Show Placings
Manchester Championship Show
18th Jan 2018
Judge: Mr Frank Kane (Hirontower)
Many thanks to my stewards Alan Small and Susan Kannangara.
Best Puppy
Name at show: TPG3, Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Minor Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Appealed from the start for his balance, topline and clean scopey stride. His handler is a newcomer and can learn to make the most of him. Excellent size, coat, narrow through the rib and with a good head and eye. Appealed a lot for type. Best Puppy and later Puppy Group 3.
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Limit Show
28th Jan 2018
Judge: Mrs M Armstrong (Carrickfarm)
I would like to thank The Scottish Border Terrier Club committee for inviting me to judge the 2018 Limited Show and to the exhibitors who gave me the opportunity to go over their dogs. I enjoyed the day very much.
Best Puppy
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
8 months grizzle dog with a strong head and short muzzle. Keen expression and good length of neck flowing into well laid shoulders with a level topline and well set on tail. Easily spanned with a harsh dense coat and great pelt. Moved out well. BPIS.
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
24th Feb 2018
Judge: Mrs Jill Stevens (Cobstoneway)
I would like to thank the committee for giving me the honour of judging at this lovely show, and for the warm welcome and hospitality shown on the day. Special thanks go to the Show Secretary Kathy Wilkinson, my two efficient stewards Liz Barrett and Judy Carr, and Carol Mackenzie for a lovely lunch. Most of all I would like to say a very big thank you to all the exhibitors for giving me such a lovely entry, and for allowing me the privilege of going over their dogs. The depth of quality in some classes, particularly the bitches, meant that I truly wished for more top places to give out. However, I was very pleased with my main winners, who all looked as though they could manage a day’s work. Most exhibits were in hard, fit condition and well turned out. All dogs were entire, I found just a couple of kinked tails, and, understandably, there were a few missing/misplaced teeth in the veteran class. Coats were at various stages, as to be expected, and this had to affect a few places as it is not only a necessity on a working terrier, but completes the picture. I was pleased to have some very promising puppies, and at the other end of the scale a wonderful class of veterans.
Puppy - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
All the same comments apply, I just felt that he wasn’t so settled in movement on the day.
Class Critique
Two grizzle and tan litter brothers of almost 9 months, and very similar in size and type.
National Terrier Club
7th Apr 2018
Judge: Mr. W. R. Irving
Thanks to the exhibitors for the entry of 160 from 157 dogs.
There were some very strong classes and interestingly the biggest class was Limit Dog with seventeen entries. My biggest worry about the overall entry was that there seemed be some very large exhibits which were well over the standard size. Even in bitches there were a good number that were too big and in dogs some were enormous. And it was not so much that they were too leggy - rather that so many were far from being able to be spanned. I think we really ought to try to do something about that.
Heads were by and large good but there were quite a few with big ears. Coats of course were variable and I only found one really bad mouth and one kinked tail.
Movement left a bit to be desired especially in front but I was disappointed also that so many were not moving well behind either.
My thanks to my two very efficient stewards which enabled us to finish by around 1 p.m. and to the exhibitors most of whom seemed to take my decisions in the sporting way befitting the breed
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
The Joint Border Terrier Clubs' Championship Show
6th May 2018
Judge: Mrs Melanie Lewis (Tonromel)
Thank you to the Officers and Committee of the Yorks. Lancs. and Cheshire BTC (the host Club for this year) for the invitation to officiate at the Joint BTCs Championship Show and to my two Stewards, Graham Richardson and Bridget Singh, for their invaluable help and assistance on the day. Thank you to the exhibitors for giving me a super entry for the breed of 187 exhibits (includes 10 NFC) making 201 entries, for the privilege of allowing me to judge your dogs and also for the sporting manner in which my decisions were accepted.
The standard in both sexes was pleasing and in some classes there were some strong contenders. There were some very nice youngsters which I thought looked most promising and feel sure will go on to have a bright future. Size of some of the exhibits was rather concerning, although from ringside they may have looked in proportion, hands on they were just far too big.
