Flatcoated Retriever Club Of Scotland

Flatcoated Retriever Club Of Scotland

Championship show

19th October 2025

Many thanks to the club for inviting me to judge this show, I had a lovely day but a few things concerned me within the breed.

Fronts are still a major problem with so few dogs presenting the correct front assembly, its almost the norm to have upright shoulders with no layback, this leads to pitter patter movement in front with no extension, while not a bite fanatic I found a number of level or untidy bites, breeders need to be aware that this is an issue .

A number of exhibits had round front facing eyes, this totally distracts from the lovely kind soft expression that sets our breed apart from other retrievers .

I found muscle tone poor in some exhibits , Flatcoats are intrinsically a working breed and should be able to do a days work . I was very keen to see the dogs being moved on loose leads, so many are now strung up like setters but most of these dogs did move much better on a loose lead which enabled them to show off their natural head carriage ( they are not swans!) and topline, thanks to the exhibitors who followed my instructions!!

A number of exhibits ( dogs and bitches) were well out of coat which really left me nit picking with final decisions , my main winners were fully finished in coat and body.

Temperaments as ever were excellent, as was presentation with just the right amount of trimming and the exhibitors were very sporting with my decisions.

Baby Puppy Dog :2

1st Salts Culcrieffs Ferntower Glen Of Wetnoses

Lovely 5.5 month old with sweet head and nice expression, dark eyes and small ears, he has just the right amount of bone for his age and good strong feet, a decent depth of body with the correct loin to rib ratio, he moved out enthusiastically , nicely handled.

2nd Hollands Flatcharm Game Boy

Just shy of 5 months and less mature all over than 1 as you would expect, lovely head and expression , he is currently all angles and legs , be interested to see how he grows on

Baby Puppy Bitch:1

1st Mays Lussac Bewitched

If there was an award for the dog I would have taken home today it would have been this one!! Lovely 5.5 month puppy with a sweet melting expression, dark mischievous eye and small ears , nice neck and good depth in her body, good bone and feet, in lovely coat , well let down hocks, moves out super confidently Best Baby Puppy In Show

Dogs

Minor Puppy:1

McConnell Thurwitt Black Jack at Torrweaving

Nicely balanced 8 month old puppy , very nicely shaped head with kind dark eye, good length of neck into a well laid back shoulder, strong legs with good feet, well ribbed up and correct loin length, well developed hindquarters , his movement was all over the place due to his puppy exhuberance but what I could see I liked!

Puppy: 4

Tricky class with pups at very different stages of development and behaviour!

1st Bellamy and Nicklin Moontorn Count On Me

10 month old well grown with good bone and feet, kind head and expression but would prefer a more refined head , good depth of body for his age with enough layback of shoulder, good spring of rib, correct loin to rib ratio,good tailset and ever wagging tail, nicely muscled rearquarters with well let down hocks, he covered the ground well but has a tendency to over reach which cost him in the Best puppy challenge.

2nd Bowens Clandrift Make It Funky

Preferred the head on this boy , hope his eyes tighten , nice ear set, decent length of neck into nice forequarters, good bone and feet, nice rib to loin ratio, well muscled rearquarters , a shade out of coat, nice attitude, he was carrying just a shade too much weight over his shoulders which spoilt his movement and outline

3rd Hollands Flatcharm Paper snow A Ghost

Best head in the class and liked his size, kind eye and expression with nice neck into a decent forechest, good depth through his body with adequate spring in his rib, correct loin length, well muscled rearquarters and lovely topline and tailset, unfortunately he decided that he couldn’t get his legs to go in the right direction on the move and was all over the place, I would like to see him again once his brain clicks in!

Junior: 4

Walker & Roberts Gloi Dubh Mormaer JW

Medium sized boy with a lovely head and expression, small ears, a little short in neck but not stuffy, would prefer more layback of shoulder and return of upper arm as he can throw his front around on the move, nice depth through the body and correct loin length, , carries himself confidently holds a nice topline and tailset on the move, lovely attitude

2nd Harris Ronevorg Highland Whisper Of Siancala

Very different type to 1 , heavier set all through, good bone, nice head although a shade strong in back skull, kind expression with dark eyes and well set ears, deep through his body , well developed rearquarters, moves out nicely behind once he goes in a straight line, would benefit from losing some weight.

3rd Riach Thrillerbark Ardroil

A bigger boy and giving a lot away in maturity as he was just a year, nice head and expression, good neck , a little upright in his front assembly but has a good depth in his body , a little long in the rib but his loin is correct , moves out freely , well handled.

