Show Placings
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
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
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.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
The Welsh Kennel Club
14th Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Jill Peak (Bayard)
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
Placing Critique
7 months bitch just needs to settle on the move, needs time. Good head proportions, clean neck, nice body and outline
Driffield Championship Dog Show
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Julie Fletcher (Northborders)
I was so excited to be invited to give tickets for the first time so a big thank you to Driffield Committee for the invite but especially to the exhibitors for my fabulous entry
I found some really lovely dogs to go over and in some classes I wished I had more awards to give out , I was very pleased with my final line ups
Temperaments all day were very good. I didn't see one cross word between the dogs , Coats as always were varying and in some classes it was a consideration. The open and limit classes were of the highest quality and very enjoyable to judge
I thoroughly enjoyed my day and such a privilege to be able to go over all of your dogs , thank you
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
Placing Critique
a slightly taller grizzle and tan puppy , lovely feminine head with a lovely keen expression, nice small ears that a placed nicely , narrow throughout, she flows lovely from head through her nicely laid shoulders in good correct double jacket , she's showed well just needs to tighten up in her movement
Class Critique
Lots of promise in this class
Driffield Championship Dog Show 49th
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Bob Wright (Totherend)
My thanks to the Driffield Championship Show Committee for the opportunity to go over a quality entry and a real thank you to the exhibitors for entering and coping with the unusual arrangements.
I know many expect to see a line up all of a type but you can only put up what is entered and you can’t deny a quality dog that is within the standard over a poorer exhibit of a type you personally prefer.
After the show I was re-introduced light heartedly (I hope) to a dog described by the exhibitor as “the one I didn’t like”, which I suspect is the interpretation many exhibitors of beaten dogs have. As a general rule I believe it’s much more likely that a beaten dog is in fact a liked dog but that on the day there may have been others that were liked more!
Over the years there have been many different concerns about where the breed is heading but I’m pleased to say that some of these look to have been put to bed. I saw lots of good mouths with big strong teeth and only two level bites. Loose thick pelts were a plenty and I’m delighted to see the return of good full coats shown with pride. There were no kinked tails but a good carrot tail is now as rare has hens teeth with flag poles more the norm.
Some puppies are coming in large and leggy and many entries were borderline for spanning. Close rear movement and loose fronts were a blight on some otherwise good dogs.
However, with the exception of a couple of classes, most exhibits were of real quality and I’m sure many exhibitors were left wondering why they never got placed. The answer is that you probably deserved one but I only had 5 to give and in some cases the 5th could equally well have been first. Limit bitch was absolutely full of quality and in Open bitch they were all well worthy of a CC with little to choose between them.
So overall I’m pleased with our efforts to produce quality exhibits but ditch the flag poles and enjoy the champions that you all take home.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
Placing Critique
Well handled and presented, her lines were kinder on the eye than her sister (placed 1) with similar attributes, but preferred the movement of 1.
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.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
Placing Critique
7 month old puppy bitch. Promising head with correct proportions between muzzle and skull. Dark eye with lovely expression. Correct dentition. Very pleasing in outline. Level topline, good length to her rib which she carried well back. Good underline. Narrow and deep with straight front legs and catlike feet. Good front and rear angulation. Short, thick tail. Double, harsh coat. Moved fine in side profile.
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.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
Placing Critique
Another lovely youngster in good coat. She had a level top line and carried her tail correctly. Correct bite and Spannable. She looks a little out of proportion at the moment, but hopefully will grow into herself. Moved well.
Class Critique
very close decision for first 3 placings
Darlington Championship Show
13th Sep 2025
Judge: Mrs. Carolyn Richardson (Staynorwood)
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
21st Sep 2025
Judge: Gentle Lowe (Rockslade)
Best Puppy - Bitch
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
Novice - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress
