Southern Golden Retriever Society

SGRS CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 02.05.26

DOG JUDGE’S CRITIQUE 

Thank you to the SGRS committee for their kind invitation to judge Dogs at their 2026 Championship show. Thank you to the exhibitors for their entries - it was an absolute pleasure to go over some really lovely dogs & at the end of the day I was really pleased with my line up of class winners. Thank you also to the lovely ladies who were my stewards. Whilst going round to choose my CC winner I was thrilled to see such quality in some of the younger dogs who on another day could be eligible for top honours. I really was spoilt for choice. My co-judge & I both loved the Dog CC & Bitch CC winners in the challenge so we decided to call the referee to make the decision for us. The Dog was chosen for Best In Show. By mutual agreement with my co-judge we chose the dogs for both Best Veteran In Show & Best Puppy In Show & the Bitch for Best Baby Puppy In Show. I was quite surprised to find that quite a few dogs who standing at the start of each class & whilst moving around the ring in profile caught my eye but then later disappointed with their front & rear movement moving away & coming back. Temperaments were superb, quality & presentation was overall excellent, but I did find a few incorrect bites.  

BABY PUPPY DOG (2-1)

1st Cooper Amilone Don’t Mind If I Do At Dikeadaze - happy little show boy who showed & moved very well. Sweet head with dark eye & pigmentation. Good reach of neck flowing into level topline. A raw baby but just as you would expect at his age. Pressed hard in the challenge but lost out to his litter sister who was at a more together stage on the day. BEST BABY PUPPY DOG

SPECIAL VETERAN DOG (2-1)

1st Roper Catnnels Inside Story For Brensham SGWC VW – Mid gold boy presented in very good coat & great condition. Lovely masculine head with good length of neck, straight front & neat feet. Level topline, deep chest, well developed second thigh, straight hocks, carrying just the right amount of weight. Moved really well.

VETERAN DOG (2-0)

Two very nice veteran boys -

1st Clarke-Gear Ouseval Tobermory JW – this boy was on fine form today. He was presented in lovely coat & condition. Excellent front & rear angulation with level topline. Neat feet with straight front legs, strong straight hocks – he moved positively & with drive. Delighted to award him BEST VETERAN DOG & with the agreement of my co-judge BEST VETERAN IN SHOW.

2nd Pastusiak Sh Ch Int Nld Dk Pol Seu(U) At Lux Swiss Vdh Be Ch Prince Charming Qdore Of Labgold (Atc Pol) – great animated show boy who shows freely & having the most waggiest of tails. He is completely at one with his handler. Lovely masculine head with excellent reach of neck & presenting a beautiful balanced outline overall. Very enthusiastic mover but just didn’t quite have the positive movement of my winner on the day.

MINOR PUPPY DOG (4-0)

1st Loach & Zubair Berrymeade Merlot – lovely young boy presenting a very balanced outline. Kind masculine head with dark pigment, excellent reach of neck flowing into level topline, straight front with tight feet, great rear angulation with straight neat hocks. Once settled he moved freely & accurately with drive. He also won the Puppy class which made him my BEST PUPPY DOG & with the agreement of my co-judge he was our BEST PUPPY IN SHOW.

2nd Taylor & Tenn Strettonhill Kooky Monster – different type to my class winner slightly longer cast in body but having excellent front & rear angulation. Straight front legs with good amount of bone & neat feet. Kind head & expression with dark pigment. Level topline with correct tail set. Shown in profuse pale gold coat – expertly handled & moved.

3rd White Kenbloom Garnet Sundown

PUPPY DOG (6-0)

1st Loach & Zubair Berrymeade Merlot

2nd Taylor & Tenn Strettonhill Kooky Monster

3rd Millington Strettonhills Bring It Home To Jarabees

JUNIOR DOG (5-0)

1st Davies Lynste Dream Boy – really lovely young boy who shows so much promise. Very balanced in outline not overdone or underdone in any respect. Beautiful masculine head showing no coarseness well set on clean neck of good length. Straight front with good bone & lovely neat feet. Level topline with good angulation both front & rear, good width of thigh. His movement was accurate & strong – he needs a big ring to get the best out of him. There was nothing not to like about him. Definitely one to watch with interest.

