Show Placings
Boston & DCS Championship Show
11th Jan 2009
Judge: Mrs Kate Walton (Enterlaw)
A great honour to judge the breed at this show where Borders were the only breed in the terrier group to have CCs on offer & for the first time. Thank you to all exhibitors who braved the exceptionally cold weather at Newark. Remarkably there were only 6 absentees in the dog classes & 19 in the bitch classes out of a total entry of 114 (2 late entries increased the published catalogue entry).
In general I was looking for skulls like that of an otter, the late Walter Gardner told me 30 years ago to place the ears of a Border back to really appreciate the shape of an otter skull & this holds true today. I was also looking for a Border who was easily spanned & most importantly one with good movement & of a size to enable this working terrier to go to ground. I have to say that front movement in many cases was worse than rear movement, with pinning-in & platting much in evidence, while a few were cow-hocked at the rear. All dogs were entire, temperaments overall were excellent, dentition in a few cases incorrect & essentially for the breed, thick pads were noticeably lacking in some exhibits. As always coats were in varying stages of growth, several toplines were not typical with low set tails, otherwise I was delighted with the first placements in each class, all of which were representative of the Standard.
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Placing Critique
most attractive b/t in good coat, neat dark ears, keen eye & expression, good reach of neck into well laid shoulders, racy outline, moved very well
Southern Border Terrier Limited Show
1st Mar 2009
Judge: Mrs Marylynne Winder (Appleside)
It was a great privilege to be invited to judge the Southern Border Terrier Club Limited Show, My thanks to the Officers and Committee. Thank you to the exhibitors for giving me such an excellent entry of 184 from 171 dogs. Sincere thanks also to my Stewards for the efficient way they conducted their duties.
Reserve Best Bitch
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Placing Critique
another blue and tan with a pleasing head, good length of body, nice bend of stifle. Moved a little wide in front.
Crufts
5th Mar 2009
Judge: Professor S P Dean (Tyrian)
A demanding day with 247 entered, my sincere thanks to all who entered and showed patience when decisions needed time. Also my gratitude goes to our ring stewards who were simply outstandingly efficient. I was very proud of the ticket line-ups and thought the BOB looked superb in the group. What was encouraging was there were many dogs down the line that would not have been out of place there and ?splitting hairs? became a routine technique in several classes to find class winners. Reflecting on the day leaves some lasting impressions. There is no doubt the breed has made great advances in head conformation. Good otter heads with strength in muzzle and strong teeth were very much in evidence. Ears by and large are good but with a trend towards largeness and heaviness which we must reverse. It is very difficult to change the ear shape so embedding any coarseness now must be of concern. Movement too has improved over the years largely driven by progress on stifle angulation but let’s not go too far here as some excess is creeping in. Shoulders still need attention with many severely lacking lay back and of more concern some foreleg assemblies are placed too far forward so fore-chests are vanishing. This produces flashiness but it is wrong. Coats and pelts were generally good and the majority were capable of being spanned. Flat feet were in evidence perhaps driven by a tough winter and lack of exercise but remember this is a sporting breed and needs fitness to be fully appreciated. As a result many nice dogs lost out because of a lack of muscle or flat feet. We have a healthy breed and this was supported by those in the veteran classes and with an 8 year old winning BOB perhaps this is proof enough.
Special Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Placing Critique
B/T built on racy lines. Typical head with slightly heavy ears. Nice reach of neck and good shoulders. Coat and pelt OK. Won place on movement.
Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Placing Critique
As before
National Terrier
4th Apr 2009
Judge: Mr. Frank Nicholls (Halcus)
Many thanks to everyone for an excellent entry, both in numbers and quality. While there were many well made exhibits it became a frustrating experience at times trying to find those with a decent coat, many having presumably been stripped out following Crufts in preparation for the season ahead, after all they can’t be in coat all of the time! Front movement again was a problem, not so much due to under reaching or circus pony, high stepping, but pinning and knitting. Heads were a mixed bag, one or two with excessive stops and rounded skulls but none excessively broad. There were some “snipey” muzzles present.
Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
West of England Ladies' Kennel Society
25th Apr 2009
Judge: Mrs Siv Jernhake (Sweden)
Junior - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Birmingham National Dog Show
7th May 2009
Judge: Mrs Betty Judge (Plushcourt)
I judged the breed just two years ago & I was alarmed at the change for the worse in the type & quality. The number of dogs entered was 115 with few absentees, four more being added to the original entry due to a catalogue error, an entry of which I was pleased with, especially in these financially hard times & terrier day being on a Thursday.
I was really surprised to find exhibitors showing dogs with incorrect dentition & I found several of these. I was puzzled as to why upright shoulders & straight hind legs, some with hocks barely defined had become so prevalent. Generally movement was poor, but with construction so poor & with so many dogs with straight hind legs what else would you expect?
