Yellow Labrador Club

Dear Yellow Labrador Club & Exhibitors,

My sincere thanks to Susie Wiles and the club committee for the opportunity to judge The Yellow Labrador Clubs’ 52nd Championship Show.

My first judging assignment in the UK was truly a bucket-list experience and one I will always treasure. My ring stewards were incredible, helping me every step of the way through the intricacies of the paperwork, and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to them.

The hospitality was outstanding, and I felt so warmly welcomed throughout my stay.

The quality of the Labradors was impressive. Both your dogs and bitches possessed many wonderful qualities, some of which we could certainly benefit from in the USA. I was particularly impressed with the overall condition of the dogs, many of which were presented in an ideal weight. I commend you for your dedication to preserving breed type while maintaining the soundness and physical condition necessary for a working dog, qualities that define the Labrador Retriever.

Thank you to the exhibitors for so graciously accepting my decisions in the ring and for the wonderful sportsmanship shown throughout the day.

It was a truly memorable experience and an honour I will always cherish.

With warmest regards,

Allison Rogers
Devonshire Labradors, USA

The Yellow Labrador Club 52nd Breed Championship Show - Wednesday, September 30th, 2026

Critiques by: Allison Rogers, USA (Devonshire Labradors)

Reserve Best In Show and Bitch CC, Metcalfe, SH CH Baileydale Dizzy Miss Lizzy, A black bitch of exceptional merit. Balanced front to rear, held up by a strong level topline. No surprise, she stood four square full time. Good bone, substance and length of neck set into well placed shoulders and an upper arm correct in angle and length, which she proved in her effortless clean movement. Well sprung barrel ribs, let down hocks and good turn of stifle, that provided strong drive from behind. Had plenty of correct short dense double coat texture with a wrapped otter tail that came straight off the back. Beautiful head piece that is quintessentially Labrador in character while being feminine. A broad back skull with a distinct stop, medium length and correctly shaped muzzle. Head framed by ears hanging close and set back. Displaying kind intelligent eyes, in the right shade of burnt brown sugar. Showed beautifully. A standout. 

Reserve Bitch CC - Baileydale Blondie, Superb yellow bitch with plenty of substance and bone. Well sprung barrel rib with balanced proportions overall and shortly coupled. Beautiful yellow female head piece with a correct medium length of muzzle, close to head ear placement, burnt brown sugar eyes expressing kindness and intelligence. Well let down hocks, plenty of second thigh and strong rear. In good double coat, with correct texture, short and dense. Otter tail that came straight off the back. Tracked cleanly with reach and drive and a solid topline on the move. Showed with enthusiasm. First- rate. 

Best Puppy In Show - Young, Fourjays Harmonic Goddess, Excellent young yellow bitch. Correct head piece, with a broad back skull, definite stop, medium muzzle, short dense coat double coat texture and wrapped otter tail. Balanced with good substance and bone all around, solid topline, well-sprung ribs. Excellent front angulation, well-laid shoulders and correct front triangle, well-let-down hocks with plenty of second thigh, excellent movement on this youngster. Lots of promise.   

Best of Breed - Mills, SH CH Lembas Maui. Very handsome black dog, with impressive breed type who is an exemplary example of our breed. I was particularly impressed by his overall quality, displaying excellent bone, correct balance, a solid topline leading into a good tail set, with clean movement, outstanding coat and a stunning head piece.  

Class 20 - Baby Puppy Bitch 3

1. Metcalfe, Baileydale Coo Ca Choo, Black with lovely breed type, feminine head with kind, intelligent expression, excellent short dense coat texture, good length of neck into well laid back shoulder and overall excellent balanced front, well sprung ribs. Showed and moved well for a youngster that is growing.

2. Grummitt, Manorwell Flamingo, Balanced yellow, with an excellent level strong topline and level tail-set. Pleasing feminine head, with good muzzle shape and medium length with excellent pigment. A little less coat today than the first. Sound and tracked cleanly. 

