Venue: The Showground, Malvern
DCC, Brumberhill Battlecry (Mr D J Bean
RDCC, Alcumlow Starstruck (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
BCC, CH Brumberhill Betwixt ShCM (Mr S McPherson)
RBCC, CH Baywillow Blue Bouquet for Badgerbeck JW (Miss L Jenkins)
BP, BDP, Grindelvald In Full Cry (Mrs M A Bailey)
BBP, Hawcoat Sweet Fairy (Mrs E J & Miss R C Larner)
Thanks are due to exhibitors for a good turn out of quality Borders, Mr & Mrs Hall for their expert and unobtrusive stewarding, and to the weatherman who forecasted a dry day and delivered. Most Border folk know that I favour a Border that is on the leg to enable it to cover the terrain found in Border Hunt country, yet narrow enough to follow the quarry to ground. Those in the cards today fulfilled most of the criteria set down in the Standard, so my individual critiques could become repetitive. True otter heads were not abundant, and those with a proper skull sometimes lacked muzzle strength. Coarse and/or upright shoulders featured too frequently, along with short and/or rounded ribcages. Not too many straight stifles were seen, but one or two were over-angulated in their hind quarters, an exaggeration which has crept into other breeds, let’s hope it will not do so in Borders. The Standard asks for a deep and narrow body, but many were deep in brisket only, with a cut-up underline. A worrying find which I have not encountered before to this extent was the number of kinky tails – not obvious to the eye but feeling lumpy to the hand. A warning to future judges of Borders – take plenty of wet-wipes. No Border appeared dirty, but the evidence appeared on my hands.
Entries: 10 Absentees: 3
1st: Ravenside Ballymoss (Mr M Lowry) 8 months grizzle and tan in good coat and condition. Handy in size. Somewhat plain in head at the moment but scored on overall balance.
2nd: Brave Scooby Doo of Garw (Mr C J Ward) 8m red grizzle, more on the leg than winner. Narrow and well ribbed back. More stop than desired.
3rd: Borderella Day Tripper (Mrs P South)
Res: Royday Royal Oak (Mr R Longton)
VHC: Dowgri Diggory (Mr W & Mrs T J Baird)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 0
1st: Grindelvald In Full Cry (Mrs M A Bailey) 11 m g/t in excellent coat and condition. Stood out on the first circuit of the ring for his ground covering and effortless movement. Strong head without being overdone. Good lithe body. Best Puppy.
2nd: Felfree Ricardo Tubbs (Miss F Freer) Nearly out of puppy classes, this b/t was well constructed with lovely shoulders, taller than most, but scored in movement over 3. Good flat skull and super front.
3rd: Brave Scooby Doo of Garw (Mr C J Ward)
Res: Totherend Blues in the Night (Mr R G & Mrs E A Wright)
VHC: Hawcoat Blue Bertie (Mrs E J & Miss R C Larner)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 1
1st: Otterbobs Riggindale (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin) G/t in full coat under which was a lithe body. Beautiful head and expression. Another whose movement pleased – he could go all day, I’m sure. Good size too, plenty of bone without being overdone. Preferred his length of rib over 2.
2nd: Ethlencoral Pip of Ottaswell (Mr D & Mrs G M Hunt) 13 m g/t in good coat, and moving accurately with a good long stride. Heavier in ear than winner but body built on the right narrow lines.
3rd: Halcus Annatto (Mr J F & Mrs I H Nicolls)
Res: Smartstone Governor (Mrs J P & Mr D A Giles & Birtles)
VHC: Totherend Jimmy Mac (Mr R G & Mrs E A Wright)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 0
1st: Mansergh Song Thrush (Mrs V Woolrich) G/t, another whose movement impressed. Narrow bodied, lovely shoulders and racy hindquarters. One of the few with a lovely otter skull.
2nd: Badgerbeck Bobby Owl (Miss L M Jenkins) B/t, nicely balanced dog of handy size. Not so good in shoulders as winner but liked his strong hindquarters, head and expression
3rd: Laurelton Moonlight Cowboy (Mrs J Cobbledick)
Res: Towden Storm Diver At Laurelton (Mrs P & Miss S Moffatt & Zech)
VHC: Draycore Rockkafela At Kgills (Mr K J & Mrs G Bate)
Entries: 16 Absentees: 2
1st: Brumberhill Battlecry (Mr D J Bean) R/g in proper double coat. Has matured well since I last judged him as a junior. Excelled in shoulder and ribs, with hindquarters to match. Loved his otter head with dark-eyed expression. CC. Just lost out to bitch CC winner for BOB as he was not so settled on the move.
