Show Placings
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Show
4th Jun 2023
Judge: Mrs V Atkinson (Raedwulf)
Thank you so much to the society for inviting me to judge this wonderful show. To my steward, Judy Carr, thank you for running my ring so efficiently, especially in the heat. Thanks must go to the ladies for our delicious lunch too. I was presented with some super examples of the breed and there were some tough decisions, especially in the bitches. I do also think the heat affected the performance of some as the day progressed. On the whole mouths were good, but a couple of very knotted tails and some dogs I was unable to span, even with generous allowance which would preclude them from fulfilling the breed standard of ‘essentially a working terrier’.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Placing Critique
Very smart bitch, different type to my winner. Well put together and stronger all round, she has a good head with strong jaw and correct bite, level top line and good tail carriage. Easily spannable and coat coming through. Movement was good both ways.
Border Union Agricultural Society
17th Jun 2023
Judge: Mr Colin Girling (Benattivo)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for giving me the opportunity to judge Border Terriers in their spiritual home territory. My stewards, Audrey & Judith did a great job in running the class changes efficiently on a hot humid day. It was a lovely entry, with many exhibits that I had not judged before – thank you all. I found some exhibits which could have been better prepared with attention to coat, body condition and clean teeth. A few level bites a couple of kink tails influenced placings but all dogs were entire and overall a nice group of BT’s to go over. My main winners had breed qualities that outweighed any imperfection, that in my opinion wouldn’t impact on its ability to perform its traditional work.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Placing Critique
To win this class, the coat and condition were outstanding on this feminine youngster, who had good reach of neck, nice shoulder and good rear angulation. She moved out with good length of stride and purpose, super pelt and top-line with well-set on carrot like tail. Went on to be best puppy bitch, just lost concentration on the move in the final challenge for best puppy. A very promising prospect.
Class Critique
This was an outstanding class of youngsters and the quality was in abundance, I had to move some good specimens that I liked down the line. It will be interesting to see which of these go on to bigger things?
Leeds Championship Show
29th Jul 2023
Judge: Mr Brian Aubrey (Jenabeck)
Thank you all for a wonderful entry, I had to make some difficult choices on the day, but as always, I judge the dog on the day friend or foe and not what the dog as done in the past or what it will do in the future.
a few things did concern me on the day (1 ) so Many dirty teeth, (2) a few unfit dogs due to being overweight, (3) and the most concerning is short legs on one or two of the borders,
Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Darlington Championship Show
17th Sep 2023
Judge: Mrs D Bullen (Fevstone)
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge for the second time. I had a good entry of 125 with a few absentees as is usual, the dogs were of varying types and sizes which is to be expected. The ones that were unspannable aren’t fit for function as they fall at the first hurdle so to speak.
There are quite a lot creeping into the breed of late which lack power in the foreface. Falling away below the eye with a foreign expression. Also lacking in underjaw. Again a weakness in the breed which needs addressing or we will lose these qualities essential to work. A lot now have too short an upperarm which is vital in construction as it propels the dog forward as he should cover the ground effortlessly striding out. Not Pitter patter slowly. On a more positive note I found a lot of quality true to type borders that were a pleasure to judge. Effortless free movement which is essential. I’m sure the breed will go on to have a bright future if we all keep to the breed type.
Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Placing Critique
Racier type than 1 Correct head proportions with dark ears. A neat harsh jacket and loose pelt, ribbed well back and easily spanned. Moved steadily.
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
30th Sep 2023
Judge: Mrs J Guvercin (Glebeheath)
Thank you to the committee for this appointment, everyone worked hard to make it an enjoyable day. This venue always has a super atmosphere, however, the ring is too small really to see outlines, being far too near the dogs and side profile movement is very difficult to see, let alone for the dogs to perform really well. Many moved poorly, not liking the smooth mats and although I had to judge them on this today, I think most would move much better outside in a big grass ring.
Best Puppy - Bitch
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Best Puppy
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Placing Critique
A quality grizzle in very good order with excellent coat and thick loose pelt. Super head and eye with neat ear and strong muzzle. Lovely balance to her medium length, well constructed, spannable body, stands on ideal boned legs and tight feet. Moved well in all directions, if a little flat at times, In beautiful condition and first class presentation. BPIS
Class Critique
Some very promising puppies.
