Show Placings
Joint BTBC Championship Show
2nd May 2009
Judge: Mr A Tomlinson (Lyndhay)
A few pointers that need addressing. Coat, the standard requires harsh and dense with a close undercoat, not a single one, as many exhibits carried today. Feet and nails, nails were unduly long, hair around the feet needed lots of attention. Also movement, it is not getting any better may be worse, rear movement was worse than front and appeared as if they were on stilts. On the positive side mouths seemed better, I found many with excellent strong teeth set correctly with a good bite
Best Puppy - Dog
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Best Puppy
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
He has a typical otter head with an alert expression, sound teeth with a good scissor bite, correct length of neck, neat in shoulder and front, right length of back, good angulation of hindquarters, right shaped tail with pleasing coat, moved very well. BPIS
Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Show
30th May 2009
Judge: Mr Brian Aubrey (Jenabeck)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Darlington Championship Show
18th Sep 2009
Judge: Mr Frank Kane (Hirontower)
A very good entry in both quantity & quality. I was very pleased with the challenge line ups in both sexes.
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
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.
Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Driffield Championship Dog Show
3rd Oct 2009
Judge: Mr Graham Pickering (Picer)
Thank you to Driffield Agricultural Society for inviting me to judge Border Terriers at their Championship Show. I had a good entry of 169 from 162 dogs and had a large number of quality exhibits to go over. It was a shame that the weather, being extremely windy, meant that because of health and safety reasons I had to judge indoors. This meant that at first the ring was not as spacious as I would have liked and the noise from the wind in the marquee at times disturbed some of the younger exhibits. In addition, the length of the grass and the unevenness of the surface were problematic for some of the exhibitors.
I was extremely pleased with my final line ups and there were many classes where deserving dogs went unplaced due to the quality of the entry. Overall coats, were very good and temperament was excellent. However, I did find two examples of the odd tooth out of place and a number of dogs which could have been tidier particularly around feet and tail.
In my winners I was looking for a correct size Border with a harsh double coat, well muscled, correct bone and looking like it could do a good days work. I found those qualities in my winners.
Puppy - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Solitary Mist
South Wales Kennel Association
9th Oct 2009
Judge: Mr Brian Baxter (Beenaben)
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Just able to span, OK in head, good length of neck, in harsh coat, moved true.
Class Critique
A very poor class, most were too big for age, unable to span most of them.
Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
11th Oct 2009
Judge: Mrs M Wanless (Thorneyburn)
It was a great honour to judge my first breed club show here, at Otterburn, heart of the country where the Border terrier originated. My thanks to the Club, and to all entrants. I enjoyed my day, and was very pleased with my final line up.
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Border Terrier Club Open Show
31st Oct 2009
Judge: Mrs. Karen Dean (Tyrian)
I would first like to thank the committee for the invitation to judge, and to them and my stewards, Frank Nicholls and Paul Cheeseman for looking after me so well on the day, and lastly to all those who exhibited and accepted my decisions so graciously. It was a long, exhausting but very enjoyable day for me. I absolutely loved my best dog, best bitch and best puppy, they were all lovely and narrow, well balanced with small tight feet, sound movement and not overdone in any way. I would take any of them home in a heartbeat.
Maiden - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Just short of 12 months old, not as strong a dog throughout, flat skull, good bite, straight front, preferred the ear shape and hind movement over 3.
Novice - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
As before, preferred hind angulation and reach over 3.
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
14th Nov 2009
Judge: Mrs I Jackson (Haughbrae)
I would like to thank all exhibitors, spectators and my stewards for a most enjoyable day. A big thank you to Pat for the excellent lunch. What a delight to see and feel so many correct double coats. Size was also very good apart from a few being overweight and some lost out on places due to lack of coat.
Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Nice sized dog. Strong throughout. Good head. Excellent double coat. Balanced body with nice set-on of tail. Ok hindquarters.
Manchester Canine Society
21st Jan 2010
Judge: Mr W Shorthose (Cundytyke)
It was, again, a pleasure to judge the breed. I thought that there was a lack of depth in quality in some classes though those which were placed were more representative of the Breed Standard. A few entries lacked true breed type and one almost questioned what other breed was involved in their lineage. The most recurring fault was in front movement which was a testament to some loaded shoulders.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Border Terrier Open Show
27th Feb 2010
Judge: Mrs Marylynne Winder (Appleside)
My thanks to the Border Terrier Club for giving me the opportunity to judge the Club Open Show at Jedburgh and the Officers and Committee for their hospitality on the day.
Sincere thanks to the exhibitors for an excellent entry of 194 from 158 exhibits. Unfortunately, due to adverse weather conditions which prevailed the previous day north of the border, the number of dogs present was greatly depleted. A special thank you to my tireless ring stewards, Glenise and Maurice Hyslop for the quiet and efficient way they organised my ring.
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
A nicely balanced dog of ideal size with a strong head, good bite, nice dark eye, good reach of neck, level topline, shown in good harsh coat with thick pelt. Moved with drive.
Crufts
12th Mar 2010
Judge: Mrs L.A. Crawley
Yearling - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Border Terrier Club Championship Show
27th Mar 2010
Judge: Mr. Jim Stewart
Judge elect, Jane Parker, was cruelly taken down with food poisoning just before the show and sadly was unable to undertake this prestigious appointment. I was honoured to be asked to stand in for Jane who had attracted a super entry of 271 from 237 exhibits.
Having been "out the scene" for some years, I was pleased with the overall quality of the entry. Mouths and temperaments were commendable, as one would expect with a working terrier. I noted more alien expressions than I would expect, even with the size of the entry and many exhibitors must pay more attention to presentation. Erratic front movement, like the poor, is always with us. Nevertheless, there was sufficient depth of quality to provide worthy winners in dogs and bitches throughout the card.
Yearling - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
National Terrier
3rd Apr 2010
Judge: Mrs Valerie Furness (Quatford)
A big thank you to the National Terrier Club for inviting me to judge this prestigious show and thank you to my stewards especially Fred who as always put everybody and everything in order and kept the judging on the move and flowing.
