Show Placings
Richmond Championship Dog Show
11th Sep 2022
Judge: Mr J A Barney (Romaunt)
Many thanks to Richmond in giving me the opportunity to judge a breed that still has some depth in quality to it. Generally, I felt movement needs to be attended to. It's a breed I've always associated with true movement both ways and a number did tend to pin in front. Coat texture was pretty good throughout but some would benefit from slightly neater presentation. I was able to span nearly all exhibits and pelts good. At the moment I would say that bitches are far stronger than the males.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
South Wales Kennel Association
6th Oct 2022
Judge: Mr Stewart Golding (Beaconpike)
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge, this was my first time awarding CC’s. Thank you to my stewards for keeping the ring running smoothly. A big thank you must go to the exhibitors for a good entry especially on a Thursday in the middle of Wales in the current climate we live in. I only have a couple of concerns. Movement is paramount in our breed and these dogs should be able to cover ground easily I found due to poor shoulder angulation a few had restrained front movement. I did forgive coat in class placings where evidence of a new coat was present, however I did find a lot of single coated dogs possibly down to over grooming, my main winners all had correct double coat of depth. I had a very enjoyable day, thank you to everyone for accepting my decisions gracefully.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Midland Counties Canine Society
30th Oct 2022
Judge: Mr Alan Small (Bethane)
I thoroughly enjoyed my day judging the Border Teriers at Midland Counties Champ. Show. Thanks to the Officers & Committee for the invite & especially to the exhibitors who presented me with such a wonderful entry of 230 from 174 dogs. It was a quality entry overall and I was particuarly impressed with the quality of the young stock which augers well for the breed. There's no Puppy or Veteran Groups at the Midland, which is a pity because I feel both would have done well. Must not be too greedy, as it was nice to see my BOB, Ch. Otterbobs Tolson top the Terrier Group and my Best Special Beginners, Thistlemead Sundance, take her respective Group as well.....Well done.
Special thanks to my Ring Stewards, Penny Lloyd & Gavin Argyle, who kept things moving along nicely. Border Terriers are dear to my heart having owned & bred them over a number of years. Thanks again for such a wonderful entry, I enjoyed your dogs and a nice atmosphere prevailed.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Placing Critique
lighter grizzle with good head & expression, correct front, pleasing spanable body, of nice type & balance, moved & handled well.
Crystal Palace Canine Association Dog Show
27th Nov 2022
Judge: Anne Speake
I would like to thank the officers and committee for the invitation to judge at their well run open show. A big thank you to my ring steward George who kept things moving along nicely and many thanks to the exhibitors for allowing me the privilege of going over your lovely dogs.
Puppy /
Second Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Placing Critique
litter brother to winner, many of the same comment apply, nice for size, good head, with a strong jaw, straight front, good body lines and well muscled hindquarters. Moved ok.
London Airedale & Fox Terrier Club Open Show
19th Feb 2023
Judge: Mrs Sue Spafford (Dassett)
I would like to thank the officers and committee for the invitation to judge border terriers at what turns out to be their last show, having to close the club due to lack of support and mounting costs. It is sad to see this club and so many others finding it hard to keep afloat.
Junior /
Second Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Placing Critique
11-month-old dog, good head and expression. Narrow and spannable, not in the best of coats today.
Crufts
11th Mar 2023
Judge: Mr David Shields (Wilholme)
To judge Border Terriers at Crufts was both a privilege and a honour and I must thank the Crufts Committee for the appointment to judge the breed at what is the greatest dog show in the world. A big thanks go to the exhibitors from both home and abroad for such a super entry which made for a great days judging with quality in depth in many of the classes. Finally I must thank my two stewards who kept things moving in the ring to allow me to finish judging in good time.
On the day I was looking for a workmanlike dog as the standard asks for but one also must remember that in the show ring you also need that attitude and showmanship to complete the picture. I felt my BOB put up a great show in the Group and was so pleased to see him take Group 2 in a quality line up.
Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
West of England Ladies Kennel Society
27th Apr 2023
Judge: Mr Mark Walshaw (Janmark)
Many thanks to the officers and committee for the invitation to judge at WELKS, it was quite a few years ago now, as I was due to judge them at the beginning of lockdown. Due to the heavy rain that had fallen over the preceding days, all judging was inside. It was slightly draughty, but we were allocated a double ring, so plenty of space, to see the exhibits stride out. I must thank the two stewards Lynn Jones and Celia Vines who kept the ring flowing beautifully and the exhibitors for making prompt appearances, we did well for time, starting approx. 0930 and finishing around 14:45. I thank all exhibitors for a wonderful entry (123 dogs making 172 entries} for a Thursday in Malvern and appreciate their time and expense for entering under me. There was plenty of quality to choose from and I was happy with my final decisions. Dentition was very good and a pleasure to judge dogs with clean teeth. I did find muscle tone to be poor/average in a lot of the exhibits, which must be one of the key areas for any working terrier. Jackets were mixed as was movement.
