Show Placings
Northern Border Championship Show
18th Jul 2010
Judge: Miss Elspeth Jackson (Clipstone)
What an honour and a pleasure it was to judge the Northern Border Terrier Club's Championship Show. An entry of 202 and good Northern hospitality ensured I had a most enjoyable day. Many thanks to my capable stewards for keeping the day running smoothly.
I was very satisfied with both my challenges and all the top honours were strongly contested. I was especially pleased with my puppies and will watch their progress with interest.
Best Puppy - Bitch
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
Balanced youngster with a good head, super front and shoulder and elegant neck. In excellent order. I am sure she is one to watch for the future. Best Puppy was a very tough decision and could have easily gone her way. Best Puppy Bitch.
City of Birmingham Canine Society
4th Sep 2010
Judge: Miss A D Swales
This was a lovely entry, I send my good wishes for a speedy return to the ring to the scheduled judged Miss E D Rumsan. Coats were at all stages & I have to say that there were some which had no evidence of a second coat. Mouths were good except for, unusually, one overshot, Temperaments appeared to be OK, although a few lack confidence & were hesitant. The green carpet helped to show up some wide fronts & movement which did not extend & lacked drive, needed to follow a horse. All my placed dogs spanned comfortably. I was not happy with some exhibitors who were constantly feeding their dogs, even on the table.
Best Puppy
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
very promising pup, beautifully constructed, well laid shoulders, good length of neck completed by strong hindquarters with good bend of stifle, easy fluid movement, good head, strong jaw with good bite, good expression. thick pelt with good jacket, will follow her progress with interest. BP
Yorks, Lancs & Cheshire BTC Championship Show
25th Sep 2010
Judge: Mrs. Doreen Rushby (Dormic)
Many thanks to the exhibitors for a super entry. My DCC, BCC, and BP were a credit to the breed. Shoulders are still a big problem, ferrety feet was a recurring problem, thick pads are essential in a Border. A number lacked condition, trying to keep weight down should not be at the expense of nourishment.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
Lovely head, good length of neck. Narrow front, ribs carried well back. Good length of body. Tail set well. Good coat. Moved with drive
Scottish BTC Championship Show
13th Nov 2010
Judge: Mr D E Fryer (Irton)
Thanks to the Club for the opportunity to go over so many quality dogs, and to the exhibitors for bringing them along. I was pleased to find , overall, a better standard of movement than I had expected, particularly in front; likewise coats, in general, were of good quality and quantity. I was, however, disappointed that so many seemed to have small teeth; mostly technically correct with only a couple with missing teeth. One male was not entire.
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
Good length of body, with slightly upright shoulder; moving fairly true on tight feet; good coat and pelt, mouth OK, head needs to develop a touch
Crufts
12th Mar 2011
Judge: Mrs Elaine Cuthbertson (Ashbrae)
It was an honour to be invited to judge this prestige show, and a privilege to be able to handle so many good borders. With an entry of 254 dogs, 306 entries, and with the help of my very efficient stewards this enabled me to finish on time for the BOB to go forward into the group. With the large classes it would have been nice to have had more time and more prize cards.
Many borders were in very fit condition and in gleaming coats, others sadly were not. I was very surprised at the numbers that were overweight, a few under and some in poor coat. There is a difference of being short of coat and being untidy which some were, several having scissor cuts in evidence which is totally unnecessary.
Some nice otter type typical heads were in evidence, some with quite large ears which seems to be creeping into the breed, and close set eyes giving an alien expression. Quite a few were upright and heavy in shoulder, with a shorter back than desired. Most were spanable although many had a rounder rib than required. This reflected in my placing's as the fitness and welfare of the dogs is of the uppermost importance, as the breed standard states, the breed being essentially a working terrier.
I thought my principle winners were excellent representatives of the breed, and I enjoyed seeing my BOB being short listed in the group.
Special Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
Taller and rangy bitch. She has a very good attractive head and expression. Good neck and shoulder. Ribs carried well back. Narrow front. Shown in lovely coat and condition a credit to her owner.
Class Critique
Strong class with some very good bitches.
