Second Place in Open - Bitch, Judge: Dr Ian Gabriel (Gaybryl)
Many thanks for the lovely entry, both in terms of quality and quantity. I thoroughly enjoyed my day with the Border Terriers. When I last judged I felt there were too many with houndy large ears, this did not seem to be replicated in today’s entry which was pleasing and expression was generally much improved. What I did notice was that front action is something that we need to watch. Being Manchester and the last Championship show pre Crufts there were quite a few dogs who had been stripped in preparation and quite a few out of coat. In part that did play a part in some of my fineer placings.
This was a very difficult class to sort out as again there was a variance of type, size and maturity. The first two bitches were very different, both carry their title and both richly deserved to do so.
Very different in type and another with very much to like with an abundance of quality. This is a larger bitch to 1 and for my preference, I preferred the size of the 1st placed bitch. She has a very balanced outline, I think her front assembly was one of the best in the entry today. Solid topline, strong in the loin, one of the best pelts I felt all day. In excellent harsh coat. Well set on tail. Excellent tail of good thick strength and well tapered. Upright in pasterns. Movement was excellent