North West Labrador Retriever Club

North West Labrador Retriever Club Limit Show – 2nd February 2025

I would like to thank the North West Labrador Retriever Club for the invitation to judge their limit show and for the exhibitors for graciously accepting placements.

Baby Puppy Dog (1)

1st – Thompsons Exelby Botis

4 month old yellow dog and what a gorgeous fella! Could easily have taken him home with me. Huge amount of solid bone, lovely tight feet and plenty of coat. His head and expression were melting and he moved with a huge amount of enthusiasm. Lovely tail set and his tail never stopped. Look forward to seeing how this boy grows!

Puppy Dog (6,3 abs)

1st – Cooks Exelby Sovereigns Orb BPIS

Gorgeous 6 month old chocolate dog. Very bum high at the moment but that will correct as he grows. Very well off for bone with neat feet. Masculine head with a typical expression. Correct angulation fore and aft meant he moved well for his age with a constantly moving, well wrapped tail.

2nd – Wyards Lapema Sea Biscuit for Brandelle

11 month old black dog. Today he was carrying excessive weight which was to his detriment, impacting both on movement and on the overall picture presented. In good coat and decent rear angulation – movement was ok.

3rd – Youngs Fourjays Comets Carnival

Junior Dog (4, 1 abs)

1st – Mullets Seatallan Damson

Black dog – well bodied dog of with plenty of coat. Good angulation fore and aft and a sound mover, although moving slightly close behind today. Masculine head with lovely eye colour to give a nice expression. Longer cast than 2nd.

2nd – Cooks Exelby Finch

14 month old black dog. This boy has a beautiful, eye catching head and expression. Plenty of coat and bone, and very tidy feet. I felt this boy was lacking in angulation both fore and aft which impacted his movement.

3rd –Oultons Oulsmi Armani Code

Novice Dog (2)

1st – Mullets Seatallan Damson

1st in Junior Dog

2nd – Wyards Lapema Sea Biscuit for Brandelle

2nd in Puppy Dog

Graduate Dog (2, 1 abs)

1st – Cook & Thompsons Exelby Emrys

17 month old yellow dog. Stood alone in this class but was deserving of his place. Masculine but gentle head, complimented with good pigment and with an expression of intelligence and biddability. Plenty of coat and bone with well sprung ribs. Well angulated rear and good tail action. A little bit untidy on the move today as he was giving his handler a hard time. I felt that he would benefit from a little bit more weight and condition to complete the picture.

Post Graduate Dog (3, 1 abs)

1st – Smiths Meadowline Heartbreaker JW BD, BIS

Black dog – this dog catches the eye as he walks in the ring and is all male. Presented in excellent coat, he has plenty of solid bone and neat feet. A good head and gentle expression is complemented by expressive ears. Excellent topline and angulation with well sprung ribs – he impresses in both profile and on the move. He moves with drive with accurate foot fall. Was pleased to award him Best Dog and Best in Show.

2nd – Ennis-Holden & Lammens Ultimo Romeo of Misty Dreams (Imp Fra)

Yellow dog of a smaller stamp than 1st. His coat was on the change today, and he could benefit from more weight and condition. Moved accurately and with drive, aided by correct angulation front and rear and lovely tail action while on the move and in profile. Held his topline well moving and in profile. Nice head and expression but would prefer a little bit more length of muzzle to complete the picture.

Limit Dog (5, 3abs)

1st – Cooks Exelby Norman

Black dog – he was very out of coat today unfortunately, but his construction shone through. Excellent head, length of muzzle and a truly kind expression. Strong neck and shoulders leading to well boned legs and neat feet. Good angulation resulting in tidy movement. Very happy boy!

2nd – Merrisons Oakenholt Altan

Black dog presented in excellent condition – his coat was shining and he was well muscled throughout. Moved out cleanly and with enough drive to cover ground. Sufficient angulation for his build. Longer in the body and lacking in bone and width of skull. At one with his handler and well handled throughout the class.

Open Dog (2, 1 abs)

1st Merrisons Oakenholt Altan

2nd in Limit Dog

Veteran Dog or Bitch (6, 3 abs)

1st Thompsons Meadowline Mi Chico RBD, BVIS

9.5 year old yellow dog of substantial build. In good condition for his age and a true showman – he never stopped – a real credit to his owner. Well-constructed throughout with good length of neck leading to well placed shoulders, plenty of bone and well sprung ribs. Level topline leading to a good tailset. Moved out cleanly and with drive – one of the best movers of the day.

2nd – Proctors Penkaric Birthday Girl

10 year old black bitch. Another one that was in good condition for her age and a credit to her owners. Of a much smaller and finer stamp than 1st but again well-constructed with good angulation both fore and aft leading to clean movement with drive. Her coat was on the change today, and she was not quite as animated as 1.

3rd – Gordon-Smith & Bibbys Bruxhino Thunder Rolls

Baby Puppy Bitch (1)

1st – Gordon-Smith & Bibbys Bruxinho Chattahoochee

Black bitch - a true baby puppy. A very happy little pup, she was enjoying her day out. Her handler worked well with her to get the best out of her and to make it a pleasant experience. Gently sculpted head with a kindly expression. Leaning more towards a finer/smaller build, she had good angulation, nicely sprung ribs and a strong neck. She moved out well when she settled.

