National Gundog Association

National Gundog Association 

Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)

Sunday, 2 August 2026

Mr Anthony Allen (Allenie)

Thank you to National Gundog for inviting me to judge, to the exhibitors for entering under me and my thanks to Sue and Andy my stewards for keeping me on the straight and narrow. I was a replacement judge for Tracy Butler and I wish her a speedy recovery. It was a super entry and there was a real depth of quality, for a numerically small breed, it felt that it was in a good place.

My DCC was awarded to Riptide Gentlemens Relish (Mr R & Mrs S Playle & Thomas) who really impressed me for breed type. My RDCC, came from second in open in Sh Ch Tideflight Floki (Mr J M & Mrs J M Hayes). My BCC and later BOB was the topflight youngster Bb's Chesapeake Breeding Dory for Arnac (Imp Che) (Mrs C S & Mrs G Mayhew & Mccartney), with the RBCC going to my Best Veteran in Sh Ch Oakmarsh Dancing Diva VW (Miss C A Pont). My Best Puppy was the exciting youngster Glaneils Echo Beach (Mr S A & Mrs C L Broomfield) and my Best Special Beginner was the lovely Tideflight Cassiopeia (Miss G & Miss A Tarling-Roberts & Ilbury)

Veteran Dog Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST Sh Ch Chesepi Waco (Mr D N Rigby)

I liked this one. His head has refined and has a masculine, kind expression with a good eye. Strong through the neck, shoulders well set and standing on good legs. He has depth to his chest; ribs are well sprung. Well-made quarters, stifles well bent. Moved with accuracy of foot fall. Pleased to see he has his title, totally deserved in my opinion, thank you for bringing him. Not in his best jacket so lost out to the bitch in the veteran challenge.

Puppy Dog Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1ST Glaneils Enjoy The Silence (Mr D N Rigby)

This young man is seven and a half months and, in my opinion, a very exciting prospect, at this age everything is in the right place and developing as it should be. Head of good proportions with a kind eye. Super front on him, good lay back of shoulder and return of upper arm. Body of good proportion and quarters are well made. Moved out really well once he settled. Super coat. My pleasure to award him Best Puppy Dog, just pipped by his sister for Best Puppy. 

2ND Oakmarsh Naughty Rascal (Mrs L & Mr R Thompson)

Pleasing type of dog, just eight months and progressing in the right direction, a shade longer cast and rangier than the winner. He has a good head and expression, strong through the neck, shoulders well placed. Stands on well boned legs and good feet. Depth to chest good for his age and ribs well made, a shade long in loin. Excellent quarters. Coat super, well covered with a good texture. Needs to settle on the move to complete the picture, he was clearly having fun today which is great to see in a puppy.  

3RD Oakmarsh Naughty Paws (Mrs L & Mr L & Miss K Blaber)

Junior Dog Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST Glaneils Enjoy The Silence (Mr D N Rigby) Repeat 

2ND Oakmarsh Naughty Rascal (Mrs L & Mr R Thompson) Repeat

Novice Dog Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST Oakmarsh Naughty Rascal (Mrs L & Mr R Thompson) Repeat

Graduate Dog Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST Battsrock Smoke On The Water (Mrs D & Mr T Herring)

A smart youngster, 22 month old. I liked his head piece, good through the neck in to well set shoulders. Stands on good legs and feet. Well made in body with balanced proportions. Ribs and loin developing as they should be and well-made quarters. Moved out very well with a good action. In excellent coat and condition, I could feel a good oily texture. I considered him in the challenge, today he didn’t have the finish of the principal winners. I am sure he will do very well as he matures, he is a smart young dog.

Open Dog Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1ST Riptide Gentlemens Relish (Mr R & Mrs S Playle & Thomas)

A smart dog, he has a super outline on the stack with balanced angles front and rear. Head is well made with good overall proportion a shade strong in back skull for me, good eye which enhances his expression. Clean reach of neck into well laid shoulders, stands on well boned legs and good feet. Ribs well sprung and firm in loin. Quarters are well developed with stifles well bent. In really hard condition and a super typical coat on him. Moved out well to take the DCC, his second I was told later.

2ND Sh Ch Tideflight Floki (Mr J M & Mrs J M Hayes)

Another good one with a lot to like about him. Clean in outline with good balance, head is masculine with a kind expression. Strong in neck, well placed shoulders. Good depth in chest, needs to tighten in elbow which he will do as he matures. Body of good proportions, ribs well sprung. Scored in hindquarters which were powerful and well bent stifles. Moved out well but tended to run away with his handler and was not as tidy on the up and down as the winner, needs a better coat texture. Happy to award him the RCC today.

3RD Sh Ch/nld Ch Pixiesrock Mr Tumnus by Bleyos JW (Mr G & Mrs T Boyles)

Special Beginners Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST Tideflight Cassiopeia (Miss G & Miss A Tarling-Roberts & Ilbury)

I liked her head shape; her expression is feminine. Good through the neck in to well set shoulders. I would prefer her tighter in elbow. Stands on good straight legs, ribs good for age and good overall body proportions. Super quarters with stifles well bent. Coat just on the change at the moment but I could still feel the correct texture. Did enough on the move to take the class. Please to make her my Best Special Beginner.

