GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB OF SCOTLAND – CH SHOW
Friday 14th July 2023
Bitch critique
My thanks go to a very hard-working Committee for inviting me to judge bitches at this Ch Show which was part of a wonderful five Day Guisachan Gathering to celebrate the 155th Anniversary of the breed’s founding. It gave me great pleasure to be part of this event & to be so well looked after during my stay. My thanks also go to exhibitors for bringing your lovely Goldens, so many of which were new to me & to my two stewards for keeping my ring going whilst dealing with the showers!
I had some super bitches, close decisions to make & I was spoilt for choice when making my final decisions for top honours. There are also quite a few youngsters waiting in the wings A good sign for the breed. My two veteran classes were an absolute joy to behold especially the Vintage class. A wonderful testament to our long-lasting breed.
I found no issues with either of the two Breed Watch listings but totally correct shoulder construction & short couplings were still in short supply.
All decisions with the exception of BPIS were agreed with my co-judge Fiona Weeks. Whilst we appreciated one another’s choices for the BP challenge we decided to stick with our choices and thought the Referee from Australia Wayne McGrath, would be delighted to make the decision.
BEST IN SHOW Savage Miss K WEISFORD PRESUMED INNOCENT (IKC)
RESERVE BEST IN SHOW Towers Mrs S & Henderson Mrs M ALIBREN GALILEO TO WESTERVANE JW SGWC
BEST OPPOSITE SEX Towers Mrs S & Henderson Mrs M ALIBREN GALILEO TO WESTERVANE JW SGWC
BEST PUPPY Gayler Mrs PD CAROLAKE X’MARKS THE SPOT JW
BEST VETERAN Towers Mrs S & Henderson Mrs M ALIBREN GALILEO TO WESTERVANE JW SGWC BEST VINTAGE Turner Ms R GRAIN OF GOLD’S ARWEN OF AMILONE (IMP SWE) SGWC
VB (7+ yrs) (14/4)
1st Hill & Smith’s SH CH MEGARVEY ONCE UPON A TIME JW
Just three days off 8 years but still very much in tip top form to consider for top honours. Quite a large lass but with a pleasing overall balance & a magnificently presented profuse gold coat enhancing her outline. Gentle head with kind eye, excels in neck length, set of neck, topline, tail set & carriage, all complimented with a straight front, neat feet, well sprung ribs & rear quarter angulation matching her forehand. Top & tailed to advantage. Covered the ground well.
2nd Harding & Start’s EVENINGHILL MOMENT TO SHINE
A shade darker than 1 & slightly more compact but still well proportioned. Very appealing head, eye & expression. Straight front, well bodied, strong level topline & tail set. Excels in rear quarters with good breadth of thigh, bend of stifle, second thigh & well-let down hocks used very well on the move. All off set with very attractive pale rear feathering. 9 years young, stood naturally, neatly, foursquare & attentively.
3rd Lewandrowski’s INT CH/MULTI CH SEQUINS SABIHA (ATC NLD)
Vintage B (10+ yrs) (14/1)
1st Turner’s GRAIN OF GOLD’S ARWEN OF AMILONE (IMP SWE) SGWC
Has always appealed to me for her fantastic well-made balanced symmetrical outline maintained on the move & correct true enthusiastic ground coverage. How wonderful aged 10, it is still all there & she was still full of herself at the end of the show. In dense light gold coat. Lovely head with good muzzle depth, kind eye & expression the softness aided by some greying now. Strong well-muscled neck with good reach. Straight front leading to cat like feet. Well bodied, strong level topline, tail set & carriage. Well-presented & top and tailed to advantage. Best Vintage Veteran In Show
2nd Griggs SH CH MULFIELD PEACH BLOSSOM JW ShCM
Cream girl also aged 10 belying her years. In good coat & not dissimilar to 1 in head & expression. A tad smaller frame but still with good balance & well-made balanced quarters. Straight front, neat feet, well bodied under strong level topline & stands foursquare. Moved true coming & going Well presented.
