Name:Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt 
Gender:Bitch 
DOB:30-11-2012 
Colour:Grizzle 
Owner(s): Mr D & Mrs A Matthews  
Breeder:Miss S M Moseley, 
Bandicoot Double O Seven (D)
22-11-2007
Colour: Grizzle
CH Gameway Kiwi JW (D)
18-09-2002
Colour: Unknown
Dandyhow Golden Arrow (D)
05-01-1998
CH Quatford Kardinal (D)
CH Dandyhow Bright Sparkle (B)
Gameway Sapphire (B)
07-12-2000
CH Hynerbrook Quartz (D)
Dandyhow Cosmopolitan At Gameway (B)
Jephanil Rosa Pomifera At Bandicoot (B)
30-03-2004
Colour: Grizzle
Pipruda Shaamit (D)
07-04-1998
CH Pipruda Poachers Pocket (D)
Phlip Cornopean (B)
Diamond Dip (B)
08-05-1997
Kelgram Kayhasi (D)
Kenvee Mintey (B)
Benattivo Abiba For Abisu (B)
19-06-2010
Colour: Blue and Tan
CH Benattivo Rock Robin (D)
04-01-2007
Colour: Grizzle and Tan
Dandyhow Spells Trouble (D)
19-07-2004
Brookbank Break the Spell JW (D)
CH Dandyhow Bedazzled (B)
Benattivo Rockrose (B)
08-09-2004
CH Gameway Kiwi JW (D)
Gameway Indigo At Benattivo (B)
CH Gameway Solstice At Benattivo (B)
21-06-2003
Colour: Unknown
CH/Am/Can CH Conundrum Co-Writer (D)
16-09-2001
CH Otterkin Lyricist (D)
Conundrum Twist of Fate (B)
Gameway Liaison (B)
18-11-2001
CH Dandyhow Mr Punch (D)
Dandyhow Cosmopolitan At Gameway (B)

Show Placings

Three Counties Championship Show
6th Jun 2013
Judge: Mrs Jena Tuck (Nettleby)
Minor Puppy - Bitch / Third Place
Name at show: Abisu Solataire At Tojamatt
Border Union Championship Show
15th Jun 2013
Judge: Mrs Lesley Gosling (Akinside)
Showers, wind and sunshine made for a tactically difficult day for my solo steward, Elaine Waddington, who managed to keep the paperwork dry and get dogs moving in and out of the ring very smoothly. My grateful thanks to her and to all the exhibitors who stoically remained outside as the rain continued to plague us throughout the judging. Not weather the dogs enjoyed much either while standing about. The entry was very mixed. The dog classes were marginally better and more consistent than the bitches. Fronts are improving but movement still needs attention, both fore and aft, with some hackney front action creeping in. Most heads were breed typical with one or two exceptions which were rather boxy and out of proportion. I was surprised and dismayed to find a large number of dentition problems in both puppies and adults. There were very small teeth, dirty teeth, teeth misaligned and one undershot mouth. Several lacked any depth of coat and were in their undercoats or single coated, with no undercoat at all. Feet were mostly good, but a couple of exhibits were down on their pasterns; claws were in need of attention on one or two exhibits.
Best Puppy
Name at show: Abisu Solataire At Tojamatt
Minor Puppy - Bitch / First Place
Name at show: Abisu Solataire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
Grizzle coat of correct depth & texture; excellent pelt, lovely front, good positive movement. Drove away well from behind. Good head for such a baby and it will develop further. Preferred the ear placement on this puppy in the challenge for BP. Good dark eye and correct scissor bite. BPB and BP
Blackpool & District Championship Show
21st Jun 2013
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin (Otterbobs)
What a lovely day, no rain in sight!! Thank you to all the exhibitors and especially my steward Alisan, she was excellent at her job. I enjoyed judging many dogs that I had not be over or seen before. Many dogs had little or no coat at all, Border Terriers must have a harsh double coat when showing not just stripped out and in their under coat, also there was hardly any muscle tone, no level backs, no slim straight narrow fronts and the movement should of been better. In a few of the older classes I could not span a few dogs and they were heavy when I lifted them up off the table, I found all the mouths clean with full dentations and I *placed those that were nearest the standard in each class*. Very pleased with both dog and bitch winners and their reserves and best puppy.
Minor Puppy - Bitch / Second Place
Name at show: Abisu Solataire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
this pup was stronger in the head than 1st which I like, also good coated, lovely narrow front, her ears carried too much hair, and I would of liked a better topline.
East of England Agricultural Society
6th Jul 2013
Judge: Mr A Horner (Stineval)
I have to thank the society for the invitation to judge and to the exhibitors who accepted my decisions sportingly. Thank you also to my steward, on his own, for keeping things moving.
