SOUTH WESTERN GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB 45TH BREED CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

 SUNDAY 20th MARCH 2022 

I would like to thank the hard working committee for the invitation to judge dogs at their 45th breed club championship show and the very warm welcome that awaited me. A very friendly atmosphere prevailed and the show was very efficiently organised. A big thank you to my very efficient ring stewards - Angela Callow and Meaylee Lewis who kept everything on track and with good humour. I would like to say a big thank you to all exhibitors for bring their dogs to show under me and I found some excellent examples of our breed and temperament on all exhibits was second to none. The movement of some dogs was rather erratic with some dogs crossing over at the front coming towards me and some very close behind which was reflected in my placings. I found a few dogs carrying extra weight especially over the shoulders which spoils a good clean outline. Overall though I was very pleased with the quality of the entry. Some of the younger dogs could do well to attend more ringcraft classes. My co-judge and I agreed on the BOB going to the dog and we agreed on the other higher awards of RBOB BP & BVIS although they were close decisions we felt that all winners were of excellent quality. 

Veteran Dog 4(2A) 1. Loverock & Waldron-Smith’s LOVISSA SPACE DUST Seven year old dog still in his prime that I have done well in the past. He has a masculine head and gentle expression - good bone and angulation fore and aft and moves out well. Lost out to the bitch today for BVIS as he was carrying his tail a little high in the final run round but a dog of quality. 2. Fenn’s WILLSBROOK THE HAIRY BIKER AT JANDEBURN A ten year old with the most gentle expression and the darkest of pigment and eye. Excellent bone with cat like feet and good straight front - neat compact dog who appealed greatly. Not the drive of movement of my winner but a lovely type. 

Minor Puppy Dog 5(2A) 1. Millington’s GOLMAS GUARD OF HONOUR AT JARABEES Well grown dog balanced with good length of leg shown in good coat and condition. Good proportions to his masculine head with soft expression. Straight front with well knuckled feet and well up on his pasterns. Elbows tight to body - moved out with drive from good hindquarters - just a little up on his back end today - a growing process but presentation was excellent and I like him a lot. 2. Wallington’s AMBERSUN WITH HEARTS OF OAK. Still very much a baby - nice gold wavy coat in good condition. Very gentle expression with dark eye and pigmentation. Deep through the chest with good rib and depth to stifle. Moved okay but flags his tail - needs to firm up on rear movement but this will come with correct exercise and maturity. Was giving his handler a hard time today. 3. Rideout’s GABLECROSS MEET ON THE LEDGE 

Puppy Dog 6(3A) 1. Haines LEIGHSHAM TULLAMORE - BPD - Almost 12 months old a nicely proportioned dog with no exaggerations - good clean balanced outline and in lovely coat and condition. Gentle head with dark eye and pigment. Excellent front with good layback of shoulder with clean flow into neck. Good depth to stifles and well muscled rear quarters short straight let down hocks which he used to move out with drive maintaining dead level topline and tail carriage. Very well handled with presentation being excellent. Just lost out to the puppy bitch for BPIS on her more mature body condition, but he is a well made dog who should have a really bright future. 2. Kipp’s WHEATCROFT RAINBOW - Larger framed pale dog shown in the most immaculate coat. Masculine head with gentle alert expression with dark eye and pigment. Straight front with good layback of shoulder and good length of neck, well sprung rib cage with depth to stifles, short straight hocks used to drive out maintaining level topline and good tail carriage. A very balanced dog. He was playing the clown today but my notes say one to watch for the future which I am sure he is. Liked him a lot. 3. Taylor’s ALIBREN ALDANITI AT TANNADICE 

Junior Dog 9(1A) Super class of young quality boys with my top two having similar attributes and both of whom I have admired since first seeing them out - placings were decided on individual qualities and condition today but they will change places many times I am sure. 1. Bawden’s BALSAMINA BEACHCOMBER AT DARTHILL - Like him a lot - it is understandable that he has done a lot of winning he presents a well balanced picture with good proportions of length of leg to body. Gleaming immaculate cream coated dog with glamour to him, up to size and presented in good hard condition. Lovely head with gentle expression and good eye shape with dark rims and excellent pigment. Cat like feet and good depth to chest with straight front into good layback of shoulder and lovely flow to neck with well sprung ribs and deep stifles he moved out straight and true maintaining level topline - deserved to win this class today - well presented. A good prospect for the future. 2. Kelly’s RAMCHAINE YOU SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND IN ZENEVIEVA - I have admired this dog since seeing him coming out as a puppy and it was a pleasure to go over such a well put together dog with excellent balance and substance - well off for bone with masculine but gentle head with the darkest eye and pigment, deep through the chest with straight front into well laid shoulders which flow into clean neck. Well ribbed and short in loin with good depth to well angulated stifle and such well muscled rear quarters. He moves out straight and true with good length of stride and style with super head carriage and dead level topline with well set tail. He has real ring presence and his young handler gets the very best out of him - just missed out today to a very worthy winner due to lack of coat but both of these dogs are a real asset to the breed and will go on to achieve top honours I am sure. 3. Carter’s KADAKA GRAND FINALE 

