Show Placings
Evesham & District Canine Society Premier Open Show
13th Jul 2025
Judge: Libby Wain (Itsaso)
Puppy /
Second Place
Name at show: Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Pollard Canine Society Premier Open Show
19th Jul 2025
Judge: Mrs M Fleming (Flegato)
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge my favourite breed at their premier show (one of my favourite open shows where I stewarded so many times before) and to Yorkshire Lancashire and Chesire Border Terrier Club for supporting the entry. The original invite was for the previous year but, sadly, the show was cancelled due to bad weather ruining the show ground. This year the weather just about held out for the first part of the day before the heavens opened soaking everyone, as forecasted. Thank you to the exhibitors who entered and to those who braved the forecast and attended and let me go over your lovely borders.
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG4, Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Placing Critique
Very smartly presented, rich in colour, dark grizzle male puppy, just 6 months old. Very nice masculine head developing already, large teeth and lovely dark eye. Correct harsh double coat and thick pelt, easy to span, moved out confidently with a decent stride. Would prefer a shorter tail but a very smart puppy. BPIB and was pleased to watch him being awarded TPG4 later in the day.
Oswestry & District Kennel Association Open Show
20th Jul 2025
Judge: Jo Hughes (Arunmere)
I'd like to thank the Oswestry committee for inviting me to judge Border Terriers —I was so pleased with the entry, and would like to thank all the exhibitors who entered. I was very impressed with the overall quality of the dogs. Some of the deisions weren’t easy, especially in the puppy class where there was so much promise on show. Most coats were in good order, with just one that had been recently stripped, and movement was generally good, even with the ring being a little on the small side, I could access movement.
Puppy /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Leeds Championship Show
24th Jul 2025
Judge: Mr Peter Armstrong (Atron)
I would first like to thank the Officers and Committee of Leeds City & District Canine Association Championship Show for inviting me to judge at their show, and for the hospitality shown to me on the day. However, most of all, thank you to all the exhibitors for providing me with such a quality entry to assess on this, my first appointment in the breed at this level. I had the privilege of going over so many quality dogs that difficult decisions often had to be made. As always, coats were at different stages, sometimes reflected in the placings, but coats come and go, construction does not. I did not discern any kinked tails and no bad temperaments were apparent. The adequately sized ring however was quite difficult for the exhibitors to circumnavigate, with varying gradients, going uphill away from the judge, coming back downhill but with another gradient across the ring to cope with as well. There were several bumps and hollows in the ring as well, in places which made standing your exhibit to best effect not quite so easy. Many astute exhibitors realising this changed their handling technique to cater for this, some did not
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Placing Critique
7 month old grizzle dog of a slightly larger build than the winner. Possesses a broad head of correct proportions, moderately short muzzle, and dark eye. Adequate length of neck fitting into laid back shoulders. Good straight front. Narrow all through and easily comes to hand. Level topline and correctly set on carrot tail. Shown in harsh coat and a pliable pelt. Movement not quite as positive as the winner as he was not quite in harmony with his handler.
Paignton Championship Show
1st Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Mark Walshaw (Janmark)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
3rd Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Kevin Green (Terabyte)
I would like to thank all the Officers and Committee of the Midland Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge the show & the lovely gift I was presented with. I was very pleased with my entry, thank you to the exhibitors who entered under me. A big thankyou to the stewards who did a great job and kept it all going smoothly. Was a lovely show and great atmosphere.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Walsall & & DKA Open Show
9th Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Colin Woodward (Wadeson)
Best Of Breed
Name at show: Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG3, Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Driffield Championship Dog Show
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Julie Fletcher (Northborders)
I was so excited to be invited to give tickets for the first time so a big thank you to Driffield Committee for the invite but especially to the exhibitors for my fabulous entry
I found some really lovely dogs to go over and in some classes I wished I had more awards to give out , I was very pleased with my final line ups
Temperaments all day were very good. I didn't see one cross word between the dogs , Coats as always were varying and in some classes it was a consideration. The open and limit classes were of the highest quality and very enjoyable to judge
I thoroughly enjoyed my day and such a privilege to be able to go over all of your dogs , thank you
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Driffield Championship Dog Show 49th
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Bob Wright (Totherend)
My thanks to the Driffield Championship Show Committee for the opportunity to go over a quality entry and a real thank you to the exhibitors for entering and coping with the unusual arrangements.
I know many expect to see a line up all of a type but you can only put up what is entered and you can’t deny a quality dog that is within the standard over a poorer exhibit of a type you personally prefer.
After the show I was re-introduced light heartedly (I hope) to a dog described by the exhibitor as “the one I didn’t like”, which I suspect is the interpretation many exhibitors of beaten dogs have. As a general rule I believe it’s much more likely that a beaten dog is in fact a liked dog but that on the day there may have been others that were liked more!
Over the years there have been many different concerns about where the breed is heading but I’m pleased to say that some of these look to have been put to bed. I saw lots of good mouths with big strong teeth and only two level bites. Loose thick pelts were a plenty and I’m delighted to see the return of good full coats shown with pride. There were no kinked tails but a good carrot tail is now as rare has hens teeth with flag poles more the norm.
Some puppies are coming in large and leggy and many entries were borderline for spanning. Close rear movement and loose fronts were a blight on some otherwise good dogs.
However, with the exception of a couple of classes, most exhibits were of real quality and I’m sure many exhibitors were left wondering why they never got placed. The answer is that you probably deserved one but I only had 5 to give and in some cases the 5th could equally well have been first. Limit bitch was absolutely full of quality and in Open bitch they were all well worthy of a CC with little to choose between them.
So overall I’m pleased with our efforts to produce quality exhibits but ditch the flag poles and enjoy the champions that you all take home.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam
Placing Critique
Rangey and already a good size, can ill afford to grow on, straight front, narrow but substantial with a great coat and pelt, strong head, dark eye, lively, preferred movement of 1.