3. Welford, Ankari’s Strawberry Moon

Class 21 - Minor Puppy Bitch 7 (2)

1. Miles-Bevan, Llanstinan Gold Digger, Well balanced yellow overall, correct dense short coat texture, lovely head, medium eye shape, and correct burnt brown sugar eye color, ear placement hanging close, short coupled, strong level topline, well let down hocks, moved straight and true from all directions. 

2. Dryfus, Billy Jean De L’Etang Balancet, Yellow with pleasing head piece, correct medium muzzle, broad back skull, defined stop. Balanced front to rear, level strong topline, good short dense coat texture with nicely wrapped otter tail. Well let down hocks. Tracked cleanly, just a little longer in body than 1st.

3. Johnson, A Sense Of Pleasure’s Jaz At Cremino

Class 22 - Puppy Bitch 9 (4)

1. Edwards, Simply The Best Meri-Stuart At Bearstone, Standout yellow bitch on the move, strongly built, all parts work well together on the move. Good balance, level topline and tail-set. In excellent condition. Good pigmentation, short coupled, well developed rear. Good length of neck. Correct short dense coat texture and wrapped otter tail.  

2. Percival, Wynfaul Tango, Yellow with feminine head with good muzzle shape and medium length, excellent eye shape and correct burnt brown sugar colored eyes. Good bone throughout, excellent level topline, tracked cleanly. #1 was just slightly more mature on this day. 

3. Mills, Lembas Holly

Class 23 - Junior Bitch 7 (1)

1. Karpova Labramarine Honey Moon, Lovely good sized yellow bitch with an excellent strong topline, shortly coupled, excellent keel, lovely head, good muzzle and back skull. Slightly longer cast. Moved clean from all angles.  

2. Douglas, Capronca Ice Baby At Talard, Splendid chocolate bitch, beautiful balance all around, strong level topline with good tail-set, I can really see how chocolates have improved over the years when I look at a bitch like this. Correct head, broad back skull, defined stop and medium muzzle. Moves with freely and cleanly. A little short on coat today, but you can see it’s the correct texture and a double coat. 

3. Braddon, Trendlewood Only Yesterday

Class 24 - Yearly Bitch 5 (0)

1. Tooth, Mattand Halloween moon By Ludalor JW, Nice sized yellow bitch, with an excellent head piece, broad back skull, medium well shaped strong muzzle, ears hanging close. Correct short dense double coat, well sprung ribs and let down hocks. Strong level topline on the move.  

2. Findjan, Salvator’s hot Summer Rossacre. Black with a lovely head, with correct close ear placement, eyes burnt brown sugar in color and defined stop. Good coat quality, being short, dense and correct double texture. Shown in excellent condition. Has a little less front than #1.

3. Shirton, Woolman Born Free

Class 25 - Maiden Bitch 7 (1)

1. Mills, Lembas Holly, Nicely balanced yellow bitch. Excellent intelligent, kind expression, close ear placement, muzzle medium length, defined stop, lovely eye shape and the correct color of burnt brown sugar. Tracks well coming and going. Strong level topline with tail coming straight off the back. Nicely wrapped tail.  

2. Edwards, Simply The Best Meri-Stuart At Bearstone, Standout yellow bitch on the move, strongly built, all parts work well together on the move. Good balance, level topline and tail-set. In excellent condition. Good pigmentation, short coupled, well developed rear. Good length of neck. Correct short dense coat texture and wrapped otter tail. Would have preferred her shown further from the handler as she broke her topline when too close. 

3. Braddon, Trendlewood Only Yesterday

Class 26 - Novice Bitch 9 (3)

1. Young, Fourjays Harmonic Goddess, Excellent young yellow bitch. Correct head, coat and tail, balanced with good substance and bone all around, solid topline, well-sprung ribs. Excellent front angulation resulting in a good reach of upper arm on the move and well let down strong hocks with plenty of second thigh, resulting in efficient rear drive. Plenty of promise.   

 2. Edwards, Simply The Best Meri-Stuart At Bearstone, Standout yellow bitch on the move, strongly built, all parts work well together on the move. Good balance, level topline and tail-set. In excellent condition. Good pigmentation, short coupled, well developed rear. Good length of neck. Correct short dense coat texture and wrapped otter tail.  