Novice - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Southern Counties Canine Association
2nd Jun 2023
Judge: Miss Felicity Freer (Felfree)
Yearling - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Placing Critique
15 mths. Coat coming through. Otter head and expression. Strong muzzle with good teeth. Apparently new to showing and the owner did a grand job presenting her dog
Novice - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Placing Critique
1st Yearling Dog
The Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
10th Jun 2023
Judge: Miss Julie Price (Oxcroft)
Thank you to all at the Southern Border Terrier Club for the invitation to judge your championship show this year, it was a great honour and privilege. The weather was hot and the venue was good to gain some shade for the dogs and myself! I had two very capable stewards who kept things running smoothy throughout the day, so thank to Kathleen Haugh and Sophie Liggat for their support. I really enjoyed my day and was more than happy with my winners. Thank you again for your hospitality.
I was looking for type, gameness, soundness and dogs that were fit to do a day’s work whilst not losing any attributes of the breed standard. Some exhibits were rather well muscled around the shoulders which made it difficult to feel the lay of the shoulders and this would also restrict their ability to go to ground. As a breed I think we are losing the otter heads and keen expressions which distinguishes the Border Terrier from other terrier breeds. A lady contacted me a week after the show and explained that she had attended the show during some of the bitch classes as she was looking to purchase a puppy having recently lost two of her old Borders. She explained she was now thinking of buying another breed as the dogs in the show ring did not look like the Borders she had had previously. She felt that they did not have the characteristic otter heads, and sadly I had to agree with her.
Overall, most dogs were fit for purpose and I am sure you all took the best dog home with you. In the current financial climate, all your entries were valuable to the club and it was a pleasure and an honour to go over your dogs.
Yearling - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Placing Critique
Please head and expression. Good length of neck and shoulder placement, flat ribs, easily spanned and good length of loin, just not making the most of himself in this class.
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Placing Critique
More settled in this class, moved better and held his topline on the move.
Windsor Championship Dog Show
29th Jun 2023
Judge: Professor S P Dean (Tyrian)
My thanks to Windsor Dog Show for the judging appointment. Delayed by Covid, it is a sensible moment to retire from judging at Championship level, especially as the day was very enjoyable and a fine memory to end with. It was in fact a superb entry of high quality border terriers and my thanks to all the exhibitors, especially those who travelled long distances.
It was a delight when my BOB, Ch Otterbobs Tolsen, won the terrier group and an additional pleasure when my Best Veteran, Ch Cynetkoy Pillow Talk, placed third in the Veteran Group. Overall the borders proved to be sound and it was particularly enjoyable to find several dogs with large, strong teeth. Many were in a fit condition with firm muscle and active drive on the move. The majority had good shoulders coupled with hind quarters that looked capable of a day’s work. This correct construction translated into to good movement. The Border Terrier should remain a workmanlike terrier and future breeders need to keep that in mind.
The top decisions were decided by some of these less obvious merits and indeed my personal preferences but, in the end, I was pleased to see an entry of border terriers with so much quality. This bodes well for the future and has left me with memories of a most enjoyable day.
Yearling - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Placing Critique
15 mo. Typical head and expression. Short on coat today. Needs substance and schooling
Richmond Championship Show
8th Sep 2023
Judge: Mr Tim Ball (Kaitak)
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Novice - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Placing Critique
18 mth old grizzle who scored for overall type over 3rd and 4th here. Neck of good length to balance, level topline, correct ribbing which can be spanned, firm loin and tail set on well. Well proportioned head with good eye and ear but not quite expression of winner. Pleasing angles front on rear, standing on good feet and moves out pretty well when viewed in profile. Good texture to jacket.
The Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
16th Sep 2023
Judge: Mr Robert Brewster (Stowthorney & Breckgreen)
I would like to thanks the officers and committee of The Southern Border Terrier Club for giving me the honour of judging their Open Show. I first signed the contract for the show in 2017, but due to Covid and the Lockdown I have only just fulfilled my judging appointment. Whist remembering those who are no longer with us due to the Covid Pandemic. I was happy with my entry and would like to also thank the exhibitors for entering under me and thank them all for taking my decisions, some of which were difficult, in a sportsmanlike way. I found most exhibits to be in good order, but I was quite worried that I found some younger exhibits with a build-up of scale on their teeth. This should be addressed as soon as possible. I was also delighted with a young exhibitor, attending her first show, on a whole handling her young dog so well whilst full of nerves and inexperience. We need to encourage these youngsters as they are the custodians of our breed
Yearling - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Placing Critique
Nice size light grizzle dog. Good in head with a correct bite. Has a good harsh double jacket. Easily spanned. Angulation front and rear ok. Moved well
Novice - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
30th Sep 2023
Judge: Mrs J Guvercin (Glebeheath)
Thank you to the committee for this appointment, everyone worked hard to make it an enjoyable day. This venue always has a super atmosphere, however, the ring is too small really to see outlines, being far too near the dogs and side profile movement is very difficult to see, let alone for the dogs to perform really well. Many moved poorly, not liking the smooth mats and although I had to judge them on this today, I think most would move much better outside in a big grass ring.
Yearling - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Arunmere No Fox Given