2nd Norris Fenpinque Royal Rascal By Molestream – another very nice boy oozing quality – just out of puppy but certainly held his own in this class. Very appealing balanced outline with kind masculine head, great reach of neck flowing into level topline having correct tailset with tail held level on the move. Lovely deep chest with plenty of heart room, well sprung ribs, carrying the correct amount of weight & in very good muscled condition.

3rd Carlton Thistlegate Sonoma Moon

YEARLING DOG 4-0)

1st Knight & Cooke Haydengold Backchat JW - very eyecatching pale golden boy presented in excellent coat & condition. Attractive masculine head with dark eye, good reach of neck, level topline with correct tail set held level on the move. Balanced outline not over done in any way. Moved accurately & soundly to win this class.

2nd Edmunds Sunnyoak Eiffel Tower – substantial mid gold boy shown in lovely wavy coat. Slightly longer cast than my winner. Kind masculine head with dark eye & pigment. Level topline with excellent rear angulation & straight hocks. He has lovely conformation & I feel a little more sympathetic trimming would enhance in particular his neck & shoulders. When settled moved very well with accuracy & drive.   

3rd Smith Goldmarker Alderbaran

MAIDEN DOG (3-0)

1st Edmunds Sunnyoak Eiffel Tower

2nd Millington Strettonhills Bring It Home To Jarabees – another nice young dog who although he was between coats on the day still deserved his placing based on his excellent conformation. He is balanced with lovely straight front legs & the neatest of feet, his shoulders are well laid back, long in blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under his body which is short coupled with a level topline.

3rd Bruyneels Eveninghill By My Side

NOVICE DOG (5-1)

1st Edmunds Sunnyoak Eiffel Tower

2nd Millington Strettonhills Bring It Home To Jarabees

3rd Pietrykowski It Takes Two Anarchia Box Wondertemple (Imp Pol)

UNDERGRADUATE DOG (6-1)

1st Wooden Amilone Smokin Barrel At Salako – this young man caught my eye on my first glance around the ring. On going over him & watching him move individually he didn’t disappoint me in any way. Oozing breed type & quality this young dog was presented in excellent coat & condition. Beautifully handled & moved he completely filled my eye with his excellent construction – another who had nothing not to like. Again I feel a little sympathetic trimming around his neck & shoulders would enhance his lovely shape. He must surely have a very bright future.

2nd Moore Tenfield Klipspringer With Auryngra SGWC – dark gold boy presented in lovely wavy coat. Pleasing outline with level topline, straight front with neat feet – moved well with drive.

3rd Marshall Cadwst Spring River JW

GRADUATE DOG (6-0)

1st Middleton Collins Berrymeade Dream On With Jasperleigh JW SGWC – lovely young dog presenting a beautiful balanced outline. He won this class with his excellent conformation & movement. Lovely clean neck of good length flowing into level topline with correct tailset. Great front & rear angulation he was the best mover in this class – a joy to watch.  

2nd Wedge Putjade Pit Stop At Riverscharm – lovely dark golden boy presented in excellent coat & condition. Classic masculine head kind with no coarseness, dark pigment & eye, excellent front angulation, level topline giving an overall balanced outline. Not quite so positive on the move as my winner today.  

3rd Oughton Carubelo Live The Dream JW

POST GRADUATE DOG 8-1)

1st Middleton Collins Berrymeade A Fool In Love Of Jasperleigh JW – this boy was presented in excellent coat & condition. He is slightly longer cast in body with good angulation front & rear, level topline, good reach of neck. Another class that was won on steady strong movement.

2nd Loach & Zubair Putjade Poldark JW – dark golden boy presented in good coat. Lovely balanced outline, being short coupled & deep in the chest with level topline. Straight front legs with neat feet. Moved with accuracy & drive.

3rd Angell Linirgor Seven Up At Millanza

MINOR LIMIT DOG (6-0)

This was a tough decision between my first & second – they could easily change places on a different day- two very nice boys.  

1st Carter Kadaka Kauldrun JW – lovely boy who I have done well for before as a youngster. He has now matured & definitely fulfilled his early promise. He presents a balanced outline with his excellent conformation. He is deep in the chest with level topline, correct tailset, great angulation front & rear & lovely neat feet. Well developed second thigh with good width. He moved soundly with good length of stride & drive.

2nd Harvey & Anderson Alibren Rock Legend For Ashiqua – slightly different type to my winner – presented in excellent coat & condition. Very showy boy shown & moved to his best advantage by his handler. Ever so slightly longer cast but everything still in proportion to present a balanced profile picture. Excellent angulation both front & rear. Kind masculine head with dark pigment & eye. His movement was accurate & with drive.

