Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

Darlington Dog Show Society 18th September 2026

Curlycoated Retrievers - Judge Miss J Stubbs

Firstly, I would like to thank the Darlington Committee for inviting me to judge at a show I have always enjoyed exhibiting at.

Super organised show and I was extremely well looked after on the day.

I would also like to thank the owners and exhibitors for giving me the opportunity to judge their lovely dogs. Although not a huge entry the quality was top notch with the smallest margins between the winners. So nice to see so many happy waggy tails in the ring today, temperaments were spot on.

 My final line up of bitches was especially pleasing and anyone of them could have won the CC

Veteran Dog (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: TARELLI, Mr R M & Mrs W Hunters Pride Jurajska Gwiazda At Tarockwood (Imp)

 Strong Black dog with well rounded bone , well up to size. Masculine head with a kind expression, good eye and ear. Well balance angles front and rear which showed in his sound movement. Straight front with nice feet, good width of thigh .Coat was of a good curl and texture.

Puppy Dog No entries

Junior Dog No entries

Post Graduate (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: CLAYTON, Miss Alycia Violeta Borboleta Jacques Du Moulin Du Paulu (imp

 2-year-old smart black dog who has lots of breed type and quality. He is well constructed with no exaggerations. I would like just a little more bone overall to be picky.

Well balanced head with a kind expression, good eye colour. Long neck flowing into a level topline which he held on the move. He is moderate throughout and on the move he covered the ground with ease. Straight front with good feet. Excellent coat of small curls. 

He was a little lean today but will body up as he matures.

2nd: CLAYTON, Mrs Joanne Firecurl Maxim

A heavier set 3 year old black dog , that presented a well balance outline with nice fore chest, front angulation and strong rear quarters. Well off for bone without being course.

Well shaped head of correct planes, slightly rounder eye but was correct in colour. Not as good in front or coat of the winner today.

Limit Dog (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: DICK, Mrs Nikki Firecurl Excalibur

Stood alone but was a worthy winner , 3 year old liver dog masculine head with correct eye colour, lovely reach of neck with moderately angulated shoulders and good fore chest. Good depth of chest with a slight tuck up. He has a strong topline which he held on the move. In the challenge I would have liked to see a little more reach and drive but saying that he is very sound and accurate. His coat has the correct texture and was a mass of curls.

Open Dog (4 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: 507 STEPHENS, Mr & Mrs J & M B Brightmeadow Rumour Has It JW

Nearly 3-year-old black dog who today stepped up and took charge of the ring. Stood 4 square and moved out on a lovely long stride. He has the most gorgeous head that is masculine but with the softest of expressions. He has a good reach of neck with well angulated shoulder and upperarm. Lovely depth of chest and correct forechest. Good rear angulation which he uses to advantage on the move. On the move he carries his tail correctly giving the correct topline. Excellent coat. It was my pleasure to award him the CC and thus giving him his Crown, followed by BOB. In the Group he put in a very solid performance I was extremely proud to have him represent the Breed.

2nd: 498 HODSON, Mrs Helen Sh Ch Rowancurl Gentle Gaelor

5 year old black dog who is well up for size but still has that degree of elegance. A worthy Champion. His profile movement certainly catches the eye but today I preferred the winner's more accurate foot placement. Masculine head of correct proportion and shape but preferred the winners softer expression. He has a good length of neck and a strong topline which he holds on the move. Moderate angulation front and rear with no exaggerations, deep chest. He has an excellent curly coat and is well presented. Happy to award him the RCC

3rd: 510 TARELLI, Mr R M & Mrs W Firecurl Some Like It Hot At Tarockwood (ai)

Veteran Bitch (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 505 STEPHENS, Mr & Mrs J & M B Brightmeadow Who's That Girl

7 year liver bitch who came to life on the move today.Since I last judged her, she has strengthened in her body and topline. Feminine head with a kind eye, long neck leading into well placed shoulders. Lovely, shaped ribs reaching well back. Straight front with ok feet, her coat was of the correct texture and curl. Overall, she gave a very balanced outline with nice flowing lines. In the challenge for BV she showed more reach and drive than the dog.