Front movement continues to be of concern but today there was also some poor rear movement. Heads and Mouths were on the whole good with just one or two with incorrect dentition or a missing tooth. Noticeably some exhibits were quite heavy in ear which detracts from the typical border look. Coats were variable, feet on the majority were good, being firmly padded. All males were entire and the temperaments displayed by the exhibits whilst going over them was good, although I was conscious of a few outside of the ring being rather vocal, especially when other dogs and their handlers passed by.
Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
not much to choose between this one and the 2nd placed dog and I see that they are full litter siblings. Good head and strength of muzzle, spanned easily, he has a good pelt and moved out steadily on good feet. I preferred his topline but 2nd scored for showmanship and coat.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
(3rd in Puppy)
Novice - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
(3rd in Puppy and Junior)
The Scottish Kennel Club
18th May 2018
Judge: Mr Brian Aubrey (Jenabeck)
Firstly thank you all for such a nice entry, Secondly thank you to a great steward who single handily run the ring for me. There who some very nice border on view all mouths were good,
Junior /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Bath Championship Show
25th May 2018
Judge: Mr Ken Bartlett
My thanks to Bath Canine Society for the inviting me to judge at their show also my two stewards who kept things running smoothly.
Junior - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
otter head with short muzzle good mouth, o k for bone coat and thick pelt moved out well.
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Shiow
3rd Jun 2018
Judge: Mrs J Lilley (Kensing)
What a privilege it was to judge Border Terriers actually at their home in the Borders! Thank you to all exhibitors for such a flattering entry of charming dogs and thank you to all the committee and officers for your welcome, hospitality and generosity. complete with a delicious lunch. Certainly it was one of the best halls that could be imagined for a breed open show with the option to judge outside had the weather been better. I was most impressed with the hard condition of the vast majority of the entry and particularly with the thickness of pelts and short thick carrot tails. There seemed to be a sporting friendly atmosphere throughout to give me such a memorable happy day. I must just add an extra thank you to my helpful steward, Katie Hamilton, and to Margaret Boulcott, for whose great kindness, hospitality and long distance driving skills I was so grateful.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Very accurate on the move, in mature harsh double coat, thick pelt and short thick tail
The Southern Border Terrier Club Championship Show
9th Jun 2018
Judge: Mr W Shorthose (Cundytyke)
It is always a particular honour to judge a Breed Club Championship Show and my thanks go to the committee for their hospitality and my stewards who kept things running smoothly. I found only two poor mouths but more had wrong, thin skins and some needed to go home for a good feed. A working terrier needs to be correctly muscled and too many needed nourishment and exercise. The biggest problem, however, remains poor front movement showing both incorrect shoulders and, for some, over angulation in the hindquarters.
Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Yearling - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Border Union Agricultural Society
17th Jun 2018
Judge: Mrs Anne Gregory (Remony)
My thanks to the officers and committee of the Border Union Agricultural Society for inviting me to judge today. Thank you also to the exhibitors for giving me, by far, the biggest Terrier entry of the day. A big thank you to my two stewards, Nev and Liz Holmes-Leak, who kept things running smoothly and efficiently thus ensuring that we finished in time for my BOB to make the Group.
Coats were at varying stages, with some in their underclothes, and in some cases this was the deciding factor. Some exhibits were too fine in bone, particularly in the earlier classes. Some heads had ears set too high, some had deep stops with muzzles that were too short which gives a foreign expression. There were more than a few exhibits which would have benefited from having their feet tidied and nails cut. Soundness of movement in some dogs gave cause for concern. If a Border is to be fit for the function it was intended, it needs to be sound on the move. I found varying degrees of unsoundness in front movement from toeing in, crossing in front to paddling and out at the elbows. Hind movement in some exhibits was also less than desirable with hocks too close together when going away, cow hocks, lack of drive from hindquarters and, in some cases, lack of muscle tone. All of which would not allow a Border to be ‘capable of following a horse’ over rugged terrain. On a positive note, I did have some quality dogs to go over and was well pleased with my winners. I was also pleased to see my BOB shortlisted in the group.