National Terrier
2nd Apr 2011
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Class Critique
One bitch withdrew
Scottish Kennel Club
20th May 2011
Judge: Mr. David Hunt (Ottaswell)
Thanks go to the committee of the Scottish Kennel Club for inviting me to judge for the first time north of the border, Special thanks to my stewards on the day Messrs Goudie & Jackson for organising the ring so efficiently and ensuring everything ran smoothly during my judging. Good stewards are a welcome bonus for any judge. Despite the disappointing weather, thanks also to the exhibitors who attended and for giving me the second highest breed entry of the whole show.
With a large ring and mown grass, I was able to see the dogs move accurately. In general I thought the bitches were stronger than the dogs, but was pleased with all my class winners, and thought my CC winners a credit to the breed. Size was generally good with only a couple being difficult to span. As always coats were at various stages but I was surprised to find 2 very undershot bites in mid range classes.
RBCC
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
A very appealing g/tan Beautiful head being short and strong in muzzle, flat skull and well placed ears. Clean neck flows into straight front carried on small tight feet. She is excellent in profile, deep but not too deep, with flat ribs carried well back. Her topline is super both standing and on the move. Harsh coat and loose pelt. In super condition she used her well developed and muscular rear end to power round the ring. RESERVE BITCH CC
Class Critique
A strong class where places would change on another day.
Southern Counties
4th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr J Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Southern BTC Championship Show
11th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr Rainer Vuorinen (Finland)
It was a great honour and privilege to judge your wonderful breed. Thanks to all, the committee, my stewards and everybody who made my day so wonderful. Thanks to all the exhibitors for their excellent sporting attitude. The hospitality was outstanding and many thanks for the beautiful present. I have been thinking of the overall standard and I have to say your dogs represent a very high quality.
Junior - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Blackpool Championship Show
24th Jun 2011
Judge: Mrs Charlotte Archibald
My sincere thanks to Blackpool & District Canine Society, for inviting me to judge at this level, for the first time. Even the weather was kind to us!!
A special thank you, to the exhibitors for your support, giving me the highest terrier entry, and the sheer joy of going over every exhibit, thank one and all.
It was a fabulous entry, numerically and depth of quality.
On the downside I found one cryptorchidic, one suspect tail, and a lot of dirty teeth, although mouths were generally good.
Coats were at various stages and in some cases they were the deciding factor, movement not too bad, the odd one “pinning in”.
There were some attractive exhibits of both genders, that went ‘cardless’ today, for me, there was just too much of them.
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Scottish Kennel Club
28th Aug 2011
Judge: Mrs Marion Reeves
Though pleased with my winners, depth of quality within the entry was mostly lacking. It is fair to say that Border Terriers still come in every size and shape imaginable. Though I am aware that it is a matter that sharply divides opinion within the breed, I for one would prefer the breed standard to be more specific in detail of what is desirable. Maybe, perhaps that might head to a more uniform type in the show ring.
Yearling - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
g/t. Presented to perfection, lovely neck, shoulder and topline, harsh coat and thick pelt. Typical ottery head and excellent expression. Straight and true all round on the move, a narrower front would complete the picture
Darlington Championship Show
16th Sep 2011
Judge: Mrs Nancy Hogg
My thanks go to the exhibitors who showed their dogs under me. I was very pleased with my entry, both numerically and depth of quality of the exhibits. The ring was large, even and the grass cut very short. I had two very able stewards and the predicted rain stayed away. What more could I ask for ?.
On the whole the presentation was good although some dogs lacked condition. Temperaments were good. Coats were variable. I found one kinked tail, one wrong mouth but more than a few small teeth.
RBCC
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Open - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
Best of heads. Short, strong muzzle. Broad skull. Neat ears. Straight front. Lovely neck and shoulders. Best of toplines and tailset and looked lovely in profile. Narrow throughout. Drove out well with powerful hindquarters. Good coat and pelt completed the picture. Res BCC.
Yorks, Lancs & Cheshire BTC Championship Show
24th Sep 2011
Judge: Mrs Marie Sharp
My thanks to the Committee for their hospitality, and to the stewards, Anita Harrison and Kevin Green who kept everything running smoothly. I always read the Standard before judging and decide where my priorities will lie. This time, I decided that for an essentially working terrier, narrow, lithe bodies are a must, not forgetting those features which distinguish a Border Terrier. Indeed most Borders are narrow when compared with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, for instance, but far too many in this entry were too broad in the chest to be able to follow a fox to ground. When the chest is wider than my hand, it is far too wide. Going to ground is but one part of a working terrier’s life - he has to cover rough ground so needs sufficient length of leg, and a flexible loin to enable him to gallop, getting his hind quarters under his body. Following a horse is no walk in the park, it requires stamina - lung capacity which comes from sufficient length of ribcage. One word in the Standard always causes me trouble – “but” in the sentence “Head like that of an otter, but moderately broad in skull..” I found lots of otter shaped heads, a few with too much stop, few with too short a muzzle, so on the whole heads pleased me.