Yearling Dog 5(!A) 1. Maynard’s CHINNORDALE GRAND FINAL - Darker coated dog well up to size with a large frame. Nice gentle expression - he excels in layback of shoulder and length of upper arm -with such a clean flow into neck with good angles fore and aft and level topline. He moved out with real drive from well muscled hindquarters with excellent tail carriage - straight and true - he has a very clean outline. 2. Loach & Zubair’s PUTJADE PUSH THE BUTTON - This dog came late to the class and was not as settled as he could have been. Compact dog in good mid-gold coat with appealing well balanced masculine head and gentle expression dark eye and pigmentation. Well off for bone, good depth through chest with straight front into well laid shoulders and cat like feet correctly angulated upper arm and layback of shoulder short through the loin with balanced forequarters and excellent depth of stifle with good muscle, well let down straight short hocks he moved out keeping level topline with correct tail carriage. Just preferred the cleaner flow of neck and the better length of stride of my winner today - but a dog that appealed to me a lot. 3. Brown’s IPCRESS ORACLE 

Maiden Dog 8 (2A) 1. Wheatcroft Rainbow 2. Golmas Guard of Honour at J 3. Wheeldon & Hurry’s Catnels Greatest Dancer Novice Dog 11 (4A) 1. Carter’s KADAKA KAULDRON -Third in a quality Junior class and well deserving of his place here. Compact dog with pale golden wavy coat. Pleasing well chiselled head with gentle masculine expression. Well off for bone with neat feet and deep through chest with straight front into well laid shoulders, short through the loin with well sprung ribs and deep through the stifle with well set tail, very mature through the body but a little heavy today which distracted from his outline and overall movement. 2. WHEATCROFT RAINBOW 3. Rose’s WHETU MAGICAL MAYHEM Undergraduate Dog 4 (1A) 1. Kadaka Kauldron 2. Rose’s WHETU MAGICAL MAYHEM - Dark golden coat in good condition a smaller frame but so well balanced with good bone. Lovely head with gentle expression and dark eye with excellent pigmentation. Good depth through the chest and straight front with neat tight feet, well angulated quarters fore and aft. Short coupled compact dog he moved out true with level topline from well muscled hindquarters. 3. Johnson’s PALTON PARTY ON DUDE AT NIALLGOLD 

Graduate Dog 6 (2A) 1. Foreman’s AMBERSUN HEART AND SOUL - Compact dog in full golden coat. Very happy showman with constant wagging tail. Well proportioned balance to head with dark eye and good pigment. Good bone stands four square with straight front and well angulated front and rear quarters with well sprung rib - moved out with strong driving action from rear keeping back level and such a happy showman. 2. Keene’s SHINEHILL SCOTCH TODDY - Nicely balanced with good length of leg to body proportions with deep gold coat in gleaming condition. Pleasing head and expression with dark eye and excellent pigment. Good straight front into well laid shoulders and clean neck short in loin with good angulation to stifles with straight hocks and well set tail. Moved out straight and true with correct topline. 3. Davies’ CHINNORDALE COMET 

Post Graduate Dog 9 (4A) 1. Simms-Stelling’s PENBRIDGE PLAY FAST AND LOOSE FOR STVINCENT - Took my eye as he entered the ring with such lovely balance to him - no exaggerations just a true honest dog not quite yet in full coat but you saw the measure of him easily. Masculine head with such a gentle expression with dark eye and good pigment. Deep through chest with straight front and elbows tucked well under and neat feet he stands four square. Clean flow through the neck with well set back shoulders and correct length to upper arm. Short in the loin with good rib and strong well muscled hind quarters, deep stifles and short straight hocks with tail straight off his level back he moved out with real drive to take this class. 2. Towers, Henderson & Bolano’s GREY GOOSE NOVEMBER RAIN (IMP ESP) - Close decision between these two dogs - another well balanced dog with the most attractive head good eye and excellent pigment. He has good bone and depth through the chest with straight front and cat like feet he stands square with elbows well tucked in good lay to shoulders slightly longer in loin than my winner but with good spring to ribs and depth to stifle with excellent tail carriage - he moved out well - he has a real quality about him and I liked him a lot 3. Smith’s GOLDMARKER LUMINARA 

