Show Placings
Southern Border Terrier Limited Show
1st Mar 2009
Judge: Mrs Marylynne Winder (Appleside)
It was a great privilege to be invited to judge the Southern Border Terrier Club Limited Show, My thanks to the Officers and Committee. Thank you to the exhibitors for giving me such an excellent entry of 184 from 171 dogs. Sincere thanks also to my Stewards for the efficient way they conducted their duties.
Limit - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
Pleasing head with neat ears, nicely proportioned, well muscled, presented in good condition.
Bournemouth Championship Show
10th Aug 2009
Judge: Mrs Margaret Sneddon (Kersfell)
Thank you to my very efficient stewards. I think we have a real problem with the front construction and movement in the breed; there were far too many exhibits with short, steep upper arms, often resulting in a build up of bulky muscle on the outer line of the shoulder and the movement in front on many was very poor. The Border is ?essentially a working terrier and this type of construction will seriously compromise its ability to work.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
handy size dog with a strong head and a narrow front; coat looked ready to blow but seemed to have a good harsh texture. A sound dog who moved well.
Open - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Richmond Championship Show
12th Sep 2009
Judge: Mrs Janet Lee (Tythrop)
Sincere apologies to my exhibitors, the committee failed to inform me the proposed order of group judging had changed & the Terrier group was brought forward, the tannoy call was the 1st thing I knew about it. My back spasm during junior dog meant I was reduced to shuffling, sorry.
Most dogs were new to me & temperaments in the ring were good, my winners could do the job they were intended for being free from coarseness & lumber, spannable & narrow, with corresponding good construction & movement.
Several heads were short in skull & blocky, more resembling the balance of an Asian Short Clawed Otter, than an English one, the latter have longer than broad flat skulls, clean cheeks & relatively short muzzles parallel in profile to their skull, Borders should have large teeth with good scissor bite to be effective. Today, square, deep skulls, often with round eyes & very short narrow muzzles with small teeth were in evidence. These too strong square heads tended to have heavy fronts & frames to match.
Many fronts were placed too far forward with pro-sternum behind point of shoulder, which lacked length & layback, the too short & steep upper arms having no support, badly affecting movement, the dogs moved away with their fronts crossing, when only two legs should be visible. As an alternative a few were close behind & swung in front, so again "four legs". Profile movement lacked ?travel?, being up & down short choppy strides rather than smooth & forward going with drive off the hocks.
Although bone wasn't generally too fine nor too heavy some didn't have enough through pasterns into feet, & they lacked the depth of pad to ensure soundness if worked regularly.
My major concern, however, was coats & especially pelts. When I came into the breed Borders were shown in deep double coat, always.Dogs then looked heavier than they were due to these double coats & lots of pelt which the standard says MUST be thick - not because they had big frames with drum tight skins.. Coat density & pelt are directly related, no coat, thus thin skin, but they should still be loose & pliant. Tight, paper thin skins without depth of under or topcoat is not what the standard calls for, nor any use to a working terrier. A great advantage to the dog is a continuous double coat that can be worked or shown all year round.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Ladies Kennel Association
12th Dec 2009
Judge: Mrs Jayne Alpe
Thank you to the LKA committee for this appointment, my first time giving CC’s, my thanks to my stewards who kept the judging flowing smoothly. I thoroughly enjoyed my appointment and overall was pleased with the quality of my entry. My final line ups were all good examples of the breed, both in type, conformation and also in movement, which is what I was looking for. In some classes I was delighted at the quality forward, in particular limit and open bitch, which meant some very good bitch’s were unplaced. Overall I found movement better than I have seen it in the past, although there is still a lack of drive from a number of dogs. Not sure that they could do a full days work as they were meant to, without tiring. Front movement still needs looking to as well. I was disappointed to find one or two with misplaced teeth and some with untypical expressions and light eyes. My principal winners were exactly what I was looking for in the breed, as I do feel that what we are lacking in the breed at the moment is real stallions of dogs and femininity in the bitch’s. I was delighted to learn after judging that my best puppies were litter brother and sister.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
East Anglia BTC Members Limited Show
21st Mar 2010
Judge: Miss Tracey Peacock (Ragatam)
Limit - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hoary Morning
National Terrier
3rd Apr 2010
Judge: Mrs Valerie Furness (Quatford)
A big thank you to the National Terrier Club for inviting me to judge this prestigious show and thank you to my stewards especially Fred who as always put everybody and everything in order and kept the judging on the move and flowing.
