Show Placings
Ladies Kennel Association
11th Dec 2022
Judge: Mr John Bainbridge (Risdene)
A very promising entry on paper but unfortunately the weather took its toll !
However I was more than happy with my main winners all were typical of what I look for in a Border Terrier and the proof that careful breeding pays off was demonstrated by the very promising progeny found amongst the youngsters.
As is my approach to critiques, generally the winners in most respects all meet the standard which calls for a working terrier with an otter like head on reasonable length neck set into well laid shoulders, a moderate length body, well ribbed back, strong shortish loin, racy but moderate rear angulation allowing the dog to move with drive, in harsh double coat and with thick pelt. I do not therefore repeat this for each individual dog but I have highlighted the dog’s best points and the reasons for their placings .
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Class Critique
These youngsters may change places as they develop, as this was such a promising group of babies.
Boston & District Canine Society
8th Jan 2023
Judge: Tracy Butler (Ycart)
Firstly I would like to thank the officers and committee for inviting me to judge there well run show,also many thanks must go to my very capable stewards on an excellent job in keeping the ring running smoothly.
The biggest thanks must go the exhibitors for there entries,and there sportsmanship on my decisions.
In my opinon,my findings where as follows,the standard asks for “essencially a working terrier”,this is a statement that is very close to my heart.
Unfortunatley some do not fit this,short upperarms are still very present,restricting reach in movement.Some dogs would benefit from less food and more exercise.
Muscle tone varied greatly,some dogs lacking,these dogs are bred to do a job.
With the rising costs of entries,some exhibits would benefit greatly from a good tidy up and the mud removed from there under bellies.
I was pleased with my overall winners,some nice quality exhibits.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
8 ½ month grizzle,pleasing head of good proportions,dark eye,correct dentation,clean in neck & shoulder,neat feet,easily spanned,overall balanced picture,moved well,just prefered topline of one on the move.
Manchester Championship Show
20th Jan 2023
Judge: Mrs Patsy Hollings (Gunalt)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Class Critique
Looks good for the future as decent puppies
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
5th Feb 2023
Judge: Roger Mann (Lynsett)
My thanks go to the committee of Midland Border Terrier Club for their invitation to judge the February Open show. I had some lovely dogs to judge & would like to thank the exhibitors for their entries. I thoroughly enjoyed my day.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
8mth Grizzle with a good head, having depth to muzzle & moderate width of skull. Well set ears. Head is well set on a neck of moderate length. Narrow through with a level topline & well set tail. Good width of second thigh & short rear pasterns. Good coat texture, thick pelt & easily spanned. Moved well.
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
West Midlands Terrier Society Open Show
11th Feb 2023
Judge: Mr John Scanlan (Pantycelyn)
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
Very smart puppydog, correct bite dark eye with well placed ear, needs to tighten in front. Very good feet pleasing outline. Moved with drive from behind
Newark & DCS Open Show
25th Feb 2023
Judge: Mrs V Mann (Lynsett)
Junior /
Second Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
9mth Grizzle dog with a decent head well set on neck of moderate length. Straight front, narrow all through, coat coming in & spannable. Level topline & well set tail. Moved OK
Woolwich, Bexley & District Canine Association Open Show
19th Mar 2023
Judge: David Burrage (Sametova)
Post Graduate /
Third Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
25th Mar 2023
Judge: Mrs Charlotte Archibald (Tweedburn)
What an absolute honour and a privilege to be invited to judge this show, my thanks to the Officers and Committee of the Border Terrier Club, and my two excellent stewards for the day, Judy and Marina.
My sincere thanks also, to ALL the exhibitors for making it truly memorable, with 196 dogs, 233 entries.
Some very close decisions had to be made!
On the down side, I found some very short muzzles and small teeth, and quite a number of filthy teeth!! Temperaments were generally good, there were 2 kinked tails and 1 suspect mouth, a lack of muscle tone and condition in some exhibits, which is essential for a terrier to do it’s job.
That said, it was an absolute joy to see so many super dogs.
Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Crystal Palace Canine Association Dog Show
8th Apr 2023
Judge: Mrs Laura Jordan-Smith (Jordith)
Reserve Best Of Breed
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Junior /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
16th Apr 2023
Judge: Miss Tracey James (Blackmine)
A bit thank to the committee of EABTC for inviting me to judge their championship show. I really enjoyed my day and when I later looked at the catalogue to see my winners I found it interesting reading, as all my major winners were of similar lines.
Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Novice - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
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.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
another pleasing youngster, tidy through typical head, good neck, well ribbed and adequate bone, sporting a tidy jacket and great muscle tone.
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
Tidy typical headpiece on this fellar, clean through neck, ribs well back and of a good length. Typical front, good condition and well angled. Good jacket and pelt. Moved well covering the ground.
National Dog Show
6th May 2023
Judge: Brigitte Belin Bernaudin (France)
First, I thank the committee for the invitation to judge this prestigious show. Thanks to my stewards for making a super job and keep my judging running smoothly. It was a real honour and privilege as foreign judge and breeder to have the opportunity of this 1st appointment to give CC in my breed, and thank to exhibitors to allow me to go over so many good Border.
Being able in my country to work my dogs, I have been looking for the right conformation as asks in the standard, making dogs able to do their original work underground and was happy many could do so.
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
6th May 2023
Judge: Mr Keith Baldwin (Nightstorm)
I would like to thank all the Officers and Committee of the Midland Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge their club open show.
It is now 17 years that I have been judging Border Terriers and it was the 6th August 2011 that I attended the Midland Border Terrier Club breed specific seminar when Jena Tuck was the secretary.
I was very pleased with my entry of 112 quality dogs and bitches, also I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the exhibitors who entered and for allowing me to go over their dogs. They all showed and behaved very well. I can report back to you that you have overall one of the soundest breeds that I have judged.
Last but not least I would like to thank my stewards who did an excellent job keeping everything flowing smoothly between the two shows in the Margaret Everton Pavilion
Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Novice - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Great Yarmouth Gorleston & District Canine Society Premier Open Show
8th May 2023
Judge: Jane Eyeington (Meadowdale)
I would like to thank the officers and committee of this well-run show for their kind invitation to judge. I was delighted with the super dogs that I had the pleasure of judging, all a real credit to you. A huge thank you to the exhibitors for the honour of your lovely dogs. A huge thank you to my 2 very efficient stewards, who also had a very long day, the show could not go on without you, so thank you.
Limit /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
Litter brother to winner of SY, a nice 11 month old grizzle dog, who hold a lovely outline when stood. He has many similar attributes as his sister. Lovely otter type head, dark inquisitive eyes, neat well set on ears. His neck flowing into a firm topline and well set on tail. He has the depth to the brisket, straight forelegs and small feet, easily spannable. Liked his hindquarters a good width of thigh. Not as clean in front action on the move today, but strides out with an air of confidence.
Gravesend and Medway Towns Canine Society Open Show
14th May 2023
Judge: Mr Paul Richardson (Weisel)
Post Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Coventry & District Kennel Society Open Show
21st May 2023
Judge: Mark Atkinson (Raedwulf)
Reserve Best Of Breed
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Junior /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Darlington Championship Show
17th Sep 2023
Judge: Mrs D Bullen (Fevstone)
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge for the second time. I had a good entry of 125 with a few absentees as is usual, the dogs were of varying types and sizes which is to be expected. The ones that were unspannable aren’t fit for function as they fall at the first hurdle so to speak.
There are quite a lot creeping into the breed of late which lack power in the foreface. Falling away below the eye with a foreign expression. Also lacking in underjaw. Again a weakness in the breed which needs addressing or we will lose these qualities essential to work. A lot now have too short an upperarm which is vital in construction as it propels the dog forward as he should cover the ground effortlessly striding out. Not Pitter patter slowly. On a more positive note I found a lot of quality true to type borders that were a pleasure to judge. Effortless free movement which is essential. I’m sure the breed will go on to have a bright future if we all keep to the breed type.
Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
National Terrier Club
6th Apr 2024
Judge: Miss Elspeth Jackson (Clipstone)
Thanks to the National Terrier Club for their invitation to judge at this prestigious show and to the exhibitors who did me the honour of judging their dogs. I was lucky to have two efficient stewards who kept things running smoothly, thank you Laura and Dave.
The entry showed a good depth of quality. In many classes the places were hotly contested with decisions needing to be made on the narrowest of margins. I was very pleased to find that there were some good coats on thick pelts and the nice thick short tails which set off a good border so well.
Limit - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
20th Apr 2024
Judge: Mrs Elizabeth Barrett (Howthwaite)
Thank you to the committee of the East Anglia Border Terrier Club for the honour of inviting me to judge your Championship show and for your great hospitality on the day. It was hit-and-miss as to whether or not I would be judging inside or out, and I’m pleased that the committee took the decision to hold it outdoors. It is far nicer for the dogs to be outside, even with the biting wind, and we are not to forget that they are designed to be outside in that type of weather, which reiterates the importance of a good coat. I hope everyone at ringside managed to keep the chill away, myself having Cumbrian bloodlines, found it rather pleasant. Thank you to my stewards Tracey, Dave and Mike who worked tirelessly to keep the ring moving. My biggest thanks are to the exhibitors who gave me an excellent entry and took all my decisions in a sporting manner. I know it is always said there are too many good dogs for the number of cards and that was especially true of the limit and open classes. I was spoiled for choice in a number of classes and had to split hairs on a number of occasions. Dog’s are never static and can have good days and bad days just the same as us, and condition and coats can change dramatically. Some dogs were out of top coat or had no harshness to their coat on the day which cost them on this occasion. Repeating myself from my last judging appointment, I made mention that true movement isn’t necessarily conducive to good movement if no ground is covered at the same time, ideally of course we want both but I would rather see a dog with a good outline in profile than one very accurate that’s going nowhere. Good construction should be a given, I know not much mention is made to that in our breed standard, but to constitute soundness to follow a horse, the construction must be balanced and correct with no exaggeration. Thankfully, there were not many exaggerations on the day. One or two were big ribbed and not quite spannable, and surprisingly they were not necessarily the ones that looked up to size. Overall, I was very pleased with the quality of the dogs presented.
Limit - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Class Critique
An excellent class with several good dogs having to go without cards today.
West of England Ladies Kennel Society
26th Apr 2024
Judge: Mandy Holmes (Bimandi)
Many Thanks to WELKS for asking me to judge at their show, it was an honour, also thank you so much to everyone that entered under me, I had some great dogs to go over. Congratulation to all my winners. Thanks also go to my very competent stewards for keeping my ring running smoothly.
All the males were entire. Apart from 3 level bites all mouths were correct and teeth of good size. Temperaments were all sound except one or two that really didn’t like being in the noisy hall and were a little bit subdued. It’s hard to judge true movement on a slippery concrete floor and in some classes the placings could have changed if we had been outside on grass.
Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
A top size male with strong masculine head, good angles front and rear which gave him his purposeful movement, in full coat with thick pelt. Level top line with correct tail set.
National Dog Show
12th May 2024
Judge: Mr Patrick Glover (USA)
I wanted to thank the committee for the honour of judging your show. I sincerely apologize for the delay of the critique due to ill health. Coming from another country it was especially grateful to have such excellent Stewards to help guide me. And I thank all the exhibitors that came to exhibit under me. It was a pleasure to see so many quality Borders, and have them in hand. I was very satisfied with my final lineup. I enjoyed the depth of type that you have in the UK. Part of that may be seeing Borders with a proper coat. Unfortunately, Borders in the USA are not shown in such coat anymore which I do not understand. I only saw two bad bites, and I see you are battling some of the same issues we are in the US, one being straight fronts. A good Border must have some prosternum to be constructed in a proper way where the legs are under the dog rather than in front of it. The second being is the loss of rib. Your standard states “ribs carried well back” Our standard states the same thing, only adding the word deep “deep ribs carried well back. Both proper fronts and rib are essential to a working terrier, and attention must be paid to both. Overall, I enjoyed going over so many good Borders and again I thank you for the opportunity
Limit - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
Masculine headed dog, good in forechest with his legs well under him, narrow well ribbed up, well angulated and moved out well.
