Dukeries [Notts] Gundog Club

Dukeries (Notts) Gundog Club – 14 February 2026

Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)

P (2,1abs): 1. Pont’s Penrose Willpower 9M brown D, very unsure in the ring so a little difficult to assess, but once settled showed a nice head for his age with correct ear set & carriage, balanced proportions, muscular neck into well laid shoulder, chest well down to elbow, ribs just needing a little more spring, moderate tuck up, nice angulation behind with good sweep of stifle, he just needs to strengthen a little more in rear, neat feet, coat & undercoat of correct oily, harsh texture, moved ok once settled, just needs to gain his confidence in the ring, BP

J (2,1w/d): 1. Mahon-Hunns, Middleton & Haskins Susqudilla Yankee Shadow (Imp USA) 13M dark brown D, eye catching youngster, substantial without being overdone, broad, rounded head, correct ear set, strong neck into well-muscled shoulders, good forechest and depth of chest, excellent spring of rib, well boned legs and correct feet, strong topline held on the move along with a well set & carried tail, short-coupled, strong hindquarters with well developed second thigh, nice turn of stifle and well let down hocks, in super coat and condition, on the move he was strong and drove round the ring, well deserved BOB.

PG (2): 1. Watts’s Oakmarsh Little Acorn JW brown B of just over 2 years old, balanced head & good expression, good eye colour, strong neck into well laid shoulders and super front assembly, straight legs down to correct hare feet, enough forechest, correct depth of chest & good spring of rib, level topline, fractionally longer in loin than 2, moderate rear angulation, holds her topline well both standing & on the move, moved well but lacked the drive of the BOB in the challenge, RBOB 2. Watts’s Oakmarsh Indian Dream Maker another brown B, 4.5 year old, I liked the head on this girl, lovely eye colour, good coat, correct angulation front & rear, well boned legs & hare feet, not the width of thigh of 1 and although fractionally shorter in loin than 1 she was tending to drop her topline, possibly as she was distracted by not being handled by her owner, that said, she is nicely balanced and moved out well despite having recently lost an entire nail on one of her feet which only bothered her right at the last move on the hard concrete floor

O (2): 1. Watts’s Oakleaf Manor Bay of Oakmarsh JW (Imp Deu) another 4.5 year old deadgrass B, good head, medium neck into well laid shoulders strong topline, correct tailset, moderate rear angulation, good depth, well-muscled hindquarters, like 2 she was returning to the ring after recent maternity duties, she has got her figure back well but was out of coat although there was enough to assess correct texture & undercoat, moved ok 2. Watts’s Ch Oakmarsh Freedom SGWC 7.5yr brown B, nice head & expression, strong neck into correct shoulders, good in forechest & depth, correct angulation fore & aft but again being handled by someone other than her owner who was also in the ring so not giving of her best, again not long off maternity duties and not quite recovered as well as her kennel mate, she moved soundly round the ring

Retriever (Curly Coated)

P (1): 1. Spraggins’ Tusepo Miss Scarlett, 10m black B, pretty wedge-shaped head, dark expressive eyes, correct ears that she uses well, strong neck into well laid shoulders, super depth of body with slight tuck up, she already has a good spring of rib and depth of chest, balanced profile with a strong level topline, well boned legs, all topped off with a coat of crisp curls, in super condition, she moved out well with an effortless gait, I was very taken with this pup and she must have a bright future, BP & no hesitation in awarding her RBOB too, delighted to see she went on to BPIS3, congratulations.

J (2): 1. Pavitt’s Foxriever Fire Cracker 15M black D, nice type, liked his head and good dark eye, slightly better in forechest than 2, strong neck into well laid muscular shoulders, well boned legs down to tight round feet, nails could be a little shorter, moderately angulated hindquarters with good width of thigh, well let down hocks, coat of correct tight curls, I just preferred his head and his rear movement to 2 which was the decider, otherwise two nice youngsters 2. Sutton & Whitehead’s Foxriever Fire Fly (AI) 15M liver D litter brother to 1, many of the same comments apply although this boy is slightly heavier built all through, strong topline, well boned & good feet, nicely angulated all round, correct coat, nice movement in profile but not quite as strong going away as his brother

PG (1): 1. Sutton & Whitehead’s Foxriever Immortal Spirit 20M black D, lovely masculine wedge-shaped head with dark expressive eyes, strong, slightly arched neck into well-laid shoulders, deep chest with a super spring of rib and short and deep in loin, a strong level topline down to a correctly set & carried tail, well boned legs to good feet, nicely angulated and well-muscled hindquarters, sound mover, BOB

O (1): 1. Spraggins’ Tusepo Amazing Love 6yr liver B, dam to the BP, nice size, correct shaped head with eye colour to tone with her dark liver coat, moderate length of neck into well laid shoulders, she has depth of chest and well-sprung ribs, short & deep in loin, nice forechest and moderate rear angulation, moved ok

Spaniel (Field)

P (1): 1. Weeks Gemelbet’s New Kid in Town at Carinyssader 6M liver D at his first show and boy was he enjoying himself, head just right for his age with nice eye colour, balanced, long, lean muzzle, good length of low set ear, good shoulder placement, good depth of chest just needs to drop a little more as expected at this age but already showing a moderate spring of rib, good length of back and balanced length to height, just starting to change from his puppy to adult coat, when I managed to catch glimpses he moves well but was having a thoroughly good time which was lovely to see, just as a baby should be, he’ll soon learn his trade BP

