Yorkshire Golden Retriever Club

YGRC – Bitches – 5th April 2026

BITCHES

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge at your championship show. I was made to feel very welcome, and very much appreciated the help and hard work of my stewards Vicky Robertshaw and Laura Buckles - thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed assessing all the beautiful females entered under me, thank you to the exhibitors for your entries, and for bringing your Golden treasures for my assessment.

Nearly all were in super condition, temperament on the whole was excellent.

Unfortunately one exhibit was not happy when I tried to examine her, she repeatedly used her voice and her body language to tell me so, sadly she was also very overweight. I acknowledged RKC Breed Watch and followed RKC guidelines, and I quote:- "Every dog must be able to see, hear, breathe, move freely, express natural behaviours, and be free from distress, pain, irritation, and discomfort. As a judge, you must penalise any dog with features or exaggerations which could be detrimental to the soundness, health or welfare of the dog".

BABY PUPPY (5, 1 abs)

1 Nelson’s Cadwst Eternal Ember. Best Baby Puppy In Show.

Nearly 6 months. Attractive outline, pretty, well presented coat. Feminine head, kind eye, dark pigment, good length of neck flows well into withers and top line. Pleasing angle of shoulder and upper arm, well boned straight legs, lovely tight feet. Nice long rib cage offering plenty of room for heart and lungs, short loin, firm backend. Happy disposition, well handled and well schooled.

2 Booth’s Haydengold Sweet Moments for Alihelnix.

Nearly 6 months. Sweet head, dark pigment, shorter neck but longer shoulder blade than 1st, well boned legs and neat feet. Moved well, was straight away and back and displayed even stride in profile. Tail carriage higher than I would like, but this is a baby puppy class, so I forgave that. Well turned out cream coat, well schooled and well handled.

3 Foreman’s Ambersun Another Treasure.

MINOR PUPPY (4, I abs, 1 wh)

1 McFarlane’s Bluebraes Voyager.

Well grown 8 moth old, well off for bone, shows strength all through. Straight legs, strong pasterns, tight cat-like feet. Well angulated fore and aft, prominent breastbone, good spring of rib and level tailset. Best mover in this class, straight away and back, behaved well for her runner. Nicely presented mid gold coat.

2 McGugan’s Shamrock Love Of My Life at Culzean (imp HUN).

Feminine, well proportioned head, pretty face, dark pigment, smiley and happy. Positive front, straight legs, neat feet. Level top line, deep through heart, good length of rib cage. Longer in loin at this stage than 1st, and needs to settle on the move. Nicely presented cream coat, although lacks some undercoat today. Sympathetically handled, 8 months old.

3 Withheld.

PUPPY (7, 0 abs)

The first three all 9 months old.

1 Haxton’s Dantassie Sunny Solstice. BPB and with the full agreement of my co-judge, BPIS.

Very promising, beautifully balanced, feminine with substance, proportions absolutely spot on. Expert handler got the best from her, together they make a great team. Super head, dark pigment and kind expression, good length of neck, lovely level top line and tail well set on and carried level when moving. Ideal forechest with evident breastbone, well ribbed back, straight legs, quality bone, neat cat-like feet. Well schooled, beautifully presented light golden coat.

2 Best & Best’s Strathlon Sweet Angel.

Appealing outline, lengthy neck, well laid shoulders, level top line, plenty of width across thigh, good bend of stifle. Feminine head, well shaped eye with kind expression, well boned straight legs, strong slightly sloping pasterns, tight feet. Handled to perfection and moved out well, beautifully presented cream coat. Lacked a little confidence today, but she was very happy for me to go over her.

3 O’Neill’s Strathlon Angel Eyes.

JUNIOR (8, 3 abs)

1 Foreman’s Ambersun Winter Treasure.

I was very taken with this 17 month old, she gave a good account of herself, lovely head carriage, level accurate movement covering plenty of ground with ease, straight going away and coming towards. Pretty well shaped head, soft expression, ideal length of neck, pleasing front assembly, well placed shoulders and equal angulation behind. Definite forechest, strong straight legs, tight cat-like feet. Correct balance of depth of brisket to length of leg, well sprung ribs, rib cage of good length, short couplings. Plenty of width across thigh, hind pasterns parallel from behind. Well schooled, well handled, presented in clean cream coat.

2 Poile & Blackboro’s Cherrimar Electra.

15 month old darker golden female who was gaining in confidence as the class went on. Not quite the turn of stifle as 1st, but she still has a lovely outline, good length of neck, level top line and level tail set. Slightly rounded skull nicely in proportion to strong muzzle, correct ear set. Strong bone, straight front, parallel from behind, moved out well, sympathetically handled.

