Driffield Championship Dog Show

Driffield Championship Dog Show 23rd August 2025

Flatcoated Retrievers

Judge: Mrs Rachel C Deacon

I would firstly like to thank the committee for asking me to judge and providing me with such wonderful stewards. They really kept my ring running well, I couldn’t have asked for more, so thank you.

I need to mention that a few exhibits weren’t shown in the best condition and would have benefitted from having a bath.

The quality of the bitches today was outstanding, I had some tough decisions to make, which as a judge was wonderful. Their movement was such a joy to watch and as such I really enjoyed judging them.

Special Beginners Dog 2

1st Mr B & Mrs L Clark Hurstclough Night Owl at Flanova

Good medium sized dog, lovely tight feet and well off for bone. Beautifully moulded head, with a nice dark eye. Shown in wonderful condition with lovely full feathering.

2nd Mr J & Mrs R Pierce Wychwizard Forester at Tarnmillcrag

Smaller set in comparison to 1, another very well presented boy in fine coat. Lovely head with well set on ears, and dark eye.

Veteran Dog 4 (1abs)

1st Miss M Hall Rotherfield Just the Ticket

Loved this boy’s workmanlike size, he was in full coat which really completed the picture. Good depth of chest, short loin and moderate bend of stifle. The best of heads with moderately broad skull, dark eye and well set on ears. He was such a happy boy.

2nd Miss V Scaife Flatcharm Mr Fix It for Shennanjoy

Another lovely medium sized dog, this boy didn’t stop showing or wagging his tail. Good spring of rib, short loin and moderate bend of stifle. Just preferred head of 1.

3rd Mr D Nicholson Everblack Backseat Driver

Minor Puppy Dog 4

1st Mrs G Jacobs & Mrs C Taite Gemswin It’s Raining Men

I really liked this young man, good depth of chest with length and angle of upper arm, good bend of stifle, well off for bone and super tight feet. He had such a cheeky expression, and was enjoying his day. Best mover in the class, he had a real puppy roll to him, and moved with such enthusiasm and drive going forward. Such a bright future, pleased to award him Best Puppy Dog and Best Puppy In Breed.

2nd Ms C Lilly & Mr N Reynard Rainesgift Play On Words

Another super boy, good size, with spring of rib, short loin, well angulated hindquarters and well set on tail. Made his handler work hard on the move, but when settled moved with flow and reach.

3rd Mrs V Bowen Clandrift Make It Funky

Puppy Dog 4

1st Mr M & Mrs P Mullins Seaheart Fabian at Dexanluc

Slightly larger set of boy, but lots to like about him. Excellent bone, tight feet, moderate bend of stifle, super well moulded head, lovely dark eye and twinkling, happy expression. When he got moving he really flowed, he moved well for one so young. He had good reach and moved straight and true.

2nd Ms C Lilly & Mr N Reynard Rainesgift Play on Words

3rd Miss V Scaife Flatcharm Bing A Ling at Shennanjoy

Junior Dog 5

1st Mrs EJ Walker & Dr L Roberts Gloi Dubh Mormaer JW

Nicely balanced boy with such a happy disposition and non-stop wagging tail. He moved with such ease, straight and true, with excellent extension. Handsome head, with pleasing eye shape and colour. Balanced throughout with good bend of stifle and tail set.

2nd Mrs DA & Mr A Pawelski Lamesbella Eugene

This young man had good front construction with depth of chest and angle of upper arm. Another lovely head, shown in super condition. Just preferred 1s power on the move.

3rd Mrs A Harris Ronevorg Highland Whisper of Siancala

Post Graduate Dog 6

1st Mrs HJ & Mr IM Buckley Blacktoft Brindisi by Buckleyhill

Really liked this boy’s workman like size and type. Lovely depth of chest, short loin and bend of stifle. Pleasing head with dark eye. He was shown in beautiful condition, dripping in coat. He was such a happy boy and constantly wagged his tail. On the move he really excelled, with power and front extension.

