Show Placings
The Border Terrier Championship Show
26th Mar 2011
Judge: Miss Jean Singh (Vandamere)
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
Placing Critique
Nice feminine head, with a short strong muzzle. She was in a good double coat and easily spannable. Her size was pleasing but her showmanship needs to develop along with her front movement.
Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Show
4th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr M. Hollingsbee (Otterwood)
I would like to express my thanks to the Officers and Committee of the Club for inviting me to judge their show, my second opportunity at a Breed Open Show.
I was struck by the wonderful atmosphere in the hall with every result being greeted with spontaneous, enthusiastic applause. The exhibitors in Scotland certainly are a very sporting lot!
I found no bad mouths but front movement in some exhibits left a lot to be desired. However my class winners did not disappoint me
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
Placing Critique
8 ½ month grizzle bitch, good coat and pelt, easily spanned, moved well, well set ears and nice expression.
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
25th Feb 2012
Judge: Mr. Ian Higham (Comberdown)
I had been looking forward immensely to judging my first breed club open show in the UK. I sincerely thank the officers and membership for inviting me and most importantly, I would thank those exhibitors who attended and valued my integrity and opinion enough to give me the opportunity of going over their dogs.
I was looking for Borders that had all the good breed type points as laid out in our standard, combined with the correct physical construction to be able to cover the rough hilly ground of the region from which the breed originated. I thoroughly went through the entry to find these attributes, and judged with these thoughts in mind right down to my 4th placings.
I am pleased to be able to say that I had no dirty oily coats, or smelly dogs and that every dog had clean white teeth. This is all down to good housekeeping (or dog keeping) and I must commend you all on these points.
However, I was very disappointed to find that three exhibitors presented me with dogs, which had kinked bumpy tails.
I only found one tooth problem and that was a set of badly twisted lower incisors, which were slightly obstructing a scissor bite, but unfortunately, I was further disappointed to find dogs with weak muzzles and no strength to the underjaw. A Border needs to be able to force home an attack on its advesary and to do so must use his//her strong jaws and big teeth. This part of the borders anatomy is of immense importance to its function. I would consider this a fault, which would seriously interfere with a terrier’s ability to work.
I found a variety of movement problems. Some had stilted rear movement, with feet in underneath the dog and lacking propulsion. One dog that crabbed. Dogs with fronts toeing in, some more so than others, and some with wide front movement, or flicking one, or other foot.
Ultimately, there were some very good examples of our breed, that possessed all, or most, of the qualities I was searching for. Some of these did not get top awards on the day, but nevertheless had enough breed type and quality of movement to forge ahead and have a promising future I am sure.
Junior - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
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.
Yearling - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
Placing Critique
22 mo. Good head with heavier ear. Quite nicely made all round. Neat carrot tail, good coat and pelt and moved OK.
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
20th Oct 2012
Judge: Miss Anita Harrison (Iacheslei)
This was my first breed club show appointment and I must thank the exhibitors for their support and the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions. The show was extremely well organised, with a very pleasant atmosphere. I was given a warm welcome and generous hospitality, together with two very efficient ring stewards; Janice Johnson and Liz Barrett, who kept everything running smoothly throughout the day.
There were some good quality dogs, and a few classes where I wish there had been more prizes. Coats were variable which sadly had to affect the placings in some classes. Some exhibits were on the large side and barely spannable, plus a few short ribs and barrel chests. All dogs were entire and all mouths were good barring a couple of missing teeth in the veteran class.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
Ladies Kennel Association
16th Dec 2012
Judge: Ms Michelle Barnett
I was honoured to judge at this what I consider a BIS of championship shows. I would like to extend my thanks to the society for the invite, the warm hospitality and friendly relaxed atmosphere made for a superior judging experience. Also much thanks to my ring steward Mr Eddie Bishop, who did a splendid job in his management of the ring in a professional and efficient manner. A super entry of 188 which understandably presented me with many varieties of type. Mouths across the entry were good with only one level bite. A few with chipped teeth and the missing tooth (which should not penalise all things being equal an otherwise quality exhibit in a working breed) no kinks in tails and all males were entire .It was also pleasing to see more shown in the correct double jacket, but sadly some of dogs that appealed to me for breed type paid the penalty as although their jackets pleased for depth they lacked the weatherproof quality essential in a working terrier coat. I was very pleased to see my entry thankfully lacking the “showy boxy terrier types†of late.
