Show Type: Championship
Venue: Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH28 8NB
Judge: Mr. Ian Higham (Comberdown)
Entries: 99 making 113
What a privilege it was to judge my breed again at the Scottish Kennel Club. I am very grateful for the invite.
I would really like to thank all of those who exhibited their dogs under me and for putting trust in my opinion and my integrity. I would also like to thank my very capable stewards Kate Scott and Lindsay O’Neill, who were very confident, efficient and jovial on the day.
My general findings were that the breed is showing a good in-depth quality. Movement is still a bit erratic here and there as one would expect, but I saw plenty of good borders on the day. However, I did notice that thickness of skin was not as evident as in the past and I honestly only found a few really good thick pelts. I found one dog had a very slight deformity near the very end of its tail. I had one or two level bites and one that obviously had recently had a tooth come out and its owner, very honestly, informed me of what had happened. None of these dogs were penalised in any way re mouths. Some exhibits were tallish but spannable, however, there were some that were two heavy in chest and had a rounder shape rib rather than the correct ‘v’ or heart shape.
As usual I was looking for borders that fulfilled the type points as laid out in our standard, combined with correct physical construction to be able to cover the ground well as they would have had to when our standard was written all those years ago.
Best Of Breed: Shiftyfox Black Pearl
DCC: Keebank Jack Frost
RDCC: Ridgebow Two Hoots
RBCC: CH Chorbeck Gossip Girl At Blackmine JW
Best Puppy: Lairehope Bear Bejewelled
Best Veteran: TVG3, CH/AM/CAN CH Cedarhill Beyond the Stars JW
Entries: 1 Absentees: 1
Entries: 4 Absentees: 1
1st - Lairehope Bear Bejewelled (Mr P & Mrs K Lothian)
Good sized grizzle puppy dog. He has a nice head and correct bite. Proper harsh coat and loose pelt. He moves very well front and behind on well padded feet with straight legs. Very nice in outline with good top line and tail set which he holds on the move. Easily spanned. Very promising at this stage of his development. BPD AND BPIB.
2nd - Glenbucket Highland Reel (Mrs M J Alexander)
This puppy had just enough coat to assess. Attractive head and nice big teeth for age, with correct bite. He moved reasonably well enough to achieve this placing, but was beaten on coat and I preferred the size of first.
3rd - Tojamatt Taboo (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 0
1st - Ridgebow Two Hoots (Mr N & Mrs A Duxbury)
A very attractive grizzle dog. I believe he is of an ideal size to make him very versatile in a working environment. Good tight harsh coat. Moves well with drive from his well muscled rear quarters and has a straight front. Easily spanned. He is an eye catching Border in profile with a very good top line and tail set. Lovely head. Excellent teeth and bite with strong muzzle. I thought he was a smashing young border and a very good example. Very little between this one and the CC winner. RDCC.
2nd - Brackenfell Born To Be Alive (Mr I Single)
Another with a good tight grizzle and tan harsh jacket. Narrow, easily spanned and not heavy. He moves well and he is a good headed dog with correct mouth. He was very well presented and well handled. I preferred the top line and tail set of 1st.
3rd - Twigglestone Steps To Heven (Mrs L I Aldous)
Res - Brackenfell Rock The Boat For Vandamere (Mr S Pollit)
VHC - Pikey Boy By Shiftyfox (Mr G Wildey)
Entries: 3 Absentees: 1
1st - Keebank Jack Frost (Mr S & Mrs D Russell)
This 19 moth old grizzle may still have some maturing to do, but today his qualities, especially his movement, was hard to miss. He moves very true in front and behind and in profile he had that lovely flowing effortless movement with reach and drive. His shoulder placement angulation felt right and he has good straight front and hind legs with low hocks. Good small tight feet with thick pads. He is narrow right through and easily spanned. He has a nice border head with correct ear placement and good eye. Good muzzle, teeth and bite. He was presented with plenty of coat today and could have had a little taken off his neck area. He was handled well. In the challenge he had strong opposition from a super junior dog, but today his qualities could not be denied. DCC.
2nd - Brackenfell Born To Be Alive (Mr I Single)
(Comments as per 2nd in Junior)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 1
1st - Fisherbloom Kiss My Class (Miss G Adams)
This dark grizzle and tan dog had an excellent harsh double coat and loose pelt. He moved ok and has a good head with dark eye and correct ear placement. Mouth correct and strong muzzle. Spannable with correct shape and lay back of ribs and a strong loin.
2nd - Remony For A' That (Mrs A E Gregory)
This grizzle dog moved well. Stronger dog than first. Ribs were carried well back and has strong loin. Good bone and feet with thick hard pads. Nice headed dog with correct mouth. Preferred coat and the size of first.
