Show Placings
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
26th Feb 2011
Judge: Mrs J Guvercin (Glebeheath)
May I take this opportunity to thank the Officers and committee for inviting me to judge their show and for their warm welcome and hospitality. My two stewards, Eddie Houston and Jimmy Gilpin had the ring running like clockwork, which enabled me to get on with the job of judging a quality entry of 141 dogs making 177 entries.
My sincere thanks to all exhibitors, who entrusted me with their dogs and accepted my placings in a sporting fashion, the day was a most memorable experience.
The North can be proud of their dogs, as there were many quality examples on display, all temperaments appeared steady, with just an occasional bored one! Not unusual, as most, I think, would rather be out chasing vermin!!
A handful of kinked tails didn’t surprise me, but youngsters with poor mouths did! Having said that, there were some lovely dogs in the puppy classes and placings were hotly contested with very little to separate them. My interpretation of the standard for balance ie: fairly long, is slightly longer than tall.
I feel that a border needs length as well as narrowness to negotiate a fox earth, but still retaining heart/lung room to enable it to follow a horse. Coats were at varying stages, but as long as I could find evidence , I didn’t let it rule out, an otherwise, good exhibit.
Maiden - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Tythrop Tap On Wood
Placing Critique
Light grizzle 6 months pup who took my eye immediately for his beautiful balanced outline. He has a super head and his body and rib are my ideal, being deep, narrow and well ribbed up, but with a shortish loin. His topline is firm and level with a smooth line from his head , through his nice forehand, to his well set and carried tail. Good pelt and evidence of harsh coat. Could be firmer in his hocks going away, which cost him later on, but was absolutely stunning in profile and could not be denied. Has a very showy disposition and I’m sure will be much admired.
The Border Terrier Championship Show
26th Mar 2011
Judge: Miss Jean Singh (Vandamere)
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Tythrop Tap On Wood For Ravenside
Placing Critique
Although a bit of a handful on the table, he did manage to pull it together to win this class. Good front and rear assembly. His coat was harsh and his pelt thick. He was easily spanned, and moved well. He is only a youngster, but hopefully, will have more to come. Time will tell.
National Terrier
2nd Apr 2011
Judge: Mrs Hilary Gilpin
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Tythrop Tap On Wood For Ravenside
Placing Critique
this one was another nice puppy in a smart coat would have liked to see him stride out more.
The Northern Border Terrier Club Open Show
9th Apr 2011
Judge: Mrs Anne Gregory (Remony)
My thanks to the Club for the invitation to judge, it was both an honour and pleasure to do so. My thanks also to the committee for their most excellent hospitality, to my capable stewards, Marjorie Wanless and Anjela Cranson, and to the exhibitors for their entries and support.
I had some good quality dogs to go over today and was well pleased with my winners. While I found hind action, on the whole, to be good, I did find a number of poor fronts. Front movement pinning in, weak pasterns, flat feet and feet that turned out or turned in. Some dogs also lacked forward reach. To be fit for the function it was intended, a Border needs, as well as strong sound hindquarters, a sound forehand with tight, thick padded feet.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Tythrop Tap On Wood For Ravenside
Placing Critique
good otter head, good in front and rear angulation, good coat and pelt. Moved soundly.
East Anglia BTC Championship Show
17th Apr 2011
Judge: Miss Julie Price
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Tythrop Tap On Wood For Ravenside
Placing Critique
Correct sized puppy with good bone but lacked expression and deeper in brisket than 1, A good length of neck but with a wider front , straight legs and small feet, good length of rib and bend of stifle and nice carrot tail.
WELKS
29th Apr 2011
Judge: Mrs Margaret Sneddon
Many thanks to my stewards who had everything running smoothly in a calm and good-humoured manner, it makes judging such a pleasure. I had a good entry of 132 dogs with a lower than usual absentee rate of 14%, which was good for a Friday in the present economic climate and I was very pleased to be able to judge outside, although I understand some of the exhibitors found it rather chilly. Quality was rather varied but some of the classes were closely contested and I was delighted with my top winners. Front construction is still a problem with some and coats were rather varied but that could be due to the unseasonal weather which we have had recently. I was also pleased to see a number of the dogs moving freely, with reach in front and good drive from the hindquarters, Border Terriers could not work as they were intended to do without this asset.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Tythrop Tap On Wood For Ravenside
Placing Critique
whilst this puppy had a good topcoat he lacked the depth of coat of the winner. Good head with dark eyes, moved well but topline could be better, this may improve with age as he does appear quite immature.
Joint Border Terrier Clubs Championship Show
1st May 2011
Judge: Mrs Lesley Gosling
My thanks to my two excellent stewards who kept exhibits moving along, making my task easier, and to the Yorks, Lancs and Cheshire Club for inviting me to judge.
