Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-09

club. Under this rule classes have been
regularly given for dogs which have been
excluded by the conditions of the A: K. c.
classes from competition therein. The win
ners of all classes at first were not eligible
for the winners class, but juggling took
place and all became eligible, even to local
classes. the entry for which was probably
nominal fee. To conform to the juggling
edict the rule was changed to include any
class, and now we are back again at what
were first principles and with even greater
strictness, for only those in regular class
es" can compete in the winners class.
If by regular class is meant the classes
which the Kennel Club has named as pup
py, novice, limit, graduate and open, and
the ones the shows are further authorized
to give when they can divide or limit
these classes by variety, color, height,
weight or sex, or otherwise as provided in
the dog-show rules" then the otherwise"
seems to cover limit Of territory well as
anything else, and If 1t Is regular to allow
dog in class restricted by weight to
compete for winners prizes then it is equal
ly right to allow one in class restricted
by locality. The word regular means
nothing. for there be no irregular class
with such permission as is given in the
rule quoted, and the further one that all
classes are regular which do not conflict
means according to rule, and anything the
rule allows is regular, so that If regular
is to mean anything else 1t should be ex-
planned what it does mean.
Addition Of Glass.
An additional class has been added in the
shape of a graduate class, and 1t is hardly
likely that the advocates of the American
bred dog will permit this opportunity for
asserting their views to pass without taking
action. The graduate class Is for dogs
which have won four firsts in the limit
class A very good class, but it is ques-
tionable If it is not spoiled by barring cham
pions. Here is where the lack of knowledge
20 fha tong &c nan
Champion dogs are the best-known dogs,
and are dogs which should be catered for
in some respect, but the poorer the dog Is
the more classes he is eligible for and the
higher he mounts, the fewer are his classes.
Now this graduate class is a step in the
right direction in giving class for the
dogs Of many won battles free from the
cares incidental to having to stand more
attacks of the young ones, which can enter
all the way from puppy to open, but why
bar champions and keep them confined to
the one class. the open. in which all dogs
are shown? They should go in this gradu-
ate class with the winners from The limit
class
The opportunity is here presented for
American-bred advocates to restrict the
limit class to those dogs and let the i'm
portations be considered graduate dogs
or open-class dogs. If this is not done then
the dog that should be pushed to the front
has but the novice class reserved for it,
while the imported dogs romp through the
puppy, limit and open. The foreigners
should have but two classes at most-that
for graduates and the open-and this is the
opportunity for the advocates of the Amer
ican-bred to take a stand and combine with
that object in view.
A Step Backward.
The rules committee has certainly gone
back step in striking out that most COM
mendable rule that a dog must win at one
show of three points rank in making up his
quota Of ten points for the title of cham
pion This was the one real safeguard
against a mediocre dog creeping in for the
title at lot of very small shows, and here
again can be seen the committees weak
ness from the lack Of experience in what
is best from the practical point of view.
ten points to have been awarded by three
Independent judges is q nullity and of no
value, whereas the win at a three points
show Is the high test that presents the
difficulty for exhibitors to overcome.
Cedarhurst, with its overlooking entry Of
$40 dogs. has but about eight dogs shown
by handlers. That Is a comment upon the
claim that summer one-day shows are not
of class, because the professionals do not
attend them. which cannot be gainsaid
The day Of the travelling professional with
his picked-up winning combination that
took the prizes from the local owners Is
rapidly approaching an end, owing to the
number of shows.
The Taunton show with its money prizes
could not attract dogs enough to get more
than one point for honors. Mr.. Sergeant
| irish terriers and few breds. and IN the
terrier class was an entry of Mr.. Edward
A. Conroy OF Warrington that was expect
ed to do great things, but she failed -