First Place in Veteran - Dog, Judge: Mr Alan Hedges (Ramblix)
My thanks go to the Officers and Committee of Bath show for inviting me to come and judge Border Terriers for the first time, and on the Bath Billiard Table as well, it was a fabulous day for me and will live long in my memory.
I thought the dogs were better than the bitches although reading through my critique it doesn’t sound like that, but it was. If I may make a couple of points. Nobody who goes to shows goes to lose and some are making it rather easy for the judge to give them a hard time. Long pointed nails are not good news , nor is standing the dog like a rocking horse. If you are going to use bait, the dog needs to think it has a chance of getting it, the idea is to bring him up on his toes and make a much better picture. Every little helps, none of the opposition are going to roll over and make it easy for you!
Hind movement was generally better than front movement, and plenty could have been fitter.
My thanks go to all who entered, you gave me a wonderful day and I was honoured by each and every one of you
This chap won the CC pretty much as soon as I saw him. I thought he was wonderful. He has what I consider to be a super head and an excellent expression, he has a strong foreface, good underjaw, and a proper set of teeth. He has a very good neck onto well laid shoulders, he has a bang straight narrow front and very neat feet. He has a level topline, a narrow body and a very good backend. He moves very well in front, and on the odd occasion that him and his owner got it together, he moves well enough behind. I would have happily taken him home. CC.