First Place in Junior - Bitch, 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
Extrovert 14 month old blue & tan full of breed type that took my eye straight away when I moved the class around the ring. Balanced feminine head but with adequate strength of muzzle, dark eye giving a miscevious expression and small well placed v shaped ears completing the picture. Good reach of neck flowed into a lovely layback of shoulder, narrow body, ribbed well back and strong in loin. Was very easy to span. Spirit level topline and well set very short tail. Well angulated powerful hindquarters. Presented in a lovely dense jacket and thick loose pelt. When asked to move powered off enthusiastically around the ring covering the ground with a lovely fluid action both economically and soundly. Would certainly follow a horse and get to ground. Delighted to award her the Bitch C.C. in strong competition.