Show Type: Championship
Venue: Redwood Park, Pinfold Lane, Inskip, nr Preston
Judge: Mr S A Mcpherson
Entries: 109 making 128 entries
My thanks go to Blackpool & District Canine Society for the invitation to judge their show, my very efficient stewards and to the exhibitors for their wonderful entry, topping the Terrier Group by quite a margin!
It was a good quality entry, all the way through, especially in the younger classes, Junior bitch being quite exceptional, which bodes well, for the future!
I thought the line ups, for the CCs, were excellent, all, for me, fitting the Standard well, good for size, lithe bodied, easily spanned and with a good length of stride.
Only a very few were difficult to span.
As for points of concern, a number with very deep stops, often with a rounder eye, which gives a rather untypical expression, more reminiscent of the Asian short clawed Otter, rather than the English River Otter.
Forehand construction, as ever, is the main area for concern, correct shoulder and upper arm being the most difficult thing to breed for and attain. A correct forehand is a joy to watch, on the move, especially if they have the rear angulation to match, giving totally balanced, efficient, ground covering movement, but get it wrong and the movement is a bit like a “ bike with square wheels! “ in profile! I’m well aware it’s possible to win, at the highest levels, with the latter, but it doesn’t make it correct, when the Standard asks for the soundness to follow a horse, which, obviously, would require a good length of stride.
A few dogs weren’t too keen on the bandage on my hand, covering up the aftermath of an unfortunate trip up, on gravel, none were unduly penalised.
Best Of Breed: Smalesmouth Cadence
DCC: Bohamer Blue Storm
RDCC: Chatmoss Bullet Tooth Tony JW
BCC: Smalesmouth Cadence
RBCC: Howthwaite Gay Dusky
Best Puppy: TPG3, Howthwaite Gay Dusky
Best Junior: Smalesmouth Cadence
Entries: 5 Absentees: 1
1st - CH Kgills King Of Swing At Awbrooksky ShCM (Mr & Miss Goddard)
Grizzle and Tan, just over 7 years old, so a relative youngster here! Gave him Open Dog, at Windsor, last time I judged, and, other than a few grey hairs, he was still in the same great form! Looking back, to see what I wrote then, I see I’ve written almost identical notes again, in my judging book! “Super head & expression. Good neck, shoulder, front & feet. Excellent topline & tailset. Super hindquarters. Best mover in the class, keeping his outline on the move. Super double coat “
2nd - Keycharm Miss Muffet at Keebank (Mrs L Keeffe)
Light grizzle, nearly 9 years old. Loved her for type. Typical head and expression. Good neck and shoulder. Good front and hindquarters. Bodylines good for her age. Good coat and pelt. Sound, free mover.
3rd - Hollowmoor Casilva (Mrs A D Williams)
Res - Ravenside Rumours About Caldewgate (Mr A E Burke)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 2
1st - Etterbern Edenbank Ranger (Mrs L & Mr L J Reynolds)
Blue and Tan, 8 months. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent topline and tailset. Good coat and pelt. Sound, free moving. Understand he also won the AV Terrier/ Working/ Pastoral Junior Stakes, on the day! Congratulations!
2nd - Chorbeck Move To The Music (Mrs H Haughton)
Grizzle and Tan, 8 ½ months. Head ok, but rather too deep in stop. Hopefully it will flatten out with maturity, to give a slightly more typical expression. Front, topline and hindquarters ok. Good coat and pelt. Profile movement was good, but a shade close, going away.
3rd - Bonosue Mr Bojangles (Mr I A Hardman)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1st - Awbrooksky Out Of Bounds (Mr R & Miss L Goddard)
Grizzle and Tan, 11 ½ months. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent topline and tailset, which he held on the move. Good underline and hindquarters. Super coat and pelt. Stylish, sound, free mover. Best Puppy Dog.
