Show Placings
Bath Championship Show
27th May 2011
Judge: Mr B Rodgers
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Placing Critique
Really good one. Will have a good future. Good head and shoulders. Good neck. Great mover, which comes from good back-end. I like her. Good attitude.
Southern Counties
4th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr J Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Southern BTC Championship Show
11th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr Rainer Vuorinen (Finland)
It was a great honour and privilege to judge your wonderful breed. Thanks to all, the committee, my stewards and everybody who made my day so wonderful. Thanks to all the exhibitors for their excellent sporting attitude. The hospitality was outstanding and many thanks for the beautiful present. I have been thinking of the overall standard and I have to say your dogs represent a very high quality.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Paignton
1st Aug 2011
Judge: Mr Tom Johnston
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Placing Critique
Balanced head with dark eye and well placed ears, moderate length of neck, OK depth of body and topline, not as positive in movement as first.
Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Welsh Kennel Club
20th Aug 2011
Judge: Mr Simon Jackson
I was honoured to be asked to judge this show, as I have enjoyed exhibiting at this well run, friendly society over many years. While the indoor rings are large, well lit and have lots of space around them for exhibitors and spectators, given the nice weather, it was disappointing not to be able to use the normal show arena, but this was not possible due to a request from The Royal Welsh Showground management.
I was pleased for find only one “bad” mouth, but I was disturbed to find a small number of mouths which, while exhibiting a "correct scissor bite", the placement of the upper teeth was awry in such a manner, that it caused the exhibits to appear to have an over bite. A few others had strange face furnishings resulting in a “Griffon Bruxellois” like expression which is incorrect and spoils the looks of a Border Terrier.
I would also like to thank my stewards, Vicky and Tina Pierson for their smooth handling of the ring. I would also like to thank all exhibitors, some of whom travelled many miles which is very expensive in these economic times.
Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
City of Birmingham
3rd Sep 2011
Judge: Mrs Melanie Lewis
It was a privilege to have the opportunity to judge the breed again and I thank the exhibitors for a very nice entry. Thanks also to the Officers and Committee for their invitation and hospitality and to my two extremely capable stewards Mr. Mike Hughes and Mr. Tony Coddington for their very helpful assistance in ensuring the smooth running of the ring on the day.
Coats, as one would expect with the ever changing weather conditions, varied considerably but I applaud those who presented their exhibits with the correct double jacket. Of concern were one or two undesirable single jackets. There has been a trend in recent years by some exhibitors to present dogs short of coat, but they normally displayed sufficient evidence of a correct texture. The Border is not a trimmed terrier and long may it remain as such. Scissor marks also are so undesirable and detracts from the overall appearance. There was a variation in size but I was able to span the majority. Mouths on the whole were good but there were a number with small teeth in overcrowded jaws, certainly not what is required in a working terrier.
Front movement in particular is still a cause for concern and is something that I have previously highlighted. Feet were generally good and all exhibits displayed excellent temperament whilst being judged. When it came to the more senior classes in particular, I had some very difficult decisions such was the depth of quality.
Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Richmond Championship Show
10th Sep 2011
Judge: Mrs Beverley Jackson
I was incredibly honoured to be invited to award my first CC’s at Richmond. After much anticipation and excitement the long-awaited day arrived. I was thrilled with the size of my entry and wish to thank all exhibitors for giving me the honour of judging your dogs. I totally appreciate how difficult times are now and am humbled that you chose to exhibit. I was delighted with both of my line ups. I have always hated it when judges say oh I wish I had had more top awards, but I can honestly say that I truly now understand where they were coming from. I had some incredibly difficult classes with a lot of quality. This scenario continued when it came to choosing who the CC’s and Reserve’s should go to. There are, however, two distinct “types” of Borders developing, and often classes contained a mixture of both types. The chisled heads with high placed ears are not typical and we need to try to breed away from this as we are in danger of losing the otter head. I found no bad mouths ? just a few where teeth “placement” was peculiar, and some dirty teeth. Presentation on the whole has improved, although please leave the scissoring to other terriers. Our ring was a “bit of a ploughed field” but most exhibitors managed to find a level part and not fall over!
Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
18th Sep 2011
Judge: Mrs Karen Dean (Tyrian)
I would first like to thank the club for inviting me to judge their open show and thank the exhibitors for a lovely entry. I was very pleased with my major winners and several placings were close decisions. There were a number of exhibits that would benefit from shedding a pound or two and in some classes this could have altered the line-up somewhat. Our breed standard is all about moderation and I hope the exaggerated hind angulation noticed on a couple of occasions today does not become the norm, it makes the back end look weak and foreign in our breed. There were several promising youngsters that I will watch with interest as they mature further in their show careers
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Placing Critique
Bigger type but still spannable, this should improve when she loses the puppy fat she is still carrying. Nice head with good bite and strong muzzle. Decent shoulder and ribbing, good double coat, very thick pelt and good bone. Nice thick carrot tail, well set on. Well angulated and moved OK behind but a bit wayward in front.
