2023 Dog Critique Ch Sh
THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB 2023 DOGS It was a great honour to be invited to judge and I must thank the committee of The Golden Retriever Club for their hospitality and to my excellent, friendly stewards for keeping things moving. I was delighted with my entry; beautifully presented dogs with wonderful temperaments that were a
2023 Dog Critique Ch Sh
THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB 2023
DOGS
It was a great honour to be invited to judge and I must thank the committee of The Golden Retriever Club for their hospitality and to my excellent, friendly stewards for keeping things moving.
I was delighted with my entry; beautifully presented dogs with wonderful temperaments that were a joy to go over. There were a couple of classes that gave me a real headache, such was the quality of the exhibits. I was very happy with my final line-up.
My thanks to the exhibitors for entering and for accepting my decisions sportingly.
VETERAN (8, 1ab)
1st Gerhold’s SH CH JAYMARDY INDIGO PACIFIC JW
A balanced, short-coupled boy in glorious pale coat contrasted by dark pigment. Broad, masculine head. Straight front and tight feet. Clean neck of good length flowing into well placed shoulders. Deep in the body with strong hindquarters. Moved well; a real showman but full of mischief!
2nd Loverock & Waldron-Smith’s LOVISSA SPACE DUST ShCM
Another lovely example of the breed. Totally balanced and well-muscled throughout. Pleasing front angulation and good neck and shoulders. Level topline and well bent stifles. He stands four square and moves with drive.
3rd Towers & Henderson’s ALIBREN GALILEO TO WESTERVANE JW SGWC
SPECIAL VETERAN (5, 1ab)
1st Archibald’s SH/IR SH CH ABINVALE LEVANTO
A gorgeous blond boy in immaculate, heavy coat. Lovely head with kind expression. His forelegs are straight, with round, tight feet. Good length of neck flows into well placed shoulders and level topline. Good depth of body and short in the loin. Stifles are well bent and hocks are straight and well let down. He moves with drive and presents a super overall picture. BEST VETERAN DOG and RESERVE BEST VETERAN IN SHOW.
2nd Beck’s BLUEBRAES BALTIMORE JACK JW
A lovely, mid-gold boy, belying his 10 years. Well balanced in outline, he has a kind, masculine head and nice flow of neck into shoulders and topline. He stands square on good feet and is carrying just the right amount of weight. A sound, straight mover.
3rd Webb’s FLETLANDERS BILLY FLYNN AT HECSTON
MINOR PUPPY (5)
1st Bardossy’s DEWMIST DREAM WEAVER
A very happy boy and very together although with a lot of growing still to do. Well-shaped head with good chiselling, dark eyes and kind expression. Excellent length of muscular neck set into well laid back shoulders, level topline and correct tailset. He stands square on tight feet and moves with long, ground-covering strides. He has the promise of a bright future. BEST PUPPY DOG and BEST PUPPY IN SHOW.
2nd Loach & Zubair’s PUTJADE POLDARK
Another promising puppy; a different type from the winner, with a more compact outline. Lovely, masculine head with dark eyes and pigment. Straight forelegs, with tight feet. Good length of neck and well-placed shoulders. Good depth of body, short-coupled with a level topline. Moved well.
3RD Rounce & Tye’s BERRYMEADE WINTER LOVE
PUPPY (5)
1st Bardossy’s DEWMIST DREAM WEAVER
2ND Rose’s GAYTONWOOD LE HAVRE
Reserve in minor puppy, this boy was more settled in this class. He has a profuse, wavy coat, which is a bit unruly at this stage but there is a well made puppy underneath. Still rather raw, he has a pleasing head with dark eyes and pigment. Good length of neck, with well-placed shoulders and level back. With well bent stifles, he stands straight all round and he moves out well.
