Show Placings
Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Show
30th May 2009
Judge: Mr Brian Aubrey (Jenabeck)
Open - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
Border Union Agricultural Society
20th Jun 2009
Judge: Mr Ernie Hill (Tynecourt)
Open - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
23rd Oct 2010
Judge: Mrs. Barbara Roderick (Barterhound)
My thanks go to my efficient stewards Eddie Houston and Mark Lowry and of course to the exhibitors for the sporting way in which they accepted my placings. I was pleased that mouths were good and only found one kinked tail. Feet on some exhibits were not very well padded, not sufficient in my view to do a day’s work. Most terriers were in good coat.
Veteran - Dog or Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
Scottish BTC Limited Show
30th Jan 2011
Judge: Mr. Paul Cheeseman (Bromscar)
It was on my part a great honour and privilege to be asked to judge this club show. As usual the reception and hospitality north of the border was of the highest order. I would like to thank the committee and members of this fine club, and offer a huge thank you to my steward on the day Mr E Houston.
Overall, and with only a handful of exceptions, I found movement generally to be below standard, but, maybe due to the recent cold weather, coats on the whole were very good.
Veteran - Dog or Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
Scottish BTC Championship Show
12th Nov 2011
Judge: Mrs K Wilkinson
Thank you to the Members for inviting me to judge what has been for me and many others, one of the favourite shows on the calendar every year. Having won the Bitch CC and Best in Show here at the very first ScBTC Ch show in 1985 with Otterkin Blue Bouquet JW, perhaps I am slightly biased by good memories, but I think most people who attend consider it one of the most popular shows of the year, as there is always a warm welcome guaranteed from the Officers and Committee of the Scottish Border Terrier Club to exhibitors and spectators alike and a good atmosphere at all of their shows.
Many thanks to Marjorie Wanless who officiated as an uncomplaining and efficient steward all on her lonesome all day; what a star! Thanks too for the lovely gift from the Club.
It is good when decisions are accepted with grace, be it win or lose and I thank the exhibitors for that. It is not easy being a judge, knowing you disappoint some but please others, but one has to just judge the dogs and go with your instincts, please yourself, select those you like the best and hope others appreciate that you did your best, to your ability, without fear or favour.
Overall, the quality was high, with a lot to like. There were only a couple who felt too thin, so I will not dwell on this too much this time, except to say that a working dog needs some substance, some strength and endurance and this is NOT achieved when you starve a big dog to try to make it look smaller, as any judge fooled by that is not to be applauded. Going over a dog on the table, I hate to feel all the backbone and see the ribs sticking out. It is cruel and unkind to keep your dog too thin. Borders like their food. Not as many thin ones here as were at Crufts in 2007, just a couple. This is just something for people to watch please.
Teeth were not a big problem – only one slightly undershot and a couple with one tooth out of line. I will not penalise a dog/bitch for one tooth out of line and refuse to put that in the individual dog/bitches critique – that is for me to know (I am sure the exhibitors already know) and for other judges to find (or not) and do as they will. For me, there is so much more that is important than one tooth out of alignment. If such a dog/bitch with one tooth out of line still had a scissor bite and all other good attributes, then it was placed accordingly. I have seen critiques which say “Only one if” – I will not lumber any dog/bitch with that and have everyone wanting to know what it was.
I was surprised to find a couple with kinks in their tails, as exhibitors can feel this easily themselves. This has been touched upon in the 2007 BTC Year Book and judges (including me) have their own views on this, although there is nothing in the UK breed standard about it.
A couple had peculiar coats, with what seemed like some substance in them, which did not make them feel harsh, more sticky and stuck together and although that meant I could not see the skin, it was not because they had good coats and it gave me grubby hands after going over them. Substance in a terrier’s coat fools no-one – please do not do it! On the down side, there were a few more which left my hands dirty after examination. Although they are a working dog, please present them to the judge in clean condition. I didn’t turn up grubby and neither should they!
Overall though, I thought the breed to be in a good place and I was very pleased with all my top winners (well, I would say that, wouldn’t I)?
Veteran - Dog or Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
Placing Critique
Liked this dog when he came in the ring, although he is a little bitchy in head, he has a good dark eye and I preferred his head type over the winner. Lovely mover and possesses an excellent thick pelt and good harsh jacket.
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
25th Feb 2012
Judge: Mr. Ian Higham (Comberdown)
I had been looking forward immensely to judging my first breed club open show in the UK. I sincerely thank the officers and membership for inviting me and most importantly, I would thank those exhibitors who attended and valued my integrity and opinion enough to give me the opportunity of going over their dogs.
I was looking for Borders that had all the good breed type points as laid out in our standard, combined with the correct physical construction to be able to cover the rough hilly ground of the region from which the breed originated. I thoroughly went through the entry to find these attributes, and judged with these thoughts in mind right down to my 4th placings.
I am pleased to be able to say that I had no dirty oily coats, or smelly dogs and that every dog had clean white teeth. This is all down to good housekeeping (or dog keeping) and I must commend you all on these points.
However, I was very disappointed to find that three exhibitors presented me with dogs, which had kinked bumpy tails.
I only found one tooth problem and that was a set of badly twisted lower incisors, which were slightly obstructing a scissor bite, but unfortunately, I was further disappointed to find dogs with weak muzzles and no strength to the underjaw. A Border needs to be able to force home an attack on its advesary and to do so must use his//her strong jaws and big teeth. This part of the borders anatomy is of immense importance to its function. I would consider this a fault, which would seriously interfere with a terrier’s ability to work.
