1874 (continued): Shows at Norwich and Manchester. 1875: Shows at Wolverhampton, Crystal Palace, Edinburgh, Blaydon, Belfast, and Cork

In the Corn Hall, Norwich, on December 9th and 10th, 1874, a dog show was held under the management of Mr. W. Groom, with Mr. F. Lowe as secretary, when an entry was made of 394.

The judges acting were Messrs. W. Lort and E. Sandell.

The two largest classes of Sporting Dogs were Fox-terriers and Retrievers, the latter with the help of Messrs. S. E. Shirley, M.P., and S. Mayhew; the former with Messrs. J. Fletcher, T. Bassett, S. W. Smith, Fred. Burbidge (first time I have noticed this well-known enthusiast amongst exhibitors), and Lindsay Hogg, all "in the money."

Mastiffs (with Rev. W. J. Mellor) and St. Bernards (with Mr. F. Gresham) were fairly representative. In Smooth Terriers all prizes fell to Mr. G. Wilson, both over and under 8 lb.; and in Rough Terriers Miss Alderson and Mr. S. W. Smith took the prizes. The class for Puppies was the best filled of the rest. The late Mrs. Laura Mayhew was a winner in Mastiffs and Pugs.

The Fourteenth Dog Show was held in the Zoological Gardens, Manchester, December 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 1874, with 478 entries.

The judges named were: Sporting Dogs, Messrs. W. Cropper and J. A. Handy; Non-Sporting Dogs, Messrs. Matthias Smith, E. Sandell, and J. Monsey.

Pointers were the largest lot in the show, with Messrs. C. W. Brierley and F. R. Hemming the principal winners. Setters had also a good entry. Blood-hounds and Deer-hounds were small classes, with Mr. Brough amongst the former, and Mr. F. R. Hemming a winner in the latter, and taking most of the money in Greyhounds. In Retrievers the chief winners were Messrs. E. Ellis, Morris, Andrews, and Holmes. In Spaniels Messrs. J. Fletcher, H. B. Spurgin, T. B. Bowers, W. S. Holmes, and W. W. Boulton were all in the prize list, also the late Mr. A. W. Langdale. Fox-terriers were well represented by Messrs. J. Shepherd, T. Sharpies, T. Kirby, and F. J. Astbury.

Mastiffs had a good entry, amongst the exhibitors being one since widely known in connection with them - Mr. W. K. Taunton. St. Bernards found Mr. F. Gresham "in the money." In Bull-dogs and Bull-terriers, Messrs. Hughes and Henshall were winners in the former, and Messrs. Godfree and Heywood in the latter. Black-and-tan Terriers had Mr. H. Lacy, as usual, all over them. In Skyes, Messrs. A. Boulton and Mark Gretton (with his well-known Drop-ear Sam) were winners. In Rough Toy Terriers the names of Alderson and Foster were successfully represented; and there were a few specimens of most of the other varieties.

At a show held in the Agricultural Hall, in Wolverhampton, on January 15th, 16th, and 18th, 1875, they secured an entry of 330, and the judges were Messrs. W. Lort, H. Gibson, and S. Handley, the secretary being Mr. Alfred Giles.

Pointers, with the help of Messrs. Whitehouse, Fletcher, Hemming, and Astbury, were good classes. Setters filled fairly, mainly owing to the entries of Messrs. Purcell-Llewellin, G. Jones, and J. Bishop. Retrievers were strong in both varieties, being well supported by Messrs. J. W. Morris, S. E. Shirley, M.P., and E. G. Farquharson. Spaniels had but two classes, nearly all the prizes falling to the kennels of Mrs. Hunter and Mr. W. W. Boulton. Fox-terriers had the help of Messrs. Shepherd, J. Terry, F. J. Astbury, A. H. Easton, and E. M. Southwell (noticed here for first time at a leading show). Bull-terriers, over and under 15 lb., found Mr. J. F. Godfree's kennel taking many of the prizes. Deer-hounds had most of the entries, and all the prizes, divided between Messrs. Hemming and Parker.

Dandies were headed by Mr. J. Locke's Doctor, who was often afterwards a winner at larger shows, Mr. Hazelhurst's Toper being second. Small entries of all the rest, except Smooth and Black-and-tan Terriers, which were just fair. I do not remember noticing Mr. E. Millais exhibiting his Basset Model (which here took second in Variety Class) before this show.

On June 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 1875, at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, a National Dog Show was held under the auspices of the Kennel Club (Mr. John Douglas, manager, and Mr. G. Lowe, secretary). The respectable entry of 1,358 was obtained.

The judges appointed were the following: Blood-hounds, St. Bernards, Mastiffs, and Newfoundlands, Rev. T. Pearce ("Idstone ");

Deer-hounds, Mr. H. S. Lacy; Greyhounds, Lord Lurgan; Foreign Dogs and Dachshunds, H.H. Prince Albert Solms (so well known afterwards as an exhibitor both in this country and on the Continent, and whose death I lately saw announced); Pointers, the Master of Arbuthnot and Rev. T. Pearce; English Setters, Messrs. F. R. Bevan and W. Lort; Black-and-tan Setters, the Marquis of Huntly and Major Allison; Irish Setters, Major Cooper; Retrievers, Mr. S. E. Shirley, M.P., and Major Allison; Spaniels and Beagles, Mr. W. Lort; Sheep-dogs, Messrs. Shirley and Lort; Fox-terriers, Smooth and Wire-haired, Marquis of Huntly and Mr. W. Cropper; Harriers, Hon. C. Fitzwilliam, Colonel Barlow, and Mr. H. S. Lacy; Puppies, Messrs. Shirley and Lort; Bull-dogs, Dalmatians, and Pugs, Messrs. F. Adcock and C. Collins; Bull-terriers, Mr. S. E. Shirley, M.P.; Scotch Terriers, Pomeranians, and Toys, Messrs. J. Percival and C. Collins; Skyes and Dandies, Mr. J. Nisbet.

Blood-hounds and Deer-hounds were small classes. Greyhounds were chiefly supported by Messrs. Sharpies, Hemming, and H. P. Charles. Pointers brought a large entry, supported by the well-known names of Messrs. Whitehouse, Arkwright, S. Price, Hemming, Moseley, and Dr. J. H. Salter; Setters also; with the help of Messrs. G. Jones, Purcell-Llewellin, Hemming, G. de L. Macdona, R. Wood, Neville, and Dr. Stone. Retrievers filled well in both varieties, some of the winners being Messrs. J. W. Morris, Gorse, S. Matthew, Hemming, J. Andrews, and G. L. Teasdale-Buckell. Spaniels were good classes, with Messrs. J. Fletcher, W. S. Holmes, Skidmore, T. B. Bowers, P. Bullock, and Langdale amongst the winners. Fox-terriers were abundant, the prize list containing the names of Messrs. J. Fletcher, J. Shepherd, W. Allison, H. Gibson, J. Terry, and Southwell.