Show Placings
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
4th May 2024
Judge: Mr Ken Fraser (Ycart)
Best Puppy - Bitch
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
Reserve Best Puppy
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
Placing Critique
Red/Grizzle alert and keen expression, pleasing head with nice earset,correct dentition,correct length of neck,narrow fronted with well laid shoulders easily spanned good length of body,ribs carried well back, level topline stood and moving short carrot tail sat well on,nice rear angulation, jacket of harsh texture with a loose pelt,covered the ground with ease and purpose from all angles. B.P.B R.B.P
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
Best Puppy
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
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.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
Class Critique
A very nice class of quality puppies, I am sure my top 3 will change places many times
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
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
Placing Critique
What an eye-catching puppy, nice otter head with correct bite, well placed ears, narrow front and good shoulders, nice length of rib, racy rear standing on small tight feet with thick pads, nice topline which she carried on the move, she moved out very well coming and going for one so young. A correct double coat finished the picture. Pleased to award her best puppy in breed.
Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Show
1st Jun 2025
Judge: Mrs Sue Spafford (Dassett)
I would like to thank the Scottish Border Terrier Club for asking me to judge at the Open Show. Thank you to the ladies for a super lunch and Bill Shorthose for being my Steward for the day.
As always movement was variable with some very strange front actions. I found two kinked tails, a lack of coats in some dogs and also untidy coats, all had to be considered in the placings. That said I had a lovely day and enjoyed going over all the dogs that were entered.
Yearling - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
Manchester Championship Show
15th Jan 2026
Judge: Dr Ian Gabriel (Gaybryl)
Many thanks for the lovely entry, both in terms of quality and quantity. I thoroughly enjoyed my day with the Border Terriers. When I last judged I felt there were too many with houndy large ears, this did not seem to be replicated in today’s entry which was pleasing and expression was generally much improved. What I did notice was that front action is something that we need to watch. Being Manchester and the last Championship show pre Crufts there were quite a few dogs who had been stripped in preparation and quite a few out of coat. In part that did play a part in some of my fineer placings.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
The Yorkshire, Cheshire & Lancashire Border Terrier Club Open Show
24th Jan 2026
Judge: Jane Eyeington (Meadowdale)
I would like to thank the officers and committee for their kind invitation to judge at this friendly and well-organised show. To all the exhibitors, it was a true honour to assess your wonderful dogs, with many decisions being closely contested. I thoroughly enjoyed my day—thank you. I would also like to thank my hard-working stewards, Julie & Ian, for keeping the day running smoothly.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
Placing Critique
This two-year-old grizzle bitch boasts a lovely outline, with each part flowing seamlessly into the next. Liked her balance and body ratios. She works harmoniously with her handler, showing herself off with confidence and showmanship. She has a pleasing head and expression, framed by neat, small ears lying close to the cheek and dark, inquisitive eyes. Her neck is of good length, she is narrow in front, and shows good depth to the brisket. She holds a firm topline both standing and, on the move, carrying her carrot-like tail correctly. Positive on the move and presented in a harsh jacket.
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
1st Feb 2026
Judge: Lauren Goddard (Awbrooksky)
Novice - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
Crufts
6th Mar 2026
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Thank you to the Crufts committee for inviting me to judge and bringing my appointment forward one year. Many thanks to Pam Cox and Judy Carr for the professional stewarding they provided.
I enjoyed a full day’s judging and was very pleased to hear the applause from around the ring when dogs were placed, good sportsmanship.
Out of 264 entries, I had one wry mouth, one kinked tail, 6 very underweight dogs none of them placed. Dogs that had no coat were penalised as were very thin pelts. As a dog groomer of 48 years, I know when coats are chalked, not nice to feel. One exhibit while on the table had only one testicle the owner was gobsmacked but felt it and agreed there was only one, I was blamed for having cold hands!!! what after handling dogs in previous classes, ten minutes later the said dog came back for me to check again and yes there were two. I was disgusted to find an exhibit with sores on both cheeks; I was told what happened. And I’m leaving it there.
Teeth were very clean, only one tooth lost in an oldie.
I thought movement really should have been better than it was today, as I said thin pelts and no coats were penalised.
If I repeat myself with the first two placings that’s because they were what I was looking for.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Otterbuck Free Yourself
Placing Critique
liked this bitches head broad skull and plenty of cheek fill, strong muzzle, short v shaped ears, tidy feet, coat nearly blown but of good texture, well set on of short tail, both girls moved straight up and down. Two nice girls.