PG (1): 1. Wood’s Nadavin Nusa at Sagala 3yr black B, attractive well-chiselled balanced head, lovely dark eye giving a soft & gentle expression, muscular neck, prefer slightly more length, well laid shoulders, deep chest, strong level topline which she held on the move, a gleaming black coat, nicely feathered, moved strongly in profile just a little close behind going away

O (4,1): 1. Bennett’s Sh Ch Jesham Baronet liver D, hard to believe this boy is 9 years old, just a sprinkling of sugar on his muzzle but what a lovely example of the breed, loved his masculine head with melting expression, correct ear set & length, strong, long neck, he has a super front assembly with excellent forechest, well laid shoulders and a strong, level topline and correct tail carriage, moderate rear angulation and well boned legs to tight feet, in his best jacket he gleamed, striding out round the ring with drive and purpose, delighted to get my hands on him today and pleased to award him BOB 2. Shipton’s Bel Ch Heartwood Mishules All is Possible with Calico JW (Imp USA) B/T B of 2.5yr attractive head, strong muscular neck, correct forehand assembly with good forechest, depth of chest & well sprung ribs, forelegs well under her body, strong level topline & correct tailset, balanced angulation fore & aft, not quite so positive on the move as 1 but happy to award her RBOB 3. Macbain’s Fecimus Never Look Back JW

Brittany

O (4,3): 1. Drozdova’s ShCh Czech Ch Bel Ch Bonapartist Peaky Blinder avec Aukskara ShCEx 6yr O/R D, stood alone but a worthy winner in any competition, a dog of substance without coarseness, well-muscled, head of correct proportions with a lovely dark eye toning with his coat, good in forechest, width & depth of chest, nice balance giving the required square and cobby appearance, strong legs down to tight feet, well handled to get the best out of him, he moved out on a brisk, short stride, deserving of his BOB & delighted to hear he later went on to take BIS3, congratulations.

Italian Spinone

P (5): A class of 5 pups all at different stages ranging in age from 7 to 11m, I’m sure they will all change places over time as they mature 1. Mangham’s Ilsolo Soggy Bottom W/O of 7m and my notes say “gorgeous”! She caught my eye on the first look round the ring and didn’t disappoint in going over her, loved her head & expression, correct earset & length, strong neck into well-laid shoulders, correct topline with a slight rise over the loin, well boned legs down to correct feet, correct dense, coarse coat with super furnishings on head, beautifully handled she showed and moved like an old hand with a real “look at me” attitude I shall watch her future with interest, BP 2. Bovio’s Ilsolo Sniffed it Once B/R B of 7m, litter sister to 1, another really nice pup and similar virtues apply, nicely angulated all round, excellent in coat, correct topline & tailset, moved soundly but not quite the added ring presence of 1 but nevertheless a lovely pup 3. Reay’s Drurylow Sage

J (3): 1. Bovio’s Star At Station with Ilsolo W/O B of almost 18m, older sister of 1&2 in puppy and very much the same type as you would expect, I liked this girl for size and type, lovely head & expression, squarely built, strong neck into correct front assembly, good depth of chest & spring of rib with elbows tight, moderate rear angulation, carried her tail a little high on the move but she was sound and covered the ring with ease 2. Reay’s D Sage B/R D of 10m, 3rd in P, balanced head, nice soft expression, would like a slightly darker eye colour but has time to darken a little more, good front angulation but a little straight behind, good bone & feet, moved ok 3. Mann’s August Dreamer

PG (4): 1. Bovio’s Ilsolo Chewbacca B/R B of almost 2y, close decision between 1&2 in this class, I preferred the cobbiness of 1, good head & expression, excellent in forechest & depth of chest, ribs well spring, strong topline & correct tailset, moved with drive 2. Coldwell’s Locuru Perpetual Spring W/O almost 3y B, lovely head & dark eyes framed by correct furnishings, longer cast than 1 but balanced, moderate angulation all round with good depth, not quite the forechest of 1, sound mover covering the ring with ease 3. Mann’s Make A Splash

O (5,2): 1. James’s Sh Ch Inostricani Fianna ShCEx W/O B 6.5y, one I’ve admired from the ringside over the years, she’s a lovely size, super head, soft gentle expression, well-muscled neck into good layback of shoulder, correct topline, good sweep of stifle with well let down hocks which she uses to good effect on the move, which is sound & positive, all topped off with a coarse, dense coat and correct furnishings on her head and back of legs, pleased to award her BOB 2. Beecham & Sharp’s Affilato Jump With Style at Rydonmist 17m W/O D, I last judged this boy at just 6.5m and thought him very promising at the time awarding his RBPIS that day, he is maturing & fulfilling that early promise, as masculine as 1 was feminine, an upstanding dog, strong neck into well laid shoulders, he has good bone and feet, balanced with a strong topline & correct tailset, ribbed well back, strong legs & good feet, very sound and ground covering on the move, he’s still a bit of a coiled spring but so well-handled to keep his exuberance contained, unlucky to meet 1 but deserving of his RBOB 3. Bovio’s Ilsolo River Island JW

Lagotto Romagnolo

O (1): 1. Gilder handling for Blunden & Blunden’s Mikette Autumnal Equinox 3.5Y B B, correct head with dark eye, strong short neck into muscular shoulders, well developed chest, elbows tight, balanced angulation fore & aft, straight topline slight slope to croup with correct tailset, in profile she is square, her coat of correct woolly curls was in good condition, her movement was true away & back and showed drive in profile, stood alone but worthy of BOB

Elaine Bradley (Judge)