Show Placings
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
28th Mar 2015
Judge: Mr. Carl-Gunnar Stafberg (Bombax) Sweden
I will thank the club and the show committee for inviting me to judge this prestigious show, I feel very honoured to be invited. I really enjoyed my day and was very pleased with huge entries. My winner was really top quality border terriers, excelling in type and heads. The overall quality was very good, but I hoped to see more quality in the younger classes. Size was ok, coats in different stages because of the time of year. It was about 40 years since I judged my first CCshow in England and I still enjoy it so much. My stewards did a fantastic job on the day, keeping both me and the dogs in order. They make it running very smooth and efficient, thank you!!!
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Southash Dancing Queen
National Terrier
4th Apr 2015
Judge: Mr W Shorthose (Cundytyke)
Overall, I felt there was reasonable quality in those forward. Some exhibitors continue to have their dogs underfed and/or carrying little muscle, both to the detriment of a terrier expected to put in a day’s work. There were a number of untypical heads – lacking width to the skull and strength to the muzzle. Please keep in mind the shape of an otter’s skull.
I was very pleased with my top winners and extend my thanks to all the exhibitors.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Southash Dancing Queen
West of England Ladies' Kennel Society
25th Apr 2015
Judge: Mrs Su Williams (Hollybridge)
I would like to thank the exhibitors for super entry, it was an honour to go over so many excellent quality border terriers . I had some close decisions in many classes and some quality dogs had to go cardless. Overall I was impressed with the standard of both dogs/bitches and with the condition of them. Almost all were in fit condition with muscle tone,spanning wasn't an issue I'm pleased to say. Which means the breed is in a good way.. Mouths too on the whole were correct with many having good sized and clean teeth. .While coats are of course transient, texture was very good and the vast majority had good thick and loose pelts.
Last but not least Huge Thanks must go to my very capable & experienced Stewards who made my day so much easier.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Southash Dancing Queen
Placing Critique
What a little sweetie, such type and character in this 7mth old grizzle & tan .my notes read..'want it!’ super dense coat and thick pelt, this puppy was small ,neat and balanced.lovely feminine head and keen expression. best bitch puppy.
National Dog Show
9th May 2015
Judge: Mr John Dace (Cassacane)
I must begin by saying a very sincere thanks to the Kennel Club and the officers and committee of the Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd for giving me this most prestigious appointment to award Challenge Certificates for the first time.
Also again sincere thanks to the exhibitors for their splendid entry and acceptance of my decisions on the day, and to my very efficient Stewards who ensured that classes moved along which helped in a timely finish.
On reflection of the exhibits I found that teeth and mouths were very good on the whole, feet were variable as was movement. Temperaments were good. All dogs were entire. My main concerns were in the condition of some exhibits who could have been fitter and harder in muscle tone but where has the consistent “head like that of an otter” gone? The variance in head shape and therefore expression was quite evident. I was pleased with my final awards and again many thanks to everyone for making this one of my most memorable days.
The depth of quality particularly in the bitches bodes well for the breed in the future but as already mentioned concentration on heads to achieve the “head like that of an otter” should be one of the paramount objectives.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Southash Dancing Queen
Placing Critique
8 mths – Again a nice sized puppy with lots to like. Not to exaggerated in any way. Good feminine head shape with dark eye – strong jaw. Correct coat and pelt.
Boston & District Canine Society Premier Open Show
26th May 2015
Judge: Mr Colin Girling (Benattivo)
Best Puppy
Name at show: Southash Dancing Queen
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Southash Dancing Queen
Placing Critique
8 Month old grizzle smaller sized bitch who, for one so young maintained her topline well in the stand and on the move. Nice headed bitch, still developing, with appealing dark eye. Easily spanned with well laid back rib and proportionate length of loin. Short carrot like tail well set on and in excellent coat today. Moved with purpose and likely to tighten up in front with maturity. BP & went on to take Puppy Group 2.
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 /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Southash Dancing Queen
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.
Newmarket & DCS Open Show
14th Jun 2015
Judge: Graham Richardson
Puppy /
Second Place
Name at show: Southash Dancing Queen
Windsor Championship Show
2nd Jul 2015
Judge: Mr M. Hollingsbee (Otterwood)
I thoroughly enjoyed my first judging experience at this level and thank the exhibitors for bringing their dogs of such good quality in front of me and accepting my decisions with good grace. In some of the classes there was only a hairs breadth between some exhibits and on another day the results would have been different. I like Borders that are narrow, strong and good movers. I do not consider coat to be a major factor except when differentiating between dogs of equal quality, As a Championship Show judge told me many years ago “bad coats can get better, many other faults cannot.”
I would also like to thank my stewards for keeping me in order.
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Southash Dancing Queen
Placing Critique
nicely balanced grizzle bitch, good reach of neck, level topline, nice front, good tail set, easily spanned, well set ribs, nice Border expression
East of England Agricultural Society
10th Jul 2015
Judge: Miss Sally Leslie (Risdene)
Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Southash Dancing Queen
Placing Critique
very likeable too with many of the same good qualities I was looking for, needs to develop a little further in head and tighten in front but handy size, readily spanned with correct quality of bone, shapely hind quarters with a proper rump and tailset.