Minor Puppy - Bitch / Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Abisu Solataire At Tojamatt
The Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
21st Jul 2013
Judge: Mr. G. Pickering (Picer)
I was honoured to be asked to judge the Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show and I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I had an excellent entry, but was a little disappointed with the number of absentees. However the weather has been a challenge of late with some very high temperatures which I understand prevented some exhibitors from further afield attending. I would particularly like to thank the NBTC committee for looking after me so well and also for my expert stewards, Allan Horner and Doreen Rushby, who ably assisted me ensuring that everything ran smoothly. I would also like to thank all the exhibitors for their entries and for accepting my decisions so gracefully. As for the dogs on the day, coats varied as you would expect, but I do think movement is improving and although there were a few ‘flicking’ fronts, rear movement was in the main correct. I had one dog with a bad mouth and a few with misaligned teeth. This, I believe, is to be avoided in the show ring. All the dogs were entire and I could span all the exhibits. All in all, I was very pleased with both the dog and the bitch line ups, which meant that I had some real quality Border Terriers to pick from. All the winners looked the part – all in hard condition, with good heads and coats – able to do the job that they were bred for.
Minor Puppy - Bitch / Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Abisu Solataire At Tojamatt
Class Critique
A lovely class of babies who all looked like puppies. Some promising puppies went without a card today
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
28th Sep 2013
Judge: Miss Elspeth Jackson (Clipstone)
It is always an honour to be invited to judge a club show and my first job here must be to thank Club, Officers, Committee and Members for asking me to judge their show. The hospitality shown to my Mother and myself made it a very enjoyable weekend. Thank you to my capable Stewards Les Moss and Ian Higham for their help on the day. Thank you all for the great entry both in terms of number and in depth of quality I had to judge. There were some very tough, but enjoyable decisions to be made and in most classes and in the challenges the top honours were fiercely contested. . I must repeat the often used cliché of not having enough cards on the day. Many who were down the line or even cardless today I would have been happy to have as winners in another entry.
Puppy - Bitch / Reserve
Name at show: Abisu Solataire At Tojamatt
Yearling - Bitch / Third Place
Name at show: Abisu Solataire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
Pleasing strong headed feminine puppy bitch. Good in neck and rib. In quality new coat with a good texture. Balanced and well muscled throughout.
South Wales Kennel Association
13th Oct 2013
Judge: Mrs Julie Guvercin
My most sincere thanks to all exhibitors for giving me such a lovely entry of 117 making 153 entries, the highest in the terrier group and one of only a few to break the 100 mark in the whole show. It is human nature for us all to ringside judge and we are all guilty of this, but going over an exhibit first hand, is further revealing, a privilege for which, I was truly grateful. Some lovely dogs, some more workman like than others, some in better condition than others, a few outstanding ones and the odd one or two I’d love to own! I am the first to admit I love a flashy dog who will stand up and show, but along with that must come the workman like qualities that make it able to be essentially a working terrier. There is nothing to suggest in my mind, that the two trains of thought can’t co-exist, they can and they must. Nervous or aggressive dogs and there were just one or two, were not rewarded, this is surely a temperament to be discouraged. Dour is a different matter altogether, especially when its nearly always on an otherwise, super exhibit, a frustrating combination.
Puppy - Bitch / Third Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Class Critique
The better of the two puppy classes for depth of quality.
Midland Counties Canine Society
25th Oct 2013
Judge: Mrs Val Furness
Thank you to M.C.C.A for the appointment also my stewards and a thank you to the exhibitors. Coats and size were mixed and a few entries i could not span the one thing that was apparent was the number of very lean exhibits. You BREED for size not FEED for it. It was also nice to see that most of the early classes looked as they should be and not looking like they should be in open class
Puppy - Bitch / Second Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
Another good pup with a lot to like no doubt they could change places another day but 1st just had the edge
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
9th Nov 2013
Judge: Mrs S Williams (Hollybridge)
I would like to thank the Scottish Club for the invitation. It was an honor to judge at this friendly and hospitable club’s show. Huge thanks must go to my very capable & experienced Steward Joyce Orr and her excellent helpers, Jim Stewart in the morning and Helen McKenzie in the afternoon. All did a super job. Thanks too to the kitchen ladies for the amazing lunch. I was very pleased to have such a super quality entry. I could have easily given out more tickets if they had been available. Some close decision at times, a true reflection on the high quality of the entries. Presentation of the dogs was very good, mouths too on the whole were correct with only the odd exception. Feet, I was pleased to see a vast majority of neat cat like feet on the dogs, no long hare feet. Tails again seem to be improving, not as many of the over long sickle ones that I have noticed in the past. Coats and pelts: while coats are transient and of course some had more than others on the day, texture was very good and the vast majority had good thick and loose pelts. I think the breed overall is in a good place. Just one point I noticed, some dogs had to take a lot of steps to cover the ground, watching out that our dogs move with drive is very important and I was happy with my winners in that they, in my opinion, covered the ground well.
