Southern Counties Canine Association

Southern Counties Canine Association

Retriever (Golden) 

Sunday 31st May 2026 

Judge: Anthony Allen

I was thrilled to be invited to judge the males at the Southern Counties Canine Association. I absolutely loved this appointment. There were some super dogs for me to go over and a real depth of quality that was very pleasing. There was a great atmosphere with lots of applause for my winners. Special thanks to my steward Christine who kept me on the straight and narrow during the day.

The only two general comments I would make are: Firstly, please watch your fronts. I found a number with short upper arms which gave a rather unbalance outline and an untidy front action. The other concern was that some were a little straight in front and over angulated behind, while this can look flashy, they did not have the reach and drive that is called for in the standard. 

With my co judge we agreed on all the joint awards: BOB was awarded to the very lovely Sh Ch Quakerhall Flare by Pandora JW (Mrs D S & Mrs R J Crookes & Jenkinson). My DCC winner was the exciting youngster Louellabrook Atlantic Star with Sansue JW (Mrs S & Mrs H Birkin-Green & Gripton) and my RDCC was awarded to the Open winner Double Willow Quid Pro Quo (Mrs C & Miss M S Callegari & Rudelli). For Best Puppy we agreed the award should go to Olvinglay Polari (Imp Ita) (Mrs H & Mr G Morss & Monteverde) with Best Veteran awarded to Sh Ch Quakerhall Pandora's Bounty JW (Mrs D S & Mrs R J Crookes & Jenkinson). Our Best Special Beginner was Tenfield Klipspringer with Auryngra SGWC (Miss S Moore).

Veteran Dog

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1ST Ousevale Tobermory JW (Mrs V Clarke-Gear)

What a grand chap this boy was, he has done well under me in the past and was great to see him here again, he was certainly enjoying his day out. He has a super head piece, well-proportioned with a lovely kind eye. Strong neck, a decent front assembly, would like a little more length of leg, he has good depth to his chest, just a shade longer in loin. Stands on well boned legs and neat feet. Ribs well sprung and quarters well developed with well bent stifles. Moved well in profile with lots of drive. My Best Veteran Dog

2ND Akenscales Waterloo (Mrs H & Mr J Bates)

This chap won a good mid limit class under me last time and please to see him here again today. He is good in outline, his head is pleasing, a good shape and balanced, he has a super eye. Neck muscular, with a decent front assembly, would like a little tighter in elbow. He stands on well boned legs with neat feet. Ribs well sprung and correct length of loin. Quarters well developed with stifles well bent. On the move, he drove from the rear and had a super side gate. Coat in super condition.

3RD Tonara Picaso (Mrs K Norman)

Minor Puppy Dog

Entries: 6 Absentees: 2

1ST Berrymeade Merlot (Mrs S A & Mrs S Loach & Zubair)

Smart young man, seven and a half months, not over done in any way, very clean in outline. Masculine in head, dark eye, good balanced proportions. Decent neck and front assembly. Standing on well boned legs and neat feet. Good depth to chest for his age and ribs springing nicely. Quarters developing well. Scored in profile movement, puppyish on the up and down today but he will soon find his feet, should do well if he continues growing in this way.

2ND Ambersun Christmas Cracker (Mr Wallington)

Smart puppy, very much a baby, giving a lot away to the winner but lots to like about him. Head developing as it should. Clean neck into well set shoulders. Body of good proportions and standing on good legs and feet. Quarters are well made with the correct amount of angulation. Needs to find his feet on the move and once he does, he should do well.

3RD Sandti Easy Tiger (Mrs S A & Mrs S Loach & Zubair)

Puppy Dog

Entries: 6 Absentees: 1

1ST Olvinglay Polari (Imp Ita) (Mrs H & Mr G Morss & Monteverde)

I thought chap to be a very smart young dog, put together well with good balanced angles fore and aft. His headpiece is developing nicely and has correct proportions, good eye shape to give an appealing expression. Decent front assembly, strong neck, standing on well boned legs and tight feet. Body of good proportions with ribs springing nicely. Quarters well made, moderate bend of stifle. Moved out well, good in profile, needs to settle in front action. A promising puppy who should do well Best Puppy.

