Show Placings
Crufts
9th Mar 2019
Judge: Mrs Trak Fryer (Irton)
A very great thank you to the exhibitors for giving me such a superb entry, I hope that I did it justice. My thanks must also go to my Stewards who worked very hard to keep the classes moving well.
This was a very challenging entry with some very big classes filled with quality dogs all the way through, there were no easy decisions. I tried to pull out all the dogs that I felt were in contention to give those exhibits a closer look. This meant that those out of coat or condition paid the penalty. particularly in the upper classes many super quality dogs had to go out without a place - I just didn't have enough cards.
On the plus side all the exhibits were good tempered and happy in the ring. Most dogs came with a good coat on and a decent pelt. There were plenty of good heads and neat well balanced Borders, the key to the Standard. The Breed Standard asks for a dog that can run, requiring heart and lung room, and that can go to ground, requiring a good rib carried back without exaggerated angulations, a rather challenging blueprint to fit into a fairly small package.
There were quite a number with rather heavy or thin ears, round eyes and I was surprised to find quite a number of “winter noses”; I did not necessarily penalise these if the rest was OK. There were a number of heads with weak jaws framed by sticky out ears, a worrying trend. There were some heavy bitches well beyond spannable.
The biggest problem is movement with the forward angulations mostly at fault, this has been a problem in the breed for some time but there are now a significant number with tied in fronts waving their forelegs about, a new variant!
A well made dog will just cover the ground without any fuss or flipping – a joy to see. In order to do this they also need a reasonable build of muscle and it is a constant concern of mine that so many that come into the show ring do not have this.
Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Bohamer Blue Storm
Class Critique
Another good class of young dogs where some good ones had to miss out, the first two were close up both being very promising youngsters.
West of England Ladies' Kennel Society
28th Apr 2019
Judge: Mrs L A Crawley
Junior - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Bohamer Blue Storm
Placing Critique
Very showy for a Border and a better size for me than some, generally good type except again rather large ear, front movement let him down and coast not quite grown in.
Three Counties Championship Show
6th Jun 2019
Judge: Mr D Mitchell (Paleside)
RDCC
Name at show: Bohamer Blue Storm
Junior - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bohamer Blue Storm
Placing Critique
Took my eye! Smaller type dog, lovely head, dark eye, good dentition, tight in front, in good double jacket, easy spanable top line and tail set and rear angulation all good.
The Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
8th Jun 2019
Judge: Mrs Jayne Gillam (Orenberg)
Many thanks to the Southern Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge at their Championship show, it was an interesting day going over the dogs and I thank the exhibitors for their good sized entry and the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions. Thanks must also go to my excellent stewards, Tina Morgan and Felicity Freer who kept me on track and everything running smoothly throughout the day.
Coats were at varying stages of growth and there was a wide variety of types, and a few with heavy shoulders and short, round oversprung ribs and poor toplines. I was quite surprised to see some faults in the entry which I wasn’t expecting, I found a young male with only one testicle descended, three with teeth out of line, one whose mouth didn’t close correctly and two kinked tails.
I judged the entry as I saw the dogs on the day, and as always I was looking for a dog which excels in breed type, fits the standard and appears capable of doing a day’s work. I value all the essentials required in a working dog and also those who have that extra something as a show dog. I was pleased with my winners and look forward to watching show careers with interest.
RDCC
Name at show: Bohamer Blue Storm
Reserve Best In Show
Name at show: Bohamer Blue Storm
Junior - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bohamer Blue Storm
Placing Critique
This young B&T male demanded attention as he entered the ring, surely has a bright future. Nice size and didn’t disappoint when I went over him, very well constructed and stands well on good legs and feet, looked great in profile movement and was sound coming and going. Good depth of coat and pelt, loved his head and expression.
Blackpool & District Canine Society
23rd Jun 2019
Judge: Mr S A Mcpherson
My thanks go to Blackpool & District Canine Society for the invitation to judge their show, my very efficient stewards and to the exhibitors for their wonderful entry, topping the Terrier Group by quite a margin!
