Show Placings
Bath Canine Society
1st Aug 2021
Judge: Mr T Ball
Novice - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society Open Showq
18th Aug 2021
Judge: Vanessa Williams (Wegman)
Post Graduate /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
The Terrier Club of Devon and Cornwall
17th Oct 2021
Judge: Sarah Richardson
Post Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
The Southern Border Terrier Club Limited Show
6th Mar 2022
Judge: Mandy Holmes (Bimandi)
Firstly I would like to thank The Southern Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge and for their hospitality on the day. Also many thanks to everyone that gave me the privilege of going over their dogs and congratulation to all my winners.
All males were entire. All tails straight. One or two untidy mouths but nothing to be classed as a fault.
Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
National Dog Show
6th May 2022
Judge: Mrs Margaret Sneddon (Kersfell)
Thank you to the Committee for the invitation to judge at this show; I had received an invitation to judge the breed here in 2007 but was unable to accept due to a previous appointment so was very pleased to be offered the opportunity again. Thanks to my stewards for all their hard work during the day and also to the exhibitors for entering some lovely Border Terriers. There were some wonderful quality exhibits but I was particularly pleased with my line-up of unbeaten bitches with 4 or 5 in contention for the top honours, a very difficult but enjoyable decision.
It is 50 years since I won my first CC in the breed and at that time it was emphasised to novices by the experienced exhibitors that the most important part of the breed standard was the first line “essentially a working terrier” and I have always had this at the forefront in my mind when judging the breed. Not, does it work, but could it do so; meaning could it follow a horse and go to ground when needed; also could it get out again.
Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Yeovil & District Canine Society Open Show
14th May 2022
Judge: Mrs Sue Spafford (Dassett)
I would like to thank the officers and committee for offering me my first appointment.
The weather was kind to us and there was a friendly atmosphere. I was lucky to have some lovely dogs to go over, however several were unsettled and distracted on the move making it difficult to assess movement. I was pleased with my winners and really enjoyed the day.
Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Placing Critique
Blue and Tan bitch in good coat, nice head. Unsettled on the move, but liked her for size.
Bath CS Championship Show
27th May 2022
Judge: Mrs Jean Willetts (Hanway)
I would like to thank Bath Canine Society Committee for my invitation to judge Border Terriers at their show. I would also like to thank my steward as she was on her own, and did an excellent job of running the ring and dogs smoothly. I’d also like to thank all the exhibitors who entered, I had a very enjoyable day going over each of the dogs.
On the whole most of the dogs were in good condition. Most dogs presented had good pelts and coats, however there were a few with thin pelts. There were a few long tails and some large ears. The movement on the whole was sound.
Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Southern Counties Canine Association
3rd Jun 2022
Judge: Mrs Elizabeth Barrett (Howthwaite)
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to award my first set of CCs. Although my appointment was originally for 2020, it was worth the wait. Thank you to my stewards Doug and Sue for keeping me in line and the ring running smoothly. And most of all, thank you to all of the exhibitors for your entries and for allowing me to go over your dogs. I also want to thank anyone who made unsporting comments, for doing so out of my earshot.
As I would expect, the entry was on the whole very pleasing. Thankfully, I didn’t have many exaggerations, such as ultra short muzzles or over-angulated hindquarters. Unfortunately though, good fronts, and in particular clean, well laid, shoulders and good front angulation, were few and far between. Movement, with both good reach and drive and accuracy was hard to find, so I did find myself forgiving the odd wayward front legs on dogs that otherwise had good construction and an easy ground covering stride. I would rather see a dog a little loose and covering the ground than one very accurate that can only take a three inch stride. All dogs were entire. There were only a couple of less than perfect bites and an ever so slightly kinked tail. Only a select few had a good short carroty tail, and some were very long, something we need to look out for. A few, including some bitches, were big in the rib and far too heavy to pick up and quite a number had very little undercoat and thin pelts. I looked for good construction and movement, balance and no exaggeration. I found several dogs that I would happily award CCs to on another day and had the privilege of having to really nitpick, especially in the dog challenge.
Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Placing Critique
Handy size and unexaggerated blue and tan. Good bite, short strong muzzle and neat well set on ears. Easily spanned and not too heavy in bone. She has a good topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters. Shown in a good harsh double jacket. Balanced on the move.
Windsor Championship Dog Show
1st Jul 2022
Judge: Mr David G Winsley (Davmar)
I last judged the breed in 2017 so most of the dogs were new to me. I felt that the breed is losing that ‘ otter head’ appearance, fore-faces appearing to be too long. Poor front construction in many was a deciding factor in my placing, our ring didn’t help, but the conditions were the same for everyone.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Minehead & DCS Open Show
27th Jul 2022
Judge: Mrs C E Sansom (Tarkaswell)
I would like to thank the officers and committee of Minehead & District Canine Society for the invitation to judge at their open show, held in conjunction with the Dunster Country Fair. My steward Vicky Prince, was a great help and kept the ring running smoothly. Thank you to the exhibitors for a lovely entry and for accepting my decisions in a sporting manner.
I had some quality borders to go over that were a privilege to judge, and as always, my decisions reflected my interpretation of the breed standard on the day. I was delighted with the winners that came forward for the challenge.
The weather was kind and not too hot, there was a friendly atmosphere and I thoroughly enjoyed my day.
Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Placing Critique
This blue and tan bitch had a feminine head, with a dark eye and keen expression, small, neat ears and a correct bite. Balanced and moderate in her construction, her neck flowed into a level top line and well set tail. She was shown in a lovely harsh, dense coat with a thick pelt. She moved out willingly, but was slightly distracted on the move.