2nd Mrs EJ Walker & Dr L Roberts Gloi Dubh Kristofer Robin JW

Really handsome man, with melting expression, dark eye and good width of skull. Head well set on in neck leading to deep chest and good length of upper arm. Well angulated hindquarters and moved well with power.

3rd Miss M Hall Hightyne Night Train

Limit Dog 8 (1abs)

1st Mrs P & Mr M Mullins Seaheart Daegan at Dexanluc

Slightly taller boy, but balanced throughout. Well moulded skull with dark eye and well set ears leading down to super front angulation with good layback of shoulder, depth of chest and upper arm. Nice spring of rib, short loin, moderate bend of stifle and excellent second thigh and let down hocks. On the move he came into his own, he could have powered around that ring all day. He moved with drive, straight and true and was balanced. He had a lovely expression and presented himself with such personality. He was shown in super condition with a wonderful coat and excellent muscle tone. I was pleased to award him the Dog Challenge Certificate.

2nd Mrs S May Ronevorg Dark Angel at Lussac JW SGWS

This boy had a super head, lovely dark eye and reach of neck. He had excellent bend of stifle, good bone and tight feet. He had a wonderful topline on the move. He moved with ease, and was straight and true when viewed fore and aft.

3rd Ms C Ramunno Flatcharm Serious Pig

Open Dog 7 (1abs)

1st Mrs EJ Walker & Dr L Roberts Gloi Dubh Just One Look ShCEx

This boy presented a really nice outline, he was balanced with a pleasing head and eye. A good layback of shoulder and deep forechest led to equally balanced hind quarters with a good bend of stifle. He was such a happy dog and really showed his socks off. On the move he really came alive and held a beautiful topline, he moved with power and ease which won him the class. Pleased to award him the Reserve Dog Challenge Certificate.

2nd Mrs P & Mr M Mullins Everblack Booze Cruise at Dexanluc

This boy liked to keep his handler on their toes. Heavier set, but liked his outline. Lovely front angulation, with a deep forechest. Strong hindquarters with good bend of stifle and well let down hocks. Good tailset which he held on the move.

3rd Mrs ME Romeo-Dieste Hopevalley Morning Circus

Special Beginners Bitch 6

1st Mrs L Waller Flatcharm Banana Hammock

Such a lovely little girl, she took everything in her stride. Loved her outline, good layback of shoulder and return of upper arm, short loin, moderate bend of stifle, good tail set. Pretty head with the sweetest expression. When she settled she moved well. Best Special Beginner

2nd Ms P Turner Angel Undercover Take My Breath Away (imp Fra)

Another nicely balanced girl, sweet feminine head, lovely reach of neck and a good depth of chest. Super topline and tailset, when settled she moved well.

3rd Mrs C & Mr A Leavy Wychwizard Painted Lady

Veteran Bitch 5 (1abs)

1st Mrs J Holmes CH Wiccanssage Virtue at Rydanah Sgwc

At nearly 10 years old, this lady didn’t look like she was starting to slow down. She didn’t stop showing her little socks off. Her excellent movement won her the class, she moved with such drive. She had a pretty head with a cheeky expression, excellent depth of chest, short loin and moderate bend of stifle. Excellent tail set and topline held on the move. Pleased to award her Best Veteran In Breed

2nd Mr A Wilson Hameldowntor Music of the Night VW

A lovely bitch with well moulded skull, dark eye and sweet expression. Good return of upper arm and depth of forechest. Super topline and tailset.

3rd Mrs CA Thomson SH CH Caci’s The Dream Catcher at Badcall (Swed Imp)

Minor Puppy Bitch 6

1st Miss A Bellamy Moontorn Chasing The Dream

This young lady really covered the ground with a lovely sidegait. She is very balanced for one so young. Pretty head with good reach of neck to well angulated front and rear. Nice short loin and a super topline and tailset. Best Puppy Bitch.

2nd Mrs V Bowen Clandrift Funky Angel

This bitch was longer cast compared to 1, but of real quality. Loved her expression, a pretty girl with well set on ears. Lovely reach of neck down to good layback of shoulder. Good bone and tight feet. She was such a happy girl, and moved well.

