Show Placings
Spennymoor and District Canine Society Open Show
15th Feb 2015
Judge: Mr David Robbins (Chenting)
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG3, Foxcraig Magic Dyson
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
21st Feb 2015
Judge: Mr Ken Fraser (Ycart)
Firstly I would like to say thank you to the Border terrier club, committee and its membership for allowing me to judge their show. Many thanks to my two ring stewards Ken and Paul who helped the proceedings run smoothly. Last but certainly not least the exhibitors who sportingly accepted my decisions many thanks to you who allowed me to judge your dogs.
I was more than happy to present my main winners with their relevant top awards. Many of the terriers shown were in fine fettle and we can look forward to a positive future.
Temperaments seemed to be sound. Mouths on the whole were generally good. Coats were at various stages many had good texture and thickness to them with ample undercoat. However I did find a few kinked tails some of which were quite severe some also quite long and thin.
As custodians of the breed as well as breeders and show people a like we must take a careful look at some of the issues creeping into the breed, Foreign head shapes with ear sets which would not go amiss on a working Lakeland terrier. Weak muzzles and skulls which fall away under the eye.
Front assembly’s wide fronts, bad shoulder placement weak pasterns and poor feet were in evidence on some exhibits and they paid the price in the ring for this. Bodies and rib shape are another concern the breed standard states "deep, narrow, fairly long ribs carried well back" not short bodies and sprung ribs! Condition and muscle tone are key factors along with many of the other points in the breed standard which all contribute to the overall picture of a working terrier. After all the breed standard starts with the first sentence "essentially a working terrier" a sentence which must be adhered too now and in the future...
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Placing Critique
Red slightly heavier built dog, good bite, thick pelt carrot tail set well on and thick with it. Moved well front and rear.
Birtley and District Canine Society Open Show
5th Apr 2015
Judge: Mrs Kathy Newsome (Kighill)
Junior /
Third Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Northern Counties Sporting Terrier Association Open Show
12th Apr 2015
Judge: Mr R Mann (Valger)
Best Puppy
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Junior /
Second Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
18th Apr 2015
Judge: Mr. J. Todd (Roxess)
I would like to express my thanks to the officers and committee of The Northern Border Terrier club for the invitation to judge my first Breed Club show and also acknowledge the help and assistance in the ring by my stewards Ann Maltby and Scott Cranson.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day and would like to thank the exhibitors for providing me with the opportunity to go over so many quality dogs.
I found the majority to be in good fit condition and in good coat. There was a variation in head type but most fit the standard in my interpretation.
Mouths were generally good with only a couple with an acceptable level bite. In some presentation could have been better with a few having untidy feet. I was impressed with both line ups and some decisions were very close.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Placing Critique
9months red dog strong balanced head with good depth of muzzle strong under jaw. Thick pelt with topcoat just coming in, a good all round pup, just preferred the narrowness of 1st.
Scottish Kennel Club
16th May 2015
Judge: Mr Paul Wilkinson
Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
The Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
18th Jul 2015
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Thank you to the officers, committee and members for voting for me to judge their Championship show 2015.
My stewards were just perfect, even the couple of birds flying around enjoyed the day.
As you know it's all too easy to judge from the ringside but when you are in the ring judging dogs of varying sizes, heads, coats etc, I felt I did the best I could with the exhibits shown.
All dogs were entire, mouths were correct and teeth were of good size and clean apart from one level bite which is acceptable.
