I would like to express my thanks to the Club for the invitation and especially to all the exhibitors who honoured me with their entries. I am sorry that the decision to use the outdoor ring went somewhat awry, when the early morning spring weather gradually turned into a blustery, cold afternoon. I thank my long-suffering stewards for their perseverance. A more than adequate ring size meant that movement could be assessed thoroughly. Many exhibits moved typically for the breed, and outright unsound movement was thankfully rare. I was surprised at the number of exhibits with significant ticking. I found one instance of very dirty teeth. I was very happy with my major winners and overall there were plenty of worthy exhibits to whom I would have been happy to award a CC today. Minor Puppy Dog (1 entry, 0 absent) 1. Harrison Stratford's DALKEREVE DARK DRAGON, 6 m.o. l/w, lots of substance, beautiful bone and good feet, lovely shoulders, maybe a little steep in croup at this stage, very spotty face, still needing to organise himself on the move.   Puppy Dog (7, 1) 1. Alexander's OFFORDALE CHEVALIER, 11 m.o. b/w, very substantial b/w of great quality, lovely front construction, still needs to settle in topline, well angulated hindquarters, lovely tail set, ideally he would be slightly more compact but the benefit of his conformation was the scope that it gave him to show his flowing movement, the more that I looked at him, the better I liked him, RCC and BPIS. 2. Dalkereve Dark Dragon 3. Johnson's TYNEVALE THE TEASE, 11 m.o. l/w, completed a line-up of three quality puppies, lovely head and neck, very good feet, not quite the hindquarters to match his forehand at this stage, handler needs to beware of over-stretching him.   Junior Dog (2, 0) A difficult class to judge, two 12 m.o. b/w litter mates who were both at an awkward stage of development, both need to develop in ribcage. 1. Fort & Carruthers' SHULUNE ICE AND FIRE OVER BRIARMIST, a heavily built dog, slightly bold in head, good dark eye, heavily boned legs, excellent tail set, not as angulated in pastern and stifles as I would prefer, looks very raw. 2. Barrett & Fort's SHULUNE ICE PHANTOM OF DALAMANTI, heavly marked, rather plain in head, in many ways the equal of his brother, just failing in underline.   Yearling Dog (3, 1) 1. Munro's TANSTAR SEA THE STARS, 19 m.o. b/w with good head, a rather blank face framed by dark ears, good neck, correct pasterns, excellent feet, strong deep chest, good hindquarters, lovely flow of topline through to tail, not quite in top coat condition today, moved very well. 2. Dodds & Pearson's KELEVRA MAN IN THE MIRROR, 22 m.o. l/w, loved his head and neck through to excellent front assembly, lovely topline, not quite as strong in hindquarters and not moving with the drive of 1.   Maiden Dog (2, 1) 1. Cauldwell's POPSPRIDE AND PREJUDICE, 10 m.o. b/, 4th in Puppy, slightly plain head, good neck, nicely boned, good deep chest, not carrying much body or coat condition today, moved very well.   Novice Dog (1, 0) 1. Barrett's KIRKAM APOLLO, nearly 11 m.o. b/w, 5th in Puppy, nice headed dog, good bold spotting, did not get his act together for a while, eventually moving with plenty of drive, another who needs lots of time, still needs to develop in ribcage.   Post Graduate Dog (11, 2) 1. Dodds & Pearson's KELEVRA HUDSON HAWK, 2 y.o. b/w, good head and shoulders, well boned, good topline and tail set, would prefer slightly more elegance in the neck and more marked turn of stifle, lovely movement, particularly in profile. 2. Williams' PHADANTE BRIGHTON ROCK, nearly 3 y.o. l/w, liked his eye colour, good bone and feet, lovely tail set, excellent substance, adequate spotting, won his place on his driving movement, I liked him more than he seemed to like me. 3. Webster's TYNEVALE TRULY TALENTED AT DALMARNO, 2 y.o. l/w of finer build, nice head and neck, slightly less bone than 1 and 2, in lovely coat, not quite the hindquarters to match his front at this stage but moved with drive, not really a showman today.   Limit Dog (3, 0) 1. Quayle's BUFFREY THE SHADED SUN AT CUBALIBRE, deeply pigmented 3 y.o. b/w, very kind expression on this lovely, sound dog, loved his hindquarters and tail set, soundest of movers, markings are not his fortune and I would prefer more angulation of upper arms. 2. McCarthy's KILNDANDY OLD COPPER, 3 y.o. l/w, elegant dog of good colour, making a lovely outline with excellent topline and turn of stifles, disappointed me by moving very close behind today. 