Show Placings
The East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
29th Aug 2021
Judge: Mrs Janet Lee (Tythrop)
My thanks to the Officers & Committee for inviting me to judge their show , & for the excellent ring stewards Mr Brewster & Mrs Armstrong who made the day run smoothly & kept me going with refreshments ! I enjoyed being with fellow BT fanciers & their dogs , as I always do .
I had a very good entry come forward & after such a long time away from the ring , a few were ring rusty & some youngsters were a little overawed , which I considered quite acceptable given so many had missed out on their early education & socialisation & tried to give them opportunity to shine , though a few very nice dogs could have been higher placed but the occasion was too much for them .
I found very good examples , but also had some whose construction fell a little short of the standard …….deep unspannable bodies or brisket below elbow standing or on the move on much shorter than their depth legs , forward placed & too little angulation in their fronts due to upright shoulders & short steep upper arms which shorten their strides or make them goosestep , & flat croups with extra high set tails carried like hound sterns ,or conversely short steep croups with low tailsets , often thin & long tails too & some poor downhill or lumpy/hinged toplines became apparent in profile movement , however the most common thing that struck me was how many have too little bone in pasterns & east-west feet when our standard calls for straight legs & good tight feet . As I lift every dog to see how their fronts ‘’drop’’ into place I found lack of bone through pasterns into feet was a common fault today & so some had feet not facing forward naturally . Most came in good condition , but a few were too thin & their pelvic bones were sticking up & they felt shelly with no depth of loin so their rears lacked muscle accordingly , conversely a handful had indulged during lockdown a little too much ! Coats were as ever , mixed , but the top winners all came in very good order with double coats .
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
The Midland Border Terrier Club 2020 Championship Show
24th Sep 2021
Judge: (Dogs) Anne Gregory (Remony) (Bitches) Liz Wright (Totherend)
DOGS:
A most enjoyable day judging dogs at this show and I would like to thank the Club for inviting me to do so. Thanks also to my two stewards, John and John, who kept things moving along in a professional and efficient manner. Thanks also to the exhibitors for their support and allowing me the privilege of going over their dogs.
Mouths, on the whole, were good and I found only one suspect mouth. There were plenty of typical otter heads but evidence also of stops that were too deep and muzzles that were too short, which is not typical of an otter head.
Movement in some dogs was less than desirable with a few crossing in front, toeing in or flicking wrists. Rear movement was somewhat better but side movement showed some dogs short stepping. I also found some flat, slack feet and loose pasterns, which could well have been improved with proper exercise, and some feet could have been tidied up to better effect.
Generally coats and pelts were harsh and thick but, in some classes, lack of coat was the deciding factor in final placements.
My main concern today was size and weight. Some dogs were very difficult to span, were too heavy and did not come to hand well. This must be addressed to ensure Borders remain fit for the purpose they were intended.
I was pleased with my final line-up and my co judge and I whole heartedly agreed when it came to the final awards.
BITCHES:
My thanks to the Midland Border Terrier Club for offering this my first judging appointment at championship level. I had a really enjoyable day and must thank exhibitors for their wonderful entry and allowing me the opportunity to go over their dogs. Huge thanks also to my two stewards, John & John, who kept everything running smoothly.
I was really pleased with the quality of exhibits, unfortunately this meant some good dogs went unplaced.
Coats were at various stages, all acceptable, but I personally prefer more than less. Some of the exhibits would have benefitted from a tidy up, especially feet. Front movement could have been better, a few upright shoulders and over-angulated rear ends. Overall size was OK, but a few were over weight which made them unspannable.
Really pleased with my final line up and final awards.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
National Dog Show
24th Sep 2021
Judge: Mrs Wendy Mooney (Chesterton)
Thank you to the committee of Birmingham Dog Show Society for inviting me to judge Border Terriers at their show. Many thanks to all the exhibitors who entered and gave me the honour and pleasure of judging their dogs. I had a fabulous entry and was truly spoilt for choice in many of the classes. One general observation is that there were quite a number of dogs that were, in my opinion, simply too big to do the job that they are bred to do.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Novice - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Placing Critique
Nice overall shape to this youngster who is still in puppy. In good coat with small, neat feet. Balanced outline with nice carrot-shaped tail. Needs more time to mature.
The Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
26th Sep 2021
Judge: Mrs D Bullen (Fevstone)
I would like to thank the officers and committee for the hard work and smooth running of the show. I would also like to thank my two stewards for doing an excellent job. The exhibitors seemed to enjoy the show judging by the popularity of my top honours. Unlike one particular exhibitor who needed his teddy putting back in his cot judging by his unsporting behaviour. 4 were found to be unspannable with a couple of bad mouths, also some were far to thin, which is unacceptable and one or two could have smelled a little sweeter. It's all well and good getting dressed up, you are letting your dogs down if they pong.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Oakengates & District Canine Society Open Show
18th Dec 2021
Judge: Mr Anthony Hadley
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG1, Keebank Double Up
Junior /
First Place
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
The East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
18th Apr 2022
Judge: Mr M. Hollingsbee (Otterwood)
I would like to thank the Committee of the Club for entrusting me to judge this
show. Due to my age I have decided that this will be my last appointment at this
level. I would like to thank my able stewards Sarah Pateman and Kay Tuffin for
keeping me in order and ensuring a smooth running of the show. All of the
Committee worked very hard and I thank them.
Having said that, what a lovely standard of dogs were placed before me. Overall
coats were excellent and I did not detect one bad mouth. The only criticism I have is
that a few exhibits did not have the feet and nails trimmed.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Placing Critique
Another nice grizzle dog, moved well, nice rear angulation
Yearling - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Royal Cheshire County Show
22nd Jun 2022
Judge: Carmel Clarke O'Neill (Lemracdream)
Junior /
Third Place
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Newport Agricultural Society (Shropshire) Open Show
9th Jul 2022
Judge: Mr. Andrew Brace (Tragband)
Best Of Breed
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Junior /
First Place
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Oswestry & District Kennel Association Open Show
19th Mar 2023
Judge: Andrea Dixon (Otterpaws)
Thank you to the club for the invitation to judge and the exhibitors for their entries. Judged inside due to weather, some exhibits found the floor a bit distracting. Thank you to the committee for a well-run show and my tasty lunch. Thank you to my steward and their young helper, always encouraging to see the youth being encouraged.
Post Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Placing Critique
G&T dog. Different type to 1st. good otter head but would have preferred a stronger bite. Still spannable, moved ok.
Open /
Third Place
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
6th Aug 2023
Judge: Mr. Bob Wright (Totherend)
It was a real honour to judge my home club’s show and my thanks go to a great committee for the opportunity and the way they run the club with all hands to the wheel. Richard Wright and Sharon Pickering had my back and have my appreciation for a great day’s stewarding.
I was disappointed in the early dog classes where what initially looked like an impressive line-up failed to materialise once on the table or on the move. Movement was a weak spot for a surprisingly large number of exhibits, especially front movement. There were three poor mouths and one exhibit that couldn’t be spanned but lots of good pelts, coats and neat feet. However long tails are becoming more common and a true carrot tail is about as rare as hen’s teeth. I was fascinated by some handlers interpretation of a triangle, suffice to say it’s a good job it wasn’t a maths exam.
Once again there were only two CCs available which is a great shame when there are so many who warrant them. I can only sympathise with those who went home empty handed. It was most likely a reflection of the strength of the classes rather than their standing. The bitch classes were especially strong with at least six exhibits worthy of much more than I had available to offer. When it came to the line ups I was clearly torn and had to be really picky to get to a decision but in the end I was pleased with all the winners.
Whilst there is still much that can be done to improve some aspects of the breed there is a lot to be proud of with some really stunning exhibits out there.
Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Stafford & District Canine Society Open Show
23rd Sep 2023
Judge: Miss G Lowe (Rockslade)
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge at their show for my first judging appointment. The show was well run, friendly and I received a warm welcome upon arrival. I would also like to thank all those who entered under me especially in the current climate with travelling costs.. A big thank you to my very capable steward Richard Wright for ensuring that the ring ran well.
I was pleased with my entry and there were some quality exbibits in attendance. I did find a number of exhibits to be short on undercoat and one untidy mouth. Some long nails and dirty teeth which need addressing.
Post Graduate /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Open /
Second Place
Name at show: Keebank Double Up
Placing Critique
2 year old Masculine Grizzle dog, much larger dog than my winner. Otter head and well set ears. Harsh jacket and loose pelt with an ok topline. Neat feet and nice bone. Good rear angulation and he moved well around the ring. Well handled.