Junior - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Yearling - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Strong head of good proportions, handy size, spans easily, straight front with good shoulder placement, harsh jacket, a mite steep in croup, moved o.k
Blackpool & District Canine Society
22nd Jun 2018
Judge: Mr Karl-Erik Johansson
I was most happy with such a good entry on this my first CC-appointment having had close contact with breed since the early 70s.
Overall size was excellent as was temperament. I was able to span almost everyone although I had hoped for more typical otter-heads. There were some long and narrow muzzles. Bites were excellent and Pelts mostly good for the season.
Conformation and movement coming and going was very good. Maybe I am a bit more concerned about side movement as some who was excellent standing lost the topline on the move.
Junior - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Very good type. Good coat moves OK
Windsor
29th Jun 2018
Judge: Miss Sarah Dandy (Dandale)
I was pleased with the quality of both my dog and bitch line ups, all were worthy winners with several most promising youngsters in both puppy and junior classes. I do like to watch movement in profile not only does it give a good indication of conformation but also the ability to follow a horse efficiently, so essential to the fitness for purpose of this working breed. I noted a lack of angulation front and back in many which restricts reach and drive. Untidy feet with unclipped nails do somewhat spoil the overall picture when an exhibit is standing on the table and can be easily fixed. Temperaments were uniformly sound which is of great importance and I thought the dogs (and exhibitors) coped really well in the extremely hot temperatures today.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Yearling - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Paignton
4th Aug 2018
Judge: Professor A S Milton
I suspect I shall retire from judging now. I certainly have no intention, when it comes into effect, of paying the Kennel Club to get on their judging lists. I have always assumed, though I may be wrong, that I have been invited to judge because people wanted me to. I have no intention of 'prostituting’ my art by paying money for the privilege. If I may reminisce, I have never sought a judging appointment, indeed in the beginning I had never even thought about judging. Then one day a letter arrived from the secretary of a large open show in Scotland. Would I judge the terrier breeds and the terrier group at their next open show? I have, to this day, no idea who suggested my name. I had never judged before, not even a match or a limited show, I was on no judging list, they didn’t exist in those days, I had never stewarded, and have never done so to this day, I have to this day never attended any hands on or assessment seminar. After my first appointment invitations came at fairly frequent intervals, including two breed clubs, and eventually I received an invitation to judge at a Championship show. However, when I replied, with my judging cv, the committee told me that they couldn't continue with my appointment, as the Kennel Club would not accept the nomination owing to the 'parochial' range of my judging, which had, with one exception, all been in Scotland. Notwithstanding that for example two of the shows had been over 200 miles apart, and from my home to the breed club show in England over 500 miles. Peter Thompson (Thoraldby) and Sybil Churchill came to my rescue and I found myself judging at LKA.
A few thoughts on Border Terriers. Size has always been a problem, right from the beginning of the breed, with there being far too many large dogs, outside the weight standard, and the numbers seem to be getting larger (forgive the pun). I blame the breeders for this. In one class at Paignton, there was only one dog, which I could span. Movement is another problem; the trend at the moment seems to be very narrow hindquarters, with the feet nearly touching. In 1991, I made a video of Crufts with the late R.A. Williams judging. Almost without exception all the dogs are in full coat. (A few years ago there was a pirated video made of this tape). In the book 'About the Border Terrier', Walter Gardner says 'It is difficult to judge Border coats today because so often the dogs are stripped, well nigh skinned'. Two personal gripes, Border should be walked on a loose lead, not strung up, and should stand naturally, I do particularly dislike those exhibitors who are continually fussing with their dogs, moving a foot a cm here, a cm there and the like.
I should like to thank the committee of the Paignton show for inviting me to judge. They were all very helpful, and also the vets at the show who kindly looked after my young puppy which I had, perforce, to bring with me, whilst I was judging.
Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
This dog had been Reserve in previous class.
Welsh Kennel Club
18th Aug 2018
Judge: Mr. David Maggs (Chrydas)
I would like to thank The Welsh Kennel Club for inviting me to judge Borders at their show when the original judge Mr Bill Brown-Cole dropped out through illness, it is 13 years since I judged this show last and I must say that I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. The quality throughout was excellent, I found no bad mouths , movement was fine except for a few who were a little bit loose in front, but coats were very varied.
Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Grizzle dog, stood on his own in the class, head ok, correct bite ,nice front angulation, coat and pelt ok, moved well.
The Scottish Kennel Club
25th Aug 2018
Judge: Mr. Ian Higham (Comberdown)
What a privilege it was to judge my breed again at the Scottish Kennel Club. I am very grateful for the invite.
I would really like to thank all of those who exhibited their dogs under me and for putting trust in my opinion and my integrity. I would also like to thank my very capable stewards Kate Scott and Lindsay O’Neill, who were very confident, efficient and jovial on the day.
My general findings were that the breed is showing a good in-depth quality. Movement is still a bit erratic here and there as one would expect, but I saw plenty of good borders on the day. However, I did notice that thickness of skin was not as evident as in the past and I honestly only found a few really good thick pelts. I found one dog had a very slight deformity near the very end of its tail. I had one or two level bites and one that obviously had recently had a tooth come out and its owner, very honestly, informed me of what had happened. None of these dogs were penalised in any way re mouths. Some exhibits were tallish but spannable, however, there were some that were two heavy in chest and had a rounder shape rib rather than the correct ‘v’ or heart shape.
As usual I was looking for borders that fulfilled the type points as laid out in our standard, combined with correct physical construction to be able to cover the ground well as they would have had to when our standard was written all those years ago.
Junior - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Another with a good tight grizzle and tan harsh jacket. Narrow, easily spanned and not heavy. He moves well and he is a good headed dog with correct mouth. He was very well presented and well handled. I preferred the top line and tail set of 1st.
Yearling - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
(Comments as per 2nd in Junior)
Richmond Championship Show
8th Sep 2018
Judge: Mrs Patsy Hollings (Gunalt)
As always at this show, everything runs smoothly and hospitality is first rate. Thank you. I really enjoyed this appointment with many quality Borders to choose from.
Junior - Dog /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Driffield Championship Show
22nd Sep 2018
Judge: Mr Paul Wilkinson
Junior - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Terrier Club of Scotland Open Show
14th Oct 2018
Judge: Mr David Robbins (Chenting)
Junior - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
20th Oct 2018
Judge: Mr Kevin Green (Terabyte)
I would like to thank the club officers & committee for inviting me to judge their show. I would also like to thank the stewards Anna & Judith for doing an excellent job and for keeping the show flowing so well. I was very pleased with the entry and thank you to all the exhibitors for such a lovely entry. I had such lovely dogs & bitches to go over on the day, they had good coats and pelts overall, I was a little disappointed on movement. All dogs were entire.
Once again I would like to thank the Club for a well-run show and such enjoyable day.
Junior - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Pleasing head, correct bite and textured coat and pelt, nice tail set also a good bend of stifle.
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
10th Nov 2018
Judge: Mrs Charlotte Archibald (Tweedburn)
My sincere thanks to the Scottish Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge their Championship show, one of my favourites. Also my thanks to the exhibitors for allowing me the privilege to judge their dogs.
My main concern is size and weight, it really does matter, there were a number of exhibits that were too heavy/big, and at the other end of the spectrum, not enough muscle/bone/condition, which is essential for a working dog. However, I was very happy with the main winners, and both line ups.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
grizzle, heavier than the first two, not easy to span, decent head with big teeth, deep throughout, moved ok.
Yearling - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Limited Show
27th Jan 2019
Judge: Mr P Lothian (Lairhope)
I would like to thank the Scottish Border Terrier Cub for inviting me to judge their 2019 Limited Show and to Exhibitors for allowing me to go over their dogs. I really enjoyed my day. Thank you also to the Committee for the excellent hospitality. Many thanks...
