Show Placings
Guildford & District Canine Society Open Show
27th May 2015
Judge: Mr Chris Wallace (Hobholt)
Thank you to the Society for the invitation and to the exhibitors for bringing your Borders' along. It was a pleasure to go over a fine group of Borders on a warm, sunny day in a super venue.
Best Puppy
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Placing Critique
8mth, Gr&T, well made, still a baby, certainly not finished, moderate head, good front & neck, in good coat, loose pelt, moved OK, good rear angulation. BP
Southern Border Terrier Club Members Limited Breed Show
6th Mar 2016
Judge: Mr Colin Girling (Benattivo)
Many thanks to the Committee for the invitation to judge this prestigious event and there support on the day. Thanks also to my Stewards Rachel Larner & David Hunt who helped manage the ring so efficiently and effectively without drama or fuss. Thanks also to Show Manager Jane Roberts and Andrew Mooney for ring stewarding and announcing.
I really enjoyed my day in the spotlight and thank all of the exhibitors who worked so hard to present their dogs and accepted my decisions so gracefully. I was happy with all of my class winners and hopefully people could see my interpretation of the standard on display in the dogs and bitches I selected. There were some really tough decisions and some very close calls for top 3 placings in some classes. I was delighted with my BoB, Reserve and Best puppy. There were many youngsters and older dogs and bitches that were a delight to go over, which gives me great encouragement.
Maiden - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Placing Critique
A handy sized smaller dog with appealing head who was easily spanned, coat just coming through.
Novice - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
The Sothern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
11th Jun 2016
Judge: Professor S P Dean (Tyrian)
It was a pleasure to judge the SBTC Championship Show and very pleasing to do so on their return to the Cheltenham racecourse. The new venue on the racecourse site has impressive facilities and they helped to provide a good atmosphere all day.
The bitch classes were generally very much better than the dog classes and the number of border terriers with thick pelts and a good coat was impressive. Heads are very much improved although some deep stops and large heavy ears cost a few dogs a higher placing.
In general terms the construction of hindquarters has improved but we are now seeing some dogs which have too much bend of stifle and end up with their hocks well behind their tail root when standing. Lay-back of shoulders has also improved yet some still have those relatively upright shoulders which yield a stilted movement in front. In addition, we need to keep the narrowness of the breed in mind, the border terrier does not have a rounded chest and should be well ribbed back as a result.
I struggled to span quite a few male dogs but the bitches were much better. Dentition was very good overall and very strongly made teeth was most enjoyable to find and always an impressive quality to see when examining a border terrier’s mouth.
Finally it was nice to see a few dogs with the characteristic thick carrot-shaped tail which, when set on correctly, always finishes the overall picture. Keep in mind it is an asset for the working terrier.
At the end there were some very promising youngsters who will contribute the future of the breed and several very high quality Border Terriers competing for Best in Show.
Yearling - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Placing Critique
21 mo. Won on his correct size and overall balanced conformation. Heavily coated, well made beneath. Liked his hindquarters and he moved well. With handling and some coat care could do quite well.
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Placing Critique
as before
The Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
18th Sep 2016
Judge: Mrs Chris Davis (Hesselemere)
Firstly my thanks to the Committee of Southern Border Terrier Club for the invitation to judge their show this year. I thoroughly enjoyed my day. It was lovely to see such a good bunch of Borders as I have not been around any shows of late due to other commitments. The quality was excellent; I was really pleased with both my line ups, but particularly the males. Size was very pleasing, as was condition, well muscled animals that could do a day’s work. Temperaments were excellent too. The breed is ‘looking good’.
Novice - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Camberley & DCS Open Show
20th Nov 2016
Judge: Janet Benton
Post Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Open /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Buckinghamshire CS Open Show
28th Jan 2017
Judge: Mr Ivor Hemmings (Courtington)
Post Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Open /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Maidenhead & DCS Open Show
18th Feb 2017
Judge: Gemma Vaughan nee Alpe (Holteal)
Post Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Open /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
The Southern Border Terrier Club Members Limited Show
5th Mar 2017
Judge: Mrs Jill Stevens (Cobstoneway)
I would like to thank the committee for giving me the honour of judging at this lovely show, with special appreciation to show manager Jane Roberts, and ring stewards Sandra Girling and Sheila Hales. Most of all, I would like to thank the exhibitors for giving me the privilege of going over their lovely dogs.