Paignton Championship Show
6th Aug 2022
Judge: Mr Graham Pickering (Picer)
It was an honour to be asked to judge at Paignton & District Fanciers Association. My thanks go to the officers and committee for their kind invitation to judge Border Terriers and their excellent hospitality. I had a lovely day at this well organised show and would like to also thank the stewards, Helen & Norma, for keeping me on track and in order. The weather was exceptionally hot and although I do like to judge outside, I am sure exhibitors, and their dogs were grateful for the shade and cool that being inside gave us.
Although I did not have a huge entry, I was fortunate to have some real quality dogs entered and had some very hard decisions to make, however, at the end of judging I was delighted with my winners. On the downside, I did find some mouths that were not as they should be and some dogs who were deep in chest and therefore difficult to span. However, the most disappointing element was the lack of detail that some exhibitors pay to feet. The standard states that feet should be ‘small with thick pads’, however, quite a few exhibits had untidy feet with long nails. Although this seems minor point, long hair around the feet detracts from the overall look of the Border Terrier.
I was disappointed that I could not stay to watch the group, but unfortunately, I had to leave due to other commitments. I was delighted that all my top winners were shortlisted in the group and very pleased that my Special Beginner winner went Group 1 and the Best Puppy winner went Group 3.
Novice - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Placing Critique
Another nice bitch with a good typey head. Lovely reach of neck and a good front and shoulder placement. Moderately muscled up body, spannable rib. Moved out ok. Good double coat.
Bournemouth Open Show
12th Aug 2022
Judge: Darren Pearson (Winoski)
Post Graduate /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society - August Open Show
17th Aug 2022
Judge: Libby Tanton-Joy (Itsaso)
Firstly I would like to say thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge the border terriers at this lovely show. Secondly I would like to say thank you for those who entered under me, although only a small number to go over I was pleased with the overall quality.
Limit /
First Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Placing Critique
2 year old blue and tan bitch present in a harsh coat with ticking evident. Lovely head, with a strong muzzle, big teeth and correct bite. Dark eye with a keen expression. Good shoulder, level topline and tail set with a nice short tail. Easily spanned a nice sized bitch. Moved okay.
Mid Somerset Agricultural Society Open Show
21st Aug 2022
Judge: Mr P Upton (Tragus)
Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Richmond Championship Dog Show
11th Sep 2022
Judge: Mr J A Barney (Romaunt)
Many thanks to Richmond in giving me the opportunity to judge a breed that still has some depth in quality to it. Generally, I felt movement needs to be attended to. It's a breed I've always associated with true movement both ways and a number did tend to pin in front. Coat texture was pretty good throughout but some would benefit from slightly neater presentation. I was able to span nearly all exhibits and pelts good. At the moment I would say that bitches are far stronger than the males.
Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Terrier Club of Devon & Cornwall Open Show
16th Oct 2022
Judge: Mrs L.K. Jordan-Smith (Jordith)
Thank you to the Officegrs and Committee for the invitation to judge at this friendly and well run show; I thoroughly enjoyed my day.
Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Placing Critique
This 3 year old blue and tan bitch has a good front and nice shoulder. She has a spannable rib and good double coat. She has a sweet expression with a dark eye and correct scissor bite. When she settled her movement was ok but she was very excited, and seemed to be enjoying her day out just a little too much. This resulted in her not giving of her best today.
Bournemouth CS Open Show
11th Aug 2023
Judge: Mrs Hilary Male (Malenbrook)
Post Graduate /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
Bournemouth Championship Show
13th Aug 2023
Judge: Ms Tina Jones (Otterholme)
My thanks go to the committee of Bournemouth Championship Show for inviting me to award tickets for the first time, it was a very special day.
Special thanks to my stewards Gentle Lowe and Brian Aubrey for doing such a sterling job, allowing me to focus on the task in hand.
I was delighted with the entry that awaited me, a huge thank you to the exhibitors for giving me the privilege to go over their dogs, this was a real honour and the sporting way they accepted my decisions, on the whole by most exhibitors.
I was told many years ago, by someone well respected in the breed to judge with the hands, not with the eyes, never did this ring true as today. Some dogs I have admired from the ringside, didn’t live up to expectations, whilst others that hadn’t previously caught my eye, surprised me and did.
Being the daughter of a hunt terrier man I could get no better grounding in the requirements of an earth dog, these were the days long before quad bikes, terriers would be expected to be on their feet from the moment hounds drew off until close of the hunting day, working in landscapes not dissimilar to that of that hunt the breed first originated from.
l tried to look subjectively at the exhibit before me to see if they had the confirmation and condition to undertake such duties. I was surprised how quite a number were difficult to span and far too deep in chest and too wide in front and came up heavy, lacking the narrowness to go to ground, a distinct disadvantage in the working arena, legs bend, chests don’t.
I was finding rear movement was better than front, but more than a few lacked the drive that I looked for with elevated front action that indicates an upper arm that is shorter than ideal.
I look to see feet that are tight with a good thick pad so vital in an earth dog, many were lacking in this important trait.
I found temperaments superb throughout the day, dentition was questionable on several exhibits and all dogs entire.
A plea to exhibitors if you bait them on the table, that is fine if they look hypnotically at the treat, but on several occasions, owners were wrestling with their dogs trying to get at the treat, making it difficult to assess them.
I am always mindful to judge fit for function, and I was happy that my winners fitted that bill and all sporting decent jackets and pelts and meeting my interpretation of the breed standard.
I was delighted to see my BOB going on to third in the terrier group and my BP winning the terrier puppy group.
Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Onthill Alberta Rock
