City of Birmingham 2010

City of Birmingham

Sunday 5th September 2010

Judge: Mr Richard Morris (Lascoed)

Best Of Breed

Trevargh The Entertainer At Brizewood

Harding & Whitehill

Best Dog	Trevargh The Entertainer At Brizewood	Harding & Whitehill
Reserve Best Dog	Aquacadian Flin The Red At Tollisty	Strevens
Best Bitch	Alliance De La Vie So Fantastic With Tollyhimmel (Imp Nld)	Westwood & Johnson
Reserve Best Bitch	Decoymans Piper Maple Of Croftwell	Moult & Savory
Best Puppy	Stellenbosch Jacques Frost	Brown

This was numerically a very pleasing entry and I am very grateful for the support of all the exhibitors who attended. My judging of gundogs over more than thirty years has never been approached as a pure "beauty" competition but primarily as "fitness for purpose", can they do the job they were developed to do and what influence does my placings have on breeders' choice of stock and aims. Retrievers have a defined role in their name, they are not coated ornaments. Functionally they require construction, scope, strength, speed and agility to fulfill their role in the field, temperament, instinct and intelligence are also vital components. When we look specifically to the Toller its size, head, ear set, coat and distinctive tail and carriage added to its functionality. Small, weedy specimens lacking in strength of bone, undercoat, muscle and substance (and I do not mean fat), weak, narrow, short and insubstantial muzzles incapable of carrying a Mallard Duck will never make for useful retrievers in the field, though they may manage to retrieve socks from under the bed! Crufts attracts well in excess of 150 dogs and yet this breed still is refused ticket status, and on the evidence of today one can hardly blame the Kennel Club. Quality amongst the bitches in particular was sadly lacking which led to my determination to withhold, ear set and positioning is clearly a breed failing and I had one disqualifying colour present. In my opinion it has done the breed no favours by judges being too ready to take the easy option, or is it that they do not know any better? Nothing would please me more than to see Tollers achieve CC status but on the evidence of what I assessed today that must remain in the distant future. I hope dedicated breeders reflect on the present position so that day may come all the quicker. Best wishes to you all and your lovely breed in this endeavour.

Veteran Dog (2 entries)

1^st

Strevens AQUACADIAN FLIN THE RED AT TOLLISTY
Strong masculine outline and well angulated throughout, although not a type for everyone I considered this dog to possess many attributes of the breed consistent with him being capable of the job for which the breed was developed. His broad skull is pleasingly rounded with distinct stop and calm expression. Eye shape and colour are also typical but for me he excels in length and strength of muzzle a feature so desperately lacking in the entry today. He has a good lay of shoulder, strong neck, good depth of body and firm brisket and is well boned in front with firm feet. On the move his front action was rather wide, though not weak, and his hind action acceptable. He has an excellent spring of rib with length in the loin and slight tuck up but from this point he tends to fall away in condition for which I partly made allowance due to his age. Presented in good overall coat and condition I was pleased to award him reserve best dog in breed.

2^nd

Burchell PALUDIC PLEASURE TRIP
A typical Toller with some length, pleasing to see one of the few exhibits with undercoat present. Good strong bone and tight feet presented in lovely bloom and condition with a happy disposition. Moved better than the first placed dog and possessed well muscled hindquarters. The veteran exhibits certainly had the edge over some of the young stock on show today for type, strength and potential to do their job in the field.

Puppy Dog (4 entries)

1^st	Brown STELLENBOSCH JACQUES FROST Pleasing breed type. A balanced head, well shaped with good eye colour and expression. Presented in excellent coat and condition for a youngster. Correct bone and firm feet with slightly sloping front pasterns. Well angulated throughout with length in the loin, excellent spring of rib and particularly well muscled hindquarters and developing second thigh. Moved acceptably. Best puppy in breed. Congratulations.
2^nd	Hickman FALLOWFEN'S STAR OF PADS A promising young pup who needs time to firm up. Correct head shape with most typical expression though eye still a little light at present as they often are in this breed, good bone and feet. Well ribbed with a lot to like about this one overall. Scored particularly for me in soundness of movement.
3^rd	Holt RIVERWATCHER K'EYUSH
Res	Cox DECOYMANS PIPER VALENTINO OVER ICESTORM

Junior Dog (5 entries, 2 absent)

1^st	Andrews ERIKACHEN RUARI A balanced head with correct stop, pleasing expression and good bone on firm feet, good depth of body for age and level topline. Would like to see rather more spring of rib and he lacked undercoat on the day. Moved jauntily with tail up and in an acceptable manner.
2^nd	Baker ERIKACHEN AONGHUS A pleasing type and outline though presently lacking in scope in the head and a light eye. In harder condition than his brother and a better mover but needs to grow on to advantage.
3^rd	Paddick RIVERWATCHER TUWAWI

