Golden Retriever Club Of Wales

GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB OF WALES

CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

SUNDAY 8th FEBRUARY 2026 DOGS

DOGS

A relatively small but quality entry, I hadn’t judged Dogs for 8 years and I found I was presented for the first time largely with a generally consistent type, size and shade of gold with some lovely young dogs coming up through the ranks. As always I am looking for a dog capable of fulfilling a day of work, most importantly soundness on the move in all directions and biddability. I believe on the whole most of the dogs presented today would be capable of that function given the opportunity.

Thanks to my very efficient stewards and to the committee for the invitation and warm hospitality. Best in Show, went to the Dog Sh Ch Sandti Back Of The Net on the referee Richard Morris’ decision, who also decided that the Bitch Brekswood Honey Bee JW should be Reserve Best in Show and the Veteran Dog Bowshella Rough Diamond be awarded Best Veteran in Show. My co-judge Caron French and I agreed on the Puppy Bitch Fenpique Royal Glow for be Best Puppy in Show.

Veteran Dog (7, 1 Absent)

1. Plevin’s BOWSHELLA ROUGH DIAMOND. Workmanlike dog of 7 years, not overdone in any way, balanced head with gentle expression, sufficient angulation all through with well laid shoulders and a level topline, presents a balanced outline standing on good bone and feet, an honest Golden who moves soundly and freely.

2. Wright’s PALTON PAVAROTTI VW. Interestingly I wrote similar notes to the last time I judged him as a junior, 8 year old dark golden, well balanced all through with a masculine balanced head, short coupled, with good bone and cat-like feet, good angles and straight front and rear, level topline and tailset, ribs well sprung, well bent stifles, moves very truly and soundly.

3. Wallington’s WYNRITA SCHOOL DAZE. Carrying a little too much weight and not quite as straight when viewed from the rear as the first two, but you can see his quality. Happy boy with a masculine balanced head, straight front and well angulated, shoulders, upper arm and hindquarters. Holding a level topline and tailset, well handled. Striding out on the move.

Minor Puppy Dog (3,1 Absent)

1. Keene’s SHINEHILL TAILORS MOON. 8 months old, raw and yet to grow into his angles, but what a lovely puppy with a happy confident temperament, showing lots of promise, very pleasing well proportioned head with a dark eye and pigment, good length of neck leading to well laid shoulders, so very well made all through, level topline and correct tail set and carriage, compact with good length of leg, straight front and rear, overall very well balanced standing on cat-like feet and moves happily and freely. Best Puppy Dog.

2. Evans’ PUTJADE POPSTER. Another lovely mid gold puppy of similar type, 7 months, attentive to handler and well presented, balanced head set on a good neck, moderately angulated and well balanced all through, soundly made and four square, holding a level topline with correct tail carriage, bouncing energetically on the move, however I could see his movement was straight and true, once settled should do well.

Puppy Dog (4, 1 Absent)

1. SHINEHILL TAILORS MOON

2. Copley’s ASHBYGLEN TRUE COLOURS AT EMMABE. Paler golden, 10 months, so well presented and handled giving a pleasing outline, though tail set a little high. Masculine yet gentle head, slightly round in eye, but dark and expressive giving a soft expression with good width and depth to muzzle. Well balanced body, deep through the heart, good angulation front and rear, well boned with good feet. Another sound mover.

3. Norris’ FENPIQUE ROYAL RASCAL BY MOLESTREAM. Cream 10 month old, not quite the bend of stifle of 1&2, balanced head with soft expression form dark correctly shaped eyes, good length of neck, shoulders and upper arm, straight front and rear, good bone and strong neat feet, moved freely and truly, very well presented.

Junior Dog (4)

1. Goddard’s JORBY ETERNAL FLAME AT GLANSEVERN. Mid gold with a well presented wavy coat, sets himself up and stands correctly tribute to his overall correct construction with balanced angulation front and rear, compact and short coupled with good spring of rib, level topline and tail set. Gentle balanced and masculine head, intelligent eye, strong neck and well laid back shoulders. Level topline and correct tail set, once settled was the best mover here, true both coming and going with freedom and drive.

2. Bolton’s GOLDMARKER I DREAMED A DREAM AT SHIRESMILL. Pale golden, Kindly expression from dark eyes, good pigment. Slightly longer cast and not quite the balance of 1&2, but well constructed at both ends with good angles and straight limbs, deep through the heart. Level topline and tailset and moves soundly.

3. Smith’s GOLDMARKER ALDERBARAN. A typical happy waggy mid golden, short coupled and well balanced, with a well proportioned gentle head and presented in hard muscular condition. Elbows could be tighter, which is reflected in his front movement coming towards, though moves with drive and extension in profile.