3rd O’Gorman’s CH/PL CH RATHCLOON HUNTER IN PINK FOR BERRYMEADE
Sp. Working B (8/4) Close decision between 1 & 2.
1st McDonald’s CH LAMANCHA KEEP A SECRET JW SGWC
Scored well on her balanced outline with nothing overdone. In full light gold coat with attractive paler shading & feathering which was extremely well presented as always from this kennel. Delightful head & good clean reach of neck. Beautiful straight front, with super tight cat like feet all round. Stood comfortably foursquare. Well-made body with a level topline maintained on the move.
2nd Murray’s RATHCLOON HIGHWAYS N BYWAYS
A darker gold than 1 with equally good balanced well-made angulation fore & aft used well on the move. Appealing head & showed off her kind eye & good ear carriage as she was very attentive when shown in a natural stance. Excels in neck length but just felt 1 had the cleaner setting and coat finish. Good in feet, spring of rib and brisket depth, topped with a correct level topline.
3rd Jarveoja’s EST CH LAKEBROOK BELIEVE IN CHASING DREAMS (ATC EST)
MPB (9/2) Difficult class with many in varying stages
1st McDonald’s LAMANCHA TANGO
This dark gold coated youngster grew on me as she settled. Firstly, standing & then moving when allowed to hold her lead which also showed her personality to please. Good leg length & very well- proportioned with a clean outline aided by her coat type. Super neck length & balanced angulation. Well bodied with a level topline & a well filled loin giving the edge on maturity to take the win. Well-presented & handled.
2nd Martin’s GARLINE GUARDING LOLA
Youngster out of a different mould to 1. Dark cream & wavier coated. Appealed for her nice head & eye, neck length, ribcage & especially her short couplings. Not quite the overall balance of 1 yet but this has time to come. Good forehand angulation & lovely cat like feet. Her profile action finally won her this placing.
3rd Harding’s EVENINGHILL RED SKY AT NIGHT
PB (10/2)
1st Gayler’s CAROLAKE X’MARKS THE SPOT JW
Another dark cream girl in full coat with a slight wave. A clear winner both standing & on the move. Lovely head, neck length, straight front, ribcage spring & depth. Excellent shoulder & rear quarter assembly giving her a super overall balance & had the edge on maturity. Moved out very well from all viewpoints with a strong level topline. BPIS
2nd Saunderson’s MOLOKO IZIPIZI AT CROBEAG
A very neat, clean, cream feminine package pleasing on the eye with her outline assisted by a straighter coat. Straight front, good reach of neck, & return of upper arm, spring of rib and particularly her coupling length. Very well-made hind quarters. Stood comfortably foursquare. Moved well & well-presented.
3rd Pratt’s ROSYTH KIND OF MAGIC
JB (18/3) 3 lovely bitches
1st Zubair’s THORNYWAIT NEMESIS
Super construction throughout & presentation. Rich gold in colour with a hint of a wave in her coat. Lovely reach of neck gently flowing into her well-made shoulders. Hindquarters equally well put together giving her overall balanced angles & strength to stand straight & foursquare comfortably. Well sprung ribs & a good level topline with a firmly muscled loin. With a little more maturity will no doubt be troubling the best. Covered the ground well. Well handled.
2nd Kelly’s FAIRWINDS IN MOTION WITH ZENEVIEVA
Amazingly although colour & kennel type differed, her movement, profile, head, ear shape & carriage, overall construction and presentation, met 1’s like for like so I found them very difficult to split but obviously had to. Decided finally on 1’s tad shorter loin length. Top notch handling. Liked her brother 7 months ago & I’m sure she will be another to feature highly in the future.
