Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society

Flat Coated Retriever – Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society 27th May 2026

Class 40 – Puppy – (1 entry, 0 absent)

1st – Whitaker’s Touch of Power Black Brianta (Imp CZE) - a mature male puppy, shown in lovely coat and well muscled for age. Loved his topline and maintained this perfectly on the move. He moves freely with good drive already. Lovely head and neck into well laid back shoulders. Would prefer slightly more forechest, straight legs into tight feet. Short couple and lovely rear angulation to finish the picture. Best Puppy and was very pleased to see him go Gundog Puppy Group 1.

Class 41 – Junior – (2 entries, 0 absent)

1st – Markillie’s Hopevalley Morning Minuet JW – a lovely class with two very similar dogs present and was very tight between them. Shown in a lovely coat for age in good condition. Preferred the balance of 1 compared to 2 as was shorter coupled and more mature as expected with age. Lovely feminine head. Slightly lacking forechest and adequate rear angulation. Moves freely maintaining level topline on the move and carried with great drive. Strongly considered for RBOB.

2nd – Salt’s Culcrieff’s Ferntower Glen of Wetnoses – longer in leg than 1 which gave 1 the better overall balance. Less mature at 12.5months old and just out of puppy. Stronger forechest and slightly more hindlimb angulation present. Nice straight legs into tight feet. Moved freely with great drive.

Class 42 – Yearling – (2 entries, 1 absent)

1st – Salt’s Culcrieff’s Ferntower Glen of Wetnoses – 2nd in Junior

Class 43 – Post Graduate – (6 entries, 4 absent)

1st – Whitaker’s Jetarski Run Like Hell – two very different dogs in this class making it very hard to compare between them, younger bitch at 2 years old with a much slighter build. Moved freely and with good drive but did fly her tail today. Lovely hard condition and clearly capable of a days work. Nice feminine head, short coupled and lovely straight legs into tight feet.

2nd – Pingree’s Telurn Final Attraction Among Heatheridge – 4 year old male with much more substance and absolutely dripping in coat! Lovely classic head. Slightly lacking in front compared to 1. Short coupled and with good rear angulation. Didn’t move with the drive of 1 today.

Class 44 – Open Dog - (5 entries, 1 absent)

1st – Burrough’s I Know Him So Well at Rokaness JW - what an absolutely lovely class to judge. I was spoilt for choice and these boys really stood out for me today. 4 year old boy with a rock solid topline on the stand and on the move. He maintained the flatcoat exuberance we love in the ring and moved with great enthusiasm and drive. He has lovely coat and shown in fabulous condition. Really well balanced, short coupled and lovely rear angulation with well bent stifles into well let down hocks. Beautiful male head into well balanced neck and well laid back shoulders. Straight legs into tight feet. Everything to love about this boy and I was really pleased to see him shortlisted in a lovely Gundog Group. BOB.

2nd – Pingree’s Calzeat Gentlemans Agreement to Heatheridge JW ShCEx (Imp Swe) - provided tough competition for 1 today. A lovely 8 year old veteran. Floated round the ring and didn’t show his age for a second. He had great breed exuberance which really drew my attention to him. Lovely head but preferred 1 today. Not a lot between them both having great angulation and great overall balance. Dripping in coat and well muscled. Fought hard to gain RBOB.

3rd – Buckley’s Blacktoft Brindisi by Buckleyhill

Class 45 – Open Bitch - (6 entries, 3 absent)

1st – Whitaker’s Sh Ch Evening Mist Black Brianta ShCEx VW (Imp Cze) – once I went over this bitch, immediately I was drawn to her fabulous front with great depth of chest. Looking great for her age and not showing it for a second. Level topline maintained on the move and moving with great rear drive. In lovely coat and condition with great balance and profile. Nice feminine head and kind eye. Stood out in a lovely class.

2nd – Salt’s Levelmoor Acorn Antiques Via Wetnoses - another bitch looking great for her age. Not quite got the rear angulation and drive of 1 but gave her a run for her money for first place. Great enthusiasm as expected for the breed. Lovely balance and condition. Straight legs into tight feet. A very close 2nd.

3rd – Hewison’s Benvellyn Marakele into Casblaidd JW SGWC