Yearling - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Nice otter head with good expression. Spanned easily. Has good pelt, a bit short of coat today. Moved okay but front claws too long.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
30th Mar 2019
Judge: Mrs Denise Townsend (Llanishen)
Thank you to the officers, committee and members of the Border Terrier Club for awarding the honour of judging this prestigious show and for giving me such a warm welcome. The show had a wonderfully friendly atmosphere and I hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as I did. Many thanks to all exhibitors for their entries, and for allowing me the opportunity to go over their dogs, something I consider a privilege. My stewards Judy and Judith looked after me perfectly and kept everything moving smoothly.
I was very pleased with my winners and with the overall standard of the entry. Some causes for concern included a small number of wry mouths in the early dog classes, exhibits with barely any undercoat and some heads which were lacking strength in their under-jaw.
Yearling - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Post Graduate - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
National Terrier
6th Apr 2019
Judge: Mr Eddie Houston
My thanks to the Society for inviting me, to my stewards Dave and Pat who kept things moving and most especially to all the exhibitors for entering and allowing me the privilege of going over their dogs.
I was very pleased with my main winners and there was a lot of quality in the puppy classes which should augur well for the future. Temperaments were excellent, all males were entire and there were no serious mouth faults.
On the minus side there were quite a number of animals of both sexes which were up to size and front movement is a real problem throughout the age range. A few dogs were carrying too much weight and a couple could have done with carrying a bit more. There were a number of dogs lacking in muscle-ours is a working breed and an unfit dog would not be able to fulfill the job of a working terrier.
Yearling - Dog /
Reserve
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
22 months grizzle. Nice type of dog. Good head and mouth,nice size,correct coat,pelt ok and sound on the move.
East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
7th Apr 2019
Judge: Mrs. Nancy Hogg (Raeburnfoot)
I would like to express my thanks to the officers, committee and members for the invitation to judge their championship show. I enjoyed it very much. Special thanks go to my two very able stewards who kept everything running smoothly for me. I appreciated it.
There was a good selection of quality dogs and bitches for me to pick from. Coats on the whole were pleasing. As was size. Temperament too apart from one blip. Some with winter noses, possibly more than I have noticed before. A few with domed skulls which makes for an untypical head. I felt that the depth of quality in the bitch classes outweighed the dogs. Both the puppy bitch classes were a joy. Some lovely pups having to go cardless. Its very encouraging and surely bodes well for the breed.
I was very happy with my main winners. It was a pleasure to award them their honours.
Thank you EABTC.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Typy border with strong head. Just failed in topline. Another not behaving for handler and movement difficult to assess.
Class Critique
A difficult class to judge. Temperament was not as it should be and dogs were placed accordingly.
The Scottish Kennel Club
18th May 2019
Judge: Mrs Marylynne Winder (Appleside)
My thanks to the Scottish Kennel Club for giving me the opportunity to judge at this years Championship show, and the exhibitors for giving me the opportunity to go over their dogs. A special thanks to my hard working ring stewards.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
nice sized dog, typical Border head, good shoulder & top line, carried tail well, harsh coat with a thick pelt, very good mover
The Southern Counties Canine Assocation
1st Jun 2019
Judge: Miss J Singh (Vandamere)
I was a delighted to receive the invitation to judge at this friendly and well run show The weather was glorious and there was a nice atmosphere around the ring.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day as I had some quality dogs to go over and this was reflected on the impressive results in the Group placings . I was thrilled to learn that the Best of Breed was awarded Terrier Group 1, my bitch CC winner was awarded Terrier Junior Group 2, the puppy gained Puppy Terrier Group 3 and the veteran was awarded Veteran Terrier Group 3. Is this a new record for group placings at one show for the breed?
The day was kept running smoothly by my two stewards Alan McKenzie and Sue Hann,
I was concerned about the number of exhibits with misplaced teeth. In total I found five exhibits each with a misplaced tooth, also two kinked tails and one exhibit with one testicle. Some exhibits were lacking in muscle tone and condition.
Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Nice red grizzle, handy size with a good head and pleasing expression. Correct bone, straight front with neat feet and a good bend of stifle. He was spannable and Shown in good coat. His movement was true both ways, showed well.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Annandale Canine Society Open Show
14th Jul 2019
Judge: Mr Lee Reynolds (Etterbern)
Open /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Bournemouth Championship Show
10th Aug 2019
Judge: Mr Alan Small
It was a bit blustery to say the least down at Pikes Farm, with high winds throughout the day. A good crowd round the ring and a pleasant atmosphere prevailed. It was nice to see so many old friends.
