NORTHERN ENGLAND FLATCOATED RETRIEVER ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 2 ND NOVEMBER 2014 DOGS My sincerest thanks to the Committee of NEFRA for affording me the honour of judging dogs at their Championship Show. I had a wonderful day and would like to extend my gratitude to my hard working stewards Bob Allen and Kath Trevor along with all those who brought their dogs forward for my consideration. It was a large entry and in many cases it was a very close call for the top placings. I do have some concerns that seem to be creeping in. Firstly mouths. I don t think I have ever encountered so many level or incorrect bites in one day. This is a worry as this is hereditary and care needs to be taken when breeding to try not to double up on it. Secondly there were a lot of dogs lacking the desired spring of rib. The standard states that the fore ribs should be flat with the body well ribbed up showing a gradual spring and well arched in the centre but lighter towards the quarters. In a great many cases my hands went straight along a body that was tubular in shape. This was not just in the youngsters but in fully mature dogs as well. The Flatcoat should not be as narrow as an Irish Setter in body but a great many were and thus there was not sufficient breadth and depth of chest when viewed from the front. My final line up pleased me enormously with dogs that looked capable of fulfilling their function. My co-judge Mrs Roslyn Bellamy and I agreed on all the overall winners which was the icing on the cake indeed the Dog CC and Bitch CC winners were litter brother and sister. Congratulations to the breeder who for many years now has produced some top quality Flatcoats. Veteran (7, 3) 1 st Jones Braemist Ocean Kestrel JW. A great favourite of mine. Upstanding male who for me defines the typical character of a true Flatcoat. He never stops smiling! Classical head shape with good fill in beneath the eyes. Excels in layback of shoulder and return of upper arm. Deep chest with long ribcage and short strong loin. Powerful hindquarters with well set on tail. Excellent bone and feet. Sound and true on the move displaying good open side gait. BVD 2 nd Hall s Ch Blacktoft Stray Cat Strut at Ghilgrange. Well balanced all through with good head and expression. Correct layback of shoulder although not as good in return of upper arm as the winner. Excellent topline leading to well muscled hindquarters. Correct bone and well padded feet. Moved well.
3 rd Holland s Sh Ch Calzeat Causa Commotion at Flatcharm (Imp Swe). Completed a super trio of dogs. Well balanced and of the correct size. Excellent head and laughing expression. Clean through his neck to level topline. Not the feet of the first two and sadly out of coat today. Moved well with drive. Special Veteran (1,1) Minor Puppy (17, 2) 1 st Warrington s Woodavens Water Charmer. The naughtiest puppy in the class! Although he is still at the roly poly stage he could not be denied for his overall type, construction and particularly bone where so many puppies were lacking. Well shaped head with dark eye and small ears. Excels in his forehand construction. Deep chest with good length of rib. Despite wagging his tail hard so hard he still displayed accurate movement fore and aft and just had a better length of stride in profile than his litter brother who finished 2 nd. BPD 2 nd Warrington s Woodavens Shiro Noda. Very similar to winner. Well balanced all through. Excellent head. Good shoulder though not quite the return of upper arm as his brother which showed in the profile movement. Correct ribcage and hindquarters. I am sure they will change places many times. 3 rd Millbank s Kvicksans Eye Of The Storm NAF TAF. At just 6 months old he was giving everything away but his obvious qualities could not be overlooked. Excellent overall balance with super head and dark, kind eye. Needs to develop more in his forechest. Correct length of rib and well shaped hindquarters. Accurate movement. Very promising all through. Puppy (11, 2) 1 st Ashcroft s Gunoak Obsidian. Shortlisted in strong MP class. Correct for size and overall balance. Excellent head and expression. Deep chest and well ribbed back. Hindquarters just need to develop more. Moved accurately. 2 nd Bowen s Candiliz Black Admiral for Clandrift. Taller all through than my winner. Excellent head. Well laid shoulder and return of upper arm. Not the development in chest and ribcage of the winner. Good bone and feet. Hind movement a little close. 3 rd Fox s Black Mica s Likes It Hot (Imp Swe). Very up on his legs at present and needs time to grow into himself. Excellent head and expression. Correct layback of shoulder. Good bone and feet. Good forward reach on the move although a little close going away. Junior (8, 2) 1 st Jones Blacktoft American Smooth. Excellent for type. Classic head with correct fill in beneath the eyes and small well set ears. Good layback of shoulder and correct
