Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

Show: Darlington Championship Show

Breed: Flatcoated Retreivers

Date: Friday 18th September 2026

Judge: Mrs Penny Lane-Ridyard (Kulawand)

Thank you to Darlington Championship Dog Show Society for their very kind invitation to judge Flatcoated Retrievers at Ripon Racecourse. My gratitude also to my two fabulous stewards, Janet & Tim Jackson, for their efficiency in organising the ring. Much appreciation also to the exhibitors for their entries with some very beautiful exhibits today.

Veteran Dog (3 entries, 0 abs)

515 1st Bellamy’s Ch. Woodfinch Masquarade

A 7-year-old balanced male with a beautiful moulded flatcoat head. He stood foursquare with an attractive level top-line and in well-muscled condition. Well off for bone and substance but not overdone. Straight front, good sternum and excellent forehand construction with equally well made hindquarters. This dog is a very sound mover and I was please to award him the DCC.

553 2nd Scaife’s Flatcharm Mr Fix It For Shennanjoy

Another well-muscled veteran, with fabulous tight paws that moved very well on the day. Standing he presents a pleasing outline, with good forehand construction, good topline and well set on tail which he carried well on the move. He was presented in lovely condition and was handled extremely well.

527 3rd Fabretti’s Wistaston Precious Love (AI)

Minor Puppy Dog (4 entries, 0 abs)

539 1st Holmans’ O’flanagan New Horizons For Namtresa NAF TAF (Swed Imp)

This puppy took my eye the moment he entered the ring with his movement. He has good straight bone and at just 6 months and 4 days old he is very raw at the moment but has an excellent outline and a lot of potential. He had the best sternum and upper arm of all the puppies on the day, has a level top-line that he carried well on the move. Pleased to award him Best Puppy.

546 2nd Punter’s Flatcharm Dirty Secret at Arrelladorum

A more mature puppy with a lovely typical flatcoat head and soft expression. Another good mover, with excellent bend of stifle, excellent feet and a profuse coat. He was very close to first place.

559 3rd Tinker’s Bramatha Dilwyn Loves Rosie

Puppy Dog (1 entry, 0 abs)

557 1st Tierling’s Llantrussa Hawk at Karaholme

At 11 months he has good maturity and attitude, good strong bone and substance and is well muscled. He has well let down hocks, straight back pasterns and fabulous round tight paws. Shown with a strong top-line and in good coat. Also my winner of the Junior Dog class.

Junior Dog (2 entries, 0 abs)

557 1st Tierling’s Llantrussa Hawk at Karaholme

555 2nd Skybrook Dance Monkey

Another youngster that is well off for bone with good feet and true to his name, he didn’t want to stand still; typical of this age class. He has a good depth of chest, and short coupled with a good level topline, and well let down hocks. Needs to settle on the move.

Graduate Dog (1 entry, 0 abs)

558 1st Tinker’s Bramatha Lockdown Blues

The only exhibit in this class and was giving his handler a hard time in the ring. Nevertheless he is well off for bone, has a correct amount of rib with enough sternum but would prefer more upper arm. He has a level topline on the stack, good bend of stifle and well let down hocks.

Post Graduate Dog (3 entries, 0 abs)

554 1st Scaife’s Flatcharm Bing A Ling at Shennanjoy

At 22 months, he is immature for this class but has a pleasing masculine head and gentle, playful expression. He has a good sternum but needs more depth to his chest which I am sure he will get as he matures. He has a level top-line, was well muscled, and was very fit. He was the soundest mover in this class. Shown well and presented well.

516 2nd Broadbent’s Gemswin I Am Sailing JW

I really liked this dog. He has a a good reach of neck, into well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm, a level top-line, short coupled, well-let down hocks, straight pasterns and an excellent bend of stifle. He has the confirmation, and was presented in beautiful coat, but needed tighter feet, better muscle condition and more drive to get first prize.

517 3rd Brown & Campbell’s Ronevorg King of Attitude

Limit Dog (3 entries, 0 abs)

523 1st Clark’s Hurstclough Night Owl at Flanova

A 4 year old with a beautiful masculine moulded head and dark eye. He has a lovely reach of neck, into well placed shoulders and good return of upper arm. Well off for bone he has a lovely straight front into the neatest of tight round feet. Correct depth of chest, level top-line on the move which he sometimes looses on the stack when he places his front feet too far forward. Nonetheless, he has super hindquarters, plenty of second thigh, lovely straight hocks and shown in lovely muscled condition. He moved out with gusto, correct foot placement and drive. Pleased to award him the Reserve DCC.

531 2nd Grierson & Griffin’s Lamesbella Elliot

A 2 ½ year old male with adequate bone. He moved reasonably well and was short coupled but would prefer to see his tail carried level with his topline on the move.

532 3rd Hall’s Hightyne Night Train

Open Dog (2 entries, 1 abs) 

513 1st Harvey’s Moontorn Black Magic

A beautifully constructed 5 year old dog with good straight front, adequate lay back of shoulder, level top-line, good bend of stifle, well-let down hocks and correct rear drive. Shown in profuse coat and handled/presented well.

