Show Placings
North and South Shields Open Show
3rd Jan 2016
Judge: Mrs Sandra Girling (Benattivo)
Many thanks to the Society for the kind invitation to judge and also to the exhibitors who trusted me with their lovely Border Terriers. My steward was friendly and efficient.
Puppy /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Placing Critique
Just 6 months, red bitch smaller than 1st but none the less has very nice body proportions. She is very feminine in head neat ear and short strong muzzle. Good pelt and jacket, moved out confidently but as still a baby her front movement should tighten.
Jarrow and Heeburn Canine Society Open Show
14th Feb 2016
Judge: Miss Bridget Singh (Borderbridge)
Junior /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Northern Counties Sporting Terrier Association Open Show
5th Mar 2016
Judge:
Junior - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
26th Mar 2016
Judge: Mr Bill Gray (Pontbeck)
A very big thank you to the club members, committee and officers for the privilege to judge this show for a second time. The club ensured I enjoyed my day with a warm welcome and being attentive to my every need. My stewards efficiency took a good burden from my shoulders and I was allowed to concentrate and assess the dogs.
Coats were a mixed bag from very little to very full but I would just say you can't judge something you can't see. I found it strange that some exhibits were stripped out except for a ridge of top coat running down their spine, creating a good outline is important but you can feel for body shape while handling. Heads were, in the main, very good to excellent with only a few that were lacking true Border character. The breed seems to have got on top of the problem regarding rear movement but front movement still needs to be addressed with a good number of exhibits " throwing their front around "
I was delighted in my main winners especially BIS. If I have seen a better example of the breed during the many years I've had an interest I can't remember. An outstanding dog in every respect, a true ambassador for Border Terriers and a dog that will be remembered in generations to come. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity of judging him.
The two puppy bitch classes along with junior and yearling bitch were packed with quality and that bodes well for the future.
Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Placing Critique
Very typical example of the breed shown in a full coat with good texture. Liked her head ,straight front and her rear assembly. In fact nothing to dislike at all.
Class Critique
All three have great promise and my notes say " best class so far "
Scottish Kennel Club
22nd May 2016
Judge: Mr Simon Jackson
Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Border Union Agricultural Society
19th Jun 2016
Judge: Mrs M Wanless
My sincere thanks go to the officers and committee of Border Union for this appointment, this is such a well run, friendly show, with outstanding hospitality!
My thanks also to my two Stewards on the day, Ella Linton, and Alan Small. Thank you too to all those who entered under me, and came, and accepted my decisions with good grace. I was pleased with my winners. I do wish though that dogs were shown on a loose lead, and stacked freely. Big ears are becoming prevalent, not as in the standard. Presentation and condition played a large part in my decisions.
Best Puppy
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Placing Critique
12 Month grizzle. Loved the head on this pup, very feminine and full of expression. Neat ears, well placed, good teeth and dark eyes. She had a harsh coat, on a loose skin, and level top line, and a good tail set, and tail. Moved Ok. Pleased to award her BBP and BPIB.
Scottish Kennel Club
27th Aug 2016
Judge: Professor A S Milton
It was a pleasure to come back to Scotland, even though for just a day, and to judge Border Terriers at the Scottish Kennel Club's August Show. Looking at the catalogue I was surprised to find that Border Terriers had the fourth largest entry at the show. It was a very satisfactory entry, with many dogs that I had not seen before. I was particularly impressed with the overall quality of the coats. There was only one really bad mouth, a few crooked teeth, so what, as long as they can bite! I was concerned about size, not only those outwith the standard, but also even more worrying, those that I could not span. I should like to thank Joyce Martin for sending me a CD with photos of all the class winners.
Junior - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Placing Critique
Red grizzle with harsh coat. Well put together. Movement OK
Northern Counties Sporting Terrier Association Group Open Show
9th Oct 2016
Judge: Mrs M Armstrong (Carrickfarm) & Dr S Fraser (Achnagairn)
Junior - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
15th Oct 2016
Judge: Mr. Graham Richardson (Staynorwood)
I would like to thank The Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge their Open Show . The club and officers were very welcoming and I thoroughly enjoyed my day . I would like to thank my very helpful stewards Liz Barratt and Janice Johnson who kept things flowing through the day . I was pleased with my entry with some quality dogs to handle. It was also good to see some promising pups coming through . I was very pleased with my winners on the day
Junior - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Sunderland and District Canine Society Open Show
27th Nov 2016
Judge: Debbie Lorraine (Raleniro)
I would like to thank the society for inviting me to judge at their open show, and I have to say the hospitality shown to me was some of the best I’ve ever had! This is one of my local shows, and I was absolutely delighted with the size and quality of the entry I was privileged to be given the opportunity to judge. I also wish to thank the exhibitors for the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions. I was spoilt for choice in some of the classes, and places could have changed on another day. As to be expected at this time of year, coats were at various stages, and this did have a bearing on some of the placings. All males were entire, all bites were correct, and temperaments across the board were excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed my day!