2nd: Alcumlow Starstruck (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber) Close up to winner as his movement impressed so much – he floated round the ring. As the winner, narrow bodied, with racy hindquarters. Lovely head, just lost out to winner on balance, Starstruck being taller and rangier. Res CC
3rd: Mansergh Song Thrush (Mrs V Woolrich)
Res: Irton Up Helly Aa (Mr D & Mrs A Fryer)
VHC: Hobholt Harrier JW (Mrs M A Wallace)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 0
1st: CH Baywillow Racing Blue JW (Mrs M B Reeves) . 4 year old b/t mature dog in his prime. Has not coarsened since I last judged him. Ideal for size. Beautiful head and expression. Conformation as to be expected for a Champion, an unexaggerated proper Border.
2nd: CH Tythrop Tapas (Miss J Lee) Another who has grown into a lovely mature dog since I last judged him. All the essentials are there. In excellent coat and condition with good bone and front. Not quite as settled in movement today as winner, nor as racy.
3rd: Lutrabeck Likewise (Mr R J & Mrs C Hand)
Res: Risdene Tapenade (Miss S A & Mr J Leslie & Bainbridge)
VHC: Brockfox Buckshot (Barnett)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 3
1st: Intack Blue Pearl (Mrs V Waldron) 7 m b/t, showing with maturity for her age. Typical Border head and expression. Lacked any exaggeration. Good length of body with well angulated hindquarters.
2nd: Biddestone Picnic (Mrs A Hibberd) Also 7 m, g/t with lovely shoulders. .Moved well, a size smaller than winner, but perfectly balanced.
3rd: Baillieswells Isla (Prof A S Milton)
Res: Melincoed Andante (Mrs G Crockett)
VHC: Royday Wiss (Mr R Longton)
Entries: 11 Absentees: 0
1st: Hawcoat Sweet Fairy (Mrs E J & Miss R C Larner) Light r/g, at 11 months her maturity showed over 2. Loved her flat skull, but her muzzle is a little long. Moved well with a long accurate stride.
2nd: Mansergh Speckles (Miss A Roslin-Williams) Light r/g with beautiful shoulders, ribs and hindquarters. Just 9 months, maturity will only complete the picture.
3rd: Totherend Tonic (Mr R G & Mrs E A Wright)
Res: Didillybods Forest Sprite (Mr P Shephard)
VHC: Benattivo Gemstone for Daluce (Mr J & Mrs H M Thomas)
Entries: 19 Absentees: 2
1st: Lutrabeck Liberty (Mr R J & Mrs C Hand) R/g, 12 m old. Handy size with good shoulders and hindquarters, used to advantage on the move. A very attractive youngster of great promise.
2nd: Brumberhill Bequest (Mr S A McPherson) Dark g/t, 18 months old but less mature than winner. Lovely to go over, but I thought her loin was a bit long. Very much like her dam (my eventual BOB winner) in head and movement.
3rd: Stoneygin Dolly Mixture At Pherjan (Mr C & Mrs C A Maltby)
Res: Tallowbrook Memento Of Quatford (Mrs V Furness)
VHC: Windrushway Serious Gwth (Mrs J Gale)
Entries: 14 Absentees: 4
1st: Alcumlow Starry Night (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber) B/t looked up to size but was spannable. Good neck and shoulders, length of leg. Not so good in muzzle as her brother who won the Res CC .
2nd: Kersfell Miss Jean Brodie (Mrs\ M Sneddon) Also b/t Good size, lovely hindquarters and forehand, with elbows under the body where they should be. Bit plain in head but nice flat skull.
3rd: Irton Polka (Mr D & Mrs A Fryer)
Res: Mansergh the Canny Granny (Miss A Roslin-Williams)
VHC: Dugaden Dilemma At Artwork JW (Mr K Freivokh)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 1
1st: Hartswelin She’s Magic (Ms L J Godefroid) G/t mature bitch typical throughout. In proper coat. Very sound movement. She won MPB under me at Richmond 06. Lovely feminine head and expression.
2nd: Tythrop Traviata (Mrs J Lee) Another good g/t bitch with excellent conformation, just losing out to winner on front movement.
3rd: Irton Strawberry Fair At Howthwaite JW (Mr R J & Mrs E A Barrett)
Res: Penlumeg Pendant (Mrs B S Harris)
VHC: Ottaswell Obsession (Mr J C & Mrs Z C Garcia-Sierra)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 2
1st: CH Brumberhill Betwixt ShCM (Mr S McPherson) What a surprise treat to have the opportunity of going over such a well known bitch now that she has matured, and at 7 years old, she has not coarsened although a little more matronly through the ribs since I judged her as a junior. In tip top condition, and covering the ground effortlessly. Still excels in shoulders, topline and hindquarters, a credit to her owner. CC and BOB
2nd: CH Baywillow Blue Bouquet for Badgerbeck JW (Miss L Jenkins) B/t, also well constructed. Lovely head. Not so positive on the move as winner but well deserving the Res CC.
3rd: Stoneygin Ripon Ruby at Badgerholme JW ShCM (Dickinson & James)
Res: Comberdown Ciara (Mr I & Mrs A Higham)
