Sheringham & District Kennel Association

Sheringham and District Kennel Association

14th September 2025.

Retriever (Golden), Spaniels (Cocker) and Spaniel (Welsh Springer)

I am very grateful for being asked to judge at this show. Thank you to Jacky Cutler and the rest of the Committee. Although a long day, the well thought out Judges’ reception helped power us through.

Thank you to Sheridan Turner and Paula Taylor- Kistner for their excellent running of the ring. Their assistance was second to none and the exhibitors knew exactly what was required of them. Many thanks.

I am happy to report that with excellent ring sizes, it was easy to interpret the movement of the charges on show. I was overwhelmed to receive a fantastic entry in two of the three breeds I was judging, which was all the better when considering it was Gundog Day at Darlington Championship on the same day. So, many thanks to all who brought their lovely dogs under me.

As per my normal prologue, I will always seek good movement. As the cliché goes, a dog doesn’t move on its head, but if they move right, they are built right. I am happy to say that many of the exhibits on show, not only presented me with this, but also showed good type, making for difficult decisions. However, this had to give way on a few occasions to enable the breed standard to be followed as closely as possible.

Retriever (Golden)

I felt very blessed with the dogs that came under me, because for type, some lovely examples on show in every class.

Class: 42 - Puppy (5,1)

1. 81 - Furbank’s KAYZAELLE KUMBUKA PEACE – 10-month bitch that was full of type. Presented hair- perfect in an already quite full, light cream coloured coat. Showing balance throughout. Feminine in appearance head construction. Breadth seen to skull and strength to muzzle. Lovely soft expression coming from dark brown eye, set well apart on definitive stop. Dark rims in keeping with nasal mucosal pigment, which showed width. Workings present under eye. Moderately sized ears set just in line with the bottom corner eye. These hung neatly next to neck. A rounded finish to the head eased the transition into the clean, muscular, yet graceful neck. There was a lot of balance in this young girl, which was evident in the proportional neck length, also. Shoulders had super set and were of correct angulation and good proportions. Down at elbow and super width to front. Very appealing. Full in spring to rib. Good in level topline. Short coupled, length and width to croup. Tail set on level with back line. Rear angulation in keeping with front. Loved the width to upper and second thigh. A lot of balance to this lovely youngster and making a lovely outline in the stack. Moved the best in the class, showing good drive from rear and topped with good reach from front. Good width to front apparent, also. Although sound in a lot of her movement already, still showing a little bit of her young age, which I am sure will improve further in time. All the best with her progression. Although not placed in the puppy group, she looked excellent. BP

2. 79 - Davis’s LYNSTE DREAM BOY (AI) – 9-month boy that was different in style to that of first. None the less still very appealing from being presented in a golden coat that had a little movement. He had the loveliest personality that was only heightened by his soft expression, on a male head. Dark eye of correct proportions to size of skull and, set well, with width and good prominence to stop. Certainly, had the desired amount of workings under eye. Lovley head planes with good balance of muzzle to cranium. Muzzle of good depth and strength. Colouration and shape to neat ears, was appealing and blended well with coat. Strength to neck that transitioned well into shoulders. Upper arm and scapular of proportional length, with straight foreleg. Well boned. Good width to chest. Down at elbow to sprung ribs. Strength to loin that gave a lovely flat topline. Width over croup was clear to see. Excellent width to upper thigh. Short in straight hocks, providing the foundations for good rear angulation. He moved out with a free steady gait on the around and width behind on the away. Just pushed down into second. Another dog that shows potential, after a little maturing.

3. 83 - Maynard’s WEISFORD BORN OF THE SEA TO CHINNORDALE.

Class: 43 – Special Yearling (4,1)

1. 79 - Davis’s LYNSTE DREAM BOY (AI) - (please see critique for 2nd in puppy).

2. 85 – Middleton-Collins’s BERRYMEADE DREAM ON WITH JASPERLEIGH JW – 13-month dog that was presented extremely well in a rich golden coat. Very appealing and can see why he had 2 letters after his name. quite balanced in profile, making the stack quite appealing. Well off for type in head proportions with good planes and proportions from skull to foreface. Clean in finish to foreface and jaw, also. Trimmings of black pigmentation to lips and wide nose, which complemented coat very well. This pigmentation carried through in the eye rims that surrounded the darkest of brown medium sized eye that were sitting well apart, on a stop of good prominence. Workings in keeping with head proportions and not overdone. Ears set on well in terms of eye plane. Again, strength to neck was visible, and showed good reach. Well angled front construction, with good length to scapular. Straight front. Legs well positioned under body, with elbows tight. Excellent bone and prominence to prosternum. Level topline and good length to body. Well sprung ribs. Good bend of stifle showing balance to the front construction. Showed good reach and footfall on the around. Presented in such good coat and condition, with a lot of body to like, especially when you got your hands into the lovely coat. A lot to like.

