Tay Valley Gundog Association

Tay Valley Gundog Association

12th October 2025

FLAT COAT RETRIEVERS

All in my entry had black coats.

PUPPY (1, 0 abs)

1st Stevenson’s Steelriver Pure Majness. BP.

This 11 month old female oozed friendliness, and a willingness to please. Balanced proportions of length and depth of body, good length of leg, straight front, level top line, excellent rib cage reaching well back. Kind expression from well shaped eye, good length of muzzle, clean neck well set into sloping shoulders. Did not quite track up on the move today, but deserved her 1st place, very promising.

SPECIAL YEARLING (4, 1 abs)

1st Thomson’s Badcall Midsummer Dream.

Well angulated female of 15 months, balanced outline, a nice shape with plenty of depth of brisket, very good rib cage and short couplings. Muscular hind quarters, wide thighs. Pleasing shape to head, warm and intelligent expression. Moved well, expertly handled.

2nd Stevenson’s S Pure Majness.

3rd MacPherson’s Badcall Dream Weaver.

GRADUATE (2, 1 abs)

1st Blain’s Rotherfield Made To Last at Steelriver.

Just out of Junior at 18 and a bit months, this male impressed me by his balanced appearance from all directions. Well boned, very good muscle tone, in hard condition, although would benefit from a little more weight. Well moulded head, slight stop, medium sized eyes, strong muzzle. Strong clean neck, ideal shoulder placement and matching turn of stifle. Accurate footfall, although feet were not as tight or as well padded as I would like.

POST GRADUATE (1, 1 abs)

LIMIT (1, 0 abs)

1st Thomson’s Llantrussa Winter Dreams at Badcall.

Well handled female built on lighter lines, finer bone. Long well moulded head, skull flat and fairly broad, adequate length of neck to level top line, well sprung ribs, straight front, equal angulation fore and aft. She was at one with her kind handler, but she did not move out well today, she lacked reach and drive. Tail carriage rather too high, I would have preferred a more definite bite.

OPEN (3, 0 abs)

1st MacPherson’s Rachanmill Colombo. BOB. BIS.

I really liked this well coated male, balanced outline, moved round the ring as though he owned it, powerful ground covering stride, accurate footfall, straight and true going away and coming towards. Clean head, moderately broad skull, strong muzzle, kind expression, was willing to please. Long muscular neck well set into nicely constructed fore quarters, sloping shoulders, deep brisket, ideal width of chest, rib cage allowed forelegs to move freely. Well ribbed back, short couplings, powerful hindquarters with equal merit to forequarters. Excellent muscle tone throughout, very well handled, a joy to judge him.

2nd Thomson’s Sh Ch Caci’s The Dream Catcher Badcall.

This sweet and feminine female filled my eye when standing, but she lacked drive and animation on the move today. Built on slightly finer lines, she had a balanced head, skull and muzzle match well, slight stop, warm and gentle expression, clean firm neck, equal angulation fore and aft, ideal width of chest, straight front, strong neat feet. Pleasing rib cage with good spring and depth, muscular hindquarters, well let down hocks. Well handled.

3rd Blain’s Ronevorg I’m A Believer in Steelriver.

LABRADORS

PUPPY (1, 0 abs)

1st Bommer’s Skyehead Radiance. BP.

Just 8 months old, this young female has a willing persona, she just wants to please, but she needs to attend ringcraft so that her kind and keen handler can be guided as to how to teach her to improve in the show ring. Exquisite head, intelligent expression, warm and friendly, obviously devoted to her handler. Good length of neck, angulation balanced fore and aft, well sprung ribs and a double yellow coat. Active on the move, tail carried well. She would benefit from more weight.

SPECIAL YEARLING (3, 1 abs)

1st Gunn’s Exelby Finch.

Handsome masculine head, kind expression, well shaped eye. This 23 month old male appealed in many ways, but his neck could be cleaner, and on the move he was a little too proud of his tail. Kind expression, well shaped eye, positive top line, barrel shaped ribs, short strong loin, pleasing bend of stifle. Well boned straight legs, tight round feet, super black coat with dense undercoat.

2nd McKittrick’s Millie’s Vanilla Skye.

Elegant chocolate coloured female with well shaped head, medium sized hazel eyes, clean neck beautifully set into sloping shoulders, ideal width and depth of chest, rib cage with good length and spring but would prefer an inch less length of loin. She has a level tail set, and a nice turn of stifle. Free and active stride in profile, but would prefer straighter movement coming towards. Kind and sympathetic handler.

GRADUATE (2, 1 abs)

1st Angus’ Kinnellish Glenesk.

Attentive, obedient – what a great rapport he has with his young handler. Yellow coated male with a straight front, equal angulation fore and aft, and good reach and drive. Well shaped masculine head, broad and clean cut, good length of muzzle, used his ears well. Pleasing length of neck, level top line, well turned stifles. Rather light in bone for a male, and for me he needs to put on more weight.

POST GRADUATE (2, 0 abs)

1st Gilroy’s Claychalk Costa Follis around Maysborne.

This black coated female had typical Labrador features, with a feminine clean cut head, broad skull, strong wide muzzle, a thick double coat, and an excellent otter tail. Pretty face, lovely kind expression from well shaped eye, she watched her handler and was ready to please. Straight front, neat round feet, balanced angulation fore and aft, level top line. She didn’t move out too well today, and I would just have preferred another inch on her length of leg.

2nd Angus’ K Glenesk.

LIMIT (1, 0 abs)

1st Gunn’s Exelby Elizabeth. B

Loved the outline of this yellow coated female, angulation balanced at each end. Neck set well into shoulders, straight front, well formed rib cage, strong loin, nice tail set, well bent stifles. Very good reach and drive on the move, well handled. Needs to settle when being gone over.

OPEN (2, 1 abs)

1st Gilroy’s Costa Yen. BOB.

Lovely outline of this yellow coated male, he stood naturally foursquare, with weight evenly distributed. Balanced from all angles, broad and strong all through, fit and well muscled, moved with drive from behind and good reach in front. Masculine head, broad skull, defined stop, kind brown eyes showing intelligence, was keen to please. Well developed chest of good width, well boned straight legs, round compact feet. Nice angulation fore and aft, nothing overdone, level top line, excellent ribbing, short loin, broad hindquarters, moderate bend of stifle and plenty of width across thigh, hind pasterns short and strong. Expert handler got the best from him.

JUNIOR HANDLING

6 – 11 years.

1st Konan Maver aged 9. Best overall Junior Handler.

This young handler always kept his eye on me, he moved his Vizsla at the correct speed and was accurate in all patterns of movement. His dog lacked confidence at being gone over, but this handler offered lots of encouragement to his dog, he had patience and was firm but gentle. I was very impressed.

2nd Karson Maver aged 11.

This young hander was in charge of an Italian Spinone who appeared to be a bit lazy today, but the handler coped very well. Handler watched me most of the time and performed the movement I asked of him, just wasn’t quite as attentive as 1st today.

12 – 16 years.

1st Keira Angus aged 16.

This young handler did not always present her Labrador at the best angle for me to see. She moved her dog at a good speed and she had a good rapport with her dog.

Wendy Pickup (Judge).