Puppy - Bitch / Reserve
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Yearling - Bitch / Third Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
Smart attractive bitch with good coat and pelt. Racy outlines.
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
17th Nov 2013
Judge: Mr Mark Lowry (Ravenside)
A big thank you to the Club for giving me the chance to judge this show, also to the exhibitors for giving me such a nice entry. Special thanks also to my stewards for making everything run so smoothly, and to the ladies in the kitchen for a great meal. I had some quality dogs to go over and I am confident plenty will go on to achieve greater things. Coats were at various stages which is to be expected and although they don’t change the construction of the animal it can detract from the overall picture when awarding top prizes. Of course they are a working terrier but they are also on show so I have to have both things in mind when judging.
Puppy - Bitch / Second Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
grizzle and tan in full coat, more masculine type than winner and up to size, but still easy to span. Another bitch with good balance throughout. Moved around the ring well.
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
25th Jan 2014
Judge: Mr Ian Hopper (Esyntona)
I enjoyed my day judging and would like to thank exhibitors for entering under me. A big thank you to Carly and Anita who were very efficient in there stewarding duties. I found on the day that the bitch classes were stronger than the dogs; coats were at various stages which you would expect at this time of year. All dogs and bitches were spanable. There were no bad mouths one concern is that some teeth are in need of cleaning. Movement in the main winners was excellent and they were shown in fit hard condition.
Junior - Bitch / Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Rugby & District Canine Society
1st Feb 2014
Judge: Mr Chris Wallace (Hobholt)
Reserve Best Of Breed
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Post Graduate / First Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
Grizzle bitch, 14 months, strong head, big teeth, narrow front with good shoulders and reach of neck, nice topline and short carrot tail, excellent rear angulation and moved well with drive, double coat coming, super loose pelt, lost out to BOB on coat. RBOB
Liverpool Terrier Club
23rd Feb 2014
Judge: Miss Tracey Peacock (Ragatam)
Post Graduate / First Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
Well coated Red Grizzle. Good otter head, neck and lay of shoulder. Racy strong quarters. Moved ok.
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
29th Mar 2014
Judge: Mrs Jane Parker (Conundrum)
I would like to thank the BTC club, for giving me a second chance to judge this, the most prestigious of the breed clubs championship shows. I was judge elect in 2010, but caught the awful Noro virus the night before I was due to judge and spent the next two days flat out. The new venue that the committee has found, has to be lauded. It is large, airy, light, the flooring is excellent. The car park looked huge. From a judges point of view I could see all the dogs clearly at any time. Congratulations on a super venue. My two stewards, Chris Davis and Liz Barratt were so very organised and kept me informed and on time throughout the day, with good humour lots of smiles and attention to detail. With such a lovely entry numbers wise, it was a long day. Thank you both. Living in Canada now, it was a real pleasure to judge dogs that I had mostly not seen. Obviously some of the older ones were mere youngsters before I left and it was nice to see how they had progressed through the years. I found no missing testicles, mouths on the whole were good, with only a few missing teeth or one or two misaligned. Heads were in general better overall than when I left, with more who carried a moderately broad backskull and also a lot more with very good underjaw, something one had to look hard to find a few years ago. Coats were on the whole, good, there were a very few however, who had greasy and dirty coats, this I feel is completely unnecessary. A few arrived without their coats, this is just unfortunate as dogs do not know about our ambitions in regard to shows, and if the coat needs to come out then so be it! Feet in some instances were weak, with some flat footed and others harefooted, this breed needs to have really good tight feet, small with thick pads and be well knuckled, poor feet make the whole outline of the dog look wrong. The worst fault I found, as usual were fronts, all the usual suspects were there, wide fronts, narrow fronts, flicking wrists etc. I do begin to wonder if we will ever get this completely right, but if we are breeders looking to the future, we must be hard on this most prevalent fault, and do not use these dogs and bitches in our breeding programmes. Bitches had the most quality through the entry, again, this is usual, however the dogs that were good, were very very good, and the best, were exceptional. Size does need to be watched, this is a somewhat cyclical thing, but there were some big dogs and bitches in the ring. The first and most important words in our standard...”Essentially a working terrier”...if it cannot be spanned, it is too big. In general I feel the breed in the country of origin is in pretty good shape, the top percentage of the dogs I judged were quite lovely and had breed type to spare. In my critique you will no doubt notice expressions I use again and again. I find certain things are ubiquitous (but none the less hugely important to breed type) and have my pet ways of describing them, I hope you forgive my industrial repetition in some regards.