3. Beaumont & Croft's KOROYZA CANDY MAN, nearly 3 y.o. b/w who makes a rather different picture from 1 and 2, being squarer in outline, did not settle to his best behaviour today but another dog with a kind expression, nice neck, lovely bone and good turn of stifles, not quite the topline and tail set that I was looking for.   Open Dog (8, 2) 1. Adderley's LEIAHART CHICAGO BEAR ShCM, 3 y.o. b/w who I have done well for before, I have sometimes seen him on lesser form in between times, but today I thought that he had matured into what for me made a quite gorgeous picture, excellent front completely in balance with his correct hindquarters, beautifully marked on a lovely coat, masculine but retaining sufficient elegance, moved superbly, I had no hesitation in rewarding him with his 3rd CC and ultimately with BIS. 2. Goff-Leggett's CH WASHAKIE NUTCRACKER PRINCE JW, 3 y.o. b/w built on slightly smaller lines, lovely head and expression, best of hindquarters, tight coat, overall of superb quality, quite lovely on the move, he will always be there or thereabouts for the top awards. 3. Stocks' CH DALMARK THE SHADED MOON AT NOSPAR JW, 5 y.o. l/w, superb head with lovely eye, really good bone and substance, great topline and tail set, moved soundly but today lost out slightly on drive to 1 and 2, Best Liver Dog.   Beginners Dog (0, 0)   Veteran Dog (1, 0) 1. Cauldwell's GWENCARODALE POP'S PRIDE JW, 11 y.o. b/w with good head and neck, showing a good balanced profile, excelled in upper arms, stifles and tail set, handler found his exuberance on the move difficult to control.   Mairi Steen Memorial Stakes Open Dog (2, 1) 1. Quayle's IR CH CUBALIBRE TOP SPOT ShCM, nearly 7 y.o. b/w of top quality, lovely expression, excellent upper arm angulation, good shoulders, correct length for height, excellent stifles and tail set, moved very well with drive, close up in the challenge for the RCC.   Minor Puppy Bitch (2, 0) 1. Kaal's OLBERO ONE QUICKSILVER FOR SCHUNIKKA, nearly 9 m.o. b/w with lovely head, good length of neck, adequate forechest, good topline, lovely feet, moved very well. 2. Beeston's OLBERO ONE COPPER CHARM FOR SANADAL, l/w litter sister to 1, also has a lovely neck, good width of chest, well boned, tight feet, excellent coat, still needs to darken in eye and strengthen in hock, moved with drive.   Puppy Bitch (6, 0) 1. Adderley's BUFFREY MAY QUEEN AT LEIAHART, 11 m.o. b/w, compact with good head and expression, lovely front, good ribcage, very sound, driving movement, BOS Puppy. 2. Alexander's OFFORDALE SOLITAIRE, b/w litter mate of BPIS winner, slightly longer than 1 and a lovely type, very good expression, excellent front, lovely bone and feet, moved with lots of drive, hardest decision of the day to split 1 and 2, two excellent puppies of somewhat different type, showmanship on the day had to come into it. 3. Smirthwaite's PHAELAND PASSION PHLORENCE, very boldly spotted 9 m.o. b/w, I liked her upper arm angulation, tight feet, excellent topline and tail set, but rather plain in head at present, and slightly narrow all through, needs time.   Junior Bitch (10, 3) 1. Peers' DALLIVIRO LIMITED EDITION, heavily marked 12 m.o. b/w of lovely type and substance, excellent head and neck, correct depth of chest, good bone leading to tight feet, correct body length, lovely stifles, slightly proud of her tail at times. 2. Chance & Dodds' DVOJICA VIVID VOCATION, 12 m.o. b/w of excellent type, good substance, still slightly immature in body, good stifles, moved very soundly, not quite the neck of 1. 3. Pickup's ROADCOACH ROSE THE ONE, 17 m.o. b/w, attractive heavily marked head, very good neck and front, good feet, long ribcage, adequate stifles, moved with moderate drive but made nothing of herself standing.   Yearling Bitch (3, 1) 1. Quayle's CUBALIBRE SPOT ON, 19 m.o. b/w, bitch of stunning quality, superb neck and front assembly, great depth of chest, correct stifles and perfect tail set, I am not greatly enamoured of her head but all else is lovely, ResCC and close up for more. 2. Newton & Newton-O'Brian's CUBALIBRE POLKADOT, l/w littermate of 1, excellent colour, good hindquarters with lovely stifles and hocks, somewhat longer in body than 1, excellent tail set, I would prefer slightly more stop.   Maiden Bitch (6, 0) 1. Olbero One Quicksilver for Schunikka 2. Cobb-McGill's KALOKAIRIE'S EYE CANDY, strikingly marked 12 m.o. b/w, 4th in Junior, liked her head but it needs to develop further, good upper arm angulation, correct topline, feet need to tighten. 3. Baker's KLARKESON ROYAL MINT, 16 m.o. b/w, 5th in Junior, good neck and front, slightly narrow in head, not the length of ribcage of 1 and 2, didn't seem to be enjoying herself.   