Show Placings
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
30th Sep 2023
Judge: Mrs J Guvercin (Glebeheath)
Thank you to the committee for this appointment, everyone worked hard to make it an enjoyable day. This venue always has a super atmosphere, however, the ring is too small really to see outlines, being far too near the dogs and side profile movement is very difficult to see, let alone for the dogs to perform really well. Many moved poorly, not liking the smooth mats and although I had to judge them on this today, I think most would move much better outside in a big grass ring.
Minor Puppy - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Northborders How The 'Eck
Crufts
10th Mar 2024
Judge: Mrs Lesley Gosling (Akinside)
A tremendous entry of 275 Borders ( 25 absentees on the day)to enjoy handling, judging and placing. I must extend my appreciation to my two valiant stewards for their patience and skill in keeping classes moving. Thank you all.
I do believe our breed is changing, but in subtle ways. The lack of opportunities for true terrier work below ground for some Borders has been replaced by agility and other energetic pursuits, but lack of hard muscle tone has produced a ‘softer’ body on some exhibits. Some feet are slacker, pads are more spread and thinner and some fronts are wide. Movement is not always positive and a ‘driving’ action is lacking. Size is fluctuating too. We have a ‘working’ breed - let’s ensure that features defining the breed are not lost, i.e. ‘spannability’; a hard, harsh top coat and soft protective undercoat (not enough of those today); a dark, expressive eye, a broad skull and strong quarters – ‘the engine is at the back!’. Heads generally were good, but some bitch heads veered towards coarseness.
One thing not lost is the Border’s kind temperament – curious, interested and ready for anything.
Junior - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Northborders How The 'Eck
Placing Critique
Grizzle youngster of good size. Neatest of feet. Would have liked more jacket. Good angulation. Beautiful headpiece.
Crufts
6th Mar 2025
Judge: Mr David Hunt (Ottaswell)
It was a tremendous honour and a great privilege some 3 years ago to be asked by the Kennel Club to judge at Crufts in 2025. Having attended and enjoyed this show over many years it felt strange to be finally standing centre stage.
My grateful thanks to the exhibitors and handlers from both home and overseas for giving me a fantastic entry of 249 dogs making 279 entries. I wish to sincerely thank my 2 stewards Ken Francis and Bill Ashworth for organising the ring and me so efficiently and thus avoiding any delays between classes in what was a long and tiring day starting at 08.00. Thanks also to Joyce Martin for the excellent photographs.
I was looking for an exhibit that best fitted the standard and most importantly that they were spannable. With kennel cough widespread throughout the country I requested handlers show me the exhibits teeth to avoid possible further spread. On the day I tried to ensure that each dog was given equal time on the table and moving around the ring.
The general condition of most exhibits was fine with coats as usual at all stages and some appearing to have been stripped the day before. Movement was generally good at the rear but less so in front where several were loose and moving in various directions usually caused by poor shoulder construction. Feet were disappointing in some exhibits being spread and well down on their pasterns with thin pads. I found 2 kinked tails and in the mouths 2 undershot plus several with missing and misaligned teeth. All males were entire. Temperaments were good throughout the day.
I was pleased with my final lineups and delighted to see my Best of Breed make the shortlist and be awarded Group 4
Post Graduate - Dog /
Third Place
Name at show: Northborders How The 'Eck
Placing Critique
A light g&t who stands well. Has a broad head with an eye of good shape and short strong muzzle. Of a cobbier type he is strongly built at both ends and has a short carrot tail carried correctly. His muscular condition enabled him to drive around the ring. Coat coming but not yet at its best.
Class Critique
A class of very mixed qualities
Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cheshire Border Terrier Club Championship Show
28th Sep 2025
Judge: Miss Tracey Peacock (Ragatam)
My sincere thanks to the exhibitors for allowing me the privilege to go over your dogs
Thank you all for the wonderful entry in terms of numbers & the depth & quality I had to judge, however I did have concerns about the size & movement of some of the exhibits & found a couple of mouths that were not quite correct
A huge thank you to my two stewards Bridget Singh & Anita Taylor for their help on the day
Graduate - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Northborders How The 'Eck
Placing Critique
Handy size boy, good proportions, lovely head & expression, well angulated both front & rear. Lovely carrot tail, moved out well both ways.
The Border Terrier Club Championship Show
28th Mar 2026
Judge: Mrs Kathy Wilkinson (Otterkin)
I was honoured to be invited to judge our Club’s Championship Show, 30 years after I last judged here (at a different venue) in 1996. This is my 16th time awarding CCs in the UK. Thank you to the Committee for this invitation. Thank you also to my two excellent ring stewards Janice Johnson and Marina Fleming and to the Collecting Ring Stewards Judy Carr and Judith Fawcett, all four of whose efforts throughout the day kept everything running smoothly so we finished in good time. Many thanks to the exhibitors for bringing their dogs to show to me and for the friendly atmosphere I encountered throughout the day. Win or lose, you always take the best dog home, as they say.
I found the quality excellent throughout, with many classes where I was really spoilt for choice. All males were entire and most of the entry had good scissor bites, with only one or two in Veteran being not so “precise”, shall we say. Some of the dogs were a little difficult to span and so paid the price, but on a whole, most were spannable and had good rib shapes. The standard does not ask for a flat rib – I do love to see a good rib shape when viewed from above, with enough capacity for heart and lungs to do their jobs. It is important to the breed’s job of work that they are spannable and have ribs carried well back. Movement is also important as it plays a major part in making them fit for function. An otter-like head takes them apart from a generic terrier and makes them the breed we love to own.
When the line ups came into the ring, particularly my bitch line up, I was very pleased to see them all and happy that we have such good examples of the breed.
Post Graduate - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Northborders How The 'Eck
Placing Critique
Grizzle and Tan dog who moved really well. Beautiful otter head, with good ear placement and good teeth. Nice thick tail, but would prefer better tail carriage as he is a little proud of it.
