Championship Show Dog Critiques 2024
Saturday 2nd March
Held at: One Leisure St Ives, Westwood Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 6WU
Judged by: Mrs F. Braddon (Trendlewood)
I really enjoyed my day judging Labrador dogs at this lovely, friendly breed club. Thank you to the committee, past and present, for their kind invitation to judge and the wonderful hospitality extended to me. My two stewards, Barbara and Kristie were excellent, kept the ring flowing well and synced with the bitch ring enabling the show to finish in good time. I was very pleased with my winners and my co judge, Mac and I agreed on all the ‘ Best of’ at the end. I thought the quality of the dogs was high and the depth in a number of classes, especially Open dog meant I had to weigh up the finer points to make a decision. I really needed more red cards! I did notice a number of blacks with very dark, almost black eyes which completely ruins their expression and is not correct.
Veteran Dog - 5 entered | 1 absent
1st
Williamson’s Sharouns Ventriloquist for Tempaskell JW. A lovely yellow dog of 7 years with classic head and true Labrador expression. Short coupled, well made all through. Strong hind quarters enabled him to move well with good reach. Showed well once settled. BVIS.
2nd
Young’s Potterspiney Killian. A 9 year old black who was carrying too much weight. Looked good when standing but just loses his topline on the move. Good front angulation, excellent double coat, lovely kind head and expression.
3rd
Kennett’s Magnavalleys Cornishman ShCEx.
Minor Puppy Dog - 7 entered | 1 absent
1st
Metcalfe’s Baileydale Rocket Man. What a super puppy, clear winner here. Excelled in outline, standing and on the move. Very good front and strong rear quarters so he moved soundly, true going and coming. Good coat of correct texture. Has the most beautiful head and expression, just strong enough to say ‘Dog’ and right for his age. Expertly handled to get the best out of him. Best Puppy in Show.
2nd
Charlton’s Foxrush Hot Gossip. A stronger puppy of a different type to the winner. Good head, eye colour and lovely expression. Strong rear quarters with second thigh already developed, neat hocks, good bone and super otter tail. Moved well but not quite as freely as 1.
3rd
Edwards’ Kimbajak Royal Mint.
Puppy Dog - 5 entered | 1 absent
1st
Perkins’ McFarwin's Grey Legacy by Keeninspires. A big dog who has stopped growing so now needs to mature and finish. Good conformation front and rear. Level topline standing and on the move. Lovely head and expression. Moved soundly.
2nd
Rawlinson’s Halshimoor Timewarp with Shanorrell. A promising dog I would like to see in 6 months time once he has finished growing and balanced out. Very nice head and kind Labrador expression. Good front angulation. Was very excited which let down his movement.
3rd
Barthram-Mcmanus’ Danru Typical Male.
Junior Dog - 7 entered | 0 absent
Two super juniors with similar qualities, a close decision and I am sure they will change places many times in the future.
1st
Hopkinson’s Rocheby Squadron Leader Classic. So typical of this kennel and so like his sire. Excelled in outline – so balanced. Handler moved him at exactly the right pace so he displayed true movement both coming and going. Good front construction, strong, correctly angulated rear quarters, hocks well let down. Such a calm appealing outlook which showed off his lovely head and expression.
2nd
Wiles Richbourne Lion King. A similar type, but an overall stronger dog so not so clean in outline. Very well coated. Lots of bone. Moved very well and kept his topline on the move. Lovely kind head and expression. Always stands right which means he is made right. Good strong rear quarters with well developed second thigh.
3rd
Metcalfe’s Rumhill Bertie Wooster by Baileydale.
Yearling Dog - 7 entered | 0 absent
1st
Allen’s Timouron's Olimpio. A mature yellow who is very well made throughout. Kind masculine head, decent bone. Strong rear quarters – moves well but lacks animation.
2nd
O’Brien’s Maxfield Sergeant Pepper Similar type to 1 - old fashioned with typical Labrador expression. Good front and rear angulation. Moved well but looks bored when standing which spoils his outline.
3rd
Druggan’s Langanhoe Wild Hudson.
Maiden Dog - 9 entered | 0 absent | 3 withdrawn
1st
Metcalfe Baileydale Rocket Man.
2nd
Richbourne Lion King.
3rd
Johnson’s Cremino Celebrity.
Novice Dog - 7 entered | 0 absent | 2 withdrawn
1st
Metcalfe's Baileydale Rocket Man.
2nd
Johnson’s Cremino Celebrity. Very balanced young dog unlucky to meet 1 & 2 in Maiden dog. Very good overall conformation with good depth of chest. Moved soundly. Likely from a line of slow maturers so I am sure he will make a top drawer dog by next year.