It was a pleasure to judge dogs of correct border type, temperament, fit , healthy exhibits who were presented in such good condition. Needless to say the exhibits were a credit to their owners and throughout the day the quality was first rate making lots of my decisions close ones with many leaving without a placing. The puppy classes in particular were numerical high and it was a pity I had to discard many good exhibits of the breed. But this quality can only bode well for the future. It was also nice to be told that the exhibits in the Good citizens classes apart from gaining a good citizen award the entry also had dogs who took part in Obedience, Agility and Gundog send aways proving once again that borders can really turn their paw to all manner of activities outside of their already busy show calendar.
I felt that my principle winners fulfilled the “Essentially a working terrier†breed standard requirement with that extra something that makes top winner .
I was delighted to learn that I had the top entry in the terrier group Thank you to all the exhibitors for the super entry, particularly appreciated in these difficult economic times and for making it such an enjoyable day
Limit - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
Class Critique
What a Lovely class needed more 1sts here
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
4th Aug 2013
Judge: Sharp & Bailey
*Dog Critique*
My thanks to the Committee for inviting me to judge the Championship Show for the second time, the first being 10 years ago, and thanks to my Stewards for their efficiency. The entry of 103 with only 9 absentees was pleasing.
Some judges concentrate on heads, others on shape of eyes, or on small dark ears, some on presentation, others on neat accurate movement. As for me – I judge on a whether a dog is “fit for function†as a working terrier plus whether it looks like a Border Terrier and no other type of terrier.
A good proportion of the entry had major faults of construction which would render them, not useless, but inefficient at the job Border Terriers are designed to perform. For instance, short rib cages do not allow for lung room for the stamina a terrier needs to run all day, and these short rib cages (often sprung) were very much in evidence in the entry. Some were accompanied by long loins which might give the impression to the ringside that the dog had good length.
Secondly, upright shoulders, often with steep upper arms are a major design fault. A well laid shoulder with well angulated upper arm which brings the elbow under the body is not just a pleasure to look at – these act as shock absorbers when the dog is running so that his joints are not jarred, leading to wear and tear, thus shortening his effective life as a working terrier.
Finally, wide fronts, often associated with the previous construction – a Border should be able to creep into any space occupied by a fox, and these, despite their chunky appearance have very little body under that fur.
Coats were mixed as to be expected – and there were some really good pelts, only a couple with paper thin pelts. Undercoat was often missing on the back, but present on the sides. A handful of bad mouths, perhaps some all rounders might accept these but I could not. Few really outstanding otter heads which stay in one’s memory for years, but most were adequate.
My critique will not contain descriptions of the dogs, but will give an indication of why they were placed as they were. If your dog was not as high in the placings as you had hoped, take a good objective look at him, and you might find out why.
*Bitch Critique*
A big thank you to the MBTC committee for asking me to judge the Ch. Show it was a great honour. Thank you also to my stewards Ray & Sharon for making the classes run so smoothly. A nice entry of 144 bitches. I enjoyed the day; it was lovely to judge the bitches. The depth of quality in most of the classes was very pleasing. However, the fronts are still a problem within the breed & need to be addressed in future litters. Some quality bitches went cardless, unfortunately there is only 5 cards & many went without being placed. I was so delighted that my fellow judge Marie, agreed that my BCC & BRCC, should win the top honours, Best in Show and RBIS.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
Placing Critique
Narrow throughout, good reach of neck. Preferred head of 1. Not as strong in muzzle, good front & rear angulation. Lacking coat.
