Our News

What a glorious sunny warm day we had, the bitch  rings at the rear of the building.  The trees offered us areas of  shad all day.  I was honoured to be invited to judge this very important show for the breed. Thank everyone: for this opportunity,  to all the committee for making it such an enjoyable day, the stewards for keeping the ring flowing to manage such a nice entry efficiently, and to everyone who had entered their lovely girls.

I have judged the breed for over 30 years and have seen many changes and trends. 40 years ago there was a big drive to improve angulation.  Over the decades this lead to exaggeration creeping in, and many exhibits who were over angulated in the rear quarters.  I believe this was also the reason that the Golden Retriever changed shape as the increase in rear angulation meant that the length of stride also increased and so the dog can move forward effectively the dog need to be longer.  The weight guid was also removed from the standard, and without any other guidance in the standard to anchor the ‘body mass’ of the dog, and the standard asking for a powerful, good bone, with deep well sprung ribcage, there has been a trend for breeders to produce Goldens who are on the heavy side and with much less length of visible leg, compared with earlier dogs.

Every feature of a dog has the ability to be under done, correct or over done, and often it is a very fine line that divides this.  Today I was refreshed to see much less over angulation in the rear quarters and many more correct rear ends, a few exhibits were on the long side, but generally proportions, balance and symmetry, was better and more typical for the breed.  However, my over all impression is, we need to be careful about weight, substance, overly big bodies on heavy bone, and the size of heads and the lack of femininity.  Too much of any feature is not good for a breed and we should be breeding towards correctness not exaggeration. I guess I am harking back to the beautiful feminine bitches in the 1980’s but its sad we have lost the refinement in many exhibits.  Skulls were very strong, and some with domed heads, and along side lack of chiselling, giving untypical appearance.  The head of the Golden Retriever is really important and a major definer of type and this needs careful thought by breeders.

As usual I judged the dogs as I found them on the day.

Veteran (7 yrs +)  (10-2=8)

1st Magson‘s  CASTLEGOLDEN CLASSY LADY JW, appealing cream bitch with balanced outline, in good coat and condition, level toppling and good tail set, nice eye and correct shaped skull, close fitting elbow, nice bone pasterns and feet, well sprung deep ribcage, moved with correct foot fall which won her the class. Best Veteran bitch.  2nd  Williamson’s  THORNYWAIT ATOMIC BETTY FOR SANDTI liked her outline, balanced, with a good top line, nice short back, and correct croup, lovely light gold double coat with a nice gentle wave, dark pigment, well defined stop, correct ear set, nice bone, well sprung ribs and correct turn of stifle, lovely happy confident, extrovert bitch.  ‍‍‍‍3rd   Hudson Miss DJ   AYMSBURY ASHISHA JW. Res Gayler’s ASHBYGLEN THE LOOK OF LOVE OVER CAROLAKE JW

 ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍

SPECIAL VETERAN (9+)  (14-3=11)

Lovely to see so many older Goldens in such good condition and moving out so well

1st  Robbins & Rowark’s  LARGYMORE LILYGLOVES OF BREKSWOOD lovely type with rich golden double coat with cream feathering, nicely balanced head with good skull and defined stop, kind dark eye, and nice expression, well set neck int nicely laid shoulders, straight front, deep well sprung ribcage, strong level toppling with correct croup, well bent stifle and deep thighs which se used well on the move. ‍‍‍‍‍‍2nd Mandley’s MALTQUDOS MISS MASH liked her type, she is a smaller and more compact bitch, who is nicely balanced, double cream coat, liked her head and expression, with a correct skull and balanced muzzle, kindly expression, she has nice bone, level toppling and deep well sung ribs, good turn of stifle with well let down hocks, in good condition and moved out truly. 3rd  Griggs’ SH CH MULFIELD PEACH BLOSSOM JW ShCM.  Res Angell’s LINIRGOR OOPS I DID IT AGAIN AT MILLANZA

 ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍

MINOR PUPPY BITCH  (15-1=14)

1st Mell’s  SANSUE LOVE ACTUALLY AT MELOAK found her just right for her age, loved her outline she has good length of visible leg, nice short back, well balanced head, with good stop, kind eye and excellent pigmentation, nice reach of neck into well laid shoulder and angulated upper arm, nice bone, pasterns and feet, correct body for her age, level toppling, nice quarters, steady on the move.  2nd  De Zutter’s DUNEHILLS UPTOWN GIRL compact and longer bitch who still has a lot of grown got do, the has a beautiful quality double coat which is rich gold, balanced chistled head with darkest pigment, correct ear set, nicely angulated shoulder and upper arm, nice bone, pasterns and feet, correct body for age, nice quarters, moved out with good length of stride.‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍3rd  Williamson’s SANDTI TIKI TAKA. ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍Res List Ms L HAYDENGOLD GOSSIP GIRL

 ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍

PUPPY BITCH  (18-5=13)

1st Dunbar’s LINIRGOR NINE TO FIVE nearly 12 m old bitch correct stage of development for her age, she has nice scope and liked her length of visible leg, she has a strong skull but maintains a feminine appearance, and a gentle expression, nice reach of neck, that is well set into well laid shoulder, nice upper arm, good bone pasterns and feet, with a straight front, correct body, nice turn of stifle with good deep thighs, has a nice happy disposition and moved out with good reach and drive. Best Bitch Puppy and BPIS.

‍‍2nd Morrison’s KAYZAELLE KIND SPIRIT less settled than 1, but liked her double light gold coat, pleasing head and expression with nice dark points, nice reach of neck into well laid shoulder, well sprung ribs, good toppling and tail set, well bent stifle with good deep thighs, moved out freely.  ‍‍‍‍‍‍3rd  Jones & Athey’s NINELL NIGHTINGALE. Res  Williamson’s SANDTI TIKI TAKA

 ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍

JUNIOR BITCH  (12-4=8)

1st Brown’s  DRUMKILTY VERBENA AT GLENLEDDON lovely quality bitch, who is very together for her age, nice balanced outline, excellent quality double coat, good width of skull, nice stop, kind expression and good eye, well laid shoulder and angulated upper arm, nice bone pasterns and feet, correct body for age, with strong level topline which she maintains on the move, nice turn of stifle with good depth of thigh, moved out freely with good reach of stride. ‍‍‍‍‍2nd Foster’s EAU MY GOLD VD CORNER BROOK FOR AURISTELA (IMP NLD) JW another quality youngster, but I preferred the scope of 1, she has a feminine, compact outline,  good  topline and tail set,  appealing head with good skull, and ear set,  ‍‍‍nice bone and catlike feet, correct body for age, level toppling and very well bent stifle with good depth of thighs, well let down hocks, moved out with reach and drive, 3rd   Cruttwell & Carter’s ASHBYGLEN ENCHANTEE JW. Res Morrison’s KAYZAELLE KIND SPIRIT

YEARLING BITCH  what a lovely class (16-5=11)

1st Archibald’s ABINVALE ARRIETA (AI) a really top quality young bitch who is so together for her age, she is correct and has the space to mature, balanced outline, super double coat with the correct texture, and just gleaming in the sunshine, good skull muzzle and stop, feminine gentle expression, good reach and set of neck flows into well angulated shoulder, nice bone, straight front, and nice close fitting elbow, strong pasterns and tight catfight feet, correct depth of ribcage and strong level top line and well bent stifles, hocks well let down and strongly driving on the move, considered her for top honours and sure she is one to watch in the future. 2nd Ives’ BALSAMINA BELLINI JW lovely feminine bitch who has the right body and substance for her age, not the finish of 1, felt she had a really good head with nice chiselling and good stop, kind eye and correct ear set, nice reach of slightly sprung neck, balanced angulation, level top line, good ribcage. 3rd Hewitson’s SERUILIA SHINING STAR JW. Res Clarkson’s DRUMKILTY TRISKELE JW

