|
I would like to thank the Members and the
Committee of the Golden Retriever Club of South Australia
for inviting me to judge your prestigious show and for the
days spent amongst you all afterwards. I really enjoyed
seeing and going over your dogs, and will give you my
comments and impressions on those at the beginning of my
report. I also had opportunity to talk with members in the
days following the show, about your dogs and other matters
which concern our lovely breed and I think we all learnt
much from each other. I particularly enjoyed the afternoon
of gundog training down on the beach!
Thank you all for giving me such a nice
welcome and for many happy memories to treasure from ‘down
under’. If you ever come to England – please look me up!
GENERAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE DOGS
Overall on the plus side, I found your
Australian Golden Retrievers to excel in toplines and in
stifle angulation. Heads and feet were also very good and I
found few dubious mouths.
I was impressed with the standard of
ringcraft training of the dogs (especially your baby
puppies!) and the show preparation of the exhibits was
excellent.
On the minus side I felt that your dogs
generally did not carry enough substance and were in some
cases painfully thin. A lot were on the bottom end of the
breed standard for size too.
The most prevalent and overriding fault was
the lack of well angulated shoulders and correct length of
the upper arm. We have this problem in
England
(and in other Countries around the world too). But in the
UK
we also have many dogs with superb shoulders assemblies.
Sadly, I found very few good shoulders amongst the dogs in
Australia when I judged.
As a breeder, I have found that good
shoulders are the most difficult thing to get right and it
may take 6 generations of selective breeding to do so. On
the other hand, good stifle angulation you can breed in one
generation! This needs watching for the future.
Baby Puppy Dog
1st.
Hall’s BEAUCROFT INTRUDER
A confident, happy mover with waggy
tail. He took this class for his overall balance and good
shoulder and stifle angulation. Good feet. Level topline,
promising head with sweet expression. Profuse coat.
2nd
Davis’s TAMESIS RIVERDANCE
A lovely well angulated puppy that grew
in confidence as the class progressed. Head needs to
develop, but this should come.
3rd.
Braithwaite’s TAUMAC GOLDEN CASANOVA
Very
well presented puppy and so full of confidence. In good
coat and moving well. Gentlest of heads and expressions. A
little straight in stifle.
Minor Puppy Dog
1st.
Harrowfield’s SAVANETA WORTH THE WAIT
Lovely head with good pigmentation.
Nicely balanced both standing and on the move with happy
tail action. Needs to grow on.
2nd.
Krajnc’s LEIGHVALLEY HELLRAISER.
Good profile when standing but too narrow
in front. Did not move as well as first.
3rd.
Koschade’s BOOLAROO ERROL FLYNN
Has
promise but today spoilt his chances by leaning heavily to
one side, throwing his front out of alignment. Still very
young and needs to grow on.
Puppy Dog
1st.
Moore’s TIPTREE TAVDRUM TBERWICK
A lot to like in this one, with good
angulation fore and aft. Still needs to fill out. Today
won on his movement as he really covered the ground showing
off his level topline and tail carriage. Well coated, pale
youngster with excellent pigmentation.
2nd.
Harrowfield’s GOLDOG ALPINE HYLANDLORD
Very
nice indeed. - a quality puppy, so nicely balanced and with
a good head. Pity he did not carry his tail better when on
the move.
3rd.
Goodall and Rammell’s SAVANETA BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Also
moved with his tail down! He has a lovely head, good bone
and plenty of substance. Could do with better shoulder
angulation though.
Junior Dog
1st.
Brice’s COOINDA GOLDEN DESTINY
A
well balanced youngster with level topline, good bend of
stifles, straight front. Good head with excellent
pigmentation and gentle expression. Moved very well with
long free stride.
2nd.
Stapylton’s GILTEDGE SOUTERN STORM.
Presented in beautiful pale coat in full bloom. Full of ring
presence, showing and moving with confidence and style.
Front could be straighter and head a little overdone for
me. Excellent bend of stifle.
3rd
Harding’s GOLDOG ALPHINE JAIME
Liked this one for his good bend of stifle. Well “let down”
hocks, good feet. Just found his neckline into withers too
angular, but otherwise a nice one. Moved and showed well.
