Show Placings
Border Union Championship Show
17th Jun 2012
Judge: Mrs Kate Walton (Enterlaw)
After an absence from the Showring and judging for the past 18 months, due to illness I was interested to find almost a new generation in my entry. Not even the appalling June weather and the resultant sudden switch from outdoor to indoor rings could dampen my enthusiasm hut I do apologise to exhibitors for the lack of adequate space in the indoor wet-weather accommodation. Thank you all so much for your sporting patience and to my two excellent stewards for their assistance in moving us under cover so efficiently. After Open Dog. I just could not record legibly in my judging book! I much enjoyed looking over and handling this large entry with relatively few absentees. I was very impressed by the standard and quality of my main winners and in the way the dogs adapted to the change of rings. It was a pity that the benching for the congested indoor ring was so far away. I felt particularly sorry for all the bitch exhibits who were obliged to show in such a small muddy ring, especially those in the big classes which had to be split and the fact that other terrier breeds with smaller entries were given larger rings, Considering the conditions, all temperaments were excellent. Only one level mouth and two slightly out of alignment. All dogs were entire. Movement is still an overall problem. Some exhibits could be tidier!
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
Well constructed with competent movement. Good balance.
Windsor Championship Show
1st Jul 2012
Judge: Mr K Holmes
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Novice - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
5th Aug 2012
Judge: Nicholls & Dean
*Dog Critique*
An excellent entry at this my first club championship show. There were quality exhibits in all classes and overall, if this entry can be used as a yardstick, the dogs are now almost as good as the bitches, which couldn’t be said only a short while ago. This must bode well for the future of the breed.
I have been very critical of movement in the past, but I found a distinct improvement here and most of the class card winners had good parallel movement going away and back, and plenty of drive with economical front action. Coats were generally very good and heads were much improved with only a few weak snipey muzzles and apple skulls.
Many thanks to my hard working stewards, Sharon Pickering and Ray Bryan, who succeeded in keeping me out of trouble.
*Bitch Critique*
A very satisfying day, I had many good bitches to go over. My thanks to the MBTC for the invitation to judge and to the exhibitors for entering. All were capable of being spanned, there was a good number of typical jackets and overall quality was such that this was a factor in the placings. No bad mouths and many with good strong teeth. Construction has improved but be careful not to overdo the hind angulation and remember we look for narrow fronts. A few round ears and several larger than I prefer. Racy lines preferred but be careful as some lacked substance. I though the principal winners were all very good. BIS, RBIS and BOS were all worthy winners.
Best Opposite Sex Puppy
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
7mo, Carrying a little weight but good head with shallow stop and strong muzzle. Neat ears and dark eye. Nice shoulder construction and hindquarters. Excellent thick coat and pelt. Hope she grows a bit more length of leg. Moved well. Best Puppy Bitch.
Bournemouth Championship Show
13th Aug 2012
Judge: Mr W Browne-Cole
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
promising youngster, lovely head & eye, excellent front, covered the ground well
Novice - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Welsh Kennel Club
18th Aug 2012
Judge: Mr Jack Watson
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
well proportioned head, narrow front, good neck & shoulders, firm topline, easily spanned
Novice - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Scottish Kennel Club
25th Aug 2012
Judge: Mr Frank Kane (Hirontower)
An interesting entry. I found some very good class winners. I was disturbed by the frequency of poor hindquarters, often a result of poor croups & tailsets & lack of angulation & second thigh resulting in lack of drive.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
8 months, very typy, lovely size, head & coat. Not as firm in topline as 1 but still carrying some puppy fat. Should finish well
Novice - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
City of Birmingham
1st Sep 2012
Judge: Mrs Marion Reeves (Baywillow)
Thank you for the lovely entry.
