Show Placings
West of England Ladies Kennel Society
25th Apr 2025
Judge: Mrs J Guvercin (Glebeheath)
Thank you to everyone who entered on a Friday and gave me the biggest entry of the two groups on the day and the forth highest in the whole show! Pat and Paul my stewards were great and helped me to get through the dogs in an efficient way.
We were lucky enough to be outside on a perfect dog showing day weather wise.
Some super quality classes with hair splitting decisions and even lovely dogs unplaced. Whilst essentially a working terrier was a priority, I wanted my males, to look like males and my bitches easily recognisable as females, it sounds obvious but with some they could’ve passed for either.
Some really lovely dogs looked super stood, but failed on the move, not just coming and going, but more importantly to me, the side gait.
I think we need to be careful of mouths, I was surprised to find several with teeth out of line. Level bites, although allowed and not penalised on the day, some were in very young dogs and it makes me wonder if they will last.
Having said all that, I enjoyed my day and the dogs, who also seemed to enjoy being outside.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky
Aberystwyth Premier Open Show
5th May 2025
Judge: Mr Rob Jones (Silverluka)
Puppy /
Second Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Birmingham National Dog Show
8th May 2025
Judge: Miss Katie Hamilton (Cromlechs)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
The Midland Border Terrier Club Partnership Championship Show
8th May 2025
Judge: Mr John Bainbridge (Risdene)
Many thanks to the Midland committee for this appointment which l thoroughly enjoyed, despite the weather which sent us indoors after bitches. Many thanks to my stewards. As an aside l was pleased to see that moderately short tails are coming back! I was also pleased to find that three of the youngsters from the previous time l judged had developed as hoped and received top honours today. The exception was the outstanding dog which took BIS, my first time judging this one and what a treat! This blue and tan dog meets the standard so well, essentially a working terrier, the most important requirement of our breed, but with the quality of a top show dog .
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Placing Critique
Good size grizzle in full coat, meets the standard well, moved ok, but hope he doesn’t grow on.
Southern Counties Canine Association
31st May 2025
Judge: Rachel Larner (Hawcoat)
Thank you to everyone that entered and attended my first judging appointment at Championship level. Many thanks to my stewards, who kept the day running smoothly. We were very lucky with the weather, a little warm at times but the dogs all managed well and did not flag in the heat.
I was thrilled at the quality of dogs that I had to go over and extremely pleased that I had very few absentees. There were some super quality of classes that made my decisions quite hard. Finding a dog that most fits the standard is important to me, and I feel my winners did just that. I was extremely pleased with my main winners, and even more thrilled to see that I made up two Champions!
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Placing Critique
Promising pup, in good grizzle jacket. I liked his size and once settled he moved well. Masculine head with well set ears, and dark eye. Good reach of neck and length of body, easily spanned. Level topline and good tail set.
Blackpool & District Canine Society
22nd Jun 2025
Judge: Miss Tracey James (Blackmine)
Thank you to everyone who entered under me. It was a pleasure to judge all your dogs. I found it difficult to judge to a particular type as the best dogs came from different sizes and types, and I believe there is a place for them all if they fit the breed standard. Most of the dogs had evidence of a double coat. As coats are constantly changing, I did not heavily penalise any for very tweedy coats or lacking some coat as long as they were presented in a tidy manner.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Placing Critique
8 months old red. Pleasing head. Straight front, level topline and good lay of rib, racy quarters, lovely carrot tail. Not in his best jacket. Steady mover
Southern Border Terrier Club Partnership Championship Show
27th Jun 2025
Judge: Mr Tom H. Johnston (Feldkirk)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Windsor Championship Show
27th Jun 2025
Judge: Mr Graham Richardson (Staynorwood)
Firstly i would like to thank Windsor Championship Dog Show for the invitation to Judge at their show. Thank you also to all those that entered and allowed me to judge their dogs on what was an exceptionally hot day for both exhibitor and dogs.
I had some quality dogs to judge and on another day some placings could easily be swapped around. I was more than happy with my top award winners. It was a pleasure to watch the Group judging and see my B.O.B, Best Veteran and Best Special Beginners placed in their respective groups.