Thanks to Officers & Committee of Bournemouth C.A. For the invite, to my Stewards for looking after the Ring & to the exhibitors for such a lovely entry. I enjoyed your Border Terries, thanks for coming.
Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
The Scottish Kennel Club
25th Aug 2019
Judge: Mr Richard Allen (Penparc)
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Nice size, coat coming in nicely. Strong skull. Good outline. Well muscled quarters, moved well.
Midland Counties Championship Show
24th Oct 2019
Judge: Mr Stuart Plane
Limit - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
The Scottish Kennel Club (May) Championship Show
1st Oct 2021
Judge: Mrs Trudi Baird (Dowgri)
I was delighted to accept the invitation to judge at the May show postponed to October.
Under Scottish government rules it meant those of us inside had to wear masks & I thank the majority of exhibitors for complying with this legislation.
Thank you to my lone steward who was able to keep the classes coming in and ready for me, it wasn't an easy task with our neighbouring ring hosting the breeds October show but thankfully we didn't get too many clashes.
I always feel immensely privileged to be able to judge your dogs and I hope exhibitors felt that I gave each of you ample time to set up your dogs on the table to show them at their best.
The entry was varied and I felt my top winners were outstanding. As always coats were presented at various stages and bites were generally very good. A number with long flat & untidy feet and a few dogs I just couldn't span even with my large hands!
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
The Scottish Kennel Club (October) Championship Show
1st Oct 2021
Judge: Miss Anita Harrison (Iacheslei)
My thanks to SKC for holding the show after two changes of date and merging the May and October shows. It can’t have been easy. My grateful thanks to Bob Potts, my sole ring steward for the day, who cheerfully and calmly kept the ring running smoothly with the greatest efficiency.
Whilst my main winners fitted the breed standard I was disappointed with some of the other exhibits. The front movement on some left an awful lot to be desired. (Try videoing your dogs moving) Many were light of bone, on the leg and short coupled giving a square outline. Several had short round ribs. Having said that the majority were spannable. Dentition was generally good. All dogs were entire. Coats were at various stages but those with no coat had to be penalised in several classes. Presentation of some exhibits could have been better. Temperaments on the whole appeared to be okay, with just the odd exhibit displaying a tendency to be over excited in the presence of others.
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
The Terrier Club of Scotland Open Show
10th Oct 2021
Judge: Anne Speake
I’d like to extend my thanks to the society for their invitation to judge the border terriers at this friendly well run terrier show, to my efficient steward Elaine, who ensured things ran smoothly. To the exhibitors, it was a privilege to judge your dogs. Temperaments were excellent; all dogs were entire; and mouths were good.
Limit - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
lovely red grizzle dog, who has an attractive head, dark eye and strong short muzzle. Moderate neck, in to good shoulders, strong top line, and good tail set. In excellent double jacket with a loose pliable pelt, has good angulations and moved out well. Was a little unsettled by the dog’s that were ring side
The Terrier Club of Scotland – Limited Show
16th Apr 2022
Judge: Miss Bridget Singh (Borderbridge)
Limit /
First Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Dark grizzle dog nearly 5 years old. Lovely strong head. Nice length of body, good tail set and moved out well with reach.
St. Andrews, Cupar & District Canine Society Open Show
4th Jun 2022
Judge: Mark Atkinson (Raedwulf)
I would like to start with thanks to the St. Andrews, Cupar & District Canine Society committee inviting me to judge and for a well run show and excellent hospitality. Thanks also to my stewards for the smooth running of the ring.
Open /
Second Place
Name at show: Brackenfell Born To Be Alive
Placing Critique
Male grizzle shown in harsh jacket and thick pelt. Excellent head, keen dark eye, correct scissor bite with good teeth. Strong neck and good top line, finished with carroty tail. Slightly deeper in chest but spannable with allowance. Carrying a little too much condition. Movement not as flowing as 1.