I was looking for a true Border and was pleased with all my placings to-day, all of good quality. What I did notice was a lot of quantity but not a lot of quality. Front and hind movement looks to be getting worse, some exhibits were so lacking in bone that the front legs would make good knitting needles and some were actually doing knit one, pearl one when moving back towards me. I could see front pads on some as they were moving away. Hind movement was either too close or too wide, over-angulation needs to be watched. Top lines on the whole were good but there were some strange under-lines. A lot of exhibits were so short in muzzle that this made for very tight dentition, small feet were few and far between and tails in some were far too long, where have all the “carrots” gone. I only found three incorrect mouths and two abnormal tails. Some exhibits would benefit from more handling/ring-craft experience as their poor performance affected placings.
I think the Breed Standard would make good reading for some exhibitors.
On a positive note, temperaments overall where very good.
Limit - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Richmond Championship Show
11th Sep 2010
Judge: Miss Michelle Barnett (Brockfox)
My thanks to The Richmond Societies officers and committee for the warm welcome and the super lunch provided. Gratitude also to my stewards who organised the ring most capably. Thanks also to the exhibitors for their entries at a time in history when finances are truly stretched in this difficult and uncertain financial climate. To judge is always a privilege and on this occasion it was particularly appreciated. Overall I was very impressed with the exhibits, and when judging we are required to find the dog that most fulfils the breed standard and with the increasing variety of types present in the breed it made for some thought provoking decisions. Sadly the continuing trend to show all year round with few exhibits remaining at home to grow a decent double jacket proved that once again there were fewer exhibits shown in the requisite depth of jacket. Therefore I had to face the difficult task of placing some exhibits higher than I would as a rule. As justifiably construction and type being the foremost factor in placings, as coats naturally will come and go. But where as in lots of other breeds the coat can be considered a glamorous adornment please remember that in the Border (terriers in general) it is their essential protection whilst carrying out their job of work. On a positive note I was pleased to see today's entry lacking of the dogs presented in the recent improper fashion of clippering, razor and scissoring which as the true diehards of the breed know is totally unacceptable and exhibitors are to be strongly discouraged in this undesirable practice.
The correct and only way to present a Border terrier is by hand stripping thus achieving the beautiful natural tweedy look synonymous with our breed.
And I quote an extract from an old Border terrier yearbook ?Exhibitors and judges should be reminded that it is not in keeping with the sporting traditions of the breed to have the coat trimmed. The coat should be of a natural weather resisting character. Old dead coat may be stripped off by hand when necessary. The use of a razor or a strip comb embodying a razor in the preparation of dogs for show is strongly objected to?
Dogs that I had previously admired unfortunately paid the penalty today as on closer inspection they did not come to hand so well .Some due to weight, which can be easily remedied with an alteration of diet, exercise and plenty of regular road work. Others sadly due to wide fronts and heavy shoulders, subsequently when running the rule over them they were too coarse and cloddy. Therefore not displaying the lithe supple bodies required in an earth dog ,this is a breed characteristic which of course has to be bred for. Borders are a breed that enjoys longevity, health and well being and this was particularly evident in my DCC and DRCC winners today being a 7 year old and 9 yr old respectively. Perhaps this being true testimony that these males have been bred for the correct narrow body lines that will inevitably stand the test of time.
Temperaments as to be expected were excellent. Overall a most enjoyable day, I was delighted with both my final line ups and to find admirable representatives of the breed for top honours.
Limit - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show with Critique
19th Sep 2010
Judge: Miss Gemma Alpe
Firstly I must thank SBTC for giving me the honour of judging my first Breed Club show. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and had some first class dogs to judge. I found no bad mouths and only one with a slightly suspect kink and movement on the whole was pretty good. The one thing that bothered me was that we seem to be losing our way a little with those lovely fronts that to me are a big part of our breed, and a number of dogs are toeing out both on the stand and on the move. I was pleased with my winners, they mostly fitted my interpretation of the breed standard, but I was delighted with my top winners, all of whom are a credit to the breed and I thank their owners for giving me the opportunity to judge them.
Limit - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Ladies Kennel Association
12th Dec 2010
Judge: Mr. Frank Nicholls (Halcus)
My thanks go to the exhibitors who provided an excellent entry in spite of the appalling weather conditions in many parts of the country recently, and the almost inevitable problems to be expected on the M6 motorway. Good quality dogs were present in most classes and I was pleased with both line ups for the CC?s. Coats were generally pretty good with just a few taken out for that ?other show?, and one or two soft coats. I found movement again a problem with a good percentage knitting or pinning at the front, and a lack of drive from the rear. The open dog and junior bitch classes were of the highest quality and some excellent exhibits went away cardless.