Junior - Bitch / Reserve
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Bath Championship Show
23rd May 2014
Judge: Mr S Plane
Thankyou to the exhibitors for giving me such a good entry for the first time awarding challenge certificates. Although we had a super sized ring with short grass and level surface, the weather prevented us from using the outer part in some classes. Most of the exhibits were undeterred by the rain and dampness
Junior - Bitch / Second Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
Very attractive bitch of good type, balanced head with a good expression, lovely run in of neck and shoulder, very tight fitting coat of good texture, moved soundly. Showed herself very well and capably handled.
Southern Counties Canine Association
31st May 2014
Judge: Mr Terry Cooper
Firstly I would like to thank my able stewards for making my day of judging so enjoyable, they did a first class job in the process and my compliments go to them both. Secondly I thank the exhibitors for bringing some fine examples of the breed under me. In a few classes I was splitting hairs with a number of exhibits and on another day they would change places many times. I was very happy with my final line up of dogs and bitches, they were all of excellent quality and worthy of winning top honours.
Junior - Bitch / First Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
G/t. Most promising. Good head, ears and keen expression. Well placed shoulders. Good ribs easily spanned, well bodied with good quarters. Moved and handled very well.
Class Critique
What a class of quality in depth bitches, who will no doubt change places many times.
Three Counties Championship Dog Show
7th Jun 2014
Judge: Mr D E Fryer (Irton)
Thanks to my two highly efficient stewards who, whilst never obtrusive, always had everything in the right place and ensured that I could get on with judging the dogs efficiently and smoothly. A very pleasing entry, many classes had winning quality beyond the number of cards available. I found no missing teeth, no serious mouth faults, and all males were entire. Coats were variable; ranging from several in profuse double coat (not a problem if still of good weatherproof quality); to some who had only undercoat and a few who had adequate top coat but completely lacked undercoat (both incorrect and adversely affecting placings). There were a number of very smartly prepared and presented terriers on show; but however smart and showy a terrier may be, as 'essentially a working terrier' it must be 'capable of following a horse, combining activity with gameness' in order to be a BORDER Terrier. Too many exhibits were deficient in shoulder construction, front movement and drive.
Yearling - Bitch / Reserve
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Class Critique
a big class with a lot of good 'uns in it
Blackpool & District Canine Society Championship Show
20th Jun 2014
Judge: Mr Peter Bakewell
Graduate - Bitch / Third Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Derbyshire County Show
22nd Jun 2014
Judge: Mr Robert F Taylor (Foxthorn)
Open / Second Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Windsor Championship Show
27th Jun 2014
Judge: Mr S Jackson (Clipstone)
Very sorry for the late publication of this report. Unfortunately the original was on a device that was stolen. It was an honour again to judge Windsor which is one of my personal favourite shows, and also my local!
Yearling - Bitch / Third Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
East of England Championship Show
6th Jul 2014
Judge: Miss Jean Singh
I would like to thank my stewards who kept the event running smoothly. My decisions were made on the exhibit on the day I found heavy ears are creeping in, detracting from the otter head and keen expression. An excessive amount of exhibits were not in hard, toned condition. ‘Couch potato’ dogs come to mind. Front movement is also a cause for concern. I found two level mouths, one just level and a puppy , had a tooth out of line. My decision on some unplaced exhibits were a culmination of a long foreface and untypical expression, unspannable even though I gave some leeway and poor front movement.
Graduate - Bitch / Second Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
on similar lines to the winner however with her coat just passing its best, did not have the clean outline as the winner but still a nice bitch, in different circumstances placings would be reversed.
Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
8th Nov 2014
Judge: Mrs P McLellan (Breconbeds)
My thanks to the Scottish Committee for the invitation to judge our prestigious annual Championship Show; to my excellent steward Joyce Orr, and to the exhibitors for such a good entry. I was happy with my class winners which were super examples of the breed. On the down side a number of exhibits were short in the leg and in the body, giving an unbalanced appearance and it’s very unlikely that they would be capable of following a horse, as the breed standard requires. Some pelts were too thin and too many dogs were single coated.
Yearling - Bitch / Third Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
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 / Second Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
Grizzle and tan in beautiful coat. Good head and moved with drive. Bigger size than winner.