It was a good quality entry, all the way through, especially in the younger classes, Junior bitch being quite exceptional, which bodes well, for the future!
I thought the line ups, for the CCs, were excellent, all, for me, fitting the Standard well, good for size, lithe bodied, easily spanned and with a good length of stride.
Only a very few were difficult to span.
As for points of concern, a number with very deep stops, often with a rounder eye, which gives a rather untypical expression, more reminiscent of the Asian short clawed Otter, rather than the English River Otter.
Forehand construction, as ever, is the main area for concern, correct shoulder and upper arm being the most difficult thing to breed for and attain. A correct forehand is a joy to watch, on the move, especially if they have the rear angulation to match, giving totally balanced, efficient, ground covering movement, but get it wrong and the movement is a bit like a “ bike with square wheels! “ in profile! I’m well aware it’s possible to win, at the highest levels, with the latter, but it doesn’t make it correct, when the Standard asks for the soundness to follow a horse, which, obviously, would require a good length of stride.
A few dogs weren’t too keen on the bandage on my hand, covering up the aftermath of an unfortunate trip up, on gravel, none were unduly penalised.
DCC
Name at show: Bohamer Blue Storm
Junior - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Bohamer Blue Storm
Placing Critique
Blue and Tan, 16 months. Super Otter-like head, with moderately broad skull and short, strong muzzle, with a dark eye, giving a keen expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Easily spanned. Exceptional topline and tailset. Good tail, well carried. Excellent hindquarters, which he knew how to use! Superb coat, of excellent blue colour, with good pelt. Presented in fabulous order, in both coat and condition. Very accurate, stylish, free mover, holding his outline, on the move. CC, his first & BOS.
Ladies Kennel Association
14th Dec 2019
Judge: Mr Mark Lowry (Ravenside)
I would first like to thank all the exhibitors for a lovely entry, and for making the effort to travel to the N.E.C on a dark winter’s morning. There was a variation in breed type to a degree, which is always the case, but I was very happy with both my final lineups and only wish I could hand out more awards.
Yearling - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Ir CH Bohamer Blue Storm Ir J CH
Placing Critique
blue and tan dog with a stunning head, flat skull, shallow stop, with keen expression, level topline deep loin, strong hindquarters nice bend of stifle easily spanned, moved around the ring with purpose and drive. Strongly considered for top honors, another quality dog.
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
16th Apr 2023
Judge: Miss Tracey James (Blackmine)
A bit thank to the committee of EABTC for inviting me to judge their championship show. I really enjoyed my day and when I later looked at the catalogue to see my winners I found it interesting reading, as all my major winners were of similar lines.
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ir CH Bohamer Blue Storm Anch’19 Ir Jun CH Bdsg’19
Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
30th Apr 2023
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin (Otterbobs)
A very big thank you to the SBTC for inviting me to judge this very well run show, to Marina for stewarding and to the exhibitors for entering under me.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Ir CH Bohamer Blue Storm Anch’19 Ir Jun CH Bdsg’19
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
11th Nov 2023
Judge: Mr Mark Lowry (Ravenside)
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for a lovely entry and also to the Scottish BTC for this opportunity. Special thanks go to my two stewards for the day who kept everything running smoothly and for their good company. Although the lighting in the hall isn’t the best, it was adequate and the large square ring was perfect for watching movement, something I feel is very important in a border terrier. On that note I found my main winners to excel in this department. I was pleased to judge some strong puppy classes and also some strong adult classes
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ir CH Bohamer Blue Storm Anch’19 Ir Jun CH Bdsg’19
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.
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Ir CH Bohamer Blue Storm Anch’19 Ir Jun CH Bdsg’19
Placing Critique
Super size with no exaggerations. Best of heads with a keen expression. Coat texture correct and pelt good. Moved out positively.
