Show Placings
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
20th Nov 2011
Judge: Mrs Anne Heathcote (Saxheath)
I thoroughly enjoyed my day and thank all the exhibitors for the lovely entry. The depth of quality was a pleasant surprise and it would seem that the breed is in good hands.
Junior - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route
Placing Critique
Lovely otter head, straight front, good outline and tight harsh jacket. Preferred the hind angulation of 1.
Novice - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
12th Feb 2012
Judge: Mrs P. Clark (Gameway)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for inviting me to judge this show. I had a lovely day and a special thank you to all the exhibitors who braved the dreadful driving conditions.
Thank you for the lovely gift which I shall treasure and the very good lunch! A big thank you to Chris Wallace and Jem Thomas who were my very able stewards.
Junior - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Oxcroft Route
Special Challenge - Dog or Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Oxcroft Route
Three Counties Championship Show
10th Jun 2012
Judge: Mrs P McLellan
I enjoyed my day very much and must thank the exhibitors for an excellent entry. I was pleased with my principle winners. Some dogs were penalised today for lack of coat. I know coats will grow but at this level of showing dogs really need to be in good coat and in good coat condition. Movement in some exhibits left a lot to be desired.
Yearling - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
5th Aug 2012
Judge: Nicholls & Dean
*Dog Critique*
An excellent entry at this my first club championship show. There were quality exhibits in all classes and overall, if this entry can be used as a yardstick, the dogs are now almost as good as the bitches, which couldn’t be said only a short while ago. This must bode well for the future of the breed.
I have been very critical of movement in the past, but I found a distinct improvement here and most of the class card winners had good parallel movement going away and back, and plenty of drive with economical front action. Coats were generally very good and heads were much improved with only a few weak snipey muzzles and apple skulls.
Many thanks to my hard working stewards, Sharon Pickering and Ray Bryan, who succeeded in keeping me out of trouble.
*Bitch Critique*
A very satisfying day, I had many good bitches to go over. My thanks to the MBTC for the invitation to judge and to the exhibitors for entering. All were capable of being spanned, there was a good number of typical jackets and overall quality was such that this was a factor in the placings. No bad mouths and many with good strong teeth. Construction has improved but be careful not to overdo the hind angulation and remember we look for narrow fronts. A few round ears and several larger than I prefer. Racy lines preferred but be careful as some lacked substance. I though the principal winners were all very good. BIS, RBIS and BOS were all worthy winners.
Special Challenge - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
Super otter head, coat not at its best, correct size, and neatly turned out.
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
18th Nov 2012
Judge: Mrs Gill Hunt (Ottaswell)
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
Typical otter head, short muzzle, dark eye and straight front with catlike feet. Rib OK with strong loin. Short of coat today but has a thick pelt. Moved OK
Special Challenge - Dog or Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
As above
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
10th Feb 2013
Judge: Mr M. Hollingsbee (Otterwood)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee of the Club for their kind invitation to judge this show, my third opportunity at a breed club show.
My heartfelt thanks to my two stewards, Kathy Newsome and Jem Thomas who, by their calm organizing ability ensured that the show ran smoothly and finished in good time for the exhibitors to beat the inclement weather.
Finally the exhibitors for braving the threatened snow storm and allowing me to go over their dogs.
I only found one bad mouth. The quality of coats varied as would be expected in the run up to Crufts. Of concern to me is that a few of the exhibits were much too large for the standard. To be able to go to ground it is essential that the breed does not get oversized. Overall the quality of the exhibits was good and decisions in some of the classes were very close.
Special Challenge - Dog or Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
unplaced in a strong Post Graduate bitch class, moved and shown well, good coat.
Hinckley & District Canine Society Open Show
24th Feb 2013
Judge: Mrs Ann Maltby (Pherjan)
Open /
Second Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
National Terrier
6th Apr 2013
Judge: Mrs. Margaret Curtis (Matamba)
Many thanks to all of the exhibitors who gave me such a nice entry of 201 dogs, giving 245 entries. My thanks go to my two stewards, with some large numbers in the classes they kept everything running smoothly and helped me to finish on time. Many decisions were difficult and some decent dogs went unplaced.
There were things that came to hand while going over the dogs on the table, short ribs and over long in the loin and long hocks. Some of these short ribbed dogs were not over sprung and quite narrow through the body, but our standard states ‘ribs well back‘, something to be watched in your future breeding programs. Some dogs looked on the heavy side when I first looked around the ring, but on the table I was surprised how so many of these dogs came to hand no problem. Upright shoulders were noticeable and front movement in some classes was a problem, along with some very straight stifles and sickle movement. Puppies and youngsters you would expect to be forgiven for movement, along with the size of ears - within time the head develops and things start to balance out.
