Show Placings
Windsor Championship Dog Show
2nd Jul 2010
Judge: Mrs Jayne Gillam (Orenberg)
Many thanks to the exhibitors for such a super entry of dogs for me to judge, I thought the standard overall was very good and I found it very encouraging to find some really nice youngsters coming up through the ranks. I had to make very tough decisions in some classes and many good dogs went card less but I thoroughly enjoyed my day and was pleased with my winners.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Leeds Championship Show
24th Jul 2010
Judge: Mrs F A Somerfield
A good entry with lots of quality Borders in both sexes. It was the last time I shall judge the breed at this level & I enjoyed every minute. It was particularly pleasing to see how much movement had improved since the last time I judged.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Paignton & District FA
2nd Aug 2010
Judge: Mrs Carol Lumbard
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Bournemouth Championship Show
14th Aug 2010
Judge: Mr D W Shields (Wilholme)
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Placing Critique
Built on pleasing lines and of good make and shape. Balanced head, good dark eye, best of fronts, racy quarters. Very good coat and pelt, moved well.
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
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
City of Birmingham Canine Society
4th Sep 2010
Judge: Miss A D Swales
This was a lovely entry, I send my good wishes for a speedy return to the ring to the scheduled judged Miss E D Rumsan. Coats were at all stages & I have to say that there were some which had no evidence of a second coat. Mouths were good except for, unusually, one overshot, Temperaments appeared to be OK, although a few lack confidence & were hesitant. The green carpet helped to show up some wide fronts & movement which did not extend & lacked drive, needed to follow a horse. All my placed dogs spanned comfortably. I was not happy with some exhibitors who were constantly feeding their dogs, even on the table.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
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.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Darlington Dog Show Society
17th Sep 2010
Judge: Mr M King
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
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.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Placing Critique
Lovely 8month grizzle bitch who appealed to the eye, great movement for such a young bitch keen expression, good otter head and excellent front.
Driffield Championship Dog Show
2nd Oct 2010
Judge: Mr P J Greenaway
Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
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.
Junior - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Placing Critique
Full sister to the winner and similar comments apply. The head on this bitch is slightly squarer and as such I just preferred her littermate.
Class Critique
A strong class where places would change on another day.
Southern Counties
4th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr J Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Junior - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Bournemouth Championship Show
14th Aug 2011
Judge: Mrs Zena Thorn-Andrews
Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Placing Critique
Two nice ones first and second. Winner a touch short of coat but what she had was very hard, liked her construction, body depth, narrow ribbing and typical front movement, excellent rear, well set tail, she could carry her ears a wee bit higher perhaps but it was getting hot!. 2 Better ear carriage, standing and to go over was really good but she lost it in profile movement compared to above, super jacket, strong head, ok for bone and well ribbed back, well bit overangulated in rear.
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!
Yearling - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Placing Critique
Very nicely made bitch. A different type to (1) but with many qualities to admire. Very very good coat and excellent driving movement. Nice head and expression, correct length of rib. Good straight front. Unfortunate to meet (1) today.
South Wales KA
9th Oct 2011
Judge: Mr David Winsley
Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Blewecourt Harlem
Placing Critique
Bigger in size, head not quite the quality of first. Good neck and shoulders, nice depth of body. A shade longer cast, good hindquarters. Nice quality coat and moves with drive.