Please to hear she was shortlisted in the Vetern Group  

2nd: 485 BUCHANAN, Ms Shirley Fleetpaw First Lady

10 year old liver who is a credit to her owner, she certainly retains that Curly spirit. Wasn't cooperating on the move today. Is well off for bone, moderate angles front and rear. Feminine head eyes could be more oval. Her coat was a little sparse in places but had good curl.

Puppy Bitch No Entries

Junior Bitch (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: 503 SPRAGGINS, Mr Nigel & SPRAGGINS, Mrs Sandra Tusepo Miss Scarlett

17 month old black bitch of super quality , loved her head and expression so feminine. Her outline is a collection of flowing curves, nothing overdone, Straight front with good bone and nice feet, Good depth of chest and nice spring of rib. On the move she is steady but has a long stride covering the ground with ease and carries her tail correctly. Good width of thigh with strong hocks. Her coat was of a good texture and curl. If she continues to develop as she has this year, I am sure she can go to the top.

Post Graduate (7 Entries) Abs: 4

This was such a close decision between the first 2 as I really liked both, in the end it came down to coat and weight.

1st: 503 SPRAGGINS, Mr Nigel & SPRAGGINS, Mrs Sandra Tusepo Miss Scarlett

Junior winner and I was pleased to hear that this win gave her the final points for her JW well done.

2nd: 495 GADD, Mr Esmond Tessmene Chantilly Lace

Another quality bitch who I have admired from the ringside for her shape and balance. Beautiful head and expression another very feminine bitch. Long neck, well placed shoulder and upperarm. Strong level topline with a well -set tail. Good width of thigh and well bent stifle. Unfortunately, she was carrying too much weight today which showed on the move and her coat wasn't as good as the winner.But again I can see her gaining top awards in the future and these 2 bitches swapping places many times.

3rd: 486 BUCHANAN, Ms Shirley Curlies On Wings Crossroad Glory

Limit Bitch (6 Entries) Abs: 2

The first 3 bitches were all of great breed type and quality with very little between them.

1st: 494 FINDLOW, Mr A & Mrs J Roughyeds Gold Stick Cellar SGWS

3-year-old bitch of super quality, today was her day . Well- shaped feminine head with a well- shaped eye, small ears well set. Strong topline with a well-set tail which she holds on the move. Her profile movement was a joy as she moves on such a long easy stride, it was effortless for her. She is of a lovely size with good bone and nice feet . 

So well- muscled and in hard fit condition. Her coat was a mass of crisp curls and beautifully presented. I was please to award her the CC and BOS.

2nd: 496 HARRISON, Mr & Mrs T & H Brightmeadow Never Can Say For Glenbrows

Nearly 3 year old black who I have always liked, beautiful head and soft expression. 

Great body proportions, with correct length to height ratio, good bone and neat feet. Well angulated shoulders and upper arm. Another that sparkles on the move showing good extension and drive, today her topline stacked wasn’t quite as good as my winner.

3rd: 497 HAYES, Miss V J & CHATTWOOD, Miss Caron & WALTON, Gorchest's Pendlecurl's Rising Star At Pepperiever 

Res: 486 BUCHANAN, Ms Shirley Curlies On Wings Crossroad Glory

Open Bitch (3 Entries) Abs: 1

Two absolutely top-class bitches full of breed type and quality that pushed each other hard.

A real honour to judge them both.

1st: 506 STEPHENS, Mr & Mrs J & M B Sh Ch Ravenho Up Town Girl For Brightmeadow JW

4 year old bitch and easy to see why she has won so much, she is so balance in outline and just oozes type, pretty head with a soft expression. Good bone and nice feet , good depth of chest with a moderate tuck up. On the move she is sound and true covering the ground with ease, her coat is a mass of curls with the correct texture. In the challenge I just preferred the length of the Limit bitch. RCC

2nd: 487 CARRICK, Mrs Fiona & CARRICK, Miss Chimene Tessmene Tickety Boo

4 year old black of absolute quality, nice head with a soft expression slightly rounder eye than my winner. Good flowing outline and on the move, she has a real elegance to her, today she gave her handler a hard time and was a little wayward at times. Lovely bone, deep chest and good width of thigh. Coat was of correct texture and curl.

Judge Jill Stubbs