Dukeries [Notts] Gundog Club

Dukeries (Notts) Gundog Club

Premier Open Show

14th January 2026

Thank you to the Dukeries Gundog committee for inviting me to judge at this show. The show was extremely well organised, friendly & welcoming. We had sunshine too which was so lovely to see. I had a super entry of quality dogs to judge. So many of the classes could have gone either way on another day. I had a lovely day, thank you to all of the exhibitors that entered & came to compete.

Judge: Caroline Chambers (Hototo)

FLATCOATED RETRIEVER

PUPPY D/B (5/2):

1st BPIB - Culcrieff’s Ferntower Glen of Wetnoses (Mr D E J & Mrs M A Salt) This boy is maturing nicely, he has a masculine head with a dark eye. He has good length of neck leading to well-placed shoulders. Balance in angulation fore & aft. Good depth of body with good spring of rib. His muscle tone is good for a young one. He moved well with a free-flowing stride, managed to stay balanced in a small ring. 2nd (Mrs B Reynolds & Mr P Dunnet) Hoedun Does It Matter. A very feminine 7.5-month-old Black Bitch with a true flatcoat one-piece head. Good eye shape & colour. She is moderate in size, angulation & bone. I am sure will be one to watch for the future. She was quite nervous due to a previous bad experience but she came around & moved well, with good balance & stride fore & aft.

Junior D/B (4/3):

1st Hopevalley Morning Minuet JW (Mrs Diane Markillie) At just over 12-month-old, Black bitch in good coat. A very well-made girl of moderate proportions. She has a correct feminine head & dark eye. Good length of neck, well placed shoulders, good strong, straight, oval bone. Ribs are of good length with a strong, short loin. She is balanced throughout which showed on the move. 2nd Flatcharm Bing A Ling at Shennanjoy (Miss V Scaife) A 15-month-old, Black male with a super, correct one piece moulded with a dark almond shaped eye. A little less angulation in front than 1. He is balanced fore & aft. He has good strong, straight bone. Moved well.

Post Grad D/B (4/3) 1st RBOB Telurn Falling In Love with Steeplehouse (Mr & Mrs G & S Collins) A 3 yr old Black bitch in good coat with a copious amount of furnishings. She has a very pretty, correct head, her bite is correct. Good width & depth of chest & body with good forefront angles. Strong, oval bone with nice straight front legs. Moved out well.

Open D/B (8/5):

1st BOB: Vynesbrook Ultimate Choice (Mr M G Lewin). A 3yr old Black bitch. This girl is maturing nicely although not in full coat at present, she is moderate in size & angulation. She good, classic Flatcoat head with correct eye colour & shape leading to a good length of neck. She has good, straight oval bone. Well sprung ribs of good length allowing a short strong loin. She moved very well around the ring, moving true fore & aft & showing reach & drive in profile. 2nd I Know Him So Well at Rokaness. (Mrs V & Mr R Burroughs). A 4 yr old Black, male with a pleasing masculine head. Shown in good coat with good furnishings. Strong, oval bone & straight forelegs. Moderate angles fore & aft. Good spring of rib but slightly shorter in rib/longer in loin than 1. Moved well & in balance.

SUSSEX SPANIEL

Puppy D/B (0/0)

Junior D/B (1/0) 1st RBOB, Bjorksatras Corfitz At Deckham (Imp Swe) (Mrs E Allen-Line). A strong, well built male of 16 months. Shown in good quality coat with good feathering. A good balanced head of good shape with correct eye colour & shape. Good length of neck, good angulation in the fore & rear of this boy. Well ribbed of good length & depth. Strong round feet with good feathering. On the move he was pacing most of the time, however, when he decided to move properly, he moved extremely well, showing his good strong drive .

Post Graduate D/B (2/0) 1st BOB Willowswalk Miss Sunshine Over Belbroughton (Mrs H Wyton). A 17-month-old bitch who has a feminine head of good shape & size. She has Hazel eyes of correct shape. She is balanced in angles fore & aft. Good width of chest, strong round feet & strong bone. Well ribbed showing a short, strong loin. Moved well & balanced throughout. 2nd RBOB Bjorksatras Corfitz At Deckham (Imp Swe) (Mrs E Allen-Line). Critique in previous class.

GORDON SETTER

Puppy D/B (1/0) 1st BPIB Empyreal Desert Tempest At Glenmaurangi (Can Imp) (Ms T Watkins & Mrs A Phillips). A Beautiful 8-month-old bitch, shown in good coat with ample feathering for her age. A super, pretty head of correct proportions with the most stunning eyes that made me melt! She has a good length of neck with a slight arch. Well placed shoulders, good width of chest, good quality strong bone, oval feet showing good arch in toes. She is well balanced throughout with depth of body & rib. Good angulation in the hind quarters with well let down hocks. She moved very well showing good drive & good reach. One to watch!

