Show Placings
National Terrier
2nd Apr 2022
Judge: Miss J Singh (Vandamere)
I would like to thank the Secretary of the National Terrier Club and committee members for their warm welcome and superb hospitality. I had a nice entry of 113. Inevitably there were some absentees. It was encouraging to see young handlers in the ring and I hope they continue to enjoy the show scene.
I found three wry mouths and one exhibit with a kink tail. A couple of exhibits were in need of muscle tone and condition. This is achievable by good feeding and exercise and not starvation. My thanks go to my very capable stewards who kept the proceedings running smoothly.
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Manorcroft Mr Brightside
Placing Critique
Handsome puppy. His head was a good otter shape, correct scissor bite and a strong muzzle. Nice dark eye and well placed ears. Correct in neck and shoulders, easily spanned, straight front and neat feet. His hindquarters were angulated which enabled him to move with drive. He was in good muscle tone and second thigh was evident.
The East Anglia Border Terrier Club Championship Show
18th Apr 2022
Judge: Mr M. Hollingsbee (Otterwood)
I would like to thank the Committee of the Club for entrusting me to judge this
show. Due to my age I have decided that this will be my last appointment at this
level. I would like to thank my able stewards Sarah Pateman and Kay Tuffin for
keeping me in order and ensuring a smooth running of the show. All of the
Committee worked very hard and I thank them.
Having said that, what a lovely standard of dogs were placed before me. Overall
coats were excellent and I did not detect one bad mouth. The only criticism I have is
that a few exhibits did not have the feet and nails trimmed.
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Manorcroft Mr Brightside
Placing Critique
Pale grizzle, moved well with confidence, good topline and tailset, good angulation at rear
WELKS
25th Apr 2022
Judge: Mr S A Mcpherson (Brumberhill))
Thank you to the WELKS committee for the invitation to judge their show and to my stewards, who did a sterling job, keeping everything moving, to get through the entry.
Wasn’t sure what to expect, being on a Monday, in the current financial climate, so was delighted to receive an entry of 126 dogs, making 181 entries, topping the Terrier Group, by quite a margin. Thank you to those exhibitors, for bringing their dogs, and wanting my opinion. There were very few I’d actually judged before, having last judged at Blackpool ’19.
We were blessed with a lovely sunny day, and a huge double sized ring, giving everyone full chance to show their dogs to full advantage.
I felt it was a high quality entry, especially the bitches, where, I felt, my final bitch challenge line up was one of the best I’ve judged. There were a number of bitches, both there, and in the placings, I have no doubt will gain their crowns, given a fair chance.
Main points of concern, as last time I judged, at Blackpool ’19, are still deep stops, with a rounder eye, giving an untypical expression. A few, with this problem, also had tighter, untidy bites, as they were very short in muzzle.
A few knobbly tails, some too long, carried high, but most were ok and well carried.
On the whole, I thought movement had improved, although still a few high steppers, due to incorrect shoulder and upper arm. Toplines were good, on most. Presentation, on the whole, was good, as most were in good coat, or evidence of texture.
Puppy - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Manorcroft Mr Brightside
Placing Critique
Light grizzle. Well grown pup, at nearly 12 months. Excellent head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Super hindquarters. Good coat and pelt. Sound enough, on the move, he just needs to get his act together, to show off his many virtues.
The Midland Border Terrier Club Championship Show
7th Aug 2022
Judge: Miss Rebecca Barber (Alcumlow)
Thank you very much to the committee of the Midland Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge this show, it is a club that is very dear to me having been a member for over 30 years and I very much enjoyed my day. Thank you to my three stewards Laura, La and Richard for doing an amazing job of looking after me and keeping me well fuelled! Thank you also to all of the exhibitors who made the decision to enter their beautiful dogs under me, I know that we have to be selective in this current climate and I was absolutely delighted with such a fabulous entry. I felt overall that the dogs were of excellent quality and the majority were turned out beautifully. Heads are good in the main, we are getting away from that bulbus rounded skull and teddy bear expression and going back to a more traditional look. I would say the things that need addressing the most are front angulation, there are still quite a few dogs lacking in upper arm and also poor rear angulation appears to be creeping in a little. However, I found some beautiful dogs and I was very pleased with my main winners, some classes were extremely competitive and some good dogs had to go cardless. I thank you all for persevering in the heat, it was a tough day for me judging in such intense heat, so I am sure it was difficult for the exhibits too. I hope my winners appreciated our crochet efforts with the personalised rosettes, which mum and I took a lot of pleasure in making.