Several single coats & thin skins. Heads, where have all the beautiful otter heads gone. I found round skulls, some with a distinct brow over the eyes, large round shaped ears & they were not close to the cheek. Several dogs & bitches I was unable to span due to round ribs, with no carryback of rib. There were two dogs with kinks in their tails.
More seriously, bad temperaments on a couple of dogs was also depressing, I have never had a Border Terrier snap at me before until this show. In some of the classes, when the dogs came into the ring, overall quality was so poor I nearly lost the will to live.
However, I was very pleased with my CC & RCC winners & both my BD & BB puppy winners, & several other class winners, so there are still some breeders out there with the correct interpretation of the Standard. Perhaps it would be a good idea for the less experienced breeders & exhibitors to take note of these experienced breeders? & exhibitors? good dogs & learn from them.
I was delighted to see my BOB go G4 in a very strong group & then to see my BP winner go PG3 in an equally strong puppy group.
Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Placing Critique
bl/t, typical head & eye. Needs time to come together, would prefer more positive active movement
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Southern Counties Canine Association
6th Jun 2009
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Thank you to all the exhibitors for your huge entry, it?s a good job we went outside for Limit Dog as we would not all fit into the inside wet weather ring. I really enjoyed judging the dogs more than the bitches not often is the case but today it was.
Coats were either non existence, blown or half and half, just a handful were in double coat and they looked the part. One bad mouth, one had a front tooth missing, all dogs were entire and no bitches in season
Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Placing Critique
B/Tan nicely shaped dark eye, long neck , coat looked strange from a distance but its half in and half out and could have been a harsher texture. Moved and shown well.
Windsor Championship Dog Show
4th Jul 2009
Judge: Miss Elspeth Jackson (Clipstone)
Many reports start with a thank you and I would like extend one to all the exhibitors who provided me with an entry which really reminded me why I love this breed. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and would have been very happy to have had a handful of top honours to hand out. In a number of classes, especially in bitches, the quality went right down the line and even beyond the cards.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
East Of England Championship Show
10th Jul 2009
Judge: Mr T H Johnston
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Placing Critique
Very pleasing and typical girl, nice head, eye and ears, good front, outline and tail, body depth correct, good rump and muscular condition, moved well.
Paignton & District Fanciers Association
3rd Aug 2009
Judge: Mrs Nancy Hogg (Raeburnfoot)
I would like to thank the exhibitors for a lovely entry. Some quality exhibits to go over in both dogs and bitches and I was pleased with my winners. Temperament was excellent throughout. Such a shame we couldn?t be outdoors.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Welsh Kennel Club
22nd Aug 2009
Judge: Mr Paul Wilkinson
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
City of Birmingham Canine Association
5th Sep 2009
Judge: Mrs Kathy Wilkinson (Otterkin)
An excellent entry awaited me at the City of Birmingham show, not only in numbers, but also in the depth of quality. In many classes, I found myself wishing for more than 5 places to award and sadly, dogs left the ring which I really liked and would have been happy to place on another day. In more than a couple of classes, it was very hard to decide on the 1st 5 in order and many went down the line because of coat texture and thickness, although on another day, in better coat, they would have fared better. As I have not been to many shows this year, it was good to view some dogs for the first time, including my Best of Breed, who I was pleased to ?find?, only to later discover she has already been found on a number of occasions, although not at this level!
I apologise for the lateness of this critique. Besides flying out to an appointment to judge in Italy only a couple of days after the show, we have had some personal and medical issues to deal with regarding the welfare of my elderly mother in law. As I write this, we have still not finalised arrangements for her, but hope to do so soon, so I hope you will understand that sometimes, dog shows do not come first.
On the way to the showground, my car made some terrifying noises when I touched the brake pedal and so, that will explain to anyone wondering, why I had to stop judging for a second or two to find my car keys for the AA man, who kindly fixed it at the hotel car park for us and saved us a long trip home on the back of a low loader.
An eventful weekend, made wonderful by the number of top class Border Terriers present at the show.
Many thanks must go to the very experienced and helpful ring stewards, Mr and Mrs Wright, who had the dogs present and ready for inspection at the start of every class and so enabled me to finish in plenty time for the Terrier Group. Good ring management was important with an entry of 185 dogs, making 193 entries (plus one or two whose entries had not been received and less a couple of NFC). This was the highest number in the Terrier Group today and I would like to thank all the exhibitors for allowing me the pleasure of going over their dogs. The absentee rate of dogs entered was 23.5%.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
20th Sep 2009
Judge: Mrs Elly Weijenborg-Weggemans (Netherlands)
I felt very honoured when I received the invitation to judge at the Open Show and was glad that I could accept this. What an opportunity to see and go over so many Borders in one day. Of course I have seen many Borders during the 40 years that I have lived with them but to see so many together is not possible on the continent. When I received the entry details I really was surprised and felt even more honoured then.
