Show Placings
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
26th Mar 2016
Judge: Mr Bill Gray (Pontbeck)
A very big thank you to the club members, committee and officers for the privilege to judge this show for a second time. The club ensured I enjoyed my day with a warm welcome and being attentive to my every need. My stewards efficiency took a good burden from my shoulders and I was allowed to concentrate and assess the dogs.
Coats were a mixed bag from very little to very full but I would just say you can't judge something you can't see. I found it strange that some exhibits were stripped out except for a ridge of top coat running down their spine, creating a good outline is important but you can feel for body shape while handling. Heads were, in the main, very good to excellent with only a few that were lacking true Border character. The breed seems to have got on top of the problem regarding rear movement but front movement still needs to be addressed with a good number of exhibits " throwing their front around "
I was delighted in my main winners especially BIS. If I have seen a better example of the breed during the many years I've had an interest I can't remember. An outstanding dog in every respect, a true ambassador for Border Terriers and a dog that will be remembered in generations to come. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity of judging him.
The two puppy bitch classes along with junior and yearling bitch were packed with quality and that bodes well for the future.
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Reserve Best Puppy
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Best Opposite Sex Puppy
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
Good straight front, correct otter head, in first class coat of good texture. Looked good in outline with a nice short tail and he moved well both ways, a very promising prospect.
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
16th Apr 2016
Judge: Mrs. Kathy Newsome (Kighill)
My thanks go to the Northern Border committee for their warm welcome and for the honour of judging their Open show. I really enjoyed my day, and the ladies put on a lovely lunch and Christine’s apple pie was the best pudding of the day. I received a lovely entry and I was very pleased with my winners. My thanks also go out to the exhibitors for allowing me to inspect their dogs on the day. My thanks also go to my two stewards who were a great help on the day.
It is only my opinion, but I think that the size of the border terriers is slowly returning back in line with the breed standard which I am pleased about as I thought that Border terriers were getting too long in the leg. Mouths were good, all dogs were entire, but just a few exhibits were a bit close at the rear. A few exhibitors could do with spending a little time learning how to tidy their dogs and how to get the best out of the dog on the day.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
Nice pup with a good head and mouth, straight front and good lay of shoulders, level top-line, good texture of coat moved best in the class on the day.
West of England Ladies' Kennel Society
24th Apr 2016
Judge: Mr Frank Nicholls (Halcus)
An excellent entry, with real quality in both dogs and bitches. I’m only sorry we were forced indoors after the puppy bitch class to get out of the biting wind bouncing off the Malvern Hills. Heads were generally good, just a few snipey muzzles, and three or four light noses. I found no bad mouths. Quite a few had short, round rib cages with weak loins. Coats were pretty good overall. The biggest problem, and has been for quite some time, was poor front movement, with exhibits moving quite reasonably, and as one would expect from a breed expected to run whilst carrying out its job, when viewed from the side, only to wave their legs all over the place when coming towards me.
Best Puppy
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
Lovely masculine young lad. Narrow all through. Good head set on good neck into excellent shoulders. Nicely made front and racy at the back. Excellent coat and pelt. Moved well for one so young. Best puppy. Will watch his progress with interest.
National Dog Show
8th May 2016
Judge: Mr Peter Bakewell
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Scottish Kennel Club
22nd May 2016
Judge: Mr Simon Jackson
Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Bath Canine Society Championship Show
27th May 2016
Judge: Mr Alan Hedges (Ramblix)
My thanks go to the Officers and Committee of Bath show for inviting me to come and judge Border Terriers for the first time, and on the Bath Billiard Table as well, it was a fabulous day for me and will live long in my memory.
I thought the dogs were better than the bitches although reading through my critique it doesn’t sound like that, but it was. If I may make a couple of points. Nobody who goes to shows goes to lose and some are making it rather easy for the judge to give them a hard time. Long pointed nails are not good news , nor is standing the dog like a rocking horse. If you are going to use bait, the dog needs to think it has a chance of getting it, the idea is to bring him up on his toes and make a much better picture. Every little helps, none of the opposition are going to roll over and make it easy for you!
