First Place in Limit - 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
Well-made quality young blue & tan dog who exudes breed type. Lovely head and expression, dark eye, shallow stop, masculine yet without any coarseness. Beautifully balanced throughout. Stands on super straight legs and feet with the best of fronts. Well ribbed back with good topline and underline. Easily spanned. Well coated with ample ticking and a thick loose pelt. Good angulation front & rear. Moved effortlessly around the ring really using his well-set on tail and carried himself beautifully as though he owned the ring, and today he did. Delighted to award him the Dog CC, BOB and was delighted when he subsequently went on to win TG1. Very well done.
P.S. I offered to buy this dog at 8 weeks old when I went to view the litter of puppies. However his breeder kindly declined saying, he would be retained for showing. C’est La Vie !