3rd Neilson’s TWEEDSPEY TOPPSECRET AVEC PONFEIGH (IMP FRA)
YB (19/4) 3 more super youngsters
1st Dunbar’s LINIRGOR NINE TO FIVE JW
Has all the credentials I look for & for a bright future once a tad more mature. Stature is strong but feminine in a cream dense coat with a lovely outline showing balance & symmetry. Pleasing head with good ear carriage, good reach & a clean well-set neck, straight front, neat catlike feet, well bodied between well-made fore & hind quarters. Smashing topline & tail carriage held on the move with excellent ground coverage. Well presented. I see I also placed her litter sister 4th.
2nd Hill & Smith’s MEGARVEY DÉJÀ VU JW
So unlucky to come up against 1 in such good form as she also appealed greatly for many of the same attributes. In a beautiful well-presented dense coat of light gold with an equally good balanced symmetrical outline as 1. Liked her head, neck length & set, brisket & depth, quarters fore & aft, table top topline, tail set & carriage. Moved well.
3rd Carlton’s FHAIRMHOR MOONLIGHT SONATA
MB (7/2)
1st Pratt’s ROSYTH KIND OF MAGIC
Placed 3rd in PB. Appealing head with eyes only for her handler. Gold coated clean balanced outline with a good reach of neck. Stands straight & true front & back on neat catlike feet. Nicely bodied with a good depth of chest & an excellent topline & tail set. Best mover in this class.
2nd McCormack’s FLYNGALEE BUSY BOO
Placed 4th in PB. In a light gold coat with a pleasing head & neck length. Lovely round cat like feet, good spring of rib & depth even for her greater leg length. Another with a good topline & tail set.
3rd O’Gorman’s BERRYMEADE FIRESTARTER (AI)
NB (15/4)
1st FAIRWINDS IN M. WITH ZENEVIEVA.
2nd CAROLAKE X’M’S THE S. JW
3rd MOLOKO I. AT CROBEAG
TB (11/2)
1st FAIRWINDS IN M. WITH ZENEVIEVA.
2nd ROSYTH K. OF M.
3rd FLYNGALEE B. B.
UGB (8/2)
1st FAIRWINDS IN M. WITH ZENEVIEVA
2nd ROSYTH K. OF M.
3rd Ward’s LAURENLEY JASMINE
GB (19/3/2WD)
1st Wooden’s CATENAE CANDY FLOSS AT SALAKO
Have not seen her look better than today. Ultra feminine throughout with the loveliest of heads & eyes. Cleanest of outlines under a well-presented new coat bordering between cream & light gold. Good neck, set into a well angled forehand with matching angles in her hindquarters. Legs straight in front & rear on good feet. Well ribbed with a good loin under an excellent topline & tail set. Overall best mover in the class with good footfall. Her future could also be bright based on this form.
2nd Griggs MULFIELD MANGO MARMALADE
Coat a shade lighter & a little further in giving a slightly more compact outline than 1 but still presenting a pleasing symmetrical picture. Nice head, neck & well-made quarters. Legs straight fore & aft leading to neat feet. Ribs well sprung and deep as was her loin under a level topline. Just preferred 1’s tail set & head carriage on the move but other than that she moved as well as 1.
3rd FHAIRMHOR M. SONATA
PGB (18/5) 3 delightful well-made girls all moving well
1st Falconer’s SONEVE SIMPLY SPECIAL FOR SIATHAM JW
Most definitely a cream with a lovely head & such a pretty girly kind eye & smile. Her outline both symmetrical & balanced. In fact, another I have never seen look as good as she did today. Straight front & neat feet. Correct in neck, set of neck, shoulders & hindquarters, with a well-developed body, short coupled & a well filled loin under a level topline. Moved out very well & level & showed extremely well for her different handler. Well-presented. Seriously considered for top honours.
2nd Hill & Smith’s MEGARVEY CLEMENTINE JW
Another well-made & in coat girl from this kennel. Mid gold with slightly more size than 1 but still with an outline to impress. Nice head & neck, straight front, catlike feet, well developed spring of rib & depth, quarters both strong & matching in angulation giving her good ground coverage. Level topline & tail set. In final placing assessment just preferred 1’s coupling length but still very much top-drawer material. Well-presented & handled.