Limit - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Manchester Dog Show Society
20th Jan 2011
Judge: Professor S P Dean (Tyrian)
A curate's egg day with some great border terriers and some disappointments too. My winners were typical and not only had the heads to win but moved soundly and had the coat and pelt so desirable in the breed. On the downside, although bites were generally good, there are too many with pathetically weak teeth and several with shoulders set too far forward so they looked narrow but had no fore-chest at all. A terrier needs fore-feet under its chest.
I was looking for borders that were soundly made and could therefore cover ground and I found them but there are some with short choppy actions. However I do not intend to be too pessimistic for the breed put on a good show today and there were some really promising youngsters in the puppy classes. Thank you to those who exhibited dogs with the typical thick harsh coat and pelt, these were all much appreciated.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Limit - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Southern BTC Limited Show
6th Mar 2011
Judge: Miss Lisa Jenkins (Badgerbeck)
Firstly, please accept my apology for the lateness of this critique, unfortunately I had problems with my PC which crashed and lost my first , almost complete report, leaving me with no option but to start again. Thank you for an excellent entry. I was very pleased to find that most of the exhibits were of a workable size & spannable, had big teeth with good strong muzzles/jaws, all males entire, only 2 very minor tail kinks, and temperaments were excellent. On the down side I had few in good deep double coat and a really thick pelt was hard to find, the true otter head seams to be being replaced by a squarer skull giving more of a teddy bear look not helped by over long moustaches/beards and big bushy eyebrows. Ribs were frequently too short & deep resulting in whippety underlines. Front movement is still a problem due to a lack of balance between front and hind angulation with dogs either having good hindquarters but short steep upper arms or they were correct in front but over angulated behind, this resulted in them either throwing their fronts about coming or dropping their withers in profile in an attempt to balance their stride. There were a handful with crowded incisors or missing a first or second premolar.
Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hoary Morning
East Anglia BTC Limited Show
20th Mar 2011
Judge: Rachel Larner (Hawcoat)
Firstly I would like to apologise for the delay in this critique. I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge this show and all the members for entering and attending. I would also like to thank the stewards for the running of the ring.
I enjoyed going over all the dogs and found temperaments of all were good. Coats seemed to be a bit hit and miss today as it seemed a lot of people had taken them out after Crufts! Movement was generally good and I only found one bad mouth. I was extremely pleased with my overall winners and feel they are good examples of a Border Terrier.
Limit - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
Grizzle and tan in good coat. Racy lines with good topline and correct tail set. Moved steady.
National Dog Show
7th May 2011
Judge: Mrs Jayne Alpe
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge, I thoroughly enjoyed my day. My two stewards were very efficient and experienced; they managed to keep my ring running smoothly. I found the quality in the dogs overall to be higher than last time I judged, with in both sexes a slight improvement in movement. Although there are still some that are not driving from behind and covering the ground, and some with short, choppy, odd front movement, sometimes coupled with too narrow fronts and lack of muscle tone. Maybe more road walking would help in some cases to build up muscle, but in others is down to a problem with shoulder construction and pasterns. I found no incorrect mouths, there were a couple with broken teeth, hopefully indicative that we still work some of our show dogs. But there was a shortage of those lovely strong big teeth that the breed is known for and small teeth are on the increase. What also did disturb me was that large heavy ears seem to be creeping into the breed, which affects that lovely typical expression. In a lot of classes places could alter on another day, in fact in some classes I was spoilt for choice and would have liked more than one red card. I was delighted with my top winners who all fitted my criteria very well, every one of them displaying correct Border type coupled with sound and true movement.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Windsor Championship Dog Show
30th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr Bill Browne-Cole
Since I last judged the breed I do feel movement is a concern. A lot of back ends need to strengthen and capabilities to follow a horse were not always there today. I was however extremely pleased with my main winners who were from the ‘top drawer’ and so very typical of the breed.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Richmond Championship Show
10th Sep 2011
Judge: Mrs Beverley Jackson
I was incredibly honoured to be invited to award my first CC’s at Richmond. After much anticipation and excitement the long-awaited day arrived. I was thrilled with the size of my entry and wish to thank all exhibitors for giving me the honour of judging your dogs. I totally appreciate how difficult times are now and am humbled that you chose to exhibit. I was delighted with both of my line ups. I have always hated it when judges say oh I wish I had had more top awards, but I can honestly say that I truly now understand where they were coming from. I had some incredibly difficult classes with a lot of quality. This scenario continued when it came to choosing who the CC’s and Reserve’s should go to. There are, however, two distinct “types” of Borders developing, and often classes contained a mixture of both types. The chisled heads with high placed ears are not typical and we need to try to breed away from this as we are in danger of losing the otter head. I found no bad mouths ? just a few where teeth “placement” was peculiar, and some dirty teeth. Presentation on the whole has improved, although please leave the scissoring to other terriers. Our ring was a “bit of a ploughed field” but most exhibitors managed to find a level part and not fall over!
