Show Type: Championship
Venue: The Arena, East of England Showground, Peterborough PE2 6XE
Judge: Mrs Janet Lee (Tythrop)
Entries: 117 making 156
My thanks to the Society for my invitation to judge at Boston show . Thanks too to my stewards who were both efficient and unobtrusive , great timesavers and cheerful ! I very much enjoyed my day on the woolsack and had some lovely dogs and bitches who I felt could do a days work , having the construction to enable them to run the equivalent of a marathon over rough terrain , as well as being narrow , lithe and spannable to get in underground and ultimately back out again . Some did pay the penalty of being too big in rib and thus were heavily over standard for weight when picked up or too wide in front to get in , others failed in their construction to move in a sound , balanced , long , free striding way making one think they could not follow a horse any distance ! All bar 1 male were entire , there were a few with kinks in their tails and I had more than the usual number of level bites , some with very jumbled or small teeth which I feel must be watched carefully and please try to breed out as they are the defence of a working terrier – Border Terriers should have big scissor bite dentition . I still believe a BT should be capable of free standing and moving on a looser lead as of yore , rather than having their legs screwed on and being too strung up , I understand some dogs do not make the most of themselves free stood , but a lot are pushed into a very strange shape by their handlers ,and lose the vivacity and ‘active and game’ outlook that is part and parcel of the breed , making them very depressed , even some of the puppies looked as though they would rather be anywhere else but in a show ring , either from being over shown or over handled . There were a few dogs who I felt needed more weight on them , their coats hiding their stuck up spine & pin bones – this may be to try and make them more easily spannable or weigh nearer the standard , but it is very unfair on any adult or puppy to starve them , and they did pay the price in some classes as they could not work as thin and lacking strength as they were. In other words they should be made right not starved into shape .
Both my challenge line ups pleased me , and I was especially pleased to have such a good even bitch challenge where I was spoilt for choice , ultimately the dog and bitch I could visualize most easily following horse and hounds and then working gained top honours , being well made , spannable , good coats and pelts , sound free accurate movers with quality and breed type .
Best Of Breed: Mansergh Plusfours
RDCC: Howthwaite Grainsgill
BCC: Mansergh Plusfours
RBCC: Bardenfox Pussy Galore
Best Puppy: Awbrooksky Geeteethree
Entries: 7 Absentees: 1
1st - Foxfactor Crime of Passion (Mrs K Stockley)
8 1/2 month dark grizzle , with light framed build and elegant outline . Head is balanced in proportion with dark eye , good bite and kind expression. He is balanced in angulation fore and aft which showed in his free flowing accurate movement . Narrow , spannable and comes to hand light , could have a shade more bone and firmer pasterns . Coat of good texture but not the depth for work today , could have carried a little more condition for me over loin and croup .
2nd - Brumberhill Breitling (Mr T & Mrs K Kelly)
another similar puppy in outline and balance though not as well schooled !! Narrow and looks legs and wings at this stage , handles well and is easily spanned with a good workmanlike build . He was erratic but just did enough good strides to convince me he can move well when he gets organised ! Really excellent coat and pelt .
3rd - Ravenside Starman (Mr M Lowry)
Res - Chorbeck Chatty Man (Mrs H Haughton)
VHC - Brewbrads Tricky Trickster (Miss V Bradley)
Entries: 3 Absentees: 0
1st - Brumborder Willow Balm (Dr M A Mccall & Ms L Britton)
11m red grizzle of handy size and light framed build . He is typical in head with dark eye and well set ears. Narrow front with well boned , straight legs and good feet. Easy span rib of good shape , picks up not too heavy, though he too could carry more weight for his frame . Moved straight and took a decent stride keeping same outline as when stood.
2nd - Karison Kosta (Miss K Johnson)
11 1/2m striking red with dark points. Strong head with very nice expression ,excellent mouth with big teeth. Top size , so just spannable ,carrying a heavy double coat just about to blow , but was rather lean beneath it . Thought he would be my winner , but today moved erratically , crossing in front and not really getting into a long fluent stride- perhaps affected by the floor as quite a few were.