The Venue was good but unfortunately it was one of the warmest days and in the hall the temperature rose quite quickly. Nevertheless almost all Borders presented there showed until the very end of the day.
The judging went smoothly not in the least because of my exceptionally efficient steward, Peter Roderick, who took care of calling in the next class on time and made sure that there were no mistakes because of the re-entries which I am not used to. Many thanks also to my ring stewards!
I was surprised by the high quality presented to me. In some classes it meant that I could not always place otherwise nice exhibits. All Borders behaved themselves wonderfully when being handled, even inexperienced ones. Just one exception to that was a dog that didn't like to be handled on the table, which is not Border like.
It occurred to me that it is becoming to be a habit to string the dogs when moving. It worsens their movement in a lot of cases and for me they should be moved with a loosened lead. For some exhibits it made the difference in being placed or not. I found on the whole just a few problems. Just one wrong bite and one tail that was not correct. Feet need attention. Just a few had lovely strong padded catlike feet. As well as front movement which is a real problem in the Border Terrier all over the world. Waving, almost crossing, loose, just a few had a parallel and straight front movement. On the other hand, side movement was in almost all exhibits free and with a long stride. A lot of coats were in between. But I could feel the correct texture being double and harsh.
I had a lovely day and want to thank the organisation for their efforts to make me and my sister ? who accompanied me ? feel welcome and of course all the exhibitors for entering and taking my decisions so sportingly. The atmosphere around the ring felt warm, friendly and relaxed.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
Strong blue & tan bitch. Nice harsh double coat just coming through. Correct blue & tan colour. Very good otter head. Rather heavy ears that are well set and carried. Well angulated. Nice bone and feet. Spannable. Thick loose pelt. She moved nicely both ways. But she could be firmer in front when standing.
Special Open Blue & Tan Dog or Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Yorks, Lancs & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
26th Sep 2009
Judge: Mrs E Cuthbertson (Ashbrae)
My thanks to the Committee for my appointment. To my ring stewards K Green & A. Harris, and to the exhibitors for the nice entry of 200 exhibits. I was sorry Gordon and Cynthia Knight could not be present due to family illness.
I did find a lot of variation between type, and size making judging very interesting. Some heads lacked strength of muzzle and heavy shoulders were very the much in evidence. I was concerned that a number were overweight and heavy, not as fit as they should be.
Saying that I was very pleased with my placings, class and top award winners.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Class Critique
Very good class of nice bitches.
South Wales Kennel Association
9th Oct 2009
Judge: Mr Brian Baxter (Beenaben)
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Placing Critique
B/T, liked this bitch, good, well shaped head, straight front, good feet and bone, in harsh coat, kept a good topline on the move.
East Anglia BTC Championship Show
18th Apr 2010
Judge: Mrs Trak Fryer (Irton)
I would like to thank the exhibitors for a lovely quality entry, the Club and committee for the appointment and my stewards Simon and Bev Jackson for their efficient help throughout the day. I was generally pleased with the overall quality, heads were good, pelts generally good and movement OK with many very typical exhibits on show. I was disappointed to find a number of poor mouths in the dog entry and to find a few exhibits presented down to the minute but totally lacking muscle, something that I find unacceptable in a dog with the Borders outlook on life.
Mid Limit - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
Classy little b/t with a good head, nice ears. Very good for bone, well balanced with a good rib, she is in a good coat and moving very well indeed.
Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
1st May 2010
Judge: Mr Arthur Cuthbertson (Ashbrae)
My thanks to the Committee for my appointment, and a well run show. The stewards Doreen Rushby and Dave Mitchell, and the exhibitors for the entry.
I was looking for a Border that could fulfil the standard, essentially a working terrier. Judging is about achieving that balance of the desired essentials of the standard, breed type, construction, movement, condition, and the true otter like head. I was disappointed to find so many lacking strength of muzzle, and some with narrow set eyes, with a lot, light in eye colour giving an untypical expression. Some with very small teeth and others very big on the rib, also some very long tails!
That said there were some lovely borders present, and I was pleased with the final line ups, all fulfilling my interpretation of the breed standard.
Mid Limit - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
B/t with very thick double coat of good texture. Nice size throughout
Three Counties Agricultural Society
10th Jun 2010
Judge: Mr G Corish
Was delighted to watch my BOB go G4 & my BP go PG1
Limit - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show with Critique
19th Sep 2010
Judge: Miss Gemma Alpe
Firstly I must thank SBTC for giving me the honour of judging my first Breed Club show. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and had some first class dogs to judge. I found no bad mouths and only one with a slightly suspect kink and movement on the whole was pretty good. The one thing that bothered me was that we seem to be losing our way a little with those lovely fronts that to me are a big part of our breed, and a number of dogs are toeing out both on the stand and on the move. I was pleased with my winners, they mostly fitted my interpretation of the breed standard, but I was delighted with my top winners, all of whom are a credit to the breed and I thank their owners for giving me the opportunity to judge them.
