Show Placings
Manchester Championship Show
15th Jan 2009
Judge: Mr David Winsley
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Crufts
5th Mar 2009
Judge: Professor S P Dean (Tyrian)
A demanding day with 247 entered, my sincere thanks to all who entered and showed patience when decisions needed time. Also my gratitude goes to our ring stewards who were simply outstandingly efficient. I was very proud of the ticket line-ups and thought the BOB looked superb in the group. What was encouraging was there were many dogs down the line that would not have been out of place there and ?splitting hairs? became a routine technique in several classes to find class winners. Reflecting on the day leaves some lasting impressions. There is no doubt the breed has made great advances in head conformation. Good otter heads with strength in muzzle and strong teeth were very much in evidence. Ears by and large are good but with a trend towards largeness and heaviness which we must reverse. It is very difficult to change the ear shape so embedding any coarseness now must be of concern. Movement too has improved over the years largely driven by progress on stifle angulation but let’s not go too far here as some excess is creeping in. Shoulders still need attention with many severely lacking lay back and of more concern some foreleg assemblies are placed too far forward so fore-chests are vanishing. This produces flashiness but it is wrong. Coats and pelts were generally good and the majority were capable of being spanned. Flat feet were in evidence perhaps driven by a tough winter and lack of exercise but remember this is a sporting breed and needs fitness to be fully appreciated. As a result many nice dogs lost out because of a lack of muscle or flat feet. We have a healthy breed and this was supported by those in the veteran classes and with an 8 year old winning BOB perhaps this is proof enough.
Special Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Joint BTBC Championship Show
2nd May 2009
Judge: Mr A Tomlinson (Lyndhay)
A few pointers that need addressing. Coat, the standard requires harsh and dense with a close undercoat, not a single one, as many exhibits carried today. Feet and nails, nails were unduly long, hair around the feet needed lots of attention. Also movement, it is not getting any better may be worse, rear movement was worse than front and appeared as if they were on stilts. On the positive side mouths seemed better, I found many with excellent strong teeth set correctly with a good bite
Yearling - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Decent head with keen eye and strong teeth similar to one in body, in very good coat, moved well
Southern Counties Canine Association
6th Jun 2009
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Thank you to all the exhibitors for your huge entry, it?s a good job we went outside for Limit Dog as we would not all fit into the inside wet weather ring. I really enjoyed judging the dogs more than the bitches not often is the case but today it was.
Coats were either non existence, blown or half and half, just a handful were in double coat and they looked the part. One bad mouth, one had a front tooth missing, all dogs were entire and no bitches in season
Yearling - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Southern Border Terrier Championship Show
13th Jun 2009
Judge: Mr William Gillot (Weegee)
It was a great honour to judge this show and I appreciated the large entry and the sporting way my decisions were received by the exhibitors. My overall impression is that the dogs have more quality in depth at the moment and that mouths no longer seem to be a problem in the show dogs. Size and movement are a constant worry, especially front movement where quite a lot were actually crossing in front, something not helped by exhibitors stringing up their dogs. Other judges have remarked that some of the dogs are getting too coarse in the head with too short a muzzle, but on the other hand a lot of the bitches seem too snipey and weak in the jaw, not what we want in a working terrier.
Yearling - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Blackpool & District CS
26th Jun 2009
Judge: Miss Sarah Dandy (Dandale)
Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Best mover in class, particularly liked his size and soundness. Pleasing head with moderate neck into a good topline and tailset. Well angulated forehand with defined wither and a good layback of shoulder matched by well constructed racy hindquarters. Balanced, narrow bodylines with a good underline, ribs carried well back. Moved out well in profile and tracked very true.
Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
2nd Aug 2009
Judge: Mr T Tuck (B) & Mrs J Tuck (D)
Dogs, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Committee for inviting me to judge the dog classification at their 25th anniversary show, also my very able stewards Christine Horner, and Chris Wallace who did a great job with the organisation of my ring.