3rd Pratt’s ROSYTH KELTIC LORD
JUNIOR (7, 1ab)
1st Monteverde’s OLVINGLAY PAGEANT
A beautifully balanced mid-gold boy, presented in beautiful coat and condition. Straight forelegs and excellent feet. Super, clean neck flows into excellent shoulders, with good layback, and level topline. Good depth of body and well sprung ribs. Stifles are well bent, hocks are straight and he moves with strong, smooth, driving movement. Just right for his age and he must have a bright future.
2ND O’Neill’s STRATHLON ISLAND LAD
A slightly bigger boy but very together. In good, blond coat and strong muscular condition. Lovely masculine head, broad and well chiselled. Straight forelegs and hocks. Mature in body, with good angles front and rear. He is a strong mover.
3rd Fleet & Webb’s WATERBABIES SONIC BOOM TO EASTBURY AND HECSTON
YEARLING (11)
1st Bernaert’s GREY GOOSE BACK IN BLACK
This impressive, young dog has a beautiful, short-coupled outline, with a lovely masculine head and the kindest of expressions. Straight in front with well-shaped feet. His clean neck flows into well laid shoulders and a level topline and he is deep in the body with good spring of rib. His more precise movement just gave him the edge over the second.
2nd Garget & Morriss’ GOLDMARKER COMING HOME TO GARVIN
Similar remarks apply to the winner. This mature boy was presented in superb coat and condition. He has excellent balance, with the most beautiful head and good pigment. He stands square on good feet and he moves with drive.
3RD Gargan’s SIAGAR SINATRA
NOVICE (3)
1st Pratt’s ROSYTH KELTIC LORD
Not in his best coat today but he is a well-made boy. Pleasing head, dark eyes and pigment. He stands on well-shaped feet with straight forelegs and hocks. Good body proportions with good flow through neck, shoulders and topline. Sound, precise mover.
2nd Fleet & Webb’s WATERBABIES SONIC BOOM TO EASTBURY AND HECSTON
Another balanced outline with kind expression in his masculine head. Good length of neck and shoulders are well laid back. Deep in the body with good bend of stifle. Not quite as accurate on the move as the winner.
3rd Mears’ AMBERSUN PAPER PLANE
UNDERGRADUATE (5, 1ab)
1st Kipps’ WHEATCROFT RAINBOW
A well grown blond boy presented in great coat and condition. Good head with kind expression, dark eyes and pigment. Good length of clean neck flowing into excellent shoulders. Deep in the body, with good spring of rib. Level topline and strong hindquarters which he uses to advantage in his driving movement, with long, ground-covering strides.
2ND Pratt’s ROSYTH KELTIC LORD
3RD Fleet & Webb’s WATERBABIES SONIC BOOM TO EASTBURY AND HECSTON
GRADUATE (16, 2ab)
A lovely, quality class but I did find a couple of imperfect bites.
1st Beck’s SIMON BASSET DE RIA VELA FOR BEINANGUS JW
A good, honest, balanced boy, with nothing overdone, presented in good coat and muscular condition. Broad, masculine head with kind expression. Good reach of neck, well placed shoulders and level topline. Deep in the body with well sprung ribs. Strong hindquarters give powerful, straight, driving movement.
2nd Maynard’s CHINNORDALE GRAND FINALE
A mature, rich gold boy in beautiful coat and condition. Masculine head with dark eyes and pigment and friendly expression. Well developed in body, he presents a balanced picture, standing square on tight, well-shaped feet. On the move, his stride is powerful, straight and true.
3rd Little’s KING OF SWING QDORE OF LABGOLD TO BLUEBRAES
POSTGRADUATE (12, 4ab)
1st Haines’ LEIGHSHAM TULLAMORE JW
A dog I have admired since he was a puppy and he was certainly in the mix for top honours. So balanced with textbook angulation, he has a lovely, gentle head with kind expression. Well developed body, short in the loin and standing straight on good feet. He has precise, driving movement.
2nd Towers & Henderson’s GREY GOOSE NOVEMBER RAIN
This boy has a pleasing outline, with good balance. Pleasing head, well-chiselled, with a kindly expression. Straight forelegs and tight feet. Good length of neck, layback of shoulder, level topline and correct tailset. Mature in body with good spring of rib. Sound, driving movement. His coat was not at its best today.