Junior D/B (2/0) This was a very hard decision, both entries were super but 2 very different types. 1st BOB Hernwood Superstition (Mr P & Mrs C A Sandiford). At just over 12 months old this bitch is showing such promise. She is of good size, bone & shape although not in the best of coat right now. She has a head of correct shape & of correct proportions with a pleasing eye & expression. Well laid shoulders giving her good angulation in front. She is of good width of chest & has a deep rib. Strong, straight bone in front leading to excellent feet. On the move is where she excelled. Floating around the ring, super reach & excellent drive. She has a bright future. 2nd Glenquin Hurricane Bryerdale (Ms A Mappin & Mr J Newton). Just over 12 months old, this boy is stunning. He looks a picture of quality & substance even at this young age. He is in excellent coat & carries it well. He has a correct masculine head which is correct in shape, good eye shape & colour. Well laid shoulders, good width of chest, deep ribbing, short loin, good level top line. Moved very well, showing excellent drive.

Post Grad D/B (3/0) 1st BOB Hernwood Superstition (Mr P & Mrs C A Sandiford). As above. 2nd Samsett First Edition (Mrs S Hamilton-Smith) A mature bitch with a good shape head of good proportions. Ears set well with correct feathering. Well laid shoulder, deep brisket, elbows place neatly with good bone on the forelegs. Feet nicely arched. Ribs well sprung & deep. Moved well showing good drive.

Open D/B (3/1) 1st Kattandale Canterbury VW (AI) (Miss K & Mrs S Wrigley) A 9.5-year-old bitch with a feminine well-shaped head & lovely dark eye. Well laid shoulders, the blade of good length. Good bone & feet. Deep brisket & ribbing with a good short loin. Moved well, still driving from behind. 2nd. Benbule Rose Quartz with Kellizlot (Mrs S M Tong). Another 9.5-year-old girl. Very feminine throughout. Head of correct size & shape. Neck of good length showing slight arch, forelegs showing good quality bone that is straight. Good rib depth & length. Moved well.

POINTER

Puppy D/B (6/0) 1st BPIB Corotine Velvet Tuxedo (Miss M Saunders, Mr R Newton) This 10-month-old male puppy took my eye when he first entered the ring. He is of good size with a super outline. His head is of correct size & shape with a lovely dark eye. Ears are set well on his head. Good length of neck leading to well laid shoulders. His forelegs are of good quality oval bone showing sinews. Deep, well sprung ribs with short loin. Hind quarters are well angled completing the lovely outline of this dog. He moved well around the ring showing super drive. 2nd Millpoint Endless Love (Mrs J M Harrison) Another super puppy, this time an 8 month old feminine bitch. This girl has a very pleasing head of good shape & size, her eyes are of good colour, shape & have a gentle expression. She shows a lovely outline, well laid shoulders, forelegs of oval bone, good strong oval feet with arched toes. Deep in chest, well sprung ribs, short arched loin. Strong hind quarters which she used well on the move keeping her lovely shape.

Junior (3/0) 1st Tenshilling Hello Stranger (Mrs C J O’Neill) A 12-month-old male showing a classical overall shape. He has a good shape of head of correct proportions with appealing eyes. Shoulders are well laid, leading down to straight strong fore legs. Good oval feet. Deep in chest, ribs well sprung, strong loin showing slight arch. Hind quarters are well angulated & are muscled well. On the move he is free moving showing good drive & good reach in front. 2nd Tenshilling Catch The Wind, (Mrs C O’Neill) Another lovely male of just over 12 months old. Head is of good shape & size although preferred the head of 1. Good length & shape of neck, well laid shoulders. Good deep chest, excellent oval bone on the forelegs. Correct oval shaped feet. Good spring of rib. Hind quarters well-muscled & angulated. Moved well & true.

Post Graduate D/B (7/3) 1st RBOB Tenshilling Shboom JW (Mrs C J O’Neill) A larger male than others in the ring, however, he has a super outline with a muscular shape & is balanced throughout. His head is also balanced in size & shape with well-set ears. His eyes are of good size & shape & most appealing. Well laid shoulders, deep brisket, well sprung ribs. He has good strong well-shaped bone & stands on strong oval feet. On the move is where he excelled for me, showing true movement in front & good drive from behind. Pleased to award him RBOB 2nd Meadowpoint Hocus Pocus JW (Miss D Dunn) I was spoiled for choice in this class again. This bitch is beautiful & feminine. She has a desirable head of correct shape & size with the most appealing expression. Good length of neck to well laid shoulders. She is well muscled & has good strong bone without being masculine. Well sprung ribs & a short, strong loin showing slight arch. On the move she is very balanced & true proving good drive.

Open D/B (4/1) 1st BOB Tenshilling To Sir With Love JW (Mrs C J O’Neill) Yet another lovely dog from this kennel. This girl has balance & grace throughout. Her head is of good shape & proportions with a super appealing eye, finishing off her feminine look. Although feminine she has good strong bone showing sinew behind. Her feet are oval with well arched toes. Her shoulders are well laid, her ribbing is well sprung & deep. On the move she moved with grace, drive & ease. A pleasure to watch. 2nd Alozia Zealandia For Ratchda JW Dog. A close call with 1 & 2, both have exceptional qualities. A dog of good shape & outline. Masculine without being too much. Good head in shape & proportions. Well set ears. Shoulders well laid. Good deep chest, strong straight bone on the forelegs. Ribbing is well sprung & of good length leading to a strong short loin. Hind quarters are well angulated which he used very