Championship and Breed Club Shows

also Best Dog Puppy and Best Puppy in Breed. Just a few days shy of 9 months old, this Grizzle and tan dog had a lovely tight jacket. Although the topcoat still needs to come in more, he had all the essentials there. Coats come and go but with construction so good for a baby puppy, he could not be denied. Fantastic otterhead with well placed ears and strong jaw. Good narrow front. Rib carried well back. Excellent topline with tail coming straight off the back. Not over-angulated in the hindquarters, everything is in proportion and he stands and moves very well. Just right for bone. Exciting prospect for the future. Final notes say “What a lovely example of the breed”.

Dark red grizzle and tan dog with a beautiful otterhead. Lovely dark eye. Another narrow front and he possesses just the right amount of bone. Easily spanned. Fantastic harsh jacket. I just preferred the front movement on the first today, but he has time at just over 6 months and is another exciting prospect.

Nearly 8 months old, this boy had a good dark eye on a pleasing head. Lovely length of body on this blue and tan puppy. Fantastic tight, harsh jacket and thick pelt. Topline and tailset of the best. Just preferred the fill under the eye of the first two and he was moving a little loose in front today, but has time to improve there as he matures.

Reserve in a very strong Minor Puppy dog class, where his litter brother won that class in very hot competition. This nearly 9 months old boy has many of the attributes of his sibling, including a lovely make and shape, very balanced and is another one with a super otterhead. Good topline and tailset and a lovely carrot tail. Super thick pelt. Standing next to the other minor puppies, he looked a little deep in chest but he was easily spanned. Hind legs falling perpendicular to the base of the tail, he stands just right and moved well. Very well turned out. A credit to his breeder and also to his owner.

Another just a few days shy of 9 months old, unplaced in a strong MPD class, this boy was a little stronger on the rib, but he had a lovely head with a short, strong muzzle. Lovely small, dark eye. Good narrow front. Another one with an excellent topline and tailset and smartly presented.

Lovely body on this 10 and 1/2 month’s boy – he was VERY easily spanned. Nice tight jacket. Just failed a little in head and would prefer better ear placement, but loved his narrow front.

Also Dog CC and Best of Breed. Loved the overall make and shape of this boy. At just 14 months, he has a glorious otterhead with a super topline and tailset. He oozes type and had to go some way to beat the others who I called together at the end to decide on the Dog CC. Coat and pelt of the best, with a good tight jacket, with more to come in. Good movement front and back, he pulled out all the stops at the end and I was delighted not only to award him the Dog CC and BOB but to later see him being pulled into the final shortcut in the Terrier Group. Well done.

My notes say very hard decision between the first and second, such was the quality of this class. I was told when judging finished that his owner was showing elsewhere when the call went out for the Res CC challenge; a pity, but there we have it. Very easy to span, but I just preferred the front movement of the first. Plenty of coat today, of good harsh quality too. Lovely head with a dark eye.

Blue and tan. Another nice dog, just a little finer throughout. Ticking coming through on his shoulders and hind legs, but not yet on his back. Very smart dog, with a good topline. Liked his head and his lovely dark eye. A very pleasing prospect for the future and did well in a very hard class of quality dogs.

My initial notes say “A lot to like about these first three dogs”. However, on the first go-around, this boy caught my eye and stood away for me for type and movement. Excellent make and shape, with a good reach of neck and good shoulder placement. Super topline and tailset. In excellent condition. Considered him for the CC and am sure he will do well in future. Lovely otterhead with super dark eyes and a short, strong muzzle. Excellent narrow front.

Stronger dog, a little longer in foreface than required, but his other overall qualities outweighed that consideration today and I liked his small dark eye. Excellent movement both ways, on small, tight catlike feet. Tail coming straight off the top of his back.

Another one I liked very much. Lovely outline. Good head, although to be super critical, falls away a little under the eye when compared to the first two. Viewed from above, he has a super rib-shape. Another one with a good topline and tailset.

Very tight jacket, though not much of it in evidence today. A little difficult to span. He moved around the ring very confidently and with an excellent stride when viewed from the side. Just a little deep in chest for me, but he has a nice outline. A very confident showdog. Would prefer a little more fill under the eye, but he has a lovely dark eye.

Fantastic rib when viewing this dog from above. Lovely otterhead and good reach of neck flowing into a lovely length of body. Excellent tailset. Excellent double jacket, with harsh topcoat.

Smaller dog all through. Real varminty expression with the darkest of eyes. Perhaps a little shorter head proportions than a third and two thirds. Easily spanned. Good topline and tailset.

Lovely dog in very thick coat. Loved his head and expression. My notes say so reminiscent to me of Ch Brannigan of Brumberhill, Have had to check it out at home, and yes, he does have many lines back to Brannigan. That head and expression have come down the generations (in my view)! Moved nicely, but he was a little wide in front, which cost him the second placing. He possessed a lovely thick jacket, good topline and tailset and nice shaped hindquarters.

