Bath Canine Society

GOLDEN RETRIEVER BITCHES CRITIQUE 

BATH CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 23.5.26

I was honoured to have been asked by the committee of Bath Championship Show to judge golden retriever bitches and I was pleased to be able to judge such a lovely entry of all shades of this beautiful breed as I have absolutely no preference and was just looking for balance and good movement. My concern when judging was the incidence of poor movement in several of the exhibits even when presenting a lovely outline – my remit was to find exhibits who fitted the whole picture including good movement and was pleased that my BCC winner was exactly what I was looking for.

Veteran Bitch 4(2 abs)

1) Davis's LYNSTE KINDRED SPIRIT - A mid-gold bitch showing her maturity with the start of her greying features, but none the less stood four square with a strong topline and with good angulation, straight front with good bone and catlike feet. A good, honest example of a veteran bitch. She was sound and accurate on the move and I was pleased to award her Best Veteran bitch on the basis of her excellent overall balance.

2) Clarkson's Sh Ch DRUMKILTY LISDOONVARNA JW – a smaller cream bitch with a pretty head, dark eye, well laid back shoulder placement, strong angulation front and rear and good tailset. Her movement around the ring was sound but I found her topline not as level on the stack as the winner of this class.

MP Bitch 7(3 abs)

1) Price's BERRYMEADE CHARDONNAY, a mid gold 7 month old bitch, prettiest head with dark eye, excellent flow into well laid back shoulder placement, short coupled, straight front and strong straight hocks, moved accurately for one so young with good tail carriage and topline held. Moved out confidently and was pleased to award her BPB.

2) McCammick's SAFFDALES COUNTESS CORA, a mid gold 8 month old bitch, again with a lovely feminine head, slightly finer boned than 1) and presented in good coat. Balanced angulation front and rear and deep through chest but not quite the level topline on the move as winner.

Puppy Bitch 9 (1 abs)

1) May's RAMCHAINE PORSCHE CARRERA FOR CHERRYGOLD. A cream nearly 9 months old bitch, a large girl for her age and will need time to fill her frame but very nicely made. Feminine chiselled head, dark eye, lovely length of neck, straight front with neat catlike feet and textbook front and rear angulation. Short coupled to present a balanced outline. She gave her handler a difficult time on the move but once settled she moved soundly and accurately. 

2) McFarlane's BLUEBRAES VOYAGER a light gold 9 month old bitch, a close decision between one and two in this class. Well presented in good coat, feminine head, correct dark eye, shorter in length of neck and layback not quite so good. Strong level topline held on the move, correct tailset and straight short hocks and moved well.  

Junior Bitch 7 (1 abs)

1) Campion's FENPINQUE ROYAL GLOW – a beautifully presented blonde bitch, lovely head and expression, super front angulation and dead level topline with straight front legs with tight catlike feet. Mature for her age and in very good coat. Can tend to overstretch on stacking. Presents a lovely outline and moves out soundly and with drive. Totally at one with her handler.

2) Poile & Blackboro's CHERRIMAR ELECTRA, a light gold well sized bitch not in her best coat today, but nicely constructed. Beautiful head and expression – nothing overdone about this bitch, a picture of balance. Sadly her topline was not held quite level on the move which affected her placing today.

Yearling Bitch 11 (1 abs)

1) Furbank's KAYZAELLE KUMBUKA PEACE JW a blonde bitch who caught my eye as soon as she entered the ring. Presented in full blond coat, the prettiest of heads with dark eye and pigment, correct earset into good length of neck leading into an absolutely level topline and correct tailset. Even angulation front and rear and spot on balance with length of leg ratio to body length. Straightest front legs with neat feet, correct bend of stifle and strong short hocks with correct tail length completing the whole picture. Totally at one with her handler she moved round the ring accurately and with drive and despite the hot weather where some were flagging, her fitness enabled her to continue to the end of the day, and I had great pleasure awarding her first CC.

2) Taylor & Tenn's STRETTONHILL HAPPY HOUR JW a light gold larger bitch, dark eye, nice expression, presents a very good outline with excellent upper arm and bend of stifle. Topline is level with good tailset. Not in her best coat today but could not deny her quality and she moved soundly for her young handler.

