Thanks to the Leeds Committee for a super show in lovely surroundings. I would love to write a critique without having to comment on light eyes spoiling the wonderful typical deerhound expression, but not today. I was also a bit disappointed with some rather flat feet and some dogs that lacked muscle tone. However, I must say that there were some classes where the decisions were very close as the quality was so high. Thank you to the exhibitors for a good day, which finished on a wonderful high with BOB going 3rd in the hound group.

PUPPY DOG (1,0) 1. Milne’s Gentiehun Double Oh Seven. 8 ½ month old well grown youngster. Nice head, with dark eye and good front. Good lay of shoulder with nice topline and well arched loin. Needs to drop on his hindquarters but has time. Moved out well.

POST GRADUATE DOG (8, 2) 1.Hawkin’s Kwariott Asclepius. Balanced dog of nice type with good head, dark eye and good pigmentation. Correct ears, good neck and well laid shoulder, and return of upper arm. Good topline and length of back into well angulated hindquarters with length hip to hock. Good feet. Moved well. 2.Taylor’s Kilbourne James Dene. Tall, well grown, heavier boned and larger than 1 but nice type. Would prefer a darker eye. Good ears and strong neck into correct topline. Good depth of brisket and strong powerful hindquarters. Easy and true movement. 3.Francis & Blatchford’s Cloweswood Acer of Peopleton

LIMIT DOG (10, 2) 1.Barret’s Stranwith Ebenezer. 20month well grown dog of lovely type and outline. Nice head with good ears and dark hazel eye. Good length of neck into well laid shoulder and good topline. Deep brisket. Good width to thigh and well angulated hindquarters. 2.Peach’s Readwald Thor to Kilbourne. Well boned dog with good and balanced outline. Good pigmentation but eye could be darker. Good front with strong neck into good topline. Lovely deep brisket and well sprung rib. Strong hindquarters well angulated. Moved out well. 3.Taylor’s Lyart Yes Minister

OPEN DOG (6, 0) 1.Rhodes, Morton and Spencer’s Ch. Gentom Peacemaker. Commanding well balanced and shapely dark dog of lovely type. Pleasing masculine head and good reach of neck into long back with well arched loin. Powerful hindquarters and good bend of stifle. Took a little while to get into his stride but then moved soundly with good extension. I was delighted to award him CC and BOB and thrilled to watch him go 3rd in the Hound Group. Congratulations. 2.Helps’ Greyfriars Gillie of Beardswood. Large upstanding powerful dog with good overall outline. Strong head, but lacking face furnishing. Lovely front, with good angulation and good feet. Deep brisket and good spring of rib. Good width of thigh and hind angulation. Moved soundly with great drive. Res CC 3.Peach & Phillips Wild West Von Der Oelmuhle

PUPPY BITCH (1, 0) 1.Milne’s Gentiehun Double Trouble. Litter sister to dog puppy, also stood alone. Attractive head and expression and good neck. Well angulated shoulder and return of upper arm and nice length of back. Good hind angulation with length hip to hock. Moved well. BP

JUNIOR BITCH (4, 0) 1.Peach’s Brackenland Waltz. Very shapely young dark bitch with super outline. Nice head, though her eye could be darker, into good neck and front. Deep brisket and good topline. Stood covering plenty of ground with well angulated hindquarters and lovely low hocks. A pleasure to watch her movement. 2.Taylor & Peach’s Brackenland Tan at Kilbourne. A really pleasing young bitch of nice type. Unlucky to meet the winner, who I see is her litter sister. Shapely outline, well grown and of heavier bone but, at this stage, not quite the angulation of her sibling. Moved well. 3.McLoughlin’s Kingrock Chieftain’s Choice at Glenhaigh

POST GRADUATE BITCH (17, 7) 1.Peach’s Witch Way to Kilbourne. What a super class and what a super young bitch to win it. Her overall balanced and shapely outline is flowing curves both standing and on the move. Attractive head and good expression though I would have loved her eye to be a bit darker but her pigment is good. Well angulated fore and aft with a deep body, well sprung rib and super topline. Strong well muscled hindquarters completed the picture. Her sound and flowing movement was a pleasure to see. CC 2.Morgan’s Ladygrove Calamity Jane at Amiro (Imp). Another bitch of nice type with good head and typical expression. Good lay of shoulder and front construction with deep brisket and spring of rib. Correct topline and strong hindquarters. Moved well. 3.Taylor’s Guinivere Starshire from Kilbourne

LIMIT BITCH (7, 3) 1.Adam’s Hydfron Ula for Zandahar Sh.CM. Attractive elegant mature bitch with nice outline and covering plenty of ground. Nice head and long reach of neck. Good depth of brisket carried well back. Correct topline into well angulated hindquarters with good width to thigh. Her coat felt rather soft, though of the correct length. She was the best mover in this class. 2.Grimshaw’s Jamilson Melody. A mature looking well grown 3 year old of heavier type than 1. Nice head and length of neck and deep well sprung rib. Good width of thigh and well angulated hindquarters. Moved out well but not as sound on the return. 3.Etherington’s Miss Lilly

OPEN BITCH (6, 3) Although only 3 in this class, they were all mature quality bitches of totally different types and much to like about all of them. 1.Girling’s Pyefleet Rokesby. A well made bitch of nice type with balanced angulation fore and aft. Strong neck into good front construction and well sprung rib. Good topline sloping into well angulated and strong hindquarters. Moved effortlessly and true. Res CC 2.Peach’s Pingleholl Ruby to Kilbourne. A most attractive 4 year old of different type and a more pleasing head than the winner. Shapely and balanced outline and good length of back. Deep brisket and good underline. Lovely hindquarters with low hocks. Extended well on the move. 3.William’s Kilbourne Iduna at Inverclyde

Sue Piggott