Coats were generally very good with undercoats evident and few showed signs of scissoring and shaving. I was pleased that all the puppy dogs were of a sensible size for their ages and almost all exhibits were spannable; however, shoulder construction problems remain an issue, with short upper arms and poor shoulder angulation resulting in wide, or tied fronts, spoiling otherwise quality exhibits. I noticed that some were roaching over the loin, creating bouncing back ends on the move with the loss of level toplines, and many had a distinct lack of stifle bend, resulting in a lack of driving action on the move. Consider feet - a few needed claws trimming (or more road work).
Some heads were untypical and snipey; there were a number of suspect mouths and one undershot puppy, but I was impressed with the overall condition of the entry in general and the winners were a credit to their owner/breeders. The well filled Limit bitch class was outstanding and it was a pity not to have more awards to present. My thanks to everyone for accepting my decisions so sportingly and congratulations to the top winners, whose dogs were so deserving of their wins.
Here’s a plea - please use bait sparingly, and not while your dogs are on the judging table. It’s a pity that a number of exhibitors are slaves to baiting their dogs on the table, making the dogs move around and become unsteady, while making it difficult for judges to access mouths and assess facial features. Baiting also affects movement round the ring, with exhibits “crabbing”, watching for the treats.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Tythrop Tap On Wood For Ravenside
Placing Critique
Slightly longer and deeper than the winner but preferred this exhibit’s head. Dentition good and he moved out well. Enough bone and substance without any exaggerations.
National Dog Show
7th May 2011
Judge: Mrs Jayne Alpe
Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge, I thoroughly enjoyed my day. My two stewards were very efficient and experienced; they managed to keep my ring running smoothly. I found the quality in the dogs overall to be higher than last time I judged, with in both sexes a slight improvement in movement. Although there are still some that are not driving from behind and covering the ground, and some with short, choppy, odd front movement, sometimes coupled with too narrow fronts and lack of muscle tone. Maybe more road walking would help in some cases to build up muscle, but in others is down to a problem with shoulder construction and pasterns. I found no incorrect mouths, there were a couple with broken teeth, hopefully indicative that we still work some of our show dogs. But there was a shortage of those lovely strong big teeth that the breed is known for and small teeth are on the increase. What also did disturb me was that large heavy ears seem to be creeping into the breed, which affects that lovely typical expression. In a lot of classes places could alter on another day, in fact in some classes I was spoilt for choice and would have liked more than one red card. I was delighted with my top winners who all fitted my criteria very well, every one of them displaying correct Border type coupled with sound and true movement.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Tythrop Tap On Wood For Ravenside
Placing Critique
Good head and keen expression, good bite and moved very true for a youngster, liked his overall balance and type.
Scottish Kennel Club
20th May 2011
Judge: Mr. David Hunt (Ottaswell)
Thanks go to the committee of the Scottish Kennel Club for inviting me to judge for the first time north of the border, Special thanks to my stewards on the day Messrs Goudie & Jackson for organising the ring so efficiently and ensuring everything ran smoothly during my judging. Good stewards are a welcome bonus for any judge. Despite the disappointing weather, thanks also to the exhibitors who attended and for giving me the second highest breed entry of the whole show.
With a large ring and mown grass, I was able to see the dogs move accurately. In general I thought the bitches were stronger than the dogs, but was pleased with all my class winners, and thought my CC winners a credit to the breed. Size was generally good with only a couple being difficult to span. As always coats were at various stages but I was surprised to find 2 very undershot bites in mid range classes.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Tythrop Tap On Wood For Ravenside
Placing Critique
Another 10 mth g/tan with good head, a fraction longer in the muzzle than the winner. Carries a straight front with neat, tight feet. Well ribbed back and has a good textured coat with thick tail. Just preferred the length of neck of the winner.
Leeds Championship Show
24th Jul 2011
Judge: Mrs Beverley Barber
Thank you for your lovely entry at this fine venue. Thanks also to my efficient and helpful stewards without which we wouldn’t have a show! My main aim when judging is to find a dog that fits as near the breed standard as is possible ,but must have overall good dog conformation. It must be balanced standing and also, most definitely, when it is on the move. This is a hard task because the perfect dog in any breed has yet to be found. When judging on this occasion I did manage to find dogs that had good front angulation, allowing the necessary reach to cover the ground, coupled with adequate rear angulation to give drive to the assembly and so presented a good picture on the move with no change to the dog’s appearance. I had very few short stepping, short backed dogs with such poor construction that the rear becomes noticeably higher than the shoulder when they are on the move. Heads, as always, were very varied, some mouths were out of line, there were some missing premolars which if this perpetuates will alter the head shape. Feet were mostly thick and neat, coats varied and undercoats were in the main a little sparse, but in view of the winter we have just had they have probably spent a long time shedding them. All the dogs I judged today I could span, although chest shape was not always correct. Thank you to all exhibitors for allowing me the privilege of judging your dogs, which I enjoyed immensely.
Junior - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Tythrop Tap On Wood For Ravenside
Placing Critique
Otter like head, correct bite. Reasonable length to body, good coat and pelt . Good bone and small well padded feet. Overall pleasing picture. Moved out well.
Class Critique
This class had a lot of variation and some bites not quite correct. Difficult class to judge.
