Show Placings
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.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Bakewell Show
5th Aug 2015
Judge: Tom Mather (Barklots)
Puppy /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Darlington
18th Sep 2015
Judge: Mrs. Margaret Curtis (Matamba)
Many thanks go to the exhibitors today for their support as terrier day at Darlington Ch Show is always on a Friday and this can be difficult for some coming on a working day.
Thanks go to my two good friends Alf and Carol Wood who were my stewards today and kept everyone informed class by class, keeping everything running smoothly.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
The Yorkshire, Lancs & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
26th Sep 2015
Judge: Mrs Kathy Wilkinson (Otterkin)
What a privilege to be invited by the Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire Border Terrier Club to judge their Diamond Jubilee Championship show, marking 60 years since the Club was first incorporated. The event was tinged with sadness that their long time Secretary, Mrs Cynthia Knight, could not be here to witness this special occasion. A minutes silence in her memory was called at the beginning of the show. I like to think she would have been looking down on the Club and the show with satisfaction with the way her team have continued to run the Club, always remembering the great influence and impact she and her husband Gordon ("Tag") had on their Club. Also being remembered at the show, were recent sad losses to the breed of Eva Heslop and Kathy Fell and to terriers in general, the redoubtable Maureen Micklethwaite.
Congratulations to the Acting Secretary, Tina and her husband and Chairman, Kevin Green and the rest of the team on a well run show and thanks to my ring stewards, Graham Richardson and Sharon Pickering for keeping everything running smoothly.
A show is not held for the benefit of a judge or a society; it is held for the dogs to be assessed and their owners and exhibitors to have a good day out, win or lose. I therefore hope that everyone enjoyed their day.
Very pleased with the entry of 211 dogs making 242 entries, both in terms of numbers and in depth of quality of the entry. Class entry numbers shown are give or take some catalogue changes during the day, which are reflected in my numbers below. Absentees in new dogs gave an absentee rate of 34%.
Given that I have previously had to talk about dogs being kept too thin, it was good that there were only one or two dogs who could have done with more weight on them (one especially where I could feel the pin bones protruding), but most of those shown today were in good body weight and condition. While it is a real thrill, it is also a sadness to me to be judging well filled classes of quality dogs or bitches, knowing that some of those I really like have to go card-less, just because of the excellence of the entry.
Many times, in quite a few classes, hard decisions had to be made. Spanning is to me, one of the most important things after breed type (after all, you can span other breeds of terrier and I was looking for a Border!), but even the best typy dogs cannot win if I am unable to span them. A Border that cannot get to ground and back out, is not "essentially a working terrier". There were so many good ones today who were easily spanned, who also had excellent heads and moved so well and who came to hand well when lifted from the floor. Although some I had loved from ringside, were difficult to span and so paid the price, it is surprising that others, who might have looked on the large side from ringside in earlier days, were surprisingly easy to span. Nothing beats getting hands on. Judging by today's quality entry, I can safely say that the breed is in a good place.
I understand that during the day, a Diamond Jubilee Celebration cake, arranged by Pat and Brian Baxter, was cut into and offered to exhibitors, with a glass of fizz to toast the Club. Special gifts were awarded to each exhibitor/member (one per household) of a glass paperweight bearing the Club's name and notation to celebrate the Club's Diamond Jubilee. I was also pleased to receive one of the paperweights as the judge, along with a nice bottle, thank you!
It was a long day, with a 10am start. In future, the Club may decide to think about an earlier start and while the 2 classes held in the interval were a good idea, I thought, and well received, it did mean that I was not able to ask for the 20 minute or 1/2 hour break I would have preferred, but in the end, while waiting for those classes to be judged, I believe the break lasted around an hour and a quarter (we finished Puppy bitch at 1.25pm but could not get back into the ring to start Junior Bitch until 2.40pm), which put the show's ending back to much later than it might have been. Perhaps if Clubs decide to put on those extra classes, they would best be done either at an Open show, or at a Championship show where the venue is big enough for a separate ring. There was an entry of 26 for the judge of the 2 separate classes. What if it had been 50? Having said that, I offer my congratulations to the society for being innovative and forward thinking on this, but I just think it needs tweaking.
A long day, but a very enjoyable one; thanks again to all who entered under me at this special Diamond Jubilee Show of the Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire Border Terrier Club and thank you to the Club for their hospitality and the lovely gifts.
