Show Placings
Boston & District CS
10th Jan 2010
Judge: Mrs M Reeves (Baywillow)
I was the replacement judge for Carolyn Muirhead who sadly died in November. Firstly I want congratulate all the exhibitors who made it to the show in spite of the atrocious weather conditions. I was very afraid there would be few dogs there for me to judge. What a tough lot border folk are. I had plenty of quality dogs to fill the top placings but as a general comment I felt a number lacked sufficient rear angulation.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
gr/tan. Liked his length of body, well placed shoulders and rear angulation. Head of good skull to muzzle proportions. Shown in good harsh coat. Very promising puppy.
Manchester Canine Society
21st Jan 2010
Judge: Mr W Shorthose (Cundytyke)
It was, again, a pleasure to judge the breed. I thought that there was a lack of depth in quality in some classes though those which were placed were more representative of the Breed Standard. A few entries lacked true breed type and one almost questioned what other breed was involved in their lineage. The most recurring fault was in front movement which was a testament to some loaded shoulders.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
Good head shape and length of neck. Narrow through the body and carries correct topline. Moved well but I would not want him to grow on more as he is big enough now.
Yorks, Lancs and Cheshire BTC Open Show
13th Feb 2010
Judge: Mrs. Liz Wright (Totherend)
My thanks to the officers and committee for giving me the opportunity to judge this show and for their warm welcome. The relaxed atmosphere throughout the day allowed me to enjoy going over the exhibits which varied significantly in type and size.
A few dogs I couldn?t span and a few were carrying a little excess weight which may be due to the time of year but is still preferable to handling a featherweight.
I was pleased to see some quality carrot tails. Coats were at all stages, but it was a joy to go over those with the harsh, dense jackets true to type.
I was pleased with all the class winners and the final line up in particular.
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
Promising young dog puppy, built on racy lines, strong head, dark eyes, level topline, good coat and pelt, carrot tail, best mover in class. RBP
Midland BTC Open Show
14th Feb 2010
Judge: Mrs D. Rayner (Stoneygin)
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go Over
Placing Critique
Nicely shaped puppy, built on racy lines. Neat ears, flat skull, nice reach of neck into good lay of shoulders. Level topline and tail not too long. Decent bend of stifle. Good coat and pelt, moved and showed well.
Border Terrier Open Show
27th Feb 2010
Judge: Mrs Marylynne Winder (Appleside)
My thanks to the Border Terrier Club for giving me the opportunity to judge the Club Open Show at Jedburgh and the Officers and Committee for their hospitality on the day.
Sincere thanks to the exhibitors for an excellent entry of 194 from 158 exhibits. Unfortunately, due to adverse weather conditions which prevailed the previous day north of the border, the number of dogs present was greatly depleted. A special thank you to my tireless ring stewards, Glenise and Maurice Hyslop for the quiet and efficient way they organised my ring.
Best Puppy
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
Up to size. Lovely head, keen expression, correct carriage. Good bite strong muzzle. Narrow body, easily spanned, level topline. Good front. Up on his toes, moved and showed well, in good condition.
Border Terrier Club Championship Show
27th Mar 2010
Judge: Mr. Jim Stewart
Judge elect, Jane Parker, was cruelly taken down with food poisoning just before the show and sadly was unable to undertake this prestigious appointment. I was honoured to be asked to stand in for Jane who had attracted a super entry of 271 from 237 exhibits.
Having been "out the scene" for some years, I was pleased with the overall quality of the entry. Mouths and temperaments were commendable, as one would expect with a working terrier. I noted more alien expressions than I would expect, even with the size of the entry and many exhibitors must pay more attention to presentation. Erratic front movement, like the poor, is always with us. Nevertheless, there was sufficient depth of quality to provide worthy winners in dogs and bitches throughout the card.
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
National Terrier
3rd Apr 2010
Judge: Mrs Valerie Furness (Quatford)
A big thank you to the National Terrier Club for inviting me to judge this prestigious show and thank you to my stewards especially Fred who as always put everybody and everything in order and kept the judging on the move and flowing.