3. Mills, Lembas Holly

Class 27 - Undergraduate Bitch 9 (2)

1. Walton, Gallybob Willo The Wisp, Outstanding yellow bitch in type, head, coat and tail. Balanced all around, perfect length of back and shortly coupled. Excellent fore chest leading into a beautifully angulated front and a rear with a good second thigh into a well let down hock, not surprising she moves effortlessly. Made my cut for the win.   

2. Percival, Wynfaul Tango,Feminine head with good muzzle, eye shape and correct brown. Good bone throughout, excellent level topline, tracks well.  

3. Manning, Marchurch Solstice Kiss JW

Class 28 - Graduate Bitch 10 (6)

1. Grummitt, Manorwell Mustang Sally, Beautiful black bitch, with correct head, coat and tail. Solid level topline, into excellent tail coming right off the back. Tracked free and clean coming and going, and topline held strong on the go around. 

2. Walton, Gallybob Whoops A Daisy, Lots to love about this yellow bitch, super type with the prettiest of heads. Shortly coupled, good length of back, good for-chest and keel. Quality dense short double coat and otter tail that came right off the back. Tracked cleanly.  

3. Young, Potterspiney Ahoska Tano

Class 29 - Post Graduate Bitch 11 (2)

1.Braddon, Trandlewood it Takes Two JW, Quality mature chocolate bitch. Shorter-backed and coupled, balanced front to rear, plenty of coat with short dense double coat texture. Well sprung barrel rib cage, well let down hocks, level topline and nice underline without tuck up.

 2. McLellon, Saranden Book Of Dreams JW, Lovely yellow bitch with a lovely balanced outline and super short dense double coat with correct texture. Good second thigh into well let down hocks. Distinctive otter tail with good wrap coming straight off the back. Moved cleanly and with ease.

3. Wood, Sundyke Secret Arrow

Class 30 - Mid Limit Bitch 8 (0)

1. Metcalfe, Baileydale Blondie, Superb yellow bitch with plenty of substance and bone. Well sprung barrel rib with balanced proportions overall and shortly coupled. Beautiful yellow female head piece with a correct medium length of muzzle, close to head ear placement, burnt brown sugar eyes expressing kindness and intelligence. Well let down hocks, plenty of second thigh and strong rear. In good double coat, with correct texture, short and dense. Otter tail that came straight off the back. Tracked cleanly with reach and drive and a solid topline on the move. Showed with enthusiasm. First- rate. Reserve Bitch CC.

2. Hodge, Naiken Inspiral, Very nice chocolate bitch, with excellent balance front to rear. Correct short dense double coat. Super head, with a broad back skull, defined stop and well shaped strong medium length muzzle. Good bone, level topline with a good tail set coming straight off the back. Tracked well coming and going. 

3. McLellan, Wyfaul Happy New Year For Saranden JW

Class 31 - Limit Bitch 12 (5)

 1. Percival, Wynfaul New Years Eve JW, Quality black bitch, excellent balance overall. Tracked cleanly and moved effortlessly. Strong level topline and a tail set coming straight off the back. Good bone throughout. Hard to find anything not to like, is an overall impressive bitch. 

2. Shirton, Woolman Carefree, The prettiest of heads on this yellow bitch, balanced proportions. Well let down hocks. Kind and intelligent expression with a beautiful burnt brown eye color. Good size. Tracked soundly in all directions. Level topline. Not in her most coat today. 

3. Dodd, Carriegame Precious Jewel

Class 32 - Special Open Yellow Bitch 2 (0)

1. Ennis-Holden, Stand By Me of Misty Dreams, Impressive yellow bitch, with plenty of breed type displayed in her correct head, coat and tail. Excellent nose pigmentation. Kind intelligent expression (perfect eye color), excellent short dense double coat with a well wrapped otter tail coming straight off the back. Good substance and bone. Strong level topline on the go around, exhibiting clean movement. Well let down hocks. One of the best yellow coats on the girls today. Nice length of neck set into well laid shoulders. 