Bitches,
I thoroughly enjoyed this appointment, thanks to my experienced stewards and an entry that contained some really outstanding examples of the breed. I really liked my winners, and handled some extremely promising youngsters. Having said that, the early classes were much more variable, with fewer exhibits that combined quality and breed type. Later classes were more consistent, and it was nice to find a few more classy otter-like heads and neat front construction.
Yearling - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Welsh Kennel Club
22nd Aug 2009
Judge: Mr Paul Wilkinson
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Grizzle typy make moving well look a picture stacked in nice coat condition.
City of Birmingham Canine Association
5th Sep 2009
Judge: Mrs Kathy Wilkinson (Otterkin)
An excellent entry awaited me at the City of Birmingham show, not only in numbers, but also in the depth of quality. In many classes, I found myself wishing for more than 5 places to award and sadly, dogs left the ring which I really liked and would have been happy to place on another day. In more than a couple of classes, it was very hard to decide on the 1st 5 in order and many went down the line because of coat texture and thickness, although on another day, in better coat, they would have fared better. As I have not been to many shows this year, it was good to view some dogs for the first time, including my Best of Breed, who I was pleased to ?find?, only to later discover she has already been found on a number of occasions, although not at this level!
I apologise for the lateness of this critique. Besides flying out to an appointment to judge in Italy only a couple of days after the show, we have had some personal and medical issues to deal with regarding the welfare of my elderly mother in law. As I write this, we have still not finalised arrangements for her, but hope to do so soon, so I hope you will understand that sometimes, dog shows do not come first.
On the way to the showground, my car made some terrifying noises when I touched the brake pedal and so, that will explain to anyone wondering, why I had to stop judging for a second or two to find my car keys for the AA man, who kindly fixed it at the hotel car park for us and saved us a long trip home on the back of a low loader.
An eventful weekend, made wonderful by the number of top class Border Terriers present at the show.
Many thanks must go to the very experienced and helpful ring stewards, Mr and Mrs Wright, who had the dogs present and ready for inspection at the start of every class and so enabled me to finish in plenty time for the Terrier Group. Good ring management was important with an entry of 185 dogs, making 193 entries (plus one or two whose entries had not been received and less a couple of NFC). This was the highest number in the Terrier Group today and I would like to thank all the exhibitors for allowing me the pleasure of going over their dogs. The absentee rate of dogs entered was 23.5%.
Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Smaller type dog, shorter in body and in this case would prefer more bend of stifle. Loved his flat skull, but he falls away a little under the eye. Good dark eye with varminty expression. Well off for bone and good small tight feet.
Richmond Championship Show
12th Sep 2009
Judge: Mrs Janet Lee (Tythrop)
Sincere apologies to my exhibitors, the committee failed to inform me the proposed order of group judging had changed & the Terrier group was brought forward, the tannoy call was the 1st thing I knew about it. My back spasm during junior dog meant I was reduced to shuffling, sorry.
Most dogs were new to me & temperaments in the ring were good, my winners could do the job they were intended for being free from coarseness & lumber, spannable & narrow, with corresponding good construction & movement.
Several heads were short in skull & blocky, more resembling the balance of an Asian Short Clawed Otter, than an English one, the latter have longer than broad flat skulls, clean cheeks & relatively short muzzles parallel in profile to their skull, Borders should have large teeth with good scissor bite to be effective. Today, square, deep skulls, often with round eyes & very short narrow muzzles with small teeth were in evidence. These too strong square heads tended to have heavy fronts & frames to match.
Many fronts were placed too far forward with pro-sternum behind point of shoulder, which lacked length & layback, the too short & steep upper arms having no support, badly affecting movement, the dogs moved away with their fronts crossing, when only two legs should be visible. As an alternative a few were close behind & swung in front, so again "four legs". Profile movement lacked ?travel?, being up & down short choppy strides rather than smooth & forward going with drive off the hocks.