Yearling - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
31st Mar 2012
Judge: Miss Betty Rumsam (Wildercot)
The Border Terrier CIub held a Championship Show where bitch BIS was Bramblebrae Violet at Shiftyfox, this bitch has it all & I was pleased to award her her third CC & BIS. She was in immaculate condition, feminine, handy size, wonderful coat & pelt, just right for bone, so well balanced, movement was a joy. I loved her; RBIS, Ethlancoral Pip of Ottaswell, I liked this dog for his size & balance, in super condition, not overdone in any way, good head, narrow in shoulder, ribs well back, strong loin & hindquarters, moved soundly; & BP, Nantcoch Ffion, very pretty feminine pup, good for size, outline & balance, good head & bite, small tight feet, good tail. Very promising.
A big thank you to the officers and committee for the lovely gift and to my two excellent stewards for the day, Jim Stewart and Ken McKenzie who made my task a pleasure. Thanks also to the exhibitors for the entry of 229 (200 dogs and 4 nfc) and for the sporting way they accepted my decisions. I was pleased with my final line up. Mouths and teeth were generally good, coats were mixed, some in heavy coat and others with only undercoat. It was good to find plenty of thick, loose pelts, so important in a Working Terrier. Poor movement was the downfall of many.
Open - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Birmingham National
13th May 2012
Judge: Mrs Pat Baxter
Open - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
good Border head, flowing neckline into shoulders, good coat & movement
Scottish Kennel Club
19th May 2012
Judge: Mr John Bainbridge
A small but interesting entry with many good quality exhibits a pleasure to judge after the challenge of my previous two huge entries. The BOB and Dog CC winners are excellent examples of the breed with otter head, good length neck into well laid shoulders, correct length of body, flowing top line, well ribbed back into strong loin and well angulated rear quarters, short hocks and good feet, narrow throughout and spannable making for a dog that can run with the horse and go to ground on arrival. Both were in double full coats but the bitch presented better in hers and relaxed in the final challenge to show her full quality to take BOB.
Open - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
Well made showy red in tip top coat, up to size for a bitch but spannable and was well handled, just a bit wayward in rear movement but close up in the Reserve challenge.
Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
17th Jul 2012
Judge: Mrs. A. C. Fryer (Irton)
My thanks to the Northern Club for the opportunity to judge their 40th Championship show and for their wonderful hospitality; to the exhibitors for giving me such a lovely entry and to my stewards Doreen Rushby & Tracy Peacock for their assistance through the day.
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my day, as we expect from this club there was a wonderful atmosphere all day with good support for the winners and, of course, very impressive rosettes!
I was pleased with the entry and thought the Veteran class outstanding. In general exhibits were good types of Border, presented clean and reasonably well muscled. I dislike over handling and excessive stacking of exhibits, these are working terriers and if made right they will – eventually – stand right. In general heads were typical, some with excellent expressions. Coats, of course, were all over the place but where present were of good quality and in the main pelts were OK with some very good examples. Feet generally were OK but good tight well padded feet were definitely in the minority. Similarly ears were generally OK but small, well set, well shaped thick ears were scarce. Tails and tailset were very much a plus with some very good examples, just a few rather long or thin ones. I was pleased to find enough well made dogs who covered their ground cleanly without fuss and flicking but good movement was definitely one of the major problems, particularly in the bitches.
Shoulder placement was a problem in a significant number of exhibits, mostly these were upright shoulders out at the withers giving big problems with front movement. These may look good standing but these dogs are not sound on the move, a vital requirement for a Border.
I accept that an older dog can lose teeth or have a bite move but I was disappointed to find a number of young dogs with incorrect bites, missing and broken teeth. I thought a number of heads were weak, particularly across the jaw and these seem to go with rather small teeth, I wonder if these are related problems?
