oodmist Saffron
My dog of a lifetime, sound both in mind and in body,
my show girl, my worker, my all-round Labrador,
and my almost Champion.
Rocheby Old Smokey x Abbeystead Wren in Woodmist
Born 19th January 2007
Hips 3:4
Elbows 0:0
Eyes Clear 15th July 2017
(tested at age 10 to help the AHT with their research into HC in labradors)
DNA clear PRA
EIC Carrier
2CC's , 2 RCC's
KC Stud Book Number
KC Show Gundog Working Certificate
Novice Dog/Novice Handler Working Test Winner
KC Working Gundog Certificate on Game
KC Silver Good Citizen
Born 19th January 2007
Hips 3:4
Elbows 0:0
Eyes Clear 15th July 2017
(tested at age 10 to help the AHT with their research into HC in labradors)
DNA clear PRA
EIC Carrier
2CC's , 2 RCC's
KC Stud Book Number
KC Show Gundog Working Certificate
Novice Dog/Novice Handler Working Test Winner
KC Working Gundog Certificate on Game
KC Silver Good Citizen
12 years
10 years
8 years - photo N Dodd
4 years
Saffy was the only girl out of 6 puppies whelped by Wren to Rocheby Old Smokey. She was born with an wise head on young shoulders, a very intelligent girl. She became the natural top dog at home without trying and also when out and about, taking everything in her stride.
Saffy was VERY slow to mature physically, she did well as a puppy then I took her out of the ring for a while until she bodied up and we concentrated on the working side. Being a late developer meant she lasted a long time in the show ring with an amazing 31 wins in Veteran Championship show classes from the aged of 7 up until she was almost 12. Not carrying such a big body also meant she stayed fit and sound and able to work until she was 12. She would have carried on working but I didn't want her to hurt herself!
Best Puppy in Show, Group win and Group placings at Open Show level.
RCC at Border Union 2013 Eric Parr
CC, BEST VETERAN & BEST IN SHOW at WELRC champ show 2014 David Wilmshurst & Carole Coode
1st VETERAN BITCH at CRUFTS 2015 (21 bitches present) Marilyn Prior
CC, BEST VETERAN, & RESERVE BEST IN SHOW at Three Ridings champ show 2015 Lesley Dantinnes
RCC at Bath 2016 Pam Blay
Saffy was VERY slow to mature physically, she did well as a puppy then I took her out of the ring for a while until she bodied up and we concentrated on the working side. Being a late developer meant she lasted a long time in the show ring with an amazing 31 wins in Veteran Championship show classes from the aged of 7 up until she was almost 12. Not carrying such a big body also meant she stayed fit and sound and able to work until she was 12. She would have carried on working but I didn't want her to hurt herself!
Best Puppy in Show, Group win and Group placings at Open Show level.
RCC at Border Union 2013 Eric Parr
CC, BEST VETERAN & BEST IN SHOW at WELRC champ show 2014 David Wilmshurst & Carole Coode
1st VETERAN BITCH at CRUFTS 2015 (21 bitches present) Marilyn Prior
CC, BEST VETERAN, & RESERVE BEST IN SHOW at Three Ridings champ show 2015 Lesley Dantinnes
RCC at Bath 2016 Pam Blay
WELRC 2014
"My joy of the day was awarding the CC (her first & her owners first) to Woodmist Saffron from veteran at 7 years young. How she has not already attained her title I will never know. Her conformation, balance & movement was second to none. I do not usually use this cliché ‘admired from the ringside’ but in Saffron’s case this had to be mentioned.
V (5,1) 1 Rogers’ Woodmist Saffron, my little star of the day. When you have a dog or bitch with the nearest you will get to conformation that is perfection, then surely us as judges must sit up & pay attention. I would not change her in any way. After viewing her in profile, see her move with such positive, correct, parallel driving action & extension, along with her super reach of neck, correct coat & tail, bone & feet, that just left her head. As soon as I looked into that beautiful intelligent face I knew I had found my CC winner. The owner afterwards informed me that she had been on a hard days picking up on the previous Thursday & I believe she has working test awards to her name. With my co-judge, Mrs Coode, we were in full agreement in awarding her BIS & of course BV"
~ David Wilmshurst
"My joy of the day was awarding the CC (her first & her owners first) to Woodmist Saffron from veteran at 7 years young. How she has not already attained her title I will never know. Her conformation, balance & movement was second to none. I do not usually use this cliché ‘admired from the ringside’ but in Saffron’s case this had to be mentioned.
