Cheshire Agricultural Society

Royal Cheshire County Show 

Wednesday 17th June 2026

I am most grateful to and would like to thank both the organisers and the committee for the invitation to judge at this fantastic and friendly show. Thank you also to the exhibitors for my entries and bringing their lovely dogs for me to go over and for your graciousness with my placings, as usual there were some difficult decisions and I wished I had more first place cards! We were blessed with sunshine which always helps raise the spirits. I also must apologise for being so long in doing my critiques.

Golden Retriever’s

Puppy 10, 4

1. Gerhold’s Navilis Shchedryk (IMP UKR) JW Wow I just loved this almost 1 year old cream boy. He fits the standard in every way, I was not at all surprised to see he had achieved his JW prior to his first birthday. He is so balanced fore and aft, very active and so sound. Super character, very confident and full of breed type. He has a beautiful balanced head, totally masculine but not overdone. His dark eyes express a hint of mischief but he remained biddable to his handler. He is mature in body with strength and power evident throughout. Well off for ribs extending well down the body and short coupled. Strong hind quarters with well bent stifles which match perfectly with his super front angulation. Stood on well boned legs and the tightest of feet. Moved so well and so settled for a youngster. Happy to award him BEST PUPPY 

2. Taylor & Tenn’s Strettonhill Kooky Monster Super 8-month-old cream girl who has much the same qualities as my class winner. She is very balanced all through with a beautiful feminine head. Well-constructed front with well-laid shoulders and matching angle and length to upper arm. Maturing nicely. Level topline and her tail is carried level and well set on. I would like to see more strength to her rear pasterns but this will come with time. Moved well with reach and drive. 

3. Nelson’s Cadwst’s Eternal Ember 

Junior 3,2

1. McCammicks’ Saffdales Countess Cora Coming up to 9 months this girl is of golden red colour. She has a lovely feminine head with correct proportions. She has a good lay back of shoulder with corresponding angle and length of upper arm. Well off for bone with tight feet. She is developing well for her age and as expected needs to develop further and increase muscle in her core for maximum effect. Moved well. 

Yearling 0,0

Novice 3,1

1. McCammicks’ Saffdales Countess Cora – Repeat of Junior 1.

2. Heavyside’s Timeless Prosecco Three-year-old dark golden dog from field trial lines. He has a masculine head, with dark eyes and well-set ears. He is strong and muscular in the neck; I would however have liked more lay back to the shoulder and angulation to the upper arm. Overall, he is lighter in bone and surprisingly not quite so strong in the rear as my winner. He moved well.

Graduate 6,2

1. Taylor & Tenn’s Strettonhill Carolina Mature 3-year-old cream bitch with lots to like, she is nicely balanced front an aft with nothing overdone. She has the best of heads, feminine whilst retaining strength. She has a good eye and well-set ears. Moderate length to her neck in keeping with her body proportions, strong and clean. Well off for bone she has straight legs which are well under her body. Shoulders well laid and good return and equal length to upper arm. Moderate amount of fore chest. Good depth to chest and ribs well sprung. Standing on the best of feet with strong and well let done hocks. Moved well with purpose. 

2. Marshall’s Cadwst Spring River Another super exhibit. A 2-year-old cream boy with much the same attributes as my class winner. I would have preferred more length to body however he remains well balanced and moved well.

3. Buckles Brazenbeacon Artemis J.  

Postgraduate 8,3

1. Shaw, Robertshaw & Robertshaw’s Aurgentious Melion An Ki at Akenscales JW Loved this mature 3-year-old cream bitch. Such a beautiful feminine head so full of merriment in her expression. Super proportions to her head with well-defined stop, dark eyes and well-set ears. She has a good length to neck which is strong and held well on the move. Well off for bone, with straight front legs from the front and balanced angulation to front and rear. Nothing overdone. Moved well with reach and drive. 

2. Scott & Briggs’ Largymore Ravagier JW A three-year-old mid golden dog with a lovely outline and all the attributes of my winner. He unfortunately gave his handler a hard time on the move today which spoiled his overall performance but nevertheless much to like.

3. Martin’s Garline Guarding Lola 

Limit 8, 2

1. Falconer’s Cheek to Cheek Unbridled Dreams for Siatham (IMP FRA) JW Beautifully proportioned 3-year-old matured cream bitch, absolutely loved her and I thought I had found my overall winner, she certainly pushed hard for the top slot. Perfectly symmetrical, powerful and sound. Beautiful head, very balanced and so feminine. Nothing course or overdone here. Super length and strength of neck and well laid shoulders, good return to upper arm. Super fore-chest. Strong throughout her body – excels in topline and tail-set. Well-angulated at the front and back quarters. Such a stunning outline, no mistaking her quality. Moved out well with reach and drive. Unlucky to be up against my eventual BOB winner, however pleased to award her RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

2. Robertshaw’s Akenscales Beau Baron JW Another quality 4-year-old cream boy whose outline was once again unmistakeable. Excels in head and strength to his neck and he is absolutely balanced fore and aft. Super topline and good tail set. On the day I preferred my class winner for his maturity and length of body. 

3. Martin’s Garline Love So Deep

Open 5,2

1. Gerhold’s Navilis Vivat Vivaldi (IMP UKR) JW I was just wowed by this super near 5-year-old very mature boy. For me he was everything I was looking for. Very surprised he doesn’t have his title. Symmetrical and so very balanced. Standing over his ground with power and confidence. A beautiful masculine head of correct proportions. Broad skull, well chiselled with well-defined stop. Dark eyes and well-set ears. He has a strong neck leading to well-set shoulders of good length and well-laid back, excellent angle and length of upper arm. Very mature and well-muscled with correct amount of fore chest. Deep chest and well sprung rib, short coupled. Wide in the thigh and very strong upper and lower thigh muscles. Level topline and lashing tail which he kept on the move exhibiting excellent reach and drive. Very very pleased to award him BEST OF BREED and to see him go so well in the group gaining a shortlist in very good company.

2. Bufton and Riley’s Phoslas Polly Flinders Another stunning cream, this time 6-year-old girl who had so many virtues. Again, I was very surprised she isn’t titled. Absolutely delightful face and head, so feminine whilst having the correct structure. Correct in all body structure. I would perhaps like to see stronger rear pasterns but that is really nit picking. Beautiful in outline and so unlucky to come up against my winner. 

3. Magson’s Castlegolden Classy Girl JW

I felt my entry today was exceptionally high quality and was spoiled for choice in many of my classes. I would really like to thank my exhibitors for your trust. I was very privileged to also have a couple of beginners who had conquered their nerves to bring their dogs under me and who accepted my decisions with grace. I hope you go on to join us in the madness of the dog world so Thank You.

Denyse Whitehead - Foxriever