I was looking for a true Border and was pleased with all my placings to-day, all of good quality. What I did notice was a lot of quantity but not a lot of quality. Front and hind movement looks to be getting worse, some exhibits were so lacking in bone that the front legs would make good knitting needles and some were actually doing knit one, pearl one when moving back towards me. I could see front pads on some as they were moving away. Hind movement was either too close or too wide, over-angulation needs to be watched. Top lines on the whole were good but there were some strange under-lines. A lot of exhibits were so short in muzzle that this made for very tight dentition, small feet were few and far between and tails in some were far too long, where have all the “carrots” gone. I only found three incorrect mouths and two abnormal tails. Some exhibits would benefit from more handling/ring-craft experience as their poor performance affected placings.
I think the Breed Standard would make good reading for some exhibitors.
On a positive note, temperaments overall where very good.
Novice - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
10th Apr 2010
Judge: Miss Claire Tutin (Riseburn)
The NBTC held an open show at Belmont on 10/04/10 which I was very honoured to judge and would like to thank the club for the invitation.I would also like to thank my stewards and the exhibitors for their entries and accepting my decisions.I was very pleased with all my winners and had a very enjoyable day.
Reserve Best Puppy
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
stood alone, good head with small neat ears, narrow body, well ribbed back, easy to span, good shoulder placement, well muscled, moved well.BPD,RBPIS.
Maiden - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
East Anglia BTC Championship Show
18th Apr 2010
Judge: Mrs Trak Fryer (Irton)
I would like to thank the exhibitors for a lovely quality entry, the Club and committee for the appointment and my stewards Simon and Bev Jackson for their efficient help throughout the day. I was generally pleased with the overall quality, heads were good, pelts generally good and movement OK with many very typical exhibits on show. I was disappointed to find a number of poor mouths in the dog entry and to find a few exhibits presented down to the minute but totally lacking muscle, something that I find unacceptable in a dog with the Borders outlook on life.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Placing Critique
lovely head, good expression, nice dark eye, good forward angulations, well balanced, very short of coat today, moved OK
Class Critique
A much better class of puppies.
Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
1st May 2010
Judge: Mr Arthur Cuthbertson (Ashbrae)
My thanks to the Committee for my appointment, and a well run show. The stewards Doreen Rushby and Dave Mitchell, and the exhibitors for the entry.
I was looking for a Border that could fulfil the standard, essentially a working terrier. Judging is about achieving that balance of the desired essentials of the standard, breed type, construction, movement, condition, and the true otter like head. I was disappointed to find so many lacking strength of muzzle, and some with narrow set eyes, with a lot, light in eye colour giving an untypical expression. Some with very small teeth and others very big on the rib, also some very long tails!
That said there were some lovely borders present, and I was pleased with the final line ups, all fulfilling my interpretation of the breed standard.
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
Nice otter like head, good lay of shoulder. Good bone and feet. He spans well and moved out with confidence.
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Class Critique
1 withdrawn
Scottish Kennel Club
23rd May 2010
Judge: Mrs M A Bailey
A privilege to judge the SKC. With lovely weather. Good stewards which made the show run very smooth. I was sorry to see a few exhibits with straight shoulders which affects the front movement and a few with incorrect mouths. However, on the positive side there was a lot of quality and correct size in the breed, which where fit for function. Unfortunately the grass in the ring was very long, which made it difficult to access the movement.
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
Good head not as strong in the muzzle as the first 2. Moved well. Lacked coat to-day.
Novice - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Southern Counties
5th Jun 2010
Judge: Tinna Grubbe (Denmark)
Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
Good size, eyes could be darker, correct bite, ok neck, moves well but a little close in front.
Border Union
20th Jun 2010
Judge: Miss Tracey James (Blackmine)
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
Racy, upstanding puppy. Narrow, but deep. Not as positive as 1 on the move.
Blackpool Championship Dog Show
1st Jul 2010
Judge: Mr A Horner (Stineval)
May I take this opportunity to give my sincere thanks to the officers and committee of The Blackpool Dog Show Society for their hospitality and also for giving me this privileged appointment. This being my first appointment to award CC’s I would like to thank all the exhibitors for supporting me and accepting my decisions so sportingly. I found a couple of mouths with teeth out of line and considering the quality of some of the exhibits they had to pay the penalty. I also found a couple of kinked tails which really surprised me. Thanks go to my able stewards for keeping things moving; allowing the BOB to be ready for the group which he was placed G4.
Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
East of England Championship Dog Show
10th Jul 2010
Judge:
Thanks to exhibitors for the entry, which thankfully, was undercover on such a very hot day.
I was surprised at the size of the Minor Puppy dogs, which were up to size at such a tender age. I was disappointed at the lack of foot and claw care on some exhibits ? feet not properly trimmed and claws much too long for a working breed or any breed shown at a Championship show. Shaved bellies are becoming more evident - why? It's obvious and unattractive. There were too many single coated exhibits, and not enough clean ones. I was pleased with my winners.
Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
Presented in good condition but would like to have seen more rear muscle tone. Liked his head and expression.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Northern Border Championship Show
18th Jul 2010
Judge: Miss Elspeth Jackson (Clipstone)
What an honour and a pleasure it was to judge the Northern Border Terrier Club's Championship Show. An entry of 202 and good Northern hospitality ensured I had a most enjoyable day. Many thanks to my capable stewards for keeping the day running smoothly.
I was very satisfied with both my challenges and all the top honours were strongly contested. I was especially pleased with my puppies and will watch their progress with interest.
Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
Well presented dog in good order with pleasing jacket and pelt. Pleasing in head with strong muzzle and correct bite.
Special Beginners - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Midland BTC Championship Show
1st Aug 2010
Judge: Small & Baxter
I thoroughly enjoyed the day judged outside at Asfordby. The weatherman certainly smiles as all the Club’s Championship Shows to date have been blessed with clear sky’s. Thanks to the committee for the invite, to my two Stewards on the day, for the wonderful roast lamb lunch, but not least, to the exhibitors for giving me the opportunity of assessing your Border Terriers. Thanks for coming. (Judge: Mr A Small)
Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Special Challenge - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Welsh Kennel Club
21st Aug 2010
Judge: Mrs D Townsend
Thank you to everyone for a very enjoyable day, it's always a privilege for me to go over other people's dogs. I was pleased with my class winners but overall I felt that the quality of exhibits was somewhat mixed; movement was good but I have to lament the untypical Border heads that are present together with the high number of single coats
Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Richmond Championship Show
11th Sep 2010
Judge: Miss Michelle Barnett (Brockfox)
My thanks to The Richmond Societies officers and committee for the warm welcome and the super lunch provided. Gratitude also to my stewards who organised the ring most capably. Thanks also to the exhibitors for their entries at a time in history when finances are truly stretched in this difficult and uncertain financial climate. To judge is always a privilege and on this occasion it was particularly appreciated. Overall I was very impressed with the exhibits, and when judging we are required to find the dog that most fulfils the breed standard and with the increasing variety of types present in the breed it made for some thought provoking decisions. Sadly the continuing trend to show all year round with few exhibits remaining at home to grow a decent double jacket proved that once again there were fewer exhibits shown in the requisite depth of jacket. Therefore I had to face the difficult task of placing some exhibits higher than I would as a rule. As justifiably construction and type being the foremost factor in placings, as coats naturally will come and go. But where as in lots of other breeds the coat can be considered a glamorous adornment please remember that in the Border (terriers in general) it is their essential protection whilst carrying out their job of work. On a positive note I was pleased to see today's entry lacking of the dogs presented in the recent improper fashion of clippering, razor and scissoring which as the true diehards of the breed know is totally unacceptable and exhibitors are to be strongly discouraged in this undesirable practice.
The correct and only way to present a Border terrier is by hand stripping thus achieving the beautiful natural tweedy look synonymous with our breed.
And I quote an extract from an old Border terrier yearbook ?Exhibitors and judges should be reminded that it is not in keeping with the sporting traditions of the breed to have the coat trimmed. The coat should be of a natural weather resisting character. Old dead coat may be stripped off by hand when necessary. The use of a razor or a strip comb embodying a razor in the preparation of dogs for show is strongly objected to?
Dogs that I had previously admired unfortunately paid the penalty today as on closer inspection they did not come to hand so well .Some due to weight, which can be easily remedied with an alteration of diet, exercise and plenty of regular road work. Others sadly due to wide fronts and heavy shoulders, subsequently when running the rule over them they were too coarse and cloddy. Therefore not displaying the lithe supple bodies required in an earth dog ,this is a breed characteristic which of course has to be bred for. Borders are a breed that enjoys longevity, health and well being and this was particularly evident in my DCC and DRCC winners today being a 7 year old and 9 yr old respectively. Perhaps this being true testimony that these males have been bred for the correct narrow body lines that will inevitably stand the test of time.
