Show Placings
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Open Show
25th Nov 2012
Judge: Mrs Eileen Cole (Towden)
I would like to thank the club for inviting me to judge their open show and what an enjoyable day I had, also for the lovely present and flowers, and to my two stewards who were very efficient and kept the ring running smoothly. I had a very good entry of dogs thanks to the exhibitors with some good quality dogs to go over although rear movement on some could be better but I was very pleased with my top winners.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Placing Critique
7 mth grizzle pretty head, small v shape ears, laid back in shoulders into lovely topline and tail set, in double jacket and good pelt, small tight feet, moved well.
Ladies Kennel Association
16th Dec 2012
Judge: Ms Michelle Barnett
I was honoured to judge at this what I consider a BIS of championship shows. I would like to extend my thanks to the society for the invite, the warm hospitality and friendly relaxed atmosphere made for a superior judging experience. Also much thanks to my ring steward Mr Eddie Bishop, who did a splendid job in his management of the ring in a professional and efficient manner. A super entry of 188 which understandably presented me with many varieties of type. Mouths across the entry were good with only one level bite. A few with chipped teeth and the missing tooth (which should not penalise all things being equal an otherwise quality exhibit in a working breed) no kinks in tails and all males were entire .It was also pleasing to see more shown in the correct double jacket, but sadly some of dogs that appealed to me for breed type paid the penalty as although their jackets pleased for depth they lacked the weatherproof quality essential in a working terrier coat. I was very pleased to see my entry thankfully lacking the “showy boxy terrier types†of late.
It was a pleasure to judge dogs of correct border type, temperament, fit , healthy exhibits who were presented in such good condition. Needless to say the exhibits were a credit to their owners and throughout the day the quality was first rate making lots of my decisions close ones with many leaving without a placing. The puppy classes in particular were numerical high and it was a pity I had to discard many good exhibits of the breed. But this quality can only bode well for the future. It was also nice to be told that the exhibits in the Good citizens classes apart from gaining a good citizen award the entry also had dogs who took part in Obedience, Agility and Gundog send aways proving once again that borders can really turn their paw to all manner of activities outside of their already busy show calendar.
I felt that my principle winners fulfilled the “Essentially a working terrier†breed standard requirement with that extra something that makes top winner .
I was delighted to learn that I had the top entry in the terrier group Thank you to all the exhibitors for the super entry, particularly appreciated in these difficult economic times and for making it such an enjoyable day
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Herts & Essex Border Canine Society Open Show
17th Mar 2013
Judge: Mr Gavin Robertson (Soletrader)
Junior /
Second Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Dunstable & District Canine Society Open Show
1st Apr 2013
Judge: Laura Aithison (Kaskae)
Post Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
14th Apr 2013
Judge: Mrs Jean Willetts (Hanway)
I would like to thank my stewards for all their hard work on the day, and to the committee for inviting me to judge there show. Also to the exhibitors who brought their dogs under me. I was pleased with my winners and placed dogs. I found that some had short muzzle coupled with round eyes which does not give a border expression.
Junior - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Class Critique
This was a strong class and some nice bitches didn’t get placed
Bath Canine Society Championship Show
24th May 2013
Judge: Mr Martin P Phillips
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Placing Critique
13 mth old grizzle of good type & quality, good size, very pretty head & expression without losing strength, nice size eye & colour, good clean front with good lay back, body & quarters good, move dout well back & forth.
Limit - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Southern Counties Canine Association
1st Jun 2013
Judge: Mr Hans T Lehtinen (Finland)
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Placing Critique
Excellent proportions all over. Excellent head. Nicely laid rears. Excellent bent of stifle. Excellent jacket.
Yearling - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Newmarket & District Canine Society
30th Jun 2013
Judge: Amanda Kenna
I would like to thank the officers and their commitee for inviting me to judge, and a big thank you to all the exhibitors who gave me a lovely entry, and to my steward for her smooth running of the ring. It was a lovely day, the weather was good and the food was great.
Special Yearling /
Third Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
East of England Agricultural Society
6th Jul 2013
Judge: Mr A Horner (Stineval)
I have to thank the society for the invitation to judge and to the exhibitors who accepted my decisions sportingly. Thank you also to my steward, on his own, for keeping things moving.