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
18th Sep 2011
Judge: Mrs Karen Dean (Tyrian)
I would first like to thank the club for inviting me to judge their open show and thank the exhibitors for a lovely entry. I was very pleased with my major winners and several placings were close decisions. There were a number of exhibits that would benefit from shedding a pound or two and in some classes this could have altered the line-up somewhat. Our breed standard is all about moderation and I hope the exaggerated hind angulation noticed on a couple of occasions today does not become the norm, it makes the back end look weak and foreign in our breed. There were several promising youngsters that I will watch with interest as they mature further in their show careers
Limit - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Boston Championship Show
8th Jan 2012
Judge: Mrs Wendy Mooney (Chesterton)
I appreciate that at this time of year with both dark mornings and early sunsets travelling and showing your Borders might not seem like the most enjoyable way to spend your weekend. So a sincere thank you to all those exhibitors who attended my first Championship Show appointment. We were the only terrier breed to have CC’s on offer and I had a lovely entry of 122 dogs. The venue and ring allocated were both excellent. No draughts or noisy blow-heaters. It was actually very civilised. Thank you to my steward who was efficient and supportive throughout. It made my task so much easier.
I was surprised to find that many exhibits, whilst prima facie, moved soundly, lacked the drive that is so important if they are to do a real day’s work. I was also a little disappointed that many Borders had tight pelts, which sometimes were thick but lacked that looseness that could get them, quite literally, out of a tight hole!
I was delighted with my overall winners and, I thank all those who graciously accepted my decisions.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Limit - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hoary Morning
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Open Show
25th Nov 2012
Judge: Mrs Eileen Cole (Towden)
I would like to thank the club for inviting me to judge their open show and what an enjoyable day I had, also for the lovely present and flowers, and to my two stewards who were very efficient and kept the ring running smoothly. I had a very good entry of dogs thanks to the exhibitors with some good quality dogs to go over although rear movement on some could be better but I was very pleased with my top winners.
Best Veteran
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Veteran - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
7 yrs red grizzle, in lovely fit condition nice head, narrow straight front, dark eyes, keen expression, good length of neck and body, good angulation, carrot tail set a little low at croup, small tight feet, spanable, moved well. BVD, BV.
Southern Border Terrier Club Limit Show
3rd Mar 2013
Judge: Mrs Linda Coleman (Hartswelin)
I would like to thank the club for giving me the opportunity to judge the breed. I also thank the exhibitors for entering their quality dogs under me. The atmosphere and sportsmanship from exhibitors and spectators made my day a very enjoyable one. All bites were correct and I found one monorchid. Front movement in general still has a way to go and there were far too many flat open feet with thin pads especially in the males. That said I felt I had a quality entry.
Veteran - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
7 and a half yrs. r/gr. Showed and moved o.k. but not the depth or quality of coat as the 1st.
Guildford & District Canine Society
29th May 2013
Judge: Bev Marsh (Badgerlaw)
Open /
First Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
Nice head neat ears super narrow front and neat feet. Good rear angulation. Showed and moved ok.
Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
8th Jun 2013
Judge: Mr W R Irving
It was an honour to be invited to judge the Southern Border Terrier Club’s Championship Show for the second time, the last time having been exactly twenty years ago in 1993. The entry on this occasion was 215 from 203 dogs of which 14 were entered NFC. My thanks go to the Show Manager, Officers and Committee of the Club for their hospitality and organisation and to the exhibitors for their entries and for the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions. Special thanks to Wendy and Andrew Mooney and Bev Marsh for stewarding so efficiently and for organising the collecting ring which allowed us to finish in good time.
