South Of England Gundog Club

South of England Gundog Club 17th May 2026 I would like to begin by thanking the committee for their kind invitation and the honour of judging Best in Show, where there was just an amazing line up for me to chose from. My sincere thanks also go to the exhibitors for entering such a high-quality entry and for their sportsmanship and presentation of their dogs on the day. I am equally grateful to the stewards and all the helpers for giving their time and support, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the show. Their collective effort and dedication are very much appreciated and play a vital role in the success of the show. Gordon Setter Special Yearling (1) 1st Clark’s DJ Bee Black Ivy (imp Pol). Feminine young bitch with a typical flat coat free from wave and the right amount of feathering for her age. She presents breed silhouette and has a pleasing head with good balance between skull and muzzle and a defined stop. Intelligent expression with a dark eye. Clean neck and balanced angulation front and rear. Close in elbow with good, tight feet. Slight dip behind the withers. Moved nicely in profile with good footfall, although a little close both front and rear. Post Graduate (3, 1 absent) 1st O’Kelly & Hancock’s Caradilis Eala Dubh. Twenty-month-old bitch of good substance and bone, giving the appearance of a weight-carrying hunter. Well-made head with balance between skull and muzzle and a defined stop. Intelligent dark eye and strong, well-set neck. Straight front with good bone, upright pasterns and tight oval feet. Nice spring of rib and well-bent stifle. A little erratic on the move at times, but with good footfall in profile and strong driving hocks. Coat of silky texture with moderate feathering, dense and straight. Found her the best overall mover of the day and was pleased to award her BOB. 2nd Tye’s Roydack Black Knight at Timor Clearly masculine dog of size and substance who covered the ground well but struggled on the floor today to move truly. Well boned and presenting a powerful picture. Profuse coat with plenty of feathering and good texture, well presented. Truly masculine head with plenty of skull and defined stop. Strong, well-set neck flowing into well-laid shoulders. Straight front with tight oval feet. Deep body with good brisket. Would prefer more strength in the hocks. Awarded Res BOB. Limit (2-1) 1st O’Kelly & Hancock’s Caradilis Little Sparkler has lots of good breed points but not the bold outgoing temperament typical of the breed, and as a result did not show herself off to advantage, she has a good well prepared coat with plenty of feathering, and nice substance and bone, feminine head, with a dark eye, with a very deep muzzle good reach of neck into well laid shoulder and return of upper arm, I would prefer a little more length of leg, correct length of back and deep rib, well bent stifle, with length from hip to hock. Pointer Just a lovely entry both in numbers and depth of quality, some of the dogs struggled on the floor today. Special Yearling (4) 1st Smith, Smith & Welch’s Quinnery Swinderby By Lypal This Young dog really took my eye, and I can appreciate his quality, he is of good size showing an excellent strong yet lissom appearance, symmetrical and well balanced throughout. Good head and strong clean neck set into well-laid shoulders with a nice return of upper arm. Stands on firm straight legs with tight oval feet. Correct body for age with slightly arched loins, good tail set and nice turn of stifle. Moved out smoothly, covering plenty of ground with ease. BOB and G3 2nd Barham’s Droveborough Witchy Woman JW Another lovely quality youngster with many excellent points. On the day I just preferred the forehand construction of the winner. She has a lovely quality head, good straight front and excellent body with good depth and spring of rib. Strong loins and well-turned stifle into hocks well let down. Moved out really freely and showed well throughout. 3rd Welch & Hazeltine’s Corotine Noir Blossom with Hookwood Res Kennedy’s Droveborough Black Magic JW Post Graduate (8, 3 absent) 1st Kennedy’s Droveborough’s Hells Bells JW Presents a very feminine picture. Really liked this liver and white bitch’s pretty head which is refined and well proportioned, with a very kind dark eye and slightly concave muzzle. Clean long neck flowing into well-laid shoulders. Straight front with good bone, deep chest with well-sprung ribs, a little too level in loin and croup, but found her other qualities very typical. Balanced turn of stifle and moved the best in the class with good reach and drive. 