Judge’s Critique:

I would like to thank the URC Committee for my invitation to judge and for putting on a first-class Show, this is always a favourite of mine.
Thank you to all exhibitors for your fabulous entry on the day, it means a great deal and my stewards did an amazing job keeping everything running smoothly.
I was looking for fit for function with absolute soundness, strong and upstanding with the degree of elegance required but without exaggerations.
I will mention size as I keep hearing we are the “largest” of the Retriever breeds and yes this is correct when you look at each of the “ideal” heights across the other retriever breeds, but we have an ideal height at withers in the standard for a reason, and I think we are getting to the point of size becoming “exaggerated”, where we lose our degree of elegance and fit for purpose.
On another note, I noticed a few incorrect mouths creeping in, breeders need to be mindful of this, this was the first time in 18 years of judging that I have come across it.

PD – (2,0)
1st – Brightmeadow Rumour Has It (Mr J & Mrs M B Stephens). 9 months and what a cracker this youngster is, he is well developed for his age and has the most appealing head and expression. He is beautifully balanced with the correct height/length ratio, showed correct extension and drive as he powered around the ring, well-muscled second thigh, lovely dense coat with correct texture, a very promising youngster who I will watch with interest. BP
2nd – Brightmeadow Man Of Steel (Mr M & Mrs M Edworthy). Litter brother to 1 and similar comments apply, he just needs time to come together. He has a lovely head and great coat, just not the positive movement of 1.

JD – (3,0)
1st – Firecurl Excalibur (Mrs N Dick). Liver dog with a superb coat, I liked him for size and substance, he immediately catches the eye, nicely balanced with a correct topline and tail carriage, which he holds on the move, he is not overdone and is moderate throughout, he has character and that shines through on the move where he gave a good account of himself. He has a strong masculine head with correct eye colour and correct ear set. Another youngster I will watch with interest.
2nd – Roughyeds Regal George At Treecave (Miss R & Mr J Arnold & Dobson). This young man gives his handler a tough time on the move. He has a lovely head and expression. Correct height/length proportions, decent coat, tends to stand himself a little straight in stifle. Once he got into his stride he showed lovely reach and drive, he just needs time to mature and for everything to come together.
3rd – Roughyeds Regal Drive With Lockenna (Ms KA Lockwood)

YD – (2,0)
1st – Foxriever Storm Cloud (Miss E Huckle). Larger black who is up to size but balanced throughout. He has a lovely coat of correct texture. He has a strong masculine head with dark eye, excellent forequarters, forelegs straight with strong pasterns. Moderate hindquarters, I would prefer a slightly better tail set. Positive on the move and well handled.
2nd – Tessmene Rock That Look (Miss K Riva). Male who impresses on the move, he is a very stylish mover and has great width at the rear. Built on different lines to winner but he did not have the finish in coat or head.

ND – (0,0)

GD – (2,0)
1st – Foxriever Midsummer Magic at Thunderguard (Mr EJ Emery). Another male who is up to size for me, he possesses a lovely thick dense coat of tight curls, , he has a strong masculine head with a dark eye. His front is assembly is correct and he has muscular well laid-back shoulders with a deep chest and well sprung ribs. His hind quarters are over angulated, and this shows in his movement when moving away, in profile his handler moves him to advantage, and he shows good extension.
2nd – Tessmene Rock That Look (Miss K Riva). repeat YD

PGD – (3,0)
1st – Elgar’s Enigma Tornado Beta Con Redanimo (Imp Ltu) (Ms R & Mr L Davies & Bradstock). 2-year-old impressive male. Liked him for size and substance and his well-proportioned wedge-shaped head, he has a wonderful dense coat. Correct front assembly and well-muscled moderate hindquarters, balanced throughout, correct tail set and topline which he held on the move, he moves with an effortless gait even when giving his handler a hard time.
2nd – Rowancurl Pullman Porter (Mrs VC & Mr KM Dooley). Lovely balanced male who has the correct height/length proportions, forelegs straight with strong pasterns. Hindquarters well-muscled with the required moderate turn of stifle. He still needs to fully mature in body. He was not as positive on the move as the winner. He has a lovely wedge-shaped head, but I would prefer a slightly darker eye.
3rd – Tessmene Rock That Look (Miss K Riva).

LD – (1,0)
1st – Firecurl Some Like It Hot At Tarockwood (ai) (Mr R M & Mrs W Tarelli). 5-Year-old Liver who is up to size but balanced throughout. He has a correct wedge-shaped head with a nice dark eye. He was presented in hard condition with well-muscled, moderate hindquarters, his front assembly is correct with a strong, slightly arched neck flowing into well laid-back shoulders. He just needs to show a little more enthusiasm on the move.