3. 82 – Healey’s MARSABIT CELTIC HARP.

Class: 44 – Limit (5,2)

1. 82 – Healey’s MARSABIT CELTIC HARP – 17-month bitch that although came 3rd in the previous class, came on leaps and bounds when moved by a different handler and showed her true form in this class. A paler golden girl in a coat volume indicative of age and gender. Feminine in typical head, showing leanness to show off her workings to the zygomatic arch. Almost black in pretty eye. Mascara like trimmings around eye. Well off for prominence to stop that was accentuated by strength to eyebrows. Ears nice and tight, of moderate size. Clean in strong neck. Long in shoulder blade that was well laid back. Straight in front. Down at elbow with good spring to rib. Good rear angulation, with short hocks. In this and subsequent class, moved around the ring with drive and good reach. She also showed good width behind on the up and back, which was well received. Very happy to hear that this gained the last points for her JW. Many congratulations.

2. 80 – Fleet’s WATERBABIES KALAKUTA TO EASTBURY (IMP ITA) – 3-year-old bitch that stood well, in a pale cream coat. She was a little different in overall appearance to that of my other winners. A little racier, and shorter in leg, but none the less, still very much in keeping with breed. Refined and feminine in appearance to head and body. Dark in medium sized eye that had a very soulful expression. Black in rims. Wide in nostril. Excellent workings under eye, with medial furrow also aiding with definition. Balance in head proportions of skull to muzzle. Breadth to skull present. Ear size and placement correct. These hung close to lovely length of neck that flowed seamlessly into a well-laid-back shoulder. Good depth of chest, that was down at tight elbows. Strong loin and proportional width over loin. Proportional strength to rear and a good width of upper thigh. Bend of stifle in keeping with rest of exhibit. Hocks well let down that enabled her to move around the ring with good drive.

3. 88 – Rounce and Tye’s BERRYMEADE WINTER LOVE.

Class: 45 – Open (6,1)

1. 74 – Barber’s MESSANO JUST GOOD FRIENDS WITH SWANSREACH – 5-year-old dog that was very eye catching in the free stack. Presented in a full, mid-golden coat of beautiful texture. For me, I felt this exhibit had one of the best profiles and movement, on the day. Very pleasing in the free stack and in keeping with my interpretation of breed type. Lovely and strong in male head appearance, without being overly so. Darkest pigmentation to well-developed nose. Well-proportioned head, with a deep muzzle that was strong and wide, which enabled breadth to skull. Lovely amount of workings to zygomatic arch that helped frame such a deeply expressive dark eye. Soft brows and dark pigmented surrounds assisted to complete the picture that sat on and around a stop of good rise. The head fitted the hand so very well. Ears of moderate size and lovely texture, sitting well on with eyes. Excellent strength, thickness and reach to neck that elegantly flowed into excellent front construction. This showed supper lay-back of shoulders that had correct angulation and proportions to scapular and humerus. Elbows closely fitted and yet allowed for good width to chest and prominence to prosternum. good depth of ribs which were well sprung and down at elbow. Short coupled, with strength to loin. This allowed for a super, level topline that was held very well on the move. Gentle slope to wide croup, allowed a correct tail carriage. Lovely rear angulation and strong rear quarters that gave rise to muscular first and second thigh. Short in hock. Well-muscled throughout. Showed excellent drive from rear and reached out from front, on the around. Moved out as one with handler and showed biddable characteristics to the fullest. BOB

