Show Placings
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
10th Nov 2018
Judge: Mrs Charlotte Archibald (Tweedburn)
My sincere thanks to the Scottish Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge their Championship show, one of my favourites. Also my thanks to the exhibitors for allowing me the privilege to judge their dogs.
My main concern is size and weight, it really does matter, there were a number of exhibits that were too heavy/big, and at the other end of the spectrum, not enough muscle/bone/condition, which is essential for a working dog. However, I was very happy with the main winners, and both line ups.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos
Placing Critique
B/t with thick jacket, heavier than the first two, a bit too much stop, but moved out well.
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos
Sunderland and District CS Open Show.
25th Nov 2018
Judge: Mrs K. Lothian (Lairehope)
I really enjoyed judging the Border Terrier classes at the Sunderland & District Canine Society Open Show, at The Temple Park Leisure Centre, South Shields, on 25 November 2018. I would like to thank Marie & the Committee for the superb hospitality and Bill Howe for the top quality food. Thank you also to Marcia, my efficient Steward. The Centre provided a pleasant atmosphere for the day.
I was delighted with the number of Border Terriers entered, away above the entry for other Terriers. It was a pleasure to judge in a ring of racy, showy, high quality Border Terriers – with the youngsters having a developed ring-craft for their age.. Predominant in the classes were Border Terriers with strong otter-heads for both male & female, with good dentition and harsh coats.
It is always satisfying for my winners to go on to succeed in the Group classes. Delighted, therefore, that my Best of Breed ~ Pollit's Brackenfell Rock the Boat for Vandamere, went on to win: Group 3 ~ Terrier Group, and that my Best Puppy in Breed ~ Golding's Valicetarn Blue Cosmos went on to win: Group 2 ~ Puppy Group - both groups judged by Jane Maxwell.
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG2, Valicetarn Blue Cosmos
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos
Placing Critique
A stunning 7-month blue & tan dog puppy. Framing his strong tan otter-head, his blue coat with matching dark expressive eyes, black nose and correct ears. As well as distinguishing a good topline and tailset from a side view, his coat proved harsh with close undercoat, on the table. With nicely spaced forequarters and hindquarters, he moved well, stealing the limelight to win Best Puppy in Breed. Pleased he went on to win Group 2 in the Puppy Group.
Penrith & District Open Show
9th Dec 2018
Judge: Mr M Oxley
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG3, Valicetarn Blue Cosmos
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos
Placing Critique
Well up to size and in excellent coat, pelt and condition. Quite eye catching when stood, I liked his head shape and proportions, lovely eye and expression, well set ears, good length of neck flowing into well laid shoulders, enough depth of chest for a puppy, straight front and very good racy rear which propelled him around the ring, moved very well for his age and held his topline. BP.
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
26th Jan 2019
Judge: Mr Bob Blackley (Vaevictus)
It was an honour and pleasure to Judge at this great club show, I would like to thank the officers and committee for inviting me, also a big thank you to all the exhibitors, my entry was fantastic full of quality, I’m sorry but some really good dogs were not in the top honours today. I thought the bitches in general were of better quality than the dogs which is good for the breed, and in the dogs, I also noticed some exhibits were lacking coat, a sign of Crufts approaching, but in general they were good.
Best Dog
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Best Opposite Sex
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Best Puppy
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Placing Critique
Stunning blue and tan puppy dog, good head, strong jaw, good eye, well set ears, showing a good expression, good shape and balance, moved well both ways with good reach, holding a good topline and tail carriage, good pelt and harsh coat.
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Limited Show
27th Jan 2019
Judge: Mr P Lothian (Lairhope)
I would like to thank the Scottish Border Terrier Cub for inviting me to judge their 2019 Limited Show and to Exhibitors for allowing me to go over their dogs. I really enjoyed my day. Thank you also to the Committee for the excellent hospitality. Many thanks...
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Reserve Best Puppy
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Placing Critique
9-month Blue & Tan with good strong head and muzzle. Strong teeth, nice length of neck with good topline into well set-on carrot tail. Good pelt & coat with ticking. Moved okay. Reserve Best Puppy
Crufts
9th Mar 2019
Judge: Mrs Trak Fryer (Irton)
A very great thank you to the exhibitors for giving me such a superb entry, I hope that I did it justice. My thanks must also go to my Stewards who worked very hard to keep the classes moving well.
This was a very challenging entry with some very big classes filled with quality dogs all the way through, there were no easy decisions. I tried to pull out all the dogs that I felt were in contention to give those exhibits a closer look. This meant that those out of coat or condition paid the penalty. particularly in the upper classes many super quality dogs had to go out without a place - I just didn't have enough cards.
On the plus side all the exhibits were good tempered and happy in the ring. Most dogs came with a good coat on and a decent pelt. There were plenty of good heads and neat well balanced Borders, the key to the Standard. The Breed Standard asks for a dog that can run, requiring heart and lung room, and that can go to ground, requiring a good rib carried back without exaggerated angulations, a rather challenging blueprint to fit into a fairly small package.
