Open Show Critiques 2025
Sunday 2nd November
Held at: Austin Hall Amenity Centre, 48 Main Street, Yaxley, Peterborough PE7 3LU
Judge: Ms C. Boulden (Rumhill)
I would like to thank the committee of the East Anglian Labrador Retriever Club for the invitation to judge at this lovely open show. I was presented with an excellent entry, both in numbers and overall quality. I thank all exhibitors for their participation and for accepting my decisions in such a sporting manner. My sincere thanks also go to my very helpful and efficient stewards.
Dogs
Baby Puppy Dog - 1 entered | 0 absent
1st
Metcalfe’s Bish Bash Bosh Baileydale. Five-month-old yellow with excellent pigmentation, displaying lovely bone and substance. Very well balanced for his age, he wagged his tail throughout and clearly enjoyed his day. A promising youngster with a bright future ahead. Best Baby Puppy in Show.
Puppy Dog - 1 entered | 0 absent
1st
Allen’s Timouron Yellowstone. 10-month-old darker yellow with good pigment. A nice, promising youngster; topline should strengthen further with maturity.
Junior Dog - 1 entered | 0 absent
1st
Bardsley’s Baileydale Boogaloo. Thirteen-month-old yellow with a balanced head and excellent pigmentation. Well angulated both fore and aft. The topline would benefit from greater firmness on the move. A little enthusiastic today and kept his handler on their toes.
Maiden Dog - 1 entered | 0 absent
1st
Mell’s Treantagh Nketia. Black dog, lovely expression, well balanced throughout and showing nice movement.
Undergraduate Dog - 1 entered | 0 absent
1st
Way’s Incantator Fabulinus. Short-coupled yellow dog with a broad head and well-defined stop. Neck of moderate length flowing into well-placed shoulders, good bone and compact, well-arched feet. Chest of correct depth with well-sprung ribs, firm level topline, tail well set and correctly carried.
Post Graduate Dog - 5 entered | 2 absent
1st
Douglas’ Centenalee Whisky Sour at Kyorli. Darker yellow, nicely balanced and short coupled. Kind, masculine head, with good coat and tail, good bone and neat feet.
2nd
Bill’s Saranden Thunder Road. Yellow dog of good size, with a lovely head and kind expression. Showing good pigment and well muscled throughout. Presents a balanced outline and carries himself well.
Limit Dog - 5 entered | 1 absent
1st
Metcalfe’s Baileydale Puff Daddy JW. A well-balanced black dog of masculine type, with a pleasing head and kind expression. He shows good reach of neck into a correctly constructed front. His compact, short-coupled body is supported by deep, well-sprung ribs, a firm topline and a correctly set and carried tail. Muscular and sound throughout, with excellent bone and tidy feet. An attentive exhibit who responded well to his handler, making it a pleasure to award him Best Dog and Best in Show.
2nd
Allen’s Timouron Secret Liaison. Black dog of pleasing size and substance, with a good topline and well-balanced angulation front and rear. Well-boned throughout, with strong, compact feet and a nicely set tail. Moved freely with drive, covering the ground well.
Veteran Dog (7 years and over) - 2 entered | 1 absent
1st
Bill’s Vetybonbetty Chocolate Box. Chocolate dog with a broad head and kind expression. Strong neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, barrelled ribs. Lovely dark colour, another with coat on the blow. Moved well.
Bitches
Baby Puppy Bitch - 1 entered | 0 absent
1st
Cox’s Emberlace Kiss from an Angel. Beautiful feminine head, with lovely tight feet and well-balanced angulation front and rear. Moved well.
Minor Puppy Bitch - 1 entered | 0 absent
1st
Woodley’s Alkhamhurst Dream Scene NAF. Beautiful black, just right for her age, with lovely angulation and well-muscled throughout. Carries a lovely otter tail and shows excellent balance. A promising young lady with a bright future ahead.
Puppy Bitch - 1 entered | 0 absent
1st
Dawson’s Rocheby Sunday’s Girl at Beskerby. Yellow bitch with a feminine head, good pigmentation, lovely topline and well-balanced angulation front and rear and well-set hocks.
Junior Bitch - 7 entered | 1 absent
1st
Metcalfe’s Baileydale Bottoms Up. Black with correct length of muzzle in proportion to head, and a lovely expression. Strong in outline, well-boned with neat feet, and showing good front and rear angulation. Barrel ribs, well-let-down hocks, and a correct otter tail. Moves well, demonstrating good reach and drive.
