Show Placings
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
9th Nov 2013
Judge: Mrs S Williams (Hollybridge)
I would like to thank the Scottish Club for the invitation. It was an honor to judge at this friendly and hospitable club’s show. Huge thanks must go to my very capable & experienced Steward Joyce Orr and her excellent helpers, Jim Stewart in the morning and Helen McKenzie in the afternoon. All did a super job.
Thanks too to the kitchen ladies for the amazing lunch.
I was very pleased to have such a super quality entry. I could have easily given out more tickets if they had been available. Some close decision at times, a true reflection on the high quality of the entries. Presentation of the dogs was very good, mouths too on the whole were correct with only the odd exception. Feet, I was pleased to see a vast majority of neat cat like feet on the dogs, no long hare feet. Tails again seem to be improving, not as many of the over long sickle ones that I have noticed in the past. Coats and pelts: while coats are transient and of course some had more than others on the day, texture was very good and the vast majority had good thick and loose pelts. I think the breed overall is in a good place.
Just one point I noticed, some dogs had to take a lot of steps to cover the ground, watching out that our dogs move with drive is very important and I was happy with my winners in that they, in my opinion, covered the ground well.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Placing Critique
Litter sister to the minor dog winner and very similar comments. Another happy puppy loving her day and showing her socks off. Loved the personality and look of this super dark grizzle puppy. Just 6mth old. She has a beautiful head and expression, strong but feminine .Good straight front and good rear angulation. She moved out well covering the ground with ease. Super coat & pelt. I predict great things for these two babies!
Cumberland Canine Association
2nd Feb 2014
Judge: Mrs Jill Stevens (Cobstoneway)
My thanks to the committee for inviting me to judge and for their hospitality on the day. Thanks also to the exhibitors for a lovely entry of quality dogs. All exhibits were clean and nicely turned out, and I found no kinked tails, only one imperfect bite, and all males were entire.
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Placing Critique
8 month grizzle and tan bitch. Just a baby, but excellent movement to win this strong class. Nice expression and good bite, but head needs time to develop and muzzle strengthen. Lovely reach of neck into well laid back, narrow shoulders. Spanned with ease. Good length of body with flat ribs carried well back. Sturdy hind quarters giving plenty of drive.
Jarrow and Hebburn Canine Society Open Show
9th Feb 2014
Judge: Anna Duxbury (Ridgebow)
I would very much like to thank the officers and committee for offering me this appointment, and for their hospitality. Thanks also to the ring steward who kept things running smoothly, and of course to all the exhibitors for allowing me the privilege of going over their dogs. Temperaments on the day were excellent, coats were very varied. I found one dog with an incorrect bite and all male dogs were entire.
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Placing Critique
9m old dark grizzle bitch, flat skull, correct dentition, very feminine, narrow all through with nice straight legs and small neat feet. Good length of rib, thick pelt and very good coat. Good shoulder angulation making her very positive on the move for a youngster, with free striding action. Nicely balanced – should mature well.
Spennymoor & District Canine Society
16th Feb 2014
Judge: Ms Judith Fawcett (Carrock)
Special Yearling /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
22nd Feb 2014
Judge: Mrs Karen Stockley (Foxfactor)
My thanks to the Officers and Committee for giving me the opportunity to undertake my first Breed Club judging appointment and my stewards Ken Mackenzie and Margaret Warren for their assistance in the ring.
My enjoyable day started with the picturesque drive to the venue, in the sunshine, a rarity lately! Grateful thanks also to the competitors for an entry of 111 (5 NFC) making 141 entries affording me the opportunity to go over some lovely dogs and sportingly accepting my choices.
The majority were in good coat and condition, a couple difficult to span, due more to being a little plump rather than in construction. All males were entire (a few would have benefited from a hygienic wipe for better presentation !), no kinked tails, one incorrect mouth and a couple of 'acceptable' level bites and some teeth really needed cleaning. I was surprised by the amount of untidy feet and overlong claws considering how claws can ultimately affect posture, balance and movement. I was pleased with both my line ups and had some close decisions to make.
Best Puppy - Bitch
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Best Puppy
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Placing Critique
9mths dark grizzle,litter sister to Res BPIS, a very appealing puppy ,head just right for her age,nothing overdone,good bite,sweet expression from lovely dark eyes,well placed ears set close to cheeks,correct bite,good for bone ,straight narrow front,small neat feet,shown in excellent texture coat and pliable pelt,well ribbed back into strong loin,easily spanned,level top line and correct shape and length tail straight off her back,she has a good reach from well angulated front and drives forward from equally well angulated rear assembly,lovely true mover,a worthy winner and pleased to award her BPB and BPIS.
