Show Placings
Manchester Championship Show
15th Jan 2015
Judge: Miss Anita Harrison (Iacheslei)
This was my first Championship Show appointment and I would like to thank the Society for the invitation and generous hospitality. Thanks also to my stewards Brian Attwood and Anne Speake who did a sterling job keeping the good sized, well appointed ring running smoothly throughout the day. Thanks also to the exhibitors for allowing me to go over some very high quality dogs. Generally the standard was good with the majority of exhibits showing and moving well. I was concerned by the number of short rounded ribs I found, especially in the bitch classes. There were several noses lacking pigment, some very long thin tails, and I found a few broken or out of line teeth. Coats were at various stages and some otherwise good dogs had to be penalised for lack of coat in the stronger classes. Whereas others with little coat made it into the line up on overall quality. I was very pleased with my main winners, and thank the exhibitors for accepting my decisions in a sporting manner.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
31st Jan 2015
Judge: Miss Claire Tutin (Riseburn)
I would like to thank the officers and committee for their invitation to judge their open show, and their warm welcome and hospitality. I would also like to thank my two efficient stewards on the day, Ian Hopper and John Thomas.
The entry was very pleasing but there were quite a few absentees on the day, especially the dog classes. However I enjoyed my day and was pleased with all my class winners, making a very satisfactory final line up, including some promising puppies, with some difficult decisions to be made. I found one bad mouth and one kinked tail.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Placing Critique
Another nice puppy, stronger in head than 1, with dark eye and correct dentition, moved well, good front, jacket and pelt.
West Midland Terrier Society
14th Feb 2015
Judge: Mrs. Liz Wright (Totherend)
Best Puppy
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Placing Critique
Smart grizzle dog, 7 mths, with good head and expression, dark eyes and ears, nice size, level topline, thick coat and pelt, short carrot tail well set, covered the ground well on the move. BP
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
15th Feb 2015
Judge: Mr C Wallace (Hobholt)
This was my 1st Breed Club Show appointment and I would like to thank the Midland Border Terrier Club Committee for the opportunity to judge the show. Thanks also to my stewards, Bob & Liz Wright who did a great job ensuring the smooth running of the ring throughout the day. Thanks also to all the exhibitors for allowing me to go over your Borders’.
All Borders were in good health, had good mouths and were complete. I was impressed with most coats and particularly pelts which were mainly loose and thick. A number of coats were clearly coming through to be at their best for Crufts.
I like “moderate” Borders, not exaggerated in any way. Of importance, straight, narrow fronts, good shoulders. Hind quarters racy, body fairly long as described in the standard. Equally I like movement to be a good length of stride with purpose & drive. On movement, some front and rear movement was not great, some wrists were astray, some “knitting” and some were better shown on a loose lead and not “strung up”. In summary, I was pleased with my winners & many down the line in some classes, I enjoyed the day, thank you all again for bringing your Borders’, it was appreciated.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Placing Critique
Gr&T, 8 months, heavier in bone than 1, lovely head, dark oval eye, sound construction, good reach of neck, super topline to nice tail set, covered ground with long, easy stride, good front & rear movement,
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
21st Feb 2015
Judge: Mr Ken Fraser (Ycart)
Firstly I would like to say thank you to the Border terrier club, committee and its membership for allowing me to judge their show. Many thanks to my two ring stewards Ken and Paul who helped the proceedings run smoothly. Last but certainly not least the exhibitors who sportingly accepted my decisions many thanks to you who allowed me to judge your dogs.
I was more than happy to present my main winners with their relevant top awards. Many of the terriers shown were in fine fettle and we can look forward to a positive future.
Temperaments seemed to be sound. Mouths on the whole were generally good. Coats were at various stages many had good texture and thickness to them with ample undercoat. However I did find a few kinked tails some of which were quite severe some also quite long and thin.
As custodians of the breed as well as breeders and show people a like we must take a careful look at some of the issues creeping into the breed, Foreign head shapes with ear sets which would not go amiss on a working Lakeland terrier. Weak muzzles and skulls which fall away under the eye.
Front assembly’s wide fronts, bad shoulder placement weak pasterns and poor feet were in evidence on some exhibits and they paid the price in the ring for this. Bodies and rib shape are another concern the breed standard states "deep, narrow, fairly long ribs carried well back" not short bodies and sprung ribs! Condition and muscle tone are key factors along with many of the other points in the breed standard which all contribute to the overall picture of a working terrier. After all the breed standard starts with the first sentence "essentially a working terrier" a sentence which must be adhered too now and in the future...