Yearling ; 4

1st Blains Rotherfield Made To Last At Steelriver

Liked this boys breed type although he is a bit legs and wings at the moment, lovely head and kind cheeky expression, dark eye and small ears, nice neck , would prefer more layback of shoulder and return of upper arm, nice bone and feet, adequate depth of body and spring through the rib, correct loin to rib ratio, I would prefer more width of second thigh , nicely let down hocks. He’s quite a handful on the move and I’d love to see him moved on a lose lead but the movement I saw was ground covering and with drive.

2nd Brights Hopevalley Morning Magic JW

Lovely head and kind mischievous expression, small ears and lovely neck, he is a shade upright in front and narrower through than 1, correct length to rib length, well muscled and developed rearquarters with good width of second thigh , good topline and tailset, in nice coat and condition, flowed well in the ring but not the drive and reach of the 1st dog .

3rd Harris Ronevorg Highland Whisper Of Siancala

Graduate: 2

1st Sullivans Wyrebeck Shockwave

Medium sized liver in good coat and condition , I would prefer more length in his muzzle and fill between his eyes but they are a super colour to match his coat, a bit short in neck which makes him upright and straight in the shoulder, nice bone and feet good depth through his body, super rearquarters , good width of second thigh and well let down hocks, lovely muscle tone , he covers the ground well with drive but lacks a bit of reach in front, another I would love to see moved on a lose lead but his wonderful lively flatcoat temperament makes him a handful to handle

2nd McCormicks Cacis February Air with Sambreagh

This dog had the best head I saw all day, so typical of the breed , dark eye and a kind expression, lovely bone , deep through the body, adequate return of upper arm, , well developed rearquarters , sadly he would not play ball on the move and just didn’t get going .

Post Graduate: 3

Not a big class but 3 boys very similar in type and size which was promising

1st Halls Hightyne Night Train

Extremely well balanced moderate medium boy, from every angle he oozed Flatcoat , not overdone or flashy in any way , kind well moulded head with dark eye and small ears , good neck into well constructed forequarters, good brisket ( something I found lacking today) enough layback of shoulder to give him a moderate reach in front , good depth with a gradual spring of rib , correct length of loin and super well muscled rearquarters, on the move he was so true going away from me with drive, holding a nice topline with correct tailset, handled to perfection and excellently presented in a full coat and trimmed correctly, DCC and BIS

2nd Walker and Roberts Gloi Dubh Kristofer Robin JW

Quality medium size male with a kind head and expression, dark eye and correct eye placement and shape, lovely bone and strong feet, nice layback of shoulder and spring of rib , strong rearquarters, moving well , covering the ground with ease, just a shade heavy over his shoulders and not in the best coat

3rd Aulds Bitcon Midnight Dream

Another lovely sized male with a typical mischeivious expression, a little short in neck and he was upright in the shoulders , good bone and feet, adequate spring of rib, a little short in loin, nice rearquarters, well let down hocks, moved ok but was playing his handler up and threw himself about , superbly presented coat.

Limit :6 (1)

1st Sullivans Wyrebeck Caught By Surprise

Quality male of the right size, nicely shaped head but would prefer a better eye shape and colour , super front construction , good bone and feet, good depth of body and spring through the rib, would prefer a fraction more length of loin, well developed rearquarters with a good width of second thigh and well let down hocks, holds his topline well on the move and presented in super condition, well handled on a lose lead.

2nd Brights Hopevalley Morning Phantom SGWC

A more elegant dog than 1, lovely head and expression, nice neck, would prefer a better return of upper arm as he stands quite upright , nice depth through the body and gradual spring of rib, well developed rearquarters and well let down hocks, moves out with drive and keeps a lovely topline, in nice coat

3rd Clarks Hurstclough Night Owl at Flanova

Different type to the first 2 and not as mature at only 3 years, would prefer a more typical head but he has a kind eye, nice bone and feet, would prefer a better layback of shoulder, he needs to deepen through the body but that will come with age, moves out nicely behind.

Open: 5(1)

Mays Ronevorg Dark Angel At Lussac ShCEx JW SGWC OSW

Lovely medium sized boy that’s so balanced, kind head with soft expression and good eye colour and shape, being ultra critical I would prefer more refinement , nicely constructed front assembly with strong oval bone and good feet, good depth of body and lovely spring through the rib, correct loin to rib ration and strong rear quarters with cracking muscle tone, well let down hocks , he moved out with power and drive once moved on a loser lead as he wants to fight against it ! Sadly he had dropped a lot of his coat so once stood in the challenge against more finished dogs he had to concede .