3rd - Borderpoint Obsidian (Mr R W & Mrs L H Steel)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 0
1st - Alcumlow Parsley (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
17 1/2 month light grizzle of handy size , well within standard weight . Well balanced head with little stop, good dark kind eye giving excellent expression , strong muzzle and big scissor bite . Really liked his unexaggerated balance , being equally angulated both ends with a light narrow frame which is well ribbed up with short strong loin , he came to hand so well. Excellent straight medium bone into tight deep feet . He moved absolutely true with travel and economy in profile . Had little top coat today but evidence was there , his deep dense undercoat and good pelt were as per standard. Although he’s not glamorous he could certainly do a days work & the more I looked the better I liked him , with full maturity and in coat should do well.
2nd - Dandyhow Galloping Gourmet (Mrs K Irving)
Just 12 m grizzle giving a lot away in maturity in head and body . He is leggy , light framed, narrow bodied and spans well. Narrow front with level backline and well ribbed up , but still needs a bit more finish in loin and hindquarters . Moved well in front but rather erratically behind & was bouncing with enthusiasm rather than travelling in profile ! Good depth and texture topcoat , with undercoat . Beat a well balanced more mature dog on weight today.
3rd - Carrock Carnegie (Ms J Fawcett)
Res - Irton Mountain Dew (Mr D & Mrs A Fryer)
VHC - Sling Shot (Mrs J & Mr W Hamlin)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 1
1st - Gameway Mcvitie JW (Mrs P Clark)
21m dark grizzle of medium size, very typy and with a very good head , eye, ears and big teeth in a strong jaw. Balanced fore and aft in angulation , with firm backline and good underline. Narrow straight front, well shaped rib of decent length and strong loin . Came in good crisp topcoat and sufficient undercoat , but carrying his Xmas treats rather too well ! He still spanned OK but picked up a bit heavy . He moved straight, but would like him to stride out with a little more scope and activity .
2nd - Stowthorney Mr Tickle (Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green)
Taller workmanlike light grizzle , with narrow front ,spans well and moves true , just needs more time to mature and drop onto his legs and fill his frame , being a slow maturer and none the worse for that .Very nice head , eye& expression & in very good fettle.
3rd - Colourbox Flint Knapper Over Swingwing (Mrs G & Mr & Mrs G Cove Print & Fordham)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 1
1st - Glebeheath Smash N'grab (Mrs L.M.I & Mr A.M. Jordan-Smith)
Handy sized light grizzle who came in his underclothes , but a very good dense undercoat and thick loose pelt . Nice head without too much stop , good bite , neat well placed ears. Narrow straight front with clean shoulders , good body shape with easy span rib which is carried back to a strong loin. Lovely to see one free stand in a balanced way , he moved soundly where he scored over 2 in front , would perhaps prefer a shade more leg , but he was totally level in profile and is a nice type.
2nd - Plushcourt The Boss Bee At Manorcroft (Miss C Broomhead & Mr D Bean)
Grizzle who was short of top coat today and not such a dense undercoat , more my leg length , with good clean shoulders but a little short in upper arm which means he doesn’t reach quite as well as winner. Slightly deeper body , but is spannable and narrow. Good head ,eye and mouth and with good height at wither and firm backline to well muscled rear that had drive .Sire of my BRCC . Free stands and makes the most of himself – a close decision .