Although bone wasn't generally too fine nor too heavy some didn't have enough through pasterns into feet, & they lacked the depth of pad to ensure soundness if worked regularly.
My major concern, however, was coats & especially pelts. When I came into the breed Borders were shown in deep double coat, always.Dogs then looked heavier than they were due to these double coats & lots of pelt which the standard says MUST be thick - not because they had big frames with drum tight skins.. Coat density & pelt are directly related, no coat, thus thin skin, but they should still be loose & pliant. Tight, paper thin skins without depth of under or topcoat is not what the standard calls for, nor any use to a working terrier. A great advantage to the dog is a continuous double coat that can be worked or shown all year round.
Yearling - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Handy sized light grizzle of almost 2. Balanced outline, refined head with good proportions, good bite, would prefer a better eye & expression. Narrow front, easily spanned flat rib of good length. Well angulated hindquarters . A little short of coat today. Moved freely & very accurately
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
20th Sep 2009
Judge: Mrs Elly Weijenborg-Weggemans (Netherlands)
I felt very honoured when I received the invitation to judge at the Open Show and was glad that I could accept this. What an opportunity to see and go over so many Borders in one day. Of course I have seen many Borders during the 40 years that I have lived with them but to see so many together is not possible on the continent. When I received the entry details I really was surprised and felt even more honoured then.
The Venue was good but unfortunately it was one of the warmest days and in the hall the temperature rose quite quickly. Nevertheless almost all Borders presented there showed until the very end of the day.
The judging went smoothly not in the least because of my exceptionally efficient steward, Peter Roderick, who took care of calling in the next class on time and made sure that there were no mistakes because of the re-entries which I am not used to. Many thanks also to my ring stewards!
I was surprised by the high quality presented to me. In some classes it meant that I could not always place otherwise nice exhibits. All Borders behaved themselves wonderfully when being handled, even inexperienced ones. Just one exception to that was a dog that didn't like to be handled on the table, which is not Border like.
It occurred to me that it is becoming to be a habit to string the dogs when moving. It worsens their movement in a lot of cases and for me they should be moved with a loosened lead. For some exhibits it made the difference in being placed or not. I found on the whole just a few problems. Just one wrong bite and one tail that was not correct. Feet need attention. Just a few had lovely strong padded catlike feet. As well as front movement which is a real problem in the Border Terrier all over the world. Waving, almost crossing, loose, just a few had a parallel and straight front movement. On the other hand, side movement was in almost all exhibits free and with a long stride. A lot of coats were in between. But I could feel the correct texture being double and harsh.
I had a lovely day and want to thank the organisation for their efforts to make me and my sister ? who accompanied me ? feel welcome and of course all the exhibitors for entering and taking my decisions so sportingly. The atmosphere around the ring felt warm, friendly and relaxed.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Nice type of Border with a smooth outline. Narrow all through. Excellent topline. Good otter head. Nice legs and feet. Well angulated. Good thick and loose pelt and double coat. Moved well with a long stride and parallel. He didn’t really show himself off but a Border doesn’t need to be a show minding dog after all.
Midland Border Terrier Open Show
22nd Nov 2009
Judge: Mr Bob Wright (Totherend)
My appreciation goes to the MBTC officers and committee for the opportunity to judge such a good entry of BT?s and the stewards for their support during the show. Also to the many entrants who braved the adverse weather conditions. I trust none of them had to swim home.
I was delighted with the entry, a small number of which were more pet than show but I was happy to go over them, pleased to see their handlers? pride in them and hope they enjoyed their day out irrespective of placing. It is a reminder to us all that this is fundamentally a hobby to enjoy and to the more critical of us when we nit-pick that we are generally doing it to the cream of the breed.
The quality was for the most part high with some of the bigger classes bringing too many good dogs for the limited places which were very hard fought and I was disappointed to turn some otherwise good dogs away. A few were weighty, my small hands still spanned all but one at a stretch, one mouth was bad and two borderline but there were a couple that would have been better served having a square meal, a groom and a good walk than coming in the ring.