2ND Oakmarsh Naughty Rascal (Mrs L & Mr R Thompson) Repeat

Veteran Bitch Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST Sh Ch Oakmarsh Dancing Diva VW (Miss C A Pont)

One who has done well under me in the past, now rising ten this lady was determined to show the youngsters how to do it today, she came in the ring, full of attitude. She has a lovely head and expression with a lovely kind eye, with a hint of mischief about her. Clean in neck into well placed shoulders and a good return of upper arm. Good depth of chest, stands on straight well boned legs. He body is well proportioned; ribs are well sprung and she is short coupled. Well-developed quarters with stifles well bent. Good on the move, smooth in action. Delighted to award her the RCC. My Best Veteran.

Puppy Bitch Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST Glaneils Echo Beach (Mr S A & Mrs C L Broomfield)

Another exciting youngster here, just 10 months and so well put together for her age. I loved her feminine head and expression, good shape and very pretty. Super front on her, shoulders well set and a good return of upper arm, good depth of chest for her age. Stands on well boned legs and neat feet. Body is well developed and well-made quarters. A bit out of coat which cost her in the challenge. If she carries on growing in this vein, she will have a bright future ahead of her. My Best Puppy and later delighted to watch her awarded PG4. Good luck with her

2ND Oakmarsh Mischief Maker (Miss K Watts)

Another pleasing puppy, eight months old, out of a different mould to the winner and at that growing stage, so not quite as balanced. Pleasing head and expression. She has a good overall shape and proportions. Well-made in body, slightly longer cast. Super quarters on her. Coat in good condition. Moved out well with a good action to take this place.

Junior Bitch Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1ST Penrose Water Pistol (Mrs J Morris)

Another super youngster from this clever breeder, has typed stamped through her. Now 15 months, she has a super outline and balance. I liked her head shape; her expression is feminine. Good through the neck in to well set shoulders. Stands on good straight legs, ribs good for age and good overall body proportions. Super quarters with stifles well bent. Moved out well with excellent footfall. Just needs to get her coat back and she will be pushing for top honours. 

2ND Glaneils Echo Beach (Mr S A & Mrs C L Broomfield) Repeat

3RD Tideflight Cassiopeia (Miss G & Miss A Tarling-Roberts & Ilbury)

Novice Bitch Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST Oakmarsh Mischief Maker (Miss K Watts) Repeat

2ND Battsrock Carolina (Mr G & Mrs J E Constable & Morton)

Well-made girl wouldn’t want any more of her but still balanced with good overall proportions. Head has good overall proportions, a tad strong in back skull for my tastes. Strong through the neck, good depth of chest and stands on well boned legs and decent feet.  

Post Graduate Bitch Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1ST Battsrock So Fine from Sharbae (Mrs S Baxandall)

Nice type of bitch and a lot to like about her. She had good overall balance and proportions; her head is feminine with a good eye shape. She has depth to her chest; ribs are well sprung, and she is good through the loin. Quarters well made with good rear angulation. Moved out well with a good action to take this class. Coat just on the blow but enough today to take this class. 

2ND Arnac Bay Inca (Ms S Worrall)

Another good type of bitch but for me I would just like a little bit more substance all through. She is six and a half and a well-made bitch with a pleasing head and a kind expression. Neck in to shoulders clean, good layback of shoulder but needs a little more return of forearm. Stands on well boned legs and feet. Ribs well sprung and firm in loin, well-made quarters, decent bend of stifle. Coat of good texture and in hard condition. Moved out very well with a good action. 

3RD Oakleaf Manor Bay of Oakmarsh (Imp Deu) JW Sgwc Ratn (Miss K Watts)

Limit Bitch Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1ST Bb's Chesapeake Breeding Dory for Arnac (Imp Che) (Mrs C S & Mrs G Mayhew & Mccartney)

What an exciting class this was headed by this super young bitch. I thought she excelled in breed type. She has a super headpiece with good width of muzzle. She has a strong neck into well laid-back shoulders. Good front assembly, she stands on straight legs and tight feet. Well made in body, ribs well sprung and firm in loin. Quarters are well made, stifles well bent and she is well muscled. She moved out with a smooth, effortless gait. She got better and better through the judging. I could not deny her the CC and later BOB

2ND Oakmarsh Laurel JW (Mrs L & Mr L & Miss K Blaber)

I liked this young bitch a lot and she was in consideration for the RCC. She has a super head piece, well-proportioned with a kind eye to give a feminine expression. Good through the neck in to well set shoulders, good return of forearm, stands on good straight legs. She has the correct depth of chest for her age; ribs are well sprung and she is firm through the loin. Quarters are well developed and stifles well bent, well-muscled up. In excellent coat and condition. Moved out well to complete the picture. Should have a bright future ahead of her.

3RD Oakmarsh Kingsley Adsila (Miss A & Mr S Corcoran & Jones)

Open Bitch Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST Glaneils Cut Your Groove (Mr S A & Mrs C L Broomfield)

Smart bitch with a lot to like about her, rising six and half, she is full of breed type. She has an appealing feminine head and expression, good overall shape and proportions. Shoulders well laid back and good return of upper arm, good depth of chest and stands on well boned legs. Ribs well sprung and a decent length of loin. Quarters well developed with a good bend of stifle. Not long off a litter and not quite as in condition of the principal winner or would have pushed them hard.

2ND Oakmarsh Little Acorn JW Ratn (Miss K Watts)

Was just a puppy last time I judged the breed so nice to see her again as the finished article. She is a well made bitch of good proportions, head pleasing of good shape, good eye colour. Strong in neck, shoulders well placed and a decent return of upper arm. Stands on good legs and neat feet. Body of good proportions, coat of good condition and correct texture. Well-developed quarters with a good bend of stifle. Sadly, was not fluid on the move today.