I was most disappointed to receive a telephone call regarding my forthcoming appointment to judge this variety at Belfast show, the contents of which were somewhat disturbing. Nevertheless I just did my usual thing on the day and placed all exhibits in order of merit as I saw them. 

PD (2) 1 Williams' Wilmarella Wells Fargo, B/T. Smart individual of good merit.  Correct in head, which has good conical shape, pleasing in eye and expression. Reachy in neck which flows into a well laid shoulder, forechest is well developed. At this stage of maturity he has plenty in rib with a level top line and correct underline. He stands on good bone with correct feet. Used himself to good advantage on the out and back displaying correct reach and drive. Presented in good order.  Pleased to award him BPIB. 2 Muller's Stargang Kipper Pete. Red.  Masculine individual of ample proportions. Correct in head eye and expression. Fair in bone with correct feet. Ribbing is ok. Topline leads to a well angulated rear. Does, however, need to develop more in body.  Moved out ok. 

JD (5) 1 Coxon's Distinctly So D'Arisca. Red. Quality exhibit viewed from any angle.  So pleasing to go over on the table. Masculine in head with a small almond dark eye which in turn gives off such a pleasing expression. He excels in neck and forechest with correct shoulders. His ribbing is well let down and carried well back. His topline is level and it leads to a good tail set with a well angulated rear. His hocks are true and parallel. On the stack he is so pleasing in outline; on the move he displays such easy reach and drive. Could not resist him in the line-up, pleased to award him the CC. One that will wear his crown! 2 Ergis' Siouxline Aaron JW. There is no doubting this exhibits overall quality. Correct in head,eye and expression. Reachy in neck, adequate in fore chest. Excellent in rib with a firm topline. His bone has quality with neat feet. He gives off a pleasing outline on the stack and shows good reach and drive on move. Holds his outline on the go around.  As usual from this stable presentation and performance was first class, close call! 3 Protheroe's Royalmaple Anky Panky. Red. Completing a trio of quality exhibits. 

PGD (1) 1 Midgley's Jemdach Black Onyx. B/T.  Has plenty to admire all through. Correct in head which has good conical balance. Good in eye and expression. Well ribbed with a firm topline. His rear is well angulated with short strong hocks. Moved out with purpose on the out and back. Presented in good order. 

LD (2) 1 Mitchell & Atonopoulos' Ygeia No One Like You (Imp Swe). Red. So correct in head which is conical in shape. Good in eye and expression.  Front assembly is good. Plenty in rib with a firm topline and firm loin. His rear is well angulated with short strong parallel hocks. He has quality in bone with correct feet. He gives off a pleasing outline on the stack and shows true purpose on the move.  RCC today. Should reach the upper house with normal luck. 2 Schwedler Pinedax Dimitri. Choc/dapple. Fair all through for breed type. but does need to strengthen up in his rear. 

OD (3, 1) 1 Paget & Carroll's Bronia Valente Of Marvale. B/T. There is plenty to admire about this exhibit. Scores with his correct conical shaped head with a good dark eye which combined to give off a good expression. He has plenty in neck with a well filled fore chest and tight elbows. His ribs are well sprung and carried well back. Good strength in loin which leads to a well angulated rear. Really  puts all in on the move displaying excellent reach and drive. Presented in excellent order and well handle to gain maximum output. With normal luck should wear his crown! 2 Coxon & Weir's D'arisca Prince Of Darkness At Amberglo. B/T. Another with plenty to admire. Scores in body with excellent ribbing. Firm in topline with a good loin and a well angulated rear.  Good development in forechest  and stands on quality bone with excellent feet. Moved out with style and holds his outline on the go around. I just preferred the better balance in head of the winner. No doubt this exhibit will have his supporters! 

