Golden Retriever Club

Judge Results: Sue Pounds-Longhurst

The Golden Retriever Club Ch Show

Saturday, 11 July 2026

Show Results

DCC    McGugan’s Westlow The Legend of Fingal to Invergoil Culzean

RDCC    Coad’s Tinklersroc Bon Bon 

BCC    Crookes & Jenkinson’s Sh Ch Quakerhall Flare by Pandora JW 

RBCC    Buckles Brazenbeacon Artemis JW 

BIS    Crookes & Jenkinson’s Sh Ch Quakerhall Flare by Pandora JW 

RBIS    McGugan’s Westlow The Legend of Fingal to Invergoil Culzean 

BOS    McGugan’s Westlow The Legend of Fingal to Invergoil Culzean

BPIS    Loach & Zubair Berrymeade Merlot 

BOSP    Phipps-Baker & Baker’s Maddouse Just Trouble

BVIS    Fosdike’s Meiepere You Are My Sunshine (Imp Est) Est/lva Jch Balt Jw'18

OV    Roper’s Catnnels Inside Story for Brensham SGWC VW

BBP     Taylor & Tenn’s Strettonhills Tickled Pink

It was an absolute joy to be selected by ballot to judge the males at this prestigious club’s show.   My thanks go to the Committee and stewards, Karen, Di, Sue and Amanda for looking after me so well and keeping the ring running smoothly on such a hot day.   

I love our breed and was delighted to receive a numerically strong entry, given current trends.   The heat obviously played a part in absenteeism which is understandable.   Fortunately, on the day it only appeared to affect a few exhibits, and the quality was still strong to give me plenty of choice when deciding on top honours.   There were at least seven class winners under initial consideration.   The results literally came down to final performances.   The day came to a memorable close with both my co-judge Cheryl Bawden and me being able to agree on all decisions.

It has been an interesting journey judging the breed over the last fifty years, seeing various changes and concerns.   In the seventies kennel types were easily distinguishable.   Certainly not now.   Some areas of concern have seen improvement such as shoulders, hind angulation and body length to height ratio.  Currently weight is on Breed Watch as the only concern for the breed.  I am pleased to report I only found three to be overweight of the ninety-nine judged.   

On the day there were three other areas of concern I had.   I found more straight shoulders than I expected and too long a loin length.   The latter I have mentioned before.   Our standard requires a short coupling!  Thirdly incorrect movement.   There was a lot of loose and close action coming, and going away in particular; crabbing and too much movement of the flesh across the back.  When trotting the legs can converge slightly but they should not touch, cross or be too wide and the pasterns/feet should not flap. The line from the shoulder through the elbow, front pastern to the foot should remain unbroken.   The same applies in the rear from the hip through the hock to the foot.

Crabbing in some instances if seen both ways would have been most likely due to unbalanced front and rear angulation but if seen just going away was probably because dogs were pulling to the left in anticipation of turning left to do a triangle.   Please encourage your dogs to trot in straight lines so front and rear action can be assessed correctly.

Baby PD 3/1A

Both, just four months coped admirably and will no doubt have fun along the way and may well change places as their development progresses.

1ST    Taylor’s Calacarey over The Moon by Tannadice 

Head form appealed, already with a good stop and muzzle depth.   Nice straight front with good bone.   Clean neck and set, compact body and balanced angulation.   Stacked foursquare comfortably with a good bend of stifle and straight hocks.    Gold coated.

 2ND    Taylor and Tenn’s Strettonhills True North 

Paler coated, well bodied with deep well sprung ribs and short coupling.  Straight front, neat feet and good reach of neck.   Coming and going action not dissimilar to 1.   Although I preferred his outline on the move I felt 1 was a little more masculine and together overall.

VD (7+ yrs) 8/5A   Both 1 and 2 aged seven.

1ST         Taylor’s Alibren Eccles at Tannadice JW 

Lovely kind head and eye.   Has the levelest of toplines with a super short coupling giving strength to his carriage in movement.   Nicely bodied and proportioned in a full cream jacket but its length does give a false picture to his depth.  Stands four- square at ease for his handler with the straightest of fronts on the neatest catlike well-trimmed feet.   Excellent hindquarters with good breadth of thigh and second thigh.   Moved steadily and true with the best going away action in the class.   BVD

 2ND        Bates Akenscales Waterloo 

Another with a pleasing but masculine head.   Larger frame all through than 1 and with a slightly paler cream coat.   Clean in neck which is well set.   Straight front, ribs well sprung with plenty of heart room and depth.   Angulation balanced throughout.   Good second thigh length.   Scores well with his profile action.

