CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF DARLINGTON DOG SHOWS
1860
150 years ago a dog section was first included in theDarlington Horse and Foal Show (founded in 1783) and the name was changed to the Darlington Horse, Foal and Sporting Dog Society. The entry was 163 from seven categories of dogs.
1861
The Society held their 3rd show, the second to include dogs, which drew 81 entries.
1868
The 10th show was held at the home of Mr J B Pease where numbers continued to swell
attracting an outstanding 652 entries. The current treasured Best Puppy in Show
Trophy, named after Mr Pease, dates from this year.
1869
The show attracted over 16,000 spectators and during the next few years the venue
was changed to Woodside and then to Pierremont Park, the present site of the Memorial Hospital.
1875
The Darlington archives contain a show report and critiques from this year’s show
in The Livestock Journal and Fancier's Gazette.
1884
The Society accepted the Kennel Club, founded in 1873, as the Governing body and
from then on held their show under Kennel Club rules.
1891
South Park venue was used for the first time for the show where it remained until 2005.
1894
Challenge Classes were allowed for Greyhounds and Wire Fox Terriers.
1897
Challenge Classes were allowed for Greyhounds, Pointers, English Setters,
Flat Coat Retrievers, Fox Terriers – Wire and Smooth, Scottish Terriers, Airedales, .
Newfoundlands and Smooth Collies.
1900’s
The show received Kennel Club Championship Show status.
1909
Saw the Darlington Horse and Dog Show Society host their 50th Jubilee show.
1955
Shows were restarted after turbulent years of wars and several changes of title.
1969
Darlington Show Society was again granted Championship Show Status by the
Kennel Club which it has retained to the present day and made canine history by being the only one day Championship Show.
1986
The last one day show was held. The Championship Show became a separate society and the present name of Darlington Dog
Show Society was adopted.
1987
Due to increased entries the first two day show was held .
1991
The Society continued to go from strength to strength and 10,500 dogs were entered.
2000
In celebrating the Millenium the first three day show was held.
2005
Due to renovation of the South Park the show had to be relocated and Newby Hall park was used.
2013
45th show to be held at the new venue of Ripon Racecourse.
2020
Unfortunately due to the Coronavirus Pandemic like most shows the show had to be cancelled.
150 years ago a dog section was first included in theDarlington Horse and Foal Show (founded in 1783) and the name was changed to the Darlington Horse, Foal and Sporting Dog Society. The entry was 163 from seven categories of dogs.
1861
The Society held their 3rd show, the second to include dogs, which drew 81 entries.
1868
The 10th show was held at the home of Mr J B Pease where numbers continued to swell
attracting an outstanding 652 entries. The current treasured Best Puppy in Show
Trophy, named after Mr Pease, dates from this year.
1869
The show attracted over 16,000 spectators and during the next few years the venue
was changed to Woodside and then to Pierremont Park, the present site of the Memorial Hospital.
1875
The Darlington archives contain a show report and critiques from this year’s show
in The Livestock Journal and Fancier's Gazette.
1884
The Society accepted the Kennel Club, founded in 1873, as the Governing body and
from then on held their show under Kennel Club rules.
1891
South Park venue was used for the first time for the show where it remained until 2005.
1894
Challenge Classes were allowed for Greyhounds and Wire Fox Terriers.
1897
Challenge Classes were allowed for Greyhounds, Pointers, English Setters,
Flat Coat Retrievers, Fox Terriers – Wire and Smooth, Scottish Terriers, Airedales, .
Newfoundlands and Smooth Collies.
1900’s
The show received Kennel Club Championship Show status.
1909
Saw the Darlington Horse and Dog Show Society host their 50th Jubilee show.
1955
Shows were restarted after turbulent years of wars and several changes of title.
1969
Darlington Show Society was again granted Championship Show Status by the
Kennel Club which it has retained to the present day and made canine history by being the only one day Championship Show.
1986
The last one day show was held. The Championship Show became a separate society and the present name of Darlington Dog
Show Society was adopted.
1987
Due to increased entries the first two day show was held .
1991
The Society continued to go from strength to strength and 10,500 dogs were entered.
2000
In celebrating the Millenium the first three day show was held.
2005
Due to renovation of the South Park the show had to be relocated and Newby Hall park was used.
2013
45th show to be held at the new venue of Ripon Racecourse.
2020
Unfortunately due to the Coronavirus Pandemic like most shows the show had to be cancelled.