Show Placings
The Northern Border Terrier Club 50th Championship Show
16th Jul 2022
Judge: Mr Euan Castel (Flutorum)
It was an honour to judge the Club’s 50th Championship Show at Bowburn. Many thanks to the Officers and committee for their kind invitation and warm welcome at the show. Thank you to my efficient stewards Graham Richardson and Mark Atkinson for keeping everything on track. Thankfully the show avoided the excessive temperatures of the heatwave and although still hot the hall remained comfortable for both dogs and exhibitors. Sincere thanks to all exhibitors for providing me with a lovely entry, it was a privilege to go over your dogs. I found an equal depth of quality in both dogs and bitches and very pleased with the final line-ups.
Minor Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Pearl
Placing Critique
Grizzle with otter like head, lovely feminine expression. Nice neck and shoulder, well boned. Nice carroty tail. Harsh coat on loose pelt. Moved soundly.
Durham & County Canine Assoc. Premier Open Show.
17th Jul 2022
Judge: Lesley Armstrong-Rodgers ( Atron/Scottsway )
Thank you to the Committee for inviting me to judge Border Terriers at this extremely well run event, especially for pulling off such a great show despite being let down at such a late stage with their original venue. The Committee must have really pulled together, so very well done. I must say that they even had far more toilet facilities than some Championship Shows of late !.
I was delighted to be greeted with a super entry, not just numerically, but in quality too !. Thank you to all the exhibitors for bringing their Borders for my opinion today.
Puppy - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Pearl
Placing Critique
A very typical head on this grizzle and tan puppy who also had lot’s to like about her. Showed herself very well, standing on a good straight front with neat tight feet. Pleasing size and shape with good rear angulation. Easy to span and shown in decent jacket. Moved well but could not match the enthusiasm of the winner today.
Carlisle & District Canine Society Open Show
31st Jul 2022
Judge: Dr Margaret Armstrong (Ploughdown)
I’d like to offer my thanks to Carlisle and District Canine Society for asking me to judge Borders on the day and to the committee of the Border Terrier Club for proposing me for the appointment. It was a very bright, sunny day so being inside the arena gave the exhibitors and the exhibits some relief from the heat. Although generally Borders prefer the open air and often give of their best outside. I’d like to offer my appreciation to my steward on the day for his efficient and effective management of the classes; he was super. My thanks also go to the exhibitors who entered their dogs and were so pleasant and sporting in accepting my placings. My decisions were based on how I saw the dogs on the day and some decisions were very close.
Puppy -Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Pearl
The Scottish Kennel Club (October Show)
1st Oct 2022
Judge: Mr G Richardson
I would like to thank the Scottish Kennel Club for offering me the chance to award C.Cs for the first time, thanks to their hospitality i had a very enjoyable experience . Thank you to the exhibitors for accepting my decisions in a sporting manner . Also thank you to my very efficient Steward on the day Judy Carr , with her experience she kept the day flowing excellently. Overall I was very pleased with the dogs placed on the day, generally there was a better quality bitch entry compared to dogs. Movement and wide fronts was an issue with some exhibits but generally ok. I was happy to see my B.P, take Puppy Group 2 and B.S.B.I.B. take S.B. Group 1 .
Puppy - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Whittonglebe Pearl
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Championship Show
12th Nov 2022
Judge: Mr Eddie Houston (Earthwise)
I won my first Crufts qualifier at this show 25 years ago and it has always been one of my favourites. It was an honour to be invited to judge and my thanks go to the Scottish Club for their hospitality. Thanks also to my very capable stewards Bill Shorthose and Judy Carr.My sincere thanks to all those who entered and allowed me the privilege of going over their dogs.
Today I found there to be a much greater depth of quality among the bitches with there being many promising puppies and some very nice animals in the upper classes,particularly limit and open. This depth of quality was not apparent in a number of the dog classes although I was pleased with my main winners.
As would be expected there was some diversity in size and type.A number of exhibits of both sexes were up to size- I have big hands so if I find them difficult to span they are probably too big. I found all males to be entire, no serious mouth faults and one kinked tail.Of most concern was the number of dogs with very poor front movement and the number with atypical heads; some too long in muzzle and a few where the muzzle was too short, the latter giving a rather cat like look. Coats and pelts were generally good and a few dogs would benefit from more exercise to improve their muscletone.A fairly minor fault, but one which detracts from the overall outline, were the dogs which carried their tails curled over their backs i.e “gay tailed” as opposed to carrying their tails gaily.
Some of these faults are aesthetic but others such as size and soundness are not and we should be mindful that our breed is “essentially a working terrier.”
Puppy - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Pearl
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Members Limited Show
29th Jan 2023
Judge: Andrea Dixon (Otterpaws)
Thank you to the club for the invitation to judge and the exhibitors for their entries. It was a delight to judge my first Breed Club show. Thank you to the committee for a well-run show and my tasty lunch. Thank you to my steward Pete Appleby.
Junior - Bitch /
Third Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Pearl
The Border Terrier Club Open Show
25th Feb 2023
Judge: Mrs Julie Fletcher North (Northborders)
Firstly I would like to thank the Committee for my invite to judge my first Club show , also my 2 able stewards Judy and Kathy for keeping me and the ring in order , mostly I thank the exhibitors for their wonderful entry and allowing me to go over their beautiful dogs , I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I was really pleased with both my line ups , I loved all my main winners and look forward to following their futures
Junior - Bitch /
Very Highly Commended
Name at show: Whittonglebe Pearl
The Scottish Border Terrier Club Open Show
4th Jun 2023
Judge: Mrs V Atkinson (Raedwulf)
Thank you so much to the society for inviting me to judge this wonderful show. To my steward, Judy Carr, thank you for running my ring so efficiently, especially in the heat. Thanks must go to the ladies for our delicious lunch too. I was presented with some super examples of the breed and there were some tough decisions, especially in the bitches. I do also think the heat affected the performance of some as the day progressed. On the whole mouths were good, but a couple of very knotted tails and some dogs I was unable to span, even with generous allowance which would preclude them from fulfilling the breed standard of ‘essentially a working terrier’.
Junior - Bitch /
Reserve
Name at show: Whittonglebe Pearl
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.
Yearling - Bitch /
Second Place
Name at show: Whittonglebe Pearl
Placing Critique
neat little bitch, well angulated both ends, nice eye, good feet, good coat, pelt and tail,