2nd Sharpe’s Jones Dazzle and Daze. Such a lovely temperament. Clearly masculine black and white dog with an excellent head and clean neck into well-laid shoulders. Straight front with correct slope to pasterns and nice tight feet. Deep rib with a slight spring over the loin but would prefer it slightly shorter in length, well-bent stifle and strong hocks. full of breed type and moved well. 3rd Cobden’s Alozia Zantini, Res Barham’s Alozia Zephryne, VHC Smith, Smith & Welch’s Quinnery Middle Wallop Open (5) 1st Roberts’ Kananaskis Black Byrony JW A super quality feminine black and white bitch with the loveliest temperament. She moved out well with a smooth gait and the reach and drive that conveys strength and endurance. Sweet feminine head with kindly expression and dark eye. Clean neck running smoothly into well-laid shoulders with a nice return of upper arm. Straight front with tight oval feet. Well-sprung, strong body and excellent quarters with good turn of stifle and muscular development. A very worthy winner of a strong class, please to award her Res BOB. 2nd Welch, Drake & Hazeltine’s Clamerkin Jubilee Surprise at Hookwood JW. Very nice black and white dog with many excellent breed points and who moved out with great reach of stride and very good drive. Excellent head and clean neck. Preferred the tight feet of 1. Well-made ribcage with plenty of angulation front and rear and nice deep thighs. A quality dog who showed well. 3rd Barham’s Droveborough Mocha Mayhem Res Welch, Maber & Hazeltine’s Sharnphilly Toggi with Hookwood JW, VHC Perren’s Evaluna Chasing Rainbows with Hookwood JW. AV special Veteran 7-9 years (9-1) An absolutely super quality class. 1st Warrington’s Zamora Sunburst Golden Cocker not giving anything away to age, he really took my eye. Super square outline, well-conditioned coat and typical bustling movement. Very typical throughout with a good head and overall balance. Handled to advantage. Pleased to award him BVIS. 2nd Strevens’ Sh Ch Tollelkin Cafe Gaelic at Tollisty NSDTR. Presented in super coat and condition and made the most of herself on the move, showing strong, parallel action coming and going. Rich coat with correct white points. Loved her feminine head, complemented by a good strong neck. Well balanced throughout and presenting a very typical and pleasing overall picture. 3rd Welch & Hazeldtine’s Sh Ch Pytchley Chasing The Dream for Hookwood JW ShCM ShCEx Pointer. Res Middleton & Mayhew’s Sh Ch/Int/Multi Ch Arnac Bay Hebe Wgc ShCEx Ew22 WW24 Chesapeake. VHC Lundin’s Ch Line Sam Appealing Partner (imp Swe) Cocker. Special Veteran 10+ years (2) 1st Hempstead’s Ch Riverforest Irish Eider at Cuvanan Irish Water Spaniel. A quality 10-year-old who certainly does not show her age. She moved remarkably well in profile, covering the ground with ease and purpose. I loved her attentive, happy disposition and the wonderful rapport she shared with her handler; they were truly at one together. Presented in excellent coat and condition, with a quality head and a good straight front. A lovely veteran who continues to exemplify the breed and was a worthy winner. 2nd Barham’s Kenwardgold Minnie Me VW pointer. I loved this 11-year-old Pointer, who presents a very typical picture of the breed. She has a gorgeous head, a good straight front and sound feet. She moved well in profile, maintaining her outline and showing herself to advantage. Most of all, I appreciated her wonderful outgoing temperament; she was happy, attentive and a pleasure to watch throughout. A lovely veteran who continues to do her breed proud. What a lovely quality ring for BIS. I was really taken by the quality represented here. Anderson’s Gunalt Gift of the Gab JW. What an absolute cracking Weimaraner. She immediately commanded the ring and stood four-square, presenting a picture of power combined with refinement. Medium in size and totally balanced throughout, she possesses the typical silhouette of the breed and a lovely aristocratic head. On the move she displayed an effortless, ground-covering gait, which truly demonstrated the balance and correctness of her conformation. A quality exhibit with the