Carluke & District Canine Society

Golden Retriever

Carluke & District Canine Society

20th December 2025

Judge: Maryanne Stokes (18761)

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General Remarks

I would like to thank the committee for the invitation to judge Golden Retrievers, my steward who was fabulous, and the exhibitors for their support. I was pleased with the entry and found the overall quality to be good; however, there were some areas of concern, notably bites, feet, forehand construction, and lack of second thigh. On the plus side, I found the dogs to be of correct weight, nicely presented, with no high tail carriage, and all were sparkling clean — which, as we all know, is not always the case!

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Class 79 – Puppy (4 entries, 1 absent)

1st – Mrs A E Macleod – Garline Scarlett Ribbons

Just a baby at 6 months old, a well-balanced youngster displaying many of the qualities I would expect to see at this age. Feminine, pretty head with a kind expression, dark brown eyes, and well-pigmented rims. Correct bite. Good length of neck flowing smoothly into well laid shoulders. Chest of good depth. Forelegs straight with good bone and neat, tight cat-like feet. Hindquarters well angulated with good width and development of second thigh. Straight, strong hocks, especially when viewed from behind. Coat of correct texture, albeit a puppy coat, shown in excellent condition. Moved with a playful baby bounce, clearly enjoying her day, yet remained sound and balanced throughout. Presented and handled well.

Best Puppy in Breed

2nd – Miss Louise Carlton – Thistlegate Sonoma Moon

9-month-old dog, a quality exhibit with many virtues. Pleasing head and expression with good eye and pigment. Correct bite. Good shoulder placement and level topline. Forehand adequate, though feet could be tighter. Hindquarters well muscled, though would benefit from more second thigh. Coat of correct texture and colour. Moved well in profile.

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Class 80 – Graduate (11 entries, 5 present)

1st – Mr & Mrs Bolton – Goldmarker I Dreamed A Dream

Best of Breed

15-month-old dog with a beautiful, well-presented mid-golden coat. Lovely head with dark pigment and a beautiful expressive eye, good depth of muzzle. Stands four-square with good solid bone and tight cat-like feet. Balanced throughout, with a well-constructed forehand showing correct shoulder placement and return of upper arm, elbows tight. Good depth of chest, well-sprung ribs, and short-coupled. Broad, well-muscled rear with defined second thigh, straight, strong hocks, especially when viewed from behind. Moved effortlessly around the ring, displaying efficient movement both in profile and from behind. A great future ahead, I am sure.

2nd – Sharon McCormack – Flyngalee Topsy Turvy (210)

Reserve Best of Breed

16-month-old mid to pale golden dog, another impressive young male. Stands four-square, with dark eye and a nicely masculine head. Forehand well constructed with good return of upper arm, tight feet. Nice width to hindquarters. Moved efficiently from behind and in profile. A well-balanced boy, but today the winner just took my eye.

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Class 80 – Limit (8 entries, 4 present)

1st – Miss Mandy McDonald – Lamancha Time Traveller

Presents a well-balanced, symmetrical outline. Well-chiselled head with dark kind eye and soft expression. Ears set level with eye. Good length of neck into laid-back shoulders, placing legs well under the body with tight elbows. Straight forelegs and lovely cat-like feet. Level topline. Well-muscled hindquarters with straight, strong hocks, especially when viewed from behind. Moved with ease around the ring and worked beautifully with his handler.

2nd – Carlton – Fhairmhor Moonlight Sonata at Thistlegate

Beautifully presented, balanced bitch with a feminine head and dark eye. Good forehand, good length of neck into well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Nice depth of chest and well-sprung rib, though slightly longer in coupling than 1st. Strong level topline. Well-boned straight front legs with cat-like feet. Good hindquarters with straight, strong hocks, especially when viewed from behind. Moved effortlessly around the ring with good reach and drive, both in profile and from behind, with correct tail carriage. Attractive golden coat.

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Class 81 – Open (9 entries, 4 present)

1st – Miss Mandy McDonald – Lamancha Obsidian Flame

4-year-old feminine bitch with the gentlest of expressions. Dark eye, ears set level. Good length of neck into a well-constructed forehand. Straight front legs, shoulders well laid back with good return of upper arm, elbows tight and legs set well underneath. Lovely tight feet. Level topline. Good hindquarters, strong through loin and legs, straight, strong hocks, especially when viewed from behind. Super muscle tone. She flowed around the ring on the move with reach and drive. Very well presented and in excellent condition.

2nd – Mrs Katrina Wallis & Mr Adrian Wallis – Blue Gemstone Katrina at Camellis

A mature mid-golden dog with a masculine, balanced head and kind soft expression. Ears set level with eye. Good reach of neck leading into well laid shoulders. Forelegs straight with tight elbows set well underneath the body. Good ribs and depth of chest. Good width across the hindquarters, strong loin. Came alive on the move, moving well in profile and from behind. Very happy in the ring, his tail never stopped wagging.

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Maryanne Stokes

Anneymar