Show Placings
Carlisle & DCS Open Show
31st May 2025
Judge: Marion Sargent (Tegwani)
Puppy /
Reserve
Name at show: Whittonglebe Spylaw Scout
Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Show
1st Jun 2025
Judge: Mrs Sue Spafford (Dassett)
I would like to thank the Scottish Border Terrier Club for asking me to judge at the Open Show. Thank you to the ladies for a super lunch and Bill Shorthose for being my Steward for the day.
As always movement was variable with some very strange front actions. I found two kinked tails, a lack of coats in some dogs and also untidy coats, all had to be considered in the placings. That said I had a lovely day and enjoyed going over all the dogs that were entered.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Spylaw Scout
Placing Critique
Only just 6 months old, head maturing nicely with dark eye and keen expression. Good reach of neck, with level top line. Nice carroty tail set well, thick pelt, in double coat. Moved well for a young puppy.
Border Union
14th Jun 2025
Judge: Ms Judith Fawcett (Carrock)
My thanks to the Border Union Agricultural Society for their kind invitation to judge their Golden Anniversary Championship show and also for the lovely gift. Thanks also to my two stewards, who kept the ring running smoothly throughout the day which meant we managed to finish just after 3pm in time for the group. I had a fantastic entry and would like to thank all exhibitors for the opportunity to go over their dogs and for the sporting manner in which my decisions were accepted.
I did try to keep the judging in the large outdoor ring, but the weather didn’t really play ball on the day and we ended up in the smaller indoor ring in the tent. The large pole in the middle of the indoor ring wasn’t particularly helpful either, but I believe we managed OK, and there was sufficient room for me to assess the movement of all exhibits.
As you would expect, coats were at various stages but on the whole most were acceptable. All dogs were entire, there were no kinked tails and only one or two untidy mouths.
Border Union is one of my favourite shows and with some quality dogs to judge, I thoroughly enjoyed my day.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Spylaw Scout
Placing Critique
Slightly smaller than 1, with promising head that needs to mature. Good mouth. Nice length of body, with good topline and tail set. Not as positive on the move as 1.
Blackpool & District Canine Society
22nd Jun 2025
Judge: Miss Tracey James (Blackmine)
Thank you to everyone who entered under me. It was a pleasure to judge all your dogs. I found it difficult to judge to a particular type as the best dogs came from different sizes and types, and I believe there is a place for them all if they fit the breed standard. Most of the dogs had evidence of a double coat. As coats are constantly changing, I did not heavily penalise any for very tweedy coats or lacking some coat as long as they were presented in a tidy manner.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Spylaw Scout
The Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
12th Jul 2025
Judge: Mrs Jayne Gillam (Orenberg)
Thanks go to the Northern Border Terrier Club for inviting me judge their 53rd Championship Show, and to the exhibitors for giving me the opportunity to go over the good entry of Borders. Thanks also to my stewards Nicki Cummins, Julie Leckenby and Sarah Eccles who really did a fantastic job and kept everything running smoothly, I enjoyed my day immensely.
It was an extremely hot day and I was thankful we were inside the hall, the committee made sure doors were opened to ensure a through draft which made for a pleasant environment for the task in hand. No dogs appeared stressed by the heat when they were being shown, although some dogs did seem less than enthusiastic in the ring.
I found some really good profile movement, but good movement fore and aft was in the minority, and in some classes non-existent.
Overall some very good coats and pelts and good presentation, some really good tails too, just a few long thin tails. Although found three kinked tails on this occasion, teeth seemed cleaner and only a few feet spoilt by overly long nails.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Spylaw Scout
Placing Critique
8 months. G&T. Head and expression didn’t appeal as much as my winner, again not much coat but liked his rib, topline and tailset, smart puppy who looked good in profile.
Class Critique
As expected, all legs and wings in this class, very immature babies.
Driffield Championship Dog Show
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mrs Julie Fletcher (Northborders)
I was so excited to be invited to give tickets for the first time so a big thank you to Driffield Committee for the invite but especially to the exhibitors for my fabulous entry
I found some really lovely dogs to go over and in some classes I wished I had more awards to give out , I was very pleased with my final line ups
Temperaments all day were very good. I didn't see one cross word between the dogs , Coats as always were varying and in some classes it was a consideration. The open and limit classes were of the highest quality and very enjoyable to judge
I thoroughly enjoyed my day and such a privilege to be able to go over all of your dogs , thank you
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Spylaw Scout
Placing Critique
A lovely young Grizzle and Tan Puppy , strong muzzle and dark eyes , neat ears and correct bite , a little too much stop but didn't detract from his keen expression , really well angulated and nothing over done which he used to advantage on the move , he has great reach and drive and is so balanced for such a young puppy , shown on a loose lead ,well off for bone and has super tight feet he has lovely reach to his neck, tail and tail set good , super thick pelt and new jacket just coming in , will look forward to watching him develop
Driffield Championship Dog Show 49th
25th Aug 2025
Judge: Mr Bob Wright (Totherend)
My thanks to the Driffield Championship Show Committee for the opportunity to go over a quality entry and a real thank you to the exhibitors for entering and coping with the unusual arrangements.
I know many expect to see a line up all of a type but you can only put up what is entered and you can’t deny a quality dog that is within the standard over a poorer exhibit of a type you personally prefer.
After the show I was re-introduced light heartedly (I hope) to a dog described by the exhibitor as “the one I didn’t like”, which I suspect is the interpretation many exhibitors of beaten dogs have. As a general rule I believe it’s much more likely that a beaten dog is in fact a liked dog but that on the day there may have been others that were liked more!
Over the years there have been many different concerns about where the breed is heading but I’m pleased to say that some of these look to have been put to bed. I saw lots of good mouths with big strong teeth and only two level bites. Loose thick pelts were a plenty and I’m delighted to see the return of good full coats shown with pride. There were no kinked tails but a good carrot tail is now as rare has hens teeth with flag poles more the norm.
Some puppies are coming in large and leggy and many entries were borderline for spanning. Close rear movement and loose fronts were a blight on some otherwise good dogs.
However, with the exception of a couple of classes, most exhibits were of real quality and I’m sure many exhibitors were left wondering why they never got placed. The answer is that you probably deserved one but I only had 5 to give and in some cases the 5th could equally well have been first. Limit bitch was absolutely full of quality and in Open bitch they were all well worthy of a CC with little to choose between them.
So overall I’m pleased with our efforts to produce quality exhibits but ditch the flag poles and enjoy the champions that you all take home.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Whittonglebe Spylaw Scout
Darlington Championship Show
13th Sep 2025
Judge: Mrs. Carolyn Richardson (Staynorwood)
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Spylaw Scout
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
28th Sep 2025
Judge: Miss Tracey Peacock (Ragatam)
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Spylaw Scout