As usual there were more bitches than dogs entered. It was encouraging to see some good quality entries through the various classes and not just at the senior end, I thought that by and large heads and expressions were good with not many narrow long skulls there. My feeling was that while there were still plenty of dogs with poor fronts of one kind or another present, there were more good fronted exhibits around from which to find winners than the last time I judged. Coats were mixed and at times I had to forgive some lack of coat. As always there was a good deal of variation in size as always, but in the end I felt I was able to find winners of good enough size with enough scope and lines. I felt that tails were mixed and at times, in looking for overall quality, I had to reward dogs with tails that I felt were less than perfect in shape, length or carriage. By and large the dogs behaved pretty well and were presented clean. I was keen to see the dogs moving around the ring and not ‘stacked’. That is surely the most revealing in conformation terms.
DCC and BOB was Jenkins’ Badgerbeck Uncle Fester. RDCC was Stockleys’ Ch Foxfactor Pied Piper. BCC and RBIS was May and Whisker’s Thistlestone Jenny Wren. RBCC was Higham’s Comberdown Thistle. BP was Hall and Ellis’ Brackenfell Bok To Bach and BPB was Clark’s Gameway Fortune Cookie. BV was Stockleys’ Foxfactor Hornblower
Veteran - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
shown a bit out of coat. Ok in front not overdone in rib. Moved well behind. Not overdone in bone.
Windsor Championship Dog Show
29th Jun 2013
Judge: Mrs Karen Dean (Tyrian)
I would first like to thank the society for inviting me to judge at this level for the first time, and my stewards for keeping me on track. Special thanks to the Border Terrier Club of Victoria, Australia and their secretary Denise Worthington for presenting a special sash to the Best of Breed winner providing a welcome highlight at the end of judging.
Veteran - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
Good head . Straight front, level topline held well on the move. Harsh coat, tail well set on. Moved smartly
Bournemouth Championship Dog Show
10th Aug 2013
Judge: Mr Paul Wilkinson
Veteran - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Richmond Championship Dog Show
7th Sep 2013
Judge: Mrs K M Irving (Dandyhow)
In my view the breed still has problems with movement, particularly front movement. Hind action in bitches was also poor on this occasion. There was some variation in coats and some were shown without much jacket but others were somewhat blown in coat. However there were several with excellent coats and pelts – such an important feature of the breed. Dentition and temperaments were very good.
Because I don’t enjoy judging, and quite frankly never have, I decided before this appointment that is would be my last judging assignment. I hope that more younger Border Terrier enthusiasts will come forward as judges to ensure the successful future of the breed.
Veteran - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
taller dog with a pleasing head. Good outline. Moved out quite well but was not in as good coat as the winner.
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
15th Sep 2013
Judge: Mrs Kathy Newsome (Kighill)
I was very honoured to have been invited to judge the SBTC Open show and I would like to thank my Show Manager Wendy Mooney and the Officers of the Committee for their kind hospitality. I would also like to thank my stewards for the day Dave Hunt, Denise Townsend and Andrew Mooney for helping me to keep on track with a lovely entry of 137 dogs making a total of 157 and of course a special thanks to all the exhibitors.
I was pleased with the quality of some of my entries but we must not forget that the Breed Standard states that a Border Terrier is “essentially a working terrier†ie. “Going to ground â€. Unfortunately there were some that would not have been able to do the job that they were intended for, due to weight and depth leaving some unable to be spanned. Some heads were quite disappointing as they lacked the substance that would give them the “Head of an Otterâ€. On the plus side I found the fronts quite pleasing. Overall I was very pleased with my class winners and with my overall winners of the show on the day.
Veteran - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Class Critique
A very nice quality class and it could have been either one of them today.
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Open Show
24th Nov 2013
Judge: Gemma Alpe (Pipruda)
I want to thank the committee of East Anglian Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge there November open show was a great privilege as growing up showing as a youngester at many of there breed club shows. My thanks also to my very experienced stewards of the day Bev Jackson and Simon Jackson who without them I'm sure my ring would not have ran so smoothly,and to all that entered under me. I was generally very pleased with the overall quality of the dogs entered under me a few who shone from the first time I caught sight of them. But no major faults found on the day which pleased me.
Veteran - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
8 year old light grizzle dog,little short of coat and a little less willing than 1,moved well,nice topline and good stifle.
Windsor Championship Show
27th Jun 2014
Judge: Mr S Jackson (Clipstone)
Very sorry for the late publication of this report. Unfortunately the original was on a device that was stolen. It was an honour again to judge Windsor which is one of my personal favourite shows, and also my local!
