1875 (continued): Shows at Darlington, Manchester, Northamp' ton, Nottingham, Hull, Dublin, Hanley, and Birmingham

In the Breakburn and Pierremont Parks, Darlington, an Exhibition of Sporting and other Dogs was held on July 30th and 31st, 1875, when an entry of upwards of 700 was secured.

The judges who officiated were the following: for Sporting Classes, Messrs. J. Hutchinson, J. Stephenson, W. Lort, and John Douglas; for Non-Sporting Classes, Messrs. Edwin Nichols, S. Handley, J. Walker (West Gorton), Frank Adcock, John Fisher, and J. D. Caris.

In the Sporting Division entries were rather short in Blood-hounds, Deer-hounds, Beagles, and Otter-hounds. Greyhounds were well represented, and contained such specimens as Messrs. Bearpark's Gamecock, Watson's Marigold, Robson's Sinbad, Bowles's Nelly Fell, Heseltine's Diamond Pin, and Gowland's Alice, all winners in their classes. Fox-terriers came up well, some of the leading exhibitors being Messrs. J. Fletcher, Shepherd, W. Walker, A. Easton, Proctor, Webster, Potts, J. Knowles, M. Wood, and others. Pointers, divided by colour as well as weight, were large classes, the names of Messrs. C. W. Brierley, Arkwright, J. Bates, J. W. Pease, Cochrane, and J. Ineson figuring amongst the winners. Setters were not very numerous, but select, the chief prizes being taken by Messrs. J. Fletcher, B. Thompson, Major Cowen, W. Sharp, J. Ineson, and W. Nicholson. Retrievers were supported by Messrs. S. E. Shirley, M.P., Baylis, and Mrs. Arkwright. Spaniels were small but good classes, thanks to Messrs. Fletcher, Langdale, Shorthose, Boulton, and Rev. W. Shield. Good entries of Puppies were forthcoming.

Mastiffs, St. Bernards, and Newfoundlands had three classes each, Miss Aglionby taking champion prize in the two former varieties, and some good dogs were amongst the open classes. Sheep-dogs contained a fairly typical lot, headed by Lacy's Sir Douglas.

Dalmatians, undivided by sex," were better than usual. Bull-dogs were few in number, with Mr. G. Raper amongst the winners in both classes. Bull-terriers filled well, most of the prizes being taken by Messrs. Godfree, Chorley, and J. W. Gurney. Black-and-tan Terriers were plentiful, Mr. H. Lacy taking the chief prizes, followed by Messrs. J. Martin and G. Wilson in them and Smooth Terriers. Dandies and Bedlingtons found Messrs. Locke, Carrick, and Coulthard amongst the former, and Messrs. Pickett and Armstrong taking the prizes in the latter. Toy varieties were not largely represented, but Mrs. M. A. Foster was to the front in some of them; and an "Extra Class" produced the usual miscellaneous collection of canine curiosities.

On August 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, 1875, what was termed the Second International Exhibition of Sporting and Fancy Dogs was held in the Pomona Palace, Manchester, under the management of Mr. John Douglas, when the entries amounted to 382, and the judges were the following: Messrs. S. E. Shirley, M.P., W. Lort, Peter Eden, W. Cropper, J. Walker (Halifax), and Joseph Walker.

Deer-hounds found Mr. R. Hood Wright taking all the prizes. Greyhounds were chiefly supported by Messrs. Sharpies and R. Moore. Pointers were good classes, owing to the entries of Messrs. J. H. Whitehouse, Fletcher, and Izzard. Setters, in the same way, were helped by Messrs. Fletcher, Izzard, Bowers, Hilliard, G. de L. Macdona, and Hustwayte. Retrievers had their principal winners from Messrs. J. W. Morris, Andrews, and Richards. Spaniels were representative, owing to Messrs. Langdale, P. Bullock, Spurgin, Fletcher, Bowers, and Handy. Fox-terriers were capital classes, the chief winners being Messrs. Fletcher, Sharpies, J. Terry, Gamon, R. B. Lee, White, Astbury, W. Carrick, and W. Bullock.

Sheep-dogs and Bull-dogs were poorly supported; also Bedlingtons, Dandies, and Skyes. Toy Terrier and Puppy Classes had good entries. Black-and-tan Terriers, with Messrs. H. Lacy, G. Wilson, and J. Martin taking most of the money, filled well. Nearly all the rest were few in numbers, some of the classes having but one or two entries.

In the Melbourne Gardens, Northampton, was held, on August 17th, 18th, and 19th, 1875, a great Central Exhibition of Sporting and other Dogs, with an entry of 200.

The judges appointed were Messrs. J. Walker (Halifax) and E. Sandell, jun.

Fox-terriers produced the largest entry in the show by the help of Messrs. Southwell, Secretan, Wadington, J. R. Whittle, F. H.

Pott, and Captain Wetherall. Field-terriers, or Vermin-terriers, were a good muster, thanks to Messrs. Southwell, G. Hellewell, Nicolson, F. James, and G. Moore. St. Bernards found all the prizes awarded to Mr. F. Gresham. Mastiffs were mostly represented by the Rev. W. J. Mellor and Miss Aglionby. Pointers, Setters, and Retrievers had but one class each. Spaniels were better, by the help of Messrs. Spurgin, Wadington, P. Bullock, and Langdale. Nearly all the prizes in Black-and-tan Terriers were taken by Mr. G. Wilson. Mr. W. W. Thomson was to the fore in a small class of Sheep-dogs. All the rest were small classes, except "Any other Variety" - a very mixed collection. Toy Spaniels found Mrs. Forder winning several prizes, as she can still do; but I have not noticed her name as an exhibitor at leading shows before this date.

The Annual Dog Show was held in the Market Place, Nottingham, on October 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, 1875, with an entry of 536.

The judges were the following gentlemen: Blood-hounds, St. Bernards, Mastiffs, and Newfoundlands, Major Cowen and Mr. H. D. Kingdon; Deer-hounds and Greyhounds, Mr. J. Brown; Foxhounds, Harriers, Beagles, Fox-terriers, and Wire-haired Terriers, Messrs. W. Allison and Peter Pilgrim; Pointers, Setters, Retrievers, and Spaniels, Colonel Allison and Colonel Welfitt; Sheep-dogs, Skyes, Dandies, and Bedlingtons, Mr. N. Richardson; all the other classes, Messrs. J. W. Berrie and John Fisher.

Blood-hounds, Deer-hounds, Greyhounds, and Beagles were small classes. Fox-terriers were well-filled classes, many of the prizes falling to Messrs. Shepherd, J. Terry, Ross, Arrowsmith, Sharpe, Astbury, Sumner, Wright, and others; Messrs. W. Carrick and J. Terry took all the prizes in Wire-hairs. Pointers were well supported by Mr. Whippell, Hon. L. Stanhope, Messrs. Marsh, Aaron, Whitaker, and W. H. Walker. In English Setters Mr. W. F. Bayly took most of the prizes. In Gordon Setters the chief winners were shown by Messrs. Coath, Bosworth, Goodwin, and Staples-Browne. Irish Setters were a small lot. Retrievers came up well, headed by Mr. How's well-known Toby taking first and cup in champions, other winners being Messrs. Lacy, Roberts, Hon. C. Lowther, Messrs. S. R. Wood, Reavely, Bullock, and C. A. Baylis. Spaniels were fairly large classes, most of the money going to Mr. P. Bullock other winners being Messrs. Montresor, Arbuthnot, W. S. Holmes, and Handy.