City of Birmingham
31st Aug 2013
Judge: Mrs E Cuthbertson (Ashbrae)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for their invitation to judge, my two stewards and the exhibitors for their entries. It was an honour to judge this numerically strong entry 169 with 29 absent, the breed being represented from around the UK made it a very enjoyable day.
Front movement is still a problem in the breed, with heavy upright shoulders in many. Size varied as did coats. There are some long necks creeping into the breed, which look very stylish, the standard does state “Neck of moderate length†and a few long tails again incorrect. Saying that it was a very nice entry to judge and in some classes
I would have liked to have been able to award more placings, and could have awarded more CC’s.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
Placing Critique
A very feminine bitch, in good harsh coat, good pelt. Otter like head, with good dentition, dark eye and ear, very typical. Easily spanned with good rib shape, well muscled with good angulation.
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
5th Oct 2013
Judge: Mrs. Trudi Baird (Dowgri)
Thank you to the Northern Border Terrier club for my invitation to judge at my first breed club show.
I was honoured to receive such a fantastic entry both in quality and quantity
Thanks go to the committee who made me feel so welcome on my arrival and at lunch, special thank you to my two able stewards Alan Horner and Norma Todd who kept the ring running so smoothly
My findings on the day were mostly positive ,there were some excellent coats and thick pelts, typical heads, good bone ,movement was mostly very good, though a couple of otherwise quality exhibits had to sadly drop down the line due to poor movement on the day.
There were a few with large flat feet ,some with small teeth ,I also found presentation on a few disappointing -particularly untrimmed feet and full long beards, a handful of dogs lacked condition with thin pelts and no meat on their ribs and more worryingly some lacked muscle tone, but these were few and far between .
All the males were entire , all bites good bar one, broken or the odd missing tooth does not concern me.
I was taken back by both of my line ups and was pleased to be able to present dogs and bitches who were what I considered to be excellent examples of the breed and who were on form , both challenges were very close up and it was a delight to be able to select from any of the winners
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
19th Oct 2013
Judge: Mrs. Chris Davis (Hesslemere)
Many thanks to the Committee for inviting me to judge this show. I was very pleased with my entry and thank all competitors who entered under me. I really enjoyed my day and thank you for the opportunity to judge your dogs. All temperaments were good, as were mouths. No kinked tails.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
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...â€Essentially a working terrierâ€...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.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
The Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
13th Jul 2014
Judge: Mrs. A. Gregory (Manx)
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
Placing Critique
A smart grizzle and tan shown in good condition good head with good teeth neat ears and dark eyes Straight in front with well laid back shoulder Level back with nice thick tail Moved smartly around the ring
Crufts
7th Mar 2015
Judge: Miss Elspeth Jackson (Clipstone)
First of all I would like to thank the Kennel Club for the honour and pleasure of judging this prestigious show. I must then thank my efficient and capable stewards who kept me on track and looked after me through the day. Most of all I would like thank the exhibitors who rose from their beds at early hours and drove many miles to give me an entry of Border Terriers to be proud of and one which is was a delight to judge. It was not only strong numerically strong but also in depth of quality. It is a cliché to say that there were not enough cards to go around but in this entry it was certainly true. Determining all the final line up in each class was difficult and also in many deciding who should make the short list was also a challenge. Good dogs went without a card, ones who in a different entry I would have been happy to see as winners. In the challenges decisions remained tough and more than those that took the top honours were worthy of doing so and I would have been very pleased to have had more awards to give out.
In the days following this year’s show Crufts, dog shows and those who participate in them came in for some criticism. The picture painted by the media at this time was certainly not my experience. Before, during and after the show I found show people to be nothing but good natured, genuine and supportive. I enjoyed every minute of my day and hope that those that supported me with an entry or as spectators at the ringside did so too
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Oughterside Magic Sky
Placing Critique
Honest typical nicely sized bitch with good rib and loin. Neat in front and shoulder, good underline and well muscled nicely turned quarters. Pleasing head with good expression.