Whitehaven & District Canine Association Open Show
16th Mar 2014
Judge: Mr S McArdle (McArmadale)
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG2, Howthwaite Amethyst
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
National Terrier Club
5th Apr 2014
Judge: Mr David Hunt (Ottaswell)
My thanks to the committee of the National Terrier Club for their invitation to judge at this group championship show. Thanks also to my stewards Brian Doyle and John Callow for their help and assistance in keeping me organised and the ring running smoothly. My appreciation also to the exhibitors for such a large entry in these tough financial times.
The ring was large with lots of space for dogs to move freely without being forced to stop/start. In general the dogs were in good condition. I found 1 dog that was not entire. Although teeth were mostly OK, apart from a few misaligned, they varied greatly in size. Coats varied as always but I judge on the day and lack of coat is taken into account when placing exhibits. I was concerned at the number of exhibits down on their pasterns, not giving the small feet as required. Many younger exhibits would really benefit from regular ringcraft experience.
Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Placing Critique
Darker g/tan same age as the winner but a shade heavier. Dark eyed well set with good bite. Straight front and elbows tucked well in Liked her body length, good rib and strength over the loin. Good front and rear angles, with a muscular rear end used to move steadily both ways. Coat at its best, thick with undercoat on a good pelt.
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
13th Apr 2014
Judge: Professor A S Milton (Baillieswells)
It was a great pleasure to judge my own club’s championship show. The venue is excellent, and I was able to experience this from the judge’s side of the table. The show was run very smoothly, and I was particular grateful to Beverley Jackson who, as chief steward, saw that everything was in the right place at the right time. I was pleased with my class winners, though some of the lower placing were a little problematic. As one would expect at this time of the year, with a few exceptions, coats were excellent. I seem to go on about movement every time I judge. I was pleased to note that wide fronts were fewer than before, however we seem to be going in the opposite direction,, with front paws nearly touching on the move. In my opinion the top-line should either be level or slightly sloping downwards to the hind legs. There were several exhibits in which the slope was the other way, with the top of the hind legs above the front legs. This is a wrong. There were several tails that were far too long. There was only one really bad mouth, the dog in question should not in my opinion be shown, and a couple with an incisor out of alignment. And that raises a question. The first line of the standard states ‘Essentially a working terrier’. Does a minor tooth misalignment affect the ability of the dog to work? Any judge can see a fault in the mouth and penalize it, and yet miss other faults which can indeed affect the working ability. Similarly how important are missing teeth? Many a Border has one or more of the first premolars missing or not properly erupted. The standard makes no mention of teeth other than in the context of a scissor bite. At least we are not obsessed with counting teeth as are the Germans.
Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Placing Critique
Litter sister to 2nd in puppy dog. What an excellent pair these are. Good bitchy head with excellent reach of neck, good topline and good tail set. Well angulated hind quarters. Good tough coat.
Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
19th Apr 2014
Judge: Mrs. Joyce Martin (Merumhor)
I would like to thank the Northern Border Terrier Club for their kind invitation to judge at this show, my first breed club appointment. I was well looked after by the committee and their hospitality was wonderful. I would like to thank my 2 ring stewards - Tracy Peacock and Allen Horner - who were very efficient in keeping me right and kept everything running smoothly. It was a great privilege for me to have such an excellent entry and of such good quality to go over. Thank you to all those who gave me this opportunity and for taking my decisions so sportingly.
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Placing Critique
This dark grizzle and tan puppy is almost 1 year old, litter sister to my 1st placed puppy dog winner. She is a very similar type shown in a super harsh full coat with plenty of pelt. She has a good head not quite the strength of muzzle as her brother. She has a lovely dark eye and good expression. She has a good narrow straight front and has a lovely top line which she carried well on the move and her tail wagged all the time enjoying her day in the ring. She has a good length of body and is a racy type. Moved soundly.