2. 87 – Roper’s CATNNELS INSIDE STORY FOR BRENSHAM SGWC VW – 10.5-year-old dog that did not show his age at all. I really loved this boy. Not only from his type, but his adorable disposition and his fantastic movement, especially for his age. Instantly eye catching with his full rich golden coat that is still in super condition. Strong in masculine head, with the softest, but happy/merry male expression. This came from dark eye of moderate size and black eye-liner-like rims. Excellent amount of workings all round, gave so much expression. Strong in muzzle that was very similar in proportion from tip of blackest nose to prominent stop, through to back of skull. Depth and strength to muzzle was certainly apparent. Ears clung closely to that well developed cranium. Solid in clean neck that was in proportion to the rest of the make-up of the dog. Easy transition into strong, well made, front construction. This assembly provided the sound groundwork for excellent width to chest and prominence to prosternum. Chest was down at elbow and super spring ribs. The solid muscle he still had, showed truly in his strong, short, coupled loin, giving him a flat topline in the stack and he held on the move. Loved the width to upper thigh that surrounded, well angled back end, that mirrored his front, with good bend at stifle. Short in hock. So strong in bone throughout was easily apparent. Excellent in feet, also. Tail lashed, level with back on the move. Although a little slower, his movement was super. Hocks upright and moved in a regimented action. Plenty of width behind and to the front. True footfall on the around. Really nice movement. Well done to keep this boy in such good shape. Placed in the AV Vet group. RBOB.

3. 82 – Healey’s MARSABIT CELTIC HARP.

BOB - 74 – Barber’s MESSANO JUST GOOD FRIENDS WITH SWANSREACH (from Open).

RBOB - 87 – Roper’s CATNNELS INSIDE STORY FOR BRENSHAM SGWC VW (from Open).

BP - 81 - Furbank’s KAYZAELLE KUMBUKA PEACE (from Puppy).

Spaniel (Cocker)

As a collective, I think this has been one of, if not the best, breed of dogs I have had the pleasure of judging. Some very difficult decisions were made, which I am very happy to report. Many of the exhibits were full of type, which was lovely to see. My only points I would like to make is that several of the charges on show were a touch weighty in my opinion and that there were several with knots under the front construction. If these points were to be amended, I am sure that several of these exhibits would change places in the future. Could not fault the temperaments on all the exhibits.

Class: 54 – Puppy (2,0)

1. 117 – Brothwell’s ANNILANN DA BUSINESS AT WISSANT – 8-month dog that stood in a lovely, blue roan coat, with roan being the predominant effect. Super head and expression. Square in muzzle on dark coloured head. Lovely width to nose that was obviously used for scent work. Super expressive eye that was full and darkest of dark. Tight in darkest rims that melded with coat and eye colour. Nice raise to brows that emphasised his already bright, intriguing expression. Working to foreface and zygomatic arch were apparent for everyone to see, without being profuse. Well off for rise to stop, set in the mean of the cranial construction. Lobular ears set low on level with eyes and of good length, hanging neatly next to head. Neck proportional in its strength and reach, to rest of body. Effortless flow into fine, well laid shoulders. Excellent front construction that showed correct angulation and proportions. Plenty of bone was apparent, also. Chest down at elbow, showing width. Compact certainly described this young man. Well sprung ribs and strength over loin. This was evident from his topline being solid and level, even for one so young. In rear construction, much to complement the front. Balance to upper and second thigh. Plenty of width enabling drive when he went round the ring. On the move did not put a foot wrong, showed excellent busily action. Plenty of reach on the around and width to front and behind on the up and back. Correct in tail carriage that was very good to see. Moved best in class. Puppy weight aside, a proper little cocker in the making. Congratulation on your well-deserved BP and PGr2.

2. 126 – Collings’s AYLESMEAD BLU ROSE AT COLMANDAKEV – a blue roan, bitch of some 11-month that was darker in coat than that of first and still very appealing. Refined in bitch head. More compact than her ring counterpart. Certainly, square in finish to muzzle. lovely in prominence to stop. Good workings under eye that again showed lovely expression of being bright and happy. Eyes full that fit the skull well. Ears of correct length, reaching nose. Strong in neck that was clean. Very well laid-back shoulders that were fine. Straight in foreleg. Down at elbow and well sprung ribs. Very strong over loin. Width over croup of good placement. Angulation to front and aft in balance. Good width again seen to upper and second thigh. Although she initially allowed her youth to get the better of her, she calmed down a treat and showed true action on the up and back. Well off for reach on the around and correct in footfall.