I was looking for a true Border and was pleased with all my placings to-day, all of good quality. What I did notice was a lot of quantity but not a lot of quality. Front and hind movement looks to be getting worse, some exhibits were so lacking in bone that the front legs would make good knitting needles and some were actually doing knit one, pearl one when moving back towards me. I could see front pads on some as they were moving away. Hind movement was either too close or too wide, over-angulation needs to be watched. Top lines on the whole were good but there were some strange under-lines. A lot of exhibits were so short in muzzle that this made for very tight dentition, small feet were few and far between and tails in some were far too long, where have all the “carrots” gone. I only found three incorrect mouths and two abnormal tails. Some exhibits would benefit from more handling/ring-craft experience as their poor performance affected placings.
I think the Breed Standard would make good reading for some exhibitors.
On a positive note, temperaments overall where very good.
Junior - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Good head, mouth and jaw, good shoulders , topline, bend of stifle, coat and pelt. Handy size, moved with drive.
Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
10th Apr 2010
Judge: Miss Claire Tutin (Riseburn)
The NBTC held an open show at Belmont on 10/04/10 which I was very honoured to judge and would like to thank the club for the invitation.I would also like to thank my stewards and the exhibitors for their entries and accepting my decisions.I was very pleased with all my winners and had a very enjoyable day.
Junior - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
strong masculine head with large teeth, thick harsh coat, liked him for size, good angulation, moved well with drive if a bit unenthusiastic.
WELKS
25th Apr 2010
Judge: Miss S A Leslie (Risdene)
I started the day with veteran dog followed by some excellent juvenile dog classes which were very enticing. Throughout the day size was sometimes a little difficult to come to terms with when exhibits at the top of the scale were the more shapely and sound but as long as they were spannable they still featured if they had the attributes breed and conformation-wise to do the job they were bred for. Generally I determined that there was no need for a diatribe from yours truly as I found my lovely entry on the whole brought forward much of what I was looking for and I thank exhibitors for that. Just remember while I love a proper double coat I still like a tidy coat! Heads were definitely improved with very few of the stoppy, round eyed exhibits I do not find typical. There were a few strangely grubby ones and some would have benefited from some tlc round their eyes to guard against stray hairs causing irritation. Be that as it may there were some smashing classes with dogs not making the cut that on another day would figure in the reckoning.
Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
National Dog Show
7th May 2010
Judge: Mr P Bakewell
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
nice size & overall balance, good head, neck & well placed shoulder, nicely made body with spannable rib, good coat & pelt, good hindquarters & moved well
Border Union
20th Jun 2010
Judge: Miss Tracey James (Blackmine)
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Blackpool Championship Dog Show
1st Jul 2010
Judge: Mr A Horner (Stineval)
May I take this opportunity to give my sincere thanks to the officers and committee of The Blackpool Dog Show Society for their hospitality and also for giving me this privileged appointment. This being my first appointment to award CC’s I would like to thank all the exhibitors for supporting me and accepting my decisions so sportingly. I found a couple of mouths with teeth out of line and considering the quality of some of the exhibits they had to pay the penalty. I also found a couple of kinked tails which really surprised me. Thanks go to my able stewards for keeping things moving; allowing the BOB to be ready for the group which he was placed G4.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
The head was not as good as 1 but a lot to like of him. Well laid shoulders, good length of rib and loin, nice short tail, enough bone, tight feet and thick firm pads moved out well.
Northern Border Championship Show
18th Jul 2010
Judge: Miss Elspeth Jackson (Clipstone)
What an honour and a pleasure it was to judge the Northern Border Terrier Club's Championship Show. An entry of 202 and good Northern hospitality ensured I had a most enjoyable day. Many thanks to my capable stewards for keeping the day running smoothly.
I was very satisfied with both my challenges and all the top honours were strongly contested. I was especially pleased with my puppies and will watch their progress with interest.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Welsh Kennel Club
21st Aug 2010
Judge: Mrs D Townsend
Thank you to everyone for a very enjoyable day, it's always a privilege for me to go over other people's dogs. I was pleased with my class winners but overall I felt that the quality of exhibits was somewhat mixed; movement was good but I have to lament the untypical Border heads that are present together with the high number of single coats
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Fit, racy dog with excellent topline maintained on the move; strong hind angulation allowed him to move with drive. Preferred head of 1.
Darlington Dog Show Society
17th Sep 2010
Judge: Mr M King
Post Graduate - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Driffield Championship Dog Show
2nd Oct 2010
Judge: Mr P J Greenaway
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
really honest typy dog, the more you looked the more he pleased, very good head, neck, topline, sec on & angulation, moved well, in good coat, scored close decision on head
South Wales KA
8th Oct 2010
Judge: Mr B Aubrey
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Ladies Kennel Association
12th Dec 2010
Judge: Mr. Frank Nicholls (Halcus)
My thanks go to the exhibitors who provided an excellent entry in spite of the appalling weather conditions in many parts of the country recently, and the almost inevitable problems to be expected on the M6 motorway. Good quality dogs were present in most classes and I was pleased with both line ups for the CC?s. Coats were generally pretty good with just a few taken out for that ?other show?, and one or two soft coats. I found movement again a problem with a good percentage knitting or pinning at the front, and a lack of drive from the rear. The open dog and junior bitch classes were of the highest quality and some excellent exhibits went away cardless.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Boston & District CS Championship Show
9th Jan 2011
Judge: Mrs Lynda Ward
Many thanks to my stewards for their unobtrusive efficiency and to all the exhibitors for a nice entry. Type and quality varied and today coats were at various stages although this didn't materially affect placing's. Last time I judged I noted that small teeth were prevalent and today I was surprised to find that level bites (although acceptable) predominated, I had 2 undershot mouths and large teeth set in a really good scissor bite were like gold dust. A major concern was movement, partially caused by stifles being too straight so limiting drive and causing a stilted action also often not helped by lack of thigh muscle and there were a number of wide fronts coupled with loose fore action. My final concern was the amount of exhibits that came very heavily to hand. This cannot be discerned by eye since some of the larger dogs were a desirable weight whilst some of the smaller ones were heavy. All that said, I enjoyed the day and was able to find class winners and others of correct type, size and sound movement. Both Open classes were composed throughout of quality exhibits and the CC and RCC winners were fit and worthy ambassadors for the breed.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Another good one, similar in make and who pushed winner hard but couldn't match head qualities. Good bodylines, in good coat and moving well.