Special Open Blue & Tan Dog or Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
Nice bitch good movement and overall outline, good head and tail set correct colour.
South Wales KA
8th Oct 2010
Judge: Mr B Aubrey
Limit - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Midland Counties CS
29th Oct 2010
Judge: Phil D Sharp
A magnificent entry, the highest in the terrier group. Some exhibits did not have a good otter head & appeared too coarse. Movement was also an issue, as it should be the hindquarters that provide the propulsion, with the topline remaining reasonably level as the dog moves. Tails were somewhat better than when I last judged at this level. I was pleased with my final line-up for both dogs & bitches.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor
Midland BTC Open Show
21st Nov 2010
Judge: Mrs K Newsome (Kighills)
I would like to thank the Midland Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge, it was a great honour to be asked. I would like to say a big thank you to the exhibitors who gave me the opportunity to go over their dogs. I would also like to say many thanks to my stewards for the day Margaret Bailey and Chris Wallace, they were a big help to me and kept everything running smoothly throughout the day. I was told that for the November show that the entry was very good, having 120 entries and a total entry of 165 minus absentees.
The overall quality was good and I had some hard decisions. Temperaments were very good. I was pleased to see good mouths with correct bites and good large teeth, only a couple were found with poor teeth development and incorrect bites. My only criticism on the day would be that not enough attention is being paid to the dog's feet and nails. However, I really enjoyed my day and was very pleased with my winners.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
Similar to 1 with racy body, narrow throughout, spanned easily. Moved ok. Pushed hard for first place but 1 won on movement.
Crufts
12th Mar 2011
Judge: Mrs Elaine Cuthbertson (Ashbrae)
It was an honour to be invited to judge this prestige show, and a privilege to be able to handle so many good borders. With an entry of 254 dogs, 306 entries, and with the help of my very efficient stewards this enabled me to finish on time for the BOB to go forward into the group. With the large classes it would have been nice to have had more time and more prize cards.
Many borders were in very fit condition and in gleaming coats, others sadly were not. I was very surprised at the numbers that were overweight, a few under and some in poor coat. There is a difference of being short of coat and being untidy which some were, several having scissor cuts in evidence which is totally unnecessary.
Some nice otter type typical heads were in evidence, some with quite large ears which seems to be creeping into the breed, and close set eyes giving an alien expression. Quite a few were upright and heavy in shoulder, with a shorter back than desired. Most were spanable although many had a rounder rib than required. This reflected in my placing's as the fitness and welfare of the dogs is of the uppermost importance, as the breed standard states, the breed being essentially a working terrier.
I thought my principle winners were excellent representatives of the breed, and I enjoyed seeing my BOB being short listed in the group.
Mid Limit - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
Another well made B/T bitch. Liked her overall type and balance. Attractive head good teeth. Spannable with strong loin. Good quarters. Steady confident mover.
Class Critique
A big class of varying types, made very interesting judging.
Joint Border Terrier Clubs Championship Show
1st May 2011
Judge: Mrs Lesley Gosling
My thanks to my two excellent stewards who kept exhibits moving along, making my task easier, and to the Yorks, Lancs and Cheshire Club for inviting me to judge.
Coats were generally very good with undercoats evident and few showed signs of scissoring and shaving. I was pleased that all the puppy dogs were of a sensible size for their ages and almost all exhibits were spannable; however, shoulder construction problems remain an issue, with short upper arms and poor shoulder angulation resulting in wide, or tied fronts, spoiling otherwise quality exhibits. I noticed that some were roaching over the loin, creating bouncing back ends on the move with the loss of level toplines, and many had a distinct lack of stifle bend, resulting in a lack of driving action on the move. Consider feet - a few needed claws trimming (or more road work).
Some heads were untypical and snipey; there were a number of suspect mouths and one undershot puppy, but I was impressed with the overall condition of the entry in general and the winners were a credit to their owner/breeders. The well filled Limit bitch class was outstanding and it was a pity not to have more awards to present. My thanks to everyone for accepting my decisions so sportingly and congratulations to the top winners, whose dogs were so deserving of their wins.
Here’s a plea - please use bait sparingly, and not while your dogs are on the judging table. It’s a pity that a number of exhibitors are slaves to baiting their dogs on the table, making the dogs move around and become unsteady, while making it difficult for judges to access mouths and assess facial features. Baiting also affects movement round the ring, with exhibits “crabbing”, watching for the treats.
Mid Limit - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
South Wales KA
9th Oct 2011
Judge: Mr David Winsley
Limit - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Midland Counties
30th Oct 2011
Judge: Mr Alan Small (Timoray)
Thanks for a lovely entry. I thougherly enjoyed my day. Special thanks for the invite and to my two lady stewards who kept things moving along nicely. I was particularly impressed with the young stock which augurs well for the breed. Coats were at all stages, from coming in to on the turn.