3rd Taylor Alibren Aldaniti At Tannadice JW SGWC

LIMIT DOG (11-2)

Another two very nice boys headed up this class

1st Morriss Garget & Morriss Goldmarker Coming Home To Garvin (AI) JW – beautiful dark golden boy who caught my eye immediately he came into the ring. Shown free stood & very attentive to his handler. He stands naturally, showing his excellent conformation. Very attractive masculine head set on clean neck of good length flowing into level topline. Deep chest, excellent front & rear angulation, good width of thigh with good muscle tone. Pushed hard for top honours & was seriously considered but I just preferred the more positive front movement of both my CC & Res CC winners.

2nd Archer Haydengold Just A Rumour At Sunandair JW – very handsome mid golden boy oozing quality & type. Presenting a beautiful balanced outline with excellent conformation. Very appealing kind masculine head, straight front legs with neat feet, level topline with correct tail set. Good width of thigh & straight hocks. A little distracted on the move but he still moved with accuracy & drive.

3rd Holmes Ashbyglen Excalibur JW

OPEN DOG (9-1)

The two boys placed first & second in this class were my stars of the day.

1st Bernaert Int Multi Ch Grey Goose Back In Black (Atc Esp) – this boy for me is the finished article. He & his handler are at one with each other – he is a very lovely boy who must make his owner & breeder very proud. Text book conformation – beautiful masculine head, set on clean strong neck which flows into a level topline. Excellent front angulation with shoulders which are well laid back, long in blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under his body. Deep through the chest with good spring of rib, short coupled body with excellent rear angulation, short straight hocks & correct tail set. His movement was an absolute joy to watch – he moved accurately, with drive & his tail held level albeit wagging happily. A proper showman who never put a foot wrong & thoroughly deserved the DOG CC & BEST IN SHOW

2nd Callegari & Rudelli Double Willow Quid Pro Quo (Atc Ita) – every now & again a young dog comes along & catches your eye. This beautiful dog is that dog for me. He just has that something special about him. He completely filled my eye & there is nothing that I don’t like about him. The decision between my winner & this boy was very difficult. He has the most appealing outline, so balanced in every respect with everything in the right place. His movement was effortless, with good reach, long driving strides & accurate in footfall. Delighted to award him the DOG RESERVE CC.

3rd Pastusiak Int Ger Seu Pol Lux Ch United Kingdom Du Bois De La Rayere (Atc Fra) 

SPECIAL WORKING DOG (2-0)

1st Callegari & Rudelli Double Willow Pure Perfection (Atc Ita) – dark golden boy shown in beautiful gleaming coat. He had an excellent reach of neck, straight front legs with neat tight feet, level topline & strong straight hocks. He was in good muscled condition & moved very well.

2nd Smith Betts Restless Remedy Loyal Gold (Imp Pol) – another dark golden boy again with a beautiful shiny coat. Lovely dark pigment, neat feet, good rear angulation & correct tailset. Moved well.

SPECIAL OPEN DOG (5-0)

Two worthy champions headed up this class who I’m sure swap places frequently – I was literally splitting hairs between them. Each excelled in different areas.

1st Williams Ch Berrymeade Coeur Blimey At Busheyhall SGWC WGC – Lovely mid golden quality boy balanced in outline presented in excellent condition. Good overall conformation throughout. Slightly longer in body but with everything still in proportion. Correct tail set with level topline. Moved with drive.

2nd Kinchella Ch Honeymill Elder Warrior - dark golden boy also presented in excellent coat & condition. Balanced outline – shorter in body, deep in chest with plenty of heart room, good angulation – moved well.  

3rd Taylor Alibren Aldaniti At Tannadice JW SGWC

KCGCDS DOG (5-0)

1st Withey Rosinante Major Hero – very appealing mid gold boy who is balanced in appearance. A very worthy winner of this class. Presented in good coat & condition, masculine head with kind expression, dark pigment & eye, straight front with neat feet, level topline & good rear angulation. A little sympathetic trimming around the neck & shoulders would further advance his lovely shape.

2nd Smith Goldmarker Pupdini Escapes – lighter mid gold boy with excellent reach of neck, level topline, good rear angulation, correct tail set held level on the move.  

3rd Moore Purbarn Friends Together With Auryngra

Teresa Foreman (Ambersun)