Hind movement was generally better than front movement, and plenty could have been fitter.
My thanks go to all who entered, you gave me a wonderful day and I was honoured by each and every one of you
Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Show
5th Jun 2016
Judge: Mr C Wallace (Hobholt)
My thanks to the officers, committee and members of The Scottish Border Terrier Club for the invitation and to the exhibitors, thank you for bringing your Borders'. My steward Joyce Orr was superb as was the welcome, hospitality and lunch. The weather was spectacular, but became increasingly hotter as the day progressed. Everyone took care to make sure the Borders were kept cool, in the shade and well hydrated. I noticed two level bites during judging, (not a problem), all the dogs were complete, a couple of Borders were a little over weight compared to the standard. I noticed a few Borders had a fair amount of tartar on their teeth, nails and dewclaws could have been trimmed on some. Nevertheless, a nice group of Borders who were credit to the breed and their owners.
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Best Puppy
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
G/T, 10mth, a sound youngster with moderate to strong head, big teeth, strong muzzle & jaw, good reach of neck, level top line, shorter coupled than 2. Good coat and pelt, well presented, Good angulation & bend of stifle. Best Puppy Dog and Best Puppy
Border Union Agricultural Society
19th Jun 2016
Judge: Mrs M Wanless
My sincere thanks go to the officers and committee of Border Union for this appointment, this is such a well run, friendly show, with outstanding hospitality!
My thanks also to my two Stewards on the day, Ella Linton, and Alan Small. Thank you too to all those who entered under me, and came, and accepted my decisions with good grace. I was pleased with my winners. I do wish though that dogs were shown on a loose lead, and stacked freely. Big ears are becoming prevalent, not as in the standard. Presentation and condition played a large part in my decisions.
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
9mths grizzle, a good mover with a level top line and correct tail set. Head OK, large white teeth, ears rather large. Good for bone, good coat, stood on neat feet.
East of England Agricultural Society
9th Jul 2016
Judge: Mrs A E Gregory
This was my first appointment at this level and I would like to thank the organisers of the East of England Show for giving me this opportunity. I would also like to thank my two stewards, David and Pat Sutton for keeping everything running along smoothly. Thanks must also go to the exhibitors for allowing me the honour and privilege of judging their dogs and for the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions. I thoroughly enjoyed my day!
Movement on the whole was good but front movement in a few was incorrect with toeing in when coming towards me. A few lacked muscle tone and some feet and nails could have been tidied to better advantage. Thick pelts were in the minority and some exhibits were shown without undercoat and this affected placings. Considering the harsh terrain in which the Border Terrier is expected to carry out its’ work, it should be in fit, hard condition with a thick double coat and pelt of depth and quality. Some heads also had stops which were too deep. This does not present a correct otter like head which should have a shallow stop. I also found a couple of suspect mouths and a few dogs, when lifted off the table, were too heavy. Some dogs would have benefited from more ring training. However, I was pleased with my winners and, in some classes, decisions were close. Although early rain made the ring conditions less than desirable, all dogs coped well.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
Strong headed dog, flat skull, good mouth, tad heavy in ear, very profuse furnishings detracts somewhat from his expression. Well angulated front and rear, good layback of rib, good coat and pelt, good topline, sound mover.
The Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
16th Jul 2016
Judge: Mrs. Margaret Bailey (Grindelvald)
I would like to thank the Northern Border Terrier Club’s committee for the invitation to judge at this well organised & friendly show, I really enjoyed my day. A big thank you, to my stewards Sharon & Graham, who kept me on track throughout the day. On the down side some poor mouths, some of the males where lacking substance & not very masculine, bordering on thin, not sure they could do a days work. The depth of quality in the bitches was excellent & this meant that some decisions were very close & many lovely bitches missed out on this occasion. Also my thanks to the exhibitors for their sporting acceptance of my decisions.