Northumberland County Agricultural Society
26th May 2014
Judge: Mr. Bob Wright (Totherend)
My thanks to the organisers, stewards and exhibitors for a very welcoming and well supported show despite having to overcome the queues, mudbath and delays they faced before the start of judging. A few exhibits were borderline spanable, a couple had poor dentition and several had weak muzzles but there were plenty of loose pelts, harsh coats, neat feet and quality dogs. It was particularly pleasing to see some full and natural coats which seemed most appropriate for the wild and beautiful surroundings of the show. Ground conditions didn’t help movement but all the exhibits were well behaved and most well presented. I have a view that bitches tend to suffer a little in mixed classes but I tried to be even handed in this respect.
Junior /
Third Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Scottish Kennel Club
23rd Aug 2014
Judge: Mr Eddie Houston (Earthwise)
My first appointment at this level. My thanks to the society for inviting me and to my two very efficient stewards, Lorrraine and Barbara, who kept things moving.
I was very pleased with both my line ups and feel that my main winners were excellent examples of the breed. Many dogs were sporting dense, tweedy jackets but, as is always the case, some were lacking in coat and this did influence some of the placings. Mouths were good and only one dog was unspannable. On the downside, size is an issue and some of the minor puppies are already up to size. Front movement could be better in a number of exhibits and a few were carrying too much weight.
My sincere thanks to all those who entered and afforded me the privilege of going over their dogs.
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Placing Critique
Grizzle bitch with lovely bodylines.Good neck and shoulder,straight front,neat feet.Double coat overlying good pelt.Well shown on a loose lead.Head still developing.One of the best movers of the day.
Richmond Championship Dog Show
6th Sep 2014
Judge: Mr W Gray (Pontbeck)
Thanks go to my stewards for making the day run smoothly and to the exhibitors for their enthusiasm for the breed and the sporting way they took my decisions.
Since the hunting bill I 've been concerned how the breed would keep to the line in the breed standard " Essentially a working terrier " as the opportunities for work have been reduced and the spin off as to why we require a double coat and the dog to be narrow all through may be lost to some exhibitors who haven't the opportunity to work or know someone who does or has worked their dogs. There was evidence today that we may have lost sight of the fact that this is a working breed. I'm not suggesting that all Borders should work but that all Borders should be capable to work and those who are closest to the breed standard should be able to do the job required of them.
There were a few exhibits with single coats today, look very smart but would soon pay the price on a cold wet winters day if they had to be out in the elements for any length of time. Some exhibits were carrying a little too much weight and quite a number would benefit from a good walk, some with little muscle.
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Driffield Agricultural Society Championship Dog Show
20th Sep 2014
Judge: Mrs A C Fryer (Irton)
Thanks to the exhibitors for giving me a lovely entry and to my stewards for keeping the ring running efficiently throughout. We had a good day with a very very slight drizzle; the exhibitors and exhibits seemed untroubled but it did cause the ringside to flee temporarily! There were some very good dogs present and I enjoyed all my winners but there are always some buts, and looking through my notes there was a preponderonce of “OK” over “good”. The standard asks for a dog that has the soundness to follow a horse; this, of course, must be understood in the context of a terrier working with the Hunt on rough moorland ground, but even so only the minority of exhibits could meet this requirement. Inadequate angulation leads to poor ground covering ability and untidy front movement – evident in a lot of exhibits. Whilst most exhibitors take the trouble to present their dogs as well as possible, a number were unfit and lacking muscle tone and would one of the Breed Clubs please put on a grooming seminar which shows exhibitors how to prepare feet and nails?? It is clearly needed. I forgive coats since these are outwith your control and sadly some excellent dogs had to pay the price for coming without a jacket.
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Placing Critique
Attravtive grizzle, not as strong in head as the first two but again really well made. Good angulations and balance but not quite the bone, good rib with a good tail and tailset, shown in a good coat. Another who moved out really well to complete a very impressive trio of young bitches.
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
27th Sep 2014
Judge: Mr Frank Nicholls (Halcus)
My grateful thanks to the committee and officers for their brilliant hospitality and to stewards Doreen Rushby and Graham Richardson for their hard work and attempts at keeping me out of trouble. An excellent entry with real quality present in both dogs and bitches. Unfortunately, at the risk of sounding like a stuck record, front movement was a real problem in quite a few exhibits, not I might add in the top winners, but unfortunately occasional compromises had to be made in this respect in some classes when filling some of the lower placings.
Junior - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
Carlisle & District Canine Society
4th Jan 2015
Judge: Mr Mark Lowry (Ravenside)
Yearling /
Second Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Amethyst