2nd Harvey Moontorn Black Magic

Larger boy and a little heavy in the head, but a nice expression, good strong bone and feet, he has good front assembly and is deep through the body with good spring of rib, although he has a long ribcage and short loin he appears quite long in the body, nice topline and tailset carried well on the move, would prefer more width of second thigh, he moves out well with drive.

3rd Macphersons Rachanmill Columbo

Unlucky to meet the first 2, I did like this boy, he is top size for me but he has the nicest head shape and kind expression, good neck , nice front with enough layback of shoulder, good bone and feet , nice depth through the chest and good spring of rib, a shade long in loin, nice rearquarters , on the move he covered the ground nicely but not quite the topline and tailset of 1 & 2, beautifully handled

Veteran :3

1st Stevensons Shch/Ir Ch Plainfires The Captain Of My Heart Is Steelriver (imp Che) ShCex VW

I can understand why this dog has won so much,9 years old kind head, lovely expression , dark eye , super shape, well set ears , good neck, super front, bone and feet , deep through the body with great spring of rib , he is a shade long for me, his rearquarters are well muscled and he has good width of second thigh and well let down hocks, he powers around the ring covering the ground well but there is just too much of him for me when looking for a racy medium sized dog , when competing against the bitch he had the better feet. Best Veteran In Show

2nd Blains Ronevorg Im A Believer In Steelriver

7 years old, racy and medium sized with a lovely head and expression, good neck, would prefer more layback of shoulder , adequate depth and spring of rib, shorter in loin, well muscled rearquarters but would prefer more width of second thigh , he was hard to assess on the move as he was fighting against his handler but once he settled I saw enough to establish he had good reach and drive.

3rd McCormicks Steelriver Suns Up

10 year old with a lovely head and kind soft expression, dark eye, clean neck , good bone and the best feet although he tends to overknuckle in front and that makes him appear upright in the shoulder, I would prefer more return of upper arm, deep through the body with a gradual spring of rib, his age sadly has caught up with him and he slopes off in topline and tends to crouch when standing which leaves him close behind, and I would really like more width of thigh ,he still has great muscle tone but did not cover the ground as positively as 1 & 2 and his topline is a bit soft, still a lovely example of the breed

Champion: 2

1st Ansons Sh Ch Rotherfield Secret Code

Very nice elegant racy male, not yet 3 years old so I’m sure he has great things ahead as he matures( which this breed needs to) , lovely head with soft expression, good eye colour and shape, nice neck into a we;; constructed front, good bone and feet although being super critical he can be a bit lazy on the stand and can drop onto his pasterns, something he doesn’t do on the move and when standing naturally , he has enough depth in the chest with adequate spring of rib, lovely length of rib to loin ratio, good rearquarters, super topline and tailset which he carries so well on the move, in great coat and condition which was the decider when up against the lovely open winner for the RCC.

2nd Bowens Ch Clandrift Bring Me Sunshine JW KCWGC SGWC ShCEx OSW

A lovely full champion that I have done well in the past, sadly he left his clothes at home and looked extremely immature even up against a dog his own age! Kind head and lovely expression, good layback of shoulder, enough depth through the body and a gradual spring in the rib, nice rearquarters, he moves out well but lacked the drive of the winner.

Bitches

Minor Puppy : 3 (1)

1st Markillie Hopevalley Morning Minuet

A lovely sized bitch with a sweet head and expression but would prefer a better eye shape and placement. Good neck and adequate front although she was carrying a bit of weight which made her roll over her shoulders, she covers the gound ok but would like more extension in front, she is in superb coat

2nd Bellamys Moonstruck Im On Fire With Moontorn

What a lovely deep liver puppy, super well moulded head with good eye colour for a liver, lovely clean neck into nice forequarters, good bone and feet , a typical baby with limbs all over the place at the moment, once she settles I am sure she will trouble the best as she is so true on the move

Puppy: 7 (2)

1st Walker & Roberts Seaheart Frida at Gloi JW

Extremely feminine puppy with a lovely head , dark kind eye and sweet expression, she is a bit short in neck and I would more layback of shoulder but for a puppy of her age she is so balanced , super coat and condition, good depth of chest and lovely spring through the rib with correct rib to loin ratio, very good rearquarters , with well let down hocks, she moved well covering the ground well, I would prefer her to move a bit cleaner in front but she is only a baby and this may come.

