National Gundog Association

National Gundog Association 2nd August 2026

Retriever (Curly Coated)

Delighted to have received this judging invitation and thankyou to the clubs who nominated me for this. I have not been at many shows in recent years so it was great to get my hands on some super dogs, so thank you to the exhibitors for bringing your dogs. I had the best stewards who kept everything running so smoothly.

Generally the breed is in a good place, although some hind movement is still weaker than I’d like and lots of dogs not in the best of jackets. The coat is such a key feature of our breed so I did need to penalise some good dogs who will have their day another time. Please also just watch the amount of weight some dogs are carrying, they should be fit, working dogs, capable of a day’s work.

Veteran Dog (Entry 1)

1st Clack’s Bazzy Inti Anka at Molokain. Lovely dark liver male, 7 yrs. Nicely made throughout but quite compact and on the smaller size. Coat good. Moved well. Best Veteran.

Puppy Dog (Entries 2)

1st Davies, Bradstock, Thygesen & Hansen’s Skaringen’s Isinglass Viii Con Redanimo (IMP Nor). Super quality young male. Beautifully put together and well made throughout. Pleasing head. Strong bone. Moved well round the ring, going to be quite the showman. I will watch this dog with interest as I’m sure he will have a very bright future. Best Puppy in breed, shortlisted in puppy group to final 8.  

2nd Miller, Millichamp & Whitehead’s Foxriever The Seeker. First show for this real baby, very green and overwhelmed by the day. Movement very erratic. Needs time but his day will come. Nice shape and quality about him, good coat.  

Junior Dog (1 entry, 1 absent)

Novice Dog (1 entry)

1st Sutton & Whitehead’s Foxriever Fire Fly (AI). Lovely dark liver, would have liked a slightly darker eye colour. Masculine head of correct proportions, strong neck. Good front assembly and good spring of rib. Well off for bone. Substantial boy but doesn’t need to carry any more weight. Movement ok, true and steady.

Graduate Dog (2 entries, 1 absent)

1st Edworthy’s Brightmeadow Man of Steel. Quality liver, truly masculine. Good overall size and type. Plenty of bone. Strong neck. Lacking a little width to front assembly. Deep brisket. Would benefit from more strength through hind quarters, which was also evident on the move as missing any drive and rather an untidy gait. 

Post Graduate (1 entry)

1st Sutton & Whitehead’s Foxriever Immortal Spirit JW. Good breed type. Loved his wedge shaped head on a truly masculine and elegant dog. Strong neck into well laid back shoulders. Good width to chest. Good length of leg with plenty of bone throughout. Well muscled. Good sound mover, holding topline well. Shown in good coat. 

Limit Dog (5 entries)

1st James’s Kahawei Sea The Stars JW

This dog real caught my eye, upstanding well made quality boy. Super head, strong neck, good level topline, angulations fore and after correct. I’d go as far as saying he was in the best condition of any exhibit, fit, well muscled, correct weight, gleaming tight curled coat. His movement was just inconsistent today, just not wanting to strut his stuff. Was a warm day, maybe just not feeling it today. Would have loved to consider him for high awards but just not the full package. I’m confident his day will come.

2nd Valentine’s Ravenho Tallow Tango at Pattonia. Upstanding, substantial male, well made throughout. Well off for bone, good forechest, strong topline. Moved well. Would benefit from carrying a little less weight

3rd Clack, Battle-Hunter & Eddery’s Krisbos Leonidas with Molokain JW

Reserve Dick’s Firecurl Excalibur

VHC Miller & Millichamp Foxriever Solent Solstice at Wighcurls

Open Dog (2 entries)

1st Hodson’s Sh Ch Rowancurl Gentle Gaelor. Super, quality outstanding black male. I have judged this boy before when he was much younger. I loved him then, but now he has flourished and matured beautifully. Excellent overall balance, substance with a touch of elegance! Nothing exaggerated. Masculine classic head. Strong neck, level firm topline. Movement was good, drive and balanced. Beautifully presented and handled Delighted to award him the DCC. 

2nd Edworthy’s Maycourt Heartbreaker ShCEx. Another quality well made exhibit and close up decision to the winner. Upstanding black male. Pleasing head, strong neck into well laid shoulders. Correct angulations throughout. Excellent coat and condition. Moved well, balanced and holding himself well. RDCC. 

Special Beginners (1 entry)

1st Arnold & Dobson’s Roughyeds Regal George at Treecave. Black male, compact type. I’d like a tighter curl on coat. Special Beginner.

Veteran Bitch (1 entry)

1st Cummings’s Molokain Enchanted One

Black, 7 year old. Nicely made. Pretty feminine head of good proportions. Moved ok, quite close movement behind, but also lacking some enthusiasm on the move, but appreciate it was a warm day. Best Veteran Bitch.

Puppy Bitch (1 entry)

1st Whitehead’s Foxriever The Sorceress. First show and like her litter brother very green. Very pretty feminine head. Nicely made throughout. Good coat. Movement very erratic, did see some nice strides, but difficult to assess fully. 

Junior Bitch (5 entries, 2 absent)

1st Mercer & Thomas’s Crimwell Trouble Maker at Stormacre. Feminine classic type and promising youngster, shown in good condition. Ticked lots of boxes. I liked her overall shape and balance. Pleasing head, strong neck, firm topline. Good depth to brisket and strong hind quarters. Moved well. 

2nd Gadd’s Tessmene Chantilly. Very close up decision to 1. Another promising youngster. Everything is in the right place just needs time to tighten up on the move. 

3rd Whitehead’s Foxriever’s The Sorceress

Novice Bitch (2 entries, 2 absent)

Graduate Bitch (1 entry, 1 absent)

Post Graduate (2 entries)

1st Courtier’s Maycourt Cover Shot. Pretty liver bitch. Super type, quality and balanced. Good coat and plenty of it. Moved effortlessly round the ring. 

2nd Cummings & Stokes Maycourt Island Girl for Breichside. Another good example but just not the movement of class winner. Feminine wedge shaped head. Strong and well made throughout.

Limit Bitch (6 entries, 1 absent)

1st Courtier’s Maycourt Take Me To The Top JW. Exceptionally smart and eye catching. Excels in type and loved her shape and balance, everything just flows. Beautiful feminine head, strong neck with firm topline. Excellent forehand assembly, straight limbs, nicely boned. Moved superbly round, everything together. Delighted to award the BCC and find it was her crowning third one, congratulations. Tough decision for BOB, loved them both but bitch just pipped dog on movement. Best of breed.  

2nd Evans’s Rowancurl Beachcomber. I liked this girl a lot but she met some tough competition today. Feminine head with sweet expression. Well made with good bone and tight feet. Coat tightly curled. Good sound solid movement.

3rd Peake’s Ravenho Midnight Miracle at Saxonholme

Reserve Perkns’s Maycourt Miss Sweetness at Tengore

VHC Whitehead & Sutton’s Foxriever’s Sea Fyre JW

Open Bitch (5 entries, 1 absent)

1st Carrick’s Sh Ch Tessmene Tickety Boo. A worthy champion and you can see why. Stunning black bitch, ozzing quality and type. Superbly moved at one with handler, flowed effortless round ring. RBCC.

2nd Evans’s Kukkasen Keita by Caballus. Liver bitch. I liked the type and quality. Strong and balanced picture. Good head with neatly placed ears. Angulation correct fore and hind. Moved well. Correct coat.

3rd Rule’s Overbore Raise The Stakes

Reserve Clark & Eddery’s Sh Ch Molokain Hocus Pocus

Liz Lacey