United Retriever Club

United Retriever Club Open Show - 22nd October 2025

Flatcoated Retrievers

Thank you so much to the committee for the invitation to judge here, an appointment I have been thoroughly looking forward to. Thank you to my stewards Ness and David for keeping the ring flowing. Final thank you to the exhibitors for entering your dogs and accepting my decisions. 

Puppy Dog 2 Entries 

Two very different puppies in terms of type and stages of development making it a tough decision.

1st Jacobs’ & Taite’s Gemswin It’s Raining Men

8 Month balanced boy, makes a nice shape. He has a moulded head and expression and kind dark eye. He has a moderate length of neck into a super lay of shoulder, he has a good angle of upper arm and good depth of forechest. He has good bone and tight feet. He has a short loin but being picky I’d want slightly more length to his rib. He has a good tail set and carries well on the move. He is well let down in the rear and has lovely thickness to his thigh but I’d want a tiny bit more length in his 2nd thigh. On the move he showed a lovely length of stride and balanced outline. Shown in good coat and condition. Best Puppy Dog.

2nd Churchard’s Flatcharm Dark Secret at Churchking

11 month male ahead of 1 in development and presenting a nice outline. He needs better work between the eyes but his expression is lovely. He has a good length of neck into again an excellent shoulder but lacks the return of upper arm and forechest that gave 1 the advantage today. He has a better length than 1 to his rib but has a slightly longer loin than ideal, he has a good tailset carried well on the move. His topline isn’t the firmest at this stage behind the shoulders which also showed on the move. I preferred this boy through the rear than 1. He could be tidier coming towards on the move and I would want a better length on stride. Presented in excellent condition with fabulous temperament. 

Junior Dog 2 Entries (1 abs)

1st Pierce’s Wychwizard Forester at Tarnmillcrag JW

17 month male of a lighter frame all through, I would want more of him, but presents a nice shape. I’d also want his head more masculine but it is of a good shape and expression. He has a good length of neck into a reasonable lay of shoulder, lacks the return of upper arm and forechest, but is still developing. He has a good length of body and a short loin, level in topline and holds it on the move too. He has good angles in the rear, and good thickness to his thigh. His rear pasterns could be straighter. He is sound on the move carrying his tail level and shown in good coat. 

Yearling Dog 2 Entries 

1st Knight’s & Jacobs’ Gemswin Innocent Man JW

Balanced male at 19 months, he is top size but makes a nice shape. I would want more work between his eyes but he has a lovely expression and a super temperament. He has a super lay of shoulder but would want more length and angle of upper arm. He has good depth of chest and has good ribbing. He has good bone and straight forelegs but would want tighter feet. He has good length to his rib and loin. I’d want more angles in his rear but he used it well to drive round the ring. He’s not the tidiest coming towards but moves away well and has a lovely length to his stride. Loved his enthusiasm, he just makes you smile. Best Dog and Best Opposite Sex.

2nd Pierce’s Wychwizard Forester at Tarnmillcrag JW 

See 1st Junior. 

Post Graduate Dog 1 Entry

1st Kearton’s Braemist Bootlegger at Ravenhall

4 year old balanced male, who I have previously given a Best of Breed to, he is a smaller frame than the other boys but makes such a lovely shape and is very well constructed. He has a textbook head and expression. I’d perhaps want a bit more of him all through for a male. He has a moderate length of neck into well laid shoulders but today I found him a little loaded over the shoulder. He has good forechest and even return of upper arm. He has good depth all through, gradual spring of rib and short loin. He has good angulation behind and excellent thickness to thigh which he used to his advantage on the move. His rear pasterns could be straighter. He has now started to calm down and moved very steadily on a good even stride. I’d of preferred his presentation to be better but understand he was on a shoot the day before. Reserve Best Dog.  

Open Dog 3 Entries (1 Absent)

Another very tough decision as these 2 boys are so different.

1st Wilson’s Hameldowntor Pedro Ximenez

Almost 5 year old male, has really matured and filled his frame. He presents a reasonably pleasing shape, he has a masculine head with a dark eye, another I would like more work between his eyes. He has a good lay of shoulder but another who lacks the length and return of upper arm and forechest. He has good bone and straight foreleg but feet could be better. He has good depth and gradual spring to his rib which is of the correct length and a short loin. He has good rear angulation and good thickness to his thigh. He has a level topline which is held well on the move. He has a good length of stride but isn’t the tidiest coming. Presented in good condition. Would want more enthusiasm on the move. 

2nd Churchard’s Flatcharm Griffin Dark at Churchking

4 year old male of a smaller frame than 1. For me I found his head too strong in backskull, but he has the correct fill under his eye and slight stop which was missing in a few males today. He has a good length of neck into excellent shoulders, but another who lacks the angle of upper arm. He has ample bone and excellent feet. His elbows need to be tighter to his chest. His tail set is correct and tail carried level. He has a happy disposition but just preferred the more accurate front action from 1 on profile today and I would prefer a better topline as he slopes too much toward the rear. 