2nd Bowens Clandrift Funky Angel

Nicely sized pup with a pretty head and soft expression, nice front and depth of body, she does dip behind the shoulders a bit on the stand and I am sure once she muscles up this will right itself, moved out well , a bit short on coat and needs more animation on the move.

3rd Bellamys Moontorn Chasing The Dream

Nicely balanced puppy but I would prefer a more traditional refined head ,,her eye shape is a shade round and the colour could be darker, body wise she has a nice front with a well laid shoulder, good bone and feet , nice depth through the body , strong rearquarters , she moves out well but has a tendency to toe in coming towards you

Junior : 9

1st Mackessack Leitch Badcall Midwinter Dream At Inchsteille

Lovely girl , extremely well balanced , nice head and expression, good bone and feet , would prefer more layback of shoulder , correct rib to loin ration, well developed rearquarters with good width thoughout , strong rear which enabled her to drive around the ring with a good topline and tailset , in super coat and condition, I will be watching her with interest

2nd Whitakers Jetstarski Run Like Hell JW

Another super bitch in lovely coat and condtion, just preferred the head of 1, she has a nice head but would prefer more refinement and a better shaped eye and colour. Nice front construction and a super body , I would prefer more width of second thigh and she is a shade high on her hock but she moves out nicely , covering the ground well , has a tendency to lose her topline and fly her tail a shade as she gets faster!

3rd Gales Willowswind Skylark

Different shape of bitch, taller and more elegant with a beautiful one piece head, shes a little narrow through and needs to drop into her body and fill her ribs, a little long in loin , holds her topline on the move well and covers the ground effortlessly.

Yearling: 6

1st Romeo Dieste Hopevalley Morning Xanadu JW

Medium sized with a lovely well moulded head and dark eye, good neck, nice bone and feet, I would prefer more layback of shoulder and return of upper arm , deep enough through the body , gradual spring of rib and short in loin, good rearquarters with moderate bend of stifle, nicely let down hocks, moved out well keeping her topline and tailset correct, beautifully turned out

2nd Mackessack Leitch Badcall Midwinter Dream At Inchsteille ( 2nd in Junior)

3rd Wrights Rotherfield One Last Look

Really liked this young girl but she was quite nude! Pretty head and nice expression, nice neck, well constructed front, she still needs to drop in her body but the potential is all there, she moved really well.

Graduate: 5

1st Huytons Hightyne Guns and Roses

I really liked this bitch, it’s a shame she is not more animated and enjoying her showing as I am sure she has a great future, the prettiest of heads with a dark eye and soft intelligent expression, she still needs to drop into her body but has clean tight elbows although would prefer a bit more return of upper arm, gradual spring of rib and a firm tidy rear end with well let down hocks, super topline and tailset, covers the ground well and in nice coat and condition.

2nd Mackessack Leitch Cacis The Jewel Of June At Inchstellie JW

Rangier girl with a nice head, good eye colour, well set on ears. Good neck, nice enough front although would prefer more layback of shoulder, tight elbows, needs a shade more spring in her rib and she is a bit long in loin, well muscled rearquarters , would prefer more width of second thigh, moves out soundly , covered the ground well in good coat.

3rd Bowens Clandrift Funky Angel ( 2nd in puppy)

Post Graduate : 8

1st Moxeys Dymexe My Cherie Amour JW

Lovely sized girl with the most beautiful head and soft expression, clean neck , deep through the body, she stands a little upright in front I would prefer a better layback of shoulder and return of upper arm , she has tight elbows onto her chest and stands on super tight feet with lovely bone, a gradual spring of rib and a short loin, well muscled rearquarters , lacked a little in second thigh, on the move she covers the ground with purpose and elegance with a super tail action, just in between coats currently.

2nd Riach Aricdell Kraienkoppe at Thrillerbark

Larger framed bitch but nothing overdone about her, really took my eye, nice head with kind expression and wide nostrils , nice neck leading into a deep body with good bone and OK feet, gradual spring of rib, short in loin,strong rearquarters , just a shade straight in stifle but she moved out very true fore and aft, a really nice type.

3rd Sullivans Wyrebeck Live Forever

Another medium sized girl , nice head but would prefer a better eye shape and colour, pleasing neck and good front, nice depth of body , good rib to loin ratio, well muscled rearquarters with well let down hocks although would prefer a bit more width of second thigh, nice topline and tailset held on the move, nicely handled.

