Flatcoated Retriever Club of Scotland
BREED OPEN SHOW
SATURDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2023 – postponed to SATURDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2023
I would like to thank the Flatcoated Retriever Club of Scotland’s Committee for inviting me to judge at their Open Show today and congratulate them on a lovely show. I had a most enjoyable day and was honoured to go over all your beautiful dogs. Thank you to the exhibitors who entered under me and for accepting my placings in good spirit.
DOGS
PUPPY DOG
1. 46 WILD’s Kvicksans The Master Piper at Bluewaters (Imp Swe)
11-month black dog. A well moulded head with dark eye and a lovely reach of neck. Well balanced, moved very well with good bone and feet. Beautifully presented. Best Puppy Dog
2. 2 ANSON’s Rotherfield Secret Code
11-month black dog with a lovely head and dark eye. Excellent front and well-balanced shape with good bone and feet. Correct tail-set. Unfortunately, today he was giving his handler a tough time making it difficult to assess his movement. Once he settles down I am sure he will have a good future.
3. HARRIS’ Dymexe Outlander at Siancala
JUNIOR DOG
1. 2 ANSON’s Rotherfield Secret Code
2. 15 HARRIS’ Dymexe Outlander at Siancala
13-month black dog, also full of beans today. Preferred the head of 1 and would have liked a slightly more almond shape to his eye, but a lovely dark eye. A little smaller than 1 but with super proportions - good front and good coupling. Correct tail-set.
MAIDEN DOG NO ENTRIES
NOVICE DOG NO ENTRIES
UNDERGRADUATE DOG
1. 25 MACCONNELL’s Feldkirk Fahrenheist at Torrweaving
A two-year-old black dog with a well moulded head and a dark eye and small close-fitting ears. Good reach of neck and firm top-line. Whilst on the move rather wide in front and a little too close behind. Today his tail was carried gaily which ruined his outline on the move.
GRADUATE DOG
1. 45 WILD’s Bitcon Alliance with Bluewaters (AI) JW
A 21-month black dog of lovely proportions. Long and nicely moulded head with flat skull and excellent expression. Super reach of neck and good chest. Firm top-line and correct tail-set, with good coupling. Would prefer a little more bone but moved soundly and beautifully presented.
POST GRADUATE DOG
1. 14 HALL’s Rotherfield Just the Ticket
A difficult decision between 1 and 2 with just the movement making my decision. A 5-year-old black dog with well moulded head and dark eye. Good reach of neck and level top-line. Good front and rear with correct tail-set. Would have preferred a little more animation but moved well.
2. 13 GRANT’s Westoncruive Black Tornado
A 6-year-old black dog celebrating his birthday today at the show. Lovely well moulded head, with dark eye and good expression. Showed more animation than 1 but with not quite the movement. Lovely balanced dog, good front and rear with correct tail-set. A little soft in top-line.
LIMIT DOG
1. 22 MACPHERSON’s Rachanmill Columbo
Really liked this 4-year-old black male. Super moulded head and dark eye with flat skull leading to excellent reach of neck and super front. Firm level top-line with correct tail-set. Good coupling and good rear. Moved well with reach and drive.
2. 5 BLAIR’s Pick Pocket
A good sized 5-year-old black dog with rather a strong head, showing just a little too much stop, lacking the correct moulding and fill. Good reach of neck and level top-line with good bone and feet. Not quite the angulation front and rear of 1 which affected his movement.
OPEN DOG
1. 41 STEVENSON’s Sh Ch Plainfire’s The Captain of My Heart is Steelriver (Imp Che) ShCEx
A six year old dog that oozes breed type and expresses confidence and kindliness, he moves effortlessly. Of good size with a lovely head well set in neck, dark eye, flat skull and super expression. Great reach of neck to excellent front and firm level top-line to correct tail-set and good rear angulation. Super bone and feet. Lovely condition and presented well. Pleased to award him Best Dog and Best of Breed. Congratulations!
2. 48 FLYNN’s Sh Ch Finhamspride Kovu Among Rodsdream
Another gorgeous dog oozing breed type and beautifully presented. Lovely moulded head with dark eye and flat skull. Super reach of neck to excellent front and firm level top-line. Correct rear angulation and tail-set. He moved well with super proportions. A close decision between 1 and 2 but preferred the slightly heavier bone and free flowing reach and drive of 1. Pleased to award him Reserve Best Dog and Reserve Best of Breed. Congratulations!
3. 27 MACCONNELL’s Kazval Lugano at Torrweaving
VETERAN DOG
1. 3 BLAIN’s Sh Ch Caci’s Just a Gigolo at Steelriver (Imp Swe) JW
A 9-and-a-half-year-old black dog that just exudes breed type and has the most joyful expression, full of life. Gorgeous head and dark eye, beautiful reach of neck to excellent front, lovely bone and super feet. Correct tail-set off which the tail never stopped. A lovely size and moved with style and drive. I found his top-line just a little soft in the dog line-up and felt he was just beginning to show his age when standing amongst the youngsters. Delighted to award him Best Veteran dog.