Veteran - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
Lovely, typical Border Terrier who refuses to act his age. Quite right too! Moves well, excellent coat and intelligent otter head. Comes nicely to hand.
Richmond Championship Dog Show
6th Sep 2014
Judge: Mr W Gray (Pontbeck)
Thanks go to my stewards for making the day run smoothly and to the exhibitors for their enthusiasm for the breed and the sporting way they took my decisions.
Since the hunting bill I 've been concerned how the breed would keep to the line in the breed standard " Essentially a working terrier " as the opportunities for work have been reduced and the spin off as to why we require a double coat and the dog to be narrow all through may be lost to some exhibitors who haven't the opportunity to work or know someone who does or has worked their dogs. There was evidence today that we may have lost sight of the fact that this is a working breed. I'm not suggesting that all Borders should work but that all Borders should be capable to work and those who are closest to the breed standard should be able to do the job required of them.
There were a few exhibits with single coats today, look very smart but would soon pay the price on a cold wet winters day if they had to be out in the elements for any length of time. Some exhibits were carrying a little too much weight and quite a number would benefit from a good walk, some with little muscle.
Veteran - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
Nice size grizzle who moved well keeping a level top line. Slightly longer cast than second which tipped the scales in his favour.
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
21st Sep 2014
Judge: Mrs Trudi Baird (Dowgri)
Many thanks to the Southern Border Terrier club for inviting me to judge and for their fabulous hospitality. The new venue had light inside much improved from the old venue and was in a beautiful setting . My appreciation goes to my ring stewards Andrew Mooney , Bev Marsh & Jane Roberts who ensured the entrants were in order, and kept the classes running smoothly.
A good entry ,numerically and in quality , which gave way to some close decisions. Coats were as always at different stages , I found myself forgiving lack of coat or blown coats in favour of correct movement .Some exhibits that on first glance I thought were my winners let themselves down on the move , there were a couple who “crabbed” and some who’s front movement was very untidy .From ringside these dogs looked wonderful stacked . Some dogs were moved rather fast which may have contributed to their wayward movement.
A few dogs had too much beard and cheek hair left on , this stood out even more when the rest of the dog was immaculately presented .
On the plus side I found fit, well conditioned dogs , teeth and bites were good ,and excellent temperaments - bar a couple who were uncharacteristically shy . I was extremely pleased with both line ups and was spoilt for choice with the top honours.
Thank you for allowing me to go over your lovely dogs.
Veteran - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Open Show
23rd Nov 2014
Judge: Jane Moreton-Shaw (Fehmarn)
I would like to thank the committee and members for inviting me to judge at the show, and to all those who entered under me. Also thanks to my two stewards Robert Brewster and Jeremy Young and for those who prepared lunch.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day and was very happy with my winners. In a couple of classes the decision was very close. There were no kinked tails, temperaments were good on the whole, with only 3 that were roughly handled, subsequently the dogs were behaving nervously. I had a couple of bad bites and a couple of level bites. All bar two were spannable. Coats again on the whole were good. Thank you to the exhibitors for accepting my decisions, apart from one unsportsmanlike behaviour in the ring!! The class I enjoyed judging the most on the day was Veteran Bitch. Lovely classy bitches in good condition and very close decisions between them all.
Veteran - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Southern Border Terrier Club Members Limited Breed Show
1st Mar 2015
Judge: Mr. Bob Wright (Totherend)
My appreciation goes to the SBTC officers and committee for the opportunity to judge a lovely entry of Border Terriers and to the stewards for their support during the show. Also to the many exhibitors who quite rightly presented their dogs so proudly. I hope they enjoyed their day irrespective of the results, as above all this is a hobby to enjoy with the pets that you love.
It’s always good to see new faces exhibiting but I think most would benefit from a few visits to ring craft prior to launching themselves into the ring. This would give them an idea of the typical ring routine and some guidance on preparation of their exhibits. Whilst some concession can be made, lack of ring presence inevitably reflects in some way on their exhibit. Having said all that I can but admire the efforts of a seasoned 2½ year old handler as she moved her much older prized veteran up and down the mat!
I found some dubious dentition, a couple I couldn’t span and several only just spannable. Some dogs impressed in the line but disappointed on the move (particularly rear movement) but for a limit show I felt there was plenty of quality and I was particularly delighted with the main contenders. Some classes merited two “firsts” with precious little separating the first two and I was sad to disappoint. Not being first shouldn’t reflect badly on any dog it only means that a particular judge preferred another exhibit on the day. Certainly some of the dogs would have been better placed had they moved as well on the day as I’ve seen them move before.
