Show Placings
The North Devon Show
7th Aug 2013
Judge: Mr Frank Kane
Junior /
Third Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Welsh Kennel Club
17th Aug 2013
Judge: Mrs L A Crawley
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Placing Critique
OK in head, good bite, correct eye, ears on big side, attractive elegant body, balanced but big enough for age, like many of this breed loose in movement while so young, in good coat.
Newton Abbot & South Devon Canine Society Open Show
24th Aug 2013
Judge: John Finney
Graduate /
Second Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Richmond Championship Dog Show
7th Sep 2013
Judge: Mrs K M Irving (Dandyhow)
In my view the breed still has problems with movement, particularly front movement. Hind action in bitches was also poor on this occasion. There was some variation in coats and some were shown without much jacket but others were somewhat blown in coat. However there were several with excellent coats and pelts – such an important feature of the breed. Dentition and temperaments were very good.
Because I don’t enjoy judging, and quite frankly never have, I decided before this appointment that is would be my last judging assignment. I hope that more younger Border Terrier enthusiasts will come forward as judges to ensure the successful future of the breed.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Placing Critique
bigger youngster with more bone. Still very immature and needs to tighten up and finish all round to complete the picture.
Exeter & County Canine Society
21st Sep 2013
Judge: Felicity Snook
Best Puppy
Name at show: PG2, Orangebox Photo Finish
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Okehampton & District Canine Society
22nd Sep 2013
Judge: Mrs J Sheldon
Best Puppy
Name at show: PG3, Orangebox Photo Finish
Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
South Wales Kennel Association
13th Oct 2013
Judge: Mrs Julie Guvercin
My most sincere thanks to all exhibitors for giving me such a lovely entry of 117 making 153 entries, the highest in the terrier group and one of only a few to break the 100 mark in the whole show.
It is human nature for us all to ringside judge and we are all guilty of this, but going over an exhibit first hand, is further revealing, a privilege for which, I was truly grateful.
Some lovely dogs, some more workman like than others, some in better condition than others, a few outstanding ones and the odd one or two I’d love to own!
I am the first to admit I love a flashy dog who will stand up and show, but along with that must come the workman like qualities that make it able to be essentially a working terrier. There is nothing to suggest in my mind, that the two trains of thought can’t co-exist, they can and they must.
Nervous or aggressive dogs and there were just one or two, were not rewarded, this is surely a temperament to be discouraged. Dour is a different matter altogether, especially when its nearly always on an otherwise, super exhibit, a frustrating combination.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Taunton & District Canine Association
5th Jan 2014
Judge: Sue Thomson (Ashgate)
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG2, Orangebox Photo Finish
Puppy /
First Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Newton Abbot and South Devon Canine Society Open Show
25th Jan 2014
Judge: Margaret Hughes
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG1, Orangebox Photo Finish
Post Graduate /
Third Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
The Southern Border Terrier Club Limited Show
2nd Mar 2014
Judge: Miss Anita Harrison (Iacheslei)
My thanks to the officers and committee for the invitation to judge this show, and their hospitality on the day. I thoroughly enjoyed the appointment. All dogs bar one were entire, and all mouths good apart from one level bite and a few forgivable signs of age in the veteran classes. I found some exhibits to be well up to size and difficult to span, but was very pleased with my final line up and main winners. Thank you to the exhibitors for entering and accepting my decisions so sportingly, and to my stewards on the day.
Junior - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Placing Critique
13 months grizzle and tan - Another nice bitch with similar attributes to the winner, just a little heavier and slightly shorter in rib.
Crufts
7th Mar 2014
Judge: Mrs Melanie Lewis
Thank you to the exhibitors for giving me a record entry for the breed of 303 exhibits making 340 entries and indeed the largest entry for a single Judge at this prestigious show, also for the sporting way in which my decisions were accepted. Thank you also to my two Stewards, Roger and Heather Chaston, who worked tirelessly throughout the day, for their assistance in ensuring that I was able to get through this huge entry in plenty of time for my Best of Breed to compete in the Group.