OD – (9,0) What a wonderful class of males.
1st – Rowancurl Gentle Gaelor (Mrs H M Hodson). This young male is a picture of elegance both standing and on the move. He catches the eye when he moves with such a powerful gait. His front assembly is textbook. His hind quarters are strong and moderate, and he is presented in hard condition with visible second thigh. His chest is deep with well sprung ribs and his topline is strong and level both standing and on the move. He has a beautiful head and expression and an exceptional dense curly coat. Today his movement was effortless, and he floated around the ring with such extension and drive that he could not be denied DCC. A credit to his owner and he can only get better as he fully matures.
2nd – Infallibles Black Crusader At Kelsmere (Imp Nor) (Mrs S Brookes). Another super male who was unlucky to meet 1 today. He is such a lovely dog to go over, and he is so typical and classic in his outline, it was a pleasure to get my hands on him. He has an exceptional head piece. He is strong and upstanding but still has style and elegance, on the move he is not the most enthusiastic, but he is true both fore and aft and he carries his tail to perfection. RCC
3rd – Brightmeadow Take Your Time At Densdale (Miss J Stubbs)
Reserve – Sh Ch Foxriever Mystic Marvel At Elkysar (Mr K & Mrs M Solomon)
VHC – Sh Ch Tengore Mr Moonlight (Mrs Parker-Miles)

SB – (2,0)
1st – Firecurl Ace (Mrs J Clayton). 13-month liver bitch who is nicely balanced and very mature for her age. She has typical wedge-shaped head with a nice dark eye. She is well off for bone and carries a lovely tight coat. Moved out well to win this class.
2nd – Roughyeds Regal George At Treecave (Miss R & Mr J Arnold & Dobson). Repeat JD.

Veteran (7+ Years) (2,1)
1st – Sh Ch Maycourt Hot Love At Tusepo (Mr N & Mrs S D Spraggins). 8-year-old Liver bitch who I have done well for before. She is a taller girl who has good substance throughout. She has a beautiful classic Curly head. Her expert handler gets the absolute best out of her on the move, she just lacked drive and enthusiasm today.

Special Working – (0,0)

Special Show/Working – (1,0)
1st – Ch All I Ever Wanted Golightly With Roughyeds (Imp Lva) (Mr A & Mrs J Findlow. What a wonderful 8-year-old black bitch and a very worth Champion. Enjoying her day out, she moved around the ring like a youngster a real credit to her owners. She is correct for size and substance and has a lovely head and expression, just not in her full coat on the day.

PB – (2,0) Litter sisters who could change places on another day.
1st – Brightmeadow Come On Eileen (Mr J & Mrs M B Stephens). 9-month Black who was carrying a little excess puppy weight, she excels in front assembly, hindquarters moderate with well let down hocks. She has a lovely dense coat for her age, wedge-shaped head with a kind dark eye. Moved out well but needs to firm up all over, which will come as she matures.
2nd – Brightmeadow Well I Never At Wandsfell (Mr S Pitts). Taller liver litter sister, she has a has a lovely balanced outline, with a strong neck flowing into well laid-back shoulders, she also has moderate turn of stifle and nice width of thigh, she is slightly loose in topline on the move, but this will firm up as she matures. I liked her classic wedge-shaped head and her bold friendly attitude. Not the coat of her sister on the day.

JB – (4,1)
1st Epsilon Adhara At Molokain (Mrs ED & Mr E & Mr ST Clack & Eddery & Clack). Beautiful dark liver. This girl comes alive on the move and excels in hindquarters, she has width and strength and uses that to advantage to drive around the ring, she is not overdone, moderate all through, she has style and elegance and is presented in hard condition, and she looks like she could work all day. Sweet head and expression, excellent curl to coat with correct texture but definitely about the blow her coat. She has attitude in abundance.
2nd – Roughyeds Gold Stick Cellar (Mr A & Mrs J Findlow) Different type to 1 but close up. This black bitch has the sweetest temperament to go with her beautiful head and kind expression. She is classy and elegant and not overdone. Another who was presented in hard condition and could work all day, she has lovely width of thigh with visible second thigh, she holds a strong topline both standing and moving. On the move her tail flows from her topline and she shows good extension.
3rd – Firecurl Ace (Mrs J Clayton)