Very hard decision between the first and second. Just preferred the narrower rib of the first. He had a bit of ticking on the side of his tail which made it look the wrong shape, but it is actually the correct shape, so not faulted for that. Lovely topline and tailset, he has a super otterhead with an excellent expression and lovely dark eyes. Very nicely put together with a narrow front and a lovely length of body, although was moving a little loose today. Good bend of stifle. Good double coat, with plenty of undercoat and harsh topcoat.

Loved this dog. Super expression. He had a very tight jacket. Just preferred the overall rib shape of the first. Super topline and hindquarters of the best.

Lovely otterhead with nicely placed ears. Shorter coupled than the first two. Good narrow front.

Another very hard decision in this class. This boy has a lovely refined otterhead with a straight front and excellent length of body, with ribs carried well back. Tail well set on. Lovely hindquarters. Another considered for the CC. His day will come.

Very showy dog with superb movement and a super thick jacket and pelt. One of the best otterheads in the breed with correct 1/3rd to 2/3rds proportions and good ear placement. A worthy Champion with a super outline, just today, for me a little bit more difficult to span than the first.

Liked the thick coat on this one; should withstand any weathers. Falls away a little under the eyes and has slightly bigger eyes than the first two placed, but has a lovely outline to his body and excellent thick carrot tail and strong hindquarters.

Also Reserve Dog CC and Best Veteran in Breed. Two beautiful veterans here today in this class. This boy is 8 years old, but he belies his age with his joie de vivre and his excellent movement. Superb outline that I love, with excellent ribshape, which is so pleasing when viewed from above; he was so easily spanned. Tail right off the top of his back. An allround well balanced dog with a lovely otterhead with 1/3rd and 2/3rds proportions, which is so important in our breed, so as not to be a generic terrier, but this boy is all Border! He has a lovely straight front, and moved round the ring with style and panache.

Very pleased to have such another lovely dog to judge. So thrilled to have these two in the Veteran dog class. This 9 year old was a little bit down on the pasterns today, but he is a lovely handy size and had a great thick jacket and pelt and a lovely head

Very good movement but just a little hard to span today. Lovely length of neck and good length of body. Blue and tan, with marginal ticking on legs but none on his back today. Nice broad skull with very good expression, and I liked his ear placement, though he falls away a little under the eyes.

Also Best Bitch Puppy. In this class with 12 present, she stood away for me. At just one day shy of 9 months old, she entered the ring last and just took my eye straight away. I loved her from the second she came into the ring and I thought “This one is the one to beat”. Loved her otterhead and her fantastic varminty expression. Moved well both front and back on super cat-like feet. Lovely thick pelt and jacket, and having a neat carrot tail, the set on is of the best.

This 8 months old pushed the winner very hard. Appears big on the rib from a distance, but that is deceptive and the reason why it is imperative to have hands on judging. Lovely shape rib and easy to span. Fantastic pelt and jacket, in very full coat. Lovely head with good eye shape and expression and nice ears dropping forward close to the cheek. Lovely strong muzzle.

At a few days shy of 9 months old, this was another very nice puppy. Loved her length of body and set on of tail. She too had a super otterhead. Just right for bone. Finished these notes with “A very nice trio of puppies.”

Lovely slender body on this 10 month old bitch, though she also has enough substance and is just right for bone. Moved very well going and coming. Lovely otterhead with good ear placement, dropping forward close to the cheek. Very good coat and pelt.

Loved this 11 month old bitch too, she possesses a beautiful otterhead with good ear placement. A good straight front. Excellent coat and pelt. Super carrot shaped tail coming straight off her back. Just a little heavier for spanning today when compared to the first.

Lovely 10 and a half month old bitch with a nice rangy body and another one with a good otterhead. At the moment, her ears look a little big, but hopefully time will improve that. Sufficient bone and good, well muscled hindquarters with a good bend of stifle.

My notes on tape say she reminds me so much of a blue and tan bitch that took my eye and did well under me both as a puppy and veteran. She was of a very similar type and appearance. Refined otterhead with lovely dark eyes. Fantastic blue and tan jacket, well ticked through (no searching for ticking with this one!!), with jacket of good substance. Nice tight feet. She was easily spanned and moved well both ways. Lovely tail, well set on.

She may look heavy from a distance, with her lovely thick jacket and excellent loose pelt, but this girl can be spanned easily. Beautiful otterhead, with correct 1/3rd to 2/3rds proportions, though perhaps would prefer a smaller eye. Excellent carrot tail, well set on. Good bend of stifle.

Beautiful feminine otterhead on this lighter grizzle and tan bitch, with a strong jaw, though prefer the fill under the eye on the first two. Good ear placement. Possessing a nicely shaped rib, she was easily spanned. Excellent topline and tailset. Another with cat like feet, she was another good prospect.

When this class first entered the ring, I thought the second placed was going to be the winner, but today preferred the front movement of the first. This one, while smaller all through, was a more balanced bitch. Another with a beautiful otterhead, at present with a winter nose, but so what; it does not detract from her headshape and expression. Lovely movement both ways on neat, catlike feet. Excellent thick coat with topline and tailset of the best. Very attractive and happy showdog.

