Show Placings
Ladies Kennel Association
12th Dec 2008
Judge: Stuart McPherson (Brumberhill)
Thank you to those exhibitors, who, in the present financial climate, gave me the highest entry in the Terrier Group, by a considerable margin, nearly half as many again as the next breed. Friday, M6, NEC, extortionate car park charges are not a good combination!!
Thank you to my very efficient steward, who kept things running smoothly, so we could finish in good time, after the very late start due to the problems on the M6.
Now, to the dogs themselves! I know that I was very lucky, in that when I started in the Breed, in 1980, I was taught about type, construction and movement by Ted Hutchinson, a master of the sport, who had campaigned the then Breed Record Holder, plus a string of Champions across many other breeds. This knowledge, plus, I would like to think, a natural eye for quality, has served me well over the following years. Therefore, it saddens me to see the type and constructional faults that are creeping into the breed. These faults are now so prevalent, that newer breeders, exhibitors and some judges, probably think, and accept they must be correct, so widespread are they.
The Standard asks for an "otter" like head, moderately broad in skull. Too many have excessively broad skulls, giving an exaggerated, almost caricature look, rather than the refined beauty of an otter. Ear set is also a cause for concern. The standard calls for small, V- shaped, dropping forward close to the cheek. Too many ears are perched high, above the line of the skull, dropping forward to the temple, rather than the cheek, giving a foreign, almost Lakeland / Fox Terrier expression. While, I am sure, this may appeal in some quarters, it is totally incorrect on a Border Terrier.
Now, to shoulders, and especially upper arms, a major problem today, particularly in the younger classes. Upright shoulders and very short upper arms, mean the front assembly of the dog appears "tacked on". The shoulder should be clean and well laid, with a long upper arm, meaning that the dog can stand with their front legs under them, perpendicular to the floor, rather than like a “milking stool. This, affects movement, giving an action that can only be described as "peddling a bike" and causing no reach on the move .They are, after all, a working breed, who are supposed to be capable of "following a horse".
On the plus side, most were in good coat, and moved soundly behind, something which is much easier to achieve. Two exhibits were so thin, I felt their entry fee would have been better spent on a bag of quality food.
My top winners are examples of Breeders who have stuck to their ideals, of breeding sound, honest, typical Border Terriers, bred to last, not following fashion by breeding, what, to my mind, are shorter coupled, flashier "terrier" types to appeal to the more modern way of thinking. They wouldn't have looked out of place from when I first started in the Breed, matching beautifully for type and construction.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Yorks, Lancs, & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
24th Jan 2009
Judge: Mr Kevin Green
Limit - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Placing Critique
Good head & front, good tailset.
Special Beginners - Dog or Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Crufts
5th Mar 2009
Judge: Professor S P Dean (Tyrian)
A demanding day with 247 entered, my sincere thanks to all who entered and showed patience when decisions needed time. Also my gratitude goes to our ring stewards who were simply outstandingly efficient. I was very proud of the ticket line-ups and thought the BOB looked superb in the group. What was encouraging was there were many dogs down the line that would not have been out of place there and ?splitting hairs? became a routine technique in several classes to find class winners. Reflecting on the day leaves some lasting impressions. There is no doubt the breed has made great advances in head conformation. Good otter heads with strength in muzzle and strong teeth were very much in evidence. Ears by and large are good but with a trend towards largeness and heaviness which we must reverse. It is very difficult to change the ear shape so embedding any coarseness now must be of concern. Movement too has improved over the years largely driven by progress on stifle angulation but let’s not go too far here as some excess is creeping in. Shoulders still need attention with many severely lacking lay back and of more concern some foreleg assemblies are placed too far forward so fore-chests are vanishing. This produces flashiness but it is wrong. Coats and pelts were generally good and the majority were capable of being spanned. Flat feet were in evidence perhaps driven by a tough winter and lack of exercise but remember this is a sporting breed and needs fitness to be fully appreciated. As a result many nice dogs lost out because of a lack of muscle or flat feet. We have a healthy breed and this was supported by those in the veteran classes and with an 8 year old winning BOB perhaps this is proof enough.
Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
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
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Birmingham National Dog Show
7th May 2009
Judge: Mrs Betty Judge (Plushcourt)
I judged the breed just two years ago & I was alarmed at the change for the worse in the type & quality. The number of dogs entered was 115 with few absentees, four more being added to the original entry due to a catalogue error, an entry of which I was pleased with, especially in these financially hard times & terrier day being on a Thursday.
I was really surprised to find exhibitors showing dogs with incorrect dentition & I found several of these. I was puzzled as to why upright shoulders & straight hind legs, some with hocks barely defined had become so prevalent. Generally movement was poor, but with construction so poor & with so many dogs with straight hind legs what else would you expect?