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
28th Mar 2015
Judge: Mr. Carl-Gunnar Stafberg (Bombax) Sweden
I will thank the club and the show committee for inviting me to judge this prestigious show, I feel very honoured to be invited. I really enjoyed my day and was very pleased with huge entries. My winner was really top quality border terriers, excelling in type and heads. The overall quality was very good, but I hoped to see more quality in the younger classes. Size was ok, coats in different stages because of the time of year. It was about 40 years since I judged my first CCshow in England and I still enjoy it so much. My stewards did a fantastic job on the day, keeping both me and the dogs in order. They make it running very smooth and efficient, thank you!!!
Mid Limit - Bitch / Third Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Blackpool & District Canine Society
26th Jun 2015
Judge: Mr. Ian Higham (Comberdown)
I had been looking forward immensely to judging my first UK championship show. I sincerely thank the Blackpool and District Canine Society for the invite and also thank my two friendly, competent and helpful stewards, Mandy and Robert Geary for keeping everything right. I would also give my deepest gratitude to those who exhibited under me for trusting my knowledge of the breed and my integrity to judge without fear or favour and further thank them for following my lead to stay in the outside ring through the numerous showers that were on and off all day. I feel privileged that you brought your dogs to me for my opinion. As usual I was looking for Borders that had all the good breed type points as laid out in our standard, combined with correct physical construction to be able to cover the ground well. I had no dirty or smelly dogs and only two or three of them could have done with having their teeth brushed so I can commend you all for that. I had only one dog that was slightly undershot and I found no tail deformities at all, which is excellent. I found a variety of movement problems. But it has to be said that in general, movement seemed to have improved since I last judged the breed. I noticed a few more Borders with lighter colouring to their noses since I last judged, but, as instructed by our standard, I treated this as not a serious fault. As often heard said, the term “on the day” always applies. I had to give my awards to the dogs that stood out on this day. So for those who may be a little disappointed, remember that on another occasion your dog could well have a better coat stage, move a little more positively or be more “on its toes.” Do not be disheartened and enjoy your showing and your dogs!
BCC
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Limit - Bitch / First Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
G&T with the tightest and harshest of coats. A coat that one could scrub the dirt from under the fingernails with. She also had an amazing pelt with the thickest skin that I felt on the day. She has a beautiful outline in profile and a very nice feminine head with good eye, ear, correct bite and strong muzzle. She was fit and strong. She stood on good feet and was easily spanned with correct rib and strong loin. She moved true at every angle and the best bit was she moved with real drive, staying correct and keeping everything together at all times. In fact it was this drive and enthusiasm that won her the challenge over the open bitch. When she came up against the dog for best of breed, I was pleasantly surprised at how similar in type they looked. An excellent bitch in my view. BITCH CC.
Class Critique
I believe that this was my best and hottest contested class of the day. I really enjoyed going over them.
The Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
18th Jul 2015
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Thank you to the officers, committee and members for voting for me to judge their Championship show 2015. My stewards were just perfect, even the couple of birds flying around enjoyed the day. As you know it's all too easy to judge from the ringside but when you are in the ring judging dogs of varying sizes, heads, coats etc, I felt I did the best I could with the exhibits shown. All dogs were entire, mouths were correct and teeth were of good size and clean apart from one level bite which is acceptable. Movement needs to be improved front and rear, muscle tone was lacking in quite a few, presentation on some was dreadful, two dogs needed feeding up, but the main winners were of good standing.
Limit - Bitch / Second Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
tight red coat , little wider in front than 1st , short in ribs, both excellent movers but she needs to calm down first.
Paignton & District Fanciers’ Association Championship Show
1st Aug 2015
Judge: Miss Diane Swales (Grabbist)
My thanks to the Secretary and Committee for inviting me to judge at this most enjoyable show and to my two extremely efficient stewards, Felicity Snook and Lady Elain Macdonald, who kept the ring flowing smoothly. I am grateful to the exhibitors for a good entry including some very nice Borders and some promising youngsters. Overall mouths were good with strong, clean teeth and correct bites except for one overshot. Skins were an improvement on my last judging appointment, the majority being thick and loose but I do not like the tendency to strip coats out leaving little evidence of a harsh, dense coat. Remembering that a Border is 'essentially a working Terrier' it concerns me that there are a number being shown that really do not measure up to that description both in jacket and the lack of drive and ability to cover the ground when moving. These comments do not apply to my winners and I was so pleased to find many that really measure up to most points in the standard.
Limit - Bitch / Reserve
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Class Critique
Good trio headed this class.
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.
Limit - Bitch / Second Place
Name at show: Abisu Solitaire At Tojamatt
Placing Critique
a little strong all round for a bitch, but had all the right things in right places, moved out well