I’m not of the school that expects to see a final line-up of identical dogs of a particular type. Several exhibits, whilst not of my preferred type, represented the breed standard well and couldn’t be denied an appropriate place irrespective of type or the appearance of the final line-up. I looked for a well balanced dog reflecting the aspects of the breed standard, without exaggeration and able to cover the ground smoothly and efficiently and I was pleased to find it in most classes.
Veteran - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
The East Anglian Border Terrier Club Championship Show
12th Apr 2015
Judge: Mr Graham Pickering (Picer)
I would like to thank the East Anglian Border Terrier Club for their kind invitation to judge their 2015 Championship Show. It was both an honour and a pleasure to accept this appointment. Thank you to the committee for their hospitality, and special acknowledgement to Bev, Laurence and Zoe Jackson for their efficient stewarding and keeping everything running smoothly throughout the day.
I terms of exhibits, there were many difficult decisions during the day and some real quality dogs were left unplaced. In general, the quality was very good and the majority of dogs were spannable and I only saw one example of an incorrect bite. All dogs were entire and as is usual some coats were exceptional whilst others were either just coming in or past their best.
There were a few examples of heads that are untypical of the breed, in that they lack strength of foreface, width of skull and have eyes that are too close together – these are not what I would describe as ‘like that of an otter’.
On a more positive note I was very happy with all my winners, believing them to be excellent examples of the breed and would like to say thank you to all exhibitors for allowing me the honour of judging their dogs
Veteran - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
A 9yr old border who stood alone in the ring today, but was well deserving of his place. Good head, nice dark eye keen expression and well placed ears. Straight front, good shoulder placement, with correct amount of bone and muscle tone. Good double coat, moved ok.
Bath Canine Society
22nd May 2015
Judge: Mr Jack Watson
Veteran - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Guildford & District Canine Society Open Show
27th May 2015
Judge: Mr Chris Wallace (Hobholt)
Thank you to the Society for the invitation and to the exhibitors for bringing your Borders' along. It was a pleasure to go over a fine group of Borders on a warm, sunny day in a super venue.
Post Graduate /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hoary Morning
The Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
6th Jun 2015
Judge: Mr Stewart McPherson (Brumberhill)
My thanks, to the Club, for the invitation to judge their Club Show and the hospitality shown to Peter and myself. Thanks, also, to my Stewards, Wendy Mooney and Denise Townsend, who valiantly coped with the paperwork in the, at times, rather blustery conditions, keeping everything going smoothly! Thank you to the exhibitors, also, who entered for my opinion. The grass, in the ring, wasn’t exactly “bowling green”, so it certainly sorted out the good from the bad, on the move!
As is usual, from me, not an “everything in the garden is rosy” preamble! After 35 years, living and breathing Border Terriers, I tell it, as I see it!
As with my last appointment, Crufts, it is just over a 3 year gap, since I judged the Breed in the UK. I had obviously made my point, last time, that I wouldn’t pass the excessively broad skull, almost caricature like, that had become popular, despite the Standard asking for “Head like that of an Otter. Moderately broad in skull”, as there were none I thought overdone, on the day. I think, the problem lies, possibly, that the Standard doesn’t specify, as I was taught, that it refers to English River Otter, some people, mistakenly thinking the commoner headed Sea Otter, or deeper stopped Asian Short Clawed Otter is being referred to. There is a big difference between the three! Not helped by critiques, apparently, praising “broad” skulls, which, to me, sends out the wrong signals!
At Crufts, I had thought the breed had turned a corner, with regard to forehands ie. shoulder and upper arm construction…….how wrong was I?!!! I think I had the full range of faults today, upright shoulders, short upper arm, out at the elbow, sometimes all on the same exhibit! The widest part of a Border Terrier, “Essentially a working Terrier”, bred to go to ground, shouldn’t be the elbows, this fault usually being because the forehand isn’t set on the body correctly, being too far forward, due to a short, steep upper arm, usually, although not always, accompanied by an upright shoulder. These faults also affect that other line from the Standard “Capable of following a horse”, as, due to the incorrect angles, the movement is no longer efficient, being restricted to a shorter, hackneyed, step in profile, almost as though they are walking on hot coals, due to the foreleg not reaching full extension. It may look ok, coming and going, being accurate, as the shorter stride means there is less room for error, but the lack of a ground covering stride would mean the dog working twice as hard on the move, doing its job, soon becoming exhausted. This was brought home to me, discussing the stamina of various dogs with a friend, his son exercising their two Border Terrier champions chasing after him, on horseback, around a field. The accurate mover, with the shorter stride was soon exhausted, having had to work twice as hard, whereas the more angulated one, with the longer, ground covering stride, was up for more! Like, usually breeds like, good forehands being bred for. They don’t appear as if by magic! I am well aware that these faults are seemingly being passed by Judges, not just in the UK, at the very highest level, but that doesn’t mean that they are either correct or desirable and they are very difficult to breed out. I’m left wondering, having read a number of critiques, then having seen, or judged the dogs being praised, are the Seminars failing to educate the correct mechanics of economical movement, or are people just not seeing the movement faults, as long as its trots up and down, with its head and tail up, showing nicely for the Judge! Conversely, as ever, hind movement was pretty good.
