The Southern Golden Retriever Society Limited Obedience Show 20Th October 2013

The Southern Golden Retriever Society Limited Obedience Show 20th October 2013

Many thanks for inviting me to judge this competition. It is a long time since I last judged obedience as my Labradors generally only compete in breed specific obedience as it is their 3rd discipline as it were. However, I very much enjoyed my day and getting back into it all again. There was an excellent entry of 18 Pre- Beginners and 19 Novice. The club’s organisation was superb with an excellent stewarding team and very competent stay stewards. Special thanks to my call steward Sophie Mills. We worked outside on a tennis court. There were occasional distractions from blowing leaves and the other classes were in an adjacent tennis court but overall, although the standard was variable, the dogs coped very well. The weather was not always kind and some rounds were completed in the rain. The competitors were all very friendly and sporting and the club made us very welcome and the food was delicious. It was nice to have completed in time to watch the final placements of the breed show.

Pre-Beginners

The first five were also awarded the Kennel Club obedience award of merit which can be awarded to dogs losing 10 marks or less in pre-beginners class.

1st Farmer’s 7 year old bitch Varche’s Golden Wings An excellent and very precise round the heel work on lead lost ½ point more than the heelwork off lead and the recall presentation and finish were a tiny bit crocked. The stays were faultless and overall very little wrong with this performance. A very together partnership.

2nd Jarratt’s 6 year old bitch Maluraya Macnamarra. Another very good round and only separated from the first placed by ¼ of a mark. Again heelwork off lead was better than on although focus off lead was occasionally lost. Only a slight fault on the recall presentation but with clear stays.

3rdMiss Lloyd’s 5 year old dog Dirnanean’s Shinning Knight of Bramblyn The handler and dog worked hard together although there were some issues with the heel work particularly on lead and a crocked sit at the end and on the finish. The present on the recall was good particularly as the dog only had a small target to work to. All the stays were clear.

4th Mrs B. Hewitt’s 17 month old dog Qumaara Kazanjian The heelwork on lead caused a bit of a problem when the dog’s lead accidentally came off. The heel free went rather better although the final sit was a little off line as was the recall and present although there was a good finish. Really a good round for a young dog.

5th Farmer’s Bedeslea Sandpiper 9 year old bitch who, perhaps understandably for her age, lacked a little za za zoom. She did lag rather during the heel work and her handler did their best to motivate her. Other than that the recall and present were very good and there were clear stays.

6th Winsett and Benefield’s 4 year old bitch Coombstock Snow in SummerExcellent stays, recall and presentation and finish but various troubles with the heel work and would turn at right angles to look adoringly at her handler. They missed out by ¾ mark on an obedience Award of Merit.

Novice

The top dogs in the novice class were very, very good and separated by fractions of marks

1st Ms A Watson’s 2 year old dog Mastamariner King Harry. A really excellent round with this dog living up to his name today. A very smart and accurate performance by a happy dog and his clever handler. A perfect retrieve and stays and only ¾ mark loss from the heel on and off lead and recall overall. Well done.

2nd Miss Dewhirst’s Pepsanna Aldanti 7 year old dog and a master of his trade. Perfect heel on lead and stays and just one and ½ marks lost in the other exercises due to very slightly crocked presents and a slight lack of pace in the retrieve but overall a very competent round.

3rdMoonraker Crystal Sorry I do not have the handler/owners name as there was an error in the catalogue and the dog was not listed. Another very good round with overall smartness. The handler’s knees tended to obstruct the lead on the heelwork so need to watch the height you carry it. A slightly crocked sit on the heel free and I would have liked a slightly straighter line on the recall but the retrieve was excellent.

4th Mrs K Venter’s 7 year old bitch Varches Summertime Very close up to the other three dogs and another smart round. Let down by the occasional crocked sit or finish and a little lack of focus on the heel free but otherwise a lovely round and a happy bitch still enthusiastic.

5th Mrs. S. E. Ashley’s 3 year old dog Maluraya Miltonduff at Petabeck A little more precision required overall but a very good round overall by this young enthusiastic dog. Clear stays

6thMiss Helen Kimberley’s 2 year old bitch Friendborn Eleganze Really a nice competent round. Some slight tension up the lead during the heel work and some slightly crocked sits in the recall and retrieve but a very good retrieve and clear stays. Well done.

Joy Venturi Rose Judge