The breed standard describes the body as ‘deep, narrow and fairly long’. Just how long may well be debatable as no proportions are suggested. However the standard surely infers that a Border should be longer than square. The standard also describes the border as ‘essentially a working terrier’. A working terrier needs sufficient length and flexibility to enable it to turn underground. It is difficult to imagine a square terrier achieving this easily. I think the above is not generally appreciated by all rounders.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
g/t. Quite a small package but all qualities present in due proportion. Really appealing feminine head, well constructed throughout with excellent shoulder placement and rear angulation. Shown in harsh double coat and all completed by a well shaped wagging tail. I hope she grows a little more. BPB.
Class Critique
A super class with some promising babies going home without reward.
Darlington Championship Show
14th Sep 2012
Judge: Mr David Hunt (Ottaswell)
Thank you to the committee of Darlington Dog Show society for inviting me to judge, with special thanks to my sole steward who worked tirelessly throughout the day to keep both me organised and the ring running smoothly. My appreciation also to the exhibitors for their good entry despite having to face the often long and tiring journey home on a Friday afternoon. Thankfully the weather remained dry for my judging however with a constant strong wind blowing this proved testing for exhibitors handling dogs in full coat.
The ring was large with lots of room for the dogs to move, although the grass could have been cut much shorter. In general all exhibits were in reasonable condition, but as always I was surprised to find 3 dogs with incorrect bites being shown at this level. A working terrier should have coat on the undersides but I was surprised to find some with bellies that had obviously been trimmed/shaved to enhance their underlines. No problem temperaments.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
16th Sep 2012
Judge: Mr Alan Hedges (Ramblix)
I considered it a great honour to be invited to judge this show. I looked forward to it greatly and I was not in any way disappointed. A classy club with a classy committee. My stewards were great and we had some interesting moments through the day, but we coped. Thank you to all involved with the club and most of all the exhibitors for doing me the honour of having me judge your dogs. Thank you.
Whenever I judge Staffords, which is my own breed I always make the point that exhibitors should rid their dogs of any reasons to get beaten. Long pointed nails are not a good look, nor are they good for the dog. Even I can make a decent fist of a borders coat and as a singular part of the breed and its identification a bit more attention would not have gone amiss in some. Excess weight is not good for anybody, least of all, what is ostensibly a working terrier. I think there may well be some stars of the future in some of the lower classes and I shall watch with greater interest now when I am at the border ring. Thanks again to you all for coming and entering into the spirit of the day. I had a brilliant day and I hope you did too.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Class Critique
These first three were nice puppies, all had good heads with decent toplines, coat, tails and eye colour
Novice - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
10th Nov 2012
Judge: Professor A S Milton (Baillieswells)
It was a real pleasure to be invited to judge this show. Having been a member of the Club since its beginning, it was great to come back to Selkirk, to what I have always regarded as my ‘home’ club. There was the usual happy atmosphere, and everything was so well run.
As to the exhibits, I was impressed with the overall quality of the coats, so many with really harsh substantial topcoats and warm undercoats. Several exhibitors seemed to have had difficulty with the hairs around the neck. I know that they grow in different directions, but it is possible with hard work to get an even look. Borders should not be shown with a ruff. Many tails had not been stripped properly, not being tidy and not flowing from the end of the back. Some even had feathering on the underside. I wish exhibitors would not push the tail upright so that it is vertical to the spine.
They are not Airedales, and it spoils the topline. Front movement was very varied, but cow hocks were almost absent. Teeth were good. Far too many, in my opinion, were too big, and I had difficulty in spanning them. (Though looking back in the literature, this has been a complaint since the beginning of the breed!)
Best Puppy
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
BPIS. A good all round bitch, Good otter head with excellent teeth. Good topline, good front and rear. Good mover. I wish her tail was not so long, not helped by her handler pushing it straight up.