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
Neat well balanced, good level back into strong hindquarters correct bend of stifle, Double coat, thick pelt, muzzle & head ok may develop with age. Presented & showed well.
Leeds Championship Show
22nd Jul 2016
Judge: Mr Ken Bartlett
My thanks to the officers & committee for this appointment giving CCs in this breed for the first time, also the exhibitors for a lovely entry, also my two stewards who kept things running smoothly.
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
11 months & nice to go over, otter head, strong jaw with big teeth, good topline & tailset, in good coat & spannable
Paignton & DFA Championship Show
6th Aug 2016
Judge: Mrs M Barrass
Best Puppy
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
another well balanced puppy but just that bit more mature, dark expressive eyes, correct earmset, otter like head, strong scissor bite, good flow of neck falling into well laid back shoulders, balanced rib to loin, easily spanned with loose pelt, good tailmset, strong muscular rear, presented in good pelt & moved out with drive around the ring. BP;
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
7th Aug 2016
Judge: Dogs: Ms Elspeth Jackson, Bitches: Mr Mike Hollingsbee
Dogs - Elspeth Jackson
I would like to extend many thanks to The Committee of the Midland Border Terrier Club for once again organising an enjoyable, well run show with a relaxed garden party atmosphere. It was an honour and a pleasure this year to enjoy it as Judge of the dog classes and I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for this honour. I was very ably assisted by two capable and efficient stewards to whom I would like to give thanks both for their help and for their hospitality. Further and important thanks are due to all the exhibitors who did me the honour of going over their dogs. It was a super entry both numerically and in depth of quality with cc quality dogs right down the line in some classes.
Bitches - Mike Hollingsbee
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee of the Club for inviting me to judge bitches at their show. I would also like to thank my stewards Sharon Pickering and Helen Thomas for keeping me in order and running the ring so efficiently. My thanks also go to the exhibitors for allowing me to examine their dogs and accepting my decisions.
Together with my co-judge Elspeth Jackson we managed to agree on the major honours of the day apart from Best Veteran. I preferred Elspeth’s dog choice and she chose my selection of veteran bitch. Our referee John Dace was called in and awarded Best Veteran to the bitch.
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
Loved his super double jacket with the harshest possible texture on a thick pelt. Good for type with masculine otter head. Good size, nice rib easily spanned, strong loin and nicely turned quarters.
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
15th Oct 2016
Judge: Mr. Graham Richardson (Staynorwood)
I would like to thank The Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge their Open Show . The club and officers were very welcoming and I thoroughly enjoyed my day . I would like to thank my very helpful stewards Liz Barratt and Janice Johnson who kept things flowing through the day . I was pleased with my entry with some quality dogs to handle. It was also good to see some promising pups coming through . I was very pleased with my winners on the day
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
Strong Otter like head, good shoulders ,good length of rib. Coarse double jacket ,loose pelt moved ok
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
25th Feb 2017
Judge: Rachel Larner (Hawcoat)
Firstly I would like to thank the club and its committee members for inviting me to judge their show, it was an honour and privilege and I thoroughly enjoyed my day. Thank you to my two lovely stewards, Liz Barrett and Anna Duxbury, for their help and assistance and for keeping the show running smoothly. Lastly I would like to thank all the exhibitors for entering and bringing their lovely dogs for me to judge. I have done the majority of my judging, so far, in the south west and wales so it was a real pleasure to go over some dogs that I have not had the pleasure of judging, Northern dogs are a lot hardier than our southerners!!
I had some quality dogs to go over which gave me some tough decisions to make and wish I could have given out more cards. I found all dogs to be entire and no bad mouths, apart from the odd missing tooth in the Veteran class!
