Show Placings
Yeovil & District Canine Society Open Show
4th May 2025
Judge: Jo Hughes (Arunmere)
I’d like to thank the committee for inviting me to Judge Border Terriers at this lovely show, we had a big ring to see the dogs get into their stride and show what they are made of, movement was on average ok, a few crabbing around corners, size varied a lot with some difficult to span, coats were generally good with only one fully stripped. Thank you to my two stewards keeping things running on a windy day!
Puppy /
Reserve
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Devon County Show
15th May 2025
Judge: Libby Wain (Itsaso)
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG3, Clydebeck Opal
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Bath Canine Society
24th May 2025
Judge: Mr Euan Castel (Flutorum)
My thanks to the Society for their kind invitation and to the exhibitors for their support. Special thank you to Liesel Thorner for her efficient stewarding.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Placing Critique
grizzle with feminine head and nice expression. Lovely for size and balance. Nice carroty tail well set on. Still maturing she was a bit unsettled in movement today.
Southern Counties Canine Association
31st May 2025
Judge: Rachel Larner (Hawcoat)
Thank you to everyone that entered and attended my first judging appointment at Championship level. Many thanks to my stewards, who kept the day running smoothly. We were very lucky with the weather, a little warm at times but the dogs all managed well and did not flag in the heat.
I was thrilled at the quality of dogs that I had to go over and extremely pleased that I had very few absentees. There were some super quality of classes that made my decisions quite hard. Finding a dog that most fits the standard is important to me, and I feel my winners did just that. I was extremely pleased with my main winners, and even more thrilled to see that I made up two Champions!
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Three Counties Agricultural Society
5th Jun 2025
Judge: Mr Brian Aubrey (Jenabeck)
Thank you all for a wonderful entry especially for a Thursday, I found the Bitches better in Quality than the Dogs on the day, I feel I can speak little about what I found as I have worked them, shown them and bred them, But I wont criticize, has many showing this wonderful breed forgotten more than I know, but its my observation on the day,
There were a few I really liked but lacked jackets on the day, I found a few with ears to big, and some needed more power moving from behind, but that can be improved, please don't over stretch when you stacking them, And now my biggest bugbear please don't keep shoving bait into their mouths when a judge is trying to go over their heads this is happening a lot now why I don't know, never seen it so bad as lately but in most terrier exhibitors, moan over lol, Also thank you to both my stewards Gavin Argyle and Penny Winger, who done an amazing job Thank you both.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
7th Jun 2025
Judge: Mrs Jane Roberts (Smalesmouth)
Many thanks to the officers and committee of the Southern Border Terrier Club for the invitation to judge at the club’s championship show on 7th June. Congratulations to them for providing such an excellent and well run show. Thanks also to my stewards Sian Mckay and Sophie Leggat for their cheerful and efficient help. Many thanks to all who entered. It is always a priviledge and pleasure to go over your dogs and I thank all the exhibitors for that opportunity. It was also an honour to be the 51st judge to award a DCC to CH Otterbobs Tolson, making him the Breed CC record holder. Many congratulations to his owners.
Overall, I thought there was plenty of quality from puppies through to the veterans. I thought that size was good, as were coats and heads. I was really pleased that I also found an improvement in length and shape of tails. Downside was front movement as there were a significant number who were not accurate in this department.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Southern Border Terrier Club Partnership Championship Show
27th Jun 2025
Judge: Mr Tom H. Johnston (Feldkirk)
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Windsor Championship Show
27th Jun 2025
Judge: Mr Graham Richardson (Staynorwood)
Firstly i would like to thank Windsor Championship Dog Show for the invitation to Judge at their show. Thank you also to all those that entered and allowed me to judge their dogs on what was an exceptionally hot day for both exhibitor and dogs.
I had some quality dogs to judge and on another day some placings could easily be swapped around. I was more than happy with my top award winners. It was a pleasure to watch the Group judging and see my B.O.B, Best Veteran and Best Special Beginners placed in their respective groups.
In general I found the majority of dogs to be in a good fit condition. I did find 2 or 3 dogs with kinked tails. I would also ask that exhibitors refrain from giving dogs tit bits as the judge is trying to check mouths. nothing wrong with baiting your dogs but not while trying to check mouths. Also one or two exhibitors trying to hold onto the dog as though they are trying to restrict you assessing them.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Minehead & District Canine Society Open Show
30th Jul 2025
Judge: Mrs Anne Higham (Comberdown)
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge and for your hospitality. It was a lovely venue. Thanks also to my Stewarts on the day and to all the exhibitors for their entries.
Puppy /
Third Place
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Paignton Championship Show
1st Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Mark Walshaw (Janmark)
Puppy - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Placing Critique
Typical, balanced and so clean to go over. She is the cleanest of movers, covering the ground well and clean coth ways. Liked her headfeminine, with strength, dark eye and good ears and expression. Narrow front and through body with pleasing topline and underline. Racey rear. Stood on tight small feet. In good jacket and pelt.
The Welsh Kennel Club
14th Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Jill Peak (Bayard)
Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Mid Somerset Agricultural Society Open Show
17th Aug 2025
Judge: Malcolm Trevis (Estbien)
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG1, Clydebeck Opal
Special Yearling /
Second Place
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
City of Birmingham Championship Show
30th Aug 2025
Judge: Dr Margaret Armstrong (Ploughdown)
Thank you to the Committee of the City of Birmingham Canine Association for inviting me to judge at their Championship Show. It was an honour to judge Borders Terriers on the day. I would like to thank especially the Border Terrier exhibitors for giving me such a super entry and for their graciousness and sporting manner. The venue was airy and the ring was roomy. I realised afterwards that the carpet could be rather slippery and I think that this may have provided somewhat of a challenge at times. I had many lovely dogs to go over and sometimes making decisions was like splitting hairs.
Finally thank you to my stalwart stewards who were super organized and kept me on the straight and narrow.
Puppy - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Joint Border Terrier Clubs Championship Show
31st Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Jane Morton-Shaw (Fehmarn)
Many thanks to the committee for inviting me to judge what turned out to be the last Joint Ch Show. I had a wonderful day, & I was very ably and efficiently aided by my two stewards Tracey Anscombe and Peter Armstrong & I send my thanks out to them again (shows can’t run without good stewards).
My main down side to a lot of the Borders I went over was the front movement (I’m not immune to this either)! This needs watching and careful breeding to try and improve on this fault - not easy I know, but something to aim for. Again very few Borders with a good thick pelt which we used to have. Top lines have much improved generally and good to see that most of the exhibits were in good fit/hard condition.
Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
Richmond Championship Show
7th Sep 2025
Judge: Mr Ken Bartlett (Dwilencia)
Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Clydebeck Opal