V (5,1) 1 Rogers’ Woodmist Saffron, my little star of the day. When you have a dog or bitch with the nearest you will get to conformation that is perfection, then surely us as judges must sit up & pay attention. I would not change her in any way. After viewing her in profile, see her move with such positive, correct, parallel driving action & extension, along with her super reach of neck, correct coat & tail, bone & feet, that just left her head. As soon as I looked into that beautiful intelligent face I knew I had found my CC winner. The owner afterwards informed me that she had been on a hard days picking up on the previous Thursday & I believe she has working test awards to her name. With my co-judge, Mrs Coode, we were in full agreement in awarding her BIS & of course BV"
~ David Wilmshurst
CRUFTS 2015
1st vet Bitch V (26,5a) 1 Rogers’ Woodmist Saffron, yellow, beautiful head & kind eye, she stood out in this class, balanced, good reach of neck, good ribcage, good topline & tailset, double coat, presented a lovely outline, at one with the handler, moved with drive, who would have thought she was a veteran, in hard condition, I loved her
– Marilyn Prior
1st vet Bitch V (26,5a) 1 Rogers’ Woodmist Saffron, yellow, beautiful head & kind eye, she stood out in this class, balanced, good reach of neck, good ribcage, good topline & tailset, double coat, presented a lovely outline, at one with the handler, moved with drive, who would have thought she was a veteran, in hard condition, I loved her
– Marilyn Prior
Three Ridings LRC 2015
"Veteran Bitch ( 11, 6)
1 Rogers' Woodmist Saffron Gorgeous 8 year old yellow girl who is now in her prime and absolutely fit for function. She has the most beautiful head with a melting expression from those lovely eyes. Excellent neck into well placed shoulders, good length and angle of upper arm . Good spring of rib, level topline which she holds on the move, strong loin and excellent quarters. Well let down hocks. Otter tail well set on. Good double coat of correct texture. Good bone and feet. Stands true all round. Presents a beautifully balanced picture. She moves very well, covering the ground with ease. Shown in top notch muscular condition. Her owner tells me that she has recently finished a picking up season where she worked for 21 days, some of them back to back. I was delighted to award her the CC."
~ Lesley Dantinnes
"Veteran Bitch ( 11, 6)
1 Rogers' Woodmist Saffron Gorgeous 8 year old yellow girl who is now in her prime and absolutely fit for function. She has the most beautiful head with a melting expression from those lovely eyes. Excellent neck into well placed shoulders, good length and angle of upper arm . Good spring of rib, level topline which she holds on the move, strong loin and excellent quarters. Well let down hocks. Otter tail well set on. Good double coat of correct texture. Good bone and feet. Stands true all round. Presents a beautifully balanced picture. She moves very well, covering the ground with ease. Shown in top notch muscular condition. Her owner tells me that she has recently finished a picking up season where she worked for 21 days, some of them back to back. I was delighted to award her the CC."
~ Lesley Dantinnes
LRC SCOTLAND 2017
Veteran Bitch A strong class
1st Roger’s Woodmist Saffron a very lovely bitch who wears her years lightly somehow she is still at the very top of her form. Her kind head, good coat and tail give her all the essentials of correct breed type. She was shown in great condition and moved exceptionally well which won her the class and meant I seriously considered her for higher honours.
~ Lynda Heron
Veteran Bitch A strong class
1st Roger’s Woodmist Saffron a very lovely bitch who wears her years lightly somehow she is still at the very top of her form. Her kind head, good coat and tail give her all the essentials of correct breed type. She was shown in great condition and moved exceptionally well which won her the class and meant I seriously considered her for higher honours.
~ Lynda Heron
NDLRC 2017
Veteran 8 (3abs)
1 Rogers Woodmist Saffron. (Rocheby Old Smokey x Abbeystead Wren in Woodmist) Sound as a bell and looking and moving like a youngster. 10 year old, correctly made, darker yellow in great condition. Excellent balance from nose to tail. Honest character. Pleasing head, clean neck of ideal length. Correct strong but feminine angles fore and aft. Well placed shoulder and upper arm. Well boned, with good legs and feet. Barrel rib, level topline short coupled with strong quarters, good second thigh. Well set on tail. Moved freely and happily. A top class bitch who is lasting so well. So unlucky not to have gained her title in the past having previously won 2 CCs
~ Anne Britton
URC 2018
Veteran Bitch 4 (1ab)
1st & BVB Rogers’ Woodmist Saffron, 11 ½ yrs. yellow, with a lovely melting head and expression, nice length of neck going into well placed shoulders, good angles front and rear, nice depth of chest and spring of ribs, good level top line and correct tail, which was held firm on the moved, she really enjoyed her day and really doesn’t look her age, moved with drive, in correct coat.