2. 26 MACCONNELL’s Feldkirk Fearghal at Torrweaving ShCM
An 8 year old black dog with a well moulded head and dark eye. Lovely reach of neck, well set into shoulders. Front a little wide, lacking the required flat foreribs leading to the gradual spring which consequently led to his movement being rather wide in front and close in the rear. Excellent bone and good feet.
BITCHES
MINOR PUPPY BITCH
1. 30 PLUMMER & MACPHERSON’s Rainesgift Luaidh at Lochkander
A pretty 10 month-old black bitch with a lovely dark eye and sweet expression. Good reach of neck and excellent front, lovely top-line and correct tail-set and well let-down hock. She moved well with animation.
2. 23 MACRAE’s Aricdell Lush Life
A very pretty 9 month-old dark liver bitch with beautiful head and eye colour. She showed a little timidity today and didn’t move as well as 1.
PUPPY BITCH
1. 1 ADAM’s Rotherfield Keep a Secret
Another very pretty bitch puppy of 12 months with lovely movement. Beautiful reach of neck and excellent front with good top-line and correct tail-set. A little longer in body than 2 but beautifully presented. Very pleased to award her Best Puppy in Breed.
2. 31 RATTRAY’s Rotherfield Another Secret
Litter sister to 1 and just as pretty. Beautiful moulded head and sweet expression. Lovely proportions a little shorter in body than 1. Very animated and giving her handler a rough time in the ring today so unfortunately I wasn’t able to assess her movement, but there was much to like and I am sure with a little training and practice she will do well.
JUNIOR BITCH
1. 31 RATTRAY’s Rotherfield Another Secret
MAIDEN BITCH
1. 24 MACRAE’s Candidacasa What a Feelin
A two-year-old pretty black bitch with lovely moderate proportions. Beautiful, well moulded head with dark eye and sweet expression. Good reach of neck and lovely front with good strong top-line and good tail-set. She moved well but I would have loved a little more animation. Please to award her Reserve Best Bitch.
2. 1 ADAM’s Rotherfield Keep a Secret
3. 38 SHARP’s Rachanmill Rogue
NOVICE BITCH
UNDERGRADUATE BITCH
1. 35 RIACH’s Aricdell Kraienkoppe
A lovely two-year-old bitch, very animated and well presented. Well moulded pretty head with flat skull. Good reach of neck and lovely front. Level top-line and good tail-set. Moved well but a little close behind.
GRADUATE BITCH
1. 35 RIACH’s Aricdell Kraienkoppe
2. 21 MACKESSACK-LEITCH’s Finhamspride Kia
Another quality two-year-old bitch, not perhaps shown to her best advantage and a little proud of her tail today. Lovely head with good reach of neck and good front with well let-down hocks. Movement not as good as 1.
POST GRADUATE BITCH
1. 28 MCDONALD’s Skyloch Final Say
A three-year-old black quality bitch with a lovely coat exuding breed type. Beautiful head with dark eye, excellent reach of neck and good front. Short coupled with good top-line. Super animation and moved well.
2. 35 RIACH’s Aricdell Kraienkoppe
3. 21 MACKESSACK-LEITCH’s Finhamspride Kia
LIMIT BITCH
1. 12 GRANT’s Westoncruive Black Aurora
A moderate five-year-old black bitch of lovely proportions with a pleasing head and lovely expression. Good moderate front and rear angulation, with good coupling and good tail-set. A quality exhibit that moved well and was well presented.
2. 39 STEVENSON’s Blacktoft Caress of Steelriver JW
Another quality exhibit, a little smaller than 1. Lovely head and expression with great reach of neck and super front. Level, firm top-line, correct tail-set and good rear angulation. Moved well and beautifully balanced.
OPEN BITCH
1. 42 Thomson’s Caci’s the Dream Catcher a Badcall
A 5-year-old black bitch of moderate proportions with a beautiful moulded head, dark eyes and sweet expression, of excellent type. Good reach of neck well set, with a deep chest and well-defined brisket. Short coupled with moderate, rear angulation and a good tail-set. She moved well and would have been considered for higher honours but was carrying just a little too much weight.
VETERAN BITCH
1. 29 MCDONALD’s Sh Ch Steelriver Dance in the Sun at Skyloch
An 8 year-old bitch displaying breed type and animation. Nothing exaggerated. Pretty head with sweet expression and dark eye. Super front and rear angulation and short couplings. Good tail-set and she flowed around the ring on the move, keen to award her greater honours but today her top-line was a bit soft. Well presented. Pleased to award her Best Bitch, Best Opposite Sex in Show and Best Veteran in Show.
DIANE HOLMAN – NAMTRESA
JUDGE