3RD    Robinson’s Baricia Emporio Diamond JW 

SpVD (9+ yrs) 8/2A   An amazing class of gents ranging in age from nine to eleven years

1ST     Maynard’s Ch Chinnordale Cue Card JW

A favourite of mine although I’ve only judged him once before in 2022.   Has one of the kindest heads with the most appealing expression of love for his handler as well as all the angulation, balance and symmetry attributes the standard requires.   Well boned and nicely bodied.   Maintains a firm level topline and tail set standing and moving.   Moved well in the class but sadly not quite as well in the challenge some six hours later!   Maybe the heat and or length of day took its toll.  His well-conditioned dark gold coat glistened in the sunshine.

2ND    Wright’s Palton Pavarotti VW

Not dissimilar to 1 for type and colour but in a larger frame.   Masculine head but expression a little strong for my taste.   Good reach of neck and set, straight front, good bone, nicely animated on the best of catlike feet and pasterns.   Well balanced and bodied throughout with a strong level topline and tail set held well on the move.

 3RD    Phipps-Baker & Baker’s Maddouse Top Hat 

MPD 13/0A   Delighted to see a goodly number of MP’s coming through and all present.   Development varied considerably which only a few weeks will change.  Both 1 and 2 were almost nine months.

1ST    Loach and Zubair’s Berrymeade Merlot 

Super balance all through with the desired angulation front and back, length of neck, level topline, short coupling and brisket depth, producing an appealing outline.   Good head, bone, pasterns and feet.   Best mover in the class from all three views with a well-presented gold coat.   BPD and BPIS.

 2ND    Evans Mardargold Trick or Treat 

Another who impressed from the start of the class with his well-made frame, overall balance, movement and dead level firm topline.   One of the few to have no body roll!  Pushed 1 hard but was not quite as animated.   In a lighter gold coat had a lovely head, dark eye and pigment, good bone and feet.   

3RD    Foreman’s Ambersun Another Adventure (ai) 

PD 15/6A

1ST    Berrymeade Merlot – see 1 in MPD

 2ND    Sellick’s Cwmtaff Navigator 

Once I delved into an exceptional profuse gold coat and his handler got to grips with standing, him I found another well-made quality dog.   He moved well on the initial run round and I was not disappointed on examination to find a good neck, body, depth, topline and well angulated balanced quarters.   Just beaten by 1’s presentation and coupling length.   Has a likeable head with kindly, slightly cheeky expression, good bone and correct feet. 

3RD    Beck’s Priestside Hungry Heart in Beinangus

JD 14/3A/1WD

1ST    Evans Putjade Popster 

Gold youngster just into J.   Well boned and bodied with masculine head, good pigmentation and kind soft expression.   Had the proportions, construction and balanced angulation I look for.   He used all of this to advantage on the move showing good ground coverage fore and aft on good feet and pasterns and with a lovely level topline and tail carriage throughout.   Impressed on the initial class circuit and again on his assessment.

 2ND    Wainwright’s Ashbyglen I Dreamed A Dream 

Paler boy in a profuse well-presented coat with equally appealing head and expression.  Almost fifteen months.   Straight front, neat feet, nice neck which flowed into an excellent level topline and tail set.   Well-made and balanced quarters.   Moved well but slightly preferred 1’s tail carriage on the move and body length but is just right for substance with a good spring and depth of rib.

3RD    Jackson-Haines Leighsham Sweeney Todd 

YD 11/3A/1WD

1ST    Evans Putjade Popster – See 1 in JD

 2ND    Robinson’s Baricia Bella D’oro JW 

Development and weight just right for his 21 months.  Nice masculine head with a broad skull, muscular neck of good length.   Straight front, neat feet and strong pasterns.   In a cream coat with good depth of brisket and spring of rib under a firm level topline.   Profile movement caught my eye showing his good balance, proportions and construction.