Coats were an issue. I found it difficult to penalise a good dog when it obviously had a double coat but had little to show for it due to grooming. So despite some dogs being well placed I would still have preferred to see them with a more natural coat.
There was a lot going on with front movement which often paid a penalty and thigh muscle tone was at a premium so perhaps the weather also affected exercise regimes. It was particularly difficult to ignore movement completely in some of the very promising puppies but I'm hopeful there will be a dramatic improvement as they mature.
Well done to the more junior handlers who did a good job but were obviously shown no quarter in the placings. Don't be discouraged, you've got plenty of shows ahead of you.
I was well pleased with all my winners and the fact that others could have done the positions justice too. So here we go:
Limit - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Sound grizzle dog, good size with a masculine head, correct bite, harsh double coat, level topline to good tailset, narrow, well muscled, moved well and freely on neat thick padded feet.
Ladies Kennel Association
12th Dec 2009
Judge: Mrs Jayne Alpe
Thank you to the LKA committee for this appointment, my first time giving CC’s, my thanks to my stewards who kept the judging flowing smoothly. I thoroughly enjoyed my appointment and overall was pleased with the quality of my entry. My final line ups were all good examples of the breed, both in type, conformation and also in movement, which is what I was looking for. In some classes I was delighted at the quality forward, in particular limit and open bitch, which meant some very good bitch’s were unplaced. Overall I found movement better than I have seen it in the past, although there is still a lack of drive from a number of dogs. Not sure that they could do a full days work as they were meant to, without tiring. Front movement still needs looking to as well. I was disappointed to find one or two with misplaced teeth and some with untypical expressions and light eyes. My principal winners were exactly what I was looking for in the breed, as I do feel that what we are lacking in the breed at the moment is real stallions of dogs and femininity in the bitch’s. I was delighted to learn after judging that my best puppies were litter brother and sister.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
very masculine dog, with harsh double jacket, excellent bite with big teeth, narrow with correct tail set, sound and true on the move.
Manchester Canine Society
21st Jan 2010
Judge: Mr W Shorthose (Cundytyke)
It was, again, a pleasure to judge the breed. I thought that there was a lack of depth in quality in some classes though those which were placed were more representative of the Breed Standard. A few entries lacked true breed type and one almost questioned what other breed was involved in their lineage. The most recurring fault was in front movement which was a testament to some loaded shoulders.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
The size, weight and shape to be capable of carrying out the function of a working terrier. Ribs carried well back, fairly deep but narrow. Not overdone in any way, well balanced.
Crufts
12th Mar 2010
Judge: Mrs L.A. Crawley
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
very attractive type of correct size, nice body with correct ribs, good topline, enough substance and bone, racy sort who moved better than most in the class, good enough head but would like a more positive attitude as shown by the eventual winners.
National Terrier
3rd Apr 2010
Judge: Mrs Valerie Furness (Quatford)
A big thank you to the National Terrier Club for inviting me to judge this prestigious show and thank you to my stewards especially Fred who as always put everybody and everything in order and kept the judging on the move and flowing.
I was looking for a true Border and was pleased with all my placings to-day, all of good quality. What I did notice was a lot of quantity but not a lot of quality. Front and hind movement looks to be getting worse, some exhibits were so lacking in bone that the front legs would make good knitting needles and some were actually doing knit one, pearl one when moving back towards me. I could see front pads on some as they were moving away. Hind movement was either too close or too wide, over-angulation needs to be watched. Top lines on the whole were good but there were some strange under-lines. A lot of exhibits were so short in muzzle that this made for very tight dentition, small feet were few and far between and tails in some were far too long, where have all the “carrots” gone. I only found three incorrect mouths and two abnormal tails. Some exhibits would benefit from more handling/ring-craft experience as their poor performance affected placings.
I think the Breed Standard would make good reading for some exhibitors.