3 Hill & Smith’s Megarvey Cocomelon JW.

YEARLING (11, 3 abs)

1 Youngson’s Linirgor Adeline at Treeveville JW.

Light gold coloured coat, beautifully presented, really nicely made, well handled. Lengthy neck, well angulated shoulders and upper arm, firm forechest, straight front, well padded tight feet. Positive top line, good length of rib cage, short loin, correct tail set, wide across thigh, well bent stifles, hocks low to the ground. Could just be slightly cleaner in throat. At 22 months of age she has learned her job well and was happy in the ring, moved with free ground covering stride and accurate footfall.

2 Nelson’s Cadwst Song Of Spring JW.

Very pretty light gold coloured female, beautifully presented double coat, 23 months old. Liked her shape, balanced body properties, length of neck and level top line. Angulation equal fore and aft, quality bone, very neat cat-like feet. Pleasing rib cage with good spring, short loin and broad hind quarters. Fit and well muscled, handled to perfection, she obviously adores her handler.

3 Foreman’s Ambersun A Winter Treasure.

Was 1st in JB.

MAIDEN (7, 2 abs)

1 McFarlane’s B Voyager. (1st in MP).

2nd North’s Shinehill Florence at Tippastree.

Mid gold coat glistening with health and beautifully presented, well schooled, behaved impeccably for her kind and gentle handler. Balanced outline, although has slightly shorter upper arm, and tail set is slightly lower than 1st. Lengthy neck, nice lay of shoulder and well bent stifles, plenty of fore chest, good length and depth of rib cage, good spring of rib, strong bone and good strong pasterns, lovely tight feet, hind legs parallel from behind. Pretty expression, very happy to be in the ring, has an excellent rapport with her handler.

3 Evans’ Mardagold Razzle Dazzle.

NOVICE (10, 2 abs)

1 McFarlane’s B Voyager (1st MP).

2 Ferguson’s Shelbreagha Macallan.

This mid golden female won her place on accurate level movement, was a pleasure to watch. Very pretty and feminine head, well boned straight legs front and back, neat feet. Short coupled body, level top line, ideal tail set, tail carried level on the move. Happy disposition, well handled.

3 Henshaw’s Kensesqui Calypso.

UNDERGRADUATE (8, 1 abs)

1 Foreman’s A A Winter Treasure. (1st JB)

2 Ferguson’s S Macallan (2nd JB)

3 McDonald’s Lamancha Unstoppable.

GRADUATE (3, 1 abs)

1 McCormack & Russell’s Flyngalee Dilly Dally. RBCC.

Beautifully made, balanced from all angles. Very good in profile, straight legs, quality bone, well up on pasterns, well padded feet. Equal angulation fore and aft, compact body properties, level top line, very good spring of rib, rib cage long and deep. Very pretty and attentive, melting expression from dark eye, used her ears well. Beautifully presented light gold coat with dense undercoat Fit and well muscled, this showed on the move where she covered the ground with easy free flowing stride, was straight and true going away and coming towards. Excellent handling, had her looking just right every time I looked.

2 Searle’s Astleyfold Snowy Bell JW.

Well presented cream coat, attractive head, pretty face, good reach of neck to well laid shoulders and return of upper arm. Deep brisket, firm chest of correct width, straight front, level top line and nicely sprung ribs, plenty of width across thigh, lovely bend of stifle. Preferred cleaner neck of 1st, didn’t drive as well as 1st on the move but was happy in the ring and was well handled.

POST GRADUATE (10, 2 abs)

1 Harper’s Tullochmohr Ray Of Sunshine at Glynerva JW.

Balanced outline and happy disposition drew my eye to this mid gold coated female, a real showgirl! Fairly broad slightly rounded skull in proportion to length of neck and size of body. Well laid shoulders, deep firm brisket, straight front, beautiful feet. Level top line, good depth and spring of rib , ribs well back, nice short loin, ideal tail set. Very good width across thigh and stifles well bent, hocks low to the ground. Strode out round the ring with drive from behind, straight and true away and back. In the challenge, I just preferred the heads of CC and RCC winners.

2 O’Neill’s Strathlon April Bonnie Lass.

Impressed me greatly, but she didn’t make the most of herself today. Kind and patient handler got the best from her and once settled she was happy for me to go over her. I was pleased to find a nicely constructed girl who had balanced body properties, was in hard muscular condition, and was fit and healthy. Pretty head, dark eye, dark pigment, super length of neck, level top line, long ribcage with good spring, short strong loin, firm hindquarters, wide thighs, good bend of stifle. Powerful movement, covered the ground with ease. Beautifully presented cream double coat. Preferred feet and pasterns of 1st.