depth of chest. His ribcage is well sprung and of good length leading to a strong short loin. Well shaped hindquarters with properly let down hocks. Excellent bone and feet. Movement was true fore and aft with good extension in profile. Although he had completely thrown his coat his overall type and balance won him this class which I was told later gave him his JW. Well done. 2 nd Ross s Islstrom Orrin. Quality dog from this kennel who was giving away a bit in age today and therefore did not have quite the maturity of winner. Classical head with good length and depth of muzzle. Correct forequarters and good length of ribcage. Excellent bone and the best of feet. Moved well at one with his handler. 3 rd Shelley s Pajanbeck You Sexy Thing Rivage. Well balanced and of the correct size. Very typical head with dark eye. A little stuffy in neck. Correct depth of chest with good length of ribcage and short loin. I would like a little more width of second thigh but this should come. Excellent feet. Sound, steady movement. Yearling (7, 3) 1 st Walker-Cotton s Flatcharm Tobermory. Very promising youngster. Excellent head. Good layback of shoulder. I would like a little more length of upper arm. Correct depth of chest and spring of rib. Strong hindquarters. Moved well. 2 nd Perry s Casanjay Demetrius. Well balanced all through. Not the refinement in head of the winner. Correct layback of shoulder and return of upper arm. Excels in depth and length of ribcage. Excellent bone and feet. Winner was more positive on the move. 3 rd Nelson s Byeways Parklane Hawk. Correct size and good overall balance. Little strong in back skull. Good layback of shoulder and corresponding return of upper arm. Well made hindquarters with excellent bone and feet. Fore and aft movement could be tidier. Novice (5) 1 st Fox s Black Mica s Likes It Hot (Imp Swe). 3 rd in Puppy 2 nd Hall s Ghilgrange Noggin The Nog. Up to height and very much at the legs and wings stage at the moment. Good head with level topline and strong hindquarters. I would like a little more bone all through. Excellent feet. 3 rd Hammersley s Ghilgrange Dudley Do Right. Another who will need a lot of time to come to his best. Pleasing head and expression. Needs to develop through his chest and ribcage. Excellent bone and feet. Movement very close behind at present. Graduate (10, 2) 1 st Blain s Rotherfield First Request JW. Excellent for overall type and balance. Classical well shaped head with correct fill in beneath the eyes. Good reach of neck into well laid shoulder and return of upper arm. His chest is of the correct width and
depth leading through to a well sprung rib and short loin. Strong hindquarters. Moved well with drive. 2 nd Jacobs and Holmes Charming Melvin Oasis of Peace JW (imp Cze). Another quality dog whom I liked very much. Good head with dark eye and correct depth of muzzle. Well laid shoulder and correct length of ribcage. Well muscled hindquarters with excellent bone. Good movement in profile not quite as accurate as the winner fore and aft. 3 rd Creasey s Willowswind Orion s Star. Well balanced very workmanlike dog. Not quite the head of the first two. Good layback of shoulder and return of upper arm. Correct depth of chest and well ribbed back. Correct turn of stifle with good bone. Moved and showed well. Post Graduate (17, 5) 1 st Jones Toutnoir Hiriwa Tohuga of Benvellyn JW. This dog displays the classic type of a true Flatcoat. He is of the correct size and balance. Head of correct proportions with smooth flat cheeks and good depth of muzzle. His forehand construction was probably the best of the day with the shoulder and upper arm of equal length allowing his forelegs to be correctly placed under the body. Excellent depth and width of chest with the ribcage well sprung and going right back into a strong short loin. Well muscled hindquarters with correct tailset and low hocks. Excellent bone and feet. On the move he showed good drive once settled. 