Show Placings
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.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Placing Critique
Not quite so mature as 1st but a very smart puppy standing, feminine head which will improve with age and when she grows into her ears. Keen expression, not the body length of winner and would have liked to see a better blend of stifle but overall picture for a minor puppy was ok.
National Terrier Club
1st Apr 2017
Judge: Mr A Horner (Stineval)
Thank you to The National Terrier Club for the appointment also my stewards who did a sterling job in keeping everything moving smoothly and a thank you to the exhibitors for allowing me the opportunity to go over their prized possessions. A few dogs were under weight and some would benefit by having their feet and nails some attention. I only found one suspect mouth and lots lacking in body condition. Some need to put scissors in the drawer and leave them there too! I was pleased with the final lines of my winners of both sexes.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Placing Critique
(G/tan) Nice puppy that was in harmony with its handler nice head with dark eye good dentition, level topline and good tail set moved well on a loose lead.
Bath CS Championship Show
26th May 2017
Judge: Mr P Iversen (Norway)
I would like to thank the committee of Bath CS for inviting me to judge at their show. Many thanks to my stewards, who did an excellent job. I enjoyed my day among Border Terriers and their sporting owners. Many thanks for your entries.
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Placing Critique
Dark grizzle promising puppy, pleasing in outline- Excellent coat and pelt. Feminine in head, good body and firm topline. Fairly short well set tail. Sound mover
Southern Counties Canine Association
3rd Jun 2017
Judge: Mr Kimmo Mustonen (Finland)
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge at this show. And to my two stewards who were very helpful all the day. I really enjoyed the show. It was a pleasure and an honour to judge my own breed Border Terriers in their home country. It was a day I will remember. Thank you to the exhibitors for their entries!
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Placing Critique
Very promising puppy. Excellent size and proportions. Easy to span. Excellent feminine head. Keen expression. Excellent topline. Very good angulations. Excellent harsh coat and loose pelt. Sound mover.
Paignton
5th Aug 2017
Judge: Mr Jeff Horswell (Drakesleat)
Great characters and a sporting ringside. I thought there were some size problems, a few being rather bulky. Front action is the biggest problem, not many being accurate coming towards. Feet by and large very good.
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG2, Dandyhow Heather Honey
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Placing Critique
Really fem b of a lovely size. Just a bit firmer in front than 2. She has a v well balanced head, neat ears. Enough neck. Shoulders could be better laid. Super body and ribs. Nice thick tail. Moderate hind angulation. Fairly thick coat. Liked her v much BP
Bournemouth CA Championship Show
13th Aug 2017
Judge: Mr Harold Ogden
This was such a special appointment and I am indebted to Bournemouth for the opportunity. You see it was "Aunty Eva" Heslop, the revered breeder of the Corburn Border Terriers, who drove me to my first ever allbreed Ch show in 1970. Eva took Sunday school in the Methodist chapel in Corbridge, Northumberland, and I was her secret weapon boy soloist at the competitive music festival! I particularly remember the beautiful Ch Corburn Corn Dolly shown by Mr Skeet. Bellingham show was not only local for me but THE Mecca for Geordie/Scots Borders. I have judged the breed since 1992 and been educated both by a breed club seminar in 2012 and by obtaining a JDP Credit in Nov 2013. That would theoretically have halved the KC Judges Sub requirement of 160 hands on. I actually had 200. I only mention all this as cynics assume the likes of me to have been "fast tracked" and / or to have no actual interest.
69 of the original 82 starters made it so I had plenty to work with. The bugbear was fronts whether steep /elbows /plaiting /hackney. As a toydog specialist I am accustomed to spotting lift / hackney that is often written into the breed standards. But this no decorative breed but rather a functional working terrier "capable of following a horse" that
requires endurance and hence a rhythmical swing straight through from the shoulders ensuring no wasted effort, He will tire all too quickly otherwise. Moreover the breed standard expressly includes in the Faults section an assessment of "its effect on the terrier's ability to work"
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Placing Critique
12m daughter of Reserve Dog CC; ultra feminine; gd head proportions with strength through muzzle; gd neck running into quality, balanced bodylines; well angulated;; ex jacket; racy hindquarters; moved with active ease consistent with her conformation; one to watch through 2018.
Welsh Kennel Club
19th Aug 2017
Judge: Mr Max King
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Placing Critique
Another very feminine type, nice overall size, played up a little but considered this just terrier spirit, coat in very good order, moved ok.
Darlington
15th Sep 2017
Judge: Miss T James (Blackmine)
Thank you to everyone who entered under me. It was a fantastic entry and I thoroughly enjoyed my days judging. It is a beauty competition and it is much easier to assess a dog when it is well trained and well turned out. Showmanship sometimes comes naturally to some dogs and then others you have to work hard at. I was very pleased with all my winners.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
17th Sep 2017
Judge: Mr Gordon Dyer (Ruffenuf)
Firstly may I thank the SBTC Committee for inviting me to judge this Open Show. I felt very honoured. I thoroughly enjoyed my day. The ring ran smoothly with the help of my stewards and the whole venue had a pleasing and pleasant atmosphere. It was nice to see some old and many new faces. May I also thank the exhibitors for handling their dogs confidently and accepting my decisions. I was very impressed with the quality of the dogs and I only found one bad mouth and two sprung ribs. I had a few challenging decisions to make and uncoated dogs had to be penalised. Mostly the dogs were all in fit condition and able to do a day’s work. I was very impressed with my final line up and to have such sound dogs
representing the breed.
Best Bitch
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Reserve Best In Show
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Best Opposite Sex
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
Placing Critique
13mth grizzle, a quality bitch that caught my eye when she entered the ring. Has all the good points needed. In good jacket, showed with confidence and moved well. BB BOS & RBIS
Midland Counties Canine Society
27th Oct 2017
Judge: Mr David G Winsley (Davmar)
My thanks to the exhibitors for their quality entry, also to my two efficient stewards.
I would like to mention that due to the noisy ring next to our during the first three bitch classes, some youngster were upset and didn't show to their best advantage, hopefully they will have gotten over it. Movement generally was good in the majority of dogs. Feet need more attention, some certainly don't comply with the breed standard and certainly would affect them if they had to go long distances. Some just needed a little judicious trimming.
Junior - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Dandyhow Heather Honey
