I have been looking forward for such a long time to this appointment, I had an entry of 112 dogs making 120 entries and I wasn't disappointed. It was a privilege to go over dogs I have watched and admired and those that were new to me, thank you I enjoyed every moment in the ring with your lovely dogs.

My observations, there is great variance in size make and shape and fronts need to be improved. Temperament both in the ring and on the benches needs to be carefully managed and watched. All exhibits were presented in a nice clean condition, most coats were free of the dreaded dally rash, nails need attention in some exhibits.

On the plus side, I was very pleased with the overall quality presented but in my view the quality of the bitches far outshone the dogs in the lower and upper classes, However there are some very good youngsters coming through both in dogs and bitches who show promise, which augers well for the future.

My principal winners demonstrated the qualities to be expected in both construction and movement in our breed.

I would like to thank my 2 excellent stewards for their role in ensuring my first appointment at this level flowed throughout the day.

MPD (10,3) Some really nice puppies coming through at last.

1. Webb & Chrystal's Dalleaf Devil in Disguise, 7 months b/s A sound quality puppy with very good bone, so well made throughout, from nice dark eye, well set ears, good reach of neck and lay of shoulders, very good front and tight feet, good chest and spring of rib.Appealing outline with well-angulated hind quarters, good tail carriage, moved confidently and correctly. Has the necessary attributes to progress in the show ring. BPD & BP

2. Baker's Dalleaf Devils Disciple l/s litter brother to 1, smaller frame with lovely even liver spotting, deep chest & good spring of rib, showed well and moved with enthusiasm, not as mature but no doubt given time these two will change places on another day

3. Alexander's Offordale Chevalier

PD (6 ) Two lovely livers

1. Alcock's, Creaganbrec Face of Beau at Dalspartan, 11 months l/s Lovely even spotting of correct colour. Good head and expression with correct ears and lovely eye needs to darken, nice arched neck into well laid shoulders, good bone and deep chest good and spring of rib. Good hindquarters and excellent rear angulation, gave easy action with lovely profile, showing great soundness balance and drive, moving true with confidence, maintaining a level topline.

2. Johnson's Tynevale The Tease, 8 months l/s good pigmentation and nice spotting, taller than 1 but with similar attributes, full of confidence and very positive on the move at one with his handler

3. Farrel's Chandhally Coed Cyfareddol

JD (1)

1. Munro's Tanstar Sea the Stars, b/s upstanding, attentive to his handler, dense round black even spotting, nice straight front with tight feet, good head with dark eye and well broken ears. Excellent strong round bone and substance, moved with drive and purpose, worthy of this placing.

PGD (10,1)

1. Talbot's Winflash Wille Do It at Leaveslake JW, Handsome quality b/s of correct size, well constructed and balanced. Nice spotty masculine head, dark eye and good ear set, evenly well spotted and muscled all round with clean neck into well placed shoulders, good bone and feet. Good depth of brisket, strong firm loin and well-angulated hindquarters, good tailset and carriage settled into a smooth free action with good rear angulation and drive. Pushed hard for higher honours, his time will come. RCC

2. Dodds & Pearson's Kelevra Hudson Hawk, b/s Lighter frame than 1 with pleasing head and kind eye, lovely well arched flowing neck into good lay of shoulder and well defined withers, good chest with nice tight feet and good bone and spring of rib, moved steadily retaining a good topline.

3. Story-Taylor's Major Tornado at Kesteven

LD (8,1)

1. Adderley's Leiahart Chicago Bear ShCM, A strong solid good honest b/s dog who I have watched mature with interest, one who can be overlooked but whom came to the forefront today. Masculine head without being coarse, with correct ears that he used to advantage, a dark eye and soft gentle expression, deep capacious chest with good spring of rib, good bone, legs and tight feet, well muscled throughout. Good reach of neck, correct lay of shoulder, excellent second thigh, moved soundly with drive and purpose maintaining a level topline.

2. Polhill's Fincham Hurricane Jack at Kymvale JW, Attractive even l/spotting, built on more elegant lines than 1 but with the same good construction and confirmation. Pleasing head with lovely well broken ears, intelligent expression, plenty of substance with good bone and tight feet, good tailset and rear angulation producing an excellent length of stride.

3. McCarthys' Kilndandy Old Copper

OD (7,2)

1. Hartley & Griffiths Ch Creaganbrec the Favourite at Miragua JW ShCM, judged this dog previously as a youngster and awarded him BIS, my favourite then and remains so today. An excellent example of the breed, compact correct size b/s, spectacular pigmentation and bold black spotting, lovely handsome head, nicely arched neck, well balanced throughout with well laid shoulders, deep chest with plenty of heart room and good spring of rib, excellent front and well angulated rear. Level back with strong loin, moved with purpose and drive at one with his handler. Covered the ground with an easy flowing movement. CC

2. Bolt's Ch Fakenham Flash Gordon, l/s Another good honest dog with nice liver spotting evenly distributed, kind head with lovely dark eye good shoulder placement, strong bone and substance with good depth of chest, bend of stifle and second thigh. Good tail carriage, level topline and moved out well coming and going and in profile.