Rangier bitch. Lovely otterhead and superb reach of neck leading to good shoulder placement. Today moving a little wide in front, which cost her the first placement, but she has a good topline and tailset, the latter coming smack off the top of her back. Notes re-iterate that I was spoilt for choice between these two.

3rd in Junior bitch (see notes in that class).

On seeing this bitch come into the ring, I thought at first she might be difficult to span, but no way – she was just in tremendous jacket over a lovely thick pelt. Another with a beautiful otterhead, with ears dropping forward close to the cheek. Lovely straight front and moved well both ways. Excellent hindquarters with super bend of stifle, she is not overdone in any way. Thick carrot shaped tail, well set on. A worthy winner here.

Rangier bitch with a very feminine head, but just preferred the fill under the eye of the first. Easily spanned. Moving well today on tight feet.

Another lovely rangier bitch, who was very similar in type to the second placed. Thick pelt and good double coat. Otterhead with good ear placement, but as with the second, preferred the fill under the eye of the first. Good straight front and ribs carried well back.

Also Bitch CC. What a strong yet feminine bitch this is, standing beautifully over the ground on good tight feet. As always from this kennel, she has an exceptional thick pelt and super jacket. Lovely otterhead with superb ear placement and a good 1/3rd to 2/3rds proportions and a lovely keen expression. Good shaped body with ribs carried well back and an excellent bend of stifle, with tail coming straight off the back. A very worthy winner of this class. I was delighted to award this lovely bitch the CC in hot competition. This kennel are to be congratulated for the excellent type and style they consistently produce.

Moving up in this class, she had been 3rd in her previous two classes (see critique in Junior Bitch class). Lovely make and shape. Stood away for type and movement in this class.

This bitch was easily spanned and had a nice length of body and good bend of stifle. Another moving on nice, tight, cat like feet. Lovely dark eye, but just falls away a little under the eye.

Also Reserve Bitch CC. Blue and tan bitch that I judged and placed first in a previous show as a Junior, and she has fulfilled that early promise. I thought then that she was one out of the top drawer and my opinion has not changed. She is very eye-catching and moved around the ring with style, presence and accuracy on nice tight, cat-like feet. She still has that lovely balanced body and gorgeous otterhead with small dark eye, keen expression and ears carried correctly, dropping forward close to the cheek. Beautiful straight front leading to good reach of neck. Fantastic jacket and she was so well turned out. Excellent length of body with her tail coming straight off the top of the back. Easily spanned with ribs carried well back and super shape. Delighted to be given another chance to assess her as an adult and wish her the best of luck for the future.

A lot of the same remarks apply to this lovely bitch. Good width of skull, but to be super critical, now that she has matured, splitting hairs between these two, would today prefer a little less length of foreface. Good reach of neck and has a good length of body and was easily spanned. Fantastic thick pelt and harsh abundant jacket, as usual from this kennel. The last time I judged her I said that she might look heavy from the ringside, but when you span her, the bit that cannot be spanned is ALL PELT, which would slip away from her when she needed to negotiate anywhere underground and be a great asset in any situation. She still excels in looseness of pelt and is an excellent example of the breed. Finished with a lovely thick carrot shaped tail, well set on.

Notes say that this class gave me some difficult decisions as I liked all three. Smaller bitch all round and carrying a very thick coat today which made her look a little rounder in the rib than the first two. Glorious otterhead with small v shaped ears, dropping forward close to the cheek. The coat that was so much in abundance today was also harsh. Lovely carrot tail, well set on.

Shame that today there were so many absentees in this class, but both the bitches placed were of good type. This girl had a very pretty, feminine head. a good straight front and a narrow body which was easily spanned. Good double coat. She moved very well.

Loved this Blue and tan bitch but she was just a little heavier on the rib than the first, although she was seven and a half years old. Lovely otterhead and liked her eyes and expression. Good front. Ribs carried well back. Good hindquarters and lovely tail, well set on, very thick and carroty. Lovely double coat.

This 9 year old girl headed a lovely class of veterans. Liked this one very much; she was so easy to span. Has a very pretty, feminine head with correct proportions. Lovely straight front. She moved really well all the way around the ring and was in excellent jacket, very well turned out. Good topline and tailset.

Lovely 8 year old bitch with a very pretty head, with ears dropping forward close to the cheek, but would just prefer a smaller eye. Nice length of body.

This 8 year old bitch was a little heavier then the first two, but my, what a glorious head she has, with a lovely dark eye and very keen expression. Good double jacket. Excellent bend of stifle

Was also first in Puppy bitch – see critique in that class. Also here, she excelled in head and expression. Moving a little loose in front, but still a baby.

Unplaced in Minor Puppy bitch, she needs a bit more coat to be in the right condition but has a very pretty head with good ear placement. Good body shape and was easily spanned.

When this bitch first came into the class, standing alone on one side as a new entry, I thought she would be the easy winner, which she may well have been if she had a little less on the rib, but sadly today had to give way as a little difficult to span. She has the most fabulous otterhead with a keen expression from the darkest of eyes, oozes type and is very sound. Lovely straight front. Ribs carried well back. Good bend of stifle. Excellent tail, well set on. Possesses a cracking coat of the best.