3rd - Bordurrock Rainbow Rising (Mr D & Mrs E Gillies)
Res - Elsdonburn Bracken (Ms L McFadyen)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 0
A very nice class of good quality border males.
1st - Tarkaswell Smart Move To Otterwood (Mr M J & Mrs J M Hollingsbee)
Very dark grizzle and tan male with very good harsh coat. He had a masculine border head with strong muzzle and correct bite with big white teeth. He moved well in front and rear and has correct top line with tail set on well. He spanned well and stood on good legs and feet. A good example of our breed.
2nd - Cedarhill Ghost Writer JW (Mrs M Fleming)
Grizzle dog. Moved every bit as well as first and was also spannable with correct rib and strong loin. A good headed dog with correct mouth. Another fine example. Just preferred the coat of first today.
3rd - Cedarhill Authorisation (Mrs J Alpe)
Res - Lairehope Highland Chief Of Tweedburn (Mrs C Archibald)
VHC - Glenbucket Highland Lad (Mrs N Anderson)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 2
1st - Glenbucket Whisky Mac (Mrs A Howard)
A deceptive grizzle dog. When moving them around the ring my eyes were telling me that this one was going to be too heavy. In fact, although a strong tallish dog, he was more spannable than some of the others. He moves well and true and has a lovely strong male border head with great teeth and punishingly strong jaws. Good for bone. Well padded feet. Correct top line and tail set. Good length of body. Well coated and a good pelt.
2nd - Int CH / Ir CH Ploughdown Plato (Mr E & Dr M Armstrong)
An impressive blue and tan male with a nice harsh coat. He was handled well and moved true front and behind. He has a good muzzle and correct bite. Lovely looking border in profile. Again a strong dog but more spannable than others.
3rd - Howthwaite Grainsgill (Mr R J & Mrs E A Barrett)
Res - Raleniro Second Time Around ShCM (Mr M J & Mrs D A Lorraine & Miss P Thomas)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 1
1st - CH/AM/CAN CH Cedarhill Beyond the Stars JW (Mrs C Dean)
Eight year old grizzle and tan which has not lost any of his showmanship. Moved ok. Very good coat and correct top line and tail set. He has a lovely head, good muzzle and scissor bite. He seemed happy to be here today. BV and V Group 3.
2nd - CH Lairehope Lord of the Glen At Tweedburn (Mrs C Archibald)
Grizzle. 9 years old. What a privilege to have the opportunity of going over these older dogs. This boy still moves true and was presented with a tidy excellent coat. Very little between these two today. Just preferred the head of first. Both worthy champions of our breed.
3rd - Grettacs the Wizard ShCM (Mr B & Mrs L P Inness)
Res - Merumhor Midwinter JW (Mr G & Mrs H Mckenzie)
VHC - Minx's Diamond (Mrs M Anderson)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 0
1st - Elemcella Scaevola (Mr C Tait)
A dark grizzle and tan puppy bitch with surprisingly good coat and pelt for one so young. She moved well from all angles. Correct muzzle. Easily spanned with correct rib and loin. BPB.
2nd - Fehmarn Dream Scot At Kilburnpride (Mrs Scott)
This puppy moved very well indeed. She has a nice top line and tail set and an appealing feminine head. Correct bite. Easily spanned. Preferred coat of first today.
3rd - Otterpaws Lyin Eyes (Miss A M Dixon)
Res - Otterwood Diodem (Mrs L Armstrong-Rodgers)
VHC - Hightarn Nighthawk (Mr B & Mrs L Rostron)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 1
1st - Elemcella Scaevola (Mr C Tait)
(Critique as per first in Minor Puppy)
2nd - Glenbucket Highland Queen (Mrs N Anderson & Mrs A Howard)
A nice grizzle puppy which moved well both front and behind. She had adequate coat and a pretty feminine head. Mouth correct and she was easily spanned. Preferred coat of MPB winner today.
3rd - Silver Pixie at Kilburnpride (Mrs Scott)
Res - Normbar Estee Lauder (Mrs N Ellis)
VHC - Esyntona Codeword Vandamere (Mr M & Mrs V Atkinson)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 3
1st - Shiftyfox Black Pearl (Mr G Wildey)
A lovely young bitch with correct blue and tan harsh coat. She moved correctly from every angle and has drive. She has a good top line and correct tail set. She is a racy type and is narrow right through and very easy to span with ribs of correct shape and well laid back with strong loin. She has a very nice head with correctly placed ears and dark eye. Good teeth with correct bite. Lovely neck line which flowed into what felt like correctly angulated shoulders, giving her good extension to her forelegs. She is ok for bone and stood on good tight feet with correct thick hard pads. She showed herself off with enthusiasm right to the final challenge and left me in no doubt that I should award her Bitch CC and Best Of Breed today.
