Show Placings
Blackpool & District Canine Society
25th Jun 2023
Judge: Mrs Jayne Gillam (Orenberg)
Many thanks to the officers and committee for inviting me to judge Border Terriers at Blackpool & District Canine Society Championship show. Grateful thanks must go to my very efficient steward Gisela Duran who did an excellent job in making sure everything ran like clockwork. Finally thank you to the exhibitors for giving me such an excellent entry of 142 dogs making 183 entries, the largest entry across all breeds on the day. It really was a privilege to go over such a large entry of dogs and I thoroughly enjoyed my day.
The size of dogs has always been a perennial topic, but I was pleased to say overall, many of the dogs were of correct size on this occasion, with very few oversized dogs and only the odd one or two I couldn’t span. Bites were good and only an odd one with teeth out of line, although a few had broken teeth, quite a few had dirty teeth and some had small teeth which is something I really don’t like to see on, essentially a working terrier. It was good to find some really lovely tails, with not too many long thin, spindly tails we have seen in the past, although I was surprised to find four kinked tails in the entry.
Overall I thought it was a good entry, I found some quality exhibits and I was very pleased with my winners, and in particular will watch the progress of my puppy and junior placings with interest.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Kirkbyvalley Tally Ho
The Northern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
15th Jul 2023
Judge: Mr David Fryer (Irton)
My thanks to the Club for trusting me with a fine entry of dogs at this, one of my favourite shows; to my stewards for their understated efficiency which kept the show rolling; and to the exhibitors for the opportunity to go over their dogs, and for the sporting acceptance of my decisions.
The Border Terrier Breed Standard is a very brief document; as such, it needs some interpretation. The clue is in the first clause of it; ‘Essentially a working terrier’. This, together with a knowledge of the work the breed is traditionally expected to perform, gives an idea of the dog required. Thus we need a dog which can keep with the hunt over rough moorland country in what may be inclement weather, and then be able to go to ground and bolt or hold it’s own to a cornered fox. This implies sound, efficient movement, adequate heart and lung room, a weatherproof double coat and a thick, pliable pelt; but at the same time be small enough and flexible enough to follow a fox to ground .
Overall, I found most exhibits to be sound, and well presented (sometimes ‘overpresented’ to the extent that coats had more appearance than substance). The most prevalent fault I observed was untidy, converging front movement; an inevitable consequence of short upper arm and upright fronts. I did also find a few faulty bites; one undershot, one youngster with a lower incisor seriously out of line; and several with level bites, which, though permitted in the standard, are not (to my mind) desirable; also undesirable to me were the number of exhibits with small teeth in weak forefaces. There were also a couple of ‘winter noses’, but that, to me, is a purely cosmetic point and not to be penalised. All males were entire.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Kirkbyvalley Tally Ho
Placing Critique
larger b&t, rather skittish, needs to settle on the move and to stop growing, well balanced outline
Minehead & District Canine Society Open Show
26th Jul 2023
Judge: Anne Speake
I would like to thank the officers and committee for the kind invitation to judge some of the terrier breeds at this well run show, set in the beautiful setting of Dunster Castle. My thanks to my two excellent stewards Mel & Vera for keeping the ring running smoothly. A special thank you to all the exhibitors who gave me such a lovely quality entry of dogs over all the breeds to judge, making for some difficult decisions in some classes.
Special Yearling /
Reserve
Name at show: Kirkbyvalley Tally Ho
Class Critique
What a lovely class to start the day, some lovely youngsters who I’m sure will change places many times in the future
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
6th Aug 2023
Judge: Mr. Bob Wright (Totherend)
It was a real honour to judge my home club’s show and my thanks go to a great committee for the opportunity and the way they run the club with all hands to the wheel. Richard Wright and Sharon Pickering had my back and have my appreciation for a great day’s stewarding.
I was disappointed in the early dog classes where what initially looked like an impressive line-up failed to materialise once on the table or on the move. Movement was a weak spot for a surprisingly large number of exhibits, especially front movement. There were three poor mouths and one exhibit that couldn’t be spanned but lots of good pelts, coats and neat feet. However long tails are becoming more common and a true carrot tail is about as rare as hen’s teeth. I was fascinated by some handlers interpretation of a triangle, suffice to say it’s a good job it wasn’t a maths exam.
Once again there were only two CCs available which is a great shame when there are so many who warrant them. I can only sympathise with those who went home empty handed. It was most likely a reflection of the strength of the classes rather than their standing. The bitch classes were especially strong with at least six exhibits worthy of much more than I had available to offer. When it came to the line ups I was clearly torn and had to be really picky to get to a decision but in the end I was pleased with all the winners.
Whilst there is still much that can be done to improve some aspects of the breed there is a lot to be proud of with some really stunning exhibits out there.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Kirkbyvalley Tally Ho
Penrith & DCS Open Show
17th Dec 2023
Judge: Siân McKay (Redesholt)
My thanks go to both the Penrith & District Canine Society and the Border Terrier Club for considering me to judge a super entry of some quality dogs. The show committee were most welcoming and kept the judges well fed and watered. My stewards – Sue, Jane and Katrina keeping the proceedings flowing smoothly- my thanks.
All dogs presented today were of sound temperaments, all found to be spannable and, as to be expected, various stages of coat with some excellent coats and pelts on display. Movement overall was most pleasing; with some excellent examples of strong reach and drive making for fluid balanced movement. In some classes I found myself splitting hairs due to the quality of the exhibits. Again, my one plea is for clean teeth!
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Kirkbyvalley Tally Ho
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
24th Feb 2024
Judge: Libby Tanton-Joy (Itsaso)
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge their open show held at Jedburgh, the home of the border terrier. It was a great privilege, and I had some amazing dogs present who are a credit to their owners, thank you for bringing them.
Thank you to my stewards for organising the rings so smoothly and keeping me on track so we finished at a reasonable time. The hospitality was second to none and I would like to thank the whole committee for this.
Special Beginners - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Kirkbyvalley Tally Ho