Novice Bitch 11 (2 abs)

1) Henshaw's KENSESQUI CALYPSO, light gold bitch, lighter framed but nonetheless everything in the right place. Dark pigment and dark eye on this lovely bitch, good length of neck and flow into solid topline and good tailset. Straight front, neat feet and good spring of rib. Lovely bend of stifle with short hocks. She covered the ground with ease. Just preferred her length of leg over the exhibit placed 2nd, who was winner of the junior class.

2) Campion's FENPINQUE ROYAL GLOW

Graduate Bitch 15(8 abs)

1) Buckles' BRAZENBEACON ARTEMIS JW, a mid-gold feminine bitch, coming into coat which was gleaming. Well proportioned head with the loveliest expression and dark eye, good length of neck into a very balanced outline. Excellent front and rear angulation with good spring of rib and bend of stifle. So attentive to her handler and she floated round the ring. Will watch her progress with interest

2) Russell-Bond's ROSINANTE GUINEVERE JW, a larger blonde bitch who is maturing nicely. A close decision between these two bitches as she is also very nicely constructed with excellent front and rear angulation and a solid level topline. Straight front and very neat feat, good bend of stifle with short hocks. Just preferred the movement of 1) on the day.

Post Graduate Bitch 16 (7 abs)

1) Smyth's KADAKA KRUMPET, this mid gold bitch was presented in good coat and beautifully trimmed. Lovely melting expression with dark correct shape eye and strong neck. Straight front with good heart room and spring of rib. Very balanced outline holding her topline on the move where she showed excellent extension. Giving her handler a hard time in the line up but won this class on her sound, strong movement.

2) Loverock & Waldron-Smith's LOVISSA COSMIC GIRL, a lighter gold bitch, pleasant expression with dark eye, excellent upper arm with her front legs placed well back. Good bend of stifle and straightest of toplines. Moved well and unlucky to meet the winner in such good coat and condition.

Mid-Limit Bitch 6(3 abs)

1) Harper's TULLOCHMOHR SHOOTING STAR AT GLYNERVA JW, a neat, smallish very light gold bitch with pretty head and dark eye. Not overdone in any way this bitch presents a very balanced outline and her good construction shone through when she was on the move. She moved freely and accurately which won her this class.

2) Clarkson's DRUMKILTY NOLLAIG SHONA JW, a larger blonde girl, excellent length of neck and angulation front and rear, compact with a strong topline and good tailset. Shown in good condition but sadly she was not settled on the move so her movement up and down and around the ring wasn't as accurate as it could have been, affecting the placings.

Limit Bitch 12 (3 abs)

1) Hill & Smith's MEGARVEY DEJA VU JW, a beautiful mid gold bitch with the most attractive expression, dark eye, good reach of neck into well laid back shoulder and solid level topline. Straight front with neat catlike feet and balanced front and rear angulation. Moved well with drive and accuracy. Expertly handled and presented - RCC

2) Drury's BENCOE BOOK OF TIME, a pretty blonde smaller bitch, in good coat and condition, pretty feminine head, dark eye, straight front and correct angulation, balanced outline and moved well. Close decision between these two lovely bitches just preferred the stronger topline on winner.

Open Bitch 5(3 abs)

1) Callegari & Rudelli's MONTEORO SARDEGNA ELODIE IN DW – a midgold, compact balanced bitch, in nice coat and condition, very feminine head, straightest front with beautiful neat feet. Good angulation, topline and tailset and moved out with drive. Considered for top honours on her overall balance.

2) Fosdike's MEIEPERE YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE JW, another lovely bitch, shown to perfection. A blonde bitch in good coat totally at one with her handler. Pretty head and expression, good flow into solid topline and excellent angulation front and rear. She moved well. A close decision but just a little longer cast than the winner.

Special Beginners Bitch 12 (4 abs)

1) Henshaw's KENSESQUI CALYPSO

2) Ball's SHEARSTONE LIVE IN THE DREAM AT FIVELMS JW, a heavier built blonde bitch, showing happily at one with her handler. Feminine head with good pigment, very balanced outline with good spring of rib and excellent front and rear angulation. Being slightly heavier in weight than I would like sadly affected her topline while standing and on the move, but nevertheless a very nice bitch. 

 Diana Cruttwell