Novice Bitch (5, 1) 1. Kalokairie's Eye Candy 2. Klarkeson Royal Mint 3. Cubalibre Polkadot   Graduate Bitch (3, 0) 1. Sansom's CAMARGUE CENTREPAGE, 21 m.o. b.w, lovely sort with a good front, correct length, excellent stifles, correct tail set, a high quality exhibit who moved rather erratically, wish she would put more into her showing. 2. Richardson's BUFFREY LIGHTENING STRIKE AMONG MAPPLEWELL, 3 y.o. b/w, deeply pigmented, lovely outline with correct topline, good feet, not quite the length of neck of 1, carrying a little too much weight today. 3. Kaal's CALDECACRE CHANTERELLE AVEC SCHUNIKKA, sparsely spotted 3 y.o. b/w, liked her head and expression, would prefer more spring of rib, good showgirl.   Post graduate Bitch (12, 2) 1. Smallwood's LASCELLES LADY MARMALADE, very impressed by this 2 y.o. lovely coloured l/w, presents a very well balanced picture, lovely spotty face, correct shoulders, well angulated hindquarters, excellent bone, lovely tail set, moved very soundly but just lost out on further honours today by not driving as much as I would have liked. 2. Barrett's MARRICDALE THE GOLD DIGGER OF DALAMANTI, 3 y.o. l/w, darker spotting than 1, good substance, positive ring presence, moved well with drive, topline falls away a little when standing. 3. Goff-Leggett's MULLABUOY MISS CHIEF OF WASHAKIE, 2 yo. b/w with a lovely head, excellent bone and feet, lovely body shape, high quality exhibit, not too happy to be handled today.   Limit Bitch (11, 2) 1. Cheetham's KOROYZA CUTE AS CANDY FOR DOLLYWOOD, nearly 3 y.o. b/w of substance, lovely head and expression, excellent neck, good shoulders, lovely body and movement to match, a little proud of her tail today. 2. Hughes & Smith's TAMILANDA PRETTY IN PINK JW ShCM, nearly 3 y.o. b/w, beautiful bitch with lovely neck and front, correct length body leading to excellently angulated h/q, handler needs to try to get her forward more as she tends to lean back, would prefer more facial markings, close between 1 and 2. 3. Williams' PHADANTE BOSSA NOVA BABY, 7 y.o. b/w with lovely substance, well made bitch who was so "full of beans" today both standing and moving, markings not her fortune.   Open Bitch (8, 2) I was spoilt for choice in this lovely class; it was a shame to have to leave one out of the cards. 1. Christie's CH SOPHTSPOT SNAP CRACKLE N POP JW, 3 y.o. b/w with a classic outline, lovely head and neck, excellent depth of chest, beautiful topline and tail set, really lovely angulation at both ends, gorgeous movement, just floating over the ground, CC, RBIS. 2. Pearson & Dodds' CH CAMARGUE GUCCI ENVY, 4 y.o. b/w, another quality bitch of excellent outline, deep chest, long ribcage, correct topline, excellent stifles, tail set good although held a little proud today on the move, moved with great exuberance, just preferred 1's head today. 3. Smallwood's CH MAPPLEWELL DANCING QUEEN OF LASCELLES, 5 y.o. l/w, lovely type, correct combination of elegance with substance, good eye colour giving a kind expression, long neck, lovely bone, excellent topline and stifles, good feet, I felt that she was not giving of her best today but her extra drive on the move gave her Best Liver Bitch over her younger kennelmate.   Beginners Bitch (0, 0)   Veteran Bitch (4, 0) 1. Caldwell's CH/IR CH/INT CH MEDALA VENUS ShCM, 9 y.o. b/w, beautifully constructed bitch of correct size, classic head with a lovely expression, hard to fault and still moving truly and actively, just not in her best coat today but a very worthy BVIS. 2. Richardson's DALMARK MOON EUROPA JW, 11 y.o. b/w, nicely made, kind eye, lovely bone, good topline, moved very truly, another not in her best coat and carrying a little excess weight. 3. Adderley's PHADANTE FOLLOW THAT DREAM ShCM, 7 y.o. b/w, lovely sound bitch with a kind expression, not quite as well boned as 1 and 2 but completed a lovely set of oldies.   Mairi Steen Memorial Stakes Bitch (3, 0) 1. Neath-Duggan's CH BUFFREY SPRIG O MINT JW, 6 y.o. b/w, lovely quality bitch, beautiful head and neck, correct topline, lovely stifles, moved with great freedom, made a great challenge for higher honours today. 2. Pickup's ROADCOACH RIBBONS AND ROSES JW, 4 y.o. b/w, boldly spotted bitch with lovely depth of chest, slightly finer in head than 1, has most of the ingredients to do well but never really stood well today. 3. Stocks' MARRICDALE MISS DYNAMITE AT NOSPAR, 6 y.o. b/w, substantial bitch who really shows herself off, standing four-square at all times, today she had a slightly coarse coat and I would prefer a little more stop, but she moved with great style.   Brace 1. Neath-Duggan's b/w bitches, won a close decision on their better co-ordination on the move. 2. Dodds & Pearson's b/w dog and bitch litter mates.   Breeders Stakes 1. Neath-Duggan's group of 3 quality exhibits. Dr W J E Gardner (judge)