Show Placings
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.
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG3, Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Special Yearling /
Third Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Placing Critique
This 9 month old blue and tan bitch was balanced in her construction. She had a very feminine head, with a dark eye, small, neat ears and a correct bite. Her neck flowed into a narrow and fairly long body, with a well set tail. She was presented in a harsh, dense coat with a thick pelt. She moved out willingly with purpose. Pleased to award her BP. TPG3
Minehead & District Canine Society Open Show
6th Nov 2022
Judge: Mrs S Thompson (Ashgate)
Special Yearling /
Second Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
The Southern Border Terrier Open Show
5th Mar 2023
Judge: Mr Matt Smith (Alncroft)
Many thanks to the club for the invitation to judge at their show and for their hospitality. Thank you to my stewards, and the exhibitors for entering under me. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and was pleased with the quality present. Many of the classes were close decisions and coats played a big part in final standings. Whilst I didn’t find any dogs that I couldn’t span, having spent a lifetime around working terriers some of the bitches in particular were on the larger end of the scale for preference.
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Class Critique
The first three in particular could change places on another day.
West of England Ladies Kennel Society
27th Apr 2023
Judge: Mr Mark Walshaw (Janmark)
Many thanks to the officers and committee for the invitation to judge at WELKS, it was quite a few years ago now, as I was due to judge them at the beginning of lockdown. Due to the heavy rain that had fallen over the preceding days, all judging was inside. It was slightly draughty, but we were allocated a double ring, so plenty of space, to see the exhibits stride out. I must thank the two stewards Lynn Jones and Celia Vines who kept the ring flowing beautifully and the exhibitors for making prompt appearances, we did well for time, starting approx. 0930 and finishing around 14:45. I thank all exhibitors for a wonderful entry (123 dogs making 172 entries} for a Thursday in Malvern and appreciate their time and expense for entering under me. There was plenty of quality to choose from and I was happy with my final decisions. Dentition was very good and a pleasure to judge dogs with clean teeth. I did find muscle tone to be poor/average in a lot of the exhibits, which must be one of the key areas for any working terrier. Jackets were mixed as was movement.
Yearling - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Placing Critique
B&T, lovely feminine head, excellent neck, tidy through narrow front, well ribbed, good length and smart rear angulation. Sporting a jacket of top quality, moved well, covering the ground
Yeovil & District Canine Society Open Show
13th May 2023
Judge: Mrs Sue Baxter (Mysulan/Sulan)
Thank you to the committee for the kind invitation to judge today , also to my stewards who kept things moving along nicely, your help was much appreciated. A big thank you to all the exhibitors for allowing me to go over your dogs and accepting my decisions
in a sporting manner. General observations were, no kinked tails found and the males were intact . I did see a few animals with slightly untidy bites affecting some placings. On the subject of ring presentation I may suggest that perhaps some animals would have benefitted from more attention being paid to nail clipping and feet trimming … even with the long grass, once on the table the feet are very visible. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and had a quality bunch of Borders before me. Thank you to everyone who made it possible !
Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Placing Critique
19 month old B&T bitch . Strong head with good muzzle width and underjaw , pleasing proportions. Nice coat texture with plenty of pelt to get hold of . Very good topline held on the move and when stacked . Movement ok… A little upright in the shoulder but good rear angles .
Bath Canine Society
29th May 2023
Judge: Mrs Anne Gregory (Remony)
My thanks to the officers and committee of Bath Canine Society for inviting me to judge today. A big thank you to my two very efficient stewards, Mark and Joyce, who kept the ring running smoothly and efficiently. Thank you also to the exhibitors for giving me the opportunity to go over their dogs, it is always a privilege to do so. I was disappointed not to have been able to stay and watch the groups but circumstances outwith my control prevented me from doing so.
While there were plenty of good ‘otter’ heads in evidence, I found some heads lacking in muzzle strength and some with stops that were too deep, neither of which is desirable. Some exhibits were too heavy in frame and consequently didn’t come to hand easily. Some dogs had weak pasterns and feet that could have been tighter. Coats were at varying stages, with some in their underclothes, some just going over the top, and in some cases, this was a deciding factor. Overall, movement was good with correct tracking, plenty of drive off well angulated hindquarters and good length of stride. Some dogs could have benefited from more ring training and, at times, baiting on the table was excessive. A dog scrambling to get to bait makes it more difficult to assess. On a positive note, I did have some quality dogs to go over and was well pleased with my winners and final line-up. I was also pleased to see my Best Veteran win the Terrier Veteran Group, my Best Puppy shortlisted in the Terrier Puppy Group and my Best Special Beginners, Special Beginners Terrier Group 4
Yearling - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Placing Critique
Good head shape with strong jaw and little stop, clean neck into well placed shoulders, narrow body of good length, good topline and tailset, moved out soundly.
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.
Yearling - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Placing Critique
B/t Appealing otter head, with little stop, with a feminine expression .Honest and typey everything balanced and not overdone. She has the correct amount of bone, narrow all through whilst not losing any substance, appealed for size, I can well visualise her being able to get herself in the tightest of earths. Small tight feet on thick pads excellent length of rib, level topline, and strong loin finished off with a thick carroty tail. Presented in super jacket with ample undercoat and pelt .On the move she opened up, was sound up and back with an easy front reach and drive holding her outline. I liked her a lot.
The Terrier Club of Devon and Cornwall
18th Feb 2024
Judge: Mark Atkinson (Raedwulf)
Post Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Bridgewater & DCS Open Show
24th Mar 2024
Judge: Libby Tanton-Joy (Itsaso)
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge several breeds at their well-run open show. Also thank you to my stewards for organising the rings so smoothly. My thanks also go to those who entered under me on the day.
Reserve Best Of Breed
Name at show: RBOBRTG, Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Post Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Placing Critique
2 year old blue and tan who I liked for overall size, type and balance. Typical otter head with a dark eye and neat ears lead to a keen expression. Pleasing to go over with sound construction she moved with drive around the ring. Another one presented in fit condition finished off with a thick harsh coat and correct pelt. RBOB
West of England Ladies Kennel Society
26th Apr 2024
Judge: Mandy Holmes (Bimandi)
Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
Yeovil & District Canine Society Open Show
5th May 2024
Judge: Siân McKay (Redesholt)
Open - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Penarkwood Dancing Brave