Movement needs to be improved front and rear, muscle tone was lacking in quite a few, presentation on some was dreadful, two dogs needed feeding up, but the main winners were of good standing.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Scottish Kennel Club
30th Aug 2015
Judge: Mrs E Cuthbertson (Ashbrae)
My thanks to the society for my appointment & their hospitality, & to the exhibitors & my steward Bob Potts. Quite a mixed entry today of type & size with some being on the lean side & others rather overweight! I was surprised to find a couple totally oversized & therefore they paid the penalty. The over treating dogs I think is getting worse in the ring & on the table. Trying to assess a dog when it is fidgeting around looking for food is not satisfactory. Surely a dog can stand for a minute while being examined without having to be fed handfuls of food. The standard calls for a harsh & dense coat & the skin must be thick, many today were very short of coat & quite a number with thin pelts. A good coat is essential which seems to being overlooked in the breed today. The breed standard leans towards moderation not exaggeration & I hope this is maintained with the emphasis being on ‘essentially a working terrier’ & not ‘essentially a show terrier’.
Junior - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Placing Critique
stronger made dog with typical head. Good strength of jaw & correct bite. He has a good texture to coat with thick pelt. Moved steadily
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
4th Oct 2015
Judge: Mr J Thomas (Daluce)
It was an honour to be invited to judge such a prestigious show as "The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show " I would like to humbly thank the committee for their invitation and their warm welcome on the day.
I would also like to thank my stewards on the day Allen Horner, Anne Maltby and Dave Mitchell, who kept the ring running smoothly for me.
Finally would like to thank the exhibitors for giving me the pleasure of going over their dogs and accepting my decisions in a sporting manner.
Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
17th Oct 2015
Judge: Mrs. Joyce Martin (Merumhor)
I would like to thank the Border terrier Club for the invitation to judge at the Open Show at Low Hesket. It was an honour and privilege to be offered this appointment. I was delighted with the super entry of 96 dogs making a total entry of 132 and appreciate the turnout of so many fine dogs on the day and the sporting way my decisions were taken. Thank you to my ring stewards Ken McKenzie and Dave Hodgson for keeping everything running smoothly for me. Also thank you to the committee for their hospitality and to Jane Shaw for providing a lovely lunch which I enjoyed very much.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
27th Feb 2016
Judge: Mrs Elizabeth Barrett (Howthwaite)
Firstly, I would like to thank the committee, members and exhibitors for the fantastic entry at this, my first club open show. It was a great privilege to judge here on the 50th anniversary of the Jedbergh show and to be able to get my hands on all these dogs. Thank you to my ring stewards, Jane Morton-Shaw and Janice Johnson for their hard work and efficiency. Thank you also, to Carole MacKenzie for going the extra mile with my lunch and plying me with all sorts of gluten free goodies!
All the dogs were entire and I found only two or three kinked tails, but mouths were a bit of a concern. There were a lot of level bites, and although “acceptable” we should all be mindful of this when breeding on. Strong scissor bites with typically large teeth is what we should be aiming for. The majority of dogs were in good fit order, but unfortunately a small number of exhibits were rather thin and lacking condition. The two shouldn’t be confused. There were also quite a number of very short, and in some cases, sprung ribs, and quite a few lacking angulation and length of upper arm in front. On a positive note, there were some very promising youngsters, especially in the young bitch classes, which can only bode well for the future.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Northern Counties Sporting Terrier Association Open Show
5th Mar 2016
Judge:
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Tweedmouth Canine Society Open Show
25th Mar 2016
Judge: Mrs Margaret Armstrong (Carrickfarm)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for offering me this appointment and for their excellent hospitality . I had a lovely entry and would like to thank the exhibitors for allowing me to go over their dogs.
Graduate /
Reserve
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
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.
Yearling - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
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.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Scottish Kennel Club
22nd May 2016
Judge: Mr Simon Jackson
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
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.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
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.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Placing Critique
Another excellent dog very similar remarks, just preferred the varmity expression of 1, Still a pleasing terrier. With excellent coat.