Manchester Dog Show Society
20th Jan 2011
Judge: Professor S P Dean (Tyrian)
A curate's egg day with some great border terriers and some disappointments too. My winners were typical and not only had the heads to win but moved soundly and had the coat and pelt so desirable in the breed. On the downside, although bites were generally good, there are too many with pathetically weak teeth and several with shoulders set too far forward so they looked narrow but had no fore-chest at all. A terrier needs fore-feet under its chest.
I was looking for borders that were soundly made and could therefore cover ground and I found them but there are some with short choppy actions. However I do not intend to be too pessimistic for the breed put on a good show today and there were some really promising youngsters in the puppy classes. Thank you to those who exhibited dogs with the typical thick harsh coat and pelt, these were all much appreciated.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Close class, winner had strong masculine head, good muzzle, reach of neck, is deep in chest but spannable. Well ribbed back, somewhat long in body. Lacked muscle tone. Coat OK, not at best, straight in front, nicely angulated and moved well. Very racy
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
26th Feb 2011
Judge: Mrs J Guvercin (Glebeheath)
May I take this opportunity to thank the Officers and committee for inviting me to judge their show and for their warm welcome and hospitality. My two stewards, Eddie Houston and Jimmy Gilpin had the ring running like clockwork, which enabled me to get on with the job of judging a quality entry of 141 dogs making 177 entries.
My sincere thanks to all exhibitors, who entrusted me with their dogs and accepted my placings in a sporting fashion, the day was a most memorable experience.
The North can be proud of their dogs, as there were many quality examples on display, all temperaments appeared steady, with just an occasional bored one! Not unusual, as most, I think, would rather be out chasing vermin!!
A handful of kinked tails didn’t surprise me, but youngsters with poor mouths did! Having said that, there were some lovely dogs in the puppy classes and placings were hotly contested with very little to separate them. My interpretation of the standard for balance ie: fairly long, is slightly longer than tall.
I feel that a border needs length as well as narrowness to negotiate a fox earth, but still retaining heart/lung room to enable it to follow a horse. Coats were at varying stages, but as long as I could find evidence , I didn’t let it rule out, an otherwise, good exhibit.
Limit - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
The Border Terrier Championship Show
26th Mar 2011
Judge: Miss Jean Singh (Vandamere)
Mid Limit - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Blue and Tan with a harsh coat, he was slightly larger made than the winner, however I was still able to span him. He has correct bone, straight front and racy outlines. Just preferred the strength of head of the winner,
National Terrier
2nd Apr 2011
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
this dog was a little bit shorter in body length than 1st but a very handy size, good head with dark eyes and strong muzzle, coat needed tiding up, shown & handled well.
Scottish Kennel Club
20th May 2011
Judge: Mr. David Hunt (Ottaswell)
Thanks go to the committee of the Scottish Kennel Club for inviting me to judge for the first time north of the border, Special thanks to my stewards on the day Messrs Goudie & Jackson for organising the ring so efficiently and ensuring everything ran smoothly during my judging. Good stewards are a welcome bonus for any judge. Despite the disappointing weather, thanks also to the exhibitors who attended and for giving me the second highest breed entry of the whole show.
With a large ring and mown grass, I was able to see the dogs move accurately. In general I thought the bitches were stronger than the dogs, but was pleased with all my class winners, and thought my CC winners a credit to the breed. Size was generally good with only a couple being difficult to span. As always coats were at various stages but I was surprised to find 2 very undershot bites in mid range classes.
Limit - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Close up to the winner. Another with a strong head but slightly longer in muzzle. His skull is flat, carries a good bite and he has a keen expression. Clean neck with good upper arm construction, racy body and ribs carried well back. In good condition has a good coat and moves OK.
Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Show
4th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr M. Hollingsbee (Otterwood)
I would like to express my thanks to the Officers and Committee of the Club for inviting me to judge their show, my second opportunity at a Breed Open Show.
I was struck by the wonderful atmosphere in the hall with every result being greeted with spontaneous, enthusiastic applause. The exhibitors in Scotland certainly are a very sporting lot!
I found no bad mouths but front movement in some exhibits left a lot to be desired. However my class winners did not disappoint me
Reserve Best Dog
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Limit - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
grizzle dog, mature body, excellent coat and pelt, well presented, level topline, good paws with thick pads, narrow front, good reach of neck, moved true fore and aft, a very nice sized dog (Reserve Best Dog)
Southern BTC Championship Show
11th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr Rainer Vuorinen (Finland)
It was a great honour and privilege to judge your wonderful breed. Thanks to all, the committee, my stewards and everybody who made my day so wonderful. Thanks to all the exhibitors for their excellent sporting attitude. The hospitality was outstanding and many thanks for the beautiful present. I have been thinking of the overall standard and I have to say your dogs represent a very high quality.
Limit - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Overall very well balanced dog, typical head, good muzzle, very nice expression, correct topline, well angulated, moving well.
Border Union
18th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr Tony Tomlinson
Limit - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
different type to 2, splitting hairs, good, head conformation sound, moved very well, carries a good jacket;
Class Critique
A strong class, placings could change any time.
Windsor Championship Dog Show
30th Jun 2011
Judge: Mr Bill Browne-Cole
Since I last judged the breed I do feel movement is a concern. A lot of back ends need to strengthen and capabilities to follow a horse were not always there today. I was however extremely pleased with my main winners who were from the ‘top drawer’ and so very typical of the breed.
Limit - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
17th Jul 2011
Judge: Mr. W. R. Irving
My thanks go to the Officers and Committee of the Northern Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge this show and for their kind hospitality during the event. I notice that the last time I judged this show was as long ago as twenty five years ago in 1986! The entry of 226 from 207 exhibits was satisfactory but of course there were several absentees which brought the actual number of dogs present down to just over 140. That enabled us to finish judging in good time. Thanks to my very efficient Steward Mrs Rushby.