Temperaments as to be expected were excellent. Overall a most enjoyable day, I was delighted with both my final line ups and to find admirable representatives of the breed for top honours.
Yearling - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Placing Critique
Light Grizzle & Tan this young lad is truly not the best of showmen but has a typical ottery head correct scissor bite and when co-operating a pleasing expression. Good for bone and narrow straight front, he does not help himself standing but looked better in profile on the move.
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show with Critique
19th Sep 2010
Judge: Miss Gemma Alpe
Firstly I must thank SBTC for giving me the honour of judging my first Breed Club show. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and had some first class dogs to judge. I found no bad mouths and only one with a slightly suspect kink and movement on the whole was pretty good. The one thing that bothered me was that we seem to be losing our way a little with those lovely fronts that to me are a big part of our breed, and a number of dogs are toeing out both on the stand and on the move. I was pleased with my winners, they mostly fitted my interpretation of the breed standard, but I was delighted with my top winners, all of whom are a credit to the breed and I thank their owners for giving me the opportunity to judge them.
Junior - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Yorks, Lancs & Cheshire BTC Championship Show
25th Sep 2010
Judge: Mrs. Doreen Rushby (Dormic)
Many thanks to the exhibitors for a super entry. My DCC, BCC, and BP were a credit to the breed. Shoulders are still a big problem, ferrety feet was a recurring problem, thick pads are essential in a Border. A number lacked condition, trying to keep weight down should not be at the expense of nourishment.
Special Beginners - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Driffield Championship Dog Show
2nd Oct 2010
Judge: Mr P J Greenaway
Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
South Wales KA
8th Oct 2010
Judge: Mr B Aubrey
Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go
Midland BTC Open Show
13th Feb 2011
Judge: Mrs. Liz Wright (Totherend)
My thanks to the officers and committee for inviting me to judge their show, to the stewards Chris Wallace and Bob Wright for keeping the ring running smoothly and to the exhibitors for allowing me to go over their dogs.
I was pleased to find some well muscled dogs in good condition, coats were at varying stages, but the majority were thick and harsh, true to type. Temperaments were good.
I was very pleased with my winners and had a most enjoyable day.
Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go Over Borderbridge
Placing Critique
larger made than 1 but narrow, with nice head and expression, would prefer more drive from rear movement.
The Border Terrier Championship Show
26th Mar 2011
Judge: Miss Jean Singh (Vandamere)
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
National Terrier
2nd Apr 2011
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Placing Critique
a light red narrow all the way through, spannable with racy hindquarters, ribs well back, standing on small tight feet.
East Anglia BTC Championship Show
17th Apr 2011
Judge: Miss Julie Price
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
National Dog Show
7th May 2011
Judge: Mrs Jayne Alpe
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge, I thoroughly enjoyed my day. My two stewards were very efficient and experienced; they managed to keep my ring running smoothly. I found the quality in the dogs overall to be higher than last time I judged, with in both sexes a slight improvement in movement. Although there are still some that are not driving from behind and covering the ground, and some with short, choppy, odd front movement, sometimes coupled with too narrow fronts and lack of muscle tone. Maybe more road walking would help in some cases to build up muscle, but in others is down to a problem with shoulder construction and pasterns. I found no incorrect mouths, there were a couple with broken teeth, hopefully indicative that we still work some of our show dogs. But there was a shortage of those lovely strong big teeth that the breed is known for and small teeth are on the increase. What also did disturb me was that large heavy ears seem to be creeping into the breed, which affects that lovely typical expression. In a lot of classes places could alter on another day, in fact in some classes I was spoilt for choice and would have liked more than one red card. I was delighted with my top winners who all fitted my criteria very well, every one of them displaying correct Border type coupled with sound and true movement.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Placing Critique
Good sound mover, racy, easily spanned, lovely tight feet and harsh double coat. Typical border expression on strong head with correct bite.
Scottish Kennel Club
20th May 2011
Judge: Mr. David Hunt (Ottaswell)
Thanks go to the committee of the Scottish Kennel Club for inviting me to judge for the first time north of the border, Special thanks to my stewards on the day Messrs Goudie & Jackson for organising the ring so efficiently and ensuring everything ran smoothly during my judging. Good stewards are a welcome bonus for any judge. Despite the disappointing weather, thanks also to the exhibitors who attended and for giving me the second highest breed entry of the whole show.
With a large ring and mown grass, I was able to see the dogs move accurately. In general I thought the bitches were stronger than the dogs, but was pleased with all my class winners, and thought my CC winners a credit to the breed. Size was generally good with only a couple being difficult to span. As always coats were at various stages but I was surprised to find 2 very undershot bites in mid range classes.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Southern Counties
4th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr J Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Blackpool Championship Show
24th Jun 2011
Judge: Mrs Charlotte Archibald
My sincere thanks to Blackpool & District Canine Society, for inviting me to judge at this level, for the first time. Even the weather was kind to us!!
A special thank you, to the exhibitors for your support, giving me the highest terrier entry, and the sheer joy of going over every exhibit, thank one and all.
It was a fabulous entry, numerically and depth of quality.
On the downside I found one cryptorchidic, one suspect tail, and a lot of dirty teeth, although mouths were generally good.
Coats were at various stages and in some cases they were the deciding factor, movement not too bad, the odd one “pinning in”.
There were some attractive exhibits of both genders, that went ‘cardless’ today, for me, there was just too much of them.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
17th Jul 2011
Judge: Mr. W. R. Irving
My thanks go to the Officers and Committee of the Northern Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge this show and for their kind hospitality during the event. I notice that the last time I judged this show was as long ago as twenty five years ago in 1986! The entry of 226 from 207 exhibits was satisfactory but of course there were several absentees which brought the actual number of dogs present down to just over 140. That enabled us to finish judging in good time. Thanks to my very efficient Steward Mrs Rushby.
My general comments on the breed continue in similar terms to my previous remarks on the subject. But in the main I thought that heads and expressions were, by and large, pretty good. Coats were of course variable in the stage at which they presented but again, by and large they were of quite good texture. I had no bad mouths and only a couple of kinky tails. And tails were, overall, not too bad for shape and length Size is of course variable but again the majority were spannable but some dogs (and bitches) were far too big and too heavy in bone. My biggest problem was with fronts and exhibit after exhibit appeared with fronts which were far from correct. We have a multitude of different front problems and somehow we must tackle this issue and breeders and judges have to pay more attention to this problem. I believe that we are beginning to find the breed accepting bad fronts as the norm. Horseshoe fronts, wide fronts, swinging front legs, flicking front feet and dogs which single track in an excessive way in front ? all of these things need to be penalised to a greater or lesser extent.
Best in Show and the Dog CC went to Orangebox Firecracker (Mr M & Mrs T Anscombe). He has a very typical head, skull and expression with a good muzzle and not over exaggerated. Good neck and shoulder and correct topline and tailset. Correct compact feet. He is balanced and well proportioned being neither too short nor too long and he moved soundly both in front and behind. In the final challenge for the CC he scored for showmanship and went on to be Best of Breed. The Bitch CC and Res Best in Show went to Ch Southash Blue Betty Boo Gameway JW (Mrs P Clark), another with a most typical head and expression. She has a very good coat of the right texture and pelt of the right thickness and she moved very well behind. Enough bone, she presents a good outline going around the ring and exudes quality. Best Puppy was Olderhill Afortunado (Mrs S Wilson). He has a good head and skull, again without being in any way overdone, good neck and topline, good front and moved better there than behind, correct pelt, good tailset and tail and well balanced throughout.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Paignton
1st Aug 2011
Judge: Mr Tom Johnston
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
7th Aug 2011
Judge: Mr D Maggs & Mr G. Pickering
Referee’s Report
I was asked to decide BIS between Bitch CC winner Guvercin’s Achnagairn Code Name Glebeheath JW ShCM, and Dog CC winner Bate’s Sweeping Foxtrot for Kgills (IMP SWE).
Two very typical quality borders with so much to like about them. Both had true otter-like heads, with decent strength of muzzle and good teeth. Both were eye-catching in overall outline, were well ribbed back, and had reasonably thick pelts with the correct double coat, although the bitch was carrying a slightly harsher topcoat today. Conversely, the dog scored in strength of loin. Whilst both had very good front and rear angulation which showed in their free movement, I thought the bitch edged it in terms of her superb overall bodylines and balance.