MidLimit Dog 9 (3A) Lovely class of dogs all were worthy of a card and I was splitting hairs for placings and am sure they will all change places at other times 1. Vernon’s GRACELEIGH POPEYE - I have judged this dog as a youngster and did him well was pleased to see he has fulfilled his earlier promise. He has the most gentle masculine head with melting expression finished off with dark eye and pigment. Mature well balanced dog shown in full coat - good bone and deep through the chest excels in shoulder angulation and layback with good spring to ribs. Shown in tip top condition he moved out really well with such a happy disposition. Carrying just the right amount of weight he made a lovely picture. Unfortunately in the final line up he flagged his tail which meant he could go no further -such a shame as he really is a very well made dog. 2. Taylor’s ALIBREN ECCLES AT TANNADICE - Paler coated smaller framed but very balanced with an appealing head and dark eye and pigment - good deep chest and straight front with neat feet. Good spring to rib and short through the coupling with well angulated front and rear quarters - short let down hocks used to advantage and he really moved out well today to take this place. 3. Loverock’s PUTJADE PEAKY BLINDER AT LOVISSA 

Limit Dog 6 A class of real quality dogs who were all in good condition and showed well. 1. Angell’s MILLANZA TOY STORY JW- DCC & BOB This pale cream boy was shown today in full cream coat which gleamed he didn’t put a foot wrong. He walked into a stand and stood four square in natural pose with no handling required and not a hair out of place. Excellent proportions to head - masculine but gentle expression with good pigment and kind eye . He stands straight at the front with elbows tucked in close to body with good bone, neat feet and his outline showing such a clean flow into neck. Good depth through the chest with excellent layback of shoulders and upper arm with super rear angulation good depth to stifle and short through the hocks he moved out with precision and drive holding a dead level topline and tail. He made a perfect picture and I was so pleased to award him a very well deserved CC and in agreement with my co-judge BIS - this CC being his third making him up to a show champion. 2. Brown’s CAILLOCH MAKAR VIA IPCRESS JW- Another very well put together dog - bigger framed with scope and substance but very balanced in full cream coat. Masculine head with soft expression and nice eye and pigment. Deep chest with well placed shoulders and short through the loin with good spring to rib well angulated and muscled rear quarters he moved out well but just not with the drive of my winner today- but a good sound dog with many attributes. 

Open Dog 4. This was such a hard class to judge with all four dogs being of real quality but with variation in type. Any four of these dogs could and will change places at other times - it was the best headache ever to have such quality exhibits to go over - thank you for bringing them under me - it was a privilege. 1. Maynard’s CH. CHINNORDALE CUE CARD JW A dog I have admired from first seeing him as a youngster - stunning mature dog with dark gold coat with balance and substance. Good length of leg to body with masculine head and dark eye and pigment. Well off for bone he excels in text book front angulation with well muscled rear quarters he seems to float around the ring with good length of stride both coming and going straight and true with level topline and correct tail carriage always displaying his correct construction - delighted to award him the RCC and he pushed hard for RBIS. 2. Grainger’s AMILONE FLINTSTONE A very glamorous well balanced dog in full cream coat - shown in such good condition. Masculine head with good depth to muzzle and well balanced with gentle expression and excellent pigment. Straight through the front with deep chest - he stands straight and square with legs tucked under him with the minimum of handling. He has balance in his front and rear angulation with no exaggerations he is well muscled and moves out effortlessly with good drive - am sure it will not be long before he is made up but he held his own today in such stiff competition. 3. Kipps’ SH. CH. CADWST FLASH FLAME TO WHEATCROFT 

Special Beginners Dog 1. W. MAGICAL MAYHEM 2. Thomas’ SANTANDORE BLONDE OVER BLUE - Paler dog balanced with good length of leg unfortunately out of coat but moved out well in the class. 

Patricia Taylor (Judge) 

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