2ND Strettonhills Bring It Home to Jarabees (Mrs J Millington)

Pleasing dog with a good outline. He has done well under me before. He has a pleasing masculine head with a clean reach of neck. Decent front assembly and good overall body proportions, ribs well sprung and good length and strength to loin. Quarters well made with a good bend of stifle. Coat was in good condition; movement was good but not as positive as the winner today.

3RD Berrymeade Merlot (Mrs S A & Mrs S Loach & Zubair)

Junior Dog

Entries: 7 Absentees: 0

1ST Lynste Dream Boy (ai) JW (Mrs L Davis)

A smart youngster, I liked this young man; he came alive on the move with a super side gait. His head is pleasing, masculine with a good length of foreface to give a pleasing expression. Good overall body proportions, ribs springing nicely and firm in loin, good overall balanced with quarters well made, stifles well bent. On the move he had the best action in this class. Should have a bright future ahead of him.

2ND Leighsham Sweeney Todd (Mr G & Mrs J Jackson-Haines)

Good outline on this chap, he looked super standing and I thought he would be my winner but just couldn’t get into a decent stride on the move. His head is pleasing. Decent front assembly on him, shoulders well placed, and an adequate reach of neck. Would like a little more return of forearm and a bit tighter in elbow. Good overall body proportions, excellent spring of rib and length of loin. Quarters well made with a good bend of stifle. Coat was in good condition. Movement was just not as tidy as the winner as he came towards me.

3RD Ashbyglen I Dreamed a Dream (Mrs E M Wainwright)

Yearling Dog

Entries: 5 Absentees: 0

1ST Louellabrook Atlantic Star with Sansue JW (Mrs S & Mrs H Birkin-Green & Gripton)

I really liked this young man, and he just got better as the day went on. Still young and developing in all the right ways. Presents a picture on the stack with that balanced outline that I was looking for. Super head piece with a masculine expression with a lovely dark eye. Clean neck in to well set shoulders which were correctly placed with good elbows, standing on straight legs with correct bone. Body of correct proportions, ribs springing nicely, level topline. Quarters well made with stifles well bent. On the move he just came alive and won the class with ease, accurate fore and aft and in profile. In the challenge I just kept being drawn to him and it was clear that he had to be my winner, pleased to award him the Dog CC, which I was told later that it was his third and his title. Very well done, I thought he was top drawer.

2ND Oppenheimer Olgarchia JW (Imp Pol) (Mrs H & Mr G Morss & Monteverde)

Lots to like about him. He has a super clean outline and good overall balance. Pleasing head and expression, super dark eye, clean neck in to well set shoulders, I would have just liked a shade more return of upper arm. Good overall body proportions, rubs well sprung and firm in loin. Quarters well made with a good bend of stifle. Not quite as tidy as the winner today on the move but a smart dog who I am sure will have a bright future. Well handled to advantage.

3RD Wynrita Call Me Elder Prince for Honeymill (Mr P & Mrs T Kinchella)

Novice Dog

Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1ST Strettonhills Bring It Home to Jarabees (Mrs J Millington)

2ND Putjade Popster (Mrs E & Mr M Evans)

This young man was just 11 months but giving a lot away in maturity and finish. He is a super shape and has bags of potential about him. Head still needs to come but is good for his age, well made in body with balanced angels front and rear. Needs to be a bit tidier ion the up and down but moved well in profile to take this place.

3RD Eveninghill by My Side (Mrs C Bruyneels)

Graduate Dog

Entries: 13 Absentees: 4

1ST Dewmist Danzatore with Ousevale JW (Imp Swe) (Mrs V Clarke-Gear)

2-year-old boy. Pleasing outline on the stack, expression masculine. He has a good front on him with a decent lay back of shoulder, stands on well boned legs. Ribs springing nicely and firm loin, holds a good level topline. Well-made quarters. Moved out well once he settled to take this place.

2ND Carubelo Live The Dream JW (Miss E Oughton)

Very close up to the winner and another of pleasing type, he was my BPD last time I judged. Pleasing head shape with a kind eye giving a masculine expression. He has a decent front assembly. Well boned legs, good feet. Body proportion correct giving a balanced shape. Well-made quarters with a super bend of stifle. Moved out well, holding his topline just rather untidy fore and aft today.