Junior /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Placing Critique
17months old grizzle and tan bitch with a super otter head, strong muzzle but still feminine with a lovely expression. Good scissor bite. Straight front, a little wider in front than 1, but ribbed well back and easily spanned. Good pelt with super harsh jacket. Moved well both ways. Just preferred the topline and tailset of 1
Ladies Kennel Association
11th Dec 2016
Judge: Mr Graham Pickering (Picer)
I would like to thank the committee of Ladies Kennel Association for their kind invitation to the judge the breed at this well organised show and their generous hospitality. It was a real honour and I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I would also like to thank my stewards Tony and Katherine for keeping things running smoothly throughout the day. Thank you also, to all the exhibitors for their entries and the sporting way that they took the decisions that I made.
As for the dogs – as expected, coats varied, all the dogs were entire, in clean condition and well behaved. There were a couple of dogs with teeth not set square in the jaw or with teeth out of line. I was looking for dogs of the correct size, with a typical otter head, a harsh double coat and a thick pelt, plenty of muscle, the correct amount of bone, and shown in hard condition. I also expect to see dogs that move true and with ease around the ring and look physically capable of doing a days’ work, whether they get the opportunity or not. All my winners had these attributes and as often happens many deserving exhibits went without cards on the day.
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Boston & District Canine Society
8th Jan 2017
Judge: Mr E Houston
My thanks to the Society for inviting me,to my two very able stewards, Barry and Debs,and,most especially,to the exhibitors who allowed me the privilege of going over their dogs and who accepted my decisions so sportingly.
Overall I was very impressed with the quality of the entry.The limit and open classes in both sexes had quality beyond the placings and there were some very promising puppies,especially among the bitches- this must augur well for the future.Heads were largely typical,most were spannable and considering the time of year I was pleasantly surprised to find so many in good coat.On the downside,many were lacking muscletone and front movement continues to be an issue and not just in the lower classes.I was pleased with both line ups and thought my main winners excellent examples of the breed. I was delighted to hear that my Best of Breed went on to win the Group.
Yearling - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Manchester General Championship Show
19th Jan 2017
Judge: Mrs Karen Dean (Tyrian)
I would first like to thank the society for inviting me to judge and also my stewards for efficiently managing the ring. This is a particularly difficult time of year for coats especially with Crufts on the horizon, producing some results that would change on another day. Several exhibits lacked the harsh top coat and some were past their best resulting in good harshness but lack of undercoat so giving a thin feel to coat and particularly the pelt. I was a little disappointed in the number of exhibits that were not displaying the drive I was looking for and hope this is also due to the time of year. I was particularly pleased with both my CC and RCC winners especially in relation to their movement.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Darlington DCS Open Show
4th Feb 2017
Judge: Mr D G Taylor (Uptnorth)
Post Graduate /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Jarrow & Hebburn CS Open Show
12th Feb 2017
Judge: Mrs Elizabeth Barrett (Howthwaite)
Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Placing Critique
Blue and tan bitch, three years old. Nice size and balance. Good bite, short strong muzzle, dark eye and neat ears. Nice for bone and small neat feet. Good topline, strong loin and short well set tail. Well muscled hindquarters. Harsh well coloured topcoat just coming in, Excellent undercoat and pelt. Moved ok.
Northern Counties Sporting Terrier Association
18th Mar 2017
Judge: Dogs Mrs Val Mann - Bitches Mrs Norma Ellis
Thankyou for the nice entry of bitches spoilt for choice. A nice friendly show with a hard working Committee. Norma Ellis
Thank you to the Committee of this friendly, well run show for inviting me to judge the Border Terrier dogs. Val Mann
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Placing Critique
Good head and neat ears clean neck into correct shoulders, straight front and feet, coat coming back nicely of correct texture, nice topline held well on the move precise mover showed well.