Scottish Kennel Club
27th Aug 2016
Judge: Professor A S Milton
It was a pleasure to come back to Scotland, even though for just a day, and to judge Border Terriers at the Scottish Kennel Club's August Show. Looking at the catalogue I was surprised to find that Border Terriers had the fourth largest entry at the show. It was a very satisfactory entry, with many dogs that I had not seen before. I was particularly impressed with the overall quality of the coats. There was only one really bad mouth, a few crooked teeth, so what, as long as they can bite! I was concerned about size, not only those outwith the standard, but also even more worrying, those that I could not span. I should like to thank Joyce Martin for sending me a CD with photos of all the class winners.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Placing Critique
Looked rather untidy, in full coat.Well boned. Good hind angulation
Darlington Championship Dog Show
16th Sep 2016
Judge: Mr Mark Lowry (Ravenside)
Thank you to Darlington Dog Show Society for inviting me to judge their show. Special thanks to my stewards who’s relaxed but competent manner made for an enjoyable show, also a big thank you to all the exhibitors for allowing me to go over their dogs. I was very happy with my main winners who I felt were fit for purpose and should have continued success in the show ring.
Mouths were good with even the smaller exhibits still having big strong teeth. Coats were of various lengths as to be expected. The two biggest concerns were heavy, almost sprung ribs in some dogs. Even on some smaller dogs and bitches, which in profile appear fine, but when going over, were surprisingly big in rib. This would hinder them when working underground. I am not saying they should be flat ribbed but the standard states deep and narrow and not over sprung.
Also I found not many dogs moving without much drive from behind. They should have the soundness to follow a horse. I did think on the whole that dogs were turned out very well and temperaments appeared good.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Driffield Agricultural Society Championship Dog Show
1st Oct 2016
Judge: Mrs Jane Roberts (Smalesmouth)
I would like to thank the officers and committee of the Driffield Agricultural Society for the invitation to judge at their show.
I was grateful to have the use of an excellent sized ring. The surface was rather undulating and rough cut in places, which proved more of a challenge to those dogs whose movement did not have “the soundness to follow a horse”. It was a very raw start to the day with the dogs being judged under rather cold and misty conditions although the sun did break through as the bitch classes began.
Grateful thanks to my stewards Anne and Sarah, who kept everything moving so efficiently and were good company for the day. My thanks to all the exhibitors, it really is a privilege to go over your dogs and is always a learning curve. I had a thoroughly enjoyable day and there were some top quality exhibits and some promising youngsters, whose progress I will watch with interest. Some decisions were hard, and limit dog, junior and limit bitch had quality in depth.
It was extremely rewarding to find some very good double jackets amongst the entry but felt there were several others who had thin pelts or lacked undercoat. There were a couple with teeth out of alignment and too many dogs whose movement lacked the necessary drive from the hindquarters.
I was mindful of the job that Border Terriers were bred to undertake and I was pleased with my class winners; making the challenge for both dogs and bitches an enjoyable if difficult task.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
2nd Oct 2016
Judge: Mrs. Carolyn Richardson (Staynorwood)
Many thanks to Officers and Committee of the Northern Border Terrier Club for their kind invitation to judge their Open Show and the exhibitors for the sporting way they accepted my decisions. Thank you also to my Ring Steward Allen Horner and Dave Mitchell. I was very pleased with my winners on the day.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Northern Counties Sporting Terrier Association Group Open Show
9th Oct 2016
Judge: Mrs M Armstrong (Carrickfarm) & Dr S Fraser (Achnagairn)
Post Graduate /
Third Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Selkirk & District CS Open Show
16th Apr 2017
Judge: Mrs Judy Carr
Thanks to the Committee for their invitation to judge and also their tremendous hospitality. Thanks also to the exhibitors who entered the show and allowed me the opportunity and privilege of going over their dogs. I’m also grateful to my two young stewards who did an excellent job. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and hope you all did too! I really appreciate everyone’s sporting attitude to my, sometimes difficult, decisions.
Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Placing Critique
2 year old dog. A strong dog with a good thick coat and plenty of loose pelt. Good head with a strong jaw and depth of muzzle. Good hind angulation and very sound on the move. Just preferred the narrowness of 1st.
