Show Placings
Manchester Championship Show
20th Jan 2024
Judge: Mr Richard Allen (Penparc)
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
East Kent Canine Society Open Show
4th Feb 2024
Judge: Jen Bowden (Chellowside)
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG2, Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Guildford & District Canine Society Open Show
18th Feb 2024
Judge: Jacqui Ward (Mianja)
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG3, Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Placing Critique
7 month old young lady of good breed type, beautiful head with lovely dark eyes, alert expression, and good ear placement. Strong neck, narrow front, easily spannable, developing nicely for her age. Strong topline, tail well set on, good textured coat and thick pelt. She is so true on the move. BP & PG3
Cheltenham & District CS Open Show
25th Feb 2024
Judge: Guy Jeavons (Grandgables)
Best Puppy
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Junior /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Crufts
10th Mar 2024
Judge: Mrs Lesley Gosling (Akinside)
A tremendous entry of 275 Borders ( 25 absentees on the day)to enjoy handling, judging and placing. I must extend my appreciation to my two valiant stewards for their patience and skill in keeping classes moving. Thank you all.
I do believe our breed is changing, but in subtle ways. The lack of opportunities for true terrier work below ground for some Borders has been replaced by agility and other energetic pursuits, but lack of hard muscle tone has produced a ‘softer’ body on some exhibits. Some feet are slacker, pads are more spread and thinner and some fronts are wide. Movement is not always positive and a ‘driving’ action is lacking. Size is fluctuating too. We have a ‘working’ breed - let’s ensure that features defining the breed are not lost, i.e. ‘spannability’; a hard, harsh top coat and soft protective undercoat (not enough of those today); a dark, expressive eye, a broad skull and strong quarters – ‘the engine is at the back!’. Heads generally were good, but some bitch heads veered towards coarseness.
One thing not lost is the Border’s kind temperament – curious, interested and ready for anything.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Placing Critique
9mth old happy pup in super jacket. A good size overall, correct dentition, keen, alert expression and feminine head. Moved out with confidence.
West of England Ladies Kennel Society
26th Apr 2024
Judge: Mandy Holmes (Bimandi)
Many Thanks to WELKS for asking me to judge at their show, it was an honour, also thank you so much to everyone that entered under me, I had some great dogs to go over. Congratulation to all my winners. Thanks also go to my very competent stewards for keeping my ring running smoothly.
All the males were entire. Apart from 3 level bites all mouths were correct and teeth of good size. Temperaments were all sound except one or two that really didn’t like being in the noisy hall and were a little bit subdued. It’s hard to judge true movement on a slippery concrete floor and in some classes the placings could have changed if we had been outside on grass.
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Placing Critique
Stood alone but deserved her 1st place. 9mth Alert expression, balanced, harsh coat, thick loose pelt, easy to span. Good angles front and rear, moved true coming and going.
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
12th May 2024
Judge: Mrs Laura Illingworth (Thorneyhurst)
Firstly thanks to the Midland Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge their show, and to all the exhibitors for the massive entry which would of been hard to get through without the help of my two stewards Sharon Pickering and Margaret Bailey who did there best to make sure no exhibitors missed there classes
The quality of the exhibits was exceptional, Most dogs were in fit hard condition and presented well, the old saying many good dogs went without a card was only too true, We were blessed with good weather and a nice sized ring.
Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Placing Critique
Nice type of pup, correct size, good head and strong muzzle, comes to hand well, good pelt and coat moved true
National Dog Show
12th May 2024
Judge: Mr Patrick Glover (USA)
I wanted to thank the committee for the honour of judging your show. I sincerely apologize for the delay of the critique due to ill health. Coming from another country it was especially grateful to have such excellent Stewards to help guide me. And I thank all the exhibitors that came to exhibit under me. It was a pleasure to see so many quality Borders, and have them in hand. I was very satisfied with my final lineup. I enjoyed the depth of type that you have in the UK. Part of that may be seeing Borders with a proper coat. Unfortunately, Borders in the USA are not shown in such coat anymore which I do not understand. I only saw two bad bites, and I see you are battling some of the same issues we are in the US, one being straight fronts. A good Border must have some prosternum to be constructed in a proper way where the legs are under the dog rather than in front of it. The second being is the loss of rib. Your standard states “ribs carried well back” Our standard states the same thing, only adding the word deep “deep ribs carried well back. Both proper fronts and rib are essential to a working terrier, and attention must be paid to both. Overall, I enjoyed going over so many good Borders and again I thank you for the opportunity
Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Bath Canine Society
26th May 2024
Judge: Mr Ian Higham (Comberdown)
I would like to thank Mr. Lee Cox and the officers and committee of Bath Canine Society for making my wife and I feel so welcome at their show. Also my two amazingly competent stewards Mark and Joyce who were just brilliant at their job.
I found nothing obviously untoward or concerning, apart from, surprisingly, a few too heavy ones, which cost placings. We need to remember functionality.
In general, overall, this was an entry of terrific in-depth quality. What an absolute privilege it was to go over them. Thank you all so much!
Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Southern Counties Canine Association
1st Jun 2024
Judge: Dr Ian Gabriel (Gabybryl)
This was my first-time awarding Challenge Certificates in Border Terriers and many thanks to those that entered under a non-breed specialist, and well done for braving what was a bitter wind. If this was a representative entry, then I am heartened by the general health and condition of the breed. Good coats, good pelts and super large dentition were the majority. There are some nice youngsters in the lower classes. Just two points as a non-specialist if I might be permitted, firstly the standard calls for a small ear and I found quite a few otherwise nice exhibits with large houndy ears which did somewhat detract from the overall expression. Secondly several dogs broke quite markedly at the front pastern which spoilt the overall impression on the move, these points need watching.
Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
Placing Critique
Different in type to Daydreamer but another very nice promising puppy. Good for size and overall outline. Pleasing head although a fraction longer in muzzle than 1 and just needs to grow some furnishings to enhance her overall expression. Very well made throughout and little to fault. This bitch had one of the thickest skins and harshest coats of the entry which is probably why she lacks a fraction in furnishings at the moment. I think this bitch will do very well with time. Very sound on the move.
Boston & District Canine Society
5th Jul 2024
Judge: Julie Green (Breckgreen & Stowthorney)
I would like to thanks the officers and committee of Boston and District Canine society for inviting me to give my first set of tickets in Border Terriers. It was such a well-run show and in such a lovely setting. I would also like to thank the exhibitors who entered under me. Thanks also to my two stewards who kept the ring moving for me on the day.
All in all, I was happy with my entry. I found all males to be entire and no kinked tails on the day. A couple of mouths that were not quite correct.
Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Howthwaite Blithe at Awbrooksky