My general comments on the breed continue in similar terms to my previous remarks on the subject. But in the main I thought that heads and expressions were, by and large, pretty good. Coats were of course variable in the stage at which they presented but again, by and large they were of quite good texture. I had no bad mouths and only a couple of kinky tails. And tails were, overall, not too bad for shape and length Size is of course variable but again the majority were spannable but some dogs (and bitches) were far too big and too heavy in bone. My biggest problem was with fronts and exhibit after exhibit appeared with fronts which were far from correct. We have a multitude of different front problems and somehow we must tackle this issue and breeders and judges have to pay more attention to this problem. I believe that we are beginning to find the breed accepting bad fronts as the norm. Horseshoe fronts, wide fronts, swinging front legs, flicking front feet and dogs which single track in an excessive way in front ? all of these things need to be penalised to a greater or lesser extent.
Best in Show and the Dog CC went to Orangebox Firecracker (Mr M & Mrs T Anscombe). He has a very typical head, skull and expression with a good muzzle and not over exaggerated. Good neck and shoulder and correct topline and tailset. Correct compact feet. He is balanced and well proportioned being neither too short nor too long and he moved soundly both in front and behind. In the final challenge for the CC he scored for showmanship and went on to be Best of Breed. The Bitch CC and Res Best in Show went to Ch Southash Blue Betty Boo Gameway JW (Mrs P Clark), another with a most typical head and expression. She has a very good coat of the right texture and pelt of the right thickness and she moved very well behind. Enough bone, she presents a good outline going around the ring and exudes quality. Best Puppy was Olderhill Afortunado (Mrs S Wilson). He has a good head and skull, again without being in any way overdone, good neck and topline, good front and moved better there than behind, correct pelt, good tailset and tail and well balanced throughout.
Limit - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Leeds Championship Show
24th Jul 2011
Judge: Mrs Beverley Barber
Thank you for your lovely entry at this fine venue. Thanks also to my efficient and helpful stewards without which we wouldn’t have a show! My main aim when judging is to find a dog that fits as near the breed standard as is possible ,but must have overall good dog conformation. It must be balanced standing and also, most definitely, when it is on the move. This is a hard task because the perfect dog in any breed has yet to be found. When judging on this occasion I did manage to find dogs that had good front angulation, allowing the necessary reach to cover the ground, coupled with adequate rear angulation to give drive to the assembly and so presented a good picture on the move with no change to the dog’s appearance. I had very few short stepping, short backed dogs with such poor construction that the rear becomes noticeably higher than the shoulder when they are on the move. Heads, as always, were very varied, some mouths were out of line, there were some missing premolars which if this perpetuates will alter the head shape. Feet were mostly thick and neat, coats varied and undercoats were in the main a little sparse, but in view of the winter we have just had they have probably spent a long time shedding them. All the dogs I judged today I could span, although chest shape was not always correct. Thank you to all exhibitors for allowing me the privilege of judging your dogs, which I enjoyed immensely.
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Yorks, Lancs & Cheshire BTC Championship Show
24th Sep 2011
Judge: Mrs Marie Sharp
My thanks to the Committee for their hospitality, and to the stewards, Anita Harrison and Kevin Green who kept everything running smoothly. I always read the Standard before judging and decide where my priorities will lie. This time, I decided that for an essentially working terrier, narrow, lithe bodies are a must, not forgetting those features which distinguish a Border Terrier. Indeed most Borders are narrow when compared with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, for instance, but far too many in this entry were too broad in the chest to be able to follow a fox to ground. When the chest is wider than my hand, it is far too wide. Going to ground is but one part of a working terrier’s life - he has to cover rough ground so needs sufficient length of leg, and a flexible loin to enable him to gallop, getting his hind quarters under his body. Following a horse is no walk in the park, it requires stamina - lung capacity which comes from sufficient length of ribcage. One word in the Standard always causes me trouble – “but” in the sentence “Head like that of an otter, but moderately broad in skull..” I found lots of otter shaped heads, a few with too much stop, few with too short a muzzle, so on the whole heads pleased me.
Limit - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Driffield Championship Show
1st Oct 2011
Judge: Mrs Jean Willets
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge at this show. Also the exhibiters for giving me the top entry in the terrier group and some good dogs went home card less. A big thanks to both the stewards for being so efficient and making everything run so smooth especially on such a hot day.
I was pleased with the temperaments of the dogs, and there wasn't as many short backs. As a working dog they do need to turn in a tight corner so require a flatter rib and longer back, not short and square which has been the fashion recently.
Movement on the whole was o.k., but the ground did not help as it was uneven with dips everywhere. The heat wave did affect some dogs adversely.
Limit - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Class Critique
Very nice class to go over
South Wales KA
9th Oct 2011
Judge: Mr David Winsley
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
15th Oct 2011
Judge: Mr. Stuart Plane (Stuane)
It was an honour to be invited to judge this show and I was truly grateful for such a very good entry
Open - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Attractive dog, not quite the head of the winner lovely front well placed shoulders good topline and tail set good angulation
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)?
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
24th Mar 2012
Judge: Miss Tracey Peacock (Ragatam)
My Thanks To The Officers And Committee For Inviting Me To Judge Their Show, To The Stewards, Mrs. Doreen Rushby And Mrs. Tracy Butler For Keeping The Ring Running Smoothly And To The Exhibitors For Allowing Me To Go Over Their Dogs.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
31st Mar 2012
Judge: Miss Betty Rumsam (Wildercot)
The Border Terrier CIub held a Championship Show where bitch BIS was Bramblebrae Violet at Shiftyfox, this bitch has it all & I was pleased to award her her third CC & BIS. She was in immaculate condition, feminine, handy size, wonderful coat & pelt, just right for bone, so well balanced, movement was a joy. I loved her; RBIS, Ethlancoral Pip of Ottaswell, I liked this dog for his size & balance, in super condition, not overdone in any way, good head, narrow in shoulder, ribs well back, strong loin & hindquarters, moved soundly; & BP, Nantcoch Ffion, very pretty feminine pup, good for size, outline & balance, good head & bite, small tight feet, good tail. Very promising.
A big thank you to the officers and committee for the lovely gift and to my two excellent stewards for the day, Jim Stewart and Ken McKenzie who made my task a pleasure. Thanks also to the exhibitors for the entry of 229 (200 dogs and 4 nfc) and for the sporting way they accepted my decisions. I was pleased with my final line up. Mouths and teeth were generally good, coats were mixed, some in heavy coat and others with only undercoat. It was good to find plenty of thick, loose pelts, so important in a Working Terrier. Poor movement was the downfall of many.