3rd - Dandyhow Friendly Fire at Chevinor (Mrs H A Metcalfe)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 1
1st - Howthwaite Grainsgill (Mr R J & Mrs E A Barrett)
2 1/2 year dark grizzle in lovely tweedy double coat that was presented well . Upstanding and masculine he has developed well from the stringy puppy he was. Very typy otter head with dark eye and well placed ears. Good big teeth in scissor bite . Narrow front assembly with long clean well placed shoulders and good length of upper arm bringing his legs underneath him correctly . Medium bone straight legs , strong pasterns ,with excellent deep tight feet. Good rib shape and strong loin into well angulated and muscled hindquarters . Moved well in all directions keeping a very good outline and carrying his tail very well. Balanced and typical & just coming to his best ,pleased to award him RCC.
2nd - Breckgreen Soldier Blue (Mrs. J. Green)
very workmanlike , lithe bodied lad who could get anywhere underground & has the scope and soundness to get there too ! Slightly plainer head and eye than winner , but good big teeth to be effective ! His narrow front and easy span rib was lovely to handle and like all from this kennel , well presented, in fit condition.
3rd - Mansergh Burne Jones (Miss A Roslin Williams)
Res - Karison Keiser (Miss K Johnson)
VHC - Otterwood Caius JW ShCM (Mr M J & Mrs J M Hollingsbee)
Entries: 11 Absentees: 4
Good class headed by 3 upstanding males who all had merit and who could change places easily another day.
1st - CH Ottaswell Palamedes (Mr D & Mrs G M Hunt)
tall elegant light grizzle of 4 yrs . Excellent otter head , with good length of skull , kind dark eye , well set ears his broad muzzle has little stop and he has big scissor bite, with strong underjaw. Excellent narrow well placed front & lovely straight quality boned legs into really good tight feet. Superb clean long shoulders which are so smooth , fitting onto the body so well. Enough return of upper arm to bring his legs properly underneath him. Good body shape which is spannable and racy hindquarters covered with deep undercoat , topcoat just coming in with thick pliant pelt. Moved true and economically being light on his feet . Well deserved DCC .
2nd - Brumberhill Both Barrels (Mr S A Mcpherson)
Just 2 , masculine headed light grizzle ,a bit more bone than winner but many of the same virtues , being narrow and straight fronted , with good legs and feet , good in body and hindquarters , but with less topcoat which meant he didn’t have the ‘finish’ of the winner today .He moved well with a straight free action & I considered him strongly for RCC , only beaten on the finish coat gives for type.Beat another dog I liked a lot on condition today.
3rd - Tojamatt Warlord (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
Res - Mansergh Burne Jones (Miss A Roslin Williams)
VHC - Barnby Caramel Wafer At Bimandi (Mrs M J Holmes)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 1
1st - Solitary Mist (Mr D & Mrs C Hodgson)
7 1/2 yrs grizzle who hardly looks a veteran & has kept his good body shape . Masculine head with little stop and strong muzzle with big teeth. Narrow all through and well ribbed up into strong loin and powerful well muscled rear . Not the showiest boy , but that wouldn’t stop him working ! Nice to see a veteran in such good hard condition, a credit to his owner.
2nd - CH Irton Up Helly Aa (Mr D & Mrs A Fryer)
9 yrs young & still sound moving with deep double coat. His head is improving again with age – gorgeous ! Heavier build than winner so slightly more of him to span , but he is a lovely veteran , another in excellent condition.
3rd - Borderella Day Tripper JW ShCM (Mrs P South)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 2
I have to say my bitch line up was the most even , and typical , I have been able to achieve , thank you for bringing them !
1st - Lady Fiona Mctarry (Miss A J Sutton & Mr M Sugden)
Lovely coloured and coated blue who is of super old fashioned type – nicely balanced outline , could be a shade narrower and more lithe to handle , but she is all Border , having a very nice head and excellent carrot tail . She moves round very soundly but could be a shade more accurate out and back .
Entries: 13 Absentees: 3
1st - Chesterton Caboodle (Mr A J & Mrs W Mooney)
Just 6 m light grizzle of lovely handy size , making her debut . Nice head with clean flat skull , dark eye and good bite , good reach of neck into lovely front – she was never standing wrong whenever I looked at her , super shoulders , good return , quality straight boned legs and very good feet. Good body length easily spanned long ribs and medium length loin. Croup needs to flatten slightly , but she is such a quality baby I forgave her that. She moved a little puppyish , but straight and free . Superb coat and pelt put down to perfection.