Open - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Scottish BTC Championship Show
12th Nov 2011
Judge: Mrs K Wilkinson
Thank you to the Members for inviting me to judge what has been for me and many others, one of the favourite shows on the calendar every year. Having won the Bitch CC and Best in Show here at the very first ScBTC Ch show in 1985 with Otterkin Blue Bouquet JW, perhaps I am slightly biased by good memories, but I think most people who attend consider it one of the most popular shows of the year, as there is always a warm welcome guaranteed from the Officers and Committee of the Scottish Border Terrier Club to exhibitors and spectators alike and a good atmosphere at all of their shows.
Many thanks to Marjorie Wanless who officiated as an uncomplaining and efficient steward all on her lonesome all day; what a star! Thanks too for the lovely gift from the Club.
It is good when decisions are accepted with grace, be it win or lose and I thank the exhibitors for that. It is not easy being a judge, knowing you disappoint some but please others, but one has to just judge the dogs and go with your instincts, please yourself, select those you like the best and hope others appreciate that you did your best, to your ability, without fear or favour.
Overall, the quality was high, with a lot to like. There were only a couple who felt too thin, so I will not dwell on this too much this time, except to say that a working dog needs some substance, some strength and endurance and this is NOT achieved when you starve a big dog to try to make it look smaller, as any judge fooled by that is not to be applauded. Going over a dog on the table, I hate to feel all the backbone and see the ribs sticking out. It is cruel and unkind to keep your dog too thin. Borders like their food. Not as many thin ones here as were at Crufts in 2007, just a couple. This is just something for people to watch please.
Teeth were not a big problem – only one slightly undershot and a couple with one tooth out of line. I will not penalise a dog/bitch for one tooth out of line and refuse to put that in the individual dog/bitches critique – that is for me to know (I am sure the exhibitors already know) and for other judges to find (or not) and do as they will. For me, there is so much more that is important than one tooth out of alignment. If such a dog/bitch with one tooth out of line still had a scissor bite and all other good attributes, then it was placed accordingly. I have seen critiques which say “Only one if” – I will not lumber any dog/bitch with that and have everyone wanting to know what it was.
I was surprised to find a couple with kinks in their tails, as exhibitors can feel this easily themselves. This has been touched upon in the 2007 BTC Year Book and judges (including me) have their own views on this, although there is nothing in the UK breed standard about it.
A couple had peculiar coats, with what seemed like some substance in them, which did not make them feel harsh, more sticky and stuck together and although that meant I could not see the skin, it was not because they had good coats and it gave me grubby hands after going over them. Substance in a terrier’s coat fools no-one – please do not do it! On the down side, there were a few more which left my hands dirty after examination. Although they are a working dog, please present them to the judge in clean condition. I didn’t turn up grubby and neither should they!
Overall though, I thought the breed to be in a good place and I was very pleased with all my top winners (well, I would say that, wouldn’t I)?
Limit - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
This one was close up to the winner. Another one with a good otter head, she was just a bit shorter. Liked her neck and shoulders and she possesses small tight feet
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
20th Nov 2011
Judge: Mrs Anne Heathcote (Saxheath)
I thoroughly enjoyed my day and thank all the exhibitors for the lovely entry. The depth of quality was a pleasant surprise and it would seem that the breed is in good hands.
Open - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
12th Feb 2012
Judge: Mrs P. Clark (Gameway)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for inviting me to judge this show. I had a lovely day and a special thank you to all the exhibitors who braved the dreadful driving conditions.
Thank you for the lovely gift which I shall treasure and the very good lunch! A big thank you to Chris Wallace and Jem Thomas who were my very able stewards.
Open - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
Blue and tan of nice size. Good head with keen expression. Good length of neck good topline but tail slightly low set. Moved well. Nice type.
Southern Border Terrier Club Members Limited Show
4th Mar 2012
Judge: Mr Mark Lowry (Ravenside)
Many thanks to the Southern Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge their limit show. Also special thanks to my stewards for their smooth efficient help during a most enjoyable day. Also big thanks to all the exhibitors for giving me such a nice entry.
On the whole I thought the quality was of a good standard, coats were at various stages which is to be expected.
I did notice that a few exhibits were scissored which did spoil them. A couple had tails that were cut straight at the end which did upset the overall picture somewhat. Borders should have a “carrot†tail, but not a chopped carrot!
Mouths were good, with a lot of big strong teeth on display, even right through to the veterans.
I was very happy with my principle winners and feel confident more success lays ahead for them.
Open - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
blue and tan with excellent otterhead, good lenghth of rib, showed well, a little short of coat today.
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
15th Apr 2012
Judge: Mrs Su Williams (Hollybridge)
Thank you very much to the Officers and Committee of the Club for inviting me to judge today. Special Thank you must go to my two very able Stewards Bev & Simon Jackson for the smooth running of the ring.
I was impressed by the over all quality of the exhibits today; it was definitely a case of more winners than awards!
