Crufts

Labrador Retriever Dogs

Early on Sunday morning when I first viewed the vast expanse of green carpet that was to be my ring for the day. I found myself fully realising the magnitude of the event—a moment forty years in the making. It was the best day of my judging career – so many lovely labradors and such an honour to judge CRUFTS. After nearly 8 hours judging 215 dogs I was very happy with my final line up, especially my Dog CC winner, Sh Ch Binnaig Sea the Stars over Tullochmohr who is an outstanding example of the breed. My co judge, Margaret Brown and I agreed on Best Puppy- the dog – Bish Bash Bosh Baileydale and Best Veteran Sh Ch Loch Mor Broderick. BOB was awarded to the bitch by the referee, Mr G Robertson.

GCDSD (18 (1) Sh Ch/ir Sh Ch/lux Ch/int Sh Ch Naiken Elite Envoy (ai) JW Ir Jch (Hodge) Prime specimen of a chocolate labrador, a template to aspire to; good dark colour coat, eyes to match, conformation correct front and rear, level topline, good reach of neck, kind head and expression. Very sound true mover. 2.Sh Ch Alkhamhurst Moment of Truth (Woodley) Old-fashioned black carrying a really heavy coat but not overweight. Very good front showing forechest and good length of upper arm. Super otter tail. 3.Rumhill Firecracker JW (Boulden) MPD (2,0) A Sense of Pleasure's Hey Jude for Balladoole (Imp Deu) (Druggan) Lovely 8-month-old pup who already displays a lot of the attributes of an adult dog. Excels in outline, clean neck, good front, deep in chest, in good coat. Very promising puppy.2. Cornishwater Whealprosper (Hosking) Darker yellow close up to 1. Head just right for age, excellent front conformation, strong rear quarters used to advantage in movement. Should have bright future. PD (12,1)1. Bish Bash Bosh Baileydale (Metcalfe) A super puppy who won here on balance, outline and type, went on to win BP with agreement of my co-judge. Beautiful head, well-chiselled, just right for age, melting expression,lovely eye, clean neck and shoulders. Just says ‘labrador’ to you when you look at him from any angle..Very good mover with reach. Already an accomplished showman.2. Eastdew Rewrite The Stars with Eminala (Mckee & Evans) A more mature puppy, deep in chest, short coupled, well made front and rear, neat in hocks and moved soundly. 3.Linjor Tylers Choice (Harvey-Major) JD(16,4)1. Jaybec Winter Yule JW (Mills) Super typy labrador who won here on movement which was sound and true with good reach. Expertly handled to get the best out of him. Lovely kind masculine head, correct front with good length of upper arm. Excellent bone in proportion to size and make. Maturing nicely.2. Woolman Free and Easy (Shirton) Another lovely young dog who presented a superb balanced outline with level topline and good reach of neck. In good coat. Close up to 1. and could change places on another day.3. Capronca Western (Ficko) YD ( 24,3) 1. Sh Ch Binnaig Sea The Stars over Tullochmohr JW (Tulloch) A superb example of the breed. At nearly 2 years old is really at his best, already a well-deserved Show Champion. Everything right, construction correct, good front with decent length of upper arm, strong hindquarters with well let down hocks. Presented a lovely outline from nose to real otter tail, carried straight off his back Moved soundly with real drive and good reach in profile. His head is well-moulded, broad skull, dark pigment, kind eye and expression which is ‘true labrador’. Pleased to award him the CC. 2. Green River Lab Romeo (Burattini) Well made, compact, short-coupled dog, slightly smaller in size than 1. Very nice head and barrel-ribbed. Overall, presents a good picture standing and on the move. 3 Landebec Ventura JW (Baron) UGD (23,3) Rochevale Hercules to Rocheby (Hopkinson) Beautifully made dog with lovely head and expression. In full coat of correct harsh texture. Real otter tail. Moved out truely, coming and going with drive from hocks. Just stands right whenever you look at him.2. Dylsonleigh Oberon over Balladoole (Druggan) In a smaller mould than winner but quality all through. Super outline with good front and rear angulation. Lovely kind head with good pigmentation. In excellent coat. Moved well .3. Saranden I’m On Fire JW (Mclellan) GD (22,5) 1.Myloglenn Make My Day (Wright) Very nice neat balanced dog who was easily the best mover in the class. Good front and excellent strong rear, hocks well let down, all contributing to his movement. In good coat. Well-handled. 