Post Graduate Dog (6 entries, 2 absent)

1^st	Baker ERIKACHEN AONGHUS
2^nd	Hibbs CORLITGOLD MINNINNEWAH A happy and lively Nova presented in good condition, pleasing head, eye and stop. Good spring of rib and correct bone on firm feet. Very well muscled behind if rather cow hocked. Moved acceptably but could be better behind and needs to grow on.
3^rd	Rogers EUSANIT TAKE IT EASY
Res	Parker & Dixon EUSANIT FIRE CRACKER

Open Dog (4 entries)

1^st	Harding & Whitehill TREVARGH THE ENTERTAINER AT BRIZEWOOD A distinguished Toller of excellent type, powerful appearance, true wedge shaped head, clean cut and distinctive. Excellent strong, straight bone, sloping pasterns and firm feet, straight true front. Well angulated throughout though I would prefer a little more spring of rib. Level topline carried well on the move with slight tuck up. Muscled well angulated hindquarters with second thigh, strong hocks well boned. A sound, speedy mover carrying his bushy tail well and moving. In such good coat, colour and condition I was not surprised to see him short listed in the Group having been awarded Best of Breed. Congratulations.
2^nd	Smith CAMUSMOR GLEN SCOTIA AT DALLYVISTA Excellent type, with a most pleasing outline though I thought less masculine than the winner. Kind and confident expression, good eye shape and colour. First class shoulder angulation, good reach of neck, excellent level topline, plenty spring of rib and depth of body, length in the loin and well bent stifles. Moved soundly though rather sluggishly.
3^rd	Knowles AVONWHARFE REVELATION AT MENSTONIA
Res	Westwood & Johnson CAN/IR SH CH LITTLERIVER'S COLONIAL BOY WITH TOLLYHIMMEL (IMP CAN)

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog (5 entries, 2 absent)

1^st	Smith CAMUSMOR GLEN SCOTIA AT DALLYVISTA
2^nd	Rogers EUSANIT TAKE IT EASY Presented in good condition, a clean stop, good spring of rib, correct bone, well angulated shoulders with reach of neck, good turn of stifles. Excellent level topline. Not the best of movers and out of coat on the day.
3^rd	Hickman FALLOWFEN'S STAR OF PADS

Veteran Bitch (1 entry, 1 absent)

Puppy Bitch (2 entries, 1 absent)

1^st	Russell & Smith RIVERWATCHER YAKONE Unfortunately stood alone in this class. A raw baby who needs lots of time presented in excellent coat and condition, moved acceptably.

Junior Bitch (4 entries, 2 absent)

1^st	WITHHELD
2^nd	Trickett TOLLPEPPER TARTU Presented in good coat and condition, well developed spring of rib and level topline. Movement disappointed.
3^rd	Strevens DECOYMANS PIPER CINDER AT TOLLISTY

Post Graduate Bitch (6 entries, 3 absent)

1^st	Moult & Savory DECOYMANS PIPER MAPLE OF CROFTWELL Typical Toller presented in good coat and condition, pleasing expression and eye colour, correct bone and firm feet. Length in the loin with spring of rib and good level topline. A sound and springy mover. Reserve best bitch.
2^nd	Burchell FIRETHORN UNDER THE RED SKY OF TIVALAKE (IMP NLD) A showy feminine bitch with good depth and length of body, acceptable topline and good bend of stifles, rather lacking in coat on the day.
3^rd	Widdowson CORLITGOLD TOKALA

Open Bitch (7 entries, 4 absent)

1^st	Westwood & Johnson ALLIANCE DE LA VIE SO FANTASTIC WITH TOLLYHIMMEL (IMP NLD) A clear winner in this class. Pleasing breed type but skull lacking in breadth and strength for me though stop correct if eye rather light. Excellent spring of rib and firm, level topline, good depth of body, strong over the loins and well developed hindquarters. Presentation could have been better, her top coat was blowing but she was one of the few in the entry to possess undercoat. It was her sound, speedy and driving movement that put her worthy of the Best Bitch award. Congratulations.
2^nd	Widdowson DECOYMANS FIRE PRINCESS OF CORLITGOLD A pleasing type with correct expression, eye colour and shape. Good front, spring of rib and firm loins. Excellent strong hindquarters and presented in good coat and condition. Hind movement disappointed.
3^rd	Anstead SHOREDANCER SEA PINK VIA RIVERWATCHER

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch (1 entry)

1^st	WITHHELD
2^nd	Strevens DECOYMANS PIPER MAGGIE AT TOLLISTY Pleasing eye colour, presented in good coat and moved fairly soundly but lacking in strength overall.