I was pleased to see overall that mouths were very good. There were a couple of minor incisor alignment issues but nothing to penalize. Thankfully tails are improving, in recent years the long thin sickle curled over tail became too regular a sight, Today they were far outnumbered by more typically carried tails. On a slightly negative note -cleanliness, a number of dogs were quite pungent and just because they are ‘Essentially a working terrier’ they don’t have to smell like they just came from a dig! Muscle tone was lacking in some fit looking Borders bringing the worry some might be fed for condition instead of exercised for it! Coats that transient problem, many sadly had to be marked down today due to lack of coat. While some evidence of texture was there in many cases. I had to place dogs without coat according to how they appeared on the day!
Mid Limit - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
6th May 2012
Judge: Mr W Shorthose (Cundytyke)
Many thanks to the Committee of the Border Terrier Club, who were the hosts of this year’s Joint Border Terrier Club show, for inviting me to judge such a prestigious event. My thanks go, particularly, to my stewards, who kept things running smoothly and enabled me to get through a big entry in an unrushed way.
Overall, I felt the quality was reasonably high, with a lot to like. There were only a few which I felt could have done with a few square meals as they were a bit on the thin side. Exhibitors should know how to balance food intake with exercise to produce dogs in the correct condition. Lack of muscle on more was a greater problem. While the standard states ‘capable of following a horse’ many would have been tired following one round a stable yard let alone across country. This is evident when dogs are moved but not giving an active breed sufficient exercise also has an effect on their mental wellbeing.
There were a number of untypical heads. I wonder if some people don’t understand the proportions of an otter’s skull as some muzzles were lacking in breadth giving a ‘foxy’look, while other heads were too rounded giving the impression of a teddy bear. Mouths were not a big problem with only a couple incorrect and coats were also, generally, good. Most exhibits had an undercoat though there were quite a number which had thin skins. A good, thick, loose pelt is essential for a working terrier. Very few could not be spanned, so most would have been capable of getting to ground. A ‘one size fits all’ attitude does not really apply to working terriers as there are a variety of jobs and situations to be encountered but they do have to be able to get there in the first place.
I was very pleased with my top winners and extend my thanks to all the exhibitors.
Mid Limit - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
Bit lighter built blue and tan whose colouring doesn’t help her ear size/shape. Good outline with topline and well set tail. Racy outline to hindquarters though, to be critical, I would prefer a little more angulation in the hind leg.
Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
17th Jul 2012
Judge: Mrs. A. C. Fryer (Irton)
My thanks to the Northern Club for the opportunity to judge their 40th Championship show and for their wonderful hospitality; to the exhibitors for giving me such a lovely entry and to my stewards Doreen Rushby & Tracy Peacock for their assistance through the day.
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my day, as we expect from this club there was a wonderful atmosphere all day with good support for the winners and, of course, very impressive rosettes!
I was pleased with the entry and thought the Veteran class outstanding. In general exhibits were good types of Border, presented clean and reasonably well muscled. I dislike over handling and excessive stacking of exhibits, these are working terriers and if made right they will – eventually – stand right. In general heads were typical, some with excellent expressions. Coats, of course, were all over the place but where present were of good quality and in the main pelts were OK with some very good examples. Feet generally were OK but good tight well padded feet were definitely in the minority. Similarly ears were generally OK but small, well set, well shaped thick ears were scarce. Tails and tailset were very much a plus with some very good examples, just a few rather long or thin ones. I was pleased to find enough well made dogs who covered their ground cleanly without fuss and flicking but good movement was definitely one of the major problems, particularly in the bitches.
Shoulder placement was a problem in a significant number of exhibits, mostly these were upright shoulders out at the withers giving big problems with front movement. These may look good standing but these dogs are not sound on the move, a vital requirement for a Border.
I accept that an older dog can lose teeth or have a bite move but I was disappointed to find a number of young dogs with incorrect bites, missing and broken teeth. I thought a number of heads were weak, particularly across the jaw and these seem to go with rather small teeth, I wonder if these are related problems?
Mid Limit - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
A pleasing B/T in good coat, lovely head and expression, well made with very good balance, moved well with an easy economical gait.
Class Critique
A mixed class with lots of different types.
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
10th Feb 2013
Judge: Mr M. Hollingsbee (Otterwood)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee of the Club for their kind invitation to judge this show, my third opportunity at a breed club show.
My heartfelt thanks to my two stewards, Kathy Newsome and Jem Thomas who, by their calm organizing ability ensured that the show ran smoothly and finished in good time for the exhibitors to beat the inclement weather.
Finally the exhibitors for braving the threatened snow storm and allowing me to go over their dogs.
I only found one bad mouth. The quality of coats varied as would be expected in the run up to Crufts. Of concern to me is that a few of the exhibits were much too large for the standard. To be able to go to ground it is essential that the breed does not get oversized. Overall the quality of the exhibits was good and decisions in some of the classes were very close.