Several single coats & thin skins. Heads, where have all the beautiful otter heads gone. I found round skulls, some with a distinct brow over the eyes, large round shaped ears & they were not close to the cheek. Several dogs & bitches I was unable to span due to round ribs, with no carryback of rib. There were two dogs with kinks in their tails.
More seriously, bad temperaments on a couple of dogs was also depressing, I have never had a Border Terrier snap at me before until this show. In some of the classes, when the dogs came into the ring, overall quality was so poor I nearly lost the will to live.
However, I was very pleased with my CC & RCC winners & both my BD & BB puppy winners, & several other class winners, so there are still some breeders out there with the correct interpretation of the Standard. Perhaps it would be a good idea for the less experienced breeders & exhibitors to take note of these experienced breeders? & exhibitors? good dogs & learn from them.
I was delighted to see my BOB go G4 in a very strong group & then to see my BP winner go PG3 in an equally strong puppy group.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Northern Border Championship Show
19th Jul 2009
Judge: Mr Gerald Baker (Jaslou)
It was an honour to have been asked to judge the Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show, I wish to thank the officers and committee for their great hospitality and catering, Special thanks to my stewards Doreen and Claire, Overall the dogs were in better coat and condition than the bitches, with some short of coat or none at all, Although level bites are acceptable in the breed there were more today than expected, I was very pleased with my class placing. And final line up.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Mid Limit - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
South Wales Kennel Association
9th Oct 2009
Judge: Mr Brian Baxter (Beenaben)
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Yorks, Lancs & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
7th Nov 2009
Judge: Mrs L Hardman (Spanwise)
Thank you for such a lovely entry of Border Terriers on this my first club appointment. I enjoyed myself immensely and was pleased with my winners in type and soundness. All exhibits had correct dentition and all dogs were entire. Nice to see new exhibitors to the breed. The majority were easily spannable with good temperaments and smartly turned out. I wish to point out that straggly hair on inner thighs just spoils the look for me. More concern though is size, in both dogs and bitches. With bitches as big as dogs and heads that are not feminine. Many thanks to the Officers and Committee for the smooth running of the show and how nice it was to see T.A.G. Knight back at the show. Lastly thanks for the excellent lunch provided by Diane Rayner and her super helpers.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Placing Critique
Blue & Tan 3 year old who stood out in line up. Best head in the class. Very thick Double jacket and plenty of loose pelt. Very narrow in profile with correct tail and tail set. Showy Dog well handled.
Open - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Yorks, Lancs and Cheshire BTC Open Show
13th Feb 2010
Judge: Mrs. Liz Wright (Totherend)
My thanks to the officers and committee for giving me the opportunity to judge this show and for their warm welcome. The relaxed atmosphere throughout the day allowed me to enjoy going over the exhibits which varied significantly in type and size.
A few dogs I couldn?t span and a few were carrying a little excess weight which may be due to the time of year but is still preferable to handling a featherweight.
I was pleased to see some quality carrot tails. Coats were at all stages, but it was a joy to go over those with the harsh, dense jackets true to type.
I was pleased with all the class winners and the final line up in particular.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Yorks, Lancs & Cheshire BTC Open Show
27th Nov 2010
Judge: Mr Ken Bartlett (Dwilencia)
I was very pleased with the entry I received for this well run and friendly show, hut owing to the bad weather and motorway closed for some time, some exhibitors were unable to attend, so thanks to those who did arrive and gave me the pleasure to go over their dogs.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Placing Critique
Another nice dog, attractive head, big scissor bite, teeth, good bone, good coat and pelt, covered the ground well.
YL & C BTC Open Show
29th Jan 2011
Judge: Mr Alan Hedges (Ramblix)
This was a great day for me and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and my thanks go to all exhibitors. Also to the club for the invitation and my two super stewards.
I thought that some of the young ones had a bit too much stop, and like most other folks seem to think I thought front movement was an issue. As proper concerns, I thought one dog was painfully thin and one bitch was what I can only describe as stinking. Neither condition is good enough, for either the dogs or the owners
Open - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Open Show
28th Jan 2012
Judge: Mr E Castel (Flutorum)
I would like to thank the Officers and Committee for their kind invitation and the hospitality I received at their Open Show. This was a new venue for the Club and offers excellent facilities with a large spacious ring. Special thanks to my two stewards Anita Harrison and Brian Dickinson. Although not the largest of entries I was pleased with both my dog and bitch line up, I found the bitches to be of greater quality than the dogs, and was pleased that most exhibits were shown in good, well muscled condition. A final thank you to all the exhibitors for the opportunity to go over their dogs today.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Finehaugh Fella At Kgills