3RD    Mccormack’s Flyngalee Topsy Turvy JW  

ND 21/4A/2WD

1ST    Sellick’s Cwmtaff Navigator – See 2 in PD

2ND    Beck’s Priestside Hungry Heart in Beinangus – 3rd in a nice PD class

Pleasing outline with a firm level topline and tail set.   In super coat, wavy of light gold.   Nice broad skull but would have liked a little more muzzle depth.   Good neck and lay of shoulder.   Plenty of brisket depth.  Excellent bend of stifle and thigh breadth.   Just preferred 1’s overall proportions.   Seemingly enjoying his day as he was quite energetic on the move.    Well-presented.

 3RD    Foreman’s Ambersun Another Adventure (ai) 

UGD 17/6A/3WD

1ST    Davis’s Lynste Dream Boy (ai) JW 

I have admired this lad since seeing him on his debut as a baby puppy.   Today he was not handled by his mum, so I did not have an inkling who he was, I just knew from the outset I liked him a lot.   Has the most appealing masculine head and stands at ease on strong well boned legs both straight in front and rear with a level topline and tail carriage.   Has a larger frame than some of my winners but his balance and movement could not be matched in this class.   I gave him serious consideration in the ticket challenge but felt a few of my subsequent winners just had the edge on maturity.   I’ve no doubt he is destined for higher things.

2ND    Beck’s Priestside Hungry Heart in Beinangus - See 2 in ND 

3RD    Moore’s Purbarn Friends Together with Auryngra 

GD 11/4A   Only a few months separated these three

1ST    Grady & Young’s Thornywait Bring It Back Glenrioch JW  

Not a big boy but has a compact well-proportioned frame easy on the eye.   In a darkish gold coat with a slight wave.   Masculine head without any coarseness and delightful expression.   Good reach of neck and set, straight front, round catlike feet and matching well angulated quarters under a level topline and tail set.   Well bodied.   Top and tailed. Moved well from all viewpoints.   

2ND    Middleton-Collins Berrymeade Dream On with Jasperleigh JW SGWC 

In a lighter gold well-presented coat with a slightly larger outline.  Lots to like about him so found it difficult to separate him on body construction and movement from 1.  I just had a minor preference for 1’s head chiselling and expression but loved his keen show and will to please attitude.  

3RD    Wooden’s Amilone Smokin Barrel at Salako 

PGD 16/4A

1ST    Main’s Putjade Perran by Gwyngala JW 

Shown naturally to advantage in an eye catching, well-conditioned and immaculately presented rich gold coat. Lovely kind expression, ample reach of neck and flow to the shoulder.   Well boned and body depth from the withers to the loin under a strong level topline.   His quarters both ends are well angulated.   Moved well.  His going away action was the best I saw all day.   Similar age to my GD winner but felt his outline was just a little more finished, so was a contender for top honours.

 2ND    Jayakumar & Rajendran’s Zenevieva Bolder Than Brass (IKC) 

In a lighter gold coat.and slightly larger and longer frame than 1 so will need a little more time to produce a more finished outline but nonetheless has some nice qualities.  Super head and reach of neck leading to balanced quarters.   Straight front, catlike feet and strong pasterns.   Good spring of rib.   Just lost his topline a little when stacked but moved well, especially in profile.

 3RD    Middleton-Collins Berrymeade A Fool in Love of Jasperleigh JW 

Mid-LD 17/4   No doubt the class of the day for me with a few dogs I’ve admired going cardless

1ST    McGugan’s Westlow The Legend of Fingal to Invergoil Culzean 

Only just made it from the Open Show.   I’m so pleased he did as he became my big find of the day.   Upstanding male fitting the breed standards “General Appearance” so well, “symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover, sound with kindly expression”.   Terrific outline and views front and back with everything in moderation under a dense coat of light gold.   As the day progressed, he kept giving more despite the heat, powering soundly around the ring with wonderful forehand extension and rear drive producing superb ground coverage.   A joy to watch and a privilege to have judged.  CC, RBIS and BOSIS

 2ND    Coad’s Tinklersroc Bon Bon

Another very impressive symmetrical dog, gold coated, I truly cannot recall ever seeing before.   A little older than 1.  Also, scored highly on movement all round.   Very handsome masculine head with the most appealing kind eye and melting expression, good reach of neck and set flowing nicely into his firm level topline which was held on the move with his tail carried level off his back.   Well- proportioned and angulation balanced throughout.   Like 1 good feet and pasterns.   A different type to 1 but a close decision so I recalled him for the RCC challenge.   RCC

3RD    Liggins & Hodges Silver Passion Glam Fashion at Nunsbrook JW (Imp Deu) 

LD 10/5A

1ST    Morriss-Garget & Morriss Goldmarker Coming Home to Garvin (ai) JW 

I was so pleased to have the chance to assess this dog as he catches the eye and has appealed to me from the ringside.  Super head with a good reach of neck and well-made quarters fore and aft.   Nicely proportioned so has good symmetrical balanced lines both standing and moving producing a zestful long free stride with rear drive.   In full gold coat, well bodied with level topline. Very showy.  Another serious contender for top honours. 