NOVICE BITCH  (16-8=8)

1st  Morrison’s  KAYZAELLE KIND SPIRIT 2nd in puppy. 2nd  Pickup’s  BLENSTONE YELLOW TOPAZ at the right stage of development for her age, liked her profile, feminine appearance, lovely rich gold double coat, with cream feathers and knickers, good reach of visible leg, nice reach of neck, balanced angulation, straight front, good pasterns and catlike feet, a nice short back and correct loin, good tail set, moved well in profile with correct foot fall. 3rd Maddison’s JAYMARDY SWEET CAROLINE. Res Williamson’s SANDTI TIKI TAKA

UNDERGRADUATE BITCH  (12-6+6)

1st   Rose’s  GAYTONWOOD MARTHA I was really taken by this bitches type and lovely rich true golden double coat, the sun picked out her golden guard hairs and she was gleaming, she is compact in outline, dark eye with feminine head, nice reach and set of neck into well laid shoulder and upper arm, straight front, good spring and depth of rib, well ribbed back, strong level topline with short back and correct croup, well bent stifle, into strong hocks, moved out with correct foot fall and reach and drive.  2nd Rea’s FENPINQUE SHOOTING STAR OVER OSREALIN another lovely young bitch who I liked very much, unlucky to meet 1 today in such good finish, she is truly feminine, just loved her happy disposition she never stopped wagging her tail and has a gorgeous alert kindly expression, good reach of neck, good reach of visible leg, straight front, good bone, pasterns and lovely catlike feet, correct spring and length of rib, level topline, well bent stifle and good deep thighs, moved out with tremendous reach and stride with a good ground covering action.  3rd Morrison’s KAYZAELLE KIND SPIRIT. Res Pickup’s BLENSTONE YELLOW TOPAZ

GRADUATE BITCH  (19 Entries, 5 Absent)

1st  Magson’s CASTLEGOLDEN CLASSY LASSY daughter of the veteran winner and similar in type, pleasing head, nicely proportioned, balanced angulation, level top line, just enough coat, moved well in profile. ‍‍2nd   Campion  FENPINQUE GLAMOURGLOW a lovely animated happy show girl who I liked very much, she has a nice outline with good strong quarters, and is shown in lovely double coat, and well presented, she has an excellent body in construction but is carrying too much weight and as a result looses her toppling on the move. 3rd  Rea FENPINQUE SHOOTING STAR OVER OSREALIN. Res White WILDBRYHER SNOW BEAR AT FORBENDALEGrad

POSTGRADUATE BITCH  (15-3=12)

1st  Vernon ’s GRACELEIGH FIRENZE I liked this bitch very much in profile, she is a bit out of coat today, but what she has is good quality and she has a rich mid gold coat, balanced and well proportioned outline, nice neck and balanced angulation, straight front, good pasterns and catlike feet, deep well sprung body and level topline, she moved freely and with good length of stride. 2nd May’s CHERRYGOLD STORYTELLER JW another very nice youngster, who is in good double coat, she just lost out on the move today as was disjointed, excellent neck into well laid shoulders, angulated upper arm, nice bone, straight front, good pasterns and feet, well sprung ribcage, good top line, nice strong quarters. 3rd   Byers’   BALIBEAU A SONG OF ICE N’FIRE. Res Todd’s TODDROSA OASIS CHARM JW

MID LIMIT BITCH  (13-5=8)

1st O’Gorman’s THORNYWAIT TOP NOTCH FOR BERRYMEADE JW  liked her very much in profile, she is full of type and has a lovely rich gold coat of lovely texture, she is very well angulated front and rear and has an excellent neck, withers and top line and tail set, and really flows, deep well sprung ribcage, took he class on her lovely free flowing moment.‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍

2nd Anderson’s  LINCHAEL LIVIA JW a quality cream bitch with  an attractive feminine head with good dark eye, nice reach of neck, nice bone, pasterns and catlike feet, level topline and nice quarters, 3rd Williamson’s SANDTI HITS THE SWEET SPOT JW. Res Oldring’s FLAXENGOLD COULD IT BE MAGIC

LIMIT BITCH  (12-2=10)

1st  Clarke’s SUNNYOAK CHERRY BLOSSOM just took my eye for her lovely femininity, she has good proportions and balance, just loved her well chiselled head, well balanced skull and muzzle with a good stop and correct ear set, she has good neck into well laid shoulder and angulated upper arm, with elbow sitting close into the ribs, straight front and well sprung ribcage, well ribbed back, level topline and correct croup, nice turn of stifle and hocks well let down. She moved true in front and rear and has a free gate.  Pleased to award her the Res CC. 2nd  Little’s BLUEBRAES JACOBITE LASS liked her type a bit stronger all round and not as feminine as 1, has a gorgeous rich gold double coat, nice balanced angulation, good head with a nice skull and ear set, good stop and a nice dark eye, deep well sprung ribcage, good quarters with deep thigh, liked her extrovert happy personality. 3rd Crookes & Jenkinson’s QUAKERHALL PANDORA’S BOUNTY JW.  Res Langrick’s FLAXENGOLD STORY OF MY LIFE.

OPEN BITCH  (10 Entries, 2 Absent)

1st Clarkson’s  DRUMKILTY LISDOONVARNA JW Mature and very finished bitch with so much to like about her she has a balanced head with a gentle expression, dark eye, correct set of ear, good reach of neck into well laid shoulder and angulated upper arm, straight front, good pasterns and tight feet, nice bone, deep well sprung ribs and well ribbed back, into strong loin, well bent stifle with deep thighs and wet let down hocks, moved out with correct foot fall and free  ground covering  stride. She is in good double coat, please to award her the CC.  In the challenge the referee was called in to judge the challenge as the owner of the bitch was a friend of the dog judge, she gave a lovely performance and was Res BIS. 2nd  Robbins & Rowark’s QUAKERHALL LADY BOUNTIFUL BY BREKSWOOD JW liked this happy extrovert bitch with a rich gold coat, nicely balanced head with a nice dark eye, preferred the front of 1, but nice bone and good pasterns and feet, excellent deep wells sprung ribs and shout coupled body, strong level top line and good turn of stifle into well let down hock‍‍‍‍‍‍. ‍‍ 3rd Vermander & Adam’s AMILONE LEGEND OF THE STONE.  Res Wood’s MONCHIQUE MRS BROWN JW

FIELD TRIAL BITCH  (0 Entries, 0 Absent)

Such a shame that there are not more entries from the working side as its so important to ensure the breed remains fit for function.

SPECIAL SHOW GUNDOG /WORKING CERT BITCH  (2-1=1 Absent)

1st Vermander & Adam’s  INT CH/BEL CH PERFECT PRINCESS BY MOON OF SUNSHINE’S VALLEY (ATC BEL) what a wonderful extrovert bouncy bitch who  has demonstrated brains as well as beauty, pail coat with a slight texture to it, nice skull and muzzle and correct ear set, good reach of neck into well laid shoulder and straight front with tightly fitting elbow, strong pasterns and tight catlike feet, good depth and spring of rib, well bent stifle with good angulation into well let down hock, use her quarters well on the move and went out with purpose.

SPECIAL WORKING  BITCH  (1 Entries, 0 Absent)

1st Furbank’s  KAYZAELLE KEEP DREAMING JW in good double golden coat, with a pleasing outline, good topline and tail set, gentle expression with a nice dark eye, good stop and correct ear set, nice reach of neck straight front, deep well sprung ribcage with plenty of heart room, good turn of stifle with hocks well let down, moved well with animation and with her happy disposition.