Show Placings
Bath Canine Society
22nd May 2015
Judge: Mr Jack Watson
Best Puppy
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Placing Critique
feminine head, nice reach of neck & shoulders well laid back, lovely outline, good topline & tailset, nice bend of stifle, harsh jacket, moved true both ways. BP
Southern Counties Canine Association
30th May 2015
Judge: Mrs Lesley Gosling (Akinside)
I must first extend thanks to my very professional and able stewards, who kept me on track and on time.
My general remarks here cover the real concerns I have about the way the breed is heading currently. Increasingly, upright shoulders and poor fronts are becoming the norm rather than the exception. Upright shoulders may produce a flashy show dog on its toes, but Borders are not flashy by nature. I suspect I have referred to this problem in every critique I have written for Championship shows I’ve judged and it appears to be getting worse, not better. Please read the standard carefully; look at anatomical drawings of the dog skeleton. Shoulders are now at a steep 60 degrees on some exhibits instead of the normal – and correct – 45 degrees. Undercoats are being raked out to give a cleaner profile – why? Borders – working terriers – need their undercoats 24/7 to keep them warm in bad winter weather while they are waiting to be called for action. It is a requirement of the standard, not a fashion statement. Sooner or later we will end up with a single coated breed, and to its detriment.
Judging today, temperaments were very good; I found two kinked tails, several minor dentition issues, many dirty teeth and one undershot mouth. Males were all entire. Coats were mostly betwixt and between but the good double coats were exceptionally good. I love to see happy dogs with wagging tails but some dogs were very lack lustre and did not seem to be enjoying their day. There were also one or two exhibits too thin and lacking in condition. Finally, baiting is still a contentious topic for me – I use bait sometimes myself – but on occasions it was almost impossible to get at the dogs or examine them without getting round, over, or under an outstretched arm with bait. As a courtesy to judges, please keep baiting to a minimum, especially on the table.
Thank you to everyone for accepting my decisions sportingly. It was a genuine pleasure to go over the entry – winners and non-winners.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Placing Critique
Another exciting prospect. This red youngster also sporting a double coat of good texture. Correct bone, good neat feet. A broad, flat skull, dark eyes, sweet expression. Clean reach of neck into well angled shoulders and level top. Moved out well and another to watch.
Class Critique
What a beautiful class of young bitches, showing such promise. Puppies looking like puppies, behaving like babies, but with everything where it should be, and all with the right temperament.
Three Counties Agricultural Society
4th Jun 2015
Judge: Mr Brian Baxter
Best Puppy
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Placing Critique
shows a lot of promise. A quality young bitch, good head & clean teeth, straight front, lovely tight feet, coat OK, best mover in the class. BP
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.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Blackpool & District Canine Society
26th Jun 2015
Judge: Mr. Ian Higham (Comberdown)
I had been looking forward immensely to judging my first UK championship show. I sincerely thank the Blackpool and District Canine Society for the invite and also thank my two friendly, competent and helpful stewards, Mandy and Robert Geary for keeping everything right.
I would also give my deepest gratitude to those who exhibited under me for trusting my knowledge of the breed and my integrity to judge without fear or favour and further thank them for following my lead to stay in the outside ring through the numerous showers that were on and off all day. I feel privileged that you brought your dogs to me for my opinion.
As usual I was looking for Borders that had all the good breed type points as laid out in our standard, combined with correct physical construction to be able to cover the ground well.
I had no dirty or smelly dogs and only two or three of them could have done with having their teeth brushed so I can commend you all for that. I had only one dog that was slightly undershot and I found no tail deformities at all, which is excellent.
I found a variety of movement problems. But it has to be said that in general, movement seemed to have improved since I last judged the breed. I noticed a few more Borders with lighter colouring to their noses since I last judged, but, as instructed by our standard, I treated this as not a serious fault.
As often heard said, the term “on the day” always applies. I had to give my awards to the dogs that stood out on this day. So for those who may be a little disappointed, remember that on another occasion your dog could well have a better coat stage, move a little more positively or be more “on its toes.” Do not be disheartened and enjoy your showing and your dogs!
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Placing Critique
Another smashing little puppy of eight months of age. Harsh G&T coat, good head, ear and eye and good teeth with scissor bite. She moved very well and has a nice racy body. She behaved and showed herself off to advantage, but I preferred the head and muzzle of 1.
Class Critique
Some of these babies were more intent in having a mess about than showing, which is very forgivable in those so young. Therefore, before finally summing up I decided to move the whole class around another few times, after which, the naughtiest pupils settled enough for me to assess properly. Thanks to all for your patience.
Paignton & District Fanciers’ Association Championship Show
1st Aug 2015
Judge: Miss Diane Swales (Grabbist)
My thanks to the Secretary and Committee for inviting me to judge at this most enjoyable show and to my two extremely efficient stewards, Felicity Snook and Lady Elain Macdonald, who kept the ring flowing smoothly. I am grateful to the exhibitors for a good entry including some very nice Borders and some promising youngsters. Overall mouths were good with strong, clean teeth and correct bites except for one overshot. Skins were an improvement on my last judging appointment, the majority being thick and loose but I do not like the tendency to strip coats out leaving little evidence of a harsh, dense coat. Remembering that a Border is 'essentially a working Terrier' it concerns me that there are a number being shown that really do not measure up to that description both in jacket and the lack of drive and ability to cover the ground when moving. These comments do not apply to my winners and I was so pleased to find many that really measure up to most points in the standard.
Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Class Critique
A promising class and certainly the first five all looked as though they had the characteristics to work.
Bakewell Show
5th Aug 2015
Judge: Tom Mather (Barklots)
Junior /
Third Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Bournemouth CS
10th Aug 2015
Judge: Mrs Lynda Ward
I would like to thank the officers and committee for inviting me to judge, the stewards for unobtrusively keeping things running smoothly and the exhibitors for bringing their good dogs and accepting my decisions with grace. I was gratified to have only 3 absentees despite the awful weather forecast. The necessary inside ring, albeit slightly sloping and uneven, was a decent size giving each exhibit the opportunity to get into stride. Coats varied but there were many good textured topcoats over dense undercoats and on the whole pelts were thick. My worst issue was that some exhibits, despite being narrow and not fat, were very heavy and also a difficult span. Pads were generally thick but feet could be better trimmed as some that looked large and flat actually weren’t on examination. I look for shortish carrot-like tails and although some were thick at the base and tapering correctly they were overly long. I only found 2 with misplaced teeth and it was delighted to find most today had large well set white teeth in good scissor bite. In the past I’ve commented on lack of condition and poor muscle tone in hindquarters so was happy that all today’s entry was presented fit and in hard condition. Overall type was good, I was pleased with both line ups and the veteran classes were a particular treat
Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Placing Critique
At 9 months this attractive youngster also has a good topline and tailset. Is ribbed well back and has a well-set carrot-like tail. She has well let down hocks and moved well. Head not yet as well developed as 1.
Welsh Kennel Club
22nd Aug 2015
Judge: Mr Dan Ericsson (Sweden)
I very much enjoyed judging this quality entry and I left there were some particularly good bitches. As always, some classes were better than others, but my winners and the bitch line-up in particular pleased me. Heads varied considerably and also movement and fronts which still seem to be problems in the breed.
Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Mazurka
Placing Critique
very feminine puppy with sound overall construction and typical outline, stands on good legs and feet, very good coat, happy show girl, head not her fortune and this let her down here today