It was an interesting entry with some difficult decisions having to be made such was the high standard of exhibits present. I felt that movement had improved since the last time I judged. Heads and expressions were good, although a few were a shade heavy in ear. Mouths overall were much improved with a marked reduction in the number of dogs presented with overcrowded jaws of small teeth, only the odd few having either a chipped, or in the case of an older exhibit, a missing tooth. The majority of teeth were clean with just a small number needing more attention in this area. All dogs were entire.
I was pleased that so many were presented with the correct double jacket that the standard asks for, unfortunately some exhibits that really appealed for type and size had very little evidence of, or no, jacket and on another day could have done better. Attention to feet was very evident, many of whom I believe may have benefited from plenty of roadwork, resulting in tight thick pads and short claws. Inevitably with any entry of this magnitude I had to let a number of worthy exhibits leave the ring without a prize card, which I really did not enjoy doing.
Graduate - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Exeter and County Canine Society
22nd Mar 2014
Judge: Mr Ken Jessup
Special Yearling /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Bridgwater & District Canine Society Premier Open Show
23rd Mar 2014
Judge: Mr Jem Thomas (Daluce)
Graduate /
First Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Placing Critique
Grizzle and tan bitch of handy size just shy of 12 months old. Shown in full coat just going past it's best but still harsh and dense. Typical in head, feminine with keen dark eye. Short carrot tail set on well. Hocks well let down, moved freely around the ring.
Three Counties Championship Dog Show
7th Jun 2014
Judge: Mr D E Fryer (Irton)
Thanks to my two highly efficient stewards who, whilst never obtrusive, always had everything in the right place and ensured that I could get on with judging the dogs efficiently and smoothly.
A very pleasing entry, many classes had winning quality beyond the number of cards available. I found no missing teeth, no serious mouth faults, and all males were entire. Coats were variable; ranging from several in profuse double coat (not a problem if still of good weatherproof quality); to some who had only undercoat and a few who had adequate top coat but completely lacked undercoat (both incorrect and adversely affecting placings). There were a number of very smartly prepared and presented terriers on show; but however smart and showy a terrier may be, as 'essentially a working terrier' it must be 'capable of following a horse, combining activity with gameness' in order to be a BORDER Terrier. Too many exhibits were deficient in shoulder construction, front movement and drive.
Junior - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Class Critique
a good even set of promising bitches
Liskeard & District Canine Association Premier Open Breed Show
13th Jul 2014
Judge: Carolyn Fry (Bedaslea)
Open /
Second Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Paignton & DFA Championship Show
2nd Aug 2014
Judge: Mr T Johnston
Junior - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Placing Critique
good skull & muzzle, dark eye, a well assembled front, good feet, good rib & spannable, good loin & holds good profile on the move, good harsh coat, a well presented balanced dog
North Devon Agricultural Society Open Show
6th Aug 2014
Judge: Rachel Larner (Hawcoat)
Open - Bitch /
First Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Placing Critique
Lovely grizzle bitch with a good head, good reach of neck into well laid rib and length of body. Moved well. Had a super coat and lovely thick pelt. It was a shame she came up against the Open Dog in the challenge.
Newton Abbot & South Devon Canine Society
23rd Aug 2014
Judge: Mr S Whitehouse
Special Yearling /
Second Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Southern Border Terrier Club Open Show
21st Sep 2014
Judge: Mrs Trudi Baird (Dowgri)
Many thanks to the Southern Border Terrier club for inviting me to judge and for their fabulous hospitality. The new venue had light inside much improved from the old venue and was in a beautiful setting . My appreciation goes to my ring stewards Andrew Mooney , Bev Marsh & Jane Roberts who ensured the entrants were in order, and kept the classes running smoothly.
A good entry ,numerically and in quality , which gave way to some close decisions. Coats were as always at different stages , I found myself forgiving lack of coat or blown coats in favour of correct movement .Some exhibits that on first glance I thought were my winners let themselves down on the move , there were a couple who “crabbed” and some who’s front movement was very untidy .From ringside these dogs looked wonderful stacked . Some dogs were moved rather fast which may have contributed to their wayward movement.