Intermediate
Dog
A
large class with 21 entries ( 3 abs ) The standard here was
very pleasing indeed.
1st.
Cooke’s GOLDEW DREAM WEAVER. Best Intermediate
Caught my eye immediately for his balance and overall
quality. Correct angulation of both shoulders and stifles,
neat hocks, level topline which he held on the move. Head
well chisselled with kindly expression. Moved soundly,
covering the ground with free easy strides.
2nd.
Clark’s NARA GOLD MERLIN
Another quality dog. Compact and with correct angulation of
shoulder and stifle. Not a big one but everything nicely
balanced. Good head, well muscled neck into level topline,
straight front. Moved soundly and with drive. Good coat and
condition.
3rd
Beaucroft Kennels. GILTEDGE THE GAMBLER.
Paler dog in super coat and gleaming condition. When
standing, tends to pull forward which tended to spoil his
topline, but I saw enough of his true outline to forgive him
a little! Good neck, shoulders and bend of stifle. A nice
dog.
4th.
Taumac Kennels CH. TAUMAC COURT JESTER
Beautifully presented and in lovely coat. More pigmentation
on nose and a slightly darker eye needed, but otherwise a
very nice dog who moved extremely well with power and drive.
5th.
Hillyer’s WYANDRA AUTUMN DAZE
Gleaming coat of darker colour. Well put together with
level topline, good straight front with elbows well tucked
in. Good bone and excellent cat-like feet. Moved well.
State Bred
Dog
1st
Goodall & Rammell’s CH. SAVANETA CARRIBEAN DREAM Best
State Bred
Caught my eye for his strong, true
movement and lovely head carriage. Excellent hindquarters
and good forehand. Very nice indeed.
2nd.
Braithwaite’s BRACKENDELL INA RIVER
A rangier dog still needing to mature and
fill his frame. Good construction, correct true movement.
Good round bone and cat-like feet.
3rd.
Reimann’s BOURNBEAU SIR JAMES
Masculine head with gentle expression
Sound strong quarters with good bend of stifle. Good front,
level topline. Sound mover.
Australian
Bred Dog
1. Handley’s GILTEDGE TICKET TO
RIDE Challenge Dog and Reserve Best in Show and Best
Opposite Sex in Show
Later found out that he is still very
young, but one has to judge on the day and for me he stood
out as an eye-catching, quality dog. In full bloom,
balanced, compact, with excellent shoulder angulation and
upper arm of correct length, giving a good forechest and
placing his legs well under his body. Good spring of rib
and carrying the right amount of weight. Level topline and
good bend of stifle. Masculine, well chiseled head, with
dark pigmentation. Moved superbly – will trouble the best.
2. Hodges’s CH. CAMUKA MONARCH OF THE
GLEN Reserve Dog Challenge
Another dog of quality. Close up to
winner and unlucky to meet him on such good form. Well
constructed, masculine head with soft expression. Plenty of
substance with good spring of rib. Good front and good
shoulder and stifle angulation. Really drove from the rear
when moving. Liked him a lot!
3. Fall’s CH. FERNFALL SEA LEGEND
Good in all essentials with a lovely head
and gentle kindly expression. Soundly made all through.
Showed and moved well and thoroughly deserved his placing in
this quality class.
4. Kowalski’s AMBERVALLEY ERIK CASIMIR
Bigger frame but with plenty of substance
and good bone. Nice head and expression. Shoulders not as
good as others. Showed and moved well.
Open Dog
Little to separate one and two who were
both on top form and in beautiful bloom. The placings were
mainly decided on movement.
1st Krajnc’s CH.
LEIGHVALLEY FAMENFORTUNE
Lovely head and head carriage, super neck
flowing into level topline. Straight front, good shoulder
placement and well bent stifles. Moved truly, accurately
and effortlessly.
2nd. Dulke’s FANTANGO
PURPLE REIGN
Very close up – again a lovely head with
soft expression. Good shoulder angulation both fore and
aft. Level topline. Not moving today as positively as
winner but a quality dog never-the-less!
