National Gundog Association

NATIONAL GUNDOG ASSOCIATION CH SHOW – 3 AUGUST 2025

BEST PUPPY IN SHOW AND BEST IN SHOW

JUDGE: CHRIS BEXON

It is really good to be back at the NGA Championship Gundog Show having been retired a little over two years as Secretary, a position I held for twenty-five years. Coming back to the Three Counties Showground and seeing the Malvern Hills gives me that ‘Good to be home feeling’ which I always get.

The venue still has such good facilities which can deal with any weather no matter how inclement.

It was a great honour to be voted to undertake this prestigious appointment by the twenty-three member clubs of the NGA, who have always supported and delivered the right decision which enhances the work of the hard-working Officers and Committee who deliver year in year out. I hope I did not disappoint!

I would further like to applaud all the breed judges here today. First of all, my decisions were largely based on the quality of the breed type sent forward which was quite outstanding and almost every breed example has to some degree shown they were fit for function, with degrees of resilience whilst on the move, having correct construction and musculature, giving the positive impression that they could do a fair day’s work and they possessed structural soundness.

I chose the following 8 puppy breeds for further consideration:-

Bracco Italiano, Gordon Setter, Pointer, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Labrador Retriever, American Cocker Spaniel, Welsh Springer Spaniel and Weimaraner.

After a further movement phase I placed the following

BPIS Shirton’s Woolman Free and Easy, Retriever (Labrador) dog

Wow what an exciting Yellow Lab youngster, at eight months of age, beautifully handled getting the best out of him. I thought he just stood out, so typical of the breed standing firm, balanced all through, with a very nice head, ears not oversized but well placed, he had a lovely dark eye, good clean muzzle and neat stop. I thought his front was correct with good bone, straight, with decent width of chest and pleasing feet. His topline was level and strong, I liked his spring of ribs and strong loin. I thought he had a good turn of stifle and strong hocks. He moves well with his tail carried well and used to advantage. I thought he had a good puppy coat developing. So sound on the move.

Res BPIS Mayhew’s BB’s Chesapeake Breeding Dory for Arnac (Imp Che) Retriever (Chesapeake Bay) Bitch. I loved this youngster from one of my favourite Retriever breeds. She is so well put together from a breed perspective, with strength and such a good strong mover. She has a very good head with correctly placed ears, moderate stop, medium length of neck with good shoulder and upper arm angulation. I liked her body shape, with very good underline and correct topline, the best of legs and feet. Shown in excellent puppy coat.

3rd BP Kennedy’s Droveborough Black Magic, Pointer bitch, a feminine black and white, well up for size, with a super outline, everything just flowed together and already a balanced series of graceful curves, smart and so clean in outline, with a very nice head and expression, elegant length of neck, strong shoulders with good angle to upper arm. She had a reasonable width of chest, straight forelegs, with decent pastern angulation and tight feet. She has a correct topline and body shape with a really good tail set, her tail slashing from side to side on the move which looks good. Both front movement and rear drive were impressive, from well angulated rear quarters and well let down hocks. Shown in good condition. You could see she really was enjoying herself.

4th BP Knowles’ Menstonia Endurance, Spaniel (Welsh Springer) dog. What a lovely balanced youngster, of good size and shape, with really good markings, nicely constructed fore and aft, with very balanced head, good stop and nicely shaped muzzle. He has a reasonably long neck and is clean in throat. Thought that he had a good length of leg to depth of body. He has a moderate bend of stifle and good feet. With good reach and drive on the move, he was covering the ground well with some style.

Best in Show

For Best in Show I short listed the following breeds for further consideration:-

German Shorthaired Pointer, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter, Large Munsterlander, Pointer, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Curly Coated Retriever, Clumber Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel and Weimaraner. Such was the quality I have never chosen so many in my short list.

BIS Milligan-Bott & Bott’s Sh Ch Thendara Big Love JW, Irish Setter. A mature looking 3 ½ yr old male, racy in outline, with some degree of elegance. He has a beautiful head, long and lean, with a lovely expression, correct ear length and set. I appreciated he had a decent length of neck into good shoulders, he had some forechest, straight forelegs of good bone and nice tight feet. His ribs were well sprung and he had a relatively short loin. His topline was correct with a gentle slope. His coat quality was magnificent, so gleaming which caught your attention wherever he stood in the lineup. On the move he just delivered sound movement with good forward reach and strong rear action. His head was carried well out in front whilst maintaining his topline and tail carriage.

Res BIS Mahon-Hunns, Hunns & Newton’s Sh Ch Arnac Bay Huron at Bergelle JW, Retriever (Chesapeake Bay) a 7 yr old dog. A favourite of mine which I have placed highly before now. At the height of his maturity, he is a picture of strength, well balanced, with a deep and fairly wide chest. Of a good size and plenty of substance. I liked his head shape, balanced muzzle and skull, broad and rounded with a moderate stop. He has smallish ears which are balanced and well set quite high. I liked his strong neck, of medium length, into good shoulders with good upper arm angulation. He has the correct underline for the breed. Strong, straight, well boned forelegs and good hind angulation with decent feet, impressed me no end and delivered correct movement. Finally, I thought his coat was of real quality for this time of the year a tight close weave.

Group 3 Stephens’ Sh Ch Ravenho Up Town Girl for Brightmeadow JW, Retriever (Curly Coated) This is a very feminine 3 year old bitch, black with a very clean outline where everything just flows together. Her head shape can be best described as a wedge from any angle. Obviously, the curly coat is described as the hallmark of the breed. Her coat is really good and is a series of small tight curls lying close together, which cover the whole of her upper body. She is very well constructed fore and aft, with a good body shape. She moves so well and delivers a strong head carriage and correct level topline and her tail just flows off her back in a straight line.

Group 4 Topliss’ Sh Ch Sandylands Stand N Deliver, Spaniel (English Springer) I really liked this 5 yr old male, super type, loved his outline, of correct medium size, with a very nice shaped head, with the skull and muzzle being balanced. He has oval shaped eyes of a dark hazel colour which give an alert expression. His neck was strong and of a medium good length. He has good shoulders, straight well boned forelegs and tight feet. I appreciated his strong topline and good body shape. His hindquarters have decent angulation and he has shortish rear pasterns which are strong on the move and perpendicular, he can drive. His front legs have good reach, a joy to watch.

Judge: Chris Bexon