I really did have a fabulous day and just want to apologise for not getting this critique out sooner.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Whitehaven & District Canine Association Open Show
19th Mar 2017
Judge: Miss Tracey Peacock (Ragatam)
Post Graduate /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
25th Mar 2017
Judge: Mrs. Margaret Curtis (Matamba)
Thank you to The Border Terrier Club officers, committee and members who elected to give me the privilege of judging their club championship show, and many thanks to the exhibitors who travelled from near and far and accepted my placings sportingly. Thanks to my two stewards Janice Johnson and Judith Fawcett who did a grand job and also thanks to the hard working Joyce Martin for all the wonderful photographs.
Today the overall picture and my main concern was that we seem to be losing the "Head like that of an otter moderately broad in the skull, with short strong muzzle". What I was seeing was a narrow skull which does not give that typical Border Terrier expression. Movement was more of a problem in the dog classes, in the bitch classes came the quality and the soundness.
When it comes to the showring, presentation is, in my opinion, important. I like to see a dog smart but not over groomed or in full coat but tidy, today attention to ears, tails and feet could have been beneficial to some exhibits.
Junior - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
Strong head with good expression, excellent jacket and pelt, good length back but a bit over angulated at rear, moved round ok.
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Shiow
3rd Jun 2018
Judge: Mrs J Lilley (Kensing)
What a privilege it was to judge Border Terriers actually at their home in the Borders! Thank you to all exhibitors for such a flattering entry of charming dogs and thank you to all the committee and officers for your welcome, hospitality and generosity. complete with a delicious lunch. Certainly it was one of the best halls that could be imagined for a breed open show with the option to judge outside had the weather been better. I was most impressed with the hard condition of the vast majority of the entry and particularly with the thickness of pelts and short thick carrot tails. There seemed to be a sporting friendly atmosphere throughout to give me such a memorable happy day. I must just add an extra thank you to my helpful steward, Katie Hamilton, and to Margaret Boulcott, for whose great kindness, hospitality and long distance driving skills I was so grateful.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
Living up to his name! So good for type, easily spannable with a racey outline, excellent pigment with good finish to foreface, good shoulder, hindleg and harsh jacket. Very good mover
The Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
15th Jul 2018
Judge: Professor S P Dean (Tyrian)
Thoroughly enjoyed my day with the NBTC. My thanks to the Committee for the appointment and the exhibitors for their entry of Borders. I was well looked after all day and I would like to express my gratitude to my Stewards who did an excellent job by keeping focused on their task throughout the day. I was extremely pleased with the overall quality of the dogs across both sexes. For those who left without prize cards do not be too disappointed, I saw only one undershot jaw and no dog was out of place in the show ring. My top winners were all outstanding dogs and there were several others who deserve that label who were placed but did not reach the final accounting. Overall heads are very good but let’s be careful not to breed for too much strength in skull. Ensure we balance what we have with equal strength in muzzle and under-jaw and please lots more beautiful large white teeth. Most dogs had the correct outline, with many good top-lines and neat tails. Coats and pelts were generally very good and do not be afraid to show a Border in that rich, thick ,harsh, double coat they are well known for. Generally conformation was correct, with shoulders and stifles showing acceptable angulation. The straight stifle is quite rare, but equally let’s not over do the angulation of the hind limb as that produces weakness. Short hocks go best with correct stifles. Dogs with a length of leg, drive from hindquarters, tight feet and good ribbing did well today provided they had the typical Border Terrier characteristics we all look for. A few dogs are getting a little long in body for a variety of reasons. Some have their shoulder set forwards on the chest, some lack the well ribbed-back conformation and so appear to have long couplings and some have shorter legs than they ideally need. Much of this was marginal today but they are all points to remember as the breed moves forward. I was pleased with the CC line ups and excited by the quality in some of the youngsters coming through. It would have been nice to reward some of these emerging future champions with higher honours but the quality at the top was too much for relatively immature dogs.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Shiftyfox Tried And Tested
Placing Critique
Honest Border with strength in skull and muzzle, and strong teeth. Good angulation, moving with some drive. Coat needs a tidy but harsh jacket and thick pelt. Well let down hocks. Racy lines