A few dogs had too much beard and cheek hair left on , this stood out even more when the rest of the dog was immaculately presented .
On the plus side I found fit, well conditioned dogs , teeth and bites were good ,and excellent temperaments - bar a couple who were uncharacteristically shy . I was extremely pleased with both line ups and was spoilt for choice with the top honours.
Thank you for allowing me to go over your lovely dogs.
Yearling - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Placing Critique
G/T with gorgeous head , excellent bite with huge teeth, coat was blown which made her look bigger, underneath she is a lovely bitch with excellent length of rib, good topline and tailset, easily spanned, movement excellent.
The Terrier Club of Devon & Cornwall
15th Feb 2015
Judge: Mr Gordon Dyer (Ruffenuf)
Limit /
First Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Southern Border Terrier Club Members Limited Breed Show
1st Mar 2015
Judge: Mr. Bob Wright (Totherend)
My appreciation goes to the SBTC officers and committee for the opportunity to judge a lovely entry of Border Terriers and to the stewards for their support during the show. Also to the many exhibitors who quite rightly presented their dogs so proudly. I hope they enjoyed their day irrespective of the results, as above all this is a hobby to enjoy with the pets that you love.
It’s always good to see new faces exhibiting but I think most would benefit from a few visits to ring craft prior to launching themselves into the ring. This would give them an idea of the typical ring routine and some guidance on preparation of their exhibits. Whilst some concession can be made, lack of ring presence inevitably reflects in some way on their exhibit. Having said all that I can but admire the efforts of a seasoned 2½ year old handler as she moved her much older prized veteran up and down the mat!
I found some dubious dentition, a couple I couldn’t span and several only just spannable. Some dogs impressed in the line but disappointed on the move (particularly rear movement) but for a limit show I felt there was plenty of quality and I was particularly delighted with the main contenders. Some classes merited two “firsts” with precious little separating the first two and I was sad to disappoint. Not being first shouldn’t reflect badly on any dog it only means that a particular judge preferred another exhibit on the day. Certainly some of the dogs would have been better placed had they moved as well on the day as I’ve seen them move before.
I’m not of the school that expects to see a final line-up of identical dogs of a particular type. Several exhibits, whilst not of my preferred type, represented the breed standard well and couldn’t be denied an appropriate place irrespective of type or the appearance of the final line-up. I looked for a well balanced dog reflecting the aspects of the breed standard, without exaggeration and able to cover the ground smoothly and efficiently and I was pleased to find it in most classes.
Limit - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Crufts
7th Mar 2015
Judge: Miss Elspeth Jackson (Clipstone)
First of all I would like to thank the Kennel Club for the honour and pleasure of judging this prestigious show. I must then thank my efficient and capable stewards who kept me on track and looked after me through the day. Most of all I would like thank the exhibitors who rose from their beds at early hours and drove many miles to give me an entry of Border Terriers to be proud of and one which is was a delight to judge. It was not only strong numerically strong but also in depth of quality. It is a cliché to say that there were not enough cards to go around but in this entry it was certainly true. Determining all the final line up in each class was difficult and also in many deciding who should make the short list was also a challenge. Good dogs went without a card, ones who in a different entry I would have been happy to see as winners. In the challenges decisions remained tough and more than those that took the top honours were worthy of doing so and I would have been very pleased to have had more awards to give out.
In the days following this year’s show Crufts, dog shows and those who participate in them came in for some criticism. The picture painted by the media at this time was certainly not my experience. Before, during and after the show I found show people to be nothing but good natured, genuine and supportive. I enjoyed every minute of my day and hope that those that supported me with an entry or as spectators at the ringside did so too
Graduate - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
Placing Critique
Typical bitch good in outline and good for length with ribs carried well back to a strong loin. In Super thick coat.
Okehampton & Distict Canine Society
14th Mar 2015
Judge: Mrs M Hawkes
Open /
Second Place
Name at show: Orangebox Photo Finish