Yearling Dog (7, 3 Absent)

1. Hurrell’s KADAKA KING OF KLAY. Stood out for me, typical darker Golden with everything where it should be, very well balanced and symmetrical. Masculine well proportioned head with dark expressive eyes, neat ears, strong neck and well laid shoulders. Short coupled with deep well sprung ribs, stands four square on strong bone and feet. Moves as truly and soundly as he is made maintaining a level topline and tail carriage, one for the future.

2. Rogers’ HUNGRY POOH BEAR. Darker golden, very nice type, workmanlike. Attentive to his handler he stands without assistance four square and correctly. Pleasing well balanced head with a soft expression from dark nicely shaped dark eyes, good length of neck, though more trimming would benefit. Very good upper arm and shoulder layback, good hindquarters with well bent stifles. In hard condition, moved around the ring easily and smoothly with propulsion behind and reach in front, holding his topline, though just a little proud of his tail.

3. GOLDMARKER I DREAMED A DREAM AT SHIRESMILL.

Maiden Dog (3, 1 Absent)

1. JORBY ETERNALFLAME AT GLANSEVERN

2. ASHBYGLEN TRUE COLOURS AT EMMABE

Novice Dog (5, 1 Absent)

1. HUNGRY POOH BEAR

2. ASHBYGLEN TRUE COLOURS AT EMMABE

3. FENPIQUE ROYAL RASCAL BY MOLESTREAM.

Undergraduate Dog (8, 1 Absent)

1. Main’s PUTJADE PERRAN BY GWYNGALA JW. Quality darker golden of excellent type with well presented profuse and wavy gleaming coat, masculine without any hint of coarseness, balanced well chiselled head, intelligent expression from dark eyes. So well balanced all through, soundly and correctly made, short coupled with good topline and tailset, well sprung ribs, strong bone and round feet. Moves soundly and freely.

2. Fenn’s FULVIA JUST MAGIC AT JANDEBURN. Not quite the finish of 1, but another lovely dog, well made workmanlike dark golden standing correctly with a wagging tail. Lovely balanced head, intelligent expression from dark eyes, good length of neck and shoulder layback, level topline and tailset, adequate angulation in front, short coupled, good length of leg and well bent stifles. Moved freely and soundly.

3. Wooden’s AMILONE SMOKIN BARREL AT SALAKO. Pale golden, just not making the most of himself when standing today, but another quality dog, most beautiful masculine head with the softest of expressions, another well made all through, correctly angulated upper arm and shoulders, short coupled with strong hindquarters. Moved really strongly and soundly.

Graduate Dog (7, 1 Absent)

1. Wright’s PALTON PLATINO. Soundly made quality mid golden, masculine and mature, well off for bone and correct in all respects. Well balanced head, good depth and width of muzzle with a pleasing intelligent expression, excellent neck and shoulders, level topline and tailset, well angulated front and rear, deep through the heart and well ribbed back, short coupled and with good length of leg, strong bone and cat like feet. Well presented and handled, moves accurately and strongly with extension and drive, freely and easily, his movement easily won him this class.

2. Gillan’s GRENGOLD PERSEUS. Dark golden, masculine and workmanlike, another very well constructed, not overdone in any way, straight front and rear, level topline and tailset, good bone and round feet. Balanced well proportioned head with good stop, strong neck into well laid shoulders, Another excellent mover,precise and free in all directions. Liked him a lot.

3. Scott-Briggs’ LARGYMORE RAVAGIER JW. Completing a trio of quality dogs, mid gold and similar comments apply, compact and generally well made, just needs a little more upper arm for perfect balance, but also moves freely and soundly and with style.

Post Graduate Dog (5)

1. Porter’s SHEARSTONE JANNER JW. Close decision between1 & 2, of differing types. On the lower end of the height standard, balanced and compact mid gold with good angulation front and rear. Masculine well proportioned head, good neck and well laid shoulders, stands four square on good bone and catlike feet, a lovely type. Moves very soundly and actively. Well handled

2. Kirkup & Highman’s COLDHARBOUR CANDY CANE. Wavy coated mid gold , honest golden presenting a pleasing outline, well balanced all through with very good front and rear angulation. A kindly head and expression, forehand angulation placing legs well under the body, short coupled with a level topline and tailset, moves really well, striding out in profile and straight coming and going.

3. Thorne’s PANTEGPARISH DUKE OF YORK. Masculine mid gold, another very well made with a lovely outline, everything in the right place, excellent angles throughout with a lovely head and soft expression, good neck, compact in body with a good spring of rib, strong bone and feet. A happy golden who moved really well in profile.

Mid Limit Dog (9, 1 Absent)

1. Archer’s HAYDENGOLD JUST A RUMOUR AT SUNANDAIR JW. Stood out for me, so sound in every respect, a quality mid gold dog with a masculine gentle head, correctly angulated all through, balanced and compact, standing four square on good bone and cat like feet, very well presented and handled, a complete package who moves as soundly and truly as he is constructed.