Veteran Bitch (1 entry, 0 abs)

552 1st Scaife’s Shennanjoy Walkin Miracle

Despite being the only exhibit in this class, she is well worthy of a first prize. A 7½ yr old feminine bitch with a pleasing head, good reach of neck, excellent well laid shoulders, good return of upper arm, level topline, beautiful bend of stifle into well let down hocks. She moved out well carrying her tail level on the move. Shown in excellent coat.

Junior Bitch (3 entries, 0 abs)

520 1st Chamber’s Hototo’s Edge of Glory

At just 12 months old this youngster was lacking her feathering today but oh wow, what an outline!

A very feminine young lady, with balanced construction fore and aft, she has the correct depth of body to length of leg, lovely upper arm, good straight front legs, level topline, short couplings, correct bend of stifle , well let down hocks and strong straight pasterns. With all these correct features it was no surprise that she moved correctly.

529 2nd Goodman’s Blacklake Freda Fancy Fay

A feminine 17 month old bitch a good head and alert expression. She has a straight front, adequate front assembly, a good level topline, well ribbed back, and balanced quarters with well let down hocks. Moved well.

550 3rd Rees’ Braemist Chase The Moonbeam Over Eskwinds

Graduate Bitch (11 entries, 0 abs)

542 1st Mackessack-Leitch’s Badcall Midwinter Dream At Inchstellie JW

This bitch has a superb moulded head set on a good reach of neck into well laid shoulders and good upper arm and good feet. Excellent spring of rib, level top-line, well set on tail that was carried level on the move. Good bend of stifle, well-let down hocks; strong straight back pasterns which she used to advantage. An excellent mover. Shown and presented well in a full glossy coat.

560 2nd Waller’s Flatcharm Banana Hammock

I note from the catalogue that this bitch is the litter sister to my Post Graduate Dog winner. At 22 months, she too needs more depth of chest which I am sure she will gain with time. She has a level top-line, is well-muscled, has a good bend of stifle and well-let down hocks; another sound mover.

520 3rd Chamber’s Hototo’s Edge of Glory

Post Graduate Bitch (4 entries, 1 abs)

541 1st Mackessack-Leitch’s Caci’s The Jewel Of June At Inchstellie JW (Swed Imp)

Another exhibit that took my eye as she entered the ring - I really liked her for her presence and quality. A substantial bitch, shown in a gleaming coat; she has good conformation fore and aft; well laid shoulders, good return of upper arm, has short couplings, excellent width of thigh and bend of stifle with well let down hocks. True to her conformation, she moved out exceptionally well.

529 2nd Clark’s Kazval Turn Back Time At Flanova

A finer and more elegant exhibit to 1st place but extremely well made with a fabulous front assembly. She unfortunately was not a one with her handler today but a quality exhibit which should do well when she behaves herself.

530 3rd Goodman’s Blacklake Dark Lady For Gayplume

Limit Bitch (11 entries, 3 abs)

514 1st Bellamy’s Moontorn Chasing The Dream JW

An elegant feminine bitch that stands four square and rock steady; wagging her tail level to her level top-line. For her construction there is nothing to dislike and on the move she completely nailed it. In full coat I was pleased to award her the Reserve BCC.

512 2nd Anderson’s Feldkirk Roulette At Kazval

Another well-made bitch but at only 18 months old she has to compete with more mature exhibits to take top honours. Nonetheless she moved out well and has one of the most loveliest of heads I’ve seen in the ring.

519 3rd Chamber’s Hototo’s Pretty Ballerina JW

Open Bitch (7 entries, 3 abs)

556 1st Strudwick’s Sh Ch Burpham Lotties First Love JW

A 5 year old bitch that had everything today; body, maturity, full coat and finesse! She has a feminine moulded head set onto a fabulous reach of neck into well laid shoulders with lovely return of upper arm. Well off for bone, she has the straightest of fronts and neat feet. Sporting a level top-line and excellent tail-set, she is short coupled, has an excellent width of thigh and bend of stifle with well let down hocks and strong straight back pasterns. Her runner navigated her expertly around the ring; and she covered the ground with ease. On top form, I was pleased to award her the BCC.

511 2nd Anderson’s Sh Ch Feldkirk Dior Of Kazval

I have admired this bitch for many years from the ringside and she did not disappoint when going over her. She is simply outstanding with the most perfect outline; and, at 9 years of age, still takes my breath away. She has very well laid shoulders and a balanced return of upper arm; a correct rib shape with pronounced sternum. Her hind quarters are equally well angulated and she still moves with style and drive. Standing, she presented an impressive outline but sadly today, she did not have sufficient coat for top honours.

535 3rd Holland’s Sh Ch Woodfinch Highland Fairy At Flatcharm

Mrs. Penny Lane-Ridyard (Kulawand)

18th October 2026