With the phrase “Essentially a working terrier” in mind, I was satisfied that my main winners fitted the breed standard and moved soundly with good reach and drive. Coats also played a part, and although I appreciate that coats come and go, they did matter on the day. All the dogs were entire, there were a couple of level bites and the odd tooth out of line, but most exhibits were really nicely turned out. The puppy classes were very promising, and at the other end of the scale it was nice to see the veterans enjoying their day.
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Placing Critique
2 year old grizzle and tan dog of handy size, being easily spannable. Nice head with keen expression and strong muzzle. Good angulation fore and aft, moved and showed well.
Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Crufts
9th Mar 2017
Judge: Miss Sally Leslie (Risdene)
It was a great honour and pleasure to examine a superb entry of 250 dogs with 28 absentees. I was conscious that the judging period available had to be used wisely. My profound thanks to all exhibitors, my splendidly efficient stewards Mr R and Mrs A Green and the marvellous exhibitor who provided the red chair as my unofficial ring marker (even if she did occasionally have the temerity to sit in it) for co-operating famously to ensure that we completed our task in a timely manner while hopefully enabling everyone an equal opportunity to put their best foot forward.
To go over something special and send it round and see proof that it meets the crucial test of health and conformation makes the pulse quicken. I was looking for typical, well knit, well conditioned, free moving specimens exhibiting all the breed characteristics we need to retain while trying to minimise undesirable aspects. This is a natural and unexaggerated breed and my ultimate line-ups pleased me immensely displaying exactly what I was seeking
Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
The Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
11th Jun 2017
Judge: Mr Arthur Cuthbertson (Ashbrae)
My thanks to the Club for my appointment which I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you to the Officers and Committee for their hospitality and gift. Thanks to my stewards Tina Morgan and Jane Roberts for the efficient way they kept the show moving along. I was very pleased with my final line ups, which were all presented in very good coat and condition. I would have been happy to have awarded at least 3 CC’s in each sex. All the dogs placed had correct dentition which was very pleasing. Movement has improved since the last time I judged. However I do think more thought should be taken regarding heads as a lot appear to be lacking strength under the eye and jaw, which results in losing the otter like head.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
17th Sep 2017
Judge: Mr Gordon Dyer (Ruffenuf)
Firstly may I thank the SBTC Committee for inviting me to judge this Open Show. I felt very honoured. I thoroughly enjoyed my day. The ring ran smoothly with the help of my stewards and the whole venue had a pleasing and pleasant atmosphere. It was nice to see some old and many new faces. May I also thank the exhibitors for handling their dogs confidently and accepting my decisions. I was very impressed with the quality of the dogs and I only found one bad mouth and two sprung ribs. I had a few challenging decisions to make and uncoated dogs had to be penalised. Mostly the dogs were all in fit condition and able to do a day’s work. I was very impressed with my final line up and to have such sound dogs
representing the breed.
Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Placing Critique
3yr old grizzle dog, not the strongest of heads but had a good mouth and eye. Larger ear than I would have liked, full of confidence.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
The Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
9th Jun 2018
Judge: Mr W Shorthose (Cundytyke)
It is always a particular honour to judge a Breed Club Championship Show and my thanks go to the committee for their hospitality and my stewards who kept things running smoothly. I found only two poor mouths but more had wrong, thin skins and some needed to go home for a good feed. A working terrier needs to be correctly muscled and too many needed nourishment and exercise. The biggest problem, however, remains poor front movement showing both incorrect shoulders and, for some, over angulation in the hindquarters.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Onthill Pathfinder
Placing Critique
Bit smaller than others in the class but balanced. Could move with a bit more drive from behind.