2 nd Reading s Sastrugi Beautiful Sunrise at Sabarka. Another really good dog who pushed the winner hard. Excellent head with an expression that continually smiled up at me. Correct forehand construction with good length and spring of rib. Good bone. Not quite the feet of winner. Sound, driving movement. 3 rd Romeo-Dieste s Hopevalley Morning Mayhem JW ShCM. Completed a quality trio. Good head and expression. Correct layback of shoulder. I would like a little more length of upper arm. Good through his ribcage to hindquarters. Correct bone and feet. Moved well. Limit (11, 3) 1 st Fox s Steelriver Blazing Hot At Blacktoft JW. This dog turned out to be my find of the day. My eye was immediately drawn to him for his correct size, balance and he is so workmanlike totally free from any exaggerations which are creeping into the breed nowadays. Excels in his head with correct fill in beneath the eyes and long muzzle of the correct depth. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulder. To be critical I would like a little more pronouncement of forechest, however his chest has plenty of depth and width allowing his elbows to work freely alongside the ribcage which is well sprung and of correct length. His loin is short and strong leading to powerful
well muscled hindquarters. Excellent bone and feet. Although not profuse in feathering his coat is of the correct density. Powerful mover so sound and true. He left me in no doubt that he could go all day in the field truly fit for function. Delighted to award him his first CC and in complete agreement of my co-judge BIS. 2 nd Gale s Willowswind Whispering Elm JW. Another quality dog. Slightly taller than my winner but still very well balanced all through. Excels in head, with dark eye and small ears. Clean neck into well laid shoulder and correct length of upper arm. Good depth and length of ribcage leading through to powerful hindquarters. Excellent bone and feet. Really powered round the ring showing good open side gait. As always beautifully presented and shown by his extremely competent young handler. Close up for RCC. 3 rd Lutner & Holland s Telurn Already In Trouble at Flatcharm. Completed a quality trio. Excellent head with good lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Good depth of chest. I would prefer a little more spring of rib. Excellent topline. Moved well with drive. Open (10, 4) 1 st Douglas Greenbayhill Black Tuxedo. Very workmanlike well balanced dog another totally free from exaggeration. Similar in type to my limit winner they are related! Good head and expression. Correct layback of shoulder and corresponding return of upper arm. Level topline with good length and depth of ribcage. Strong hindquarters with correct tail set and well let down hocks. Excellent bone and feet. Moved well at one with his handler. In excellent coat. Carrying a little overweight today which ultimately cost him. RCC. 2 nd Dalziel-Scott & Scott s Sh Ch Branchalwood Daer Water. Another very classical dog as one would always expect from this famous kennel. Beautiful head with dark eye and the kindest expression. His forehand construction is copybook as is his depth and spring of rib. Well made hindquarters with excellent bone and feet. Moved well but not quite the rear drive of winner today. A worthy titleholder nonetheless. 3 rd Hills Branchalwood Benrioch at Lindisfarne. Very workmanlike dog of the correct size. Not quite the head of the first two but excellent overall construction. Correct angulation fore and aft with good depth and length of ribcage. Excellent bone and feet. Moved well. Special Liver (2) 1 st Charming Melvin Oasis of Peace JW (imp Cze). 2 nd Evan s Gemswin Relight My Fire. 10 months old. Well grown just needing time to come together. Pleasing head with dark eye. Strong hindquarters. Excellent bone. Moved well.
Special Working (3, 2) 1 st Hewison s Maddistream Indigo Jack at Casblaidd. Very workmanlike all through with pleasing head and dark eye. Level topline with strong well muscled hindquarters. Excellent bone and feet. Moved out soundly. Becky A Johnson.