2nd - Picer Beth Chatto JW (Mr G & Mrs S Pickering)
Very nice grizzle bitch. She moves well and has a very nice outline in profile. She has correct bite and has strength to her muzzle. Spannable with strength to loin and was presented well.
3rd - Carrickfarm Mhairi (L C & C Templeman & Comben)
Res - Carrickfarm Macey (Mrs M Armstrong)
VHC - Esyntona Codeword Vandamere (Mr M & Mrs V Atkinson)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 2
1st - Keebank Snow Queen (Mrs L Keeffe)
Grizzle and tan with a very appealing feminine head. Came with a nice harsh jacket today. Narrow and easily spanned. She moved true and has correct amount of bone and well padded feet. Correct mouth. Looks well in profile. Very attractive bitch of good size and balance with a lot in her favour.
2nd - Carrickfarm Mhairi (L C & C Templeman & Comben)
(Third in the Junior class). She moves ok. She did not have the length of body as first. Correct mouth. Good texture of coat.
3rd - Keebank Ice Maiden (Mrs S Morgan)
Res - Carrickfarm Macey (Mrs M Armstrong)
Entries: 15 Absentees: 3
1st - Kadaredhills Henley Star (Mrs J Potts)
This girl came with a smashing double coat today. She has a pleasing outline with good top line and tail set. Lovely feminine head. Correct bite. She was ok for bone and has thick pads and she was spannable. Moved well.
2nd - Glenbucket Sandys Glinty at Lairehope (Mr P & Mrs K Lothian)
A lovely headed grizzle bitch. She moved well with strong hind quarters. She has a nice outline in profile but unfortunately she came with no coat today.
3rd - Merumhor Blue Jasmine (Mr C & Mrs J Martin)
Res - Bordurrock Tarot Woman (Mr D & Mrs E Gillies)
VHC - Achnagairn Touch Of Class (Mrs A Fraser)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 1
1st - Remony Frosted Ivy JW ShCM (Mrs A Gregory)
Another beautifully headed bitch with an impressive tight harsh wire coat coming on well. Good teeth. She moves very well and is narrow and spannable. She has a nice level top line and correct tail set. A good example.
2nd - Picer Flora Mcivor JW (Mr G & Mrs S Pickering)
Another nice example of our breed. This grizzle and tan also had a great coat. She has strong muzzle with good teeth and correct bite and she moved well also. I just preferred the head of first.
3rd - Keebank Withy Song (Mrs L Rostron)
Res - Bordurrock Shoot To Thrill (Mr D & Mrs E Gillies)
VHC - Achnagairn Prim N'proper (Mrs A Fraser)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 3
Plenty of quality in this class.
1st - CH Chorbeck Gossip Girl At Blackmine JW (Miss Tracey James & Mrs Michelle Render)
A lovely grizzle bitch. She was up for it today and she moved well and with drive. She has a very attractive head. Correct ear placement. Strength to muzzle and correct teeth. She moved nicely both away and back towards me and she looks very nice in profile. Nice balanced bitch. Spannable and came with a good jacket. She challenged well in the final bitch line up. RBCC.
2nd - Smalesmouth Skylark (Mrs J Roberts)
A very workmanlike female border. She came with a superb grizzle coat with harsh stiff hair and she had the thickest of best pelts that I felt on the day which gave her this placing. She was spannable with correct shape rib and strong loin. She has a good top line and tail set. Good muzzle and teeth. Very nice bitch, but I preferred the head and hind movement of first.
3rd - Ir CH Ploughdown Paloma (Mr E & Dr M Armstrong)
Res - CH Otterbobs Xolana (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)
VHC - Kentixen Mystery (Mr C Tait)
Entries: 3 Absentees: 0
1st - CH Bramblebrae Violet at Shiftyfox JW (Mr G Wildey)
A quality blue and tan of 8.5 years of age. She has beautiful movement and still shows off a quality jacket. She is easily spanned with correct shaped ribs and strong loin. She is of a good size and nicely balanced. A worthy champion of our breed I believe. I just preferred the exuberance and ring presence of the dog in the veteran challenge.
2nd - Beaconpike Night Sky At Brackenfell (Mr C Hall & Miss L Ellis)
Grizzle bitch with a strong but feminine head. Lovely in profile. Correct double coat. Strong muzzle and good bite. Moved out well. Preferred size and movement of first.
3rd - Carrickfarm Mika ShCM (Mrs V M Armstrong)