1877 (continued): Shows at Bath, Belfast, Burton-On-Trent, and Royal Agricultural Hall, London

In the Wells Road, Bath, was held the First Exhition of Sporting and other Dogs on June 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th, 1877, with Messrs. Falkner and King as secretaries, and an entry of 562, when the following were the appointed judges: for Blood-hounds, Deer-hounds, Retrievers, Mastiffs, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, Dachshunds, Collies, Bedlingtons, Skyes, Dandies, Pomeranians, and Toy Spaniels, Rev. G. F. Hodson; Greyhounds, Pointers, Setters, and Spaniels, Mr. Sam. Lang (this is the first occasion on which I have noticed my old friend acting as a judge); Bull-dogs, Bull-terriers, Smooth, Black-and-tan, Broken-haired, and Toy Terriers, Pugs, and Italian Greyhounds, Mr. Vero Shaw; Fox-terriers, Dalmatians, and Extra Class, Mr. H. Gibson.

Deer-hounds and Greyhounds were poor entries. Blood-hounds found Messrs. Mark Beaufoy and Edwin Nichols dividing the money. Pointers had well-known men amongst all the winners - Messrs. J. Fletcher, R. Lloyd Price, Whitehouse, Grimwood, aud H. Clark. Setters (except Irish, which had one only) had two classes, all the winners being owned by H.R.H. the then Prince of Wales, Messrs. S. E. Shirley, J. Fletcher, W. P. Sim, Rankin, Mapplebeck, Trevithick, and A. D. Hussey-Freke. In Retrievers, one class each, Messrs. E. S. Farquharson, Fletcher, How, and Staples-Browne were at the front. In Spaniels (Water, Clumber, and Other Varieties) Messrs. Fletcher, T. O'Brien, Page, Tugwell, Way, Bonner, and R. Nicholls accounted for all the prizes.

Lord Charles Ker, Captain Donald Shaw, and Rev. G. F. Lovell were the winners in Dachshunds. In St. Bernards Messrs. F. Gresham and S. W. Smith cleared all before them. Newfoundland prizes were in few hands, Messrs. Mapplebeck, Leader-Brown, and Mrs. Cunliffe Lee taking them all. Collie winners, too, formed a small group, composed of Messrs. W. W, Thomson, Mapplebeck, Jubb, and M. C. Ashwin (afterwards such an extensive exhibitor). Bull-dogs were divided into Large and Small; the former contained Alston's Gambler and Smith's Baby (both winners of many prizes), and C. E. Bartlett's Billy and Flo were in the latter. The well-known names of Hinks, Roocroft, J. R. Pratt, and Boulter appeared as the winners in Bull-terriers and Smooth Terriers. Messrs. H. Lacy, Swinburne, and Justice took the chief prizes in Black-and-tan Terriers. Fox-terriers were a fairly typical lot, shown by Messrs. C. T. Abbott, Peren, R. B. Lee, S. W. Smith, Watson, W. J. Hyde, and Mrs. Underwood; and in Wirehairs by Messrs. L. Hogg and Mapplebeck. The winners in Pugs were represented by Messrs. J. Nunn (with Baron), J. Lewis (with Sootey, afterwards, perhaps, the greatest prize winner ever known in that variety), Mrs. Monck's Darkie, and Mrs. Bailey's Topsey. Mr. Fawdry won in Dalmatians and Pomeranians (both classes very different to what we see now); Mrs. Forder in Toy Spaniels; H.R.H. the then Princess of Wales in Drop-eared Skyes; and H.R.H. the then Prince of Wales took all the prizes in Foreign Dogs.

In the Ulster Hall, Belfast, was held an Exhibition of Sporting and other Dogs on June 21st and 22nd, 1877, when George Helliwell acted as manager, and Mr. S. Hill Adams as secretary, with an entry of 427.

The judges officiating were Messrs. W. Lort, S. Handley, and J. A. Doyle.

Blood-hounds, Otter-hounds, Fox-hounds, Harriers, and Beagles were not a success, and St. Bernards and Newfoundlands not much better. Mastiffs had one class, with Mr. M. T. Barnes, the Hon. T. O'Neill, and Mr. A. W. Calcutt sole winners. Pointers were fairly good, with chief prizes to Messrs. J. Fletcher, J. Pike, H. Jeffry, W. Murray, R. J. Long, Ferguson, Kennedy, and J. Bishop. Greyhounds were well supported by Messrs. Sharpies, Richardson, Harris, Erwin, Fletcher, McCunn, and Douglas. There were capital entries of Irish Setters, the winners being shown by Messrs. Hilliard, Fletcher, Kennedy, Erwin, Hamilton, Gage, Alexander, Williamson, and McHaffie. In English Setters Messrs. Richardson, Fletcher, Coate, McHaffie, and Dalrymple took all the money. Gordon Setters divided their prizes amongst Messrs. Richardson, McGage, and Adair. Mr. J. Fletcher won in Retrievers, followed by Messrs. Despard and Meadley. Spaniels were not very numerous, Mr. J. Fletcher taking most prizes, other winners being Messrs. Skidmore, Morton, Blair, Whitla, Richardson, and McClelland, Collies found Messrs. McBride, W. J. Smyth, Cunningham, Swinburne, Richardson, and McDougall taking the principal prizes. Messrs. Adcock and Dewar won in Bull-dogs, and Messrs. Roocroft and Stirling in Bull-terriers. Fox-terriers were a good entry, the chief winners being shown by Messrs. Erskine, Ward, J. J. Pim, Blake, W. B. Beatty, W. Hulse, and G. F. Richardson (with his Bramble and Briar). Irish Terriers were almost a gift to Mr. G. Jamison, as he won nearly every prize in the four classes with his team, comprising Banshee, Sport, Sporter, Maghbile, MacNessa, Colleen Dhas, Colleen Bawn, and Columkille, Messrs. Despard and McRae having only a look in. All the other classes were small and unimportant.

At the Hay Grounds, Burton-on-Trent, a dog show was held on June 27th, 1877. Mr. F. S. Dunwell acted as secretary, and 251 entries were secured.

The judges were Messrs. S. E. Shirley, M.P., G. H. Allsopp, and the Rev. G. F. Hodson.

Fox-terriers were the best entry, with Messrs. J. Kendall, George Stables, Jack Terry (with Boxer, Young Wasp, and Bitters), R. B. Heald, and W. Arkwright (with Vulcan, as a puppy) taking all the prizes. In Mastiffs the winners were Messrs. Parkinson (with the well-known Colonel), W. L. Ball, Rev. M. Piddocke, and Mr. Edwin Brough. St. Bernards divided the prize list between Messrs. Harper, Redfern, J. C. Tinker, and A. B. Bailey. In Greyhounds Messrs. George Stables, Dixon, Prince, and Stevenson swept the board. In Pointers Messrs. W. Arkwright and G. T. Bartram were the winners. In Setters Messrs. Mapplebeck, Greenslade, and Miss Plimley took the prizes. In Retrievers Messrs. How, Bartram, and Holmes were chief winners. Spaniels divided the prizes between Messrs. Gillett, Arkwright, and P. Bullock.