YB – (4,0)
1st – Epsilon Adhara At Molokain (Mrs ED & Mr E & Mr ST Clack & Eddery & Clack). As JB
2nd – Maycourt Cover Shot (Miss D M Courtier). Another lovely liver who pushed the winner extremely hard. She has a beautiful balanced outline and great front assembly, moderate rear angulation and strong topline. Lovely coat with nice crips curls. On the move she gives her handler a challenging time but once settled she gives a good account of herself.
3rd – Maycourt Miss Sweetness At Tengore (Mr B J & Mrs S M Perkins).
Reserve – Overbore Bombette For HisRiver (Mrs H Driscoll)

NB – (4,2)
1st – Brightmeadow Well I Never At Wandsfell (Mr S Pitts). 2nd PB
2nd – Overbore Bombette For HisRiver (Mrs H Driscoll). Taller black bitch, she has a beautiful coat with correct texture and a lovely head and expression. Her front is correct, and she has well laid-back shoulders it was a shame that she was carrying a little excess weight which detracted from her overall balance, this made her look heavy in front compared to her rear. She has a moderate turn of stifle and nice width of thigh.

GB – (2,1)
1st – Firecurl Georgie Porgie (Mrs J Clayton). Workmanlike liver bitch who is correct for size, she has a good coat and is shown in hard condition, she is an honest bitch who looks like she could work all day. Moderate throughout, I would like to see a little more enthusiasm on the move but overall, a sound and positive mover.

PGB –(3,0)
1st – Maycourt Take Me Top The Top (Miss D M Courtier). This black is impressive from all angles. I liked her for size and substance, she is another classy, elegant bitch who oozes quality throughout. She is beautifully balanced and has the most appealing head and expression. She excels in both front and rear quarters. She also gives her handler a tough time on the move, but once settled she moves out with reach and drive, one to watch and was in close contention for the RCC.
2nd – Rowancurl Beachcomber (Mr G & Mrs J Evans) Slightly taller bitch who also is quality throughout. She carries a lovely crisp coat and is nicely balanced. She lacked the maturity in body compared to winner. She has a lovely wedge-shaped head and kind eye; she is positive on the move and holds a strong topline and correct tail carriage.

LB – (5,1)
1st – Tessmene Tickety Boo (Mrs F & Miss C Carrick). 23 months and this black bitch was my star of the day. I loved her bold attitude from the moment she entered the ring, she commanded my attention. She is not overdone or exaggerated, she has a textbook front assembly, well laid-back muscular shoulders, forelegs straight with strong pasterns and well set under body. Her expert handler moves her to perfection and her footfall was impeccable, she is so stylish and classy from her head to her tail, which flows from her strong topline and held perfectly straight on the move. It was a pleasure to get the opportunity to get my hands on her and she certainly did not disappoint, pleased to award her BCC and BOB.
2nd – Overbore’s Ace Of Hearts (Mrs S & Mr H Parker-Miles) 3-year-old black who was unlucky to come up against the winner today. Another quality bitch who is shown in hard condition and could do a day’s work. She has a wonderful crisp coat and has a lovely balanced outline and correct size. She has a beautiful feminine head and dark eye. Moved out well, preferred the front of winner.
3rd – Brightmeadow Who’s That Girl (Mr J & Mrs M B Stephens).
Reserve – Overbore Raise The Stakes (Mrs J M & Mr K D Rule).

OB – (8,1) Another outstanding class.
1st – Sh Ch Ravenho Up Town Girl For Brightmeadow JW (Mr J & Mrs M B Stephens). 2-year-old black who presents a beautiful feminine picture. Another who is so nice to go over and not over done or exaggerated, I like her for size and substance, she is quality all over and her classic outline catches the eye. On the move she flows from her head to her tail showing elegance and great extension whist maintaining a strong topline. She has a tight crisp curl to her coat, lovely head with a dark eye. RCC.
2nd – Molokain Hocus Pocus (Mr ST & Mrs ED Clack). Different type to winner but a lovely workmanlike Curly. Correct for size and substance, beautiful dense coat and shown in hard condition. Deep chest with well sprung ribs, she has strong muscular hindquarters and moderate turn of stifle, lovely tight round feet. I would just prefer smaller ears to complete the picture.
3rd – Sh Ch Tessmene The Cats Whiskers (Mrs F & Miss C Carrick)
Reserve – Tengore Ruby Tuesday (Mr B J & Mrs S M Perkins)
VHC – Roughyeds Audrey Roberts (Mr A & Mrs J Findlow)

Vicki Hayes
Pepperiever