2nd - Foxfactor Fancy Free (Mrs K Stockley)
Another raw baby with much promise. Attractive feminine head slightly deeper in stop at present than winner, she too is a nice size and comes to hand well , she is narrow all through and balanced in outline. She moves freely and with scope but needs to firm a little in topline which should come with maturity. Narrow and lithe she should end up the right size for work in the future. Think she may look better free stood as she was tending to fight a little with her handler which did not improve her topline. Good coat and pelt , but a little further blown than winner.
3rd - Chorbeck Gossip Girl At Blackmine (Miss Tracey James & Mrs Michelle Render)
Res - Mansergh Azure Aware (Miss A Roslin Williams)
VHC - Imperterrito Agenda By Borderella (Mrs P South)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 0
1st - Awbrooksky Geeteethree (Mr R & Miss L Goddard)
red grizzle of 10m who has scope & freedom keeping her balanced outline with good conformation throughout . Head still needs to develop , with well made front , , clean shoulders and narrow lithe body , has good length of straight well boned leg . Liked her strength of rear which has well let down driving hocks. Coat was starting to blow a little , but she spans well and comes to hand light. Moved on a long ground covering & accurate stride which clinched her B.P.
2nd - Diggsad Dizzy Dizzy Dora (Mr P & Mrs A Taylor)
Very nice type and workmanlike build , being narrow and nicely made throughout . Ribs are well carried back and easily spannable , good coat and pelt . Front needs to tighten a little but drives away well and has freedom and scope in profile.
3rd - Otterpaws Firebird (Miss A M Dixon)
Res - Brankell Double Or Quits (Mr P Brannan & Miss M Kelly)
VHC - Imperterrito Agenda By Borderella (Mrs P South)
Entries: 11 Absentees: 1
1st - Bardenfox Pussy Galore (Mr K H & Mrs D Moore)
Feminine & typy , this well made grizzle of 15 months has many virtues . She is a lovely size with good length of leg under a light framed easy span body. Quality proportionate otter head with dark eye and excellent bite of big teeth. Good reach of neck flows into well placed clean shoulders , enough upper arm & straight bone into tight small feet. Her firm level backline flows into racy well angulated hindquarters with well let down hocks. Moved freely with a good economical easy stride , totally accurate too! Has a quality look with a bit of style and class ! Lack of depth of coat today was deciding factor in the challenge along with less depth of loin denoted by underline which should come with full maturity . Pleased to award her RBCC .
2nd - Howthwaite Gold Dust (Mr R J & Mrs E A Barrett)
Another classy b with many similar virtues this time blue & tan . Slightly bigger all through than todays winner , she has a very nice head with strong jaw and good bite . Excels in front assembly , legs and feet . Well shaped rib that has length with a strong loin,she has well angulated and muscled hindquarters . She too was in between coats lacking depth of topcoat , but good colour & texture evident . Moved with total precision coming and going , but lacked a bit of freedom in comparison to winner today – like many they often need to get their toe in on grass otherwise they hold back a little & I felt she did today.
3rd - Byrewick Valentine (Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green)
Res - Otterwood Domina Candesco (Mr M J & Mrs J M Hollingsbee)
VHC - Irton Scotch Mist (Mr D & Mrs A Fryer)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 0
1st - Tojamatt Integrity (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
22 m light grizzle who has always drawn my eye as she is the epitome of active and game! Quality feminine head with well placed eye and neat close set ears , she has a good bite and strength of muzzle . Like her firm elegant outline , good front , excellent feet, medium length body and well angulated rear with a well set carrot tail . She outmoved everything in this class and was a major contender in the challenge when she pulled and overcooked the active bit , which spoilt her hind movement . Sure to keep troubling the best , a good bitch with lots to like.