3rd Turner’s AMILONE PINKSTER (AI)
MLB (12/3) 3 more well-made girls also all moving well
1st O’Neill’s LINIRGOR MISTY MORNINGS AT STRATHLON JW
Has a stunning harmonious outline with all legs well placed & an immaculately presented neat dense coat of dark gold & pale feathering. Pretty feminine head & kind eye, super neck set into a beautiful set of shoulders, super level topline & body properties leading to correctly made hindquarters. Moved effortlessly & truly on her round catlike feet. Top & tailed confidently & to perfection. In the challenge just preferred the CC winners head overall but could not separate them on other conformation or movement. RCC
2nd Hill’s SANDAULA THIS WILL DO (AI) JW
Compact, balanced, well angled throughout also with legs well placed & dark gold coat. Nice head, neck, straight front & super tidy catlike feet. Level topline with good tail set & carriage just wished she’d held it out a little in her natural stance. So unlucky to meet 1 in such good form. Moved well.
3rd McGugan’s INVERGOIL CULZEAN CREAM PUFF
LB (23/8 +1WD) 3 top class lasses all putting their best foot forward on the move.
1st Savage’s WEISFORD PRESUMED INNOCENT (IKC)
What a cracker. I did her brother very well last December but don’t recall ever seeing this lass until today. Lovely head & an eye catching clean symmetrical balanced outline with the “hands on” confirming what I could see. Gold in colour. From head to tail everything was made well & correctly proportioned with a perfect body weight. Movement was both accurate & powerful with good reach & drive which was maintained in all the challenges. Appeared as though she could have worked all day. CC & BIS
2nd O’Neill’s STRATHLON SWEET SENSATION JW
Well up on size and strongly built but still retaining femininity. Balanced in stature with a cream coat the densest I think I’ve ever seen. Very different type to her kennel mate who won MLB but how nice to have 2 competing at this level. Also, very different kennel type to 1 & 3. Truly feminine head with a marvellous neck set into a well-made shoulder assembly. Straight in front & rear with very neat feet. Plenty of heart room & a well filled loin under a firm level topline leading to well angled hindquarters. Moved well with good footfall. Well-handled & presentation immaculate. Considered for the RCC.
3rd Falconer’s CONTEMPORARY BEGUILE AGAIN VIA SIATHAM JW
OB (15/4) 3 lovely show champions
1st Macdonald’s SH CH FLYNGALEE TEPPUM
Have always admired her over the last two years as she rose from GB to her title. Mature now as one would expect. A real honest lass who gives so well standing naturally foursquare under a level topline & attentively with a gentle head & expression. In a fabulous coat of gold with many waves so guess not the easiest to prepare. Good in neck leading to well-made fore & hind quarters especially her bend of stifle & second thighs. Moved true coming & going & won the class on her overall balance but thought she just lost a bit of sparkle on the move in the challenge.
2nd Smith’s SH CH GOLDMARKER LUMINARA
Another whose progress I have watched & is one of the very few girls here today I have judged before. I did her well then & she did not disappoint today. Darker girl than 1 just coming into new coat thus her outline looked very clean. Still has a gorgeous gentle head & expression with an exceptional length of neck set well into a good shoulder construction. Limbs nice & straight when viewed from front & rear & although she used them very well on the move, I just preferred the balance of 1’s rear when stood. Good in body with a nice firm topline. At one with her handler.
3rd McCormack’s SH CH FLYNGALEE TIPTOES JW
Sp OB (Confined to Members Resident in Scotland) (1)
1st Walker’s CARDRONA CELTIC PRINCESS
From LB class. Had to have hands on to appreciate her qualities as she does not always show them off when stacked. Gold in colour with a kind head & eye, straight front, well ribbed & short coupled. Matching angulated quarters. Moved true coming & going.
Sp BREEDERS B (Confined to Members Resident in Scotland) (2/1)
1st Walker’s CARDRONA C. PRINCESS
Judge: Sue Pounds-Longhurst