I found a variety of movement problems. Some had stilted rear movement, with feet in underneath the dog and lacking propulsion. One dog that crabbed. Dogs with fronts toeing in, some more so than others, and some with wide front movement, or flicking one, or other foot.
Ultimately, there were some very good examples of our breed, that possessed all, or most, of the qualities I was searching for. Some of these did not get top awards on the day, but nevertheless had enough breed type and quality of movement to forge ahead and have a promising future I am sure.
Veteran - Dog or Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
Placing Critique
Grizzle and tan dog (although my marked up catalogue reads bitch). The oldest veteran today at nine years. Nice senior, still in fit condition. Spannable and has pleasing outline. Moved well but did not have the coat of the class winner.
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
31st Mar 2012
Judge: Miss Betty Rumsam (Wildercot)
The Border Terrier CIub held a Championship Show where bitch BIS was Bramblebrae Violet at Shiftyfox, this bitch has it all & I was pleased to award her her third CC & BIS. She was in immaculate condition, feminine, handy size, wonderful coat & pelt, just right for bone, so well balanced, movement was a joy. I loved her; RBIS, Ethlancoral Pip of Ottaswell, I liked this dog for his size & balance, in super condition, not overdone in any way, good head, narrow in shoulder, ribs well back, strong loin & hindquarters, moved soundly; & BP, Nantcoch Ffion, very pretty feminine pup, good for size, outline & balance, good head & bite, small tight feet, good tail. Very promising.
A big thank you to the officers and committee for the lovely gift and to my two excellent stewards for the day, Jim Stewart and Ken McKenzie who made my task a pleasure. Thanks also to the exhibitors for the entry of 229 (200 dogs and 4 nfc) and for the sporting way they accepted my decisions. I was pleased with my final line up. Mouths and teeth were generally good, coats were mixed, some in heavy coat and others with only undercoat. It was good to find plenty of thick, loose pelts, so important in a Working Terrier. Poor movement was the downfall of many.
Veteran - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
20th Oct 2012
Judge: Miss Anita Harrison (Iacheslei)
This was my first breed club show appointment and I must thank the exhibitors for their support and the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions. The show was extremely well organised, with a very pleasant atmosphere. I was given a warm welcome and generous hospitality, together with two very efficient ring stewards; Janice Johnson and Liz Barrett, who kept everything running smoothly throughout the day.
There were some good quality dogs, and a few classes where I wish there had been more prizes. Coats were variable which sadly had to affect the placings in some classes. Some exhibits were on the large side and barely spannable, plus a few short ribs and barrel chests. All dogs were entire and all mouths were good barring a couple of missing teeth in the veteran class.
Veteran - Dog or Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
Placing Critique
10 years grizzle, a little heavier but well made throughout and moved out soundly, shown in good coat and condition.
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
19th Oct 2013
Judge: Mrs. Chris Davis (Hesslemere)
Many thanks to the Committee for inviting me to judge this show. I was very pleased with my entry and thank all competitors who entered under me. I really enjoyed my day and thank you for the opportunity to judge your dogs. All temperaments were good, as were mouths. No kinked tails.
Oldest Veteran
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
Veteran - Dog or Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Limited Show
26th Jan 2014
Judge: Mrs Elizabeth Barrett (Howthwaite)
I would like to thank the committee of the Scottish BTC for their warm welcome and hospitality. Thank you also to my ring stewards Joyce Orr and Helen McKenzie for keeping things running smoothly. I am grateful to those exhibitors who braved the weather to attend the show. All the dogs were entire and mouths were very good. Coats were on the whole just on their way in which I expected just before the coming show season. A number of exhibits were carrying rather too much condition for a fit functional terrier.
Veteran - Dog or Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
Placing Critique
Richly coloured grizzle and tan dog. Lovely head with a kind expression and strong muzzle. Small, neat V shaped ears and nicely shaped skull. Good neck into very well laid shoulders. Neat small feet and although up to size, he is not too heavy in bone. Shown in a good double coat with thick pelt. Well ribbed back, with a good topline and underline. Very good hind angulation with no exaggeration and the length of bones front and back giving him real freedom of movement. It was lovely to see such soundness in a dog of 11 years.
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Limited Show
25th Jan 2015
Judge: Mrs D Lorraine (Raleniro)
Firstly I would like to thank the officers and committee for inviting me to judge at the club’s limited show, my first breed club appointment. Thank you for the warm welcome and hospitality, and special thanks to my very efficient steward Joyce Orr who kept things running smoothly. Many thanks to all the exhibitors who gave me the opportunity to go over their dogs and the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions.
As to be expected at this time of year, coats were at all stages with some exhibits in full coat and some without any, and in certain classes this was a deciding factor. Mouths were good with only one or two exhibits having the odd misplaced or dirty tooth. Size was a slight concern, with a few exhibits being well up to size and difficult to span, and some carrying a little too much condition. Movement on the whole was good, however, some exhibits did not cover the ground with the drive and economy of movement that would be essential when working. Generally temperaments were excellent and all males were entire.
I was very pleased with my main winners, in my opinion good examples of the breed and very capable of doing the job they were bred for.
Veteran - Dog or Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Holmston Fairtrader For Flutorum