3.Lewis' Man About town at Hunterswood JW Shcm

VD (2)

1.McCarthy's Ch & Ir Ch Tollwood Lionel at Kilndandy JW, l/s 10 years plus and still fully in contention. I have always admired the attributes of this dog he fits the standard in every way, lovely spotting and overall balance and substance. Sympathetic handling brings out the superb movement we know he is capable of.

2. Kembrey's Dalmark the Showstormer JW ShCM , 7 years plus, dense black spotting, nice head and dark eye, sound well balanced body, good front, depth of chest and feet, handled and moved well.

MPB (11,4)

1. Adderley's Buffrey May Queen at Leiahart, 7 months b/s, Attractive black even spotting and head with nice dark eye, straight front and deep chest, good reach of neck into well laid shoulders, nice rear angulation and sound effortless movement for such a youngster.

2 Alexander's Offordale Catalina, 7 months b/s with good overall substance and construction, attractive head with nice arched neck and dark eye. Lovely outline on the move, moved well.

3. Ford's Phaeland Passion Phord

PB (9,2)

Quality in abundance in this class with not enough cards in my view, no doubt these places will change over time. 1. Petersen's Dalimese Who's That Girl at Daedalus, almost 12 months b/s Quality bitch with a lovely temperament, presents a nice picture standing. Correctly proportioned well made body and substance, feminine head with attractive expression, nice dark eye, clean neck, deep chest with plenty of heart room, excellent front assembly with good tight feet and good turn of stifle, moved with drive displaying a level top line and good tailset, lovely disposition at one with her handler. Very promising and one to watch. PB

2. Goodswen's Tamilanda Pink Angel from Alphadal, also almost 12 months b/s Sound correctly proportioned, pleasing pretty head framed by well broken ears, nice dark eye and spotting, well off for bone with nice tight feet, clean neck and shoulders moved well.

3. Chance & Dodd's Dvojica Vivid Vocation

JB (8,2)

1. Quayle's Cubalibre Spot On JW, b/s Elegant with beautiful bold black spotting, lovely elegant head, nice expression and dark eye, good neck, well laid shoulders, good bone and feet, firm topline, correct tail set and carriage, excellent construction, very sound movement from front extension and driving from the rear, pushing hard for top honours.

2. Goodswen's Tamilanda Pink Asterism from Alphadal, b/s well proportioned and balanced, good head into nicely arched neck, good bone and feet, moved soundly, not the drive of 1.

3. Wright's Boutonneux Artemis of Millbelle JW

PGB (15,3)

1. Smallwood's Lascelles Lady Marmalade, l/s A nicely decorated feminine compact balanced bitch of good type, nice head with lovely expression, good neck into correct shoulders and front, soundly made with good angulations, nice topline, moving true for and aft, presented and shown well.

2. Thorner's Tolutiim Drambuie, b/s Nicely decorated and nice size, in proportion with beautiful head nice dark eye with appealing expression correct ear set and elegant arched neck. Deep chest and good spring of rib, well of for bone and good feet, well angulated front and rear, stylish on the move.

3. Davies & Cowton Phadante Sweet Painted Lady

LB (13,1)

1. Neath-Duggan's Buffrey Gift Wrapped JW ShCM, b/s Deep pigment with evenly distributed spots, feminine head with soft expression and correct ear placement, nice reach of neck, deep chest and well sprung ribs, good body proportions, nice front with cat like feet, well defined withers and level topline. Moved with lovely flowing outline with firm and positive effortless action. Well presented and shown to advantage

2. Haywood & Ridgway's Luccombe Hazelnut Cluster JW l/s Correct size bitch lovely rich spotting, feminine head and expression, nice dark eye long arched neck, good front and deep chest well balanced with graceful sound and true movement. Unlucky to meet 1 in top form.

3. Page's Winflash Magic Mystery

OB (10,1)

1. Smallwood's Ch Mapplewell Dancing Queen of Lascelles l/s Eyecatching, ultra feminine, well balanced all round with good construction and in superb condition, lovely evenly distributed rich liver spotting beautiful head,, correct ear carriage used to advantage, excellent front and well angulated rear, excels in confirmation and movement, maintained a level topline and moved with elegance and grace correctly in profile for and aft. Well deserved of CC & BOB also shortlisted in the group.

2. Cuthbertson's Ch Kalsidoni Garnet JW ShCM, b/s Quality and substance a bitch with excellent attributes in lovely condition with dense even bold black spotting, longer cast than 1, has a feminine head with dark eye and intelligent expression, very much tuned in to her handler, nice arched neck into good lay of shoulder, straight front with nice cat feet, good deep chest, correct tailset and level topline kept on the move. RCC

3. Page's Ch Winflash Spring Angel ShCM

VB (2)

1. Lewis' Ch Hunterswood Tittle Tattle JW, b/s top class elegant bitch belying her 10 years, correct size with lovely spotting, beautiful feminine head and soft expression, framed by lovely spotty ears, nice neck into well laid shoulders, balanced throughout with well angulated quarters giving a sound true movement.

2. Neath-Duggan's Ch Buffrey Maybee JW, 8 years plus,, nicely marked black with good head and dark eye, nice front and forechest, balanced and sound with good tail carriage, moved well.