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
21st Mar 2015
Judge: Karen S Stockley (Foxfactor)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for the judging appointment and for their hospitality on the day, the lovely gifts, also my stewards Alison and Callie and not least the competitors for a lovely entry and for allowing me the opportunity to go over their dogs. I was pleased with my final line ups, some close decisions particularly in the two hotly contested Junior classes where all the placed dogs and bitches could change places on another day. I felt my top winners all met the breed standard in that they would be capable of getting to ground and have the strength and stamina to do a good days work if called upon. There were a few with acceptable level bites, all tails were good, one or two could have been a little cleaner, some that would have benefitted from better coat tidying and presentation and surprisingly one with undescended testicles. However I felt that I was presented with some good representatives of the breed to have the pleasure to go over.
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Best Puppy
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Placing Critique
light grizzle 8mnths of good type and size, built on narrow, racy lines, moved well both ways and covered the ground well going around, masculine good head, nothing overdone, keen expression from nicely shaped dark eye. He had a good double coat if a little soft and plenty of loose pelt, but I heard afterwards that he had been bathed the day before due to rolling in something smelly !c Couldn't find anything not to like about this pup and well deserved BPD,BPIS.
National Terrier
4th Apr 2015
Judge: Mr W Shorthose (Cundytyke)
Overall, I felt there was reasonable quality in those forward. Some exhibitors continue to have their dogs underfed and/or carrying little muscle, both to the detriment of a terrier expected to put in a day’s work. There were a number of untypical heads – lacking width to the skull and strength to the muzzle. Please keep in mind the shape of an otter’s skull.
I was very pleased with my top winners and extend my thanks to all the exhibitors.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Placing Critique
Not as strong in head as 1. Good shoulder and narrow in front. Stood on good feet and presented in good, pale coloured jacket. Would like to see him again when he has had time to grow on and strengthen up.
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
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Placing Critique
Nicely proportioned puppy, with good head and in good condition, not the bend of stifle of 1st place. Moved with confidence around the ring. A little short of coat and lost out on his overall finish today.
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
18th Apr 2015
Judge: Mr. J. Todd (Roxess)
I would like to express my thanks to the officers and committee of The Northern Border Terrier club for the invitation to judge my first Breed Club show and also acknowledge the help and assistance in the ring by my stewards Ann Maltby and Scott Cranson.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day and would like to thank the exhibitors for providing me with the opportunity to go over so many quality dogs.
I found the majority to be in good fit condition and in good coat. There was a variation in head type but most fit the standard in my interpretation.
Mouths were generally good with only a couple with an acceptable level bite. In some presentation could have been better with a few having untidy feet. I was impressed with both line ups and some decisions were very close.
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
West of England Ladies' Kennel Society
25th Apr 2015
Judge: Mrs Su Williams (Hollybridge)
I would like to thank the exhibitors for super entry, it was an honour to go over so many excellent quality border terriers . I had some close decisions in many classes and some quality dogs had to go cardless. Overall I was impressed with the standard of both dogs/bitches and with the condition of them. Almost all were in fit condition with muscle tone,spanning wasn't an issue I'm pleased to say. Which means the breed is in a good way.. Mouths too on the whole were correct with many having good sized and clean teeth. .While coats are of course transient, texture was very good and the vast majority had good thick and loose pelts.
Last but not least Huge Thanks must go to my very capable & experienced Stewards who made my day so much easier.
Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
The Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
3rd May 2015
Judge: Miss Julie Price (Oxcroft)
I would like to thank the Midland Border Terrier Club committee for the opportunity to judge this year’s Joint club show. Many thanks to my two ring stewards Bob and Liz Wright for the smooth running of the ring and the cups of coffee. It was an experience to go over so many dogs of different types; this made my job difficult at times, as each one had different attributes to the next. A few classes I found very hard to decide who my winners would be for this reason. Is the breed getting better or worse? I do not think I am the first to mention that there are too many foreign heads and plain faces with no expression. The breed standard states “a head like that of an otter” and “essentially a working terrier”. Confirmation and movement, I think has improved a little, but the heads and strength of the dogs has declined. When I looked at some of the dogs, I liked them but then had to remind myself that they where dogs not bitches. Thank you to all exhibitors for letting me go over your dogs and the gracious way most of you accepted my decisions.
Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
National Dog Show
9th May 2015
Judge: Mr John Dace (Cassacane)
I must begin by saying a very sincere thanks to the Kennel Club and the officers and committee of the Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd for giving me this most prestigious appointment to award Challenge Certificates for the first time.
Also again sincere thanks to the exhibitors for their splendid entry and acceptance of my decisions on the day, and to my very efficient Stewards who ensured that classes moved along which helped in a timely finish.
On reflection of the exhibits I found that teeth and mouths were very good on the whole, feet were variable as was movement. Temperaments were good. All dogs were entire. My main concerns were in the condition of some exhibits who could have been fitter and harder in muscle tone but where has the consistent “head like that of an otter” gone? The variance in head shape and therefore expression was quite evident. I was pleased with my final awards and again many thanks to everyone for making this one of my most memorable days.
The depth of quality particularly in the bitches bodes well for the breed in the future but as already mentioned concentration on heads to achieve the “head like that of an otter” should be one of the paramount objectives.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Placing Critique
10 mths – Slightly smaller than 1 but with lots of Border attributes. Nice expression . Good bite. Narrow racy lines. Nice bend of stifle. Level topline. Double coat. Good on move. Should develop well.
Scottish Kennel Club
16th May 2015
Judge: Mr Paul Wilkinson
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society Open Show
27th May 2015
Judge: Mrs Linda Coleman (Hartswelin)
Thank you to the exhibitors for the super entry.
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Placing Critique
10 and a half months male r/gr. good head and bite, dark eyes, narrow front, correct tailset, coat going over, moved well but poor feet cost him b.p.
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.
Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Border Union Agricultural Society
20th Jun 2015
Judge: Mrs Nancy Hogg (Raeburnfoot)
I thoroughly enjoyed my days judging at Border Union showground. Such a pleasant show. Many thanks go to my two very able stewards. They had the ring (& me) running like clockwork. Thanks also to the exhibitors who entered under me. Had some lovely dogs to go over & some hard decisions to make. Coats were probably the best I have seen for some time. Thick pelts, too, were much in evidence. Mouths were good. Fronts continue to be a problem & movement letting some otherwise promising dogs down.
Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
East of England Agricultural Society
10th Jul 2015
Judge: Miss Sally Leslie (Risdene)
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
The Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
18th Jul 2015
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Thank you to the officers, committee and members for voting for me to judge their Championship show 2015.
My stewards were just perfect, even the couple of birds flying around enjoyed the day.
As you know it's all too easy to judge from the ringside but when you are in the ring judging dogs of varying sizes, heads, coats etc, I felt I did the best I could with the exhibits shown.
All dogs were entire, mouths were correct and teeth were of good size and clean apart from one level bite which is acceptable.
Movement needs to be improved front and rear, muscle tone was lacking in quite a few, presentation on some was dreadful, two dogs needed feeding up, but the main winners were of good standing.
Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Leek & District Show Society Open Show
25th Jul 2015
Judge: Stephen Randall-Goodwin (Lanola)
Best Of Breed
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Junior /
First Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Leeds Championship Show
26th Jul 2015
Judge: Mrs Laura Illingworth (Thorneyhurst)
Thanks to all the exhibitors for bringing such a quality entry, my two stewards for keeping things running smoothly and the rain for holding off till the near the end. I found the dogs in general to be fit with only a few exhibits Under weight I had some close decisions in quite a few classes especially the early bitch classes Mouths on the whole were correct with many having large clean teeth, coats were good and many had good thick loose pelts, movement was varied, temperaments were excellent and most were unperturbed by the noise from our adjoining ring
Junior - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
City of Birmingham
5th Sep 2015
Judge: Mrs P. Clark (Gameway)
My thanks to City of Birmingham for the invitation to judge and to the exhibitors who gave me such a good entry in both numbers and quality. Thank you also to my two hard working stewards who kept the ring running very smoothly. I found the limit and open classes in both dog and bitch had quality in depth and they were a pleasure to judge Thank You
Junior - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
Placing Critique
Not the head of 1 nor the expression as slightly round in eye has a good narrow frame with good topline and well set tail good for size feet could be tidier
Darlington
18th Sep 2015
Judge: Mrs. Margaret Curtis (Matamba)
Many thanks go to the exhibitors today for their support as terrier day at Darlington Ch Show is always on a Friday and this can be difficult for some coming on a working day.
Thanks go to my two good friends Alf and Carol Wood who were my stewards today and kept everyone informed class by class, keeping everything running smoothly.
Junior - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Hemlockstone Nimrod