Junior - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Leeds Championship Dog Show
26th Jul 2013
Judge: Mr M G Rushby
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
East Midlands Canine Society Open Show
1st Aug 2013
Judge: Mrs. Penny Sands
Best Of Breed
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
4th Aug 2013
Judge: Sharp & Bailey
*Dog Critique*
My thanks to the Committee for inviting me to judge the Championship Show for the second time, the first being 10 years ago, and thanks to my Stewards for their efficiency. The entry of 103 with only 9 absentees was pleasing.
Some judges concentrate on heads, others on shape of eyes, or on small dark ears, some on presentation, others on neat accurate movement. As for me – I judge on a whether a dog is “fit for function†as a working terrier plus whether it looks like a Border Terrier and no other type of terrier.
A good proportion of the entry had major faults of construction which would render them, not useless, but inefficient at the job Border Terriers are designed to perform. For instance, short rib cages do not allow for lung room for the stamina a terrier needs to run all day, and these short rib cages (often sprung) were very much in evidence in the entry. Some were accompanied by long loins which might give the impression to the ringside that the dog had good length.
Secondly, upright shoulders, often with steep upper arms are a major design fault. A well laid shoulder with well angulated upper arm which brings the elbow under the body is not just a pleasure to look at – these act as shock absorbers when the dog is running so that his joints are not jarred, leading to wear and tear, thus shortening his effective life as a working terrier.
Finally, wide fronts, often associated with the previous construction – a Border should be able to creep into any space occupied by a fox, and these, despite their chunky appearance have very little body under that fur.
Coats were mixed as to be expected – and there were some really good pelts, only a couple with paper thin pelts. Undercoat was often missing on the back, but present on the sides. A handful of bad mouths, perhaps some all rounders might accept these but I could not. Few really outstanding otter heads which stay in one’s memory for years, but most were adequate.
My critique will not contain descriptions of the dogs, but will give an indication of why they were placed as they were. If your dog was not as high in the placings as you had hoped, take a good objective look at him, and you might find out why.
*Bitch Critique*
A big thank you to the MBTC committee for asking me to judge the Ch. Show it was a great honour. Thank you also to my stewards Ray & Sharon for making the classes run so smoothly. A nice entry of 144 bitches. I enjoyed the day; it was lovely to judge the bitches. The depth of quality in most of the classes was very pleasing. However, the fronts are still a problem within the breed & need to be addressed in future litters. Some quality bitches went cardless, unfortunately there is only 5 cards & many went without being placed. I was so delighted that my fellow judge Marie, agreed that my BCC & BRCC, should win the top honours, Best in Show and RBIS.
Junior - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Bournemouth Championship Dog Show
10th Aug 2013
Judge: Mr Paul Wilkinson
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Placing Critique
3 Junior Bitch, nice head, good for size, in good coat, preferred movement of 1.
Driffield A S
21st Sep 2013
Judge: Mrs Charlotte Archibald
My sincere thanks to the Officers and Committee, for inviting me to judge the Border Terriers at this show. We were truly blessed with some lovely autumn sunshine, and a well laid out ring.
Thank you, to all the exhibitors for allowing me the privilege to “go over†your dogs, however, I had concerns about the size and movement of some of the exhibits. I have a fair span and struggled to get anywhere near some dogs, which reflected in the placings.
Consequently, some heavy shoulders, and wide fronts.
Junior - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Class Critique
Close decision between first 3.
Hitchin & District Canine Society
6th Oct 2013
Judge: Mrs. Liz Wright (Totherend)
Open /
Second Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Kensington Canine Society Open Show
26th Oct 2013
Judge: Dagmar Bromment Lothary (Germany)
Open - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Open Show
24th Nov 2013
Judge: Gemma Alpe (Pipruda)
I want to thank the committee of East Anglian Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge there November open show was a great privilege as growing up showing as a youngester at many of there breed club shows. My thanks also to my very experienced stewards of the day Bev Jackson and Simon Jackson who without them I'm sure my ring would not have ran so smoothly,and to all that entered under me. I was generally very pleased with the overall quality of the dogs entered under me a few who shone from the first time I caught sight of them. But no major faults found on the day which pleased me.
