Show Placings
Richmond Championship Show
8th Sep 2023
Judge: Mr Tim Ball (Kaitak)
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
The Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
16th Sep 2023
Judge: Mr Robert Brewster (Stowthorney & Breckgreen)
I would like to thanks the officers and committee of The Southern Border Terrier Club for giving me the honour of judging their Open Show. I first signed the contract for the show in 2017, but due to Covid and the Lockdown I have only just fulfilled my judging appointment. Whist remembering those who are no longer with us due to the Covid Pandemic. I was happy with my entry and would like to also thank the exhibitors for entering under me and thank them all for taking my decisions, some of which were difficult, in a sportsmanlike way. I found most exhibits to be in good order, but I was quite worried that I found some younger exhibits with a build-up of scale on their teeth. This should be addressed as soon as possible. I was also delighted with a young exhibitor, attending her first show, on a whole handling her young dog so well whilst full of nerves and inexperience. We need to encourage these youngsters as they are the custodians of our breed
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Placing Critique
Blue and tan of a nice size. Good head with neat ears. Correct bite with large teeth. Nice reach of neck going into a lovely top line and tail set. Shown in a good harsh double jacket. Moved well.
Minehead & District Canine Society Open Show
5th Nov 2023
Judge: Bethany Cawley (Marlablue)
Puppy /
Third Place
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
The Terrier Club of Devon and Cornwall
18th Feb 2024
Judge: Mark Atkinson (Raedwulf)
Puppy /
Reserve
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Exeter & County Canine Society Open Show
16th Mar 2024
Judge: Gentle Lowe (Rockslade)
Firstly I would like to thank the show and its organisers for the warm welcome and my stewards for their smooth running of the ring during my appointment. I would also like to thank the competitors for giving me the chance to go over their dogs. I had a quality entry of dogs and there were some tough decisions in the classes.
I would just like to point out some exhibits had dirty teeth, some longer untrimmed nails which whilst I didn’t penalise would give a nicer shape and finish to the feet and overall presentation. Overall dogs were presented in good condition.
Post Graduate /
Reserve
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
West of England Ladies Kennel Society
26th Apr 2024
Judge: Mandy Holmes (Bimandi)
Many Thanks to WELKS for asking me to judge at their show, it was an honour, also thank you so much to everyone that entered under me, I had some great dogs to go over. Congratulation to all my winners. Thanks also go to my very competent stewards for keeping my ring running smoothly.
All the males were entire. Apart from 3 level bites all mouths were correct and teeth of good size. Temperaments were all sound except one or two that really didn’t like being in the noisy hall and were a little bit subdued. It’s hard to judge true movement on a slippery concrete floor and in some classes the placings could have changed if we had been outside on grass.
Novice - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Yeovil & District Canine Society Open Show
5th May 2024
Judge: Siân McKay (Redesholt)
Firstly, my thanks, as ever, goes to the committee and helpers of the shows whose efforts cannot be underestimated. Today it was the turn of Yeovil and District Canine Society whose sterling efforts despite the persistent and often heavy downpour,resulted in a well-run show with ever helpful and smiling faces- Bravo! Secondly my appreciation to Jan Russell de Clifford whose stalwart efforts as steward in our ring for the whole (freezing) day resulted in an efficient and well run ring. My thanks must also go to the exhibitors who primarily turned up on the most inclement of days, and accepted my decisions with good grace and not a little humour as the heavens opened.
The wind and rain did influence the performance of many of the exhibits unfortunately; but some rose to the challenge, and several were simply oblivious to it. Coats, as ever, were in various stages of growth; some great movement noted in many of the exhibits; all teeth clean and with correct bites and no kinked tails to note; feet on the whole were tidy and correct.
Graduate /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Bath Canine Society
26th May 2024
Judge: Mr Ian Higham (Comberdown)
I would like to thank Mr. Lee Cox and the officers and committee of Bath Canine Society for making my wife and I feel so welcome at their show. Also my two amazingly competent stewards Mark and Joyce who were just brilliant at their job.
I found nothing obviously untoward or concerning, apart from, surprisingly, a few too heavy ones, which cost placings. We need to remember functionality.
In general, overall, this was an entry of terrific in-depth quality. What an absolute privilege it was to go over them. Thank you all so much!
Junior - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Placing Critique
Another blue and tan. This one has the prettiest of heads, with correct muzzle, teeth and bite. Harsh coat. Spanned well. Moved well.
Novice - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Placing Critique
Placed second in Junior Bitch.