Open - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
another well-presented blue and tan bitch, good coat, topline and tail set, moved well.
Southern Border Terrier Club Limit Show
3rd Mar 2013
Judge: Mrs Linda Coleman (Hartswelin)
I would like to thank the club for giving me the opportunity to judge the breed. I also thank the exhibitors for entering their quality dogs under me. The atmosphere and sportsmanship from exhibitors and spectators made my day a very enjoyable one. All bites were correct and I found one monorchid. Front movement in general still has a way to go and there were far too many flat open feet with thin pads especially in the males. That said I felt I had a quality entry.
Open - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
Blue head o.k. easily spannable, well presented coat, precise movement.
Class Critique
Not as strong a class and marred by absentees.
Joint Border Terrier Club's Championship Show
5th May 2013
Judge: Mrs Denise Townsend (Llanishen)
I was thrilled to be awarded this prestigious appointment and would like to thank everyone for making this a very enjoyable day. I have always been a fan of the joint show and the opportunity it gives for the clubs to come together. The entire organising team was marvellous but special mention must go to my stewards Peter Roderick and Colin Girling for all their support and assistance, and to collecting ring organisers Wendy and Andrew Mooney for keeping the action flowing. Also thanks to Kathy Wilkinson and Su Williams for all their help in organising the event.
Overall I was pleased with the quality of my entry although there was more quality in depth in bitches. Movement was generally good and there were very few wry mouths. True otter heads seem somewhat in decline and there were several single coats. However, I was delighted with all of my winners.
Mid Limit - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
8th Jun 2013
Judge: Mr W R Irving
It was an honour to be invited to judge the Southern Border Terrier Club’s Championship Show for the second time, the last time having been exactly twenty years ago in 1993. The entry on this occasion was 215 from 203 dogs of which 14 were entered NFC. My thanks go to the Show Manager, Officers and Committee of the Club for their hospitality and organisation and to the exhibitors for their entries and for the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions. Special thanks to Wendy and Andrew Mooney and Bev Marsh for stewarding so efficiently and for organising the collecting ring which allowed us to finish in good time.
As usual there were more bitches than dogs entered. It was encouraging to see some good quality entries through the various classes and not just at the senior end, I thought that by and large heads and expressions were good with not many narrow long skulls there. My feeling was that while there were still plenty of dogs with poor fronts of one kind or another present, there were more good fronted exhibits around from which to find winners than the last time I judged. Coats were mixed and at times I had to forgive some lack of coat. As always there was a good deal of variation in size as always, but in the end I felt I was able to find winners of good enough size with enough scope and lines. I felt that tails were mixed and at times, in looking for overall quality, I had to reward dogs with tails that I felt were less than perfect in shape, length or carriage. By and large the dogs behaved pretty well and were presented clean. I was keen to see the dogs moving around the ring and not ‘stacked’. That is surely the most revealing in conformation terms.
DCC and BOB was Jenkins’ Badgerbeck Uncle Fester. RDCC was Stockleys’ Ch Foxfactor Pied Piper. BCC and RBIS was May and Whisker’s Thistlestone Jenny Wren. RBCC was Higham’s Comberdown Thistle. BP was Hall and Ellis’ Brackenfell Bok To Bach and BPB was Clark’s Gameway Fortune Cookie. BV was Stockleys’ Foxfactor Hornblower
Mid Limit - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Southern Border Terrier Club Members Limited Breed Show
1st Mar 2015
Judge: Mr. Bob Wright (Totherend)
My appreciation goes to the SBTC officers and committee for the opportunity to judge a lovely entry of Border Terriers and to the stewards for their support during the show. Also to the many exhibitors who quite rightly presented their dogs so proudly. I hope they enjoyed their day irrespective of the results, as above all this is a hobby to enjoy with the pets that you love.
It’s always good to see new faces exhibiting but I think most would benefit from a few visits to ring craft prior to launching themselves into the ring. This would give them an idea of the typical ring routine and some guidance on preparation of their exhibits. Whilst some concession can be made, lack of ring presence inevitably reflects in some way on their exhibit. Having said all that I can but admire the efforts of a seasoned 2½ year old handler as she moved her much older prized veteran up and down the mat!
I found some dubious dentition, a couple I couldn’t span and several only just spannable. Some dogs impressed in the line but disappointed on the move (particularly rear movement) but for a limit show I felt there was plenty of quality and I was particularly delighted with the main contenders. Some classes merited two “firsts” with precious little separating the first two and I was sad to disappoint. Not being first shouldn’t reflect badly on any dog it only means that a particular judge preferred another exhibit on the day. Certainly some of the dogs would have been better placed had they moved as well on the day as I’ve seen them move before.
