United Retriever Club

I would like to thank the committee of the United Retriever Club for the honour of judging Flat -coated Retrievers at this prestigious open show. I would also like to thank my two lovely stewards who kept the ring running smoothly throughout the day. I was amazed and delighted to get a good entry and I thank all those who entered under me for accepting my decisions with good grace.

Puppy Dog (9/1)

1st Knight & Jacobs Gemswin Innocent Man

11-month-old puppy. Mature boy with a classic head, dark almond eyes, good ear set and a correct scissor bite. He has a good length of neck into well placed shoulders. He has a good front with more spring of rib to come with maturity I’d think. He has plenty of bone and good feet. Whilst he is a little on the tall side for me, he held his topline and was very balanced for his age as he powered round the ring. His overall balance and movement earned him his top placings in the first two classes.

2nd Hazelton & Vasey’s Telurn Ghost of You for Hazeyvasey

7-month-old puppy. A lighter made dog all round than the first placed puppy. He has a lovely head with a dark almond shaped eye, a correct scissor bite and well set on ears. He has a very good front with well laid-back shoulders, a good spring of ribs developing nicely into a short loin. He moved well for such a young boy on lovely straight legs with good angulation front and back, holding his topline all the way.

Junior Dog (3/0)

1st Knight & Jacobs Gemswin Innocent Man

(see Puppy Dog)

2nd Hazelton & Vasey’s Telurn Ghost of You for Hazeyvasey

(see Puppy Dog)

3rd Pierce’s Wychwizard Forester

Yearling Dog (1/0)

1st Broadbent’s Gemswin I am Sailing

23 month old strong, masculine looking young dog with a very male head, dark eye and well set on (if slightly large) ears. Correct scissor bite. He has good front construction with a deep chest but I would have liked a bit more length to his body. He has plenty of bone with good straight legs up front and appropriate angulation on the rear legs. He moved powerfully holding his topline well.

Graduate Dog (4/1)

1st Clark’s Hurstclough Night Owl at Flanova

A medium sized dog of nicely balanced proportions. He has a lovely classic head, with dark eyes, well set on ears and a scissor bite. He has a good reach of neck into a well sprung ribcage and short loin. He has good bone, straight legs with appropriate angulations and good feet. He moved beautifully with drive and balance holding his topline on the move which won him the class.

2nd Knight & Jacob’s Gemswin Innocent Man

(see Puppy Dog)

3rd Shepherdson’s Murphy’s Treat

Post Graduate Dog (5/1)

1st Mullin’s Seaheart Daegan at Dexanluc

A fully mature dog with real ring presence shown in beautiful condition. He has a classic Flat-coat head with good infill, a dark eye and well-placed ears. He has a good reach of neck into well placed shoulders and a good front. He has well sprung ribs leading to a short loin. His legs and angulations were good both front and back. He has a super topline leading onto a well-placed tail. He moved fabulously with drive and balance. He pushed very hard for top honours.

2nd Walker & Roberts Gloi Dubh Kristofer Robin

A medium sized dog with a lovely, well-proportioned outline. A handsome dog with a classic head with dark almond eyes and well set on ears. He has good reach of neck into well placed shoulders with excellent spring of rib into a short loin. He has good straight legs and excellent angulations all around. He moved okay and he could easily swap place with the first placed dog in this class on another day.

3rd Burroughs I Know Him So Well at Rokaness JW

 Open Dog (6/1)

1st Holman’s Ch/sa Ch Trevena Masterchef at Namtresa Sgwc (Imp Zaf)

Veteran dog who belies his seven years of age! He moved round the ring like a youngster. Beautiful one-piece head, lovely expression, dark almond eyes and well set on small ears. He had a good reach of neck into well laid-back shoulders, a deep chest, well sprung ribs and a short loin. He was well muscled and presented in glorious coat. He has straight legs, good rear angulation and tight feet. He moved with power and balance, holding a strong topline all the way. BoB, Best Veteran in Show and Best in Show.

2nd Reynolds Telurn Can’t Touch This Sgwc

Another lovely dog with much to like! He has many of the same merits as the BoB. A mature, masculine boy with a classic Flatcoat head with a lovely soft expression. Dark almond eyes, well set on ears and the correct bite. He has a good length of neck, a strong front with a deep brisket and well sprung ribs tailing into a short loin. He has excellent bone and good feet. He moved well on straight legs with appropriate angulation both front and back.