Limit - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Boston & District Canine Society
12th Jan 2014
Judge: Mr David Maggs
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge at this show, and to my two stewards who were very efficient and good natured throughout. I was a little dissapointed at the lack of coat on quite a few of the exhibits today, apparently many had been stripped ready for Crufts,I found no bad mouths, movement on the whole was good and I was very pleased with the overall condition and soundness, had no problem spanning any of the exhibits.
Limit - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Manchester Dog Show Society
16th Jan 2014
Judge: Mr Philip J Greenway
Limit - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
City of Cambridge & County Canine Society
26th Jan 2014
Judge: Miss E.W. Newton (Nevedith)
Post Graduate /
Third Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Great Yarmouth Gorleston & District Canine Society
23rd Mar 2014
Judge: Mrs. K. Rimmer (Kylini)
Best Of Breed
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
Open /
First Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
East of England Championship Show
6th Jul 2014
Judge: Miss Jean Singh
I would like to thank my stewards who kept the event running smoothly. My decisions were made on the exhibit on the day
I found heavy ears are creeping in, detracting from the otter head and keen expression. An excessive amount of exhibits were not in hard, toned condition. ‘Couch potato’ dogs come to mind. Front movement is also a cause for concern. I found two level mouths, one just level and a puppy , had a tooth out of line. My decision on some unplaced exhibits were a culmination of a long foreface and untypical expression, unspannable even though I gave some leeway and poor front movement.
Limit - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
2nd Aug 2015
Judge: Mrs Jayne Gillam & Mr Mick Rushby
*Dogs*
What a pleasure it was to be invited to judge the males at the Midland BTC Championship show on 2nd August 2015, and thanks to the exhibitors for giving me such a good entry of males to go over. Thanks must also go to my stewards Chris Wallace and Margaret Davies who did a great job, making sure everything ran smoothly. It was interesting to be judging alongside my Co-judge Mick Rushby who I felt has similar views to how I interpret the Breed Standard and when it came to choosing Best of Breed, I appreciated the good qualities of his bitch CC winner and after a thorough deliberation we jointly decided that my Dog CC winner had the edge, and awarded him Best of Breed. Although I didn’t judge the bitches, from the ringside they did look a much more even entry than the males, which were quite mixed, but I was very happy with my main winners with several males who I felt were champion standard, my eventual CC winner stood away from the rest but I had a few contenders for the Reserve CC whom I really liked. No matter what time of year I judge there is always a percentage of exhibits out of coat, I am not normally too hung up on that, as coat is a transient thing and if there is evidence of a harsh coat and thick pelt, movement is good and the dog is well constructed I don’t penalize them too much, but when you get a dog before you with good construction, good movement and a fabulous coat, they really have the edge and stand out. Having said that and not wanting to sound as old as Methuselah, I really feel the correct Border coat is in decline, you rarely find the really good, harsh, dense wiry coats and pelts you did in the past, and is an important element to give the breed, type and is a requirement in the Breed Standard. The fashion for several years has been to show dogs with little coat, with all the undercoat scraped out to reveal a sleek outline. Thankfully not all exhibitors do this, and it was good to see some with decent coats, but judging by some of the poor toplines, and profiles on Sunday, I really think exhibitors should be thinking of leaving some undercoat in, and keep a good depth of coat, as it creates a more finished, Border Terrier look, rather than a thin skinned whippet look. Ultimately good coats and pelts need to be bred for. When I am judging, I tend to look at the overall dog, I never pick out one thing and allow it to seduce me into thinking it’s a good Border Terrier, the whole dog has to be balanced and fit for function, display good breed type and have the ability to follow a horse, moving with economy with long low strides. I don’t go in for extremes or exaggerations either, or a dog which looks like a caricature of a Border Terrier, because the breed standard doesn’t allow for that. I do like ring presence, clean dogs with good presentation and showmanship, a working dog can still have all that and it is a show after all, but it has to be a good Border Terrier first and foremost.
Limit - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ironfield Athena