I’m not of the school that expects to see a final line-up of identical dogs of a particular type. Several exhibits, whilst not of my preferred type, represented the breed standard well and couldn’t be denied an appropriate place irrespective of type or the appearance of the final line-up. I looked for a well balanced dog reflecting the aspects of the breed standard, without exaggeration and able to cover the ground smoothly and efficiently and I was pleased to find it in most classes.
Best Veteran
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Veteran - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
Blue and tan, 7 years, double coat complete with ticking, lovely head and expression, good reach of neck, nice lines and balance, well muscled, moved well, small feet just a little down on pads. Best Veteran.
The Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
6th Jun 2015
Judge: Mr Stewart McPherson (Brumberhill)
My thanks, to the Club, for the invitation to judge their Club Show and the hospitality shown to Peter and myself. Thanks, also, to my Stewards, Wendy Mooney and Denise Townsend, who valiantly coped with the paperwork in the, at times, rather blustery conditions, keeping everything going smoothly! Thank you to the exhibitors, also, who entered for my opinion. The grass, in the ring, wasn’t exactly “bowling green”, so it certainly sorted out the good from the bad, on the move!
As is usual, from me, not an “everything in the garden is rosy” preamble! After 35 years, living and breathing Border Terriers, I tell it, as I see it!
As with my last appointment, Crufts, it is just over a 3 year gap, since I judged the Breed in the UK. I had obviously made my point, last time, that I wouldn’t pass the excessively broad skull, almost caricature like, that had become popular, despite the Standard asking for “Head like that of an Otter. Moderately broad in skull”, as there were none I thought overdone, on the day. I think, the problem lies, possibly, that the Standard doesn’t specify, as I was taught, that it refers to English River Otter, some people, mistakenly thinking the commoner headed Sea Otter, or deeper stopped Asian Short Clawed Otter is being referred to. There is a big difference between the three! Not helped by critiques, apparently, praising “broad” skulls, which, to me, sends out the wrong signals!
At Crufts, I had thought the breed had turned a corner, with regard to forehands ie. shoulder and upper arm construction…….how wrong was I?!!! I think I had the full range of faults today, upright shoulders, short upper arm, out at the elbow, sometimes all on the same exhibit! The widest part of a Border Terrier, “Essentially a working Terrier”, bred to go to ground, shouldn’t be the elbows, this fault usually being because the forehand isn’t set on the body correctly, being too far forward, due to a short, steep upper arm, usually, although not always, accompanied by an upright shoulder. These faults also affect that other line from the Standard “Capable of following a horse”, as, due to the incorrect angles, the movement is no longer efficient, being restricted to a shorter, hackneyed, step in profile, almost as though they are walking on hot coals, due to the foreleg not reaching full extension. It may look ok, coming and going, being accurate, as the shorter stride means there is less room for error, but the lack of a ground covering stride would mean the dog working twice as hard on the move, doing its job, soon becoming exhausted. This was brought home to me, discussing the stamina of various dogs with a friend, his son exercising their two Border Terrier champions chasing after him, on horseback, around a field. The accurate mover, with the shorter stride was soon exhausted, having had to work twice as hard, whereas the more angulated one, with the longer, ground covering stride, was up for more! Like, usually breeds like, good forehands being bred for. They don’t appear as if by magic! I am well aware that these faults are seemingly being passed by Judges, not just in the UK, at the very highest level, but that doesn’t mean that they are either correct or desirable and they are very difficult to breed out. I’m left wondering, having read a number of critiques, then having seen, or judged the dogs being praised, are the Seminars failing to educate the correct mechanics of economical movement, or are people just not seeing the movement faults, as long as its trots up and down, with its head and tail up, showing nicely for the Judge! Conversely, as ever, hind movement was pretty good.
It was interesting to note that those I have rewarded in the past, with the correct forehands and narrow fronts, at Crufts and previous engagements, came back, having retained their virtues and have also passed the same, narrow, lithe bodylines on to the next generation. If they are made right, they last right! A working Terrier, whose front is going, or has gone, by the time it is reaching maturity, is neither use nor ornament and is a liability to itself and its owner.
I would like to think, from ring side, that it was obvious that I was looking for Borders with a pattern of moderation and workmanlike construction, with sound, free, scopey movement, who also had quality and style. It wasn’t always easy, in some classes, but I thought my final line ups, in both sexes, demonstrated my priorities.
On the whole, coats and pelts were good, as always my opinion being that coats are transient. I don’t expect them to be aimed specifically, time wise, for me, as I am more concerned with correct construction, but it is “the icing on the cake.” As long as there was evidence of the correct textures, no one was unduly marked down, until it came to the top honours.
Most were spannable, although very few were easily spannable, slightly worrying, as my hands have a big span! This isn’t just a UK problem!
Mouths were all acceptable, a few with the odd broken tooth, which is only to be expected in a working Terrier and certainly wouldn’t be penalised by me.
Veteran - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
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.
Veteran - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Rhozzum Keynote With Foxfactor JW
Placing Critique
Pleasing head and general shape. Good pelt. Moved well.