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
12th May 2024
Judge: Mrs Laura Illingworth (Thorneyhurst)
Firstly thanks to the Midland Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge their show, and to all the exhibitors for the massive entry which would of been hard to get through without the help of my two stewards Sharon Pickering and Margaret Bailey who did there best to make sure no exhibitors missed there classes
The quality of the exhibits was exceptional, Most dogs were in fit hard condition and presented well, the old saying many good dogs went without a card was only too true, We were blessed with good weather and a nice sized ring.
Yearling - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Scottish Kennel Club (May)
16th May 2024
Judge: Miss Rebecca Barber (Alcumlow)
Thank you to SKC for inviting me to judge at their show, I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I was very pleased with my entry, thank you to all the exhibitors who value my opinion enough to enter their dogs under me. There were some very strong classes and some very pleasing youngsters. I was very pleased with my principle winners and I was delighted to see my BOB get shortlisted in a strong group and my BPIB get TPG3 in the puppy group. It was also an honour to make up two new well deserving champions, making it three new champions in one day over the two shows, which I believe is a new breed record.
Yearling - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
Quality young male, shown in perfect coat and condition, active and game, I could see this boy doing his job. Narrow throughout, well ribbed back, enough length and flexible, a lovely dog to go over. Good head with flat skull and a keen dark eye. Level topline and correct tailset, enough rear angulation to balance the picture. Pushed hard in the challenge.
Class Critique
Enjoyed this class, 4 promising males.
Scottish Kennel Club (Ocober)
16th May 2024
Judge: Mr. Stewart Golding (Beaconpike)
Sorry for delay in critiques, work commitments had to take priority. Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge the October show which was brought forward in conjunction with the May show. Thank you to my two stewards for keeping the ring running smoothly, which wasn’t easy with two shows running side by side. Thank you to the Exhibitors for a lovely entry and accepting my decisions in a sportsmanlike manner. I had some difficult decisions especially in the bitch classes where I just didn’t have enough cards to hand out. Coats from last time I judged had improved and it was a pleasure to see so many in correct double coat of depth. On the whole movement was good. I did find a couple of incorrect bites and one kinked tail
Yearling - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Placing Critique
Strong headed dog with correct bite and nice dark eye, good front and neat feet, good length of body with level topline, well set on tail, sound on the move which secured him the class, shown in correct double coat.
Bath Canine Society
26th May 2024
Judge: Mr Ian Higham (Comberdown)
I would like to thank Mr. Lee Cox and the officers and committee of Bath Canine Society for making my wife and I feel so welcome at their show. Also my two amazingly competent stewards Mark and Joyce who were just brilliant at their job.
I found nothing obviously untoward or concerning, apart from, surprisingly, a few too heavy ones, which cost placings. We need to remember functionality.
In general, overall, this was an entry of terrific in-depth quality. What an absolute privilege it was to go over them. Thank you all so much!
Limit - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
Class Critique
A great class of males. I was spoilt for choice.
Border Union Agricultural Society
16th Jun 2024
Judge: Mr. David Matthews (Tojamatt)
My thanks to the Society for the invitation to Judge one of my favourite shows, it didn’t all go to plan with the weather playing its part. I would like to thank all the exhibitors for going along with my decision to stay outside despite the weather, and my special thanks to stewards Judy Carr and Audrey Coltart for braving the weather also. Also my thanks to Euan for posting my judging book and critique notes and to whomever handed it in.
Sorry for delay, holidays and work have played their part. I had some lovely dogs to go over and thank you all for bringing them.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
City of Cambridge & County CS Open Show
20th Jul 2024
Judge: Derek Pearmain (Delandmar)
Post Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Stowthorney Best of You