Class: 55 – Special Yearling (9,3)

1. 129 – Davies’s RYALLCOURT HAPPY DANCE OF PEACEVALE – 21-month bitch that was instantly eye catching from her superbly presented full coat. Predominantly white and black, with roan. Quite a feminine young lady that had lovely type to head. Correct in square finish to muzzle. Lovely, shaped eye of darkest brown, fell on black pattern that was very appealing, when surrounded by eye liner black trim. These were positioned well on clear stop. Cranial construction was very appealing and although presenting her as a bitch, neither too fine nor too coarse, shaping into the hand well. Ears, of pleasing texture, well set on low, in line with corner tip of eye. Strength to elegant neck that rolled well into great front assembly. Fine at shoulders, showing good angulation and substance. For me, strongest in class for shoulder construction and angulation. Chest down at elbow. Very well off for height to length ratio. Well sprung ribs, for a youngster, and strength to short loin, allowing her to show a good topline. Width to croup that showed good fall and tail placement. Rear angulation and construction in keeping with front, good bend at stifle. Well-muscled throughout for age. Impressed on the move showing excellent reach and drive and her lovely little character. One of the best weighted cockers on the day. A little more maturing will make this girl.

2. 143 – Wildman’s WILANORA PERFIK SCOUNDREL AT CHANNMALO – 14-month dog that was presented in a very dark blue roan coat. This was unlucky to come up against 1st as on his day, will push up the order. As with other exhibits, this boy had plenty of type and I loved his black head. Beautiful expression. Clean in finish to muzzle, wide in black coloured nose that blended with coat so well. Rise and position of stop in skull, pleasing. Again, super dark eye with black surround, making the head proportions come together as one and in keeping with coat. Ear set well. Strong in male neck construction that effortlessly flowed into shoulders. The angulation was amply assisted by the roan pattern that emphasised his correct front angulation. Straight in leg. Decent width to front, with depth to brisket. Very well sprung ribs and strong over loin. Wide over croup. Rounded hindquarters was pleasing to see. This was put to good use on the move showing drive from the rear and clean pads. Held tail well.

3. 135 – Messers Hutton-Barbour’s BABTONKELPIE GALLEY QUEEN.

Class: 56 – Limit (7,1)

1. 119 – Brothwell’s WISSANT DEAR DARLIN – 4-year-old bitch, that stood in a dark blue roan coat and impressed in the stack from her overall balance, that won her the class. Well off for head construction with a good ratio of muzzle to skull length. Dark eye, surrounded by dark pigment, on black canvas. Seen of the coat dictated the more than ample workings to foreface. When observed from the front, these were boarded by pendulous ears that were positioned very low on head, making the overall very female head aesthetics very appealing. Strong in neck with neat transition into fine shoulders and complete front assembly. Good width to chest without being overly done. Prominence to prosternum. Down at elbow and excellent spring to ribs. Short coupled and strong loin. Excellent width over croup. Strong and wide muscle to upper thigh. I felt she moved best in the class, with width behind and good action on the around. Very much everything in proportion with each other.

2. 140 – Randall’s FENGRANGE DEFENDER BOY – 2-year-old boy that I found quite appealing indeed. Stood in a full blue roan coat that was groomed very well. Strong in male head and overall appearance. Almost square in the stack. Square in finish to strong muzzle. Good balance seen between muscle proportion and skull. Lovely dark eye that was full but not prominent. These were set well on skull, with good width and parted by good rise to stop. All very in keeping with colour to coat. Good length to ears that extended to nose tip of silky texture. These were set on low, level with eyes. Ears hung neatly next to strong neck, showing appealing reach. This allowed for an easy transition into a male thoracic region. Appealing front construction, showing correct angulation, and straight for limbs. Down at elbow, good spring to ribs, short in loin, width over croup with good slope to tail set. Rear angulation in balance with front. Good bend at Stifle and short hock. Good reach to drive and width behind on the move. Only just pushed to second.

3. 121 – Brown’s POPEBEL LIMITED EDITION.

Class: 57 – Open (9,2)

Very tough class. as I was splitting hairs between 1st and 2nd, with one or two others that could have been in contention. However, I thought my first two placing were absolutely excellent. Many thanks to all.

