Show Placings
Border Union
14th Jun 2025
Judge: Ms Judith Fawcett (Carrock)
My thanks to the Border Union Agricultural Society for their kind invitation to judge their Golden Anniversary Championship show and also for the lovely gift. Thanks also to my two stewards, who kept the ring running smoothly throughout the day which meant we managed to finish just after 3pm in time for the group. I had a fantastic entry and would like to thank all exhibitors for the opportunity to go over their dogs and for the sporting manner in which my decisions were accepted.
I did try to keep the judging in the large outdoor ring, but the weather didn’t really play ball on the day and we ended up in the smaller indoor ring in the tent. The large pole in the middle of the indoor ring wasn’t particularly helpful either, but I believe we managed OK, and there was sufficient room for me to assess the movement of all exhibits.
As you would expect, coats were at various stages but on the whole most were acceptable. All dogs were entire, there were no kinked tails and only one or two untidy mouths.
Border Union is one of my favourite shows and with some quality dogs to judge, I thoroughly enjoyed my day.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Royal Cheshire County Show Premier Open Show
17th Jun 2025
Judge: Val Atkinson (Raedwulf)
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
6 month old dog with good coat. Moderate skull but slightly heavy in ear, scissor bite and strong in muzzle. Enough length of neck and decent shoulder placement, easy to span, well set tail with good carriage. Second thigh developing. A little close behind
Blackpool & District Canine Society
22nd Jun 2025
Judge: Miss Tracey James (Blackmine)
Thank you to everyone who entered under me. It was a pleasure to judge all your dogs. I found it difficult to judge to a particular type as the best dogs came from different sizes and types, and I believe there is a place for them all if they fit the breed standard. Most of the dogs had evidence of a double coat. As coats are constantly changing, I did not heavily penalise any for very tweedy coats or lacking some coat as long as they were presented in a tidy manner.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
r/g 6 months baby. Lovely head. Would prefer better upper arm angulation. Correct level topline and good tail carriage. Nice bend of stifle. Needs to settle on the move.
Southern Border Terrier Club Partnership Championship Show
27th Jun 2025
Judge: Mr Tom H. Johnston (Feldkirk)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Windsor Championship Show
27th Jun 2025
Judge: Mr Graham Richardson (Staynorwood)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Boston & District Canine Society Open Show
2nd Jul 2025
Judge: Min Witheyman
Best Puppy
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Boston & District Canine Society Championship Show
5th Jul 2025
Judge: Tan Nagrecha (Chandimore)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Partnership Championship Show
5th Jul 2025
Judge: Mr Mark Lowry (Ravenside)
Many thanks to East Anglia B.T.C. officers and committee for giving me the opportunity to judge their show, and to all the exhibitors for such a lovely entry. Special thanks to my two stewards, Richard and Julie for making sure everything ran smoothly on the day.
Overall, I thought the quality was good and I was pleased with my main winners, very balanced with lots to like and it was a pleasure to go over them.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Thame & Oxfordshire County CS Premier Open Show
16th Jul 2025
Judge: Anne Speake
Puppy /
Second Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Wiveliscombe & DCS Open Show
26th Jul 2025
Judge: Gary Gray (Slatehouse)
Junior /
Second Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Minehead & District Canine Society Open Show
30th Jul 2025
Judge: Mrs Anne Higham (Comberdown)
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge and for your hospitality. It was a lovely venue. Thanks also to my Stewarts on the day and to all the exhibitors for their entries.
Puppy /
Second Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
Seven month old grizzle and tan male. Moderate head, scissor bite with nice clean teeth. Spannable. Good top line, which held on the move, with good tail carriage. Preferred the coat of first.
Paignton Championship Show
1st Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Mark Walshaw (Janmark)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Bournemouth CS Championship Show
9th Aug 2025
Judge: Mr I Hardman (Spanwise)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Novice - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
The Welsh Kennel Club
14th Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Jill Peak (Bayard)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
8 months male pleasing head and expression clean neck and front assembly, enough bone, straight legs, nice body well ribbed, enough angulation, went well
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
Repeat
Scunthorpe CA Open Show
20th Aug 2025
Judge: Siân McKay (Redesholt)
My thanks to the Committee of the Scunthorpe Canine Association, for the invitation to judge at their lovey show set in wonderful parkland. My thanks also to my Steward Sue Spafford, who kept me on track.