Thanks again to all exhibitors for a super entry for this special celebration show.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Placing Critique
Another baby with a lot to like about her at nearly 8 months old. She could perhaps do with a stronger head, but she has an excellent varminty expression. The 2 above her had a tad more bone, but as she was smaller all through, this did not detract too much. Ticking coming through on her blue and tan coat, though from the ringside it might look too dark, it is on the way to a blue coat.
Class Critique
A very hard class with a lot of lovely puppies and I ended the class by thanking the first three placed for making my life difficult!
Driffield Agricultural Society
3rd Oct 2015
Judge: Miss Jean Singh
Many thanks to my two efficient stewards who kept the proceedings running smoothly. On the day I was surprised to find 4 level mouths, although a level mouth is acceptable in the standard, a scissor bite is preferable. Some exhibits could have been shown in a fitter condition and have their long nails clipped.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Placing Critique
Blue and Tan in good coat with ticking. She has a lovely otter head, racy outline and angulated hindquarters. She moved with drive from the rear but her front movement needs to settle.
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
15th Nov 2015
Judge: Mr Dave Matthews (Tojamatt)
Really pleased to be invited to judge the midland open show, so my thanks to the committee for inviting me and for the hospitality received. Many thanks to Margaret Bailey and Paul Brannan for stewarding and making things run smoothly and keeping me on track. Also my thanks to the competitors for taking my decisions so well and for bringing real quality to the show ring it was hugely appreciated, whether you were first or third there were some close decisions and exceptional quality.
Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Novice - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Otley Canine Society Open Show
6th Dec 2015
Judge: Julien Barney (Romaunt)
Puppy /
Second Place
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Ladies Kennel Association
13th Dec 2015
Judge: Mrs Melanie Lewis (Tonromel)
Thank you to the Officers and Committee of LKA for the invitation to officiate and to my two excellent Stewards, Barry McCartney and Sue Jones, for their invaluable assistance throughout judging. Thank you to the exhibitors for a super entry of 176 exhibits making 192 entries, the largest entry in the Terrier Group, and also for the sporting manner in which my decisions were accepted.
Numerically the bitch entry was double the size of the dog entry, but on the whole the standard in both sexes was pleasing with some very strong contenders for top honours. Coats varied from being completely stripped out with only soft undercoat to those that were completely blown, however, many were presented in good jackets of the correct texture. Feet on the whole were good, being firmly padded. On a few exhibits the tails appeared to be overly long which on closer examination revealed that it was superfluous hair. If this had been removed it would have improved the overall picture. All males were entire and the temperaments displayed by all the exhibits was very good. I was presented with some very nice puppy entries, many showing a lot of promise, which can only auger well for the future of the breed.
I was very pleased with both my final dog and bitch line ups, with some tough decisions having to be made when it came to awarding the top honours, such was the depth of quality. All of my finalists were in fit condition; moved with purpose; had good muscle tone; pliable pelts and spanned with ease and I believe that, if the opportunity presented, they would be able to undertake the functions asked for in the breed standard. My one plea to exhibitors is to please refrain from pushing treats into the dog's mouth when the dog is being judged on the table as it makes it very difficult for a judge to assess the exhibit. Reward them by all means if you have to, but only do so at the appropriate time.
Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Manchester Championship Show
14th Jan 2016
Judge: Mrs Ruth Ann Naun (USA)
I would like to thank the Manchester Dog Show Society, as well as Kate & Ronnie Irving who were my hosts while in Britain, I thoroughly enjoyed my judging and your hospitality.
Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
30th Jan 2016
Judge: Mrs. Tracy Butler (Ycart)
I would like to thank the officers and committee for inviting me to judge there show,and there hospitality throughout the day.
I would also like to thank the exhibitors for there lovely entry,and there sportsmanship,wether you agreed with my desision or not.
On the whole exhibits had good dentation,coats where varied,but evidence of good coat was there,temperments where good.
Sadly i found a few dogs that where pityfully thin,and would benefit from a good meal,and some free running exercise,some exhibits would benefit from a good tidy up of removel of dead coat,and please leave the clippers in the box.
Junior - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
14th Feb 2016
Judge: Mr Rob Taylor (Foxthorn)
Novice - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
27th Feb 2016
Judge: Mrs Elizabeth Barrett (Howthwaite)
Firstly, I would like to thank the committee, members and exhibitors for the fantastic entry at this, my first club open show. It was a great privilege to judge here on the 50th anniversary of the Jedbergh show and to be able to get my hands on all these dogs. Thank you to my ring stewards, Jane Morton-Shaw and Janice Johnson for their hard work and efficiency. Thank you also, to Carole MacKenzie for going the extra mile with my lunch and plying me with all sorts of gluten free goodies!