3rd Miss HM Watson Rainesgift Fair Play

Puppy Bitch 9 (1 withdrawn)

1st Mrs EJ Walker & Dr L Roberts Seaheart Frida at Gloi

Liked the size of this bitch, her topline and tailset really caught my eye. She moved with such positivity for one so young. Good hind angulation and a lovely head.

2nd Mrs G & Mr J Jacobs & Mrs S Knight Gemswin Handbag N Gladrag

It was close between 1 and 2, just preferred the head of 1. But another beautifully balanced bitch. Well off for bone, lovely feet. Moderate bend of stifle, super tailset and another cracking mover.

3rd Mrs L Waller Flatcharm Banana Hammock

Junior Bitch 10 (2abs)

1st Mrs S & Mr IR Phipps-Baker Maddhouse Never To Much

Feminine bitch with a sweet expression. Good reach of neck and layback of shoulder. Moderate bend of stifle and a lovely topline and tailset.

2nd Miss I Kulczycka Everblack Euphoria

This young lady was presented in super condition. Pleasing outline with balance to her front and rear angulation. Lovely topline and tailset which she held on the move.

3rd Mrs DA & Mr A Pawelski Lamsebella Edna

Post Graduate Bitch 11 (1abs)

1st Mrs ME Romeo Dieste Hopevalley Morning Xanadu JW

This was a tough class, 1 and 2 were difficult to split. This bitch was in excellent condition. The prettiest of heads, clean neck down to well placed shoulders. Short loin and moderate bend of stifle. Super bone and lovely tight feet.

2nd Mr & Mrs B Jones Benvellyn Sequoia JW

Another elegant bitch. Beautiful head with sweet expression. Good layback of shoulder and return of upper arm. Lovely depth of chest and such a balanced girl. Her tail didn’t stop wagging.

3rd Mrs EK Walker & Dr L Roberts Gloi Dubh Lady Muck JW

Limit Bitch 14 (3abs)

1st Miss HM Watson Rainesgift Omega

This was a stylish young lady. Wonderful size and not overdone in any way. Beautiful head with lovely ear set. Excellent depth of chest and well laid shoulder. Good spring of rib, well angulated hindquarters with super muscle tone. She moved with purpose and power around the ring and made such a picture, especially when viewed from the side. She didn’t stop wagging her tail, pleased to award her the Reserve Bitch Challenge Certificate.

2nd Miss G Mellor Flatcharm Guilty Pleasure

Another super bitch, just felt that 1 moved with more precision. Liked her size, feminine girl with such a sparkle in her eye. Good front angulation and a lovely forechest with lots of heart room. Moderate bend of stifle and well off for bone.

3rd Miss V Sullivan Wyrebeck Live Forever

Open Bitch 6

This was a tough class with such quality.

1st Mrs ME Romeo-Dieste SH CH Hopevalley Morning Wicked

This girl was very eye catching. She is everything I want in a Flatcoated Retriever. She is a smaller bitch, but is full of quality. She was dripping in coat and presented in beautiful condition. The prettiest head with a melting expression. Good layback of shoulder with return of upper arm. Lovely depth of chest, short square loin. Excellent hind angulation, super topline and tailset. This girl was born to be a showgdog. She didn’t stop wagging her tail. She moved with such drive, true fore and aft. She could move all day and was shown beautifully by her handler. Thrilled to award her the Bitch Challenge Certificate and couldn’t deny her Best of Breed.

2nd Mrs SE & Mr IR Phipps-Baker SH CH Never Say Never Oasis of Peace to Maddhouse (Imp)

I’ve always liked this bitch. Longer cast than 1, but another bitch of undeniable quality. So balanced in her front and rear angulation, lovely depth of chest and super bone. Beautiful topline and tailset. Another girl with such ring presence. Moved well and looked a picture, particularly when viewed from the side. She moved freely with lovely reach.

3rd Miss A Bellamy SH CH Moontorn Better Half of Me JW ShCEx OSW