Second Place in Post Graduate - Dog, Judge: Mr Peter Armstrong (Atron)
I would first like to thank the Officers and Committee of Leeds City & District Canine Association Championship Show for inviting me to judge at their show, and for the hospitality shown to me on the day. However, most of all, thank you to all the exhibitors for providing me with such a quality entry to assess on this, my first appointment in the breed at this level. I had the privilege of going over so many quality dogs that difficult decisions often had to be made. As always, coats were at different stages, sometimes reflected in the placings, but coats come and go, construction does not. I did not discern any kinked tails and no bad temperaments were apparent. The adequately sized ring however was quite difficult for the exhibitors to circumnavigate, with varying gradients, going uphill away from the judge, coming back downhill but with another gradient across the ring to cope with as well. There were several bumps and hollows in the ring as well, in places which made standing your exhibit to best effect not quite so easy. Many astute exhibitors realising this changed their handling technique to cater for this, some did not
Dark grizzle and tan. Possesses a good masculine head, moderately broad skull, keen expression, well set on ears and good bite. Excellent neck and shoulders, and good return of upper arm. Lovely bone and feet. Excellent rib and easily spanned. Strong loin and good topline and tailset. Shown in a good topcoat, with a decent undercoat and pelt. This still very excitable youngster continues to give his handler a very tough time, doing all he could to present himself in the worst possible manner especially when moving around the ring. However despite this, on the odd occasion when he did co-operate, glimpses of his qualities could be appreciated.