Junior - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Manorcroft Mr Brightside
Placing Critique
Quality young male with style and a nice handy size, in excellent coat with fabulous pelt. Ottery head with flat skull and strong muzzle. Correct bodylines, flexible and lovely to go over. Correct front assembly with well laid shoulders, narrow body with good depth and length of rib. Level topline and good tailset with correct carrot shaped tail to complete the overall balanced picture. Moved out beautifully, this dog could easily go all day covering the ground with ease. Highly considered in the challenge, I will watch him with interest as he matures.
Darlington Championship Dog Show
17th Sep 2022
Judge: Miss Tracey Peacock (Ragatam)
Firstly, I would like to thank the committee for their invitation to judge Border Terriers. Huge thanks to my two efficient stewards Laura Jordan-Smith and Julie North who kept me on track and finally the exhibitors for a super entry. Movement in general was better at the rear than in front as there were too many swinging fronts, wide movement and toeing in. There was a good selection of quality dogs and bitches for me to choose from and I thoroughly enjoyed my day.
Junior - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Manorcroft Mr Brightside
Placing Critique
light grizzle with excellent head and expression. Good shoulders and front, super hindquarters, jacket okay. He just needs time to settle down on the move.
Manchester Championship Show
20th Jan 2023
Judge: Mrs Patsy Hollings (Gunalt)
Limit - Dog /
First Place
Name at show: Manorcroft Mr Brightside
Placing Critique
Not in full coat ,as many weren’t ( Crufts is only a good month away ) but his overall type ,balanced and shape demanded his win here. Super head ,has quality bone and grand strong set on of short tail. He also took it, on his sassy outgoing character.
Crufts
11th Mar 2023
Judge: Mr David Shields (Wilholme)
To judge Border Terriers at Crufts was both a privilege and a honour and I must thank the Crufts Committee for the appointment to judge the breed at what is the greatest dog show in the world. A big thanks go to the exhibitors from both home and abroad for such a super entry which made for a great days judging with quality in depth in many of the classes. Finally I must thank my two stewards who kept things moving in the ring to allow me to finish judging in good time.
On the day I was looking for a workmanlike dog as the standard asks for but one also must remember that in the show ring you also need that attitude and showmanship to complete the picture. I felt my BOB put up a great show in the Group and was so pleased to see him take Group 2 in a quality line up.
Limit - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Manorcroft Mr Brightside
Placing Critique
Another very good one who I liked a lot and similar in outlook to the winner. Well balanced throughout and built on clean lines. Good head, very typical with well set ears, dark eye and an alert expression. Well made front, straight and the best of legs and feet. Good body shape, firm topline and a pleasing tailset. Strong well muscled hindquarters. Positive on the move.
Darlington Championship Show
17th Sep 2023
Judge: Mrs D Bullen (Fevstone)
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge for the second time. I had a good entry of 125 with a few absentees as is usual, the dogs were of varying types and sizes which is to be expected. The ones that were unspannable aren’t fit for function as they fall at the first hurdle so to speak.
There are quite a lot creeping into the breed of late which lack power in the foreface. Falling away below the eye with a foreign expression. Also lacking in underjaw. Again a weakness in the breed which needs addressing or we will lose these qualities essential to work. A lot now have too short an upperarm which is vital in construction as it propels the dog forward as he should cover the ground effortlessly striding out. Not Pitter patter slowly. On a more positive note I found a lot of quality true to type borders that were a pleasure to judge. Effortless free movement which is essential. I’m sure the breed will go on to have a bright future if we all keep to the breed type.
Limit - Dog /
Second Place
Name at show: Manorcroft Mr Brightside
Placing Critique
Racier type with a good head and keen expression. Strong scissor bite. Pleasing harsh jacket and loose pelt. Very smart boy. Ribbed well back easily spanned. Moved with purpose and drive.