3RD Tonara Yellowstone JW (Mrs L C Linfield)

Post Graduate Dog

Entries: 8 Absentees: 2

1ST Akenscales Beau Baron JW (Mrs V.a. & Miss C Robertshaw)

He has the most super outline on the stack, which took my attention. His head is masculine, with a kind eye. Clean reach of neck, decent front assembly. Stands on well boned legs. Good depth to his chest for his age. Good through the body, ribs well sprung and held his topline well. Super rear on him, good angulation and stifles well bent. Moved out well with a fluid action to take the class, a lot to like about him and he should do well.

2ND Cinderbank Move It JW (Mr K Henson)

This chap presents with a very appealing head and expression, enhanced by a super dark eye. He has good overall shape and balance, clean in neck into well laid-back shoulders, would like a little more return of upper arm. Stands on well boned legs. Good through the ribs, a shade extra length in loin. Quarters well developed; stifles well bent. Moved out well but tended to skip a bit and not as fluid as the winner.

3RD Shearstone Janner JW (Mrs M A & Miss S Porter)

Limit Dog

Entries: 12 Absentees: 1

1ST Brekswood Gentleman Jack JW (Mrs S J England)

I really like this chap and he just got better as the class went on. Not a big one but totally in balance, head is very appealing, not over done in any way. He has a clean neck into well angulated shoulders. Stands on well boned legs, good depth of chest, ribs are well sprung and he has a firm loin giving a level topline. Quarters well angulated with stifles well bent. Coat in lovely condition. Moved out well, with a good action in profile, just needs a bit more fill and maturity in body to complete the picture. I am sure will have a bright future ahead of him.

2ND Goldmarker Coming Home to Garvin (ai) JW (Ms F & Mr P Morriss-Garget & Morriss)

Another topflight dog, He has a good overall outline. Head is pleasing. Decent front assembly on him, shoulders well placed, just a shade untidy in elbow and a good reach of neck. Good overall body proportions, excellent spring of rib and length of loin, super quarters a good bend of stifle. Coat was in good condition. Movement was positive and with drive which gave him this place, preferred the front action of the winner on the move.

3RD Kulawand Skies of Blue over Benjcroft (Ms S E Webster)

Open Dog

Entries: 5 Absentees: 1

1ST Double Willow Quid Pro Quo (Mrs C & Miss M S Callegari & Rudelli)

I liked this chap, balanced angles fore and aft, he presented a super outline on the stack. I liked his overall shape and size, not over done or over angulated in any way. Clean neck into a well laid shoulder. Great bone on straight legs and super feet. Body of good proportions, ribs well sprung, top line level. Quarters well developed with stifles well bent. Coat in good condition with good finish. In the challenge he came in with attitude, and just flowed round the ring with the required powerful gait, handled to perfection. Just pipped by the Yearling dog to the top spot today, so had to be content with the RCC.

2ND Shiva’s Golden Don Raffae (Mr F Felici)

Very different style of dog to the winner. Presents a very striking outline on the stack which took my attention. His head is masculine, with a kind eye. Clean reach of neck, decent front assembly. Good depth to his chest, stands on well boned legs. Good through the body, ribs well sprung and held his topline well. Super rear on him, good angles and stifles well bent. Moved out well but although similar age he did not quite the maturity of the winner. Just needs to mature up and he should do well, Smart dog.

3RD Ch Warrentor Bold As Brass JW Sgwc Wgc (Miss K Clunie)

Special Beginners Dog

Entries: 7 Absentees: 1

1ST Tenfield Klipspringer with Auryngra Sgwc (Miss S Moore)

Another smart dog with a lot to like about him. He is well made throughout. His head is masculine with a kind expression. Clean neck into well set shoulders, enough return of upper arm. Stands on good legs and tidy feet, he has good depth of chest. Quarters well made, with stifles well bent. Held his shape well on the move and had a good action. Later with the agreement of my co-judge Best Special Beginner and pleased to see him awarded SB Group 4, congratulations.

2ND Ashbyglen I Dreamed A Dream (Mrs E M Wainwright)

Pale dog, his head is well made with a kind expression. Decent neck into shoulders which are well laid back, would like a little fore return of upper arm and him to be tighter in elbow. He has a good depth of chest, stands on well boned legs. Well made in body, good spring of ribs. Quarters were well made. Moved out well with a positive action, just not as fluid as the winner in front action today.

3RD Rosinante Major Hero (Mrs H Withey)