All the dogs were entire and I found only two or three kinked tails, but mouths were a bit of a concern. There were a lot of level bites, and although “acceptable” we should all be mindful of this when breeding on. Strong scissor bites with typically large teeth is what we should be aiming for. The majority of dogs were in good fit order, but unfortunately a small number of exhibits were rather thin and lacking condition. The two shouldn’t be confused. There were also quite a number of very short, and in some cases, sprung ribs, and quite a few lacking angulation and length of upper arm in front. On a positive note, there were some very promising youngsters, especially in the young bitch classes, which can only bode well for the future.
Maiden - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Placing Critique
Small blue and tan, thirteen months old. Strong head with little stop, good bite and short strong muzzle. Nice bone and good feet. Nicely angulated hindquarters with good bend of stifle. In an excellent well coloured coat with good undercoat and pelt.
Bakewell Show
3rd Aug 2016
Judge: Mr Jeff Luscott
Thanks to Bakewell Show Society for the call to stand in for the designated judge, I enjoyed the quality and atmosphere around the ring with a good turnout. I had lovely dogs to go over and well done to the BOB and BP on their Group results.
Graduate /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
7th Aug 2016
Judge: Dogs: Ms Elspeth Jackson, Bitches: Mr Mike Hollingsbee
Dogs - Elspeth Jackson
I would like to extend many thanks to The Committee of the Midland Border Terrier Club for once again organising an enjoyable, well run show with a relaxed garden party atmosphere. It was an honour and a pleasure this year to enjoy it as Judge of the dog classes and I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for this honour. I was very ably assisted by two capable and efficient stewards to whom I would like to give thanks both for their help and for their hospitality. Further and important thanks are due to all the exhibitors who did me the honour of going over their dogs. It was a super entry both numerically and in depth of quality with cc quality dogs right down the line in some classes.
Bitches - Mike Hollingsbee
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee of the Club for inviting me to judge bitches at their show. I would also like to thank my stewards Sharon Pickering and Helen Thomas for keeping me in order and running the ring so efficiently. My thanks also go to the exhibitors for allowing me to examine their dogs and accepting my decisions.
Together with my co-judge Elspeth Jackson we managed to agree on the major honours of the day apart from Best Veteran. I preferred Elspeth’s dog choice and she chose my selection of veteran bitch. Our referee John Dace was called in and awarded Best Veteran to the bitch.
Yearling - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
The Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
24th Sep 2016
Judge: Mrs Jena Tuck (Nettleby)
I would like to thank the Committee of the Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge this very enjoyable and well run show. It was an honour and pleasure. In the ring I was very ably assisted by my two capable stewards Ian and Bridget, who I would like to thank. The hospitality of the Club was second to none I had a truly wonderful day. Thanks must go to the exhibitors, who allowed me to go over their dogs. The depth of quality was remarkable and some very good exhibits had to go cardless I was delighted by my main winners, thank you again for giving me the pleasure of judging them. I chose the dog as BIS because he had that extra attitude and showmanship.
Yearling - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Selby CS Open Show
29th Oct 2016
Judge: Mr R Brewster (Breckgreen / Stowthorney)
Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to thank Selby Canine Society Committee for giving me the chance to judge such a great entry of border terriers at this well run show. I would also like to thank the competitors for their fantastic entry and giving me the chance to go over so many class exhibits and for taking my decisions in such a sportsmanlike way.
Post Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Placing Critique
Blue & Tan bitch with good head and dark eyes. Strong large teeth. Harsh double coat and good tail set. Handled with pride by her keen and promising young handler.
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
5th Nov 2016
Judge: Mrs Joyce Martin (Merumhor)
I would like to thank the Midland Border Terrier Club for their invitation to judge this show. It was a great privilege to be asked and I would like to thank my two ring stewards Jem Thomas and Richard Wright for keeping everything moving smoothly for me throughout the day.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Karison Kappuccino
Placing Critique
A blue and tan bitch with a good otter head, keen expression and neat ears. She is narrow and has neat feet. However today she was shown in a harsh, but full blown coat which spoiled her outline. She is a handy size and moved happily round the ring.
