First Place in Open - Bitch, Judge: Mrs Elizabeth Barrett (Howthwaite)
Firstly, I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge their show, and thank you to the exhibitors for the lovely entry. Thank you also to my ring stewards Jem Thomas and Paul Brannan for their hard work and efficiency in keeping the classes running smoothly. I had some very pleasant surprises on the day when going over new dogs. Some dogs I found to be much lighter to handle than they appear from the ringside and also in the same vein, two or three were way over an acceptable departure from the standard weight. I found what I was looking for in so much as I believe we should be looking at the whole dog in balance. I sometimes think it is easy to get so hooked up on breed points that we lose sight of the whole picture. There were one or two difficult decisions on the day, but the dogs with balance, lightness and lack of exaggeration were generally rewarded and I do like to see a dog “active” as the standard calls for.
Lovely coloured blue & tan. Caught my eye as soon as she came into the ring. Good head, free from exaggeration with strong muzzle good skull, little stop and dark eye. Good neck into well laid shoulders. Nicely angulated front with good return of upper arm. Just right for bone with strong pasterns, standing on good feet. Good in body and ribs and easily spanned. Excellent topline and underline with well set tail. Strong in loin but without any heaviness. Just right for hind angulation with strong well let down hocks. Excellent harsh coat with the thickest of undercoats and thick pliable pelt. Sound and free moving in profile and true and accurate coming and going. Pleased to award her Best Bitch and Best In Show.