Birtley and District Canine Society Open Show
2nd Apr 2017
Judge:
Dogs: Alison Matthews (Tojamat) Thanks go to the committee for the appointment and the generous hospitality offered and to my Steward Barry who guided me through. Thanks also to the exhibitors for the sporting way they accepted my decisions. I judged with fit for function in mind while looking for that added sparkle that makes a showdog.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
15th Apr 2017
Judge: Mr. Stewart Golding (Beaconpike)
Firstly I would like to thank the club for inviting me to judge their open show thank you to my stewards Alan Horner Anna Duxbury and Graham Richardson for keeping things running smoothly. Thank you to the exhibitors for allowing me to judge their dogs. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and was delighted to judge a show I regularly attend myself. I was very pleased with all my main winners I had some quality dogs to judge on the day my decisions in some classes were made difficult and on another day could easily change places.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Newton Aycliffe & District Canine Society Open Show
13th May 2017
Judge: Anna Duxbury (Ridgebow)
I would very much like to thank the officers and committee for offering me this appointment, and for their excellent hospitality. Thanks also to my ring steward. Mostly I would like to thank all the exhibitors for allowing me to go over their dogs and accepting my decisions in such a sporting manner. I found no dogs with incorrect bites and all male dogs were entire.
Post Graduate /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Scottish Kennel Club
21st May 2017
Judge: Mr I Hopper
I would like to thank the Scottish Kennel Club for inviting me to award Challenge Certificates for the first time. Thank you to everybody who entered their dogs for me to judge and also to my ring steward June who was good assistance on the day .There were no bad mouths all the dogs were entire, coats were at various stages. I enjoyed my days judging and the top winners were dogs that I felt fitted the breed standard.
Yearling - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Blackpool Championship Dog Show
23rd Jun 2017
Judge: Mr D Mitchell (Paleside)
I would like to thank Blackpool for inviting me to give my first CC’s, and to the exhibitors for a lovely entry of super dogs which were a pleasure to go over. My two stewards for doing a sterling job. It was such a shame the weather turned on Friday morning, the heavens opened and it blew a gale. But you turned out non the less. Overall I was pleased with the movement back and front. Dogs were in good fit condition, some would benefit from ringcraft for both dog and owner. From what I saw today things are good for the future of our breed.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Placing Critique
Red grizzle, lovely for size. Nice head and front, narrow all round. Dark keen eye in lovely thick double jacket. A little spooked by wind in the tent but soon settled.
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
21st Oct 2017
Judge: Ms. Suzanne Coldham (nee Marwood) (Annesuz)
It was an absolute honour and pleasure to judge the Border Terrier Club’s Open show in Low Hesket and I would like to thank a very hardworking committee for this opportunity. I would also like to thank the exhibitors and spectators for their warm welcome and genuine applause at my placings. There was a good atmosphere throughout the day and good to see so many still ringside to see the top honours at the end.
I was greeted with an excellent entry of 104 dogs making 122 entries and from these I was able to select some top specimens truly representative of our breed. I am not going to wax lyrical about the breed in general but suffice to say in my humble opinion a watch needs to be kept on heads, movement and coats/pelt.
I was pleasantly surprised to find my Best Dog is the grandsire of my Reserve Best Dog and my Best Bitch and Reserve Best Bitch share the same sire as each other.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Midland Counties Canine Society
27th Oct 2017
Judge: Mr David G Winsley (Davmar)
My thanks to the exhibitors for their quality entry, also to my two efficient stewards.
I would like to mention that due to the noisy ring next to our during the first three bitch classes, some youngster were upset and didn't show to their best advantage, hopefully they will have gotten over it. Movement generally was good in the majority of dogs. Feet need more attention, some certainly don't comply with the breed standard and certainly would affect them if they had to go long distances. Some just needed a little judicious trimming.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Houghton-Le-Spring Open Show
12th Nov 2017
Judge: Barry Croft (Malcro)
Post Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Sunderland & DCS Open Show
26th Nov 2017
Judge: Mrs Mandy Kenna (Cynetkoy)
I would like to thank the officers and commitee for inviting me to judge Border terriers at their show today, The day was made even more special by my BOB Tyneaster undercover agent for Vandamere, ( Pollit ) also winning the Terrier group and then going on to win BIS.
Congratulations to his owners.
The catering was excellent, and my ring steward very efficient thank you.finally thank you to all the exhibitors for a lovely entry.
On the whole mouths were good, coats were at various stages as i would expect for this time of the year, some exhibits would benefit from tidying coats. Some muzzles and heads were lacking in depth and width, loosing that " otter head".