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
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!
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
21st Apr 2012
Judge: Mr Eddie Houston
It was a great pleasure to judge at this show and I would like to thank the Club for their hospitality and the exhibitors for the excellent entry of 130 dogs. Thanks also to my stewards, Mark Lowry and Angela Cranson.
I was very impressed with the number of quality dogs present and I found all males to be entire and no major mouth faults, just a couple of misplaced incisors. Many dogs were sporting good, tweedy jackets and temperaments were excellent. Although I could span almost all, size is a concern, many, particularly in bitches, being up to size. Front movement in some was a bit erratic.
My thanks again to everyone who afforded me the privilege of going over their dogs.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
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!
Open - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Solitary Mist
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.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Class Critique
An excellent class, with some excellent dogs missing out on cards.
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.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
20th Oct 2012
Judge: Miss Anita Harrison (Iacheslei)
This was my first breed club show appointment and I must thank the exhibitors for their support and the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions. The show was extremely well organised, with a very pleasant atmosphere. I was given a warm welcome and generous hospitality, together with two very efficient ring stewards; Janice Johnson and Liz Barrett, who kept everything running smoothly throughout the day.
There were some good quality dogs, and a few classes where I wish there had been more prizes. Coats were variable which sadly had to affect the placings in some classes. Some exhibits were on the large side and barely spannable, plus a few short ribs and barrel chests. All dogs were entire and all mouths were good barring a couple of missing teeth in the veteran class.
Best Dog
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Best In Show
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Open - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
4 year old grizzle with masculine head, good neck and shoulder, top line and tail set, narrow body, well ribbed with racy hindquarters, good bone and small feet, moved out well. presented in good coat and condition and well handled to Best Dog and Best In Show.
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
23rd Feb 2013
Judge: Mrs Anne Gregory (Remony)
I had a most enjoyable day judging the Border Terrier Club’s Open Show at Jedburgh and would like to thank the members and committee for affording me the opportunity to do so. I would also like to thank the club for their hospitality and thanks also to my two stewards, Margaret Warren and Jane Morton-Shaw for their help in keeping everything running along smoothly. Thanks must also go to the exhibitors for a super entry of 190 from 132 dogs and for the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions.
I was pleased with my winners and, in some classes, decisions were close. All dogs were entire, I found no kinked tails, only one suspect mouth and temperaments were good. Coats were at varying stages however, thick, loose, pliable pelts with dense undercoat were in the minority – an essential quality for the work required of a Border Terrier.
Open - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
good head with flat skull and strong muzzle, deep narrow body easily spanned, stood on straight front legs with good feet, well angulated front and rear, in a tight harsh coat, moved out well.
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
23rd Mar 2013
Judge: Mrs Jane Morton-Shaw (Fehmarn)
I would like to thank the club and committee for inviting me to judge at this show. It was unfortunate for the club, exhibitors and myself that the adverse weather conditions dictated a large proportion of absentees. My thanks to everyone who made the effort to attend.
I’m pleased to say that temperaments were good and that no ‘sparks’ flew!! My only plea to handlers is that they show their dogs on a slacker lead! Dogs that are strung up are unable to move freely, and it is neither pleasant for the dog nor for anyone to watch.
Apart from two level bites, mouths were good and most were in good coat. Most were also spannable.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
30th Mar 2013
Judge: Mrs. Doreen Rushby (Dormic)
The Border Terrier Club held a Championship show at Low Hesket on 30 March 2013. I felt very honoured to judge at this show and my thanks go to the Committee and Exhibitors for such an enjoyable day.
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
14th Apr 2013
Judge: Mrs Jean Willetts (Hanway)
I would like to thank my stewards for all their hard work on the day, and to the committee for inviting me to judge there show. Also to the exhibitors who brought their dogs under me. I was pleased with my winners and placed dogs. I found that some had short muzzle coupled with round eyes which does not give a border expression.
Open - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Masculine dog with good outline Strong Jaw with keen expression Kept his topline on the move .In good coat with neat feet.
WELKS
28th Apr 2013
Judge: Mrs Jane Roberts (Smalesmouth)
My first appointment at this level and I would like to thank the officers and committee of WELKS for the invitation. Grateful thanks to my stewards who kept everything moving so efficiently and thanks to all the exhibitors who gave me the privilege of going over their dogs. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and fully appreciated the opportunity to judge some high quality exhibits. Some decisions were difficult and places could change on another day.
On a positive note temperaments were good, as were mouths and feet. On the down side I felt that there were not enough exhibits that moved with drive and there were several with wide fronts - these are faults that would impact on the dog's ability to work.
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
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.
Open - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Border Union Championship Show
15th Jun 2013
Judge: Mrs Lesley Gosling (Akinside)
Showers, wind and sunshine made for a tactically difficult day for my solo steward, Elaine Waddington, who managed to keep the paperwork dry and get dogs moving in and out of the ring very smoothly. My grateful thanks to her and to all the exhibitors who stoically remained outside as the rain continued to plague us throughout the judging. Not weather the dogs enjoyed much either while standing about.
The entry was very mixed. The dog classes were marginally better and more consistent than the bitches. Fronts are improving but movement still needs attention, both fore and aft, with some hackney front action creeping in. Most heads were breed typical with one or two exceptions which were rather boxy and out of proportion. I was surprised and dismayed to find a large number of dentition problems in both puppies and adults. There were very small teeth, dirty teeth, teeth misaligned and one undershot mouth. Several lacked any depth of coat and were in their undercoats or single coated, with no undercoat at all. Feet were mostly good, but a couple of exhibits were down on their pasterns; claws were in need of attention on one or two exhibits.
Open - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Narrower than one, but straighter behind. Good front assembly and moved positively with good reach across the ground. Another grizzle, a bit short of coat today, but he has a good head and expression. Good front and feet.
Blackpool & District Championship Show
21st Jun 2013
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin (Otterbobs)
What a lovely day, no rain in sight!!