Puppy Bitch 2 Entries 

1st Mcduell’s Aspleypine Dig Dis

The most exciting young prospect of the day. I really fell for this sweet baby of just 6 months. Pretty head with that cheeky expression and a dark eye. She is a lovely size and balanced shape. Moderate length of neck into a good lay of shoulder and even return of upper arm. She is a tad long in rib but has a short loin. She has super rear angles with good thickness already. She is dead straight from behind. She was so sound on the move with a super temperament. I will be watching her develop with interest. She just needs to gain a bit more confidence with her mum but she should have a good future. Best of luck with her. Best Puppy Bitch and Best Puppy in Breed. 

2nd Markillie’s Hopevalley Morning Minuet

9 months and already very mature in body, she is a shade too heavy for me. She has a dark eye and sweet expression. Moderate neck into well laid shoulders. Another who lacks the return of upper arm. Still needs to develop in forechest. She has good ribbing, and short loin. I’d like her a fraction shorter in rib. She is very well made through the rear with lovely thickness and in hard condition. She holds her topline on the move and is sound with very good drive. I’d just prefer better front extension. In excellent coat of good quality. 

Junior Bitch 5 Entries 

A very mixed class. Some nice bitches on the stand but disappointed me on the move which is a real shame. 

1st Gale’s Willowswind Skylark

This 14 month old bitch appealed to me most on shape. She is a very pretty girl with a lovely head and expression. She has a good length of neck into an excellent shoulder, I found her to lack the angle of upper arm, she has ample bone and tight feet. She has good depth but needs to develop in forechest and rib. She has excellent hindquarters with super thickness which she used to drive well round the ring. She moves towards tidy but slightly narrow and going away she was too close. She moves very well in profile holding her topline firm just needs time to strengthen and develop. Presented in very good coat. 

2nd Jacob’s and Reynolds’ Secret Blue Dress Basteta for Gemswin (imp Ltu)

17 month balanced bitch with a pretty head but has a slightly harsh expression. I’d prefer a bit more width to her muzzle. She has a good lay of shoulder and length of upper arm, good bone and ok feet. She has good dept, slight spring of rib of the correct length and short loin. She has a good set of tail off a slightly sloping croup and well made quarters, being picky I’d want more thickness to her thigh. I’d also prefer straighter rear pasterns. She moved well with balance and good length of stride holding her topline firm, with a non stop wagging tail. 

3rd Markille’s Hopevalley Morning Minuet

4th Leavy’s Wychwizard Painted Lady

5th Fresle’s & Knox’s Gemswin Angel in Blue Jeans

Yearling Bitch 3 Entries 

1st Gale’s Willoswind Skylark

See 1st Junior 

2nd Jacob’s and Reynold’s Secret Blue Dress Basteta for Gemswin (Imp Ltu)

See 2nd Junior 

3rd Fresle’s & Knox’s Gemswin Angel in Blue Jeans

Graduate Bitch 1 Entry 

1st Jacob’s and Reynold’s Secret Blue Dress Basteta for Gemswin (Imp Ltu)

See 2nd Junior

Post Graduate Bitch 1 Entry

1st Turner’s Angel Undercover Take My Breath Away (Imp Fra)

Ultra feminine 3 year old bitch, who I find underrated. She has the prettiest of head and expression and a melting temperament, which might not always go in her favour as she tends to prefer the cuddles than being gone over. Nevertheless she has a good length of neck into excellent shoulders, good length of upper arm but I'd prefer a better angle. She needs to develop in forechest still and her feet could be tighter. She has a level topline that's firm on the move but when shes free stood she falls back into her shoulders and drops it. She is of the correct length of rib and short loin, her rear angles are good with thickness to thigh, shes a touch long in hock and ever so slightly over reaches but she was the tidiest and most parallel going and coming today, and covers the ground well in profile. Shown in excellent coat and condition. Best Bitch and Best of Breed.

Open Bitch 3 Entries

1st Lane’s & Lane-Ridyard’s Kulawand Cartier 

2 year old feminine bitch who I have judged before. She makes a lovely shape, a beautiful head, dark eye and neat ears. She has a moderate neck into excellent shoulder, still needs to develop in forechest. Good depth of chest, I find her too long in rib and would like a bit more length of leg. She has a short loin, good thickness behind, short straight pasterns. She has a good length of stride, holding her topline firm. She isn’t the tidiest in front action. In the best coat presented to perfection. She has a tendency to overstretch and this spoils the outline. A lovely bitch just preffered the tidiness of the best bitch today. Reserve Best Bitch & Reserve Best of Breed. 

2nd Kearton’s O’Flanagan Brogan’s Legacy at Ravenhall (imp swe)

10 year old bitch who completely belies her age, she is so sound. Feminine head and sweet expression. She is super balanced and has super angles all round. She is a bigger frame than 1, excellent front construction and good forechest. I’d like more bone and better feet but has good depth all through. She has good thickness behind and parallel pasterns. She moves cleanly in all directions holding her topline, in good coat and excellent condition, just preferred the length of stride of 1st. 

3rd Wilson’s Hameldowntor Music of the Night VW

Abby Bellamy (Moontorn)