3rd. Braithwaite’s CH.
MONTEGO MITY CLASSY
Nice type, sound all through and moving
with style. Good in all essentials with straight front,
level topline. Nicely presented.
4th Beaucroft’s CH.
BEAUCROFT THE BRIGADIER
Soundly made, balanced dog who strode out
well when moving. Good bone and feet and in lovely coat and
condition.
Neutered
Dog
1. Daffern’s CH. GOLDENFIRE SIR GWILYM
Best Neuter
2. Daffern’s CH. TAMEROSE BRACKEN CD
ET
My notes say ‘peas in a pod’ and little
to separate except aging. When I look in my catalogue I can
see why! Sir Gwilym just had the edge over his sire Bracken
on his powerful and positive movement. Both were in tip top
condition and presented to perfection and thoroughly
enjoying their day out! A credit to their owners.
Baby Puppy
Bitch
1st. Taumac’s TAUMAC
PLAYGIRLS GOLD
Looking good for her age with everything
developing as it should. Nicely balanced and articulated.
Happy personality who showed and moved with confidence.
2nd. Hill’s BEAUCROFT GAME
OCHANCE
Super baby with the sweetest of heads and
expressions. Well made with correct bend of stifle, neat
hocks, level topline. Should do well.
3rd Braithwaite’s TAUMAC
GOLD FOR CAROL
Another nice one showing promise for the
future. Good head, coat and condition. So well trained and
showing like a veteran.
Minor
Puppy Bitch
1st. Goldshyne’s DOBRO GOLD
SHINE Best Minor Puppy
Correctly constructed with a lot to
like. Feminine head with gentle expression. Good coat and
condition. Level topline and well bent stifles. Moved and
showed well.
2nd. Goodall & Rammell’s
SAVANETA ALMOST HEAVEN
More mature than first and close up. I
just preferred winners overall angulation. But she is a
well balanced puppy with time on her side. I really fell
for her sweet head and expression though.
3rd Jenkins’s SOVANNA
GOLDEN GEORGET
A real baby, having a lovely time, who
would not stand still for her handler! She has a lovely
head, super straight front, tight feet and good bend of
stifle. Moved with animation.
PUPPY
BITCH
This class was not a particularly good
one, lacking quality in depth.
1st. Molnar’s DOBRO CHILLI
VANILLI Best Puppy
Won this class with ease. Sweetest of
heads, straight front, good bend of stifle, level topline
which she held on the move. Showed and handled well.
2nd. Hodges’s CAMUKA VOULEZ
VOUS
Feminine head with gentle expression.
Pleasing outline with a good neck flowing into topline.
Nicely bent stifles. Needs more substance.
3rd. Hallion’s GOLDOG
ALPINE HYLANDROSE
Excels in hindquarters which are well
muscled and firm with good bend of stifle. Her front is
not as good as she is rather loose at elbow and needs to
tighten still. Happy personality and showed well.
Junior
Bitch
1st. Goodall & Rammell’s
SAVANETA HEARTS ON FIRE
Particularly liked her head and
expression. Good reach of neck into level topline and well
set on tail. Good spring of rib with elbows well tucked in.
Good bend of stifle with depth across the quarters. Moved at
one with her handler.
2. Harrowfield’s GOLDOG ALPHINE
HYLANDMIST
Very nice youngster with plenty of
substance and good straight bone. Tight cat-like feet. Well
balanced, compact with level topline which she held on the
move. In beautiful coat and condition.
3rd Edwards’s FERNFALL
PICTURE PERFECT
Balanced, animated and happy bitch with
plenty of substance and a waggy tail. Gave her handler a
hard time as she was very fidgety! I saw enough of her to
like her! Moved well.
Intermediate Bitch
A nice class full of quality, with hair
splitting decisions at the end.
1st. Beaucroft’s TAUMAC
GOLDEN CRYSTAL
A sweet headed bitch, with such a gentle
expression. Nicely balanced and well made all through and
presented in immaculate coat and condition, but just needing
a little more tummy feathering to complete the picture.
Moved particularly well which won her the class.