2. Daisypatch Ostratto (Chapman) Lovely headed dog, calm outlook, unexaggerated, good outline, well boned, barrel-ribbed, moved true coming and going, Coat just on the blow. 3. Lembas Brooklyn at Mibridge (Jeffery) PGD (23,3) 1.Saranden Shadeuxplay (Mclellan) Excellent black dog who has taken time to mature into a typy labrador with a lovely outline. Good front, strong correctly angulated hindquarters, neat hocks and tail straight off his back. In super coat with a real otter tail. 2.Aalincarrey Lets Sing (Crellin) Nice yellow with lovely head. Made in one piece and presents attractive outline. Well -made in front, moves well in good harsh coat. 3. State Park in Linjor JW (Harvey-Major) MLD (19,5)1.Sharouns Inspector Gadget JW (Williamson) Beautifully made dog shown to advantage, stands well off his owner. Superb outline, really drives round the ring from strong, well angulated rear quarters with well let down hocks. Kind yet male head, in good coat. 2. Alkhamhurst Prime Shot (Woodley) Very nice old-fashioned black dog with good front. Sound mover coming and going. In excellent coat. Attentive to owner, showing off his lovely head. 3. Bright Like A Jewel Ambasadorius ( Haßmann) LD (17,4) 1.Richbourne Lion King (Wiles) Lovely head and expression, strong neck, good layback of shoulder, level topline kept on the move, barrel-ribbed. Strong rear quarters, good bone. Always stands right on neat feet. Moved well, really drives from rear, true front and back 2. Baileydale Puff Daddy JW (Metcalfe) Black in fabulous coat and condition, deep in body, short-coupled, very balanced in outline with kind masculine head. Excellent mover with good reach. Well made all through.3. Rocheby Schoolmaster (Mrs D M Hopkinson) OD (42,9) What an amazing class. I have critiqued 4 as I felt they deserved it. Not enough cards for a class this big and of such quality.1. Forum Cornelii Harry at Starland Jew’24 It Jch ( Lombardo) Super dark yellow dog with the best movement in the class. Well made throughout so always stands correctly. In excellent coat and in top hard condition. Very good front angulation. Not at all overdone. A very nice dog overall who deserved his place in this huge class 2. Majestic Winner Ronaldo Ww25 Ejw22 (Ficko) A different type of dog to 1. Compact, deep in body, lovely head and expression, good front, well-muscled rear quarters with neat hocks. 2. Wahnahnish Puccini (Candel) Free-moving dog with lovely outline on the move and standing. In good coat. 3.. Sh Ch Binnaig Bonnach for Tullochmohr JW (Tulloch) What a lovely balanced dog with true labrador head and eye in excellent coat and condition. 5. Int/it Ch Rodstar Rocks Owen Ww24 (Barberi) FTD (13,1) 1.Rossclyde Highland Grouse at Leospring (Rose) A very good example of a dual purpose labrador. Best conformation in the class with proper double coat which is so lacking in most FT dogs. Moved soundly. Real old-fashioned labrador head. 2.Maplecrest Nero Ftw (Brown & Hudson) Good moving, real FT type. He stood very nicely to show off his good outline and reach of nec k. In pretty good coat. 3.Helkelbecian Dare of Wylanbriar (Stevens) SWGD (10,2)Ch Wynfaul The Wizard JW (Percival) Very sound and fit for his age at nearly 12 years. Not a big one but all there. Good bend of stifle and neat hocks. Super outline and good reach of neck. 2. Warringah's The Bluff JW Sgwc (Coode) Similar type to winner; actually sired by 1. Superb conformation front and rear; moved well but just beginning to show his age. 3. Woodmist Coldplay (Godden) VD (24,9) 1. Sh Ch/int Ch/it Ch/es Ch Loch Mor Broderick Ww21/22/23 (Barberi) impressive 7.5-year-old yellow in immaculate condition. Fit, free-mover sound and true, going and coming. A lovely head, eye and expression. Superb outline, so balanced, deep in brisket and tail straight of his back. So attentive, shown to get the very best out of him. Pleased to award him the RCC in very good company. 2.Sh Ch/ir Sh Ch/lux Ch Naiken East Meets West (ai) JW (Hodge) Excellent black, so typy, all through in very good fit hard condition. In splendid coat. Correctly angulated rear quarters with neat hocks. A real black labrador head and kind dark brown eye. 3. Sh Ch Millroseglen Make My Day with Meadovillabs (Mccrory)

Fiona Braddon