2nd
Walton’s Gallybob Whoops a Daisy. Yellow, lovely and balanced, with good pigmentation. Lovely ear set that framed her head beautifully, and good feet. Moved well and attentive to her handler.
Maiden Bitch - 3 entered | 1 absent
1st
Head’s Quinstone Sapphire Storm. Black, with a gentle expression and a balanced, feminine head. Tight feet and nicely bent stifles. In good coat, presenting a well-proportioned and attractive outline.
2nd
Cox’s Lapema Hopelessly Devoted to Emberlace. Yellow, not quite the front or tail set of 1st, but in good coat.
Novice Bitch - 7 entered | 3 absent
1st
Walton’s Gallybob Willo the Wisp. Yellow bitch of good type, with a sweet, feminine head of good proportions and great pigmentation, giving a soft, pleasing expression. Clean neck, lovely front, and well-balanced overall. Good spring of rib, well-muscled, with well-turned stifles and well-let-down hocks. Typical otter tail. In good coat and moved well.
2nd
Head’s Quinstone Sapphire Storm. 1st in Maiden Bitch.
Undergraduate Bitch - 5 entered | 2 absent
1st
Clayton’s Rocheby Acacia. Feminine head with good stop and width of skull. Well-balanced body in good condition, with good depth of chest, well-sprung ribs, and a strong, well-muscled topline. Strong otter tail, good turn of stifle, and sound on the move.
2nd
Allen’s Midnight Blue Ivy to Timouron. Black with a feminine, balanced head and excellent front angulation. Longer cast than 1st and well muscled. Movement not as good as 1st and not in the best of coat today.
Post Graduate Bitch - 4 entered | 1 absent
1st
Metcalfe’s Trendlewood It’s Only Love to Baileydale. Immediately caught my eye on entering the ring. Black, with well-moulded head, a dark expressive eye and neat ears. Strong, clean neck flowing into well-laid shoulders and good upper arm, with excellent depth and a firm topline. Beautiful angulation fore and aft, good feet. Shown in excellent condition, and moved steadily throughout, covering the ground with ease. Delighted to award Best Bitch and Reserve Best in Show.
2nd
Hayward’s Gothleed Cinderella into Donacre. Well-balanced yellow bitch with good eye shape and correct ear placement. Well-sprung ribs and strong hindquarters, with tight feet. Lovely otter tail. Moved well, showing balance and purpose.
Limit Bitch - 5 entered | 1 absent
1st
Metcalfe’s Baileydale Hello Sailor JW. Feminine head with good eye colour, giving her a kind and gentle expression. Super double coat and beautifully balanced from nose to tip of tail, flowing smoothly from head to tail with clean lines throughout. Well-boned and standing on tight feet, with a powerful neck and shoulder matched by strong hindquarters and second thigh.
2nd
Allen’s Timouron Confidential. Black with a beautiful head, short coupled and showing good breadth and depth of chest. Lovely tail set and moved well, presenting a balanced and pleasing outline.
Open Bitch - 3 entered | 0 absent
1st
Metcalfe’s Sh Ch Baileydale Dizzy Miss Lizzy. Eye-catching, well-balanced black bitch with a correct, gentle head and dark expressive eyes. Good neck into well-placed shoulders, correct upper arm and pleasing fore chest. Deep body, strong loin and level topline. Well-boned with excellent feet, good rear angulation, well- muscled quarters, well-set otter tail and dense double coat. Moved soundly.
2nd
Woodley’s Sh Ch Alkhamhurst London Girl. Black with a kind, feminine head, strong, clean neck, and good depth of brisket with well- sprung ribs. Strong, well-muscled quarters, and good length of rib. In excellent condition with a dense, gleaming double coat and a wonderful, well-set tail.
Veteran Bitch (7 years and over) - 10 entered | 4 absent
1st
Woodley’s Sh Ch A Sense of Pleasures Yvli at Alkhamhurst. She immediately caught my eye as she entered the ring. At 9½ years, she has a classic feminine head with attractive eye shape and colour. Her neck is clean and correctly set, flowing smoothly into a level topline and well-set tail. She possesses good length of body and leg, giving her excellent balance, complemented by well-angled front and rear assembly. She moves freely with straight, effortless gait and is presented in excellent coat and condition. Reserve Best Bitch and Best Veteran in Show.
2nd
Dawson’s Beskerby Singsong. Typical head and expression with good ear set. Well muscled, in excellent coat with a thick, well-wrapped tail. Moved soundly and effortlessly for her age.