2nd Clark’s GOLDFLEECE
MUSCATEL
Liked this one a lot and thought she
might be my winner here today but she would not move with
any sparkle. A pity, as there was so much to like about her.
Presented in lovely coat.
3rd. Krajnc’s CH.
WILLOWCROFT LIBERTY BELL
A bigger bitch, full of substance with
good spring of rib and deep at the brisket. Good, straight
bone and tight feet. Correctly constructed with well laid
shoulders and good bend of stifle. Well presented and
showing with animation. Head just a bit heavy for me.
4th Biggs’s GOLDOG ALPINE
TRULY TRUDY
Darker and shown in gleaming condition.
Very soundly made all through. Not as good in shoulders as
those above.
State Bred
Bitch
Generally this class did not impress.
1st Hillyer’s CH. WYANDRA
HEART BREAKER
Well put together with nice head and good
reach of neck. Level topline, good bone and feet correct
bend of stifle. Well presented and in very good condition.
2nd. Goodall & Rammell’s
CH. SAVANETA FIRE N ICE
Very nice head and alert yet gentle
expression. Soundly made with good topline and strong
hindquarters. Moved well and at one with her handler.
3rd. Wallis’s BOOLAROO
MISTLETOE HOLLY
Not as well balanced as those above and
needing a better layback of shoulder. In good coat and
condition. Moved and showed well.
Australian
Bred Bitch
1st. Goodall & Rammell’s
CH. SAVANETA TAHITI SWEETIE
A lovely bitch of quality with so much to
like. Well chiseled, feminine head with sweet expression.
Good reach of neck into well laid shoulders. Level topline,
good angulation of stifle, tail well set on. In super coat
and condition and moving with drive and precision.
2nd Taumac’s CH. TAUMAC
GOLD FOR SUSIE
Eyecatching on the move, she really
powered around the ring. Sweet head and expression and
presented so well with gleaming full coat. Preferred
shoulder and stifle angulation of winner.
3rd Sommer’s GOLDOG ALPINE
OPHELIA
Well bodied with good spring of rib and
deep chest, excellent bend of stifle. Tail set and tail
carriage a bit high. Very nicely presented and moved so
well.
4th Daffern’s CH. BOOLAROO
REMINISCE
Bitch with a lovely head and expression.
Longer cast than those above. In super coat and condition
and moved with style
Open Bitch
Over all quality of exhibits in this
class was very pleasing
1st. Handley’s CH. GILTEDGE
TARA
Bitch Challenge and Best in show
An outstanding bitch from any angle.
Caught my eye immediately for her type and quality.
Superb outline and in full bloom. Head
held proudly on well arched neck. Good shoulders, topline
and deep well muscled quarters with excellent bend of
stifle. Happy waggy tail and moving most positively and
accurately. I would quite happily have smuggled her home
with me! My star of the day .
2nd. Beaucroft’s CH.
BEAUCROFT BY DESIGN
Reserve Bitch Challenge.
Another quality bitch with good layback
of shoulders and strong well muscled quarters. Level
topline and good tail set. Well let down hocks and good
feet. So well balanced with deep mature body. Moved so
truly. I liked her enormously.
3rd Dulke’s CH. AVONBREEZE
PRUDENT
Paler bitch in very good coat and showing
her head off. At one with her handler both standing and on
the move. Sweetest of heads and expressions. A nice one.
4th Kowalski’s AMBERVALLEY
GERI HALIWELL
Superb pigmentation and gentle
expression. Not as well angulated as those above and a bit
apprehensive at times. Moved very well though
Neuter
Bitch
1st. Knight’s HOLMCROFT
LUCY DIAMONDS
Lovely head and expression, correct
length of neck, good bone and feet. Compact and well put
together. Shown in full coat. Moved well.
2nd. Goodall’s
CHIPALA HAVE A LITTLE FAITH
A nice bitch, sound and well made with a
lot to like. Shown in good coat and moving correctly A small
‘cowlick’ spoiled her expression for me.
3rd. Frederick’s YAQUI’S
BUNDLE OF JOY
Good head, neck, topline and bend of
stifle. Tail set on low. Moved and showed well.
|
