7th National Critique 2008

I am very honoured to have been asked to judge such a prestigious show, and I was privileged to have had so many of your lovely goldens to go over. Most of the dogs were beautifully presented, but a lot were lacking in condition.  I thought overall fronts and stifles were excellent as were toplines and pigment, on the minus side length of upper arm was lacking, and many exhibits were far too long in loin, therefore not giving a balanced outline.  Heads were quite mixed, and for me, it is the pinnacle of a Golden Retriever, you have to look at that head and expression and just melt! Heads should be balanced with good stop and good drop of muzzle, which, as in Britain, is sadly lacking. On a lot of Goldens, stop slope and the muzzle is almost “snipey” on too many dogs and bitches.

I was very pleased with my placings and indeed, in many classes would have liked more cards. Thank you to the many exhibitors who travelled so far, and to the very hard working committee for their wonderful hospitality.

BABY PUPPY DOG

1. Easton’s MONTEGO KEEP THE DREAM – Nicely balanced outline, sweet head and expression, good neck, shoulders and topline, short coupled, moved true.
2. Goldshyne Knls GOLDSHYNE DAY BY DAY – Good bone and substance, balanced typical head, good front and depth of chest, nice width of quarters
3. Harrowfield’s TRIGOLDEN SCARKETT – Clean outline, very sweet head and expression, reachy neck into well laid shoulders, good topline, moved and showed well.
4. Davis’ TAMESIS YOU FLY SO HIGH – Pleasing typical head and eye. Level topline, good tail set, nice bend and width of stifle. In good coat.

PUPPY DOG

1. Saunders & Yoshino’s YELLOWFETCH WHAT U WANT – Good sized dog with most appealing head and expression, excellent pigment, balanced short coupled body moved with drive and confidence on good legs and tight feet.
2. Handley & Petterwood’s LARBELLAH TEAM LEADER – Nicely balanced young boy. Very good head and melting expression, straight front, good neck and lay of shoulder. Nice bend of stifle, moved very well.
3. Lee’s SANTAMARIA DRIVNBY JUSTICE – Another good sized boy, super masculine head, with lovely soft expression. Good bone and substance, in lovely coat and condition, well put together throughout.
4. Bruns’ SANTAMARIA CASINO ROYALE – Most lovely chiselled head with super dark eye, deep short coupled body, level topline, nice bend of stifle used on the move to advantage.

PUPPY BITCH

1. Handley’s GILTEDGE POETIC STYLE – Nicely balanced young bitch. Feminine head, reachy neck, level topline, good spring of rib, in nice coat and condition. Moved straight and true.
2. Martin-Smith’s GOLDMARTINI INTOXICATING – Very pretty bitch with excellent pigment, good neck, shoulders and front. Deep through the heart, well presented.
3. Nash’s MONTEGO EYE CANDY – Feminine head with soft expression, nice spring of rib, short coupled, level back, good bone stifle, neat hocks.
4. Lee’s SANTAMARIA DIAMOND LIL – Very showy puppy, balanced head, deep, well sprung ribs, strong well muscled quarters nice tight feet, nicely presented.

JUNIOR DOG

1. Dulke’s FANTANGO BACKSTAGE PASS – Lovely balanced dog, in super coat and condition. Beautiful masculine head and melting expression, straight front, reachy neck into well laid shoulders, excellent topline held standing and moving, strong well muscled quarters. Great showman.
2. Thompson’s CHALEUR VALENTINO – Again, lovely head and expression, well laid shoulders, good spring of rib, short coupled excellent bend of stifle well let down hocks.
3. McGrath’s ALNCLAIR ANZAC EDWARD – Nice head with good pigment, deep well sprung ribs, level back, good bend and width of hindquarters moved and showed well.
4. Binns’ BLAZEDNGOLD DOUBL TROUBL – Balanced short coupled dog with nice head and soft expression, good spring of rib, good top line and tail set. Moved OK when settled.
5. Andrews’ GOLDSIRIUS DRUMMER BOY – Nice clean outline, shown in good coat and hard condition, pleasing head, good front shoulders and topline. Nice bone and feet well handled.

1. McDonald’s AVONBREEZE CHARLOTTE’S WEB – Very balanced young lady, in lovely coat and condition, melting expression, straight front, super spring of rib, short coupled, moved with drive.
2. Binn’s BLAZEDNGOLD EBONIE EYES – In hard condition, sweetest of heads and expression, good front and rear angulation, good let down of hock, which she used to advantage on the move.
3. Geci’s BOURNBEAU REGAN OSCOTLAND – Good pigment, lovely eyes, nice spring of rib, good width and bend of stifle, moved very well, nice tight feet
4. Stubbings’ CH DYKINTA STAR POINT – Very nice head and soft expression, well off for bone and substance, good shoulders and topline, moved out well.
5. Robinson’s ASHIYA DANCING QUEEN – Pleasing head, straight front, nice topline and tailset. In full coat moved with style from good legs and tight feet.
6. Duynhoven’s DALVUIGOLD MISS EMMA – Nice eye and good pigment, well angulated front and rear. Good topline held on the move.