~ Karl Gawthorpe
WELRC 2018
VB (11,2a) What can I say about this class other than what a fabulous set of bitches and that they are a credit to their owners. It was my favourite class of the day and I was so impressed with how fit and how well these "old" girls could move. It really was a privilege to judge them and I was spoilt for choice. 1 Rogers' Woodmist Saffron. At nearly 12 years old all I can say is wow. Beautiful old-fashioned type who is full of quality and still showing herself to advantage. Feminine head and expression, good reach of neck. Well constructed throughout with correct angulation front and rear. Nice deep body and still maintaining her top line. Super double coat and otter tail. Shown in excellent condition and moved exceptionally well. Over the moon to see her go Best Veteran in Show. So unlucky not to have gained her title.
~ Jane Rawlinson
Thankyou to ALL the judges who thought so highly of Saffy and for all your critiques!
Veteran 8 (3abs)
1 Rogers Woodmist Saffron. (Rocheby Old Smokey x Abbeystead Wren in Woodmist) Sound as a bell and looking and moving like a youngster. 10 year old, correctly made, darker yellow in great condition. Excellent balance from nose to tail. Honest character. Pleasing head, clean neck of ideal length. Correct strong but feminine angles fore and aft. Well placed shoulder and upper arm. Well boned, with good legs and feet. Barrel rib, level topline short coupled with strong quarters, good second thigh. Well set on tail. Moved freely and happily. A top class bitch who is lasting so well. So unlucky not to have gained her title in the past having previously won 2 CCs
~ Anne Britton
URC 2018
Veteran Bitch 4 (1ab)
1st & BVB Rogers’ Woodmist Saffron, 11 ½ yrs. yellow, with a lovely melting head and expression, nice length of neck going into well placed shoulders, good angles front and rear, nice depth of chest and spring of ribs, good level top line and correct tail, which was held firm on the moved, she really enjoyed her day and really doesn’t look her age, moved with drive, in correct coat.
~ Karl Gawthorpe
WELRC 2018
VB (11,2a) What can I say about this class other than what a fabulous set of bitches and that they are a credit to their owners. It was my favourite class of the day and I was so impressed with how fit and how well these "old" girls could move. It really was a privilege to judge them and I was spoilt for choice. 1 Rogers' Woodmist Saffron. At nearly 12 years old all I can say is wow. Beautiful old-fashioned type who is full of quality and still showing herself to advantage. Feminine head and expression, good reach of neck. Well constructed throughout with correct angulation front and rear. Nice deep body and still maintaining her top line. Super double coat and otter tail. Shown in excellent condition and moved exceptionally well. Over the moon to see her go Best Veteran in Show. So unlucky not to have gained her title.
~ Jane Rawlinson
Thankyou to ALL the judges who thought so highly of Saffy and for all your critiques!
Saffy - More than just a show dog
Saffy was the first dog I trained, and she was very easily taught. After she passed the Show Gundog Working test I found myself hooked on the working side, so continued training her, taking the plunge and entering Working Tests. (To do this with a show bred labrador was a brave thing to do, but luckily I was very naive!) We had a lot of fun (and a few tears) along the way but I was over the moon with her when she won a Novice dog/Novice handler test run by the Midland Golden Retriever Club in 2010 beating a superb entry of 20 other working bred dogs, a real thrill!
Midland Golden Retriever Club 2010
judges Sally & Steve Richardson,
Kate Smith & Ged Leeson
Saffy has been invaluable to me as a picking up dog with bags of drive, courage, sheer determination and great game sense.
A real tenacious worker and basher of brambles, she works with style having a lovely tail action when on a scent. I once put her on the edge of field of oil seed rape that I had seen a pricked bird land and she found the line and worked it up and over a rise to go out of sight. She returned with her bird, a wonderful memory for me! Saffy also has brains, if she can't find one way to pick a bird, she will find another way. I have seen her run along a fence line (a stock fence with an impenetrable hedge,) go through a gateway and then run back along the other side to pick a bird.
A real tenacious worker and basher of brambles, she works with style having a lovely tail action when on a scent. I once put her on the edge of field of oil seed rape that I had seen a pricked bird land and she found the line and worked it up and over a rise to go out of sight. She returned with her bird, a wonderful memory for me! Saffy also has brains, if she can't find one way to pick a bird, she will find another way. I have seen her run along a fence line (a stock fence with an impenetrable hedge,) go through a gateway and then run back along the other side to pick a bird.
My daughter, Zoe, took several images on continuous mode with the camera as Saffy jumped this fence, and a friend merged them together for me.
Saffy's 5 puppies from one litter to Carpenny Made a Million