Midland Counties
30th Oct 2011
Judge: Mr Alan Small (Timoray)
Thanks for a lovely entry. I thougherly enjoyed my day. Special thanks for the invite and to my two lady stewards who kept things moving along nicely. I was particularly impressed with the young stock which augurs well for the breed. Coats were at all stages, from coming in to on the turn.
Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Boston Championship Show
8th Jan 2012
Judge: Mrs Wendy Mooney (Chesterton)
I appreciate that at this time of year with both dark mornings and early sunsets travelling and showing your Borders might not seem like the most enjoyable way to spend your weekend. So a sincere thank you to all those exhibitors who attended my first Championship Show appointment. We were the only terrier breed to have CC’s on offer and I had a lovely entry of 122 dogs. The venue and ring allocated were both excellent. No draughts or noisy blow-heaters. It was actually very civilised. Thank you to my steward who was efficient and supportive throughout. It made my task so much easier.
I was surprised to find that many exhibits, whilst prima facie, moved soundly, lacked the drive that is so important if they are to do a real day’s work. I was also a little disappointed that many Borders had tight pelts, which sometimes were thick but lacked that looseness that could get them, quite literally, out of a tight hole!
I was delighted with my overall winners and, I thank all those who graciously accepted my decisions.
Junior - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Placing Critique
Another feminine bitch in good coat. Pleasing head and correct bite. A little leggier that 1 and not such a sound mover as the winner.
Yearling - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Crufts
11th Mar 2012
Judge: Mr Stewart McPherson (Brumberhill)
It was a great honour to be invited to judge at Crufts, possibly the pinnacle of anyone’s judging career. My thanks must go to the exhibitors for the entry of 264 dogs, making 304 entries, by far the largest entry for a single judge in the Group, which made for a very long day. Thanks also, must, go to my Stewards, Kim Lathaen and Eddie Bishop, for their efficient services, which ensured we finished just in time for my BOB to make the Terrier Group.
I last judged the Breed at LKA, just over three years ago. This was always going to be an interesting entry, after my preamble then, which was a bit “fire and brimstoneâ€, where I stated my deep concerns about the, in my opinion, untypical heads that were creeping into the Breed, gradually being accepted, as being correct, particularly the excessively broad skulls and high set ears. Therefore, knowing my preference for the otter like, MODERATELY broad skull, asked for in the Standard, I have to say, not without a little amusement, the “lollipop on a stick†type “Teddy Bear†heads with deep stops were almost conspicuous by their absence today!
While upper arm length was a major problem last time, in the younger classes, I found far fewer today that were totally unable to stand with their front legs underneath them, perpendicular to the floor, which, hopefully, was a good sign that Breeders are recognising and attempting to remedy the problem.
Movement, on the whole was pretty acceptable, behind especially. Front, maybe not quite as good, a small minority being rather less than accurate, flicking out, or toeing in. Most covered plenty of ground on the move.
The majority were spannable.
Most were in good, harsh coat, or evidence of texture coming through. I realise it’s the start of the show season, so those short of coat weren’t unduly penalised. My reasoning being, that, coats are transitory, whereas poor conformation will always be poor conformation, regardless of the wrapping.
I know they are a working Terrier, but, I have to say, considering the occasion, I was shocked at how dirty some of the dogs were. Some were thick with grease and would certainly have benefited from a bath, if only for their own comfort!
I was very pleased with both my line ups in the challenge for the CC’s, indeed, the first three in most classes. I felt that they all fitted my interpretation of the Standard and could, if required, do the job of a working Terrier.
Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Placing Critique
Light grizzle and tan. 16 months. Excellent otter head and expression. Moderately broad skull, with keen, dark eye. Excellent, neck, shoulder, front and feet, topline and tailset. Narrow bodylines, with correct rib carried well back. Well angulated hindquarters and good tail. Good harsh coat with thick pelt. Classic outline, which she held, on the move. Sound, free mover. With further maturity, a top quality bitch, who should do well.
Southern Counties Championship Show
2nd Jun 2012
Judge: Mr Geoff Corish
A lovely entry. I thoroughly enjoyed judging the breed again & was able to find some lovely Borders. It was a great pleasure to watch my BOB go G4 as well.
Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
City of Birmingham
1st Sep 2012
Judge: Mrs Marion Reeves (Baywillow)
Thank you for the lovely entry.
The breed standard describes the body as ‘deep, narrow and fairly long’. Just how long may well be debatable as no proportions are suggested. However the standard surely infers that a Border should be longer than square. The standard also describes the border as ‘essentially a working terrier’. A working terrier needs sufficient length and flexibility to enable it to turn underground. It is difficult to imagine a square terrier achieving this easily. I think the above is not generally appreciated by all rounders.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
Richmond Championship Show
5th Sep 2012
Judge: Miss Diane Swales (Grabbist)
My thanks to Richmond Dog Show Society for the opportunity to judge at this prestigious show, where I awarded CCs for the first time many years ago. Thank you to my two excellent stewards who kept the ring running so smoothly. In general, mouths were good and there was only one kinked tail. I was disappointed to find how many Borders have been bred with thin, tight pelts & there were too many upright shoulders resulting in stilted movement. I was really pleased to find that more dogs were shown free standing & on a loose lead.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Earthtaw Catkin
