Eastbourne & District Canine Society

My thanks go to the hard working Officers and Committee of Eastbourne and District Canine Society, for inviting me to judge Gordon Setters and Golden Retrievers at their Premier Open Show. I was warmly received by all and appreciated your kind hospitality. It was a well run show, with good sized rings. Thank you also to my fantastic Steward, Noah, who loudly and clearly announced the proceedings and kept the ring running smoothly for me. 

GORDON SETTERS

Junior - 0/0

Post Graduate 3/2

1st: Tye & Tye’s ROYDACK BLACK KNIGHT AT TYMORA.

Unfortunate to stand alone on the day. At almost 3 years old, this young Dog pleases for overall type and substance and could hold his own among competition. He possesses a breed typical head of correct proportions and good chiselling, with dark eyes, low set ears, lean cheeks, width through muzzle and square finish to his lips. A clean, reachy neck flows into a long, well laid shoulder and tight withers. A decent return of upper arm leads to legs of good length and of straight, sturdy, flat bone, upright pasterns and neat, well padded oval feet. He has good spring of rib and depth of brisket with a short, strong loin. Wide hindquarters, long from hip to hock, firm second thigh and short pasterns. Stylish on the move holding a level topline, showing powerful reach and drive whilst carrying his head high and using his tail well, albeit carried a touch high. Presented in good coat and condition with rich tan markings. BOB

Open - 0/0

GOLDEN RETRIEVERS

Puppy - 2/2

Yearling - 3/2

1st: Dyer, Appleyard-Dyer & Dyer’s ADORE HENRY WARRIOR KING.

A 15 month old Dog of mid-gold coat with paler furnishings. A pleasing size but he needs to mature, build more muscle and strengthen throughout to better hold everything in place. He has a handsome, balanced head, with dark eyes of good shape and set, providing a soft yet intelligent expression, correct ear set, good width and depth of muzzle, finished with the darkest of noses. A clean neck leads to well laid shoulders and equal return of upper arm to place his forelegs well under him and provides a moderate forechest. Forelegs are of good bone but could be straighter, and his feet could be tighter. He is a tad long in the loin and his topline is a little soft, dipping behind his shoulders and dropping off at the croup; this may strengthen as he improves his overall musculature. Rear angulation isn’t as strong as the front, but his rear pasterns are straight. He moved with enthusiasm and was at one with his handler.

Graduate - 4/2

1st: Dyer, Appleyard-Dyer & Dyer’s ALTAMONT HIGH HOPES.

At nearly 3 years old this mid-gold dog is maturing nicely. His head is masculine of good width, but more length of foreface would give it better balance. His eyes and pigment are dark and ears well placed. His neck flows into a well made front angulation, which is also mirrored behind. His legs are straight, of decent length and bone and lead to tight feet. His brisket is deep, chest has adequate width and he has moderate spring of rib. His topline is straight but again, a little more muscle throughout would help, as it did drop on the move. Set on of tail is correct and it is carried well, but could do with having a few inches trimmed off the length to give better presentation. Moderately bent stifles and short, straight rear pasterns allowed for good driving movement. RBOB

2nd: Eve’s ZANNAGOLD FOLLOW THE SUN AT BANNERSOPH.

A 4yr old pale gold Bitch of good size and nice flow. Another who could benefit from better conditioning throughout, however she held her topline on the move. She has a sweet head with kind, dark eyes and good pigment. An elegant neck flows into well laid shoulders and on to a level topline with correct tail set and level tail carriage. Her front is straight, with good bone and tight feet. She has balanced angulation fore and aft, a well developed chest and a good spring of rib. She is not as strong in the rear pasterns as 1, and did not have the same drive to her movement.

Post Graduate - 0/0

Open - 1/0

1st: Tubb’s PAUTERNAPAWS BY THE SEA WITH ALSUTU.

A 4 year old pale gold Dog who presents a pleasing profile on the stack and on the move. His strong head is broad and masculine, if a little too domed for my preference. However his expression is kind, provided by correctly shaped and set dark eyes, correct earset and good pigment. His reachy neck flows into well made forequarters, which are mirrored behind. His chest is deep and wide, but I wouldn’t want for it to be any wider. His legs are of a good length, with plenty of bone, although his feet could be tighter. Ribs are well sprung and his loin is strong, supporting a level topline, which he held on the move. His tail is correctly set and carried well. A moderate bend of stifle with good width to the hindquarters and the second thigh, well let-down hocks and vertical pasterns. He had a tendency to pull away from his handler when moving away, giving the impression of moving close behind. Giving him the benefit of the doubt and allowing him to move again showed a better rear movement. BOB.

Judge: Rebecca Middleton-Collins (Jasperleigh)