3rd
Rawlinson’s Shanorrell Seamus Coleman at Halshimoor Naf Taf.
Undergraduate Dog - 5 entered | 0 absent
1st
Gentleman’s Wynfaul Repeat. Very mature black in full coat which was double and correct texture. Excellent front. In lovely condition. Moved very well.
2nd
Grummitt’s Manorwell Danny Boy. A yellow dog who once settled moved well. Handler had to rush from the other ring which upset him. Old fashioned type with lovely head and expression. Very balanced dog.
3rd
Hopkinson’s Rocheby Schoolmaster.
Graduate Dog - 9 entered | 0 absent | 1 withdrawn
1st
Williamson’s Sharouns Inspector Gadget JW. Lovely yellow dog with superb outline and shape. Good reach of neck flows into topline which is level on the move. Good strong bone. Displays that true kind Labrador expression – when he uses his ears.
2nd
Harris’ Winsleywood Wellington JW. Rather understated dog which you appreciate more when you go over him. Very balanced. Moved very well with tail flowing straight off his back. Kind head, in good coat.
3rd
Manning’s Marchurch Imperial Topaz JW.
Post Graduate Dog - 11 entered | 1 absent
1st
Boulden’s Rumhill Firecracker JW. This is a real quality chocolate dog. In full coat - dark colour proper burnt sugar eye colour. Good front angulation. Otter tail. Head good not at all overdone whilst still looking masculine. Moved very soundly. So balanced. really sparkled today.
2nd
Hopkinson’s Rocheby Havana. Unlucky to meet 1 in such good form. I have admired this dog from ringside and he is even better when you go over him. Of smaller mould than 1 with a really lovely head and expression. Good front and strong rear quarters which help him move soundly and effortlessly. In hard condition carrying just right amount of weight.
3rd
Bills’ Saranden Thunder Road.
Mid Limit Dog - 3 entered | 1 absent
1st
Perkins’ Carromer Teguila by Keeninspires. Nicely made yellow with lovely head and eye. In good coat. Has reasonable front angulation and very strong rear quarters which means he moves with drive around the ring.
2nd
Mount’s Buckholt Desert Storm Duke. Of good type but seems to completely lack animation. Kind, expressive head, in good coat, excellent bone and feet. Would like to see him with bit more weight and condition.
Limit Dog - 7 entered | 2 absent
1st
Digweed’s Willokin's Whistle Blower. Really lovely yellow who caught my eye from when he came into the ring. Super head and expression with dark pigmentation. Excelled in outline standing and moving, true otter tail straight off his back. One of the few with good front angulation and strong rear quarters so moved very well. Overall in very good condition.
2nd
Ennis-Holden’s Devonshires Yellowstone at Mariank (imp USA). A very nice yellow who had a good outline standing. Unfortunately let down by movement - would demonstrate his undoubtable quality if he was moved more slowly. Correct front angulation with good reach of neck. Very strong rear angulation. In good hard condition.
3rd
Finney’s Carpenny Kipling.
Open Dog - 10 entered | 2 absent
1st
Hodge’s SH CH/IR SH CH Naiken East Meets West (AI) JW. Well known top winning Labrador. So pleased to have opportunity to judge him. If anything I appreciated his many qualities all the more once I had gone over him and watched him move. He was on top form today, very fit condition, in super coat, dense and correct texture, proper otter tail. Has good reach of neck and a lovely kind masculine head with true Labrador expression. Deep in chest and barrelled rib. Flows from nose to tail with excellent outline standing and moving. Exactly the right proportion of length of leg to depth of body. Well boned. Definitely merited his CC today
2nd
Johnson’s SH CH Cremino Calabrese. A top quality yellow, unlucky to meet 1 today. Super eye catching outline moving and standing, so balanced with decent length of leg and superb reach of neck. Kind well moulded head and expression. Overall conformation good. Handled to perfection. Just pipped by 1 today on bone and coat. RCC.
3rd
Ayres’ Hannabee To Hull N Back with Musubi.
Special Beginners Dog - 5 entered | 0 absent
1st
Bills’ Saranden Thunder Road. Strongly made dog with lovely head and expression, very deep in body, but good length of leg so balanced, good rear quarters, in good coat, movement satisfactory.
2nd
Douglas’s Centenalee Whisky Sour at Kyorli. Finer yellow with good front angulation, and strong rear quarters, presenting a balanced outline, in good coat, just not enough of him for me.
3rd
Marchurch Imperial Topaz JW.