Some lovely quality bitches were present &, as a judge, it was very satisfying to find that, in several classes, 1 & 2 were difficult to separate. It is obvious that some mating programmes are successful where bitches are concerned. So where oh where are the males of these unions? I was disappointed in some of the dog exhibits, some showing untypical heads, being too short & deep in muzzle with excess lip & many light eyes. Coat & body condition, well all I will say is, part of the art of showing is to realise when not to exhibit. Hopefully these remarks will be received constructively & solely for the future benefit of this breed.

PD (7,1a) 1 Croft's Doubtwell Show Stopper, this b/w was an outright winner, an exciting boy for the future. Correct for age & Standard, balanced with good bone, excellent size & pigment of spotting, outstanding coat condition, most appealing head, eye & expression, movement was correct & rhythmic. Owner needs confidence to let him on a loose lead to show full potential. BP & RCC; 2 Corcoran's Dalmark The Sand Wizard, rangier l/w, in excellent overall condition, showing balance & correct bone, noted a kind head, good topline, correct tailset & length. Well handled but movement still puppyish; 3 Gates-Raw & Garton's Dalendale Quiet Riot.

JD (7) 1 Christie's Sophtspot Abracadabra, attentive well grown masculine b/w with excellent decoration, showed power & balance in body & movement, the rear showing excellent drive & rhythm for such a youngster. Need to be aware of weight over the shoulder so that his crisp outline is not lost; 2 Rose's Candidals Run Forest Run, taller l/w, showing balanced outline though needs to fill out in front. Handsome head on arched neck, spotting pleasing with correct pigment, showed all of this with good attention as he flowed around the ring; 3 Goodswen's Tamilanda Pink Vigilante from Alphadal.

ND (2) 1 Toynton's Elaridge Escort of Merrybriar, this handsome l/w can move up to the higher classes with confidence. Mature in body & mind, good size with excellent body properties showing especially good spring of rib, defined wither & excellent hindquarters, movement was correct & free. Now though he would benefit from further muscletone & a few less titbits; 2 Panteney & Davis' Kailums Prince Polkadot, more heavily marked, this b/w showed good condition & demeanour. Pleasing overall but carried his tail a bit high as teenagers can but just spoilt a good outline.

PGD (8,2) 1 McCarthy's Kilndandy Old Copper, correct sized l/w with pleasing decoration, clean & balanced, excellent topline & tailset. Would just like to see him deepen & mature in chest. Moved confidently & correctly with an easy gait; 2 Adderley's Leiahart Chicago Bear, b/w, showing appealing spotting & condition, expressive head & good eye colour. Had good freedom of movement but showed a straight stifle when standing; 3 Moate's Major Sheer Will at Sundown.

LD (9,2) 1 Smith's Dalleaf Mulberry, eyecatching l/w who excelled on the move correctly flowing & economical, kind balanced head topped a good masculine rangier body. Showed an excellent topline but unfortunately overstretched at times giving the impression of straight stifles; 2 Jubb's Dalmark The Double Agent, another eyecatching l/w with excellent coat & spotting, correct head & dark eye, very attentive showing well muscled quarters. Although moving well & with purpose did not have the topline of 1 while on the move or standing; 3 Jenkins' Illyria Sarons Lad.

OD (9,2) 1 Bolt's Ch Fakenham Flash Gordon, this l/w was the complete finished article, in his prime & his performance could not be faulted, displayed a beautiful head, correct in all ratios with appealing eye & expression, body was completely toned & masculine showing off his excellent front & corresponding rear quarters, attractive spotting & obvious healthy condition completed the picture, pleasure to watch him move with a powerful & rhythmic action as the Standard dictates. CC; 2 Hartly & Griffiths' Ch Creaganbrec The Favourite at Miragua, very pleasing short coupled b/w, excellent decoration & pigment, showed well balanced overall properties, attentive, very agile & gave a good display of movement though could not match 1's overall performance; 3 Lewis' Man About Town at Hunterswood.

PB (8) 1 Neath & Duggan's Buffrey Gift Wrapped, personality plus, b/w, substantial body & bone with everything in balance, noted a lovely rounded rear & stifle which, considering her age, she used with precision & rhythm on the move, pretty head with dark eye & overall good decoration & pigment which presented a promising picture; 2 Croft's Doubtwell Amazing Grace, b/w of a finer quality, correct feminine head, clean cut typical & pleasing body with even spotting. More confident projection will enhance her; 3 Kembrey's Dalmark The Sandwitch.

JB (7) 1 Whincup's Tamilanda Lilly The Pink, lovely b/w who, although lightly spotted did not detract from her quality. Very feminine head, well shaped moderate contours, excellent eye colour, body was well toned, fit & with balance. It was obvious the care & enjoyment this owner gave to her charge with the bitch responding so well both on the move & standing that she stood out to win the RCC; 2 Alexander's Offordale Solitaire, pretty headed, compact well decorated b/w giving a good performance. Although not the depth of body of 1 she was well angled & was an appealing exhibit; 3 Williams' Phadante One Vision.

PGB (14,3) 1 Kembrey's Dalmark The Super Sleuth, quality l/w with the appearance of painted equidistant spotting, so feminine but with substance, soundly made & to the Standard, excelled in wither, topline & tailset, movement was easy & flowing. Such a shame she gave up in the challenge but her best is yet to come; 2 Clarke's Klarkeson Royal Destiny, b/w in beautiful condition who was really on her toes, fit & muscled but still feminine presenting a balanced outline, moved soundly & gave a good account of herself coming close to 1 but just lost her topline at times; 3 Williams' Phadante Bossanova Baby.

LB (12) 1 Clarke's Mapplewell Double Take by Klarkeson, in her prime, confident & full of sparkle, this b/w displayed our Standard perfectly, decoration was bold & deeply pigmented on a beautifully conditioned body & coat to match, faultless deportment at all times, it was a pleasure to watch the effortless smooth driving movement with this bitch & handler working in complete harmony. Continually gave a stylish performance & easily secured the CC, her 3^rd, & BOB; 2 Alexander's Offerdale White Lady, pretty headed b/w who gave a good account of herself, compact strong muscular body with good angles, moving well with easy drive though could not match the presence of 1; 3 Lamb's Dalpetro Desdemona.

OB (6) 1 Neath Duggan's Ch Buffrey Sprig O Mint, elegant b/w with excellent spotting on a well shaped fit body, good bone did not detract from her femininity, obvious good example of the breed with easy stylish gait. It was unfortunate that in the challenge, although the handler worked hard, her charge lost enthusiasm; 2 Christie's Ch.Sophspot Snap Crackle N Pop, pleasingly decorated b/w, well up to size but with good length to height ratios, showed a very strong muscular body which enabled her to move with long controlled stride with plenty of drive. Although a good bitch to go over, not quite the femininity of 1; 3 Dunnachie's Ch Dvojica Voodoo.

VALENTINE BLACK