3 Crookes & Jenkinson’s Thornywaite Royal Story for Quakerhall JW.

MID LIMIT (10, 4 abs)

1 Towers’ Alibren Majestic Dawn JW.

Soundly moving, effortless stride, straight away and back, accurate in profile, positive attitude expressed by happily wagging tail. Lovely outline, ideal proportion of depth of body to length of leg, muscular neck flowing to level top line, short loin, correct tail set. Equal angulation fore and aft, pleasing slope of shoulder, straight front, neat feet, well ribbed back, wide muscular thighs, nice bend of stifle. Well shaped head, kind dark eye, dark gold coloured coat, carrying just the right amount of weight, well handled.

2 List’s Haydengold Gossip Girl JW.

Scored well on clean presentation, in full cream coat with dense undercoat. Deep body, good length and spring of rib, short loin, tail well set on and carried level when moving. Well placed shoulders, good return of upper arm, well defined fore chest, very good bone, neat cat-like feet. Powerful hindquarters, plenty of width of thigh, nice short hind pasterns. Moved well, expertly handled. Broad skull, ears well set on, dark eye, just preferred the balance of head of 1st

3 Pounds-Longhurst’s Mossburn Golly Miss Molly JW.

LIMIT (8, 2 abs)

1 Taylor & Tenn’s Strettonhill’s Daffodil.

Beautifully handled, moved out with level stride, was straight going away and coming towards. mid gold jacket. Well shaped head of balanced proportions, ears set on level with eyes. Moderate angulation, nothing overdone, straight legs, tight feet, short hind pasterns. Level top line, tail well set on. Good spring of rib, a tad long in loin, well muscled hindquarters.

2 Booth’s Rocamoka Wind Dreamer at Alihelnix.

Skull broad and slightly rounded, pretty face, level top line and correct tail set. Was nice to see hocks directly under point of buttock when standing, plenty of width across thigh, well turned stifles, hocks low to the ground, legs parallel from behind. Straight front, but handler please watch, she sometimes can stand a bit sloppy, which makes her look a bit weak in pastern. Beautifully clean cream coat, attractive outline, although would prefer slightly more length of neck. Preferred presentation of 2nd, but 1st was better on the move.

3 Hill & Smith’s Megarvey Déjà vu JW.

OPEN ((8, 1 abs)

1 McDonald’s Lamancha Question The Truth ShCEx. BCC and BOS.

Today was her day, she didn’t put a foot wrong. Balanced and symmetrical from all angles, light gold coat in glorious condition, well muscled and fit, carrying just the right amount of weight, moved with accurate footfall and covered the ground with ease, has a great rapport with her kind handler. Lovely gentle head with appealing expression, dark eye, dark pigment. Good length of neck to sloping shoulders, straight back, good depth of body, well sprung ribs, short loin, well toned hind quarters, nice width across thigh. Straight legs and strong pasterns fore and aft, tight cat-like feet. I found out later this was her 3rd CC – well done!

2 Mell’s Sh Ch Sansue Love Actually at Meloak.

Beautifully presented quality cream coat with dense undercoat, appealing outline, symmetrical and balanced. Warm expression from kind eye, ideal balance of skull and muzzle. Lengthy neck, nicely angulated shoulders, plenty of width across thigh, well bent stifles, short strong hind pasterns. Pleasing body properties, well sprung ribs, level top line and tail set, tail carried level on the move. Active movement with even ground covering stride, a pleasure to watch. Handler had her looking a picture the whole time she was in the ring. Considered for RBCC but had to split hairs, just preferred front and feet of the GB winner.

3 Rodger’s Ambersun Passione of Odarla JW.

VETERAN (10, 2 abs)

1 Bradwell’s Beamsley Break My Heart.

Filled my eye for her balanced body properties, super outline, lovely reach of neck flowing to level top line and ideal tail set. Pleasing slope of shoulders and return of upper arm, firm chest and evident breastbone. Nice depth of body and good length and spring of rib, short loin, firm and wide across thigh. Pretty face, adoring expression for her gentle handler, well presented cream coat with dense weather resistant undercoat, 9 years old, and a credit to her owner.

2 Crookes & Jenkinson’s Sh Ch Quakerhall Pandora’s Bounty JW.

First class presentation, mid gold coat. A real showgirl, pleased to be in the ring, very attentive, ably handled, moved at just the right speed, free stride, was straight going away and coming towards, very good in profile. Reachy neck, very good layback of shoulder and pleasing return of upper arm, ideal forechest, elbows well tucked in. Level back, well sprung ribs, strong hindquarters, stood naturally with hocks directly under point of buttock. Active paces defied her nearly 9 years of age.

3 Nelson’s Willowlawn Devon Belle at Cadwst.

Wendy Pickup (judge).