In general I found the majority of dogs to be in a good fit condition. I did find 2 or 3 dogs with kinked tails. I would also ask that exhibitors refrain from giving dogs tit bits as the judge is trying to check mouths. nothing wrong with baiting your dogs but not while trying to check mouths. Also one or two exhibitors trying to hold onto the dog as though they are trying to restrict you assessing them.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
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
Special Beginners in Breed
Name at show: SBBTG3, Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Special Beginners - Dog or Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Placing Critique
Eye-catching 9 month old grizzle puppy dog, Masculine head of good proportions with well set on small ears, dark eye and alert expression. Straight front, good reach of neck and length of body, easily spanned. Super balanced outline with a level topline and good tail set. Presented in good jacket with a thick pelt. Moved accurately and well, when settled, in harmony with his handler. Won this class with a bit to spare. Pleased to see him eventually go SBBTG3 later in the day.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Paignton Championship Show
1st Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Mark Walshaw (Janmark)
Special Beginners - Dog or Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
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.
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Bournemouth CS Premier Open Show
8th Aug 2025
Judge: Miss Felicity Snook (Pitcombe)
Junior /
Second Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Bournemouth CS Championship Show
9th Aug 2025
Judge: Mr I Hardman (Spanwise)
My thanks go to the committee for giving me this opportunity to judge at this show, and to all the exhibitors for entering and allowing me to go over their dogs. It was a joy and a privilege thank you
Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Special Beginners - Dog or Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Placing Critique
this is a very nice young man who had been in puppy dog which was an extremely good class, Good topline which he kept well on the move, head good, correct scissor bite, dark eye, shown in good coat.
The Welsh Kennel Club
14th Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Jill Peak (Bayard)
Best Puppy
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Special Beginners in Breed
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Placing Critique
10 months male, nice type, good head shape, good pigment, nice eye and expression, strong neck going into well laid shoulders, straight legs, enough bone, body good depth and well ribbed back, good quarters and set on. Moved well BP
Special Beginners - Dog or Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Placing Critique
Repeat
Merioneth Agruicultral Society Open Show
20th Aug 2025
Judge: Mr E Ryan (Cavallibrook/Feorlig)
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG1, Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Placing Critique
beautiful puppy, one with a future, so much to commend and very admirable to go over. Moving a mite more close than the winner which was the deciding factor, but a prospect for the future without doubt. RBOB, BPIB; PG1.
Pontardulais Agricultural & Horticultural Open Show
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mr U Pérez de Lazarraga
Best Of Breed
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Best Puppy
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
City of Birmingham Championship Show
30th Aug 2025
Judge: Dr Margaret Armstrong (Ploughdown)
Thank you to the Committee of the City of Birmingham Canine Association for inviting me to judge at their Championship Show. It was an honour to judge Borders Terriers on the day. I would like to thank especially the Border Terrier exhibitors for giving me such a super entry and for their graciousness and sporting manner. The venue was airy and the ring was roomy. I realised afterwards that the carpet could be rather slippery and I think that this may have provided somewhat of a challenge at times. I had many lovely dogs to go over and sometimes making decisions was like splitting hairs.
Finally thank you to my stalwart stewards who were super organized and kept me on the straight and narrow.
Special Beginners in Breed
Name at show: SBBTG1, Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Special Beginners - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Placing Critique
Upstanding young grizzle with a pleasing head of good dimension, and keen, dark eye. Scissor bite. Level topline which he kept on the move. Narrow, deep rib and good rear angulation. Well off for bone. Neat paws. Moved out well. I was pleased to see he won the Special Beginners Terrier Group.
Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Joint Border Terrier Clubs Championship Show
31st Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Jane Morton-Shaw (Fehmarn)
Many thanks to the committee for inviting me to judge what turned out to be the last Joint Ch Show. I had a wonderful day, & I was very ably and efficiently aided by my two stewards Tracey Anscombe and Peter Armstrong & I send my thanks out to them again (shows can’t run without good stewards).
My main down side to a lot of the Borders I went over was the front movement (I’m not immune to this either)! This needs watching and careful breeding to try and improve on this fault - not easy I know, but something to aim for. Again very few Borders with a good thick pelt which we used to have. Top lines have much improved generally and good to see that most of the exhibits were in good fit/hard condition.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Placing Critique
Narrow body lines so easily spanned, tail well set on. Neat feet & ears. Carroty tail. I liked his length of neck & ribs. Moved OK.
West Bromwich CS Open Show
13th Sep 2025
Judge: Tania Gardner (Danwish)
Reserve Best Of Breed
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Best Puppy
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Salisbury & South Wilts CS Open Show
21st Sep 2025
Judge: Sarah Pateman (Lessien)
Puppy /
Third Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Belfast DSS Championship Show
27th Sep 2025
Judge: Mr David Shields (Wilholme)
Best Puppy
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbobs Rocky At Cymrygold