Novice - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
18th Nov 2012
Judge: Mrs Gill Hunt (Ottaswell)
Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Novice - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Open Show
25th Nov 2012
Judge: Mrs Eileen Cole (Towden)
I would like to thank the club for inviting me to judge their open show and what an enjoyable day I had, also for the lovely present and flowers, and to my two stewards who were very efficient and kept the ring running smoothly. I had a very good entry of dogs thanks to the exhibitors with some good quality dogs to go over although rear movement on some could be better but I was very pleased with my top winners.
Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
National Terrier
6th Apr 2013
Judge: Mrs. Margaret Curtis (Matamba)
Many thanks to all of the exhibitors who gave me such a nice entry of 201 dogs, giving 245 entries. My thanks go to my two stewards, with some large numbers in the classes they kept everything running smoothly and helped me to finish on time. Many decisions were difficult and some decent dogs went unplaced.
There were things that came to hand while going over the dogs on the table, short ribs and over long in the loin and long hocks. Some of these short ribbed dogs were not over sprung and quite narrow through the body, but our standard states ‘ribs well back‘, something to be watched in your future breeding programs. Some dogs looked on the heavy side when I first looked around the ring, but on the table I was surprised how so many of these dogs came to hand no problem. Upright shoulders were noticeable and front movement in some classes was a problem, along with some very straight stifles and sickle movement. Puppies and youngsters you would expect to be forgiven for movement, along with the size of ears - within time the head develops and things start to balance out.
Jackets were at all stages, spot on, starting to blow - with some owners trying to scissor or part strip them into shape, other coats were coming through with harshness and one or two had just undercoat. There were some that could have done with just a tidy up which would have helped the overall picture.
General overall condition and the spanning on most dogs was acceptable, with good thick pelts. I did feel some of the puppies were thin and were quite hollow behind the ribs. I only had one bad mouth but plenty with strong jaws and large teeth. In general the shape and length of tails were good. A few low set tails, which when a dog is in a full jacket you can feel the low set when on the table but not necessarily see it on the move.
Novice - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Birtley & District Canine Society Open Show
7th Apr 2013
Judge: Mark Johnston (Joncroft)
Junior /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
very nice gt bitch, thickest coat and pelt, excellent fit condition, moved and handled well
Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Mountsorrel & District Canine Society
14th Apr 2013
Judge: Mr Chris Wallace (Hobholt)
Best Of Breed
Name at show: TG2, Ragatam Puzzle
Post Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
16mth, Red Bitch, turned out immaculately and shown well. lovely head, small, v shaped ears, good teeth, correct size, moved with drive and level topline, BOB & TG2.
Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
20th Apr 2013
Judge: Mr. Mark Ord (Marnadee)
It was a great pleasure to be invited to judge this show and I wish to thank the committee for their great hospitality, a superb home cooked lunch and pleasant show. The gift was lovely and will be treasured. Special thanks to my stewards today Allen Horner & Norma Todd.
I was pleased with my overall entry of dogs and glad to see size is becoming more uniform with not so many oversized dogs. Mouths & tails were better than they have been but feel front movement needs watching, as does the loose pelt. I was able to span most exhibits. Thank you to the exhibitors who gave me the privilege to go over their dogs and accepting my decisions on the day in a sporting manner.
Junior - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
another of correct size, typical head, good dark eye, ears well set. Moderate length of neck to good front, well proportioned rib & loin, quarters well set, good tail, moved with purpose
Class Critique
The strongest class of the day. Could happily have given any of the first 4 top place.
Novice - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Bath Canine Society Championship Show
24th May 2013
Judge: Mr Martin P Phillips
RBCC
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
17 mth old red bitch of top draw quality, make & shape very good, lovely breed type, so well balanced all the way through, very well portioned head, with good strong jaw, pleasing eye with good xpression, correct length of neck & lay back of shoulder, good straight front, with nice bone for size, well bodied with strong quarters which she used on the move. RCC
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
As Graduate Bitch
Northern Counties Sporting Terrier Association Open Show
22nd Sep 2013
Judge: Anne Higham (Comberdown)
Post Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
Lovely size grizzle bitch. Nice head with keen expression. Small v shaped ears. Good neck and correct shoulder placement. Straight front with nice bone and small tight feet. Level topline with good tail set. Easily spanned. Excellent pin wire coat. Good mover when settled.