2nd - Weststar Lone Ranger (Mrs C Swain)
Blue and Tan, just short of 11 months. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Topline and tailset ok. Excellent hindquarters. Super coat and pelt. Still a shade puppyish in movement, quite correct for his age, coming and going, but good in profile. Understand he won the AV Terrier/ Working/Pastoral Special Beginners Puppy Stakes! Congratulations!
3rd - Brookbeech Wild Boy (Mr P Shephard)
Res - Northborders Footman (Miss J North)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 3
1st - Bohamer Blue Storm (Mr A & Mrs J Rock)
Blue and Tan, 16 months. Super Otter-like head, with moderately broad skull and short, strong muzzle, with a dark eye, giving a keen expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Easily spanned. Exceptional topline and tailset. Good tail, well carried. Excellent hindquarters, which he knew how to use! Superb coat, of excellent blue colour, with good pelt. Presented in fabulous order, in both coat and condition. Very accurate, stylish, free mover, holding his outline, on the move. CC, his first & BOS.
2nd - Baillieswells Ncn'ean (Miss T J Peacock)
Grizzle and Tan, 13 months. One, who, when you look past the unruly teenager antics and presentation, is a revelation. Left to his own devices, he can’t stand wrong! Excellent head and expression. Super front and feet. Excellent neck, shoulder, topline and tailset. Easily spanned. Super hindquarters. In a good double coat, which could have been tidied to advantage. Sound, free mover, when he put his mind to it! Pushed hard, by the third, who was carrying rather too much condition, making him not quite so easy to span.
3rd - Otterwood Titan (Mr P Armstrong)
Res - Rhozzum Worrick (Mrs M Sharp)
VHC - Cashelrock Ballywhoo (Mrs S Parie)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 0
1st - Glebeheath Just a Gigolo (Mrs J Guvercin)
Grizzle and Tan, not long out of Junior. Typical head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Easily spanned. Super topline and tailset. Excellent coat and pelt. Beautifully presented. Moving well, here, in his class, I thought he might be a contender for the CC, but didn’t go quite so well, behind, going away, in the challenge. Sure he will get his third before long.
2nd - Baillieswells Ncn'ean (Miss T J Peacock)
3rd - Onthill Nighthawk (Mr V J & Mrs M Pearce)
Res - Stowthorney Wicker Man (Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green)
VHC - Borderstream Zodiak (Mr & Mrs S Ward)
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1st - Tojamatt Taboo (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression. Straight, narrow front. Good topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters. Short of coat, but enough evidence of harshness. Sound mover.
2nd - Lairehope Bear Bejewelled (Mr P & Mrs K Lothian)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good topline and tailset. Good hindquarters. Super coat and pelt. Just failed in shoulder and front to the 1st, which showed on the move, coming towards me.
Entries: 12 Absentees: 4
1st - Chatmoss Bullet Tooth Tony JW (Miss J Hughes)
Light grizzle. What I would call an “old school “ Border. No frills or flash, just very correct, all through! Has a super otter head and expression, with moderately broad skull. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Wouldn’t want him any deeper in rib, but easily spanned. Good topline and tailset. Excellent hindquarters. Liked him, last time I judged, at Windsor, but, then, he was totally out of coat. This time, he was in top nick, with a good coat and pelt. Best mover in the class, holding his outline on the move. Res CC.
2nd - Dallas Dhu by Onthill (Mr R & Mrs A Ramus)
Grizzle and Tan, with a typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent topline and tailset. Super hindquarters. Excellent coat and pelt. A very accurate mover, but just not quite the reach and scope of the winner. Liked him. Was pushed hard by the 3rd, a favourite of mine, but, as with his kennemate, the third in Junior, was carrying too much condition and had to pay the penalty.
