346 ACCOUNT OF THE SHOW HELD AT KELSO IX 1880. 



Clydesdale type, possessing size and substance, combining good shapes with 

 freedom of movement, and was an easy winner. There was a fair class of 

 yearlings, and the first prize ^Adnner, though not big, had nice symmetrical 

 shapes and quality. The second was also a very meritorious animal. The 

 others were of fair merit. In competition for the cup for mares, the first prize 

 winner of the three-year-olds was unanimously chosen as the best. In the 

 gelding classes, though not numerous, the animals were of great merit, and 

 reflected credit on the exhibitors. 



Of hunters, roadsters, and ponies there was a good display. The two 

 first prize mares, with foals at foot, were of very great stamp. The three 

 first prize winners in section for aged mares or geldings, suitable for 

 field, were exceptionally fine animals from England. In the four-year-old 

 section some wonderfully developed animals competed, and there was some 

 time spent before awards could be assigned. Only one animal appeared in 

 the section for hackneys or roadsters, and not being of superior merit, the 

 Judges awarded it only the second prize. Ten animals competed in the 

 section for leaping. The jumping was the best seen at any of the Society's 

 shows. The two first prize animals were very even, and j)erformed 

 to perfection. In the section for mares or geldings between 13 and 

 14^ hands, one animal appeared, and the Judges awarded it only the second 

 prize. A smart lot of ponies appeared in the section for mares or geldings 

 Toetween 12| and 14 hands, the first prize animal being especially admired. 

 In the section for mares and geldings under 12i hands, a very handsome 

 roan mare beat all the others, but the second and third prize horses were 

 good useful animals. 



The entries in the Cheviot classes were not so numerous as in some 

 forniej" years, but at the same time were fairly satisfactory, except among 

 the ewes. In the character of the sheep exhibited there were indications 

 of the change which has within the last two or three years taken place in 

 the popular type. The sheep that till lately found general favour was an 

 animal in which gaiety was the chief characteristic, and in which substance 

 and wool were too often neglected. The importance of the latter qualities 

 is now, however, as a rule being acknowledged, and greater favour is shown 

 to hardier and more useful sheep. The possession of ^^ide well sprung 

 ribs and good skins has therefore very properly come to be looked upon as 

 indispensable. At Kelso, as at other recent exhibitions, the value of these 

 points was fully recognised, while, on the other hand, no sympathy was 

 shown for the tendency to run to the opposite extreme of fancying an 

 animal because his appearance was ugly and ungaily. Of the aged and 

 two-shear tup sections the quality was satisfactory, but a fault too common, 

 especially among the two-year-olds, was that of having harsh coarse skins. 

 The shearling tups were rather disappointing in cjuality, but the female 

 classes were good in this respect, though badly represented in regard to 

 numbers. 



The sections in the Blackfaced breed were well represented. The aged 

 tups were very good, and also the two-year-olds. The shearlings were 

 excellent, especially those caiTying the first and second prizes, which were 

 remarkable for substance and quality, evenly shaped, strong boned, and 

 well wooUed, and with good noses which are characteristics of what a good 

 tup must have. The ewe sections were fair; and the lambs were ex- 

 ceptionally good. 



As might have been expected in the middle of the Border Leicester 

 country, that breed was well represented. In some of the classes the 

 exhibits were more select than numerous, while in all the sections the non- 

 descript element (which at many shows goes to constitute numbers) was 

 almost, if not entirely, absent. The aged tup exhibited by Mr Fender was 

 in many respects a wonderful sheej"), possessing great size and substance, 

 well woolled, and altogether an excellent specimen of the breed. Mr 



