My thanks to the Darlington Committee for their wonderful hospitality and for the lovely atmosphere at the show. My thanks to my stewards for their excellent assistance and coincidentally they stewarded for me at Bournemouth this year! I enjoyed my judging and found in my winners well made, sound moving and well presented examples of the breed. Many of the dogs were surprisingly narrow in front and rather short in keel, well disguised in some cases by profuse feathering underneath. Temperaments were very good.

VD (2) Two elegant gentlemen here. 1 Negus‚ Shardaroba Sun at Tarramist. A good head on this well made red dog. Good size and correct shoulders and ribbing. Plenty of keel and good width in front. Moved well in the wet grass. 2 Walkley’s Rosenket Royal York Sundown another well made dog with a pleasing head and eye. Good ribbing and moved well. Found him rather narrow in front which did not give him the flowing front movement of my winner.

MPd (1) 1 Little’s Metadale Midnight Marauder. Black and tan 7 month old baby, stood alone. Nice head a little wide over bridge of nose. Good front and feet and moved well though still a little wide in front. Strong hindquarters. Nice shape and size and retained topline on the move. Still a roly poly puppy.

P No entries.

JD (3, 2) 1 Mitchell’s Bronia Patriarch. 12 month old red dog. Lovely head and neck. Good front and feet. Ribs could go further back as he is quite long in body. Moved very well. Plenty of keel, but found him a little narrow through. He should mature well however.

PGD (4) Sutton’s Damai Master Benedict. Loved this dog for size and overall balance, won this class with some to spare. Black and tan in excellent muscled condition. Lovely head and neck. Plenty of keel and well ribbed. Used himself very well on the move should have a bright future. Considered strongly for Reserve CC. 2 Shield’s Abydachs A Night to Remember Jw Sh.CM. Red, heavier bigger dog. Nice head, good neck and feet. Ribs go quite well back. Moved quite well. Not quite as balanced as my winner 3 Mitchell’s Dacquoise Sebastian Sooty.

LD (6) 1 Oxley’s Owlery Valentine JW Black and tan of lovely size. He has a lovely head and neck with an excellent keel. Good shoulders and plenty of heartroom. Good feet and very tight in elbow. A very well ribbed dog. Not eye catching when he enters the ring but he outmoved everything here today. Completely free moving. Sound throughout and so balanced. CC. I understand this is his second, hope his Title comes soon. 2 Negus Shardaroba Rigel by Tarramist. Lovely shaded red. Another good head and good front and keel with ribs going well back. Close up to winner on construction . Well balanced dog of good type. Moved very well in side gait just not quite as true in front as the winner. 3 Clarke’s Tekelhaus Masterpiece Sh CM.

OD (5, 1) Difficult class. Three dogs of very different type. 1 Metcalfe’s Ch Metadale Macquarie. Red of larger mould. Beautiful elegant head and eye. Good front and ribbing goes well back. Could have a little more spring of rib. Moved very well when he was paying attention to his handler. Reserve CC. 2 McFaul’s Dachville Distant Dream. Well made red dog of smaller type. Good feet and ribbing, very well presented, would prefer a stronger muzzle to complete a balanced picture on this male. Moved very well. 3 Oxley’s Ir Ch Larkhund Latest Destroyer at Owlery Sh CM. Nicely made black and tan, just not the extension on the move of 1 and 2.

VB no entries.

MPB no entries.

PB (2, 1) 1 Cook & Rhodes Bournder Royal Sapphire. Lovely youngster. Little loose in front movement but she is a baby. Good front, shoulders and plenty of keel and ribs go well back. Moved with tremendous drive for a youngster. Sweetest of heads lovely eye shape. Should have a bright future. Best Puppy.

JB (2, 12) 1 Mitchell’s Bronia Pastiche. 12 month old clear red. Sweet head and expression. Good long neck going into good shoulders. Plenty of keel and ribbing goes well back. Good topline retained on the move. Nice mover. Still quite immature and lacking in coat at the moment but I am sure will have a bright future.

PGB (5) 1 Mitchell’s Bronia Playgirl. Another well made red bitch from this kennel. Won on her tight front and good keel and feet. Lovely head and good neck. Good ribbing. Once more lacking in coat at the moment. 2 Sutton’s Damai Miss Sophie. Black and Tan. This bitch had a good coat. In construction same applies as my winner but a little looser in front and not quite the elegance in head as 1. 3 Metcalfe’s Metadale Maid from Michigan.

LB (4) 1 Metcalfe’s Metadale Make It Happen. Another example of a beautiful elegant bitch from this kennel. Shaded red. Good head and eye, excellent front and feet and ribs go well back to strong sound hindquarters. Beautifully put down in very good coat, challenged hard for Reserve CC. 2 Dare’s Bronia Huntress at Darsoms. Good head on this black and tan bitch. Lovely neck and good shoulders. Good tight elbows and ribbing extends well back. A little narrower in front than my winner and although her hindquarters were strong she tends to stand a little high in the rear. Very good mover. 2 McNaughton’s Cedavoch Bewitched.

OB (6) 1 Mc Faul’s Ch/Ir Ch Dachville Perfect Blend. Well she lived up to her name. I have admired this bitch as a youngster and she did not disappoint today. Black and Tan of super size and balance. Lovely head with a beautiful melting expression in her very dark eyes. My notes say "gorgeous bitch, just my type." Correct through and through and moved like a dream, expertly handled. CC and BOB delighted to see her short listed in the Group. 2 Mitchell’s Ch Bronia Carmelita. A beautiful clear red bitch of correct size and construction. Pushed winner hard. In good condition and coat. Good feet, keel and ribbing. Not quite the flowing front movement of the winner, but still a very lovely bitch. 3 Reserve CC. 3 Oxley’s Owlery Czarina.

Vivien Phillips