Thank you to all the exhibitors and especially my steward Alisan, she was excellent at her job. I enjoyed judging many dogs that I had not be over or seen before. Many dogs had little or no coat at all, Border Terriers must have a harsh double coat when showing not just stripped out and in their under coat, also there was hardly any muscle tone, no level backs, no slim straight narrow fronts and the movement should of been better. In a few of the older classes I could not span a few dogs and they were heavy when I lifted them up off the table, I found all the mouths clean with full dentations and I *placed those that were nearest the standard in each class*. Very pleased with both dog and bitch winners and their reserves and best puppy.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
East of England Agricultural Society
6th Jul 2013
Judge: Mr A Horner (Stineval)
I have to thank the society for the invitation to judge and to the exhibitors who accepted my decisions sportingly. Thank you also to my steward, on his own, for keeping things moving.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Scottish Kennel Club
25th Aug 2013
Judge: Mr D W Shields (Wilholme)
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Darlington D S S
13th Sep 2013
Judge: Mrs Diane Rayner (Stoneygin)
I would first of all like to thank the society for inviting me to judge this show.
I would also like to thank Bob my steward for a sterling job.
I am sorry to bring this up again but I was most disappointed yet again to find a few exhibits that were far too thin. This determined placings as they are not fit for purpose.
Coats were at various stages as normally is the case, I had a few unspannable, but most were in a good fit condition.
I was pleased with my entry and enjoyed going over some lovely exhibits, most were a credit to you.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
19th Oct 2013
Judge: Mrs. Chris Davis (Hesslemere)
Many thanks to the Committee for inviting me to judge this show. I was very pleased with my entry and thank all competitors who entered under me. I really enjoyed my day and thank you for the opportunity to judge your dogs. All temperaments were good, as were mouths. No kinked tails.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Ladies Kennel Association
15th Dec 2013
Judge: Mrs Jayne Alpe
I was honoured to accept this appointment at short notice, due to Kathy Wilkinson’s ill health. I was impressed with the new halls and layout this year.
I was able to judge with no preconceptions, as I have only been to two shows this year, so the majority of dogs were new to me. A good size entry with some good quality dogs present in a number of classes in which I was splitting hairs I had two very good stewards who handled the large classes with calm and efficient precision allowing me to get on with my job.
Overall movement, has improved considerably. In my opinion Borders should move soundly, positively and with the minimum of effort needed to cover the ground well, this means that they use far less energy when travelling distances, and my principal winners all fitted this criteria. Nice large teeth and good bites were very much in evidence. At long last I am starting to see definition between dogs and bitches, I like to see a masculine dog and a feminine bitch. The other thing I was pleased to see was the majority had good tight feet. Some exhibitors seem to be under the impression that an underweight dog is a way to make them easier to span, it doesn’t work! I hate to be able to feel bone and not muscle.
I learnt after judging that there was some kind of aggression in one of the classes, unfortunately I did not witness this personally, as I was going over a dog on the table, if I had of seen it then I would have taken appropriate action as this type of temperament is totally unacceptable in our lovely breed.
Open - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Class Critique
I was spoilt for choice in this class, some excellent examples which looks good for the future of the breed.
Boston & District Canine Society
12th Jan 2014
Judge: Mr David Maggs
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge at this show, and to my two stewards who were very efficient and good natured throughout. I was a little dissapointed at the lack of coat on quite a few of the exhibits today, apparently many had been stripped ready for Crufts,I found no bad mouths, movement on the whole was good and I was very pleased with the overall condition and soundness, had no problem spanning any of the exhibits.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
22nd Feb 2014
Judge: Mrs Karen Stockley (Foxfactor)
My thanks to the Officers and Committee for giving me the opportunity to undertake my first Breed Club judging appointment and my stewards Ken Mackenzie and Margaret Warren for their assistance in the ring.
My enjoyable day started with the picturesque drive to the venue, in the sunshine, a rarity lately! Grateful thanks also to the competitors for an entry of 111 (5 NFC) making 141 entries affording me the opportunity to go over some lovely dogs and sportingly accepting my choices.
The majority were in good coat and condition, a couple difficult to span, due more to being a little plump rather than in construction. All males were entire (a few would have benefited from a hygienic wipe for better presentation !), no kinked tails, one incorrect mouth and a couple of 'acceptable' level bites and some teeth really needed cleaning. I was surprised by the amount of untidy feet and overlong claws considering how claws can ultimately affect posture, balance and movement. I was pleased with both my line ups and had some close decisions to make.
Open - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
5yo grizzle dog with a masculine head of good proportions,stood out in this depleted class,correct bite with big teeth,straight front with good shoulder placement,good feet with thick pads,narrow right through with good length of rib,easy span,in good coat with loose pelt,good for bone and size and moved well all ways.
Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
19th Apr 2014
Judge: Mrs. Joyce Martin (Merumhor)
I would like to thank the Northern Border Terrier Club for their kind invitation to judge at this show, my first breed club appointment. I was well looked after by the committee and their hospitality was wonderful. I would like to thank my 2 ring stewards - Tracy Peacock and Allen Horner - who were very efficient in keeping me right and kept everything running smoothly. It was a great privilege for me to have such an excellent entry and of such good quality to go over. Thank you to all those who gave me this opportunity and for taking my decisions so sportingly.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Class Critique
This was the best class of the day. All of the exhibits in the class were of the highest quality and very different types. It was hard to have to make decisions, the places could have changed on another day.
National Dog Show
9th May 2014
Judge: Mr Rainer Vuorinen (Finland)
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Three Counties Championship Dog Show
7th Jun 2014
Judge: Mr D E Fryer (Irton)
Thanks to my two highly efficient stewards who, whilst never obtrusive, always had everything in the right place and ensured that I could get on with judging the dogs efficiently and smoothly.
A very pleasing entry, many classes had winning quality beyond the number of cards available. I found no missing teeth, no serious mouth faults, and all males were entire. Coats were variable; ranging from several in profuse double coat (not a problem if still of good weatherproof quality); to some who had only undercoat and a few who had adequate top coat but completely lacked undercoat (both incorrect and adversely affecting placings). There were a number of very smartly prepared and presented terriers on show; but however smart and showy a terrier may be, as 'essentially a working terrier' it must be 'capable of following a horse, combining activity with gameness' in order to be a BORDER Terrier. Too many exhibits were deficient in shoulder construction, front movement and drive.
DCC
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Open - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Good standard Border dog. Well angulated and balanced, good skull, bite and expression. Nice neat feet, good harsh coat and thick loose pelt. Moved out well, no problems with movement. In a close decision, pleased to award him his 1st CC , front movement being the clinching factor.
Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
14th Jun 2014
Judge: Mrs Wendy Mooney (Chesterton)
Congratulations to the committee of the Southern Border Terrier Club for running an excellent show at a new venue under extreme circumstances. Due to a nasty virus the appointed judge, Mrs Betty Judge, was taken ill the day before and was not well enough to carry out her duties. I know that she was absolutely devastated and had been looking forward to the appointment for a long time.
Faced with such an emergency, show manager, Mr David Hunt managed the situation with complete calm and professionalism. I was both honoured and shocked to be invited to step in to judge and here, I must say a huge thank you to the committee for asking me but in particular to the exhibitors who had entered under and were expecting another judge and took the situation so sportingly.
I am grateful to everyone who accepted my decisions and placings so graciously and to my great team of stewards: Andrew Mooney, Elspeth Jackson and Bev Marsh, who kept everything running smoothly and between them managed to multi-task and juggle photographs, collecting ring, announcing, paperwork awards etc etc.
And so to the dogs themselves – there were some superb entries and it was an absolute pleasure to go over and place them. Some of the classes were so strong that even good dogs didn’t get placed.
Coats and presentation were generally excellent - something, which was not so apparent the last time I judged. This I put down principally to the time of year (for both shows).
Movement today seemed in many of the dogs to be lacking the drive that I would have wished for. In part, I think the surface may have been to blame (but not in all instances) and had we been outside on the grass this might have been different. I do slightly regret that I did not decide to judge the dogs outside.
Mouths were good in all but one (suspect) case, as were the temperaments. Size I think will need to be kept in check, there seemed to be a fair number who seemed to be heavy enough, others who were too deep to be easily spanned.
I was so thrilled with my “stars” of the show. It was a pleasure to judge all of your dogs; they were a lovely, quality entry.
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Pleasing dark grizzle and tan dog. Slightly longer in foreface giving him a rather old-fashioned look. Good mover front and back. Nice length and spannable. Lovely thick coat and pelt.
Border Union Agricultural Society
15th Jun 2014
Judge: Mr J R Gilpin (Otterbobs)
Open - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Grizzle in perfect show coat, another one with a good head, plenty about him to like, good top line, ribs carried well back, moderate bone, well balanced.
Blackpool & District Canine Society Championship Show
20th Jun 2014
Judge: Mr Peter Bakewell
Open - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Again well balanced with good outline, masculine head balanced, dark eye with keen expression, nice neck and shoulders, good quarters fore and aft, good ribs well carried back, harsh coat, moved well.
East of England Championship Show
6th Jul 2014
Judge: Miss Jean Singh
I would like to thank my stewards who kept the event running smoothly. My decisions were made on the exhibit on the day
I found heavy ears are creeping in, detracting from the otter head and keen expression. An excessive amount of exhibits were not in hard, toned condition. ‘Couch potato’ dogs come to mind. Front movement is also a cause for concern. I found two level mouths, one just level and a puppy , had a tooth out of line. My decision on some unplaced exhibits were a culmination of a long foreface and untypical expression, unspannable even though I gave some leeway and poor front movement.
Open - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
longer made than winner. This dog has improved with age, he was in good coat and condition, spannable with flat ribs. He has a masculine head with a strong muzzle, good bite. Moved positive and showed well.
The Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
13th Jul 2014
Judge: Mrs. A. Gregory (Manx)
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Driffield Agricultural Society Championship Dog Show
20th Sep 2014
Judge: Mrs A C Fryer (Irton)
Thanks to the exhibitors for giving me a lovely entry and to my stewards for keeping the ring running efficiently throughout. We had a good day with a very very slight drizzle; the exhibitors and exhibits seemed untroubled but it did cause the ringside to flee temporarily! There were some very good dogs present and I enjoyed all my winners but there are always some buts, and looking through my notes there was a preponderonce of “OK” over “good”. The standard asks for a dog that has the soundness to follow a horse; this, of course, must be understood in the context of a terrier working with the Hunt on rough moorland ground, but even so only the minority of exhibits could meet this requirement. Inadequate angulation leads to poor ground covering ability and untidy front movement – evident in a lot of exhibits. Whilst most exhibitors take the trouble to present their dogs as well as possible, a number were unfit and lacking muscle tone and would one of the Breed Clubs please put on a grooming seminar which shows exhibitors how to prepare feet and nails?? It is clearly needed. I forgive coats since these are outwith your control and sadly some excellent dogs had to pay the price for coming without a jacket.
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
A good type, good head but could be stronger over the foreface, very well put together, good angulations and rib, feet OK, good strong quarters and in fit condition, presented in a good coat. A very sound dog who moved out impressively but was not enjoying his day.
Class Critique
A really good class of Borders.
Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
8th Nov 2014
Judge: Mrs P McLellan (Breconbeds)
My thanks to the Scottish Committee for the invitation to judge our prestigious annual Championship Show; to my excellent steward Joyce Orr, and to the exhibitors for such a good entry.
I was happy with my class winners which were super examples of the breed. On the down side a number of exhibits were short in the leg and in the body, giving an unbalanced appearance and it’s very unlikely that they would be capable of following a horse, as the breed standard requires. Some pelts were too thin and too many dogs were single coated.
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Boston & District Canine Society
11th Jan 2015
Judge: Mrs Julie Guvercin
Thank you to all exhibitors for your entries I had a good cross section of dogs to choose from. Some dogs that I have admired in the past were either not in coat or didn’t move well and others that I've not noticed before, were 'found ' on the table. We must all remember judging should be on the day and not on what something has won or not won, beforehand. I'm sure the same dogs could be placed differently on another day under me, some that did or didn't perform affected their placings accordingly.
Some super puppies coming through, with all four of my puppy class winners looking very promising. They gave me some hair splitting decisions.
Open - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Grizzle male who lacked depth to his jacket today. Well proportioned head with neat, if a little high set, ear and strong Jaws. He is one of those frustrating dogs that appeals in most places, but can have dour days when he can hide all his qualities. Good body and fit for his job he is sound enough if a little unenthusiastic on the move. Holds a good topljne both standing and on the move on medium boned legs and tight feet, with well muscled, racy quarters and correctly set and carried tail.