Limit: 8

This was a tricky class with type all over the place

1st Mellors Flatcharm Guilty Pleasure

A larger framed and racier girl in super coat and condition , nice head with kind eye, neat ears, good neck into a deep body, good bone but would prefer better feet. A decent front, she is a shade long in loin for me, strong rearquarters but would prefer more width of second thigh and lower hocks . She has a super topline and tailset which she holds beautifully on the move , her side profile is wonderful but she was a shade untidy coming towards me .

2nd Rees Braemist New Moon For Eskwinds

I really liked this bitch but she was so naughty!! Absolutely my shape and type, lovely well moulded head with kind eye, clean neck and well developed forequarters, good bone and feet, nice depth of body and spring of rib,short loin, strong rearquarters and well let down hocks, she just refused to play ball on the move despite giving her a number of chances, the movement I did manage to see was fluid and sound.

3rd Mackessack Leitch Finhamspride Kia at Inchstellie

Nice sized girl with pretty head although a little wide in back skull, she is a bit short in her neck which makes her look a bit stuffy over the shoulders but she has good depth, nice bone and ok feet. Good rib to loin ration, nice rearquarters with nice muscle tone ( as did all of this exhibitors dogs) well presented, handler needs to stop fiddling with her as she stands perfectly nicely without any intervention , moved out well.

Open : 3

1st Bellamys Sh Ch Moontorn Better Half Of Me JW ShCEx OSW

Lovely sized bitch in superb coat and condition, nice head with dark eye and mischievous expression, good neck leading into well constructed forequarters, superb brisket ( desperately lacking across the whole entry today) deep through the body with the required gradual spring of rib and a short loin, super square rearquarters with well let down hocks which she used to her advantage on the move, covering the ground with ease and holding her topline well, she was the most typy and finished bitch on the day and was superbly turned out and handled to take the BCC.

2nd Grants Westoncruive Black Aurora

A different type of bitch and not the finish but a lot to like, moderate all over, pleasing head with soft kind expression, nice neck, adequate forequarters and good depth of chest, strong oval bone and good feet, square rearquarters, moved out positively with good drive.

3rd Rees Ravencrag Jump Over The Moon To Eskwinds

Nearly 7 years old and a shade heavy all over, really nice head and sweet expression, deep through the body, would prefer a better front as she is rather straight in the shoulder , tailset a little low, moved out ok

Veteran : 3

Super class of champion older ladies!

1st Whitakers Sh Ch Evening Mist Black Brianta

7 years old and so much to like, super head shape with nice eye shape, would prefer eyes a shade darker but it is hazel which is correct, clean neck into a super front with good brisket, strong bone, but her feet were not her fortune sadly. Nice depth of body , correct rib to loin ratio, super strong rearquarters with well let down hocks, she really motors around the ring with a lovely tail action and super topline , really nit picking for the RCC but the feet lost it for her! BVB

2nd Thompsons Sh Ch Cacis The Dream catcher at Badcall

Slightly larger bitch but so balanced , really lovely head and expression , another with a super front and brisket , deep body with a gradual spring of rib , strong rearquarters and good tailset, she covered the ground well but not quite the elegance of 1, still a lovely bitch.

3rd Mcdonalds Sh Ch Steelriver Dance In The Sun at Skyloch VW

This lovely typy little bitch completed a cracking trio of veterans , aged 10 she just had to concede to the younger girls as her topline was not quite as strong, pretty head and kind expression, lovely depth of body , good spring of rib and short loin, nice rearquarters and in super coat and condition.

Champion : 7 ( 2)

1st Romeo Dieste Sh Ch Hopevalley Morning Wicked

Such a lovely bitch , oozes breed type, pretty head and kind eye, lovely clean neck into nice forequarters, deep in the body with a gradual spring of rib, short loin, square strong rearquarters with well let down hocks, moves out so elegantly with drive keeping her topline well, she was just throwing her coat and that was the deciding factor, very well handled and loving her time in the ring, RCC

2nd Drottsgard Swe/Dk Ch Moonstruck Thinking Black

Loved this bitch for her size and substance , the kindest head with a lovely eye shape and colour, clean neck, nice front but would prefer more return of upper arm, deep in the body with super bone and feet, short loin, super strong and square rearquarters , moves out nicely with ever wagging tail, just a shade untidy coming towards me which cost her the class as she really is delightful with a super attitude

3rd Huytons Sh Ch Hightyne Rambling Rose

Lovely medium sized girl with pretty head and kind expression , nice clean neck , adequate front but would prefer a bit more layback of shoulder , good depth of body and correct rib to loin ratio, well developed rearquarters , in fabulous coat and condition, moving out nicely behind but would prefer more reach in front, beautifully handled.

Judge Gemma Jacobs