3rd - Lynsett Lewis (Mr P Armstrong)
Res - Breckgreen Soldier Blue (Mrs. J. Green)
VHC - Etterbern Sloane Ranger (Mr L Reynolds & Miss S Marston - Pollock)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1st - CH Tythrop Timepiece (Mrs J L Lee)
Blue and Tan. No secret he’s a favourite of mine, having given him Res CC when I did the Southern Club Show, in 2015, and have used him twice, he being the sire of my latest star! “Old school” Border, of the old “Wharfholm” type, who wouldn’t have looked out of place, in the ring, from when I first started showing! Typical head and expression, with a beautiful flat skull, a rarity nowadays! Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Super topline and tailset, with a neat tail, well carried. Easily spanned, as he has a correct rib. Good underline and a racy hindquarter. Super double coat, of fabulous colour, on a thick pelt. Sound, free mover, just losing out to the bloom of youth, in the challenge, the CC winner being his grandson!
2nd - Rhozzum Gwilym (Mrs M Sharp)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression. Not too dissimilar to the 1st, and similar comments apply, but longer cast all through. Has a long, easy stride, but not quite so positive, behind, as the winner. Pushed hard by the 3rd, who has won his class, the last twice I’ve judged, but just spanned more easily.
3rd - Howthwaite Grainsgill (Mr R J & Mrs E A Barrett)
Res - Ir CH Barnby Caramel Wafer At Bimandi JW ShCM (Mrs M J Holmes)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 1
1st - Tojamatt Ann Brandreth (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
Grizzle and Tan, 7 months puppy. Typical, feminine, head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good in rib and underline. Super topline and tailset. Excellent hindquarters. Good coat and pelt. Super, free, accurate mover for her age. Totally balanced, all through. Easy winner, here, I thought her very promising and must have a bright future! Most unlucky, to come up against the eventual Res CC winner for Best Puppy!
2nd - Twigglestone Serendipite (Mrs L I Aldous)
Grizzle and Tan, 7 ½ months. Typical head and expression. Similar remarks apply, but not the shoulder and upper arm of the 1st, which showed up on the move, not having quite the length of stride.
3rd - Twigglestone Victorious (Mrs C A Archibald)
Res - Bonosue Sweet Caroline (Mr I A Hardman)
VHC - Brankell The Price Is Right At Weirbrook (Miss C Worsfold)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 0
Three lovely puppies headed this class!
1st - Carrock Curiosity (Ms J Fawcett)
Grizzle and Tan, 9 ½ months. Excellent head and expression. Super neck, shoulder, front and feet. Narrow body, with ribs carried well back, giving a good underline. Excellent topline and tailset. Neat tail, well carried. Sound, free mover, with an excellent coat and pelt. Put down in superb order.
2nd - Otterbobs Georgia Blue (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)
As her name suggests, a Blue and Tan, 11 ½ months. Excellent head and expression. Good neck and shoulders. Not quite the super front and feet of the 1st, who was exceptional there. In a full, double coat, of a beautiful blue colour. Good pelt. Neat tail, well carried. Sound, free mover.
3rd - Foxfactor Fire Cracker (Mrs K D Stockley)
Res - Rhozzum Truffle At Otterholme (Miss T Jones)
VHC - Reedbeck Kittyhawk Of Arunmere (Miss J Hughes)
Entries: 14 Absentees: 2
One of the best classes I have ever judged! Think I shortlisted 8, any of whom I would have been more than happy to award a first prize to on another day!
1st - Smalesmouth Cadence (Mrs J Roberts)
Light grizzle, 15 months. Excellent, feminine, otter- like head, with moderately broad skull and short, strong muzzle. Small V- shaped ears, dropping forward, close to the cheek. Dark eye, giving a keen expression. Super neck, shoulder, front and feet. Correct upper arm. Narrow, lithe body, with ribs carried well back, giving a super underline. Excellent topline and tailset, which she held on the move. Good tail, well carried. Sound, free, accurate mover, with a long, effortless stride.Without a doubt, has the soundness to follow a horse, being active and game. She’s certainly no cardboard cutout! Excellent coat and pelt. Shown on a loose lead, she just cannot stand wrong, being beautifully balanced, giving a quite breathtaking outline. Delighted to award her first CC and wish her well for the other two! Looking from ringside, in the challenge for BOB, I guess she still looks a shade raw, quite correct for her age, against the more mature Junior Dog, but I just preferred her exceptional length of stride and underline.