The Scottish Kennel Club
1st Oct 2023
Judge: Mr M Armstrong (Bitcon)
Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
14th Oct 2023
Judge: Mrs Sue Baxter (Mysulan)
Firstly I’d like to thank The Border Terrier Club Committee for their very kind invitation to judge this Open show, I felt honoured and privileged . I thoroughly enjoyed my day and the hospitality on offer , the lunch certainly hit the spot..thank you Nancy Hogg. My two stewards, Jane Morton-Shaw and Marina Fleming kept things running smoothly and I am grateful for their support .
To the exhibitors , my thanks go unbounded as I had a lovely selection of good quality dogs to go over and there were certainly some tough decisions in many of the classes. It is an education to finally go over some of the dogs I have admired from the ring side. I am grateful that my decisions were taken, mostly in a sporting manner.
My general findings were , all males were intact , I found no kinked tails ( 1 dog had a bump on the underside of its tail , not a kink in my opinion), jackets were, as usual , at various stages of growth. I was impressed by the fact that all animals before me could be spanned , some a little easier than others.
Once again I feel compelled to comment on the state of nails and feet. In my opinion , many dogs had nails that were too long and some needed drastic fur trimming to enhance the shape of the feet.In my opinion it is a shame to groom your dogs for the ring but forget that ,especially whilst on the table, the judge has a perfect view of any, long nails and/or woolly “ Yeti” feet .
Best Puppy - Bitch
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Best Puppy
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Placing Critique
lovely balanced grizzle girl . On her last few days in puppy class. Super feminine head with good proportions , Muzzle and dentition excellent. Lovely dark eye. Ears of a nice size and well placed on a moderate skull . Nice neck transitions into clean shoulders.. Ribbed well back with a strong loin. Gorgeous harsh double jacket and plenty of loose pelt. Underline good, topline and tail set all as desired …..Movement good.. Best Bitch Puppy.
Midland Counties Championship Show
26th Oct 2023
Judge: Mr J Gilpin (Otterbobs)
I would like to thank the officers & committee for giving me the opportunity to judge the Border Terrier classes, & also a big thank you to Penny Winger & Gavin Argill my two ring stewards who kept things in order & also made sure we finished on time, and a special mention to my Best of Breed winner for attending the terrier group, and being rewarded with being short listed in the final seven.
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Placing Critique
Only just out of puppy, full of breed type, lovely otter head, good scissor bite with powerful jaw, dense harsh jacket, good length of body, stood on well padded feet, which were used well on the move.
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
24th Feb 2024
Judge: Libby Tanton-Joy (Itsaso)
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge their open show held at Jedburgh, the home of the border terrier. It was a great privilege, and I had some amazing dogs present who are a credit to their owners, thank you for bringing them.
Thank you to my stewards for organising the rings so smoothly and keeping me on track so we finished at a reasonable time. The hospitality was second to none and I would like to thank the whole committee for this.
Junior - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
The Midland Border Terrier Club 40th Anniversary Championship Show
4th Aug 2024
Judge: Mrs Jill Stevens (Cobstoneway)
I would like to thank the officers and committee of the club for inviting me to judge this 40th Anniversary show, and for the hospitality on the day. Thank you also to the hardworking stewards, it was a long and very busy day. Most of all, thank you to the exhibitors for giving me such a fabulous entry. I appreciated each and every exhibit, and had the privilege of going over so many quality dogs that difficult decisions had to be made and many lovely dogs went cardless. Foremost, I see the Border Terrier as ‘essentially a working terrier’ and was therefore looking for construction that would render this possible. A few exhibits were too big, too wide or too deep in brisket which might prevent them from going to ground, or even cause them to get stuck. A few had very thin skin – skin must be thick. Most bites were good, just a few with teeth out of line or missing. Coats come and go, so were understandably at different stages. However, on a working terrier a good hard coat does complete the picture. Good movement and a strong, even, economical gait comes from soundness of construction and the muscle tone of a well exercised dog. Therefore I looked for good layback of shoulder and the correct length and angle of upper arm to give a good reach in front, a strong loin, good bend of stifle and well angulated, well muscled hindquarters to give matching drive from the rear.
Yearling - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ravenside Home At Last
Placing Critique
Grizzle and tan with thick coat of good texture which would certainly offer protection. She had an excellent front with good shoulder placement and nice length and angle of upper arm. She carried her ribs well back, had a strong loin and well muscled hindquarters and moved out really well with a long, economical stride. Her head was pleasing, with a strong muzzle and big teeth. She had everything in moderation with no exagerations.
Class Critique
This was a close call between these two bitches.
