The Bedlington Terrier. 187 



perhaps early in the century it was most valued of 

 all. This dog is still kept amongst the sporting 

 pitmen and others, in and round about Newcastle, 

 in considerable numbers, and at the shows in the 

 north the classes are, for the most part, best filled. 

 But the north country miner can seldom see any 

 dog better than his own, and there is always more 

 grumbling about the awards amongst the Bedling- 

 tons than ordinary people like, and strong words 

 are not always sufficient to end the dispute. I 

 fancy that nothing would satisfy some of the owners 

 excepting each won the first prize and the special cup. 

 Newcastle has now the best show, and at Darlington, 

 not far away, there is usually a good entry, as there 

 often enough is at the smaller and more local shows 

 in the north. 



The support some of the southern judges receive 

 may be inferred from the fact that at the most 

 recent show of the Kennel Club, that in 1893, 

 although the club offered their twenty-five guinea 

 challenge cup, and there were other specials, and 

 four classes, but four exhibitors sent dogs, nine 

 being all that were benched. Mr. W. E. Allcock, 

 of Sunderland, who has a very large kennel of 

 Bedlington terriers, won a majority of the prizes. 

 Other great admirers and exhibitors of the breed 

 just now are Mr. A. Hastie, Newcastle ; Mr. F. 