3rd Colson’s Windyhollows Ragged Robin JW

Puppy Bitch (9/3)

1st Phipps-Baker & Baker’s Maddouse Never too Much

A very feminine 10 month old bitch with a lovely profile. Super head with dark almond shaped eyes, well set ears and correct scissor bite. She has good construction for one so young with a good reach of neck into well placed shoulders leading to an excellent topline that was held on the move. Despite her age, she moved well on straight legs with appropriate rear angulations. I was happy to give her BPiB and to see her awarded RBPiS.

2nd Stevenson’s Vynesbrook Sapphirea

Another pretty bitch of 11 months. A slightly less mature girl than the winner but all that applies to the first placed bitch, applies to this young girl. She is proportionate with a lovely head, a good front and beautiful, tight feet. She lost out on movement to the first placed puppy but this will come with maturity.

3rd Leavy’s Wychwizard Painted Lady

Junior Bitch (2/0)

1st Holman’s Ronevorg Can I Be Famous for Namtresa

Lovely 15 month old girl who is maturing very nicely! She has a beautiful one piece head with dark almond eyes and well set on ears. She has good reach of neck into a good chest with well laid back shoulders, a reasonable spring of rib and a short loin. She moved with drive and balance, maintaining an excellent topline throughout.

2nd Stevenson’s Vynsesbrook Sapphirea

See Puppy Bitch

Yearling Bitch (2/0)

1st Holman’s Ronevorg Can I Be Famous for Namtresa

(see Junior Bitch)

2nd Hedges Satinblaze Tranquil Sea

23-month-old bitch with a lovely, feminine head with dark eyes, well set on ears and a good scissor bite. She has a good lay of shoulder into a good depth of brisket and a short loin. She has lovely feet. She moved well holding her topline all the while but just not quite as well as the first placed bitch.

Graduate Bitch (8/1)

1st Walker & Roberts Gloi Dubh Lady Muck JW

Beautiful and very feminine bitch of correct size with a lovely head shape, dark eye, correct scissor bite and well set on ears. Good length of neck into well laid-back shoulders. Super front construction with good depth of chest, excellent spring of ribs and a short loin. She has straight forelegs and excellent angulations on the rear. She covered the ground with drive whilst holding her topline. Her tail never stopped wagging for a second! I was delighted to award her RBoB and Best Opposite Sex.

2nd Prior’s Blacktoft Avelino at Finnashember

Another beautiful, feminine bitch with much the same merits as the class winner. She has a lovely profile, a one-piece head with dark almond eyes, well set on ears and a good scissor bite. She has a good length of neck into well laid shoulders, a good depth of brisket and a short loin. Her legs are straight and her rear angulations are good. She moved well keeping her topline the whole time - I simply preferred the first placed bitch’s exuberance and drive.

3rd Dunnett’s Hoedun the Night Before

Post Graduate Bitch (5/1)

1st Dunnett’s Hoedun Miss Atomic Bomb

A feminine, medium sized bitch of good breed type. I liked her overall proportions and profile. She has a good head with dark eyes, well set on ears and a good bite. She has a good reach of neck into a well made front with correct depth of brisket, leading to a moderate spring of rib tailing to a short loin. She has good bone and she moved well holding her topline. (Her feet were a little loose however and she could benefit from some roadwork).

2nd Welch’s Stranfaer Lyin’ Eyes

Lovely veteran bitch of a smaller overall type to the winner. As with the winner, her overall proportions and profile are very pleasing. She has a lovely head, with a good reach of neck into an excellent front, with a good spring of rib into a short loin. She has plenty of bone and moved very well but just not quite so well as the winner.

3rd Stevenson’s Feldkirk Rose N Roses

Open Bitch (9/3)

1st Colson’s Blacktoft Frozen in Time by Windyhollows (ai)

Mature bitch of nice proportions and outline. I particularly liked her head. She has a one piece classic head, with dark almond shaped eyes, well set on ears and the loveliest expression. She has a moderate length of neck leading into well placed shoulders, a good front with a deep brisket, well sprung ribs leading to a short loin. She had plenty of bone, great angulations both front and back and lovely feet. I struggled to choose between my first and second placed bitches but this girls head, expression and feet won her the class.

2nd Salt’s Levelmoor Acorn Antiques via Wetnoses

A medium sized bitch with a classic head, lovely dark almond eyes, well set on ears and a good bite. She has a good reach of neck and a good front, with a deep brisket and moderate spring of rib tailing into a short loin. She has good bone and appropriate angulations both front and rear. She was balanced and moved with drive holding her topline on the move. It was difficult choosing between the winner and this lovely girl, but the winners head, expression and feet won her the class.

3rd Lewin’s Vynesbrook Deja Bleu

Judge - Caroline Thomson (Badcall)