Name:Foxthorn McVicar 
Gender:Dog 
DOB:25-05-2010 
Colour:Grizzle and Tan 
Owner(s): Mr R F & Mrs S Taylor  
Breeder:Mr R F & Mrs S Taylor 
CH Comberdown Jailbreak To Vandamere JW (D)
24-02-2009
Colour: Grizzle and Tan
CH Vandamere's Secret Agent JW (D)
21-06-2006
Colour: Red Grizzle
Ace of Castle Cottage (D)
23-11-1995
CH Oxcroft Royal (D)
Sweep Stakes (B)
Nanrich Fingerprint of Vandamere (B)
22-08-2004
Fella Me Lad (D)
Starcyl Red Cedar of Beeley (B)
Conundrum Whole Lotta Rosie At Comberdown (B)
01-09-2003
Colour: Blue and Tan
CH Otterkin Blue Bayou Conundrum (D)
10-03-2001
Otterkin Kade (D)
CH Otterkin's Conundrum I Write the Songs (B)
Conundrum Soliloquy (B)
16-09-2001
CH Otterkin Lyricist (D)
Conundrum Twist of Fate (B)
Vallemoss Vera At Foxthorn (B)
14-11-2007
Colour: Dark Grizzle
CH Dandyhow Figaro At Glebeheath JW ShCM (D)
04-10-2004
Colour: Grizzle and Tan
CH/Am/Can CH Conundrum Co-Writer (D)
16-09-2001
CH Otterkin Lyricist (D)
Conundrum Twist of Fate (B)
CH Dandyhow Iolanthe (B)
12-10-2001
CH Dandyhow Mr Punch (D)
Dandyhow Desiree (B)
Vallemoss Viola (B)
30-04-2005
Colour: Red Grizzle
CH Ashbrae Poacher (D)
29-04-2003
CH Ashbrae Ghillie (D)
CH Ashbrae Salsa (B)
Vallemoss Violet (B)
06-03-2003
Oxcroft Robbie (D)
Blaentir Lady Orchid At Vallemoss (B)

Show Placings

Yorks, Lancs & Cheshire BTC Open Show
27th Nov 2010
Judge: Mr Ken Bartlett (Dwilencia)
I was very pleased with the entry I received for this well run and friendly show, hut owing to the bad weather and motorway closed for some time, some exhibitors were unable to attend, so thanks to those who did arrive and gave me the pleasure to go over their dogs.
Minor Puppy - Dog / Second Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Placing Critique
Not so mature as first, but nice scissor bite, dark eye, thick pelt, coat coming good, neat feet, correct topline and tailset.
Puppy - Dog / First Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Boston & District CS Championship Show
9th Jan 2011
Judge: Mrs Lynda Ward
Many thanks to my stewards for their unobtrusive efficiency and to all the exhibitors for a nice entry. Type and quality varied and today coats were at various stages although this didn't materially affect placing's. Last time I judged I noted that small teeth were prevalent and today I was surprised to find that level bites (although acceptable) predominated, I had 2 undershot mouths and large teeth set in a really good scissor bite were like gold dust. A major concern was movement, partially caused by stifles being too straight so limiting drive and causing a stilted action also often not helped by lack of thigh muscle and there were a number of wide fronts coupled with loose fore action. My final concern was the amount of exhibits that came very heavily to hand. This cannot be discerned by eye since some of the larger dogs were a desirable weight whilst some of the smaller ones were heavy. All that said, I enjoyed the day and was able to find class winners and others of correct type, size and sound movement. Both Open classes were composed throughout of quality exhibits and the CC and RCC winners were fit and worthy ambassadors for the breed.
Puppy - Dog / Reserve
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
YL & C BTC Open Show
29th Jan 2011
Judge: Mr Alan Hedges (Ramblix)
This was a great day for me and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and my thanks go to all exhibitors. Also to the club for the invitation and my two super stewards. I thought that some of the young ones had a bit too much stop, and like most other folks seem to think I thought front movement was an issue. As proper concerns, I thought one dog was painfully thin and one bitch was what I can only describe as stinking. Neither condition is good enough, for either the dogs or the owners
Minor Puppy - Dog / Third Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Puppy - Dog / Reserve
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Novice - Dog / Third Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
The Border Terrier Championship Show
26th Mar 2011
Judge: Miss Jean Singh (Vandamere)
Puppy - Dog / Second Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Placing Critique
Another nice youngster, bodied up well and just coming into coat. He has good bone, neat feet, pleasing head and expression. He has a nice outline and movement appeared steady.