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
28th Sep 2013
Judge: Miss Elspeth Jackson (Clipstone)
It is always an honour to be invited to judge a club show and my first job here must be to thank Club, Officers, Committee and Members for asking me to judge their show. The hospitality shown to my Mother and myself made it a very enjoyable weekend. Thank you to my capable Stewards Les Moss and Ian Higham for their help on the day.
Thank you all for the great entry both in terms of number and in depth of quality I had to judge. There were some very tough, but enjoyable decisions to be made and in most classes and in the challenges the top honours were fiercely contested. .
I must repeat the often used cliché of not having enough cards on the day. Many who were down the line or even cardless today I would have been happy to have as winners in another entry.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
5th Oct 2013
Judge: Mrs. Trudi Baird (Dowgri)
Thank you to the Northern Border Terrier club for my invitation to judge at my first breed club show.
I was honoured to receive such a fantastic entry both in quality and quantity
Thanks go to the committee who made me feel so welcome on my arrival and at lunch, special thank you to my two able stewards Alan Horner and Norma Todd who kept the ring running so smoothly
My findings on the day were mostly positive ,there were some excellent coats and thick pelts, typical heads, good bone ,movement was mostly very good, though a couple of otherwise quality exhibits had to sadly drop down the line due to poor movement on the day.
There were a few with large flat feet ,some with small teeth ,I also found presentation on a few disappointing -particularly untrimmed feet and full long beards, a handful of dogs lacked condition with thin pelts and no meat on their ribs and more worryingly some lacked muscle tone, but these were few and far between .
All the males were entire , all bites good bar one, broken or the odd missing tooth does not concern me.
I was taken back by both of my line ups and was pleased to be able to present dogs and bitches who were what I considered to be excellent examples of the breed and who were on form , both challenges were very close up and it was a delight to be able to select from any of the winners
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle
Placing Critique
G/T Lovely headed bitch with excellent dark eye, very good top line and tail set, straight front with ample bone, ribbed well back , happy show girl who’s tail didn’t stop wagging, very good on the move keeping a good outline. Presented in beautiful tight new jacket with thick pelt, excellent muscle tone.
The Midland Border Terrier Club Open Show
16th Feb 2014
Judge: Mrs Ann Maltby (Pherjan)
Post Graduate - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle JW
Placing Critique
Grizzle with a good head with dark eye and alert expression. Good bite, straight front ,good bone and neat feet.. goood angulation, well muscled hindquarters, very attentive to handler, moved well.
Scottish Kennel Club
23rd Aug 2014
Judge: Mr Eddie Houston (Earthwise)
My first appointment at this level. My thanks to the society for inviting me and to my two very efficient stewards, Lorrraine and Barbara, who kept things moving.
I was very pleased with both my line ups and feel that my main winners were excellent examples of the breed. Many dogs were sporting dense, tweedy jackets but, as is always the case, some were lacking in coat and this did influence some of the placings. Mouths were good and only one dog was unspannable. On the downside, size is an issue and some of the minor puppies are already up to size. Front movement could be better in a number of exhibits and a few were carrying too much weight.
My sincere thanks to all those who entered and afforded me the privilege of going over their dogs.
Post Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle JW
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
4th Oct 2014
Judge: Jeff Luscott
Thank you for the invitation to judge a most enjoyable show, it was good to receive very homely hospitality and I was well looked after by my two very efficient stewards, Norma and Scott. Thank you to the exhibitors for the lovely entry and the sporting atmosphere created around the ring. I enjoyed judging the overall entry with most of the classes having close decisions to be made, with the junior, limit and open classes being particularly strong.
Open - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Ragatam Puzzle JW