There were quite a number with rather heavy or thin ears, round eyes and I was surprised to find quite a number of “winter noses”; I did not necessarily penalise these if the rest was OK. There were a number of heads with weak jaws framed by sticky out ears, a worrying trend. There were some heavy bitches well beyond spannable.
The biggest problem is movement with the forward angulations mostly at fault, this has been a problem in the breed for some time but there are now a significant number with tied in fronts waving their forelegs about, a new variant!
A well made dog will just cover the ground without any fuss or flipping – a joy to see. In order to do this they also need a reasonable build of muscle and it is a constant concern of mine that so many that come into the show ring do not have this.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Placing Critique
A smaller dog, very attractive bl/t with a lot to like about him. Well balanced and in good fit condition. Good head and eye, good neck and shoulder,Moving well and showing well for his handler.
Class Critique
A good class of dog pups with a lot of promise, some paying the penalty for coat and some a bit overawed by the surroundings.
Whitehaven and District Canine Association Open Show
17th Mar 2019
Judge: Mrs M Armstrong (Carrickfarm)
Thank you to the Committee of Whitehaven and District Canine Association for inviting me to judge Border Terriers at their Open Show and for the excellent hospitality and the lovely lunch you provided. I had a super entry and thank the Exhibitors for allowing me the privilege to go over their dogs. I enjoyed the day.
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Best Puppy
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Placing Critique
10 months smart bl/t, strong head and muzzle. Good length of neck, level topline and well set on carrot tail. Pliable pelt and good coat. Well balanced and shown in good fit condition. BPD.
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
30th Mar 2019
Judge: Mrs Denise Townsend (Llanishen)
Thank you to the officers, committee and members of the Border Terrier Club for awarding the honour of judging this prestigious show and for giving me such a warm welcome. The show had a wonderfully friendly atmosphere and I hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as I did. Many thanks to all exhibitors for their entries, and for allowing me the opportunity to go over their dogs, something I consider a privilege. My stewards Judy and Judith looked after me perfectly and kept everything moving smoothly.
I was very pleased with my winners and with the overall standard of the entry. Some causes for concern included a small number of wry mouths in the early dog classes, exhibits with barely any undercoat and some heads which were lacking strength in their under-jaw.
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Placing Critique
Lovely otter head with keen dark eye. Much to like and moved well but didn’t always co-operate with his handler!
National Terrier
6th Apr 2019
Judge: Mr Eddie Houston
My thanks to the Society for inviting me, to my stewards Dave and Pat who kept things moving and most especially to all the exhibitors for entering and allowing me the privilege of going over their dogs.
I was very pleased with my main winners and there was a lot of quality in the puppy classes which should augur well for the future. Temperaments were excellent, all males were entire and there were no serious mouth faults.
On the minus side there were quite a number of animals of both sexes which were up to size and front movement is a real problem throughout the age range. A few dogs were carrying too much weight and a couple could have done with carrying a bit more. There were a number of dogs lacking in muscle-ours is a working breed and an unfit dog would not be able to fulfill the job of a working terrier.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Placing Critique
Also 11 months,another blue with a super,masculine head.Good coat and pelt,tailset good.Moving well behind but needs to tighten in front.
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
7th Apr 2019
Judge: Mrs. Nancy Hogg (Raeburnfoot)
I would like to express my thanks to the officers, committee and members for the invitation to judge their championship show. I enjoyed it very much. Special thanks go to my two very able stewards who kept everything running smoothly for me. I appreciated it.
There was a good selection of quality dogs and bitches for me to pick from. Coats on the whole were pleasing. As was size. Temperament too apart from one blip. Some with winter noses, possibly more than I have noticed before. A few with domed skulls which makes for an untypical head. I felt that the depth of quality in the bitch classes outweighed the dogs. Both the puppy bitch classes were a joy. Some lovely pups having to go cardless. Its very encouraging and surely bodes well for the breed.
I was very happy with my main winners. It was a pleasure to award them their honours.
Thank you EABTC.
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Best Opposite Sex Puppy
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Placing Critique
Excels in head with a short strong muzzle and large teeth. Neat ears. Just right for size and bone. Straight front. Spans well. Slightly low tail set. Moved very well with drive from behind BDP.
Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
5th May 2019
Judge: Mrs Su Williams (Hollybridge)
I would like to thank The Border Terrier Club for the invitation & thank my 2 very capable Stewards Carolyn Richardson & Liz Barrett for their help on the day. I would also like to thank those exhibitors who entered under me and who accepted the placing's sportingly. I was pleased to have a number of high quality entries but the down side of that is, some good dogs went card less
Mouths are a bit of a worry as I noticed a few with a tooth or teeth out of line, small teeth and one even undershot. Movement on the whole was good especially in my winners. Coats & Pelts were good too,with just a few thin pelted dogs.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Blue Cosmos at Beaconpike
Placing Critique
What a lovely headed youngster this blue & tan is, He has a super expression and moved out very well, good bend of stifle and shoulders he came up a little light in weight on the day but one to watch and I liked him a lot