Puppy Bitch (4, 1 abs)

1st – Youngs Fourjays Sassy Said It All

6 month old black bitch. This girl caught my eye as she came into the ring and she did not disappoint on closer inspection. A truly beautiful head with good eye colour giving a kind expression. Presented in lovely condition at just the right weight and a gleaming coat. Good length of neck, leading to well placed shoulders, well boned legs and neat feet. Well muscled hindquarters allowing her to move out cleanly and with drive.

2nd – Broughtons Lapema Mustang Kati at Brandelle

Yellow bitch. Overall, very similar to 1st in terms of construction. Today she was carrying excessive weight which was to her detriment, impacting both on movement and on the overall picture presented and cost her the class.

3rd – Marshalls Kenleap Saltburn Special

Junior Bitch (3)

1st – Thompsons Meadowline Jurisprudence

Black bitch. Very happy show girl and enjoying her day! Although still a junior, this girl was well matured with well sprung ribs and in fantastic muscular condition. Lovely head and expression, portraying gentleness followed by a clean neck. Well placed shoulder and correct angulation fore and aft. Moved out cleanly. Good coat although would have preferred slightly more coat on the tail.

2nd – Nuttall & Toppings Oakhouse Orl Or Nothing Gamblegate

Chocolate bitch – similar comments apply as 1st although of a finer type. She moved out very well and was well handled. On this occasion, she was quite excited and did not show to her benefit. Ear set could be better and would prefer a darker eye to improve expression.

3rd – Marshalls Kenleap Saltburn Special

Novice Bitch (5)

1st – Youngs Huntress Happy Kiss at Fourjays

This yellow bitch really filled the eye when she walked in the ring. Presented a lovely outline in both profile and on the move and really held her topline well. Presented in good condition with well sprung ribs and correct angulation. Moved cleanly and with drive and responded well to her handler. Plenty of bone and tidy feet. Lacked animation to really complete the picture. I will follow her future with interest.

2nd – Ennis-Holdens Mariank Far East

A black bitch of a much smaller build than 1. A very happy show girl with expressive ears although preferred the head of 1. This girl needs time to mature and fill out and was lacking in coat on the day. Good rear angulation and a clean mover.

3rd – Nuttall & Toppings Melyndull Zip A Dee Gamblegate (A.I.)

Graduate Bitch (5, 3 abs)

1st – Gowers Aughtonchase Honey Pie

Yellow bitch. Well handled by her young handler today. Of a lighter frame, she was presented in sound muscled condition although was beginning to drop her coat. Good rear angulation resulting in movement with drive, although slightly untidy coming towards due to lack of upperarm return. Gentle head and expression with good pigment around the eyes.

2nd – Baileys Harrop Ravenheart of Marlucove

Black bitch – A lovely coat and presented in hard muscled condition. Very well-schooled – she did not put a foot wrong. Short coupled with good spring of rib. I felt she was somewhat straight in the rear but still well-muscled and moved with enough drive. Would prefer a slightly wider skull to soften the head.

3rd – Harris Knowjoes Bwalya Sabine Ania

Post Graduate Bitch (4, 2abs)

1st – Proctors Lejie Sugar Almond at Penkaric RBB

Yellow bitch. Another quality bitch presented in top condition. I felt she was just the right size for a bitch and presented at the perfect weight for her build. A real credit to her owners. Lovely head with good eye colour, pigment and ear set. Clean neck leading to a level topline and well sprung ribs. Short coupled and well-muscled hind quarters. Plenty of drive and accurate footfall on the move. Really stood out in profile. Pushed hard in the bitch challenge – just slightly preferred tail set of the winner.

2nd – Disleys Allindax Masterpiece

Yellow bitch. Carrying excessive weight to her disadvantage today. Would prefer more length of leg to improve balance. Well laid back shoulder and return of upper arm, well sprung ribs and well angulated rear. Good topline and tail set. Preferred the head and movement of 1 on the day.

Limit Bitch (4, 3 abs)

1st – Ennis-Holden & Lammens The Beat Goes on Of Misty Dreams (Imp Fra) BB, RBIS/BOS

A really eye catching black bitch. Held her topline very well in both profile and on the move, Well boned legs leading to neat feet. Presented in very good coat. Moved cleanly and with drive and was very attentive to handler. I admired her head with good eye shape and colour and a gentle expression. Would prefer slightly more length of leg. She would also benefit from slightly more weight and condition to complete the picture.

Open Bitch (1)

1st – Gordon-Smith & Bibbys Bruxinho Beneath My Wings

Yellow bitch – Stood alone but deserving of her placing. Presented in well muscled condition, especially across her hindquarters. Excellent angulation fore and aft with well sprung ribs and level topline and good tailset. Tidy feet and moved out with drive.

Maureen Wilkinson Special Stakes (7, 1wd)

1st – Youngs Huntress Happy Kiss at Fourjays

1st in Novice Bitch

2nd - Gordon-Smith & Bibbys Bruxinho Beneath My Wings

1st in Open Bitch

3rd - Wyards Lapema Sea Biscuit for Brandelle