Jackets were at all stages, spot on, starting to blow - with some owners trying to scissor or part strip them into shape, other coats were coming through with harshness and one or two had just undercoat. There were some that could have done with just a tidy up which would have helped the overall picture.
General overall condition and the spanning on most dogs was acceptable, with good thick pelts. I did feel some of the puppies were thin and were quite hollow behind the ribs. I only had one bad mouth but plenty with strong jaws and large teeth. In general the shape and length of tails were good. A few low set tails, which when a dog is in a full jacket you can feel the low set when on the table but not necessarily see it on the move.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Birmingham & District Gundog & Terrier Club Open Show
21st Apr 2013
Judge: Sue Wilson (Olderhill)
Many thanks to the committee for inviting me to judge and to my two young and very efficient stewards
Limit /
Second Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
Pretty head on this bitch. Nice reach of neck. Good topline and length of rib. Lovely pelt and coat, moved out well.
Joint Border Terrier Club's Championship Show
5th May 2013
Judge: Mrs Denise Townsend (Llanishen)
I was thrilled to be awarded this prestigious appointment and would like to thank everyone for making this a very enjoyable day. I have always been a fan of the joint show and the opportunity it gives for the clubs to come together. The entire organising team was marvellous but special mention must go to my stewards Peter Roderick and Colin Girling for all their support and assistance, and to collecting ring organisers Wendy and Andrew Mooney for keeping the action flowing. Also thanks to Kathy Wilkinson and Su Williams for all their help in organising the event.
Overall I was pleased with the quality of my entry although there was more quality in depth in bitches. Movement was generally good and there were very few wry mouths. True otter heads seem somewhat in decline and there were several single coats. However, I was delighted with all of my winners.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
Another nice type although up to size for me. Very feminine and much to like. Another good jacket and loose pelt. Moved well.
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
16th Feb 2014
Judge: Mrs Ann Maltby (Pherjan)
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Special Challenge - Dog or Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
Otter shaped head with broad skull and short muzzle, correct dentition, dark eye with keen expression, good length of flat rib, spannable. Moved okay.
Crufts
7th Mar 2014
Judge: Mrs Melanie Lewis
Thank you to the exhibitors for giving me a record entry for the breed of 303 exhibits making 340 entries and indeed the largest entry for a single Judge at this prestigious show, also for the sporting way in which my decisions were accepted. Thank you also to my two Stewards, Roger and Heather Chaston, who worked tirelessly throughout the day, for their assistance in ensuring that I was able to get through this huge entry in plenty of time for my Best of Breed to compete in the Group.
It was an interesting entry with some difficult decisions having to be made such was the high standard of exhibits present. I felt that movement had improved since the last time I judged. Heads and expressions were good, although a few were a shade heavy in ear. Mouths overall were much improved with a marked reduction in the number of dogs presented with overcrowded jaws of small teeth, only the odd few having either a chipped, or in the case of an older exhibit, a missing tooth. The majority of teeth were clean with just a small number needing more attention in this area. All dogs were entire.
I was pleased that so many were presented with the correct double jacket that the standard asks for, unfortunately some exhibits that really appealed for type and size had very little evidence of, or no, jacket and on another day could have done better. Attention to feet was very evident, many of whom I believe may have benefited from plenty of roadwork, resulting in tight thick pads and short claws. Inevitably with any entry of this magnitude I had to let a number of worthy exhibits leave the ring without a prize card, which I really did not enjoy doing.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
an eye catching bitch who has a nicely shaped head with good strength of muzzle, dark eye with varminty expression, good mouth, nicely proportioned bodylines, a tad heavy on the day but was spannable. Very well presented and moved with purpose.
Oswestry & District Kennel Association
16th Mar 2014
Judge: Nicola Harris (Nickeltweed)
Best Of Breed
Name at show: TG2, Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Open /
First Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
22nd Mar 2014
Judge: Mr. David Matthews (Tojamatt)
I wish to thank the YORKS LANCS AND CHESHIRE BORDER TERRIER CLUB for the opportunity to judge at this level many thanks to the stewards Carolyn Richardson, Cally Harris and Julie Price for the help in the smooth running of the show I would also like to thank the exhibitors for allowing me the pleasure of going over their dogs.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Wellingborough & District Canine Society Open Show
30th Mar 2014
Judge: Mr John Dace (Cassacane)
Post Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
3rd Aug 2014
Judge: Bainbridge & Dandy
*Dogs*
Many thanks to the Midland Committee for this appointment and to all those especially the stewards who made for an enjoyable day. The entry in general reflected the type the exhibitors by now know I like. However there were a number up to size and exhibiting poor front angulation and short deep ribs and paid the price. I was looking for dogs with a typical otter head straight narrow front well laid shoulders ribbed back spannable and racey rear quarters with thick pelt in harsh double coat all of which we should be looking for in the ideal Border Terrier that is essentially a working terrier.
