Calabrese

Good Citizen Dog 4(0)

1 Young’s, Potterzuri Mystic Zain, This well made black dog was shown in excellent condition and good coat. He has a clean neck into well made shoulders and correct rear angulation.

2 Young’s, Potterspiney My Sovereign JW. This yellow dog is well balanced and of good bone, he has an appealing masculine head and neat feet. I preferred the angulation of 1.

3 Newman’s, Creamwood Silver Hawthorn.

Special Beginners Bitch 7(0)

1 Bishop’s, Northernjoy Rambling Rose. A very well made chocolate bitch with an attractive feminine head. She has excellent angulation both front and rear which gave her the edge in this class, strong level topline, correct turn of stifle and neat feet. She was in good coat and moved well with drive.

2 Gordon-Smith & Bibby’s, Meadowline Whizz Bang At Bruxinho. A black bitch with very similar characteristics of the winner but not quite the length of upper arm.

3 Young’s, Fourjays Sassy Said It All.

Veteran Bitch 4(0)

1 Johnson & Bruce’s, Cricklecreek Chrisney Of Teazledown. A seven year old black bitch with pleasant feminine head, good length of neck set into correct shoulders with well set back front legs and correct rear angulation. She presents a good clean outline, level topline and in good coat, all set off by her ever wagging tail.

2 Farrar’s, Donamick Crests Of Waves For Henissy. This well balanced chocolate bitch kept her handler busy trying to control her excitement. She has an attractive head with good length of muzzle, correct construction front and rear and level topline. 

3 Young’s, Suttonpark Penny Farthing At Potterspiney

Minor Puppy Bitch 8(2)

1 Deane’s, Tanronens Yuletide Angel. A beautifully constructed 7 month yellow puppy with a sweet head and clean neck set into well made shoulders with correct angulation. She has adequate bone, a level topline and good rear quarters. She showed extremely well for one so young with excellent attention to her handler. It gave me great pleasure to award her Best Puppy and look forward to watching her progress as she matures.

2 Robertson’s, Tweedledum Dippety Do Of Eavora. This promising yellow puppy is quite strongly built and mature for her age with good all round construction.

3 Lewis’, Crammondkirk's Oh So Sassy

Puppy Bitch 6(1)

1 Grummitt’s, Manorwell Mustang Sally (a.i). A very well balanced 11 month old black puppy with an appealing head and expression, clean neck into well placed shoulders with a good length of upper arm. She has a level topline, correct rear angulation and neat feet. She moved well. 

2 Charlton’s, Foxrush Hope So. This yellow bitch is not as mature as the winner but has an attractive female head, clean in neck with a good, level topline. I preferred the front angulation of 1 and her length of upper arm.

3 Gordon-Smith & Bibby’s, Meadowline Whizz Bang At Bruxinho

Junior Bitch 11(3)

1 Hodge’s, Naiken Inspiral (ai) This darker chocolate bitch is nicely balanced, has an appealing gentle head and good reach of neck into correctly made shoulders, a strong level topline held on the move. She has good rear angulation with nice turn of stifle and neat feet.

2 Manning’s, Marchurch Solstice Kiss. This strongly built, enthusiastic yellow bitch has an attractive head with good pigment, good strong construction overall but not overdone.

3 King’s, Claychalk Costa Crypto For Mikmaqlabs

Yearling Bitch 3(1)

1 Charlton’s, Foxrush Hermione JW. This yellow bitch is of a type that I do like. She has a lovely head and expression, strongly made throughout with correct front and rear angulation, good spring of rib, level topline with well set beautiful otter tail. She moved well with drive.

2 Perkins’, Keeninspires Countess. This chocolate bitch does not have the balance of the winner, she has a pleasant head and good topline but I would like to see more developed thighs and longer upper arm.

Graduate Bitch 20(8)

1 Bailiss’, Tissalian Haughty Mia. This yellow bitch of good substance and balance. She has an attractive feminine head, strong neck set into correctly angulated shoulders. She has adequate bone, level topline with well set otter tail and powerful rear quarters with well let down hocks. She moved well, powering her way around the ring.

2 King’s, Mikmaqlabs Heart's Desire. This full of life, strongly built, yellow bitch is well made both front and back, possess a level topline and was in good coat. She covered the ground with ease.

3 Johnson & Bruce’s, Teazledown Charismatic

Post Graduate Bitch 12(6)

1 Lapper’s, Tomative Annabelle JW. A smaller black bitch but of excellent balance and good bone. She has an attractive feminine head and clean neck set into well angulated shoulders, level topline with well set tail, correct rear angulation, well let down stifles and neat feet. She was in good coat and powered around the ring.

2 Mitchell’s. Callyswood Cassini. This yellow bitch is of a type I admire, strongly built and well balanced with good angulation front and rear. She stood four square and moved with dive. A close decision with one. 

3 Jones’. Hafnau Phoenix

Limit Bitch 13(3)

1 Woodley’s, Alkhamhurst London Girl. A well constructed black bitch with an attractive head, good neck set into correctly angulated shoulders. She has a strong, level topline, good tail set and well covered tail. Her good, powerful rear assembly enabled her to power around the ring. It was a pleasure to award her the Reserve Bitch CC to add to her collection.

2 Shirton’s, Woolman Carefree. This yellow bitch has the most appealing, sweet head and expression together with her good reach of neck, level topline and correct angulation front and rear presents a pleasing picture but not quite as eye catching as one.

3 Artingstall’s, Hightrevoron Forget Me Not

Open Bitch 8(1)

1 Metcalfe’s, Sh Ch Baileydale Dizzy Miss Lizzy. This beautifully balanced, eye catching black bitch has a gentle head and good reach of neck set into shoulders with superb angulation, her correct length of upper arm placing her front legs in line with her withers and showing pleasing forechest. Her good rear angulation, level topline with well set otter tail and excellent coat complete the picture. I was pleased to award her a well deserved Bitch CC.

2 Hopkinson’s, Rocheby Hickory. Another attractive black bitch with a beautiful, feminine head. Her overall construction is very similar to the first but not quite as good front angulation.

3 Bishop’s The Girl Is Fun From Linjor JW.

Good Citizen Bitch 2(0)

1 Nightingale’s Flyenpyg Emily Grunt. This 21 month well balanced black bitch was shown in excellent coat and condition. She is well constructed with good angulation front and rear but still needs to mature. Her excellent movement, powering around the ring won her this class.

2 Davis’ Rochevale Palm Reader JW. Another very nice black bitch with a pleasing head and good reach of neck. She is well made with correct angulation but just didn’t have the drive of 1 on the move.

Paul Collins