First Place in Open - Dog, Judge: Mrs Jayne Alpe
Thanks to the committee for my invitation and for providing two excellent stewards who enabled me to easily get on with my judging. Thank you to the exhibitors for the good quality entry. Overall impression from last time I judged was that movement has improved somewhat but many lacked the drive and ease of movement that is needed in a dog that was bred to follow a horse. I was looking for both this and balance without some of the over exaggerations that I have noticed slowly creeping in to the breed. I was delighted to see my BOB pulled into the cut in the group and my BP with a Group 4.
The first three in this class were all excellent examples and on another day could change places I was splitting hairs.
balanced dog with lovely proportion, excelled in shoulder placement which showed on the move with both reach and drive. Good in head, eye and expression. Correct bite. Good coat and pelt. So close to top honours.