I was very pleased with my winners overall and had good depth of quality in the limit and open classes that generally displayed the above attributes.
The dog CC and ultimately BIS Ch Olderhill Afortunado is the ideal border terrier that shows with confidence and has class. He has a good border head of otter type strong jaw with keen expression on strong neck set into well laid shoulders ,narrow ribs carried back ,ideal length strong loin and the desired rear quarters ,shown in double coat and top condition moved with drive to cover the ground. Pleased my co-judge agreed this boys qualities worthy of BIS.
The RCC Tythrop Timepiece this excellent blue and tan displayed similar qualities to the above and with his good turn of stifle and short hocks and tight feet moved so well and with top presentation took this award over the quality 2nd in Open and Limit winner and with time maturity should complete the picture.
The Bitch CC winner and BOS,RBIS Ploughdown Placida is a top quality exhibit but for me just not the strength in loin of the dog but a close decision .
*Judge: John Bainbridge*
*Bitches*
A great honour to judge bitches at this breed club show, my grateful thanks to the Midland Border Terrier Club for their warm and friendly hospitality and to my two competent and hardworking stewards. I had a most enjoyable day and was delighted that my final line-up comprised of excellent and true to type examples of the breed, with some really promising youngsters amongst them. It is always foremost in my mind when judging this breed that it is essential that the dog’s conformation and movement should demonstrate its capability to work and follow a horse. I found this a challenge today, rather too many exhibits failing to demonstrate free ground covering movement or any length of stride to ‘follow a horse’: with weak pasterns resulting in uneconomic paddling action and poor reach; and sickle hocks impairing effective drive. I was also struck by the number of short ribs and untypical ‘cut up’ underlines. On a positive note temperaments were uniformly sound which is of great importance, although I felt numerous exhibits were neither ‘active’ nor ‘game’ in their demeanour. I was delighted to co-judge BIS with John Bainbridge and pleased that we agreed on all of our joint decisions today.
*Judge: Sarah Dandy*
Special Challenge - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Walsall & District Kennel Association Open Show
15th Nov 2014
Judge: Garry Mason (Glenhafod)
Best Of Breed
Name at show: TG3, Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Open /
First Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
16th Nov 2014
Judge: Miss Tracy Peacock (Ragatam)
I would like to thank the committee for the judging appointment and the two stewards, Jem Thomas and Margaret Davies. I enjoyed my day very much. Thanks to the exhibitors for an excellent entry. I was pleased with my principle winners. Some dogs were penalised today for lack of coat, I know coats will grow back. Movement in some exhibits left a lot to be desired.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Special Challenge - Dog or Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
Light grizzle bitch, pleasing otter head. Good shoulder, front and feet. Super double coat and thick pelt. Moved ok.
Sedgley & Gornal Canine Association
23rd Nov 2014
Judge: Miss Bridget Singh (Borderbridge)
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge your show, George for stewarding and the exhibitors for your entries.
Post Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
4 year old Light Grizzle Bitch. Narrow throughout, flat ribs and of good length. Nice small feet. Keen expression. Easily spanned.
West Midland Terrier Society
29th Nov 2014
Judge: Mr Dave Matthews (Tojamatt)
Many thanks to the committee for inviting me to judge at there open show many thanks to my steaward, unfortunately a high absentee rate,
Open - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Placing Critique
Red grizzle bitch, narrowest of fronts with small catlike feet and keen expression. Good topline and tailset, preferred the rear angulation and movement of 1st,seemed a little disinterested today
National Dog Show
9th May 2015
Judge: Mr John Dace (Cassacane)
I must begin by saying a very sincere thanks to the Kennel Club and the officers and committee of the Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd for giving me this most prestigious appointment to award Challenge Certificates for the first time.
Also again sincere thanks to the exhibitors for their splendid entry and acceptance of my decisions on the day, and to my very efficient Stewards who ensured that classes moved along which helped in a timely finish.
On reflection of the exhibits I found that teeth and mouths were very good on the whole, feet were variable as was movement. Temperaments were good. All dogs were entire. My main concerns were in the condition of some exhibits who could have been fitter and harder in muscle tone but where has the consistent “head like that of an otter” gone? The variance in head shape and therefore expression was quite evident. I was pleased with my final awards and again many thanks to everyone for making this one of my most memorable days.
The depth of quality particularly in the bitches bodes well for the breed in the future but as already mentioned concentration on heads to achieve the “head like that of an otter” should be one of the paramount objectives.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society Open Show
1st Jun 2016
Judge: Mrs Ann Maltby (Pherjan)
Open - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Oxcroft Route to Borderxpress
