Although I may not be known as a true "Specialist" this breed is very close to my heart, therefore it saddens me see changes in the breed that are not called for in our Standard. Please take care and watch the fronts and shoulders, quite a few exhibits were very upright in shoulder and lacked the angulation called for. With a large open ring, some exhibitors chose not to make full use of it, why?

DOGS: P (6) 1 Norman & Ratcliffe’s Foxearth Blue Jeans Forever, as his name implies, a blue of good colour and size. Made use of the ring and moved very freely, just needs to tighten in front movement. Pleasing head with a good stop, well placed eye and used his ears well, Pigmentation just needs to fill in to complete the picture, a very promising youngster. 2 Wallis’ Norfield Soul Mate, sable who rather likes his food and it showed. Good head and well placed eye, nice foreface. Ample neck. Good size for age. When he settles down to the job in hand moved well. Just needs time. 3 Hindes’ Chicnoir Talk of the Town.

PG (4) 1 Moores’ Manordeifi Solar Eclipse, tricolour just coming to his best and is of good size and pleasing outline. Clean head, with well placed ears, good expression. Good length of neck well placed shoulders and ample bone. Good legs and feet. Just spoilt outline on the move today by slightly high tail carriage. 2 Fulwood’s Darsign Minstrel Blue, young blue in good condition and nice shape. Clean head of good length. Just needs to get hold of his ears to improve his expression. Needs more bone to complete the picture, moved quite well.

L (4) 1 Hayward’s Foxearth High Faulutin, another young sable of good size and shape. Well balanced head, with a good foreface, clean cheeks and nice eye set. Well place ears which he was not too happy about using but did enough for me. Good body and outline but I would prefer more angulation in the shoulders and more depth of chest – but this should come with age. Not as positive in front movement as I would like. 2 Evans’ Manordeifi Smart Guy at Southcombe, well made sable that has a lovely eye and expression. Good length of back and good bone for his age. Moved quite well. 3 Hindes’ Chicnoir Best Mate.

O (5) 1 Norman & Radcliff; Ch Foxearth Flash Past, quality sable who walked into the ring as if he owned it. Elegant on the move, he appealed for size shape and outline. Clean well balanced head, super moulded foreface, well placed stop with a flat skull and that elusive expression I was looking for. Super neck and shoulders, good depth of chest. Good bone and neat feet. Good angulation of both shoulders and stifle. Moved with drive both ways and in profile covered the ground easily. Very pleased to award CC & BOB in excellent company. 2 Griffiths’ Alopex Going Equipped, blue merle of good colour and a favourite of mine, who has done well in the past. I thought today would be his day but he appeared a little lethargic and although he responds well to his handler, just lacked the verve of 1) and had to settle for another RCC. 3 Tuck’s Dark Motif from Misstoff.

BITCHES: P (4) A class of babies who should mature on but need time to grow on, headed by. 1 Evans’ Southcombe She’s The One, nine month old and showing so much promise, one I would love to see when she has matured. Good head and expression, enhanced by correct ear size and carriage. Good neck and well placed shoulders. Moved out so well for her age, took this class and BPIB on her overall quality. 2 Fort’s Shulune Lady Heathertoes – very immature sable who needs to grow on but at this stage is most attractive as she is very attentive to her owner. When she learns to free stand and show, could trouble the rest. Good head which needs to lengthen and flatten in skull. Good outline and once she has muscled up should move out freely. 3 Wallis’ Norfield English Rose.

J (3) 1 Griffiths’ Alopex Confetti Blue, lovely coloured blue of good size. Pleasing head, this is well balanced with a flat skull and good ears. Pleasing expression and nice moulded foreface. Ample neck, in super body and condition kept her topline on the move. One who made use of the ring and won this class with ease. 2 French’s Chicnoir Olivers Dance at Frendet, young sable that shows much promise. Good body and outline. Pleasing head and eye. Nice shoulders, legs and feet. 3 Macgregor’s Foxearth Flaunt It For Rowvale.

PG (6) 1 Bullions’ Foxearth Flame Of Love At Ostarain, Tricolour bitch I have judged previously and she has improved in most departments. Not a big girl but she has a good reach of neck and a clean balanced head with good foreface and well set ears. Moved well keeping her top line. Not as elegant as I had hoped she would be but she is in proportion and took this class on overall type. 2 Sewell’s Foxearth Flicker of Hope, young sable bitch who instantly appealed for her make, shape and elegance. Lovely head, clean cheeks and good eye. Not at all happy in her surroundings and would not settle down at all. She has a good body and lovely bone. Moves out quite well but lost out as she obviously wished to be anywhere but here. 3 Moores’ Manordeifi Sheherazade.

L (4) A very strong class of mature ladies who will probably change places. 1 Moores’ Manordiefi Silver Dawn J.W. Merle, who took BPIB last time I judged and has matured well. Pleasing head with a super expression well set ears, Good moulded foreface. Ample neck moves freely in unison with her handler. Coat of good texture and she has a super outline and took RCC today in very good company. 2 Gibson’s Pelgart Private Dancer. Tri, who appealed for her classic outline and head pattern. Not a big girl but she has a good head and eye. Good neck. Well boned for her age, moved well – close between 1 and 2. 3Whittingham’s Southcombe Society Girl.

O (6) 1 Macgregor’s Southcombe Sophisticate at Rowvale. I have watched this bitch many times and today she never put a foot wrong. She may be too much for some judges, but this is but one point. Very pleasing head, good foreface and lovely eye and expression. Good depth of chest, good bone. Held her top line both moving and standing. Moves with the freedom one expects for this breed. Well deserved CC and with it her title – Well Done. 2 Chapman’s Sharidon Silver Belle. Blue of smaller type than winner, but pushed hard for this class. Pleasing head of good proportions. Good eye and lovely reach of neck. Good front and moved well around the ring, in the challenge just lost out on showmanship for the RCC. 3 Hindes’ Ch Snuggletooth Flurrys Filly.

Carole A Smedley