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
9th Apr 2011
Judge: Mrs Anne Gregory (Remony)
My thanks to the Club for the invitation to judge, it was both an honour and pleasure to do so. My thanks also to the committee for their most excellent hospitality, to my capable stewards, Marjorie Wanless and Anjela Cranson, and to the exhibitors for their entries and support. I had some good quality dogs to go over today and was well pleased with my winners. While I found hind action, on the whole, to be good, I did find a number of poor fronts. Front movement pinning in, weak pasterns, flat feet and feet that turned out or turned in. Some dogs also lacked forward reach. To be fit for the function it was intended, a Border needs, as well as strong sound hindquarters, a sound forehand with tight, thick padded feet.
Puppy - Dog / Second Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Placing Critique
strong headed dog, good length of body, good in shoulder, harsh coat, moved o.k. feet could be tighter.
Junior - Dog / Reserve
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
WELKS
29th Apr 2011
Judge: Mrs Margaret Sneddon
Many thanks to my stewards who had everything running smoothly in a calm and good-humoured manner, it makes judging such a pleasure. I had a good entry of 132 dogs with a lower than usual absentee rate of 14%, which was good for a Friday in the present economic climate and I was very pleased to be able to judge outside, although I understand some of the exhibitors found it rather chilly. Quality was rather varied but some of the classes were closely contested and I was delighted with my top winners. Front construction is still a problem with some and coats were rather varied but that could be due to the unseasonal weather which we have had recently. I was also pleased to see a number of the dogs moving freely, with reach in front and good drive from the hindquarters, Border Terriers could not work as they were intended to do without this asset.
Puppy - Dog / Second Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Placing Critique
not as strong in head as the winner. Nice length of neck into narrow shoulders, good topcoat; narrow rib and easily spanned, moved well.
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
28th Jan 2012
Judge: Mr E Castel (Flutorum)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for their kind invitation and the hospitality I received at their Open Show. This was a new venue for the Club and offers excellent facilities with a large spacious ring. Special thanks to my two stewards Anita Harrison and Brian Dickinson. Although not the largest of entries I was pleased with both my dog and bitch line up, I found the bitches to be of greater quality than the dogs, and was pleased that most exhibits were shown in good, well muscled condition. A final thank you to all the exhibitors for the opportunity to go over their dogs today.
Novice - Dog / Reserve
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Special Beginners - Dog or Bitch / Reserve
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
12th Feb 2012
Judge: Mrs P. Clark (Gameway)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for inviting me to judge this show. I had a lovely day and a special thank you to all the exhibitors who braved the dreadful driving conditions. Thank you for the lovely gift which I shall treasure and the very good lunch! A big thank you to Chris Wallace and Jem Thomas who were my very able stewards.
Graduate - Dog / Third Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Post Graduate - Dog / Third Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Special Challenge - Dog or Bitch / First Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Placing Critique
Good headed dog with a keen expression. Good topline and well set tail. Moved OK.
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
25th Feb 2012
Judge: Mr. Ian Higham (Comberdown)
I had been looking forward immensely to judging my first breed club open show in the UK. I sincerely thank the officers and membership for inviting me and most importantly, I would thank those exhibitors who attended and valued my integrity and opinion enough to give me the opportunity of going over their dogs. I was looking for Borders that had all the good breed type points as laid out in our standard, combined with the correct physical construction to be able to cover the rough hilly ground of the region from which the breed originated. I thoroughly went through the entry to find these attributes, and judged with these thoughts in mind right down to my 4th placings. I am pleased to be able to say that I had no dirty oily coats, or smelly dogs and that every dog had clean white teeth. This is all down to good housekeeping (or dog keeping) and I must commend you all on these points. However, I was very disappointed to find that three exhibitors presented me with dogs, which had kinked bumpy tails. I only found one tooth problem and that was a set of badly twisted lower incisors, which were slightly obstructing a scissor bite, but unfortunately, I was further disappointed to find dogs with weak muzzles and no strength to the underjaw. A Border needs to be able to force home an attack on its advesary and to do so must use his//her strong jaws and big teeth. This part of the borders anatomy is of immense importance to its function. I would consider this a fault, which would seriously interfere with a terrier’s ability to work. I found a variety of movement problems. Some had stilted rear movement, with feet in underneath the dog and lacking propulsion. One dog that crabbed. Dogs with fronts toeing in, some more so than others, and some with wide front movement, or flicking one, or other foot. Ultimately, there were some very good examples of our breed, that possessed all, or most, of the qualities I was searching for. Some of these did not get top awards on the day, but nevertheless had enough breed type and quality of movement to forge ahead and have a promising future I am sure.
