First Place in Veteran - Dog or Bitch, Judge: Lesley Armstrong-Rodgers (Atron/Scottsway)
It was a great honour to be invited to judge The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show and therefore my thanks go to the Committee for the opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed my day at this friendly well run show. It was advantageous in having such a good sized ring in which to watch the dogs move. Borders need room to get into their stride and show their effortless movement and profile when viewed in side gait.
A special thank you also to Richard and Sharon, my two stewards for keeping things running smoothly. It is always a great help for any judge to be blessed with competent stewards. Finally a big thank you to all the Exhibitors for bringing their dogs under me for my opinion and for accepting my decisions with good grace. As always coats were at differing stages, often reflected in the placings, but coats do come and go, construction does not !. Overall I found temperaments excellent, as well it should be, which bodes well for the breed.
A good jacket on this Blue and Tan bitch who belies her years, now nearing 12 !. Owns such a feminine head with good bite, dark eye, and a strong jaw. Narrow throughout with a good length of neck fitting into well placed shoulder. Stands on a straight front with enough bone. Level topline with carroty tail set on correctly and used to advantage on the move. Well bent stifle which gave her very sound rear movement. She certainly was having a good time and enjoying herself showing the youngsters how to stride out.