Open - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
Very well presented bitch, put down in an excellent coat and showing her socks off. OK for head shape but her ears are carried a little high, good shoulder and well balanced, moved out well to take her place in this excellent class.
Class Critique
Some good bitches here were totally out of coat and had to pay the price.
Scottish Kennel Club
25th Aug 2012
Judge: Mr Frank Kane (Hirontower)
An interesting entry. I found some very good class winners. I was disturbed by the frequency of poor hindquarters, often a result of poor croups & tailsets & lack of angulation & second thigh resulting in lack of drive.
Open - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
City of Birmingham
1st Sep 2012
Judge: Mrs Marion Reeves (Baywillow)
Thank you for the lovely entry.
The breed standard describes the body as ‘deep, narrow and fairly long’. Just how long may well be debatable as no proportions are suggested. However the standard surely infers that a Border should be longer than square. The standard also describes the border as ‘essentially a working terrier’. A working terrier needs sufficient length and flexibility to enable it to turn underground. It is difficult to imagine a square terrier achieving this easily. I think the above is not generally appreciated by all rounders.
Open - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Darlington Championship Show
14th Sep 2012
Judge: Mr David Hunt (Ottaswell)
Thank you to the committee of Darlington Dog Show society for inviting me to judge, with special thanks to my sole steward who worked tirelessly throughout the day to keep both me organised and the ring running smoothly. My appreciation also to the exhibitors for their good entry despite having to face the often long and tiring journey home on a Friday afternoon. Thankfully the weather remained dry for my judging however with a constant strong wind blowing this proved testing for exhibitors handling dogs in full coat.
The ring was large with lots of room for the dogs to move, although the grass could have been cut much shorter. In general all exhibits were in reasonable condition, but as always I was surprised to find 3 dogs with incorrect bites being shown at this level. A working terrier should have coat on the undersides but I was surprised to find some with bellies that had obviously been trimmed/shaved to enhance their underlines. No problem temperaments.
Open - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Driffield Championship Show
22nd Sep 2012
Judge: Miss Tracey James (Blackmine)
BCC
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Best Of Breed
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Open - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
Smart red bitch, Lovely feminine head with a broad skull and strong muzzle and neat ears. Nice reach of neck into well placed shoulders. Well balanced with good angulation front and rear and ribs carried well back. Level topline and correct tailset and finished off with lovely carrot tail. Presented in excellent coat and condition. Easily spanned. Steady true mover. No hesitation in awarding her the CC & BOB.
Class Critique
Two lovely bitches headed this class
Boston & District Canine Society Championship Show
13th Jan 2013
Judge: Mrs Janice Johnson
My thanks firstly go to Boston & District Canine Society Committee for giving me this opportunity to judge the breed again, for looking after me on the day and providing my excellent stewards who gave me great support throughout the day with their efficiency and unobtrusive discretion.
Secondly the exhibitors, who travelled many miles for my judgment, thank you all for taking my decisions sportingly. Thank goodness we didnâ??t have the following weekend when we were all had over 6 inches of snow!
I was extremely pleased with my main winners who all deserved their placings and I was delighted when I received the news that my BOB winner had gone G2 in Terrier Group under Ernie Darby and my best puppy had gone G1 in the Terrier Group under Peter Clifton.
I had some really good examples of the breed to go over and it is a pleasure when you find an exhibit in a class that really meets all your requirements. Movement in the younger classes was inconsistent some may settle others will not. I had a number of very nice quality borders who I know will go on to greater things and some promising puppies, I will watch their futures with interest. Coats on the whole were good with most of the exhibits having thick pelts.
Open - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
shown in great condition, lovely otter head & expression, easily spanned, super reach of neck, level topline and correct tail set, tight feet, nice body lines no exaggerations, great outline, moved and shown well.
Class Critique
A class of very nice bitches who could change places on another day
Manchester Championship Show
17th Jan 2013
Judge: Trish Clark (Gameway)
My sincere thanks to Manchester Dog Show Society for the invitation to award C Câ??s to the breed for the first time. The welcome was warm and I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I would also like to praise my stewards Anne Speak and Rob Taylor who kept the ring running smoothly. Thank you to all who entered and those who braved adverse weather conditions to get there.
I was extremely pleased with my main winners who were all in great condition and fine examples of the breed.