INTERMEDIATE DOG

1. Thompson’s CHALEUR STACK THE DECK – Outstanding young dog, should go right to the top, very eye-catching showman, just demands attention. Gorgeous masculine head with melting expression. Straight front, reachy neck into well laid shoulders, excellent spring of rib and bend of stifle, moved with drive and style, in super coat and condition.
2. Goldshyne Knls, DREAM MAX GRAND MOTHERS PROSPECT (Imp Swd) – Another young boy with good potential, very nice head, deep, short coupled body, level topline. Good tail set, moved very positively.
3. Lynch’s YELLOWFETCH WAT U TAKN BOUT – Balanced short coupled dog, in full coat. Masculine head, good pigment, deep well sprung ribs, good strong quarters.
4. Boldiston’s NARAGOLD MAGIC OF DARCY – Nice outline in good proportions, very balanced head with soft expression, deep through the heart, well handled.
5. Hobbelen’s ACACIAN AIMING HIGH – Masculine head, straight front, good ribs and top line, presented and showed very well, in profuse coat.
6. Joseph’s CH BARADAV GOINPLACES – Nicely balanced dog with a very nice head and eye. Good bone and substance, tight feet, showed and moved well.

INTERMEDIATE BITCH

1. Piper’s AMBERMIST KEEPSAKE – Lovely balanced bitch, the most beautiful head and melting expression, reachy neck into well laid shoulders, deep short coupled body. Moved with drive and enthusiasm.
2. Easton’s SEADUAL DIAMONDS FOREVER – Another very appealing young lady. Very nice head and soft expression, good front and length of neck. Level topline, good spring of rib. Strong quarters used to advantage on the move.
3. Moore & Frederick’s TIPTREE TRICMAT TSKILLY CCD – Sweet head, nice short coupled body, good topline and bend of stifle, moved well coming and going, just lacking coat.
4. Ainsworth’s IMAGOLDEN ETERNAL FLAME – Compact, darker coated bitch, lovely head and dark eye. Deep through the heart, good bone and tight feet.
5. Dean’s LIONSFIELD ARCHIPPUSS CCD – Good spring of rib, excellent topline and tailset, strong, well muscled quarters, well let down hocks.
6. Crowley’s CROWLEE LIL TOWN FLIRT – Good neck, shoulders and front. Nice quarters and tight feet, in gleaming coat, moved with drive.

AUSTRALIAN BRED DOG

1. List’s SAMBINDOR SIR EDWARD – Absolutely lovely dog, the most beautiful masculine head without a hint of coarseness, such a gentle soft expression, to me a true golden head which anyone would be proud of. Reachy neck into well laid shoulders, deep well sprung ribs. Short coupled, lovely top line and tail set, movement a joy to watch, very unlucky to meet my open dog in such fine form – Reserve DCC.
2. Turner’s CH AMBERMIST GRAND DESIGN – Similar remarks apply, very nice dog in excellent coat and condition. Pleasing head and dark eye, deep short coupled body good bend and width of stifle moved with drive.
3. McGrath’s CH ALNCLAIR GILLYS HERO – Expressive soft dark eye, well off for bone and substance, deep through the heart super bend of stifle in good coat and condition.
4. Addison’s CH FERNFALL ARAMIS GOLD – True golden character, happy, outgoing and a show-off! Nice head alert expression, good front and lay of shoulder good topline and tailset well presented.
5. Brown’s CH SWIFTREVE DROVERS RUN – Good sized boy, beautifully presented, pleasing head, soft expression good front and rear angulation. Moved and showed well.
6. Pierce’s CH RALUN VERSACE – Nicely balanced blonde dog, again presented and handled to perfection. Masculine head, good pigment, straight front, good neck and shoulders, nice bend of stifle.

OPEN DOG

1. DCC & BIS – Handley’s CH GILTEDGE BLACKWATCH – What a beautiful typical golden. So well put together, I found him very difficult to fault, presented and handled to perfection. A near perfect head with the most melting dark eye, excellent drop of muzzle and stop, SO lacking today. Reachy neck into well laid shoulders, deep well sprung ribs short coupled, super level topline moved with drive and style, such a credit to our breed.
2. Molnar’s CH DOBRO SAMURAI GUY – Another stunning example of a true golden dog. Most appealing head and expression, straight front, good neck and shoulders, balanced, deep short coupled body, strong well muscled quarters, showed and moved well.
3. Patterson’s CH PERRECCA UNPRECENTED – Good sized boy, well off for bone and substance. Lovely typical character, so happy, masculine head, soft expression, well angulated front and rear, beautifully presented.
4. Chaplin’s CH RUSTLEDENE IDLE TALK (AI) (IMP NZ) Nice head and dark eye, good shoulders, front and reach of neck. Level topline good tail set, nice bend of stifle, shown in good coat and condition.
5. Rennie’s GR CH & NZ CH WINTERLEA SON OF A KIWI ET (IMP NZ) – Lovely masculine head, with soft expression, good front and rear angulation, level back, deep through the heart, in full coat, moved well.
6. Thompson’s SWD & NWY CH DEWMIST SAMSONITE (IMP SWD) – Paler boy in full coat, melting dark eyes, nice front, neck and shoulder, deep short coupled body, excellent quarters used on the move to advantage.