2ND    McFarlane’s King of Swing Qdore of Labgold to Bluebraes (Imp Pol) 

One I judged a few years ago and recall awarding him a 2nd on that occasion.   So unlucky to come up against 1 as I still really like him.   He’s now more mature and in better coat.   It’s mid gold and straighter than 1’s so it hides nothing in his outline.   Very likeable head with ample neck.  Has a smaller frame than 1 but his body and quarters are all well-made and proportioned.   Stands freely four-square under a level topline, straight in front and rear on nice feet.  Moved well.

 3RD    Williams Eveninghill Detroit Red 

OD 15/6A   Four very worthy champions headed the class placings

1ST    Law’s Sh Ch Sandti Back of The Net 

Has a lovely finished balanced outline adorned with an attractive well-presented gold coat.  Delightful masculine head and endearing kindly expression demonstrating a lovely will to please in his natural stance.   Clean neck of good length which was set well into his lay of shoulder.  Pleasing well made forehand and matching hindquarters joined by a table-top topline and tail set.   Stands straight freely on good feet and pasterns.   Particularly liked his profile action, shape and footfall on the move.   Another who pressed hard for today’s top honours.

 2ND    Bardossy’s Int Sh Ch/Cro/Aus/Se Ch Dewmist Just A Spell Jww 21 H Jch  

Cream boy with a slightly larger and longer frame than 1 but is upstanding and cooperative producing an impressive, stacked outline and when viewed from the front and rear.   Kindly head, with a nice reach of neck, well-constructed shoulder leading to a good spring of rib with plenty of heart room.   Strong firm level topline and good thigh breadth.   In good coat but it looked as though some of his front furnishings had been over trimmed, so the natural finish was lost.  Despite this, his good use of his quarters on the move clinched this placing. 

3RD    Bernaert’s Int/multi/bel/vdh/drc/ger/lux/dansk Ch Grey Goose Back in Black Multi/int Jch  

FTD [UK Awards only] 0/0A

Sp Show Gundog/Working Gundog Certificate D [UK Dog Awards only) 4/0A

1ST    Moore’s Tenfield Klipspringer with Auryngra SGWC WGC 

 Looks to be a gentle lad with a pleasing head and expression and neck length to match his body proportions and depth.   Short coupled with balanced angulation and outline.   Stands straight front and rear on good feet and pasterns.   Moved well in his full gold coat in the heat. 

2ND    Taylor’s Alibren Aldaniti at Tannadice JW SGWC 

In nice coat of slightly lighter gold than 1.   Came through from the hotly contested MLD class.  Has the loveliest of heads, an excellent reach of neck and forehand.   Just preferred 1’s overall balance and hind quarters but has plenty of heart room and stood nicely today with a level topline.    Moved very well in front.

 3RD    Roper’s Catnnels Inside Story for Brensham SGWC VW – Still gave of his best aged eleven years. Oldest placed Veteran.

Sp Working Gundog D 5/1A

1ST      Bardossy’s Int /Swiss/Aut/Cro/Swe/Ger Ch Shamrock Prince of The Seven Kingdoms SGWC WGC

Has a notable impressive clean outline and from the front greets you with a delightful balanced head with good stop, muzzle depth and skull breadth.   Superb clean neck and length, well-made shoulders and matching hind quarter angulation with good body properties in between showing a lovely flow from his occiput to withers and topline to tail tip.   Would have liked to have seen him in better coat and furnishings.   Lovely catlike feet and undoubtably best mover and symmetry in the class.

 2ND    Moore’s Tenfield Klipspringer with Auryngra SGWC WGC – See 1 in Sp SG/WGC

 3RD    Callegari & Rudelli’s Double Willow Quédate Conmigo 

Judge: Sue Pounds-Longhurst