Of concern were a number of exhibits with round eyes and too much stop also some long and flat feet though some of these could be improved by trimming and nail clipping. Coats as ever were at all stages. I feel judges need to pay attention to correct double coats as a border could survive many things we pay particular attention to in the show ring but not five minutes doing his original job of work in the depths of winter without his correct jacket.
BCC
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Open - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
Very well presented bitch in first class coat and condition. Created a very good outline from the tip of her nose through her workmanlike head with very little stop down her well set neck to a good topline and well set and carried tail. Has a deep body but spannable due to good shape of rib. Moved soundly and true. Well handled to get the best from her. CC.
National Terrier
6th Apr 2013
Judge: Mrs. Margaret Curtis (Matamba)
Many thanks to all of the exhibitors who gave me such a nice entry of 201 dogs, giving 245 entries. My thanks go to my two stewards, with some large numbers in the classes they kept everything running smoothly and helped me to finish on time. Many decisions were difficult and some decent dogs went unplaced.
There were things that came to hand while going over the dogs on the table, short ribs and over long in the loin and long hocks. Some of these short ribbed dogs were not over sprung and quite narrow through the body, but our standard states ‘ribs well back‘, something to be watched in your future breeding programs. Some dogs looked on the heavy side when I first looked around the ring, but on the table I was surprised how so many of these dogs came to hand no problem. Upright shoulders were noticeable and front movement in some classes was a problem, along with some very straight stifles and sickle movement. Puppies and youngsters you would expect to be forgiven for movement, along with the size of ears - within time the head develops and things start to balance out.
Jackets were at all stages, spot on, starting to blow - with some owners trying to scissor or part strip them into shape, other coats were coming through with harshness and one or two had just undercoat. There were some that could have done with just a tidy up which would have helped the overall picture.
General overall condition and the spanning on most dogs was acceptable, with good thick pelts. I did feel some of the puppies were thin and were quite hollow behind the ribs. I only had one bad mouth but plenty with strong jaws and large teeth. In general the shape and length of tails were good. A few low set tails, which when a dog is in a full jacket you can feel the low set when on the table but not necessarily see it on the move.
Open - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
National Dog Show
9th May 2013
Judge: Mrs Laura Illingworth (Thorneyhurst)
Thanks to Birmingham National for giving me the opportunity to judge this show and for providing me with two excellent stewards, who kept the ring running smoothly, also to all the exhibitors that gave me the pleasure of going over their dogs.
The quality in some classes was superb especially the limit and open of both sexes, leaving me with more dogs I liked, than cards to award. Temperaments and presentation were good.
Open - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Scottish Kennel Club
19th May 2013
Judge: Mrs M J Alexander (Glenbucket)
I would like to thank the Scottish Kennel Club for their kind invitation to judge this my first championship appointment. I would also like to thank my stewards who kept things running smoothly and the exhibitors for their sporting acceptance of my decisions
BCC
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
UK CH subject to KC confirmation
Open - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
broad skull with strong muzzle dark almond shaped eye small well placed ear good reach of neck into level top line easy spanned thick loose pelt with correct double coat of good texture moved and handled well CC
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
28th Sep 2013
Judge: Miss Elspeth Jackson (Clipstone)
It is always an honour to be invited to judge a club show and my first job here must be to thank Club, Officers, Committee and Members for asking me to judge their show. The hospitality shown to my Mother and myself made it a very enjoyable weekend. Thank you to my capable Stewards Les Moss and Ian Higham for their help on the day.
Thank you all for the great entry both in terms of number and in depth of quality I had to judge. There were some very tough, but enjoyable decisions to be made and in most classes and in the challenges the top honours were fiercely contested. .
I must repeat the often used cliché of not having enough cards on the day. Many who were down the line or even cardless today I would have been happy to have as winners in another entry.
BCC
Name at show: CH / Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Best In Show
Name at show: CH / Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Open - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: CH / Ir CH Blewecourt Manhattan At Ploughdown
Placing Critique
Having judged and liked this girl as a puppy it was good to judge her as a mature adult. She did not disappoint. Shown on the day in excellent condition, in super coat and well muscled throughout she was a picture of balance without any exaggeration. She is spanable and her ribs are of a good shape and well laid back. She has lovely body lines with a super top line competed by a lovely short thick tail well set on. Could not have shown any better for her handler making her such an eye catcher on the challenges to take the Bitch CC and then Best in Show.