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...
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
The Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
3rd May 2015
Judge: Miss Julie Price (Oxcroft)
I would like to thank the Midland Border Terrier Club committee for the opportunity to judge this year’s Joint club show. Many thanks to my two ring stewards Bob and Liz Wright for the smooth running of the ring and the cups of coffee. It was an experience to go over so many dogs of different types; this made my job difficult at times, as each one had different attributes to the next. A few classes I found very hard to decide who my winners would be for this reason. Is the breed getting better or worse? I do not think I am the first to mention that there are too many foreign heads and plain faces with no expression. The breed standard states “a head like that of an otter” and “essentially a working terrier”. Confirmation and movement, I think has improved a little, but the heads and strength of the dogs has declined. When I looked at some of the dogs, I liked them but then had to remind myself that they where dogs not bitches. Thank you to all exhibitors for letting me go over your dogs and the gracious way most of you accepted my decisions.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Three Counties Agricultural Society
4th Jun 2015
Judge: Mr Brian Baxter
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
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.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Leeds Championship Show
26th Jul 2015
Judge: Mrs Laura Illingworth (Thorneyhurst)
Thanks to all the exhibitors for bringing such a quality entry, my two stewards for keeping things running smoothly and the rain for holding off till the near the end. I found the dogs in general to be fit with only a few exhibits Under weight I had some close decisions in quite a few classes especially the early bitch classes Mouths on the whole were correct with many having large clean teeth, coats were good and many had good thick loose pelts, movement was varied, temperaments were excellent and most were unperturbed by the noise from our adjoining ring
Open - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Driffield Agricultural Society
3rd Oct 2015
Judge: Miss Jean Singh
Many thanks to my two efficient stewards who kept the proceedings running smoothly. On the day I was surprised to find 4 level mouths, although a level mouth is acceptable in the standard, a scissor bite is preferable. Some exhibits could have been shown in a fitter condition and have their long nails clipped.
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Boston & District Canine Society
10th Jan 2016
Judge: Mrs Janet Lee (Tythrop)
My thanks to the Society for my invitation to judge at Boston show . Thanks too to my stewards who were both efficient and unobtrusive , great timesavers and cheerful ! I very much enjoyed my day on the woolsack and had some lovely dogs and bitches who I felt could do a days work , having the construction to enable them to run the equivalent of a marathon over rough terrain , as well as being narrow , lithe and spannable to get in underground and ultimately back out again . Some did pay the penalty of being too big in rib and thus were heavily over standard for weight when picked up or too wide in front to get in , others failed in their construction to move in a sound , balanced , long , free striding way making one think they could not follow a horse any distance ! All bar 1 male were entire , there were a few with kinks in their tails and I had more than the usual number of level bites , some with very jumbled or small teeth which I feel must be watched carefully and please try to breed out as they are the defence of a working terrier – Border Terriers should have big scissor bite dentition . I still believe a BT should be capable of free standing and moving on a looser lead as of yore , rather than having their legs screwed on and being too strung up , I understand some dogs do not make the most of themselves free stood , but a lot are pushed into a very strange shape by their handlers ,and lose the vivacity and ‘active and game’ outlook that is part and parcel of the breed , making them very depressed , even some of the puppies looked as though they would rather be anywhere else but in a show ring , either from being over shown or over handled . There were a few dogs who I felt needed more weight on them , their coats hiding their stuck up spine & pin bones – this may be to try and make them more easily spannable or weigh nearer the standard , but it is very unfair on any adult or puppy to starve them , and they did pay the price in some classes as they could not work as thin and lacking strength as they were. In other words they should be made right not starved into shape .
Both my challenge line ups pleased me , and I was especially pleased to have such a good even bitch challenge where I was spoilt for choice , ultimately the dog and bitch I could visualize most easily following horse and hounds and then working gained top honours , being well made , spannable , good coats and pelts , sound free accurate movers with quality and breed type .
Veteran - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
7 1/2 yrs grizzle who hardly looks a veteran & has kept his good body shape . Masculine head with little stop and strong muzzle with big teeth. Narrow all through and well ribbed up into strong loin and powerful well muscled rear . Not the showiest boy , but that wouldn’t stop him working ! Nice to see a veteran in such good hard condition, a credit to his owner.
Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
1st May 2016
Judge: Mrs Trak Fryer (Irton)
My thanks to the exhibitors for their entry, always an honour to be allowed to go over their dogs, I did thoroughly enjoy my day. My thanks also to my stewards who helped to keep things on the move throughout.
It was in many ways an interesting entry, the standard asks for a dog that is essentially a working terrier and I wonder how many breeders keep this in mind when planning their litters? This implies a dog of correct size, capable of going all day and with strength but not coarseness. Whilst there were many good dogs present that could answer these requirements, there were many that could not.
The quality was very much in the upper classes of both sexes with a few notable exceptions. The major problem is movement, particularly in front, and the puppies were disappointing in this respect. Many otherwise excellent dogs simply could not cover their ground with any ease; it was an excellent ring with good mats so no excuses there.
In general coats and pelts were good, some could have been tidied to effect, feet and nails were poorly presented and fitness varied, which I always find very disappointing in a breed that does so love to run! I was surprised to find a number of mouths that at best could be described as “iffy”, whilst these would not necessarily effect the dogs ability to work it is a worrying trend. I did, however, have some lovely dogs to go over and I was very pleased with my winners, not enough cards to go round in many classes.
Veteran - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
Just 7 years old, in very good condition as you would expect. A very sound well made dog, a strong jaw but just fails overall in head, good balance and angulations, good tail & tail set. Shown in good coat with good pelt. Moved out well and looked very pleasing, not ignored in the challenge.
National Dog Show
8th May 2016
Judge: Mr Peter Bakewell
Veteran - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
masculine head, strong jaw, dark eye, keen expression, good neck and shoulders, good bone, good feet, level topline, good pelt, moved well.
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.
Best Veteran
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Veteran - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Solitary Mist
Placing Critique
7Year old grizzle dog. A smart dog of good proportions. a strong head, with good teeth and expression. Lovely reach of neck into shoulder, good for bone ,neat feet .He has a level top line, held on the move, well set tail. Moved well. Pleased to award him BV.