On a positive note, temperaments overall where very good.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
East Anglia BTC Championship Show
18th Apr 2010
Judge: Mrs Trak Fryer (Irton)
I would like to thank the exhibitors for a lovely quality entry, the Club and committee for the appointment and my stewards Simon and Bev Jackson for their efficient help throughout the day. I was generally pleased with the overall quality, heads were good, pelts generally good and movement OK with many very typical exhibits on show. I was disappointed to find a number of poor mouths in the dog entry and to find a few exhibits presented down to the minute but totally lacking muscle, something that I find unacceptable in a dog with the Borders outlook on life.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
A competent dog with a reasonable head, ears set a little high or tending to fly. OK for bone and balance. He is in a good coat with a good pelt and he moves well as you would expect from this kennel.
Class Critique
A disappointing class in comparison to the last one.
National Dog Show
7th May 2010
Judge: Mr P Bakewell
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Three Counties Agricultural Society
10th Jun 2010
Judge: Mr G Corish
Was delighted to watch my BOB go G4 & my BP go PG1
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
12th Jun 2010
Judge: Mr J Bainbridge (Risdene)
A pleasing entry of 231 dogs with 55 absent on the day made for a representative entry without the classes being over sized. Generally the classes produced good winners none of whom looked out of place in the final line-ups. All were spannable and generally those in the cards were correct in this respect. Most exhibitors probably know by now what I look for in a typical Border Terrier and this was generally evident in today's entry.
Dog CC and BIS Hobholt Harrier JW (Mrs M A Wallace) such a lithe, mature 4 year old grizzle dog of impressive outline in super double coat and thick pelt, well presented, has a correctly proportioned otter head with keen expression, good length of neck into well laid shoulders, straight narrow front, ribbed back body into racy rear quarters which he used to move out well with long loping stride that is so economical for a dog that could go all day and get anywhere when required.
Dog RCC Brumberhill Blue Tempest (Mr S A McPherson) super outline and so well made throughout, and well presented in good coat and moved out well to take this award, just loved him for type.
BCC and RBIS, Brumberhill Breeze (Mr S A McPherson) in full, double grizzle coat and well conditioned. She has a super well balanced head, keen expression, terrific outline with correct flowing topline and well carried back ribs, shows a good underline, this bitch won the CC after much deliberation as all 3 bitches under consideration met the standard well and were active in movement and would have been worthy CC winners but today maturity held sway.
RBCC Yeomeadow Heather for Tyrian (Mrs K Dean). A lovely B/T bitch who was on top form today and has an excellent otter head and expression which finally decided the RCC over the yearling bitch winner.
BP Cobstoneway River Magic (Miss C Spencer) a mature dog puppy, shown in good coat and condition, well made throughout with good otter head and body lines, moved so well with long free gait to clinch this award.
BV CH Gameway Kiwi JW (Mrs P Clark) who was not showing his years, well presented in good coat and looking his best and a worthy champion
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
another nice type, so well made in good coat and condition and moved quite well
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.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Easily spanned dog of nice size, well presented in super coat and pelt, big teeth set in a strong jaw, looked good in profile movement retaining his good topline on the move.
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.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Midland BTC Championship Show
1st Aug 2010
Judge: Small & Baxter
I thoroughly enjoyed the day judged outside at Asfordby. The weatherman certainly smiles as all the Club’s Championship Shows to date have been blessed with clear sky’s. Thanks to the committee for the invite, to my two Stewards on the day, for the wonderful roast lamb lunch, but not least, to the exhibitors for giving me the opportunity of assessing your Border Terriers. Thanks for coming. (Judge: Mr A Small)
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Southern Counties
4th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr J Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Limit - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Slightly taller than 1st, nice head & expression, narrow front, excellent top line & tail set on high, ribs carried back on a slim body.