2. Jackson-Haines’ LEIGHSHAM THE CHEEKY ELF JW. Darker golden, of a very pleasing type, beautifully presented in full double coat, similar in make and construction to 1, most lovely masculine head set on a neck of good length, well laid shoulders and deep brisket with good forechest, level topline and short coupled, well off for bone, free standing and happy, wagging his tail. Not so tidy on the move coming towards, but accurate going away and in profile moves effortlessly and freely.

3. England’s BREKSWOOD GENTLEMAN JACK JW. Pale golden, as well made as the first two and as beautifully balanced, not quite the maturity. Gentle head and expression, good neck and forehand construction, level topline and tailset and equally balanced in the rear. Well handled and presented, moves with style and drive and accurate footfall. Another trio of quality Goldens.

Limit Dog (12, 1 Absent)

1. Holmes’ ASHBYGLEN EXCALIBUR JW. Just 2 years old, already at his best. Real quality with nothing to fault, fits the standard. Mid gold presenting a classic outline, another so very well presented and handled. Masculine head without coarseness, so well proportioned and chiselled with dark eyes and pigment, good neck and shoulders, well balanced all through, very good angulation front and rear, balanced body, well sprung ribs and deep brisket, good bend of stifle, straight front and rear, good bone and cat like feet. Effortless free flowing movement, straight and true, he is easy on the eye and a lovely young example of the breed. Res CC.

2. Bolton’s MEGARVEY STILL GAME FOR SHIRESMILL JW. In close contention, just a tad longer in the loin, but overall strongly and soundly made, another quality darker golden dog to whom similar comments apply. Presenting a lovely outline with a masculine well balanced head, excellent length of neck and shoulder layback. Very well angulated front and rear with a level topline and tailset. Another well presented and handled and also moves freely and accurately.

3. Williams’ EVENINGHILL DETROIT RED. One I have admired ringside, another of real quality, just dipping his topline today, but close up for his overall balance and correctness. Unexaggerated, a compact and typical darker golden, balanced masculine yet gentle head, beautifully constructed, standing four square, dark eye and intelligent soft expression, good neck and shoulders, straight front and rear, well presented gleaming mid gold coat, another absolutely sound on the move, maintaining his level topline and tailset.

Open Dog (6)

1. Law’s SANDTI BACK OF THE NET. Although not credited with his Show Champion title in the catalogue, he is indeed a most worthy title holder. Catches the eye immediately, not overdone in any way, a mid gold dog who is athletic, symmetrical and correct in all respects. Well presented in hard condition, at one with his handler so soundly made, everything in absolutely the right place, looks fit for function, his movement is active, free, effortless and absolutely true with level tail carriage. Standing he is so balanced, standing freely and four square on strong straight limbs and planting his round catlike feet, always maintaining his level topline. Now coming to his best, his wavy mid gold coat was gleaming and with his lovely balanced head, dark eyes with intelligent and kind expression, distinct showmanship with a wagging tail, he fills the eye. CC & Best in Show.

2. Williams’ CH BERRYMEADE COEUR BLIMEY AT BUSHEYHALL SGWC WGC. Another worthy Champion and a typical darker Golden with a calm demeanour demonstrating biddability, well presented and handled with a lovely balanced head and kind expression from dark eyes. Correctly made all through, with exemplary angles, on the move he is hard to ignore, really striding out with reach and drive, seemingly floating with a level topline and correct tail carriage. One who has matured slowly as a Golden should and has been rightly rewarded for his many attributes.

3. Main’s DENMARELLA MR BRIGHT SKIES OVER GWYNGALA. Rising 7 year old, darker yet greying golden, full of life and showing his socks off, free standing and wagging his tail, with perfectly placed catlike feet, illustrating his balanced construction/ Another of pleasing type with a lovely head and expression, set on a neck of good length into well laid shoulders, well angled all through with forelegs placed well under the body and good bend of stifle. Moved freely and soundly.

Special Open Dog (2)

1. Clunies’ CH WARRENTOR BOLD AS BRASS JW SGWC WGC. Effervescent showman who stands completely four square, always wagging his dead level tail and is very eyecatching with his deep golden wavy coat. Larger framed and well boned, honest construction correct in all respects with a deep masculine head and dark eyes giving a soft expression, exudes will to please. Compactly made and well balanced with good angles throughout, he moves happily and freely though a little close behind.

2. Taylor’s’ ALIBREN ALDANITI AT TANNADICE JW SGWC. Yet another quality dog, well presented, with a lovely well balanced masculine head and soft expression, good neck, shoulders, good upper arm angulation and bend of stifle, straight front and rear. Compact, deep through the heart and well boned, showed better than in a previous class. Moves soundly and freely, unlucky to meet 1.

KIM ELLIS (Judge)