3rd Gerhold’s NAVILIS NOUVEAU VENU JW
MID LIMIT (12, 1ab)
1st Layland’s APPLECOTE HEARTS DESIRE
Beautifully presented in gleaming, mid-gold coat, this balanced young man demanded my attention as soon as he entered the ring. Such a lovely expression in a masculine head, he has dark eyes and pigment. Excellent neck and shoulders flowing into a level topline. He is deep through the heart and his elbows are tightly placed against his body. In excellent, muscular condition, he uses his strong hindquarters to produce smooth, driving movement.
In the challenge, he stood out among strong opposition, and I was delighted to give him his first CC. BEST DOG and BEST OPPOSITE SEX.
2nd Bawden’s BALSAMINA BEACHCOMBER AT DARTHILL JW
Unlucky to meet the winner on top form, this blond boy is a super example of the breed. He is well muscled throughout and has good front and rear angulation. Lovely, dark eyes in an excellent head with dark pigment. Shoulders are well laid back and flow into a level topline. Stifles are well bent and hocks are well let down. He moves out well.
3rd Towers & Henderson’s ALIBREN BAKER’S BOY
LIMIT (10, 4ab)
1st Woods’ DAILY RAYS HOPE OF HEART TO AMIRENE
A happy boy in excellent coat and condition, he is so balanced with no exaggerations. Lovely, masculine head with kind expression. Front is straight and he has good, tight feet. Excellent length of clean neck flowing into good shoulders and topline. Mature in the body with good spring of rib. Strong hindquarters allow him to move with long, precise strides, covering the ground well.
2nd Taylor’s ALIBREN ECCLES AT TANNADICE JW
A smart, balanced boy, with a masculine head, kind expression and dark pigment to complement his profuse, blond coat. Good flow of neck into well-placed shoulders, short coupled and good topline. Mature in body, he is in good, muscular condition, with sound, driving movement.
3rd Brown’s CAILLOCH MAKAR VIA IPCRESS JW
OPEN (11)
A class full of quality with excellent dogs going cardless today.
1st Pastusiak’s SH CH/ INT/ NL/ DL/ PL CH PRINCE CHARMING QDORE OF LABGOLD JWW18
A beautiful boy who was full of himself! Super balance with a classic, masculine head. Excellent forequarters, with good length of neck and excellent shoulders. Short coupled with strong hindquarters. He stands square on well-shaped, tight feet. He has strong driving movement and covers the ground with ease. A super example of the breed. RESERVE CC.
2nd Kelly’s SH CH/IR SH CH RAMCHAINE YOU SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND IN ZENEVIEVA JW
Another top quality dog and worthy champion. He has the kindest of expressions in a broad, masculine head. His forelegs are straight and he has lovely feet. He is deep in the body with well sprung ribs. In excellent coat and condition and his good muscle allows strong, driving movement.
3rd Dunbar’s SH CH LINIRGOR TOMICH JW
FIELD TRIAL (0)
SPECIAL SGWC/ WGC (3, 2ab)
1st Maynard’s CH CHINNORDALE CUE CARD JW
He stood alone today but what a super boy. In gleaming coat, he was in excellent muscular condition. He has a kind expression and his head is broad and well chiselled. Good reach of neck, well-placed shoulders, level topline. Mature in the body, well ribbed and short-coupled.
He stands square on good, tight feet. He moves straight and true, with drive.
SPECIAL WORKING (1)
1st Facq’s SPARTACUS DU BOIS DE LA RAYERE
A very smart dog, moving with so much enthusiasm and so keen to please. He has a kind, gentle head, with dark eyes and pigment. His forelegs are straight and he has tight, well-shaped feet. Good length of neck flows into well laid back shoulders. He has excellent body proportions and is well muscled throughout. His movement is excellent, sound and efficient.
Susan Hush (Judge)