1. 141 – Randall’s PLAIGLEN SUNSHINE WITH FENGRANGE – 3-year-old bitch that I loved from as soon as she entered the ring. Certainly had a presence in the stack and on the move, with everything in balance. Beautifully presented in a blue roan coat that was full and had a little movement. Square in finish to muzzle. this was the beginning of the beautifully refined, clean female head. Super amount of workings to zygomatic arch that was only accentuated by her adornment. Very dark colouration to full eye. These were framed by black pigmentation, blending into the black colouration to the cranium. Sitting perfectly on a distinctive stop and fitting on a skull of balanced proportions and retaining her femininity. Balance seen between lengths of occiput to stop and stop to tip of black nose. This all came together to produce a beautiful expression. Pendulous ears of silky texture, were of length that reached the tip of the nose and hung closely to side of head and neck, reaching almost to prosternum. Framing that expression so well. strong in clean neck, showing proportional reach. This meandered into a super fine shoulder of correct angulation, effortlessly. Scapular and upper arm of balanced length, giving rise to prominence to prosternum. Straight in forelegs that had plenty of bone. Brisket down at elbow and chest having suitable width. Super spring of ribs, with short coupling. Strong over loin that provided the grounds for a level topline. Body strong and compact, showing excellent overall shape. Lovely angulation to wide croup that allowed a gentle slope to tail from pin-bones. Correct in tail placement, slightly lower than back level. Well-muscled and rounded rear end arose from the upper and second thigh. Bend at stifle was correct and in balance with that of the angulation of the front. She had such attitude on the move and owned the ring. She did not faulter after being moved several times and kept to the bustling action. Width on the up and back was present and true footfall on the around. Topline didn’t waver and as did the tail action that did not leave level of the back. BOB and Gr2.

2. 137 – Keely’s SH CH OAKBEACH DARE TO DREAM BIG WITH ALHAMBIAN (IMP SWE) – 5-year-old male that I thought was so lovely and one of two stand-out dogs on the day. Extremely close to first. Very imposing in the stack and moved very well, also. Presented in a dark blue roan coat. Strong in male head with balance in head proportions. Lovely finish to square muzzle. Foreface having excellent workings. Dark eye that certainly showed the bright and merry characteristic which was very much in keeping with dark coat and pigmentation to mucosal skin. Prominence to stop that aided that gorgeous expression. A rather complete male head. Ears set on low that again were of perfect length to tip of nose. Super reach of strong neck that was complementary to rest of body proportions. Excelled in front construction, with well laid shoulders, width to chest, prosternum prominence and strongly boned legs. Deep short-coupled body that was well ribbed. Super strong over loin. Loved the width over croup that also glided into set of tail. Well-rounded in rear end that was very muscular in all aspects. Moved soundly covering the ground effortlessly with reach and drive on the around, showing typical breed action. Width also seen behind on the up and back. A very invidious position to put this lovely exhibit into second, but only just pushed on type preference, for me. Presented and handled beautifully. RBOB.

3. 127 – Collings’s CHATIVORE SEA PEBBLE AT COLMANDAKEV- very honourable mention in a tough class.

BOB & Gr2 - 141 – Randall's PLAIGLEN SUNSHINE WITH FENGRANGE (from Open).

RBOB - 137 – Keely’s SH CH OAKBEACH DARE TO DREAM BIG WITH ALHAMBIAN (IMP SWE) (from Open)

BP & PGr2 – 117 – Brothwell’s ANNILANN DA BUSINESS AT WISSANT (from Puppy)

Spaniel (Welsh Springer)

Class 66: Puppy (0)

Class 67: Special Yearling (2,2)

Class 68: Limit (1,0)

1. 158 – Wallington’s FERNDEL RENZO AT ROVINJDAL – 2-year-old dog that sadly stood alone in the breed. I absolutely loved the head and gorgeous expression on this young man. Very much in keeping with breed standard. Masculine without being overly-so. Darkest of medium shaped eye that was bordered with dark trim. Beautiful bold markings with distinct definition. Slight dome to cranium, with balance to skull proportions. Fairly square finish to muzzle, with black, well-developed nostrils. Lovely workings to zygomatic arch and clear definition to stop. Correct in ear placement that hung very close to cheeks. Proportionate length to clean throat. This transitioned with ease into well laid-back shoulders. Forelegs straight and proportionate bone was seen throughout. Chest showing good width and just down at elbow. Strong over loin. Good angulation to croup and tail placement. Moderate in turn at stifle and hocks well let down. Angulation in rear good and in keeping with front. Beautiful richness to coat that was starting to come into its own. Sadly, a little unsettled for me to go over, having had a bad experience in the past. However, he was able to overcome this and produced so well on the move. I was happy to say that his movement was typical of the breed, showing excellent drive from rear, with plenty of width to front and back. His footfall was correct on the around, also. All the best with your young man. BOB

Class 69: Open (0)

BOB - 158 – Wallington’s FERNDEL RENZO AT ROVINJDAL (from Limit)

Dr. Hefin Jones (Pencastan)