lustre of youth pleased to award her BIS. RES BIS. Woodhams’ Kulawand Casanova Another quality youngster and a Flatcoat male with so much to like, full of breed type throughout. He has good substance whilst maintaining the raciness so essential to the breed. Balanced in all respects, with a typical moulded head of masculine appearance without being overdone. A well-set neck flows into balanced angulation front. He has a straight front, good pasterns and tight, round feet. Level in topline, with good spring and depth of rib, nice coupling and a correct croup and tail set. I particularly liked his well-developed quarters with deep thighs. He certainly moved out well, covering the ground with ease and demonstrating his balanced construction. 3rd BIS. Smith, Smith & Welch Quinnery Swinderby By Lypal I really liked this boy in his breed class and can fully appreciate his quality. He has many typical Pointer characteristics, including a good head with plenty of work and expression. He can really move out well, showing a smooth gait with good reach and drive. I found him totally correct for his age and he stands on straight, sound legs with strong pasterns, excellent feet and strong quarters with well muscled thigh and hocks well let down. 4th BIS Strevens’ Tollisty Shincha JW A quality young Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever bitch from this accomplished breeder, with so much to like. She has good size and substance, correct bone, a feminine head carried on a strong neck. Balanced in angulation with a straight front, good pasterns and neat feet. Well sprung through the rib and presented in an excellent, rich coat. On the move she displayed a jaunty gait, covering the ground well, and remained attentive and in tune with her handler throughout. A very typical and pleasing example of the breed. BPIS Benge’s Bona Fama Kaprys Rejenta (Imp Pol). What an appealing 7-month-old Clumber Spaniel puppy, already showing herself to be very typical of the breed. She has the desired power and substance, with femininity and a balanced and typical outline for her age. I particularly admired the quality of her head, showing the strength required for the breed with a broad skull and a delightful expression. She has a strong neck, well-angulated front, good bone and tight feet. Good spring and length of ribcage, and strength in the quarters. She moved very well, showing effortless drive and sound, straight movement both fore and aft. Res BPIS Manton’s Chelmerway Golly Gosh What a pretty 7-month-old Golden Retriever bitch, very much correct for her age and still needing to come up a little on the leg to complete her outline and balance. She has so many typical breed points to admire, including a lovely head with a sweet, kind expression and good reach of neck. Well laid shoulder with good return of upper arm and neat, tight elbows. Straight front with good bone and tight feet. Well sprung rib and a strong topline. Well bent stifle, with hock well let down and good depth of thigh. She moved well and with purpose, showing a positive attitude and typical breed character. 3rd BPIS Woodhams’ Flatcharm Mr Potato Head Just coming up to a year, this young Flatcoated Retriever dog has a lot to like about him. He has a nicely moulded head with good balance between skull and muzzle, a correct stop and a kind eye. A strong neck flows into well-laid shoulders. He has good bone, pasterns and tight, round feet. Correct in body for his age with a level topline and nice quarters. Presented in correct coat for his age, showing plenty of promise for the future. 4th BPIS. Hartley’s Rojoy Melody Rose Cocker B An 11-month-old Cocker Spaniel puppy who presents a nice square outline and a very typical picture for her age. She has a pleasing, feminine head and is well balanced in angulation front and rear. Correct in body and coat for her stage of development. She moved out with a typical Cocker bustle, covering the ground well. BVIS Warrington’s Zamora Sunburst So much to like in terms of breed type, and he does not give anything away to his age. This quality Golden Cocker dog was shown in excellent coat and condition, and I found him to be of good breed type throughout. He moved out with a typical Cocker bustle, covering the ground well and maintaining his outline on the move. A worthy winner in excellent company in the veteran classes. Judge Penny Gowland