Crufts
11th Mar 2012
Judge: Mr Stewart McPherson (Brumberhill)
It was a great honour to be invited to judge at Crufts, possibly the pinnacle of anyone’s judging career. My thanks must go to the exhibitors for the entry of 264 dogs, making 304 entries, by far the largest entry for a single judge in the Group, which made for a very long day. Thanks also, must, go to my Stewards, Kim Lathaen and Eddie Bishop, for their efficient services, which ensured we finished just in time for my BOB to make the Terrier Group.
I last judged the Breed at LKA, just over three years ago. This was always going to be an interesting entry, after my preamble then, which was a bit “fire and brimstoneâ€, where I stated my deep concerns about the, in my opinion, untypical heads that were creeping into the Breed, gradually being accepted, as being correct, particularly the excessively broad skulls and high set ears. Therefore, knowing my preference for the otter like, MODERATELY broad skull, asked for in the Standard, I have to say, not without a little amusement, the “lollipop on a stick†type “Teddy Bear†heads with deep stops were almost conspicuous by their absence today!
While upper arm length was a major problem last time, in the younger classes, I found far fewer today that were totally unable to stand with their front legs underneath them, perpendicular to the floor, which, hopefully, was a good sign that Breeders are recognising and attempting to remedy the problem.
Movement, on the whole was pretty acceptable, behind especially. Front, maybe not quite as good, a small minority being rather less than accurate, flicking out, or toeing in. Most covered plenty of ground on the move.
The majority were spannable.
Most were in good, harsh coat, or evidence of texture coming through. I realise it’s the start of the show season, so those short of coat weren’t unduly penalised. My reasoning being, that, coats are transitory, whereas poor conformation will always be poor conformation, regardless of the wrapping.
I know they are a working Terrier, but, I have to say, considering the occasion, I was shocked at how dirty some of the dogs were. Some were thick with grease and would certainly have benefited from a bath, if only for their own comfort!
I was very pleased with both my line ups in the challenge for the CC’s, indeed, the first three in most classes. I felt that they all fitted my interpretation of the Standard and could, if required, do the job of a working Terrier.
Mid Limit - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Grizzle and Tan. Excellent otter head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet, topline and tail set. Narrow bodylines, with correct rib. Racy hindquarters. Shade short of coat, but harsh textures evident. Handy size, very well balanced. Typically Border, he is quite dour, but he was the soundest mover, being true and free.
Class Critique
Three good dogs headed this class.
Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
6th May 2012
Judge: Mr W Shorthose (Cundytyke)
Many thanks to the Committee of the Border Terrier Club, who were the hosts of this year’s Joint Border Terrier Club show, for inviting me to judge such a prestigious event. My thanks go, particularly, to my stewards, who kept things running smoothly and enabled me to get through a big entry in an unrushed way.
Overall, I felt the quality was reasonably high, with a lot to like. There were only a few which I felt could have done with a few square meals as they were a bit on the thin side. Exhibitors should know how to balance food intake with exercise to produce dogs in the correct condition. Lack of muscle on more was a greater problem. While the standard states ‘capable of following a horse’ many would have been tired following one round a stable yard let alone across country. This is evident when dogs are moved but not giving an active breed sufficient exercise also has an effect on their mental wellbeing.
There were a number of untypical heads. I wonder if some people don’t understand the proportions of an otter’s skull as some muzzles were lacking in breadth giving a ‘foxy’look, while other heads were too rounded giving the impression of a teddy bear. Mouths were not a big problem with only a couple incorrect and coats were also, generally, good. Most exhibits had an undercoat though there were quite a number which had thin skins. A good, thick, loose pelt is essential for a working terrier. Very few could not be spanned, so most would have been capable of getting to ground. A ‘one size fits all’ attitude does not really apply to working terriers as there are a variety of jobs and situations to be encountered but they do have to be able to get there in the first place.
I was very pleased with my top winners and extend my thanks to all the exhibitors.
Limit - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Radnorvalley Goshawk of Rhozzum
Placing Critique
Well shaped head with only slight stop. Big enough over the shoulder but carries his ribs well back. Good topline and tail-set.