PB (4) 1 Paget & Carroll's Wilmerella Secret Liaison With Marvale. B/t. Sister to puppy dog winner. Quality all through.  Feminine well proportioned head with a lovely eye and sweet expression. Reachy in neck with a well constructed front. She is well ribbed with a firm topline which leads to a well angulated rear. One the stack she gives off a pleasing outline. On the move she displays positive free flowing strides. Presented in good order. 2 Protheroe's Royalmaple Beryl The Peril. Red. Obvious quality about this exhibit. Sweet feminine well proportioned head of correct conical shape.  Super in eye and expression. Reachy in neck which leads to a well angulated shoulder. Ribbing is good.  Topline and loin good. Her rear is well angulated which leads to short strong parallel hocks. Her general outline on the stack is excellent. She is the type that I really like but today she was a little unsettled.  Once she gains more confidence she should have a bright future. 3 Mebourne & Holdsworth's Stargang Gummer At Melriding. B/t. 

JB (2) 1 Melbourne & Holdsworth's Stargang Sea Fever At Melriding.  Pleasing to go over. Feminine well proportioned head with a good eye and expression. She has a well constructed front assembly with plenty in forechest.  Correct in rib with a firm loin. Level in topline with a well angulated rear. She stands on good bone with neat compact feet. Her overall balance is good and she moved out with positive reach and drive. 2 Mitchell's Bronia Mariella. Fair exhibit all through but not the overall length of the winner and appeared not to settle on the move. 

PGB (3, 1) 1 Coxon's Sundsdal's Dirty Diana (Imp Dnk). Red. Somewhat different for this stable, but does have plenty to admire.  Correct conical shape in head with a good eye and expression. Reachy neck with a clean front assembly. Excellent in rib with a firm topline. Her bone is of quality with neat compact feet. Moved out soundly on the out and back and held a true outline on the go around.  interesting to see what the future holds for this one! 2 Shutt's Kissed By The Moon Da Casados Quadros Of Donnadoon (Imp Prt). Has good breed points. Feminine well proportioned head, good development in forechest, ample in rib, topline good, bone ok with neat feet, just not settled. 

LB (5) First two home very close! 1 Ergis & Melbourne's Siouxline Rapunzel With Melriding. Red. All quality girl with plenty to admire. So pleasing to go over on the table.  Quality in head which is feminine and of the correct conical shape. Super in eye and expression. Reachy in neck which leads into a well laid shoulder. She excels in rib which is carried well back to a firm loin. Topline is firm with a good underline. Her rear is well angulated with short parallel hocks. On the stack her outline is pleasing. On the move she displays positive reach and drive. As usual from this stable presentation was first classs. Today the RCC; her day will come I'm sure! 2 Williams' Manacas Amber Cover At Wilmerella. Red. Quality girl to go over. Head ok but eye and expression excellent. Reachy in neck with a well angulated front assembly. Forechest well developed with good ribs. Topline good. She has quality in bone with excellent feet. Moved out with style displaying good reach and drive, just preferred the more refinement in head of the winner. However, this one will continue to attract admirers. 3 Paget & Carroll's Bronia Vittoria Of Marvale. 

OB (4) 1 Blackburn-Bennett's Ch Lokmadi Sea Holly At Stargang. Red.  Top drawer exhibit when viewed from any angle and just what I was looking for. She possesses the three classic "Ls" long, low and level something that so many lack today. On inspection I found her head to be so feminine with the correct conical shape, super in eye and expression. Correct in neck and front assembly with a well developed forechest.  She scores in rib and topline with a firm loin. She stands on excellent bone with neat compact feet. On the stack she displays an eyecatching outline; on the move she simply shows effortless free flowing strides. Presented in excellent condition. No hesitation, CC, BOB! 2 Williams & Moes' Picollo Teckel. Dark brindle I would describe this exhibits colour. On inspection her head is feminine with equal balance, the darkest of eyes with a reachy neck. Her forechest is well developed with plenty in rib. Holds a true topline at all times and stands on good bone with compact neat feet. Moves out well and presentation was excellent, however for me she does not appeal enough to award top honours so the ringside comments at previous shows were totally unnecessary and those who were predicting todays outcome were certainly way off track.  The unsavoury side of this hobby has to stop!! 3 Protheroe's Am Ch Grandgables Ms Ever So Yummy At Royalmaple.

Martin Sanders