Special Awards Classes – Saturday 4th May 2024  

Southern Golden Retriever Society 45th Championship Show.

Special Awards Classes

Saturday 4th May 2024

Thank you to the committee for the opportunity to judge the Special Awards Classes at this well-run show and a special thank you for the warm welcome given to myself. Smashing venue and ring size. Big thanks to my steward, for all her help on the day. I had a lovely entry both numerically & in quality, with the quality in the open class particularly high. I found no issues with bites today.

P (9,2) : Nice class. 1. Collis’s TILLSUN MISTLETOE PROMISES : Just a baby at 7 months, liked her size & balanced profile, well presented light gold coat. Sweet head with a dark eye & pigment, when viewed straight on she has straight legs & tight feet, plenty chest, good front angulation with elbows well under her body, well developed quarters but perhaps a little more bend of stifle would complete the picture, hocks vertical. Topline okay for her age, very steady mover. Well handled.

2. Crookes’s & Jenkinson’s THORNYWAIT ROYAL STORY FOR QUAKERHALL: Impressive eye-catching profile with very clean lines, expertly presented & handled. Very mature almost 12-month-old puppy with a larger frame, pleasant head, dark eye & points, straight legs with neat feet, good length of neck flows into an excellent front assembly, strong quarters with a good bend of stifle, longer cast but she keeps a level topline standing & on the move. One of the better movers in the class, mid golden coat.

3. Cole’s ROOKSBURY AURORA.

G (17,5) Close decision in this class, just preferred the balance of the winner. 1. Black’s BENCOE JUST IN TIME DEL AVRAIN JW, 2 year old male who is maturing nicely, a beautiful balanced profile, liked his body to leg ratio, glamorous blonde coat, attractive soft but masculine head with a happy expression, straight front legs, clean muscular neck, excellent front with legs well under the body, well-made feet, strong topline, well sprung ribs, strong quarters with good second thigh & stifle, straight rear pasterns. Moved much better when his owner moved him, too busy looking for his ‘Mum’ when being moved by another handler, this almost cost him the class today.

2. Clunie’s WARRENTOR NOHKALIKAI JW: 22 months old bitch, another eye-catching clean outline, rich dark gold coat, attractive feminine head, dark eye & points, straight legs with tight feet, clean muscular neck leading to an excellent front with a good layback & corresponding return of upper arm, strong topline standing & on the move, strong quarters with a well bent stifle & plenty second thigh, moved well with plenty reach & drive.

3.Harper’s TULLOCHMOHR RAY OF SUNSHINE AT GLYNERVA JW.

O (11,1) Strong class with some top-quality dogs going unplaced. Another close decision in this class, went for the maturity of the winner but splitting hairs between the first two. 1. Clarke-Gear’s OUSEVALE TOBERMORY JW: Mature 5-year-old dog, not the biggest of dogs but a lovely example of the breed, attractive outline with a mid-gold coat, mature happy boy with a lovely soft expression, excellent front assembly with plenty chest & straight legs with neat feet, ribs well sprung, level topline, his excellent front is balanced with his rear angulation. Moved well with plenty of rear drive.

2. Ives’s BALSAMINA BELLINI JW: 3-year-old bitch, again not the biggest of bitches, lovely feminine head with a dark eye, textbook front, straight legs, perfect tight feet, ribs well sprung, excels in angulation front & rear, attractive pale coat. Moved well with plenty of drive, expertly handled.

3. Fosdike’s Mrs M MEIEPERE YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE (ATC EST).

Judge: Scott Williamson (Sandti)