It was interesting to note that those I have rewarded in the past, with the correct forehands and narrow fronts, at Crufts and previous engagements, came back, having retained their virtues and have also passed the same, narrow, lithe bodylines on to the next generation. If they are made right, they last right! A working Terrier, whose front is going, or has gone, by the time it is reaching maturity, is neither use nor ornament and is a liability to itself and its owner.
I would like to think, from ring side, that it was obvious that I was looking for Borders with a pattern of moderation and workmanlike construction, with sound, free, scopey movement, who also had quality and style. It wasn’t always easy, in some classes, but I thought my final line ups, in both sexes, demonstrated my priorities.
On the whole, coats and pelts were good, as always my opinion being that coats are transient. I don’t expect them to be aimed specifically, time wise, for me, as I am more concerned with correct construction, but it is “the icing on the cake.” As long as there was evidence of the correct textures, no one was unduly marked down, until it came to the top honours.
Most were spannable, although very few were easily spannable, slightly worrying, as my hands have a big span! This isn’t just a UK problem!
Mouths were all acceptable, a few with the odd broken tooth, which is only to be expected in a working Terrier and certainly wouldn’t be penalised by me.
Veteran - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
Grizzle and Tan. Coming up to 10 years. Giving a lot away, age wise, to 1st and 2nd. Typical head and expression. Not quite their neck and shoulders. Good coat and pelt. Good hindquarters, moving well behind.
Windsor Championship Show
2nd Jul 2015
Judge: Mr M. Hollingsbee (Otterwood)
I thoroughly enjoyed my first judging experience at this level and thank the exhibitors for bringing their dogs of such good quality in front of me and accepting my decisions with good grace. In some of the classes there was only a hairs breadth between some exhibits and on another day the results would have been different. I like Borders that are narrow, strong and good movers. I do not consider coat to be a major factor except when differentiating between dogs of equal quality, As a Championship Show judge told me many years ago “bad coats can get better, many other faults cannot.”
I would also like to thank my stewards for keeping me in order.
Veteran - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Class Critique
Four old gentlemen who were a credit to the breed
Bournemouth CS
10th Aug 2015
Judge: Mrs Lynda Ward
I would like to thank the officers and committee for inviting me to judge, the stewards for unobtrusively keeping things running smoothly and the exhibitors for bringing their good dogs and accepting my decisions with grace. I was gratified to have only 3 absentees despite the awful weather forecast. The necessary inside ring, albeit slightly sloping and uneven, was a decent size giving each exhibit the opportunity to get into stride. Coats varied but there were many good textured topcoats over dense undercoats and on the whole pelts were thick. My worst issue was that some exhibits, despite being narrow and not fat, were very heavy and also a difficult span. Pads were generally thick but feet could be better trimmed as some that looked large and flat actually weren’t on examination. I look for shortish carrot-like tails and although some were thick at the base and tapering correctly they were overly long. I only found 2 with misplaced teeth and it was delighted to find most today had large well set white teeth in good scissor bite. In the past I’ve commented on lack of condition and poor muscle tone in hindquarters so was happy that all today’s entry was presented fit and in hard condition. Overall type was good, I was pleased with both line ups and the veteran classes were a particular treat
Veteran - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Class Critique
Thank you for bringing 3 such nice veterans.
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
20th Sep 2015
Judge: Miss Felicity Freer (Felfree)
Many thanks to the committee & for all the exhibitors for making my appointment so enjoyable.
Veteran - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Hoary Morning
Placing Critique
10 years shown in superb coat & condition & weight for age. Pleasing head & expression. Very alert & moved well