Maiden - Dog / Second Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Placing Critique
Grizzle and tan. This dog moved well enough. He was balanced and was spannable. Correct top line and tail set. Did not have the coat of the puppy and lacked strength to his muzzle.
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
24th Mar 2012
Judge: Miss Tracey Peacock (Ragatam)
My Thanks To The Officers And Committee For Inviting Me To Judge Their Show, To The Stewards, Mrs. Doreen Rushby And Mrs. Tracy Butler For Keeping The Ring Running Smoothly And To The Exhibitors For Allowing Me To Go Over Their Dogs.
Novice - Dog / Reserve
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Special Beginners - Dog or Bitch / Second Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Placing Critique
A Well Made Red Grizzle. Good Head And Nice Size. Pleasing Outline. A Steady Free Mover.
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.
Special Beginners - Dog / Third Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
6th May 2012
Judge: Mr W Shorthose (Cundytyke)
Many thanks to the Committee of the Border Terrier Club, who were the hosts of this year’s Joint Border Terrier Club show, for inviting me to judge such a prestigious event. My thanks go, particularly, to my stewards, who kept things running smoothly and enabled me to get through a big entry in an unrushed way. Overall, I felt the quality was reasonably high, with a lot to like. There were only a few which I felt could have done with a few square meals as they were a bit on the thin side. Exhibitors should know how to balance food intake with exercise to produce dogs in the correct condition. Lack of muscle on more was a greater problem. While the standard states ‘capable of following a horse’ many would have been tired following one round a stable yard let alone across country. This is evident when dogs are moved but not giving an active breed sufficient exercise also has an effect on their mental wellbeing. There were a number of untypical heads. I wonder if some people don’t understand the proportions of an otter’s skull as some muzzles were lacking in breadth giving a ‘foxy’look, while other heads were too rounded giving the impression of a teddy bear. Mouths were not a big problem with only a couple incorrect and coats were also, generally, good. Most exhibits had an undercoat though there were quite a number which had thin skins. A good, thick, loose pelt is essential for a working terrier. Very few could not be spanned, so most would have been capable of getting to ground. A ‘one size fits all’ attitude does not really apply to working terriers as there are a variety of jobs and situations to be encountered but they do have to be able to get there in the first place. I was very pleased with my top winners and extend my thanks to all the exhibitors.
Yearling - Dog / First Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Placing Critique
Strong headed dog with correct otter-like proportions. Broader muzzle than many, with a keen expression. Strong neck but well placed shoulder. Fairly deep in the chest but could do with more length to rib-cage.
Novice - Dog / First Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
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?
Special Beginners - Dog / Reserve
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Leeds Championship Show
29th Jul 2012
Judge: Mrs M Sneddon (Kersfell)
Many thanks to my stewards who were well organized and efficient. We were allocated a large ring, conveniently placed for the wet weather tent, although fortunately we did not need to make use of this facility as the weather was good with only a few spots of rain – a nice change during this rather poor summer.
Limit - Dog / Third Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
5th Aug 2012
Judge: Nicholls & Dean
*Dog Critique* An excellent entry at this my first club championship show. There were quality exhibits in all classes and overall, if this entry can be used as a yardstick, the dogs are now almost as good as the bitches, which couldn’t be said only a short while ago. This must bode well for the future of the breed. I have been very critical of movement in the past, but I found a distinct improvement here and most of the class card winners had good parallel movement going away and back, and plenty of drive with economical front action. Coats were generally very good and heads were much improved with only a few weak snipey muzzles and apple skulls. Many thanks to my hard working stewards, Sharon Pickering and Ray Bryan, who succeeded in keeping me out of trouble. *Bitch Critique* A very satisfying day, I had many good bitches to go over. My thanks to the MBTC for the invitation to judge and to the exhibitors for entering. All were capable of being spanned, there was a good number of typical jackets and overall quality was such that this was a factor in the placings. No bad mouths and many with good strong teeth. Construction has improved but be careful not to overdo the hind angulation and remember we look for narrow fronts. A few round ears and several larger than I prefer. Racy lines preferred but be careful as some lacked substance. I though the principal winners were all very good. BIS, RBIS and BOS were all worthy winners.
Graduate - Dog / Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Special Challenge - Dog / Third Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Bournemouth Championship Show
13th Aug 2012
Judge: Mr W Browne-Cole
Graduate - Dog / Third Place
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
18th Nov 2012
Judge: Mrs Gill Hunt (Ottaswell)
Open - Dog / Reserve
Name at show: Foxthorn McVicar