Terence Tuck – Referee
Dogs
I would like to thank the Midland Border Terrier Club for inviting me to be the replacement judge on this occasion; it gave me the opportunity to go over some very fine dogs. All the exhibits were without exception fit and healthy, and I felt there was certainly a depth of quality running right through all the classes.
Mr David Maggs, Dog Judge.
Bitches
I was very honoured to be asked to judge the Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show, I have been looking forward to it for quite some time and I have to say the day didn’t disappoint. As usual the weather was good, the breeze keeping the temperature appropriate for the dogs and luckily the heavy rain stayed away until after judging had finished. I would like to thank the Committee for their hospitality, and also my two excellent stewards, Chris Wallace and Ray Henry for helping me to complete the task of judging the 112 bitches giving me an excellent entry of 128. The quality of the bitches was excellent, I was able to span all the exhibits and mouths were generally good. Rear movement seems to be improving and I was very impressed with the standard and presentation of the bitches on the day. This high standard of exhibits meant that some very nice bitches went away cardless on this occasion, particularly in the Junior, Post Graduate and Limit classes. I was very pleased with my line up. I believe it reflected what I aspire for the breed a good honest border in hard condition that meets the breed standard which is capable of doing what it was originally bred for? whether it works or not.
Mr Graham Pickering, Bitch Judge.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Scottish Kennel Club
28th Aug 2011
Judge: Mrs Marion Reeves
Though pleased with my winners, depth of quality within the entry was mostly lacking. It is fair to say that Border Terriers still come in every size and shape imaginable. Though I am aware that it is a matter that sharply divides opinion within the breed, I for one would prefer the breed standard to be more specific in detail of what is desirable. Maybe, perhaps that might head to a more uniform type in the show ring.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Placing Critique
g/t. Very pleasing outline and narrow all through. Easily spanned with moderately sprung ribs of good length. Liked his head qualities, moderately broad in skull and short strong muzzle. Good shoulder placement and well angulated quarters. Moves soundly all round
Leeds Championship Show
29th Jul 2012
Judge: Mrs M Sneddon (Kersfell)
Many thanks to my stewards who were well organized and efficient. We were allocated a large ring, conveniently placed for the wet weather tent, although fortunately we did not need to make use of this facility as the weather was good with only a few spots of rain – a nice change during this rather poor summer.
Limit - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
16th Sep 2012
Judge: Mr Alan Hedges (Ramblix)
I considered it a great honour to be invited to judge this show. I looked forward to it greatly and I was not in any way disappointed. A classy club with a classy committee. My stewards were great and we had some interesting moments through the day, but we coped. Thank you to all involved with the club and most of all the exhibitors for doing me the honour of having me judge your dogs. Thank you.
Whenever I judge Staffords, which is my own breed I always make the point that exhibitors should rid their dogs of any reasons to get beaten. Long pointed nails are not a good look, nor are they good for the dog. Even I can make a decent fist of a borders coat and as a singular part of the breed and its identification a bit more attention would not have gone amiss in some. Excess weight is not good for anybody, least of all, what is ostensibly a working terrier. I think there may well be some stars of the future in some of the lower classes and I shall watch with greater interest now when I am at the border ring. Thanks again to you all for coming and entering into the spirit of the day. I had a brilliant day and I hope you did too.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
Placing Critique
This is a nice dog. He is OK all over but he wanted for a bit extra somewhere or other to give him more of a chance against the winner. Tidy and typy.
Boston & District Canine Society
11th Jan 2015
Judge: Mrs Julie Guvercin
Thank you to all exhibitors for your entries I had a good cross section of dogs to choose from. Some dogs that I have admired in the past were either not in coat or didn’t move well and others that I've not noticed before, were 'found ' on the table. We must all remember judging should be on the day and not on what something has won or not won, beforehand. I'm sure the same dogs could be placed differently on another day under me, some that did or didn't perform affected their placings accordingly.
Some super puppies coming through, with all four of my puppy class winners looking very promising. They gave me some hair splitting decisions.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ragatam Lets Go At Borderbridge
