South Western Gundog Club

South Western Gundog Club Open Show

Sunday, 19th October 2025 

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers

My sincerest thanks to the Secretary, Officers and Committee for their invitation to judge Tollers today. It was a great honour to be afforded this judging appointment. Thank you to my efficient steward, Claire, who kept the ring moving. Finally, my deepest thanks to the exhibitors for giving me the honour of judging their dogs, and for their excellent sportsmanship.

J (5, 1) 

1 Hughes’ Abacot Heart Of The Ocean JW. Almost 15-month dog with a nice head, good stop, and kind eye. Ears well set on. Straight front with tight, neat feet. Good forechest. Medium neck into good layback of shoulder. Nice pasterns. Hocks well let down. In good coat. Moved with drive. Won this class and RBOB on movement. RBOB.

2 Shore’s Briztollie I Have a Dream. 17-month-old dog with kind expression. Taller than 1 and not in such good coat. Nice head. Medium neck well set on. Good forechest. Straight front with neat feet. Good layback of shoulder. Held his topline. Moved OK.

3 Hipkiss’ Deltandamba It’s Asin

PG (6, 2)

1 Hunter’s Serentan Castor. 2.5 years compact, masculine dog in good coat. Good forechest and neck well set on. Straight front. Ribs well sprung. Short back and strong loin. Hocks well let down. Held his topline stood and on the move. Moved with purpose and drive.

2 Hipkiss’ Deltandamba Domino Dancing. 6-month bitch. Litter sister to 3rd and 4th in Junior. Nice slightly wedge-shaped head with a moderate stop and sweet expression. Straight front with slightly sloping pasterns. Nice angles fore and aft. Tail just reaching hocks. Moved with purpose but still trying to figure out her feet. BP.

3 Nutland’s Arthundur Dandelion Wishes.  

L (4, 0)

1 Hughes’ Abacot Into The Unknown JW. 4.5 years masculine, compact dog. Neck well set on. Good depth of chest and moderate tuck up. Nice rear angles. Hocks well let down. Tail reaching hock. In good coat with copious feathering. Won this class on his movement.

2 Palfrey’s Eusanit Wild Atlantic Way. 5.5 years masculine dog in good coat. Close up to 1 and could swap places on another day. Preferred his head and expression to 1. Medium neck, well set on. Good depth of chest. Nice rear angles. Held his topline on the move. Good tail length and furnishings. Moved with drive. 

3 Hipkiss’ Afonbach First Sign O’Spring At Deltandamba JW. 

OD (2, 1)  

1 Ward’s Melanitta Palmata JW. Well-muscled, masculine dog of 7 years with a kind expression and ears well set on. Excellent topline, best of the day. Straight front with tight, neat feet. Strong medium neck well set on. Deep chested with good spring of ribs. Good angles fore and aft presenting a balanced picture. Hocks well let down. Lovely long tail. Considered for top honours but didn’t quite have the drive in the challenge.

OB (2, 0)  

1 Hughes’ Sh Ch Eusanit Gem Stone At Abacot. 8-year-old compact bitch in good coat. Nice head and expression. Nicely balanced angles fore and aft. Slightly sloping pasterns leading into tight, neat feet. Good spring of rib and depth of chest. Short loin. Hocks well let down and tail just reaching her hocks. In the challenge, she held her topline and moved in balance with excellent reach and drive. BOB.

2 Phelps’ Redfoxtor Blystra Bay. Almost 6-year-old feminine bitch with a good head and kind, intelligent expression. Lovely straight front with neat, tight feet. Neck well set on. Good layback of shoulder. Brisket reaching to tight elbows. Short back. Tail reaching past the hock. Held topline both stood and on the move. Moved with purpose. 

Judge: Sophy Pashley