2nd - Howthwaite Gay Dusky (Mr R J & Mrs E A Barrett)
Blue and Tan, 11 ½ months. Apart from being a Blue, pretty much the same comments apply, as to the 1st, although she is still, obviously, a baby, but so full of incredible promise. The dog puppy had a good length of stride, but in the challenge for Best Puppy, she showed her fabulous construction, by effortlessly opening up her stride and could easily have passed him, without trying, had she not been held back! Not seen that length of stride on a Border, since my own Betwixt! Delighted that the Group Judge was equally impressed, she went on to win Terrier Puppy Group 3. Congratulations!
Pushed, all the way, by the 3rd, who also had such a length of stride, her handler couldn’t keep up!
3rd - Otterwood Diodem JW (Mrs L Armstrong-Rodgers)
Res - Awbrooksky Margot Robbie (Mr R & Miss L Goddard)
VHC - Bardenfox Queen of the Road (Mr I & Mrs J Broomhead)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 4
1st - Foxfactor Fire Cracker (Mrs K D Stockley)
Grizzle and Tan, 11 months. 3rd in the good Puppy class. Typical head and expression. Straight, narrow front. Good topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters. Excellent double coat and good pelt. Sound mover.
2nd - Alcumlow Portobello Road (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression and similar comments to 1st apply, but not quite the tailset of the winner. Very sound on the move. Good coat and pelt.
3rd - Ravenside Marsha At Jordith (Mrs L.M.I & Mr A.M. Jordan-Smith)
Res - Mansergh Elevenplus (Miss A Roslin Williams)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 0
1st - Otterbobs Duchess (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)
Grizzle and Tan. Very typical head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good rib, easily spanned. Good topline and tailset. Neat tail, well carried. Super coat and pelt. Sound and accurate on the move.
2nd - Onthill Daydreamer (Mr R & Mrs A Ramus)
Grizzle and Tan. Very similar in make and shape to the 1st and the same comments apply. Was splitting hairs here, but the winner was slightly better in upper arm, but two very good bitches.
3rd - Normbar Estee Lauder (Mrs N Ellis)
Res - Goxfell Reivers Rose (Mrs J Stamp & Mr D Joyce)
VHC - Alcumlow Bloom (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
Entries: 15 Absentees: 3
1st - Bardenfox Tale as Old as Time (Mr I & Mrs J Broomhead)
Light grizzle. Tall, rangy bitch, with an excellent head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Narrow all through. Easily spanned. Good topline and tailset. Excellent hindquarters, used well. Good coat and pelt. Sound, free, accurate mover. While she was close up, in the challenge, I just preferred the underlines of the younger bitches.
2nd - Ridgebow Rusty Rivet (Mr N & Mrs A Duxbury)
Red grizzle. Typical head and expression. Not dissimilar in make and shape to the first. Not quite so narrow, over the shoulder and rib, but, perhaps, a better underline. Very good topline and tailset. Excellent coat and pelt. Stylish, sound, free mover.
3rd - Howthwaite Gold Dust (Mr R J & Mrs E A Barrett)
Dam of the Best Puppy/ Res CC winner, who has won 1sts under me, the last twice I’ve judged, completed a trio of beautiful bitches.
Res - Mansergh Paint By Numbers (Miss A Roslin Williams)
VHC - Keebank Withy Song (Mrs L Rostron)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 3
1st - Byrewick Valentine (Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Easily spanned. Excellent topline and tailset. Super hindquarters. Excellent coat and pelt. Very sound on the move.
2nd - Orangecastle Zaurak at Foxfactor (Mrs K D Stockley)
Light grizzle. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. At 6 ½, motherhood has slightly taken its toll on her rib, but still easily spanned Good hindquarters. Sound, free mover. Super coat and pelt