Southern Counties Canine Association
1st Jun 2024
Judge: Dr Ian Gabriel (Gabybryl)
This was my first-time awarding Challenge Certificates in Border Terriers and many thanks to those that entered under a non-breed specialist, and well done for braving what was a bitter wind. If this was a representative entry, then I am heartened by the general health and condition of the breed. Good coats, good pelts and super large dentition were the majority. There are some nice youngsters in the lower classes. Just two points as a non-specialist if I might be permitted, firstly the standard calls for a small ear and I found quite a few otherwise nice exhibits with large houndy ears which did somewhat detract from the overall expression. Secondly several dogs broke quite markedly at the front pastern which spoilt the overall impression on the move, these points need watching.
Junior - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Placing Critique
This bitch really appealed with the loveliest of heads and best of expressions. Another of correct size. Slightly longer cast than1. Well-constructed hind quarters. In decent jacket. Just today was not as animated on the move as the first placed bitch
Class Critique
Quality class
The Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
29th Jun 2024
Judge: Mrs Margaret Sneddon (Kersfell)
I would like to thank the Committee for offering me this appointment, I was honoured to be given this opportunity. Thank you also to my stewards for all their hard work keeping the show running as smoothly as possible, for which I was very grateful. There were some lovely dogs present but front movement and lack of correct length and angulation of the upper arm continues to be a problem in some exhibits as well as size and correct coat . We should not forget the first line in the breed standard “essentially a working terrier”.
Yearling - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Novice - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Minehead & District Canine Society Open Show
24th Jul 2024
Judge: Mr Kevin Yeates (Bluebabel)
My thanks to Minehead & District for giving me this appointment, which I thoroughly enjoyed
I was pleased with my entries and my winners.
Graduate /
Reserve
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Paignton Championship Show
2nd Aug 2024
Judge: Tracey Anscombe (Orangebox)
Thank you to the officers and committee for my first-time appointment at this level. This show is my ‘local’ which made it even more special, If you have never been it is worth the trip down the M5 a warm welcome will meet you.
I was thrilled with the quality of my entry, one observation I did find a lot of untidy feet, splayed toes, long nails and thin pads, I did however find no kinked tails and only one mouth fault.
Junior - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Placing Critique
Pretty blue and tan who looked lovely in the stack and I thought would be my winner in this class. Coat well presented of harsh texture and with depth. Was sound on the table, spanned with ease and rib to loin in proportion. However, was very unsettled on the move with a crabbing action therefore making it hard to assess.
Class Critique
This was a hard class with none of the exhibits moving well.
Bournemouth CS Open Show
9th Aug 2024
Judge: Nicola Foster (Thozow)
Junior /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Bournemouth Championship Show
12th Aug 2024
Judge: Mrs Wendy Mooney (Chesterton)
Thank you to my stewards, Hayley and Malcolm and to all the exhibitors who endured the heat and accepted my decisions sportingly, on what must have been one of the hottest days of the year. Overall the quality of the entry was good with some lovely dogs. Mouths, tails and size were generally good. Coats varied (as they always do) in both quality and the stage of growth. There were a number of pelts that could have been thicker and loose which was disappointing as this is mentioned in the standard and important from a working point of view. I was surprised and disappointed to see evidence of scissorwork on some coats and grooming was not always done to the dog’s best advantage – this does not affect the ability to work but this is a dog show and presentation therefore does count to a degree when placing the dogs. Compared to the last time I judged, I felt that size had improved and in most cases the dogs today were closer to the standard.
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Placing Critique
Blue and tan in excellent coat of correct colour and harsh texture. Nice otter head with a kind eye and neat ears. I liked her length and proportions. Nice outline and good angulation. Moved well.
Novice - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Richmond Championship Show
7th Sep 2024
Judge: Mr Bob Blackley (Vaevictus)
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Placing Critique
Good headed bitch with a good overall shape and balance, well angulated rear, moved well both ways, good coat
Novice - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
The Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
15th Sep 2024
Judge: Mrs Sue Baxter (Mysulan/Sulan)
I must start by thanking the committee for the invitation to judge at this lovely venue. The weather was kind to us and judging was able to take place outside , a fact I know so many exhibitors enjoy. My thanks also must go to my stewards , Rachel and Rhianne Mitchell , they certainly kept things running smoothly and were a big help keeping me on track ! Thanks ladies!
As usual , my gratitude to all who gave me entries and were able to turn up on the day , all very much appreciated .
I was presented with an array of lovely specimens and some classes made for some tough decisions .Several times I wished there were more red cards to award. The standard , I found, was very good and there was quality in depth in most classes. All males were intact , I found no kinked tails and most mouths were acceptable , coats , as usual , were in differing stages of growth and texture . All were spannable.
Yearling - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Blackthorn Winter