2nd - Byrewick Valentine (Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green)
Lovely blue b to handle as she is so lithe and wiry – could get in and get out again no bother . She is very sound on the move and has a freedom and accuracy that is highly desirable coming from her correct construction . Plainer in head than winner , and not quite the depth of coat or thickness of pelt , but one I could see working too .
3rd - Ellhex Dizzie Miss Lizzie (Ms M Render & Ms T James)
Res - Argentail Titania by Onthill (Mr R & Mrs A Ramus)
VHC - Chesterton Boutique (Mr A J & Mrs W Mooney)
Entries: 19 Absentees: 0
1st - Otterbobs Xolana (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)
Handy size b who came in excellent double coat and condition , strong head with good bite , straight front and narrow body , powerful angulation behind , with well set carroty shape tail . Moved accurately and soundly but without much enthusiasm . Another who looked very good in the challenge .
2nd - Brumberhill Miss Dior (Mrs N E Ellis)
Light grizzle with a gorgeous head eye and expression set off by well set v-shaped ears , similar size and build to the winner , but a bit deeper . She moved well and was close up to 1 , but not quite in the same bloom of condition.
3rd - Byrewick Princess Kate (Mrs. L. Foulger)
Res - Alcumlow Miss Teeq (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
VHC - Tombac Tara at Vallemoss (Mr L & Mrs S Moss)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 2
1st - Smalesmouth Skylark (Mrs J Roberts)
Light grizzle b who very much appeals to me as she so reminds me of Quill – she is still maturing and needs more time to reach her best , but she has a good head , neat ears, scissor bite with reachy neck that flows into clean well laid shoulders , which are well back on the body . Narrow front and easy span rib with excellent underline , she has a lovely body shape a bit longer cast but it gives her such scope , she has width over her quarters and well let down hocks – comes alive on the move where she fair sails round at top speed. Long striding , hence very ground covering , her day will come.
2nd - Brumberhill Bollinger For Chesterton (Mr A J & Mrs W Mooney)
Another lovely outline albeit from a much bigger mould . Top size bitch who is more difficult to span than the winner . She has a good head with good eye and expression , is balanced in construction and sound moving , came in decent coat with good pelt.
3rd - Byrewick Princess Kate (Mrs. L. Foulger)
Res - Baillieswells Stronachie (Professor A S Milton)
VHC - Borderella Snap Dragon (Mr F & Mrs H Freeman)
Entries: 12 Absentees: 4
1st - Mansergh Plusfours (Miss A Roslin-Williams)
A stylish quality b from times past – full of old fashioned Border type , she looked absolutely lovely today – fits the standard so well being workmanlike in build , sound , and of a size that could easily get in and back out again. Liked her as a puppy , then in her ‘teens’ she was rather betwixt’n’between , but has come out of that gawky stage and now looks the part . A consummate showgirl she can stand free and show off her lovely outline – firm topline , good underline ,well balanced with good length of bone throughout , which gives her free accurate movement with drive off her hocks keeping the firmest of backlines . Like her well balanced feminine head , length of neck and carrot tail she never stops using , has enough leg underneath her easy span correct shaped body to get there too. Came in deep double tweedy coat of correct texture with good pelt .BCC & BOB , good luck for the future .
2nd - Howthwaite in Vogue (Mr R J & Mrs E A Barrett)
Similar size and build grizzle of quality , with nice head , good front , legs and feet , medium length body , with well angulated rear she can use well too . Very sound free mover , she just lost out on rib shape , but a good bitch who also fits the standard well.
3rd - Hawcoat Forget Me Not (Mrs E J & Miss R C Larner)
Res - Smalesmouth Skype (Mrs J Roberts)
VHC - CH Tarkaswell Double Agent JW ShCM (Mrs C E Samsom)
Entries: 2 Absentees: 2