Judge’s Critique:

My sincere thanks to the committee for the kind invitation to judge these three lovely breeds, to my hard-working stewards who kept all three rings running smoothly, and to the exhibitors for the entries and for accepting my decisions in such good spirit. It was a particular privilege to judge this trio of breeds, each of which holds a special place for me — I have owned American Cockers myself; my parents kept Irish Water Spaniels and I grew up with a great love for them; and the Curly Coated Retriever is a more recent but no less genuine delight. To be entrusted with judging all three on the same day was a real honour. The day itself was notably warm, but every dog I had under me coped admirably, was presented in good order and showed the true character of its breed.

For such a densely-coated breed, I felt the dogs coped admirably with the warmth of the day — a credit to their handlers and to the careful preparation that went into bringing them to the ringside in such good order.

Class 1549. Veteran Dog (Entries 1, Absentees 0)

1st – 3995 Baines & Hawley-Clarke’s Karnawalowy Drink Z Basisfory (Imp Pol)
Lovely veteran in beautiful condition, belying his years and showing the look of a thoroughly active dog the standard demands. Strong, smart and upstanding, well-balanced in outline. Wedge-shaped head when viewed in profile and from above, with jaws long and strong, and small ears set on low lying close. Long and graceful neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, deep chest reaching to the elbow and not too wide, well-sprung ribs carried well back. Powerful, deep, short-coupled loin, with hindquarters showing good muscle and stifles of moderate bend. Body covered with a profuse mass of crisp small curls of correct texture, in lovely order. Moderately short tail covered with curls, carried fairly straight. Held his topline on the move and covered the ground freely. VD 1, BV — Reserve Best Dog to follow.

Class 1550. Junior Dog (Entries 0, Absentees 0)

No entries.

Class 1551. Post Graduate Dog (Entries 1, Absentees 0)

1st – 3999 Edworthy’s Brightmeadow Man of Steel
Dog of pleasing breed type, presenting a balanced outline standing four-square. Wedge-shaped masculine head with kind expression and small low-set ears lying close. Length of neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, deep chest with well-sprung ribs carried well back, level topline, and powerful, deep, short-coupled loin running into well-muscled quarters with stifles of moderate bend and hocks well let down. Body coat a mass of crisp small curls of correct texture lying close. Moderately short tail covered with curls, carried fairly straight. Moved out with purpose, true and parallel coming and going. PGD 1

Class 1552. Open Dog (Entries 4, Absentees 0)

1st – 4007 Stubbs’s Sh Ch Brightmeadow Take Your Time at Densdale
Quality dog of true breed type who really took my eye on the move. Lovely front reach extending freely from well-laid shoulders, matched by powerful drive from well-bent stifles and hocks well let down, producing the effortless ground-covering action the standard demands — true and parallel. Strong, smart and upstanding, well-balanced in outline. Wedge-shaped head when viewed in profile and from above, with jaws long and strong, kind dark eye, and small low-set ears lying close. Graceful length of neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, deep chest reaching to the elbow and not too wide, well-sprung ribs carried well back, powerful, deep, short-coupled loin, well-muscled quarters. Coat a profuse mass of crisp small curls covering the body, in good order. Moderately short tail covered with curls, carried fairly straight. OD 1, BD

2nd – 3996 Boorman & Brown’s Kahawei Star Catcher
Substantial dog of pleasing breed type, presenting a balanced picture standing four-square. Wedge-shaped head with kind expression and small ears set on low lying close. Good length of neck running into well-laid shoulders, deep chest reaching to the elbow with well-sprung ribs carried well back, level topline maintained, short-coupled loin, and well-developed quarters with moderate bend of stifle. Body covered with a profuse mass of crisp small curls of correct texture. Moved soundly, true and parallel. OD 2

Class 1553. Veteran Bitch (Entries 0, Absentees 0)

No entries.

Class 1554. Junior Bitch (Entries 2, Absentees 0)

1st – 4001 Mercer & Thomas’s Crimwell Trouble Maker at Stormacre
Most promising young bitch who caught my eye immediately on the move. Her reach was the real highlight — driving freely from well-bent stifles and hocks well let down, with effortless ground coverage and the true, free, parallel action the standard calls for. Standing, she presents a balanced and upstanding outline. Wedge-shaped feminine head when viewed in profile and from above, with jaws long and strong, kind expression, and small low-set ears lying close. Graceful length of neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, deep chest with well-sprung ribs carried well back, level topline, powerful, deep, short-coupled loin, well-muscled quarters. Coat a profuse mass of crisp small curls of correct texture, beautifully presented. Moderately short tail covered with curls, carried fairly straight. Delighted to award her the class and thrilled to take her all the way to top honours. JB 1, BB, BOB

2nd – 4004 Spraggins’s Tusepo Miss Scarlett
Bitch of pleasing type, still maturing as a youngster should. Wedge-shaped feminine head with kind expression and small low-set ears lying close. Neck of good length, level topline, short-coupled loin, and well-angulated quarters with moderate bend of stifle. Body coat of crisp small curls. Moved well, true coming and going. JB 2

Class 1555. Post Graduate Bitch (Entries 2, Absentees 0)

1st – 4008 Whitehead, Whitehead & Sutton’s Foxriever Sea Fyre JW
Bitch of pleasing breed type presenting a balanced outline standing. Wedge-shaped feminine head when viewed in profile and from above, with jaws long and strong, kind expression, and small ears set on low lying close. Length of neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, deep chest reaching to the elbow with well-sprung ribs carried well back, level topline, short-coupled loin running into well-muscled quarters with moderate bend of stifle and hocks well let down. Body covered with a profuse mass of crisp small curls of correct texture. Moderately short tail covered with curls, carried fairly straight. Moved out well. PGB 1

2nd – 4004 Spraggins’s Tusepo Miss Scarlett
See critique under Junior Bitch. PGB 2

Class 1556. Open Bitch (Entries 3, Absentees 1)

1st – 4006 Stephens’s Sh Ch Ravenho Up Town Girl for Brightmeadow JW
Quality bitch of true breed type, presenting a strong, smart and upstanding picture standing four-square. Well-balanced in outline. Wedge-shaped feminine head when viewed in profile and from above, with jaws long and strong, kind expression, and small low-set ears lying close. Graceful length of neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, deep chest reaching to the elbow and not too wide, well-sprung ribs carried well back, level topline maintained, powerful, deep, short-coupled loin running into well-muscled quarters with moderate bend of stifle and hocks well let down. Body covered with a profuse mass of crisp small curls of correct texture, in good order. Moderately short tail covered with curls, carried fairly straight. Moved freely with reach and drive. OB 1, RBB

2nd – 4002 Parker-Miles’s Sh Ch Overbore’s Ace of Hearts
Bitch of pleasing breed type, presenting a balanced outline standing. Wedge-shaped feminine head with kind expression and small low-set ears lying close. Length of neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, deep chest with well-sprung ribs carried well back, level topline, short-coupled loin, and well-muscled quarters with moderate bend of stifle. Body covered with a profuse mass of crisp small curls of correct texture. Moderately short tail covered with curls, carried fairly straight. Moved soundly. OB 2

Dr Kirsten Bond