Border Union Agricultural Society
17th Jun 2017
Judge: Mr Phil Sharp (Martec)
I would like to thank the Committee for inviting me to judge at this Show. It was my first visit to Kelso and I was most impressed with the hospitality and organisation there. My two excellent stewards, Gordon and Donald, kept me on the straight and narrow and contributed to a lovely atmosphere in and around the ring.
I did not make my usual visit to the SBTC championship show the weekend before as I wanted to see all the dogs afresh, and I am glad I did as many of the exhibits were new to me. In general, mouths were good, with dentition only slightly awry in one instance. I found no kinked tails and all dogs were entire.
It was a very hot and sunny day and this affected some dogs, who perhaps lacked their normal animation and were moving lethargically. As usual, there was a wide variation in coats, with some totally lacking top coat, and this naturally had an effect on the placings.
I would like to thank the exhibitors for the large entry and for the sporting way in which my decisions were taken throughout my judging stint.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Scottish Kennel Club
27th Aug 2017
Judge: Mr Euan Castel (Flutorum)
My thanks to the committee for their kind invitation to judge at this my local Championship Show. Special thanks to my excellent steward Ben Joiner for keeping everything in order. Thank you to all exhibitors for providing me with a lovely entry to go over. I found a depth of quality in each class with some close decisions to make. Very pleased that my Best of Breed, Best Puppy and Best Veteran went on to do well in their respective groups – well done.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Selkirk & DCS Open Show
10th Sep 2017
Judge: Mrs N Anderson
Many thanks to the club for the invite to judge at their 90th Anniversary show, it was a lovely well run show. Also thanks to my capable steward, Judy Carr who kept things running smoothly throughout. Thanks to all the exhibitors who entered on the day and accepted my decisions in a sporting way. All males were entire, no bad mouths or kinked tails. There was quite a variety in type on the day. The biggest issue was movement with many dogs swinging in front or pinning and lacking the drive from behind to follow a horse. I like my dogs in hard, fit condition and found many lacking in this area with little muscle tone. However I found some quality dogs and was delighted to see my BOB go TG1.
Open /
Third Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Northern Counties Sporting Terrier Association Group Open Show
7th Oct 2017
Judge: Dogs, MR. S. GRIFFITHS (DRIGOTHE) Bitches, MISS A. DIXON (OTTERPAWS)
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge at this lovely show. A warm welcome and great catering. Thank you to my steward Barry Merchant for keeping everything running smoothly. Thank you most to those who entered and to the exhibitors who kindly allowed me to go over their dogs and accepted my decisions. All entries had correct bites. Many of the entries struggled to move as well as they might have done due to the hall floor. Judge: Andrea Dixon (Otterpaws)
From the dogs on show I was able to identify different types and endeavoured to apply my knowledge of the breed to finding the characteristics in the different types which I would be happy to have passed on to future generations, so the better the points of the breed, the higher the placing. Judge Steve Griffiths (DRIGOTHE)
Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
Placing Critique
Nice shaped dog, right length and proportion for the breed. Strong broad skull and muzzle, big teeth. Well placed dark ears not breaking the top line of the skull. Thick pelt and plenty of harsh top coat with dense undercoat. Spannable, shoulders and ribs well laid back, strong through the loin into the well angulated hind quarters and thick carrot tale. Sound movement.
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
11th Nov 2017
Judge: Mrs E Cuthbertson (Ashbrae)
My thanks to the Officers, Committee and members of the Club for this appointment. It was a privilege to judge, with a very nice entry and sporting atmosphere throughout the day.
My thanks for the hospitality, gift and excellent lunch, and to my steward Shona.
I was pleased with the entry overall, coats varied throughout. My main concern not only today but with the breed in general would be size with many being too big and something that must be considered in future breeding. Front movement with pinning in lost some dogs placings today. It was rewarding to start two youngsters off with their first CC’s and I wish them well for their future.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Foxcraig Magic Dyson