2. McDonald, Crosscroyde Celtic Empress, Mature yellow bitch with a love to show. Excellent bone, pigmentation, compact feet and correct burnt brown sugar eye color. Good width of back skull and correctly shaped muzzle. Movement was less positive in tracking.

Class 33 - Open Bitch 10 (2)

1. Metcalfe, SH CH Baileydale Dizzy Miss Lizzy,A black bitch of exceptional merit. Balanced front to rear, held up by a strong level topline. No surprise, she stood four square full time. Good bone, substance and length of neck set into well placed shoulders and an upper arm correct in angle and length, which she proved in her effortless clean movement. Well sprung barrel ribs, let down hocks and good turn of stifle, that provided strong drive from behind. Had plenty of correct short dense double coat texture with a wrapped otter tail that came straight off the back. Beautiful head piece that is quintessentially Labrador in character while being feminine. A broad back skull with a distinct stop, medium length and correctly shaped muzzle. Head framed by ears hanging close and set back. Displaying kind intelligent eyes, in the right shade of burnt brown sugar. Showed beautifully. A standout. Awarded the CC.

2. Hodge, Naiken Glass Slippers, Impressive chocolate bitch, compact, short backed, shortly coupled, level underline and good solid topline. Excellent coat quality, good tight feet. Lovely breed type with head, coat and tail topped off with nice bone throughout. Tracked cleanly. 

3. Douglas, Talard Whirlwind

Class 34 - Veteran Bitch (7 Years & Over) 6 (2)

1. Baron, Mariank Vanity Fair At Landebec, Veteran yellow bitch in excellent condition. In full coat, with excellent short dense double coat texture, well let down hocks, long neck into well laid back shoulders. stood beautifully square. Moved clean around. 

2. Wilmshurst, Kroppsmarkens Mamma Mia Of Mandamay, Black bitch with a deep body and good barrel rib spring, carrying plenty of coat with a nice wrap on her otter tail. Well let down hocks. Good shoulders into topline. Good underline. Kind expression. Moved soundly. 

3. Collins, Carromer Worth A Glance At Kaspair

Class 35 - Special Veteran Bitch (10 Years & Over) 1

1. Woodley, SH CH A Sense Of Pleasures Yvli At Alkhamhurst, Quality veteran black bitch in excellent condition for age. Correct short dense double coat texture. Good bone front and rear. Kind intelligent expression on a classically beautiful head piece with the correct proportions. Moved clean and soundly. 

Class 36 - Champion Bitch 3 (1)

1. Percival, SH CH Wynfaul Dancing Flame JW, Easy to see why this yellow bitch is a champion. Lovely breed type. Short dense coat with an otter tail well wrapped and a tail set straight off the topline. Well sprung ribs, solid level topline. Good balance front to rear, moved soundly and with ease around the ring. 

2. Woodley, SH CH Alkamhurst London Girl, Champion black with many lovely qualities . Balanced with a long neck into well placed shoulders flowing into a solid level topline. Moved freely and clean. Correct dense double coat texture with nicely wrapped otter tail carried perfectly off the back. Excellent head piece with good muzzle shape and medium length, defined stop and a broad back skull with well laid ears.   

Class 37 - Field Trial Bitch 2 (1) 

1. Partridge, Braidenvale Cutter, Black with excellent shoulders into the topline, good turn of stifle, shortly coupled, correct broad skull and good length and shape of muzzle. A little on the taller side carrying a less bone and front. Moved easily around the ring. Impressed with this dog's temperament and calm disposition. 

Class 38 - Special Working Bitch, 6 (0)

1. Coode, CH Warringah’s Pippingarra JW, Yellow champion bitch, full of quality. Good bone and substance, balanced front to rear, shortly coupled, beautiful head piece with kindest of eyes, close ear placement, broad back skull and muzzle of excellent shape with medium length. Carrying correct short dense double coat and texture. Moved with purpose and ease, tracking well.   

2. Welford, Richbourne Legally Blonde At Ankari, Yellow with good topline into well placed shoulders. Excellent rear angulation with well let down hocks. Stood four square and tracked cleanly. Not in her full coat today but easy to see the texture was correct.  

3. Partridge, Braidenvale Cutter