Show Placings
Ladies Kennel Association
11th Dec 2021
Judge: Mrs Beverley Barber (Alcumlow)
Thank you to everyone who entered their dogs for me to judge. I was pleased with my entry and very pleased that LKA took place in light of the current Covid19 situation. I must admit it was very challenging to judge properly whilst wearing a facemask all day in this indoor venue! I was very pleased with my principle winners. Some of the younger classes were not so good maybe with maturity the exhibits will probably change places many times. My principle of judging is always good sound movement, capable of following a horse, this requires good conformation. A well laid shoulder and a properly angulated rear allows a good free stride . Some dogs were too narrow and so swinging their fronts from side to side, and some were great standing but fell apart on the move, running downhill or rear out of line with front were common faults. Heads were very varied, some very exaggerated or with untypical expression. Bites were mostly okay although I did find misaligned jaws and some had small or uneven sized teeth. Coats were hit and miss but pelts were mostly good and all were spannable, although some were round in rib. But remember you always take the best dog home.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Rock or Bust
Placing Critique
pleasing youngster with nicely proportioned head, correct bite. Good length to loin, well ribbed back, In good double coat thick pelt well padded feet. Moved out okay
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Rock or Bust
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Members Limited Show
30th Jan 2022
Judge: Mrs C E Sansom (Tarkaswell)
I would like to thank the committee and members of the Scottish Border Terrier Club for the invitation to judge at this very friendly and well organised club show. My steward Pete Appleby was a great help, keeping things moving smoothly, and I am most grateful to the exhibitors for giving me such a lovely entry.
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Rock or Bust
Novice - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Valicetarn Rock or Bust
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
26th Feb 2022
Judge: Anna Duxbury (Ridgebow)
I would sincerely like to thank the Officers and Committee for inviting me to judge at this lovely well run show and for their kind hospitality on the day. Also for the lovely gifts received from the Club.
Many thanks also to my two stewards Judy and Marina, who were a great help and kept things running very smoothly.
I was extremely flattered by the wonderful entry and would like to thank each and every exhibitor for kindly allowing me to go over their dogs, and for their sportsmanship when accepting my decisions.
Coats, as always were very varied at this time of year, and some had to pay the penalty for not having enough topcoat. Nearly all dogs were spannable, all males were entire and dentition was good overall. I found I had some difficult decisions to make, and I was sorry I could not give more places.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Rock or Bust
Placing Critique
8 month old, nice size, good angulation all round, not enough coat to beat 1 today.
Novice - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Valicetarn Rock or Bust
Crufts
11th Mar 2022
Judge: Mrs. Margaret Curtis (Matamba)
Crufts has always been a memorable experience for me, from sitting ringside to winning top honours in this breed, and to retire from judging with my last appointment being Crufts was a special occasion. Many thanks to all the exhibitors for the entry of 233 dogs making 257 entries with 28 absentees.
It was a long day and with only one steward for almost all of the classes my sincere thanks must go to Robyn Burnett. Plus a special thanks to Judy Carr for stepping in to help Robyn in those last big classes to help us finish just in time to get the BOB to the Group. Also to Joyce Martin the photographer who worked hard throughout the day to get those special pictures, thank you. I enjoyed my day judging but found some of the classes quite challenging.
I was pleased with the lineup and my principal winners, but a little disappointed with what I was finding when the dogs came to the table. The standard reads “Head like that of an otter moderately broad in skull and small ears dropping close to cheek” but some were so untypical of our breed with narrow skulls, weak jaws and small teeth, with ears that were too big and standing away from the cheek.
In every class there were some that just could not be spanned - being too deep in the chest and strong in the rib. Movement was better behind than in front. Finding dogs with a short upper arm, this not only restricts the movement but when standing almost gives a Fox Terrier type front which I was seeing, to start accepting these deviations as acceptable would be a sad day for our breed as we know it.
General condition of the dogs was good, jackets came in all stages mostly acceptable with some good thick pelts. One problem I found today was the baiting of dogs on the table. In some cases it made it hard going for dogs and judge - no need to top and tail and bait all at the same time - personally I just needed the dogs to stand still.
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Rock or Bust
Placing Critique
Nice type of puppy lovely shape and strength to head, ears a little large but given time - nice dark eye and strong jaw. Easy span but a little short in the body, would have liked a little more bend of stifle. Enough bone has thick pads and neat feet, a good pelt not much coat. Moved ok.
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
26th Mar 2022
Judge: Dr. Ron Wheatley (Loiriston)
I was very privileged and honoured to judge this excellent show and would like to thank the members of the Border Terrier Club for their invitation, and the committee for their help and hospitality. The committee and members had provided a wonderful range of Specials and mementos to celebrate the Centenary of the Club. Many thanks to my very efficient ring stewards, Carol Mackenzie, and Judy Carr, for their help through a long day. Thanks also to the exhibitors for the large entry of 183 dogs, making 223 entries with 43 absent, which ranged over many types. There was quality in depth in many classes with close decisions. I found no kinky tails, two exhibits with one missing front tooth, and a few bites that had worn even. Coats as might be expected were at different stages, most in good coat and a few with the top just coming through.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Rock or Bust
Placing Critique
Spanned easily, ok coat, moved well.
The Scottish Kennel Club Championship Show
21st May 2022
Judge: Mrs G Vaughan (Holteal)
I would like to thank Scottish Border Terrier Kennel Club and committee for my invite to judge and award my 1st CC appointment,their hospitality and welcome was appreciated greatly for such a long trip from my home county of norfolk i thoroughly enjoyed my day judging and thanks to my 2 great stewards who kept my ring running smoothly.
To have an entry of 87 dogs I believe the 6th highest of the whole show with only 19 being absent on the day which is to be expected was a great honor for myself.
Coats as always were in many different stages,not always easy to target for every show entered,I found no major faults in any of my exhibits thankfully but some dogs lacking good thick pelts and a few longer and not so desirable longer tails. There were some closer choices between some dogs in the stronger classes.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Valicetarn Rock or Bust
Placing Critique
Good sized dog,just under a year old,in a good but heavier jacket,moved ok. Just preferred overall balance of 1st today.
Driffield Championship Dog Show
26th Aug 2022
Judge: Mrs Anne Heathcote (Saxheath)
I would like to thank you all for allowing me to go over your dogs and also our Stewards John and Marvin for keeping everything running smoothly enabling me to finish in good time .
I have to say that I found movement in a number of classes worrying . Although most dogs looked ok in profile when viewed from the front and rear there were too many moving closely and a few flicking wrists . This was reflected in my placings with the soundest being placed highest .
Mouths were good with just one level bite but there were both dogs and bitches which I could not span . Coats were , on the whole , pretty good .
Junior - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Valicetarn Rock or Bust