Post Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Newton Aycliffe & District Canine Society Open Show
3rd Dec 2017
Judge: Mr Geoff Sugars (Foxcraig)
Post Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
North and South Shields CS Open Show
14th Jan 2018
Judge:
Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch
Crufts
9th Mar 2018
Judge: Mr.Carl Gunnar-Stafberg
Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch At Foxwater
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
31st Mar 2018
Judge: Mrs Lesley Gosling (Akinside)
My grateful thanks to the BTC for the invitation to judge the annual Championship show and my thanks to my efficient stewards who were kept busy. I was astonished to see from my catalogue, as I prepared my critique, how far exhibitors had travelled, particularly with the unpredictable weather we are experiencing. Thank you all for coming.
Movement is improving. There are still are some upright shoulders and poor rear angulation. Size is incredibly variable and as this breed has a strong working heritage some exhibits would struggle to get into any fox earth. I would like to see more muscle tone on back ends. The opportunities to work Borders may have diminished, but the breed standard is our template and we should stick to it or we will have classes filled with ‘showing fools.’
Don’t chalk coats to harden them. Your judges will find it. It’s unnecessary - don’t let it become a fashion. A good coat needs no embellishments and good coats on the day were excellent coats. Coats will grow but in the process may miss out on top honours at a Championship show. We all want our dogs to have their best coats on a show day, but the two things don’t always coincide. I also appreciated that coats kept going for Crufts recently had then been stripped out.
Quality and breed type were lacking in some exhibits. Young heads need time at puppy stage but some young males were disappointing. One puppy dog was chronically thin. Puppies should be puppy-ish, carry a bit of weight and be happy in the ring and socialised. The Exhibition Hall is noisy and some pups are phased by unusual sounds, but I’m pleased to say that temperaments were excellent. I dislike seeing youngsters being strung up - dancing on their toes - and having their leads jerked to keep their attention, or to get them walking in a straight line. Try talking to your dog on the move and loosen those leads.
I have expressed an opinion on baiting before, and I will keep doing it until exhibitors take note, or I die pleading. Baiting a dog on the table unbalances the dog, gets in the way of the judge doing his/her job properly when it comes to checking the bite, and distracts the dogs completely. Borders are especially curious of strangers who approach, so the table contest for them becomes ‘bait’ or ‘stranger.’ A judge doesn’t want to waste time getting the dog’s attention away from bait. Practice getting the stance correct on a table without bait. Please - keep your bait until the dog is on the floor.
All males were entire; scissor bites generally were very good but some varied from a level bite, to the odd missing or chipped tooth and a couple of slightly wry mouths, but teeth were well presented and clean. There was just one kinked tail.
The best exhibits were exceptionally good. Eyes were dark and of good shape, bright and healthy. The good coats were tight, crisp and of great texture. Movement was impressive on the whole – straight and true - and almost all dogs were spannable. Sadly, not enough cards to go round and in some of the senior classes of both sexes, there were beautiful exhibits in tremendous condition, which could change places at any time. Their owners are to be congratulated.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch At Foxwater
Placing Critique
Rather taller and longer than the winner, this showy red grizzle bitch has a lovely head. Sporting a correct harsh jacket and thick pelt she has enough bone with tight feet and thick pads. She moved out well and easily.
Spennymoor & DCS Open Show
28th Dec 2018
Judge: Mrs V Atkinson (Raedwulf)
Thank you to Mrs Claire Reed and the committee for inviting me to judge this show and to my very able stewards who ran the ring with great efficiency. The wonderful hospitality and very warm welcome extended to me by the club and exhibitors gave this show a great atmosphere.
I had an excellent entry of Border Terriers who, on the whole, were in good condition with only a couple of level bites and no kinked tails. Coats were in various stages but coats come and go so, as long as there was evidence of coat coming through, I did not penalise. On the day, my final line up consisted entirely of bitches, which reflected the number of quality bitches we have in the breed at present.
It was a long day for all as we were scheduled after several other breeds but the dogs, including the puppies, took it all in their stride. I was very happy to see my BPIB go on to will PG1 and my BOB be awarded TG2 with TG1 going to the dog who eventually won BIS.
Graduate /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch At Foxwater
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
26th Jan 2019
Judge: Mr Bob Blackley (Vaevictus)
It was an honour and pleasure to Judge at this great club show, I would like to thank the officers and committee for inviting me, also a big thank you to all the exhibitors, my entry was fantastic full of quality, I’m sorry but some really good dogs were not in the top honours today. I thought the bitches in general were of better quality than the dogs which is good for the breed, and in the dogs, I also noticed some exhibits were lacking coat, a sign of Crufts approaching, but in general they were good.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Double Dutch At Foxwater
Placing Critique
Cracking bitch, good head and expression, good angulation front and rear, moved well both ways, coat profuse.