A few comments from today:
Whilst many exhibits excel in their profile movement, some are not so secure in movement coming to and going away. Age and exuberance can be a reason for some, but for others, it is a cause for concern. I had a lovely entry, and my thanks to the exhibitors, who took their placings with good grace and humour. Some lovely workmanlike exhibits who look like they could put in a good day's work, with much vim and vigour.
I see much promise in my main winners today and will follow their progression with great interest.
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG1, Bluebabel Your Song
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
8-month-old grizzle and tan puppy dog who initially gave his handler a hard time as his exuberance took a time to settle. He sports a strong masculine otter head in the making, with a nice flow from neck into well laid-back shoulders; well angulated fore and aft. Good for bone, easily spanned, level topline was kept on the move with correct set on of tail. Good underline and turn of stifle in racy hindquarters. Shown in correct double coat with pliable thick skin. Moved well with reach and drive. Best Puppy in Breed and pleased to watch him garner TPG1.
Driffield Championship Dog Show
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Julie Fletcher (Northborders)
I was so excited to be invited to give tickets for the first time so a big thank you to Driffield Committee for the invite but especially to the exhibitors for my fabulous entry
I found some really lovely dogs to go over and in some classes I wished I had more awards to give out , I was very pleased with my final line ups
Temperaments all day were very good. I didn't see one cross word between the dogs , Coats as always were varying and in some classes it was a consideration. The open and limit classes were of the highest quality and very enjoyable to judge
I thoroughly enjoyed my day and such a privilege to be able to go over all of your dogs , thank you
Special Beginners in Breed
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Special Beginners - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
Grizzle and Tan Smart puppy, He won this class on his movement,super correct double jacket and thick pelt , good carroty short tail that’s set well , good bite with big teeth,nicely maturing head with very keen expression and dark eye
Driffield Championship Dog Show 49th
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Bob Wright (Totherend)
Special Beginners - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Driffield Championship Dog Show
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Julie Fletcher (Northborders)
I was so excited to be invited to give tickets for the first time so a big thank you to Driffield Committee for the invite but especially to the exhibitors for my fabulous entry
I found some really lovely dogs to go over and in some classes I wished I had more awards to give out , I was very pleased with my final line ups
Temperaments all day were very good. I didn't see one cross word between the dogs , Coats as always were varying and in some classes it was a consideration. The open and limit classes were of the highest quality and very enjoyable to judge
I thoroughly enjoyed my day and such a privilege to be able to go over all of your dogs , thank you
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
1st SBD , didn't move as well in this class
Driffield Championship Dog Show 49th
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Bob Wright (Totherend)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
City of Birmingham Championship Show
30th Aug 2025
Judge: Dr Margaret Armstrong (Ploughdown)
Thank you to the Committee of the City of Birmingham Canine Association for inviting me to judge at their Championship Show. It was an honour to judge Borders Terriers on the day. I would like to thank especially the Border Terrier exhibitors for giving me such a super entry and for their graciousness and sporting manner. The venue was airy and the ring was roomy. I realised afterwards that the carpet could be rather slippery and I think that this may have provided somewhat of a challenge at times. I had many lovely dogs to go over and sometimes making decisions was like splitting hairs.
Finally thank you to my stalwart stewards who were super organized and kept me on the straight and narrow.
Special Beginners - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
Built on racier lines than 1. Narrow throughout, level topline and good tail set. Good rear angulation. Straight front legs with good bone and small well- padded feet. Well off for pelt and sporting a harsh double coat. A bit unsettled at times on the move today.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
See 2nd in Special Beginners Dog
Joint Border Terrier Clubs Championship Show
31st Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Jane Morton-Shaw (Fehmarn)
Many thanks to the committee for inviting me to judge what turned out to be the last Joint Ch Show. I had a wonderful day, & I was very ably and efficiently aided by my two stewards Tracey Anscombe and Peter Armstrong & I send my thanks out to them again (shows can’t run without good stewards).
My main down side to a lot of the Borders I went over was the front movement (I’m not immune to this either)! This needs watching and careful breeding to try and improve on this fault - not easy I know, but something to aim for. Again very few Borders with a good thick pelt which we used to have. Top lines have much improved generally and good to see that most of the exhibits were in good fit/hard condition.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Placing Critique
8mth old puppy of lovely size & proportions. He was in excellent jacket, & had a level top line with carroty tail well set on. Typey head & expression. Narrow body lines with well laid back ribs. He moved well & strode out. Good bite, neat feet.
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Richmond Championship Show
7th Sep 2025
Judge: Mr Ken Bartlett (Dwilencia)
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG3, Bluebabel Your Song
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bluebabel Your Song
