Show Type: Championship
Venue: Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LQ
Judge: Mr T Tuck (Nettleby)
Entries: 110 making 118
Thanks to all exhibitors for providing a really good entry, and thanks also to my calm and efficient steward for helping to make this a thoroughly enjoyable appointment. The heatwave temperature had thankfully dropped and the covered half of the ring provided very comfortable conditions.
I was thrilled with my final line up in dogs and bitches. In particular, I thought the Reserve CC and CC winners were very typical, high quality and honest all round border terriers. It is always very exciting and satisfying to see borders of such a high calibre at the top end of the range.
It is difficult to make generalisations, as strengths and weaknesses varied considerably across the total entry. I found numerous decent, moderately broad heads, some of which had the classic otter-like appearance, strong muzzle and keen expression. Overall size and correct balanced proportions seemed reasonably consistent, and I don’t recall any of the well over-sized and coarser types that one sometimes encounters. I thought hind quarters were good overall, though straight fronts and well laid shoulders were less common. Coats varied, as they always do, though I would have liked to find a few more that combined the really harsh topcoat, good undercoat, and thick pelt. Was this just due to the state of individual coats on the day, or is the weatherproof coat and jacket receiving less attention?
Any of the above observations are, of course, based on the entry on the day and are not necessarily a pronouncement on the breed as a whole!
Best Of Breed: CH Glebeheath Fingers On Lips
DCC: CH Glebeheath Just a Gigolo
RDCC: Northborders Marlon Brando JW
BCC: CH Glebeheath Fingers On Lips
RBCC: Northborders Lady Mary
Best Puppy: Carrock Curiosity
Best Veteran: VTG3, Grettacs the Wizard ShCM
Special Beginners in Breed: SBTG2, Weststar Lone Ranger
Entries: 1 Absentees: 0
1st - Karison Klaus (Miss K Johnson)
A very promising pup of nearly 8 months. Good conformation and proportion, well angulated front and rear, making a lovely overall outline. Has a good coat, is comfortably spannable, and should mature nicely.
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1st - Achouffe McKay's Fable (Mrs S McKay)
A nice sized pup of 9 months, good construction all through, decent front and shoulders, and he moved well. Decent coat, easily spanned, and has a typical and masculine looking head.
2nd - Chorbeck Move To The Music (Mrs H Haughton)
Another typey and well proportioned pup. Generally sound construction all through, also easily spanned, and with a good coat. Just not quite so neat in conformation and overall outline as the winner
3rd - Blaisdon One Step Beyond To Fevstone (Mrs D Bullen)
Res - Onthill Marksman At Ragatam (Miss T Peacock)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 1
1st - Cedarhill Dish Of The Day For Dexlin (Mr B & Mrs L P Inness)
A very smart, neatly constructed dog, with lovely conformation and outline. Has a very good straight front, nicely angulated hind quarters, and moved well. Also has a typical head and expression, is a nice size and comfortably spanned.
2nd - Glen Mara Oh Viedo At Kersfell (Mrs M Sneddon)
Another nice sized young dog with generally sound construction all through. He has a good front and shoulders, is well ribbed back and with good hind angulation. Needs a bit more time to mature, but typical and promising overall. Coat not at its best.
3rd - Hartswelin Veritas With Oatberry (Mrs K Tuffin)
Res - Fehmarn Moel Ceiliog (Mrs J Morton Shaw)
VHC - Weststar Lone Ranger (Mrs C Swain)
Entries: 11 Absentees: 0
1st - Billyboy Blue At Chevinor (Mrs H A Metcalfe)
Caught my eye for his smart outline and balanced proportions. Quality construction all through, a little bit loose on the move but basically sound and covered the ground well. A decent moderately broad head, in good coat, and easy to span.
2nd - Onthill Nighthawk (Mr V J & Mrs M Pearce)
A likeable border with very similar proportions, outline and general qualities to the winner, plus a typey looking head. A close decision, first placed just had a touch more finesse overall, particularly in topline.
3rd - Glen Mara Oh Viedo At Kersfell (Mrs M Sneddon)
Res - Otterpaws Muninn (Mr & Mrs G Birrel)
VHC - Bordergold Rudolph (Mrs A Sutton)
Entries: 11 Absentees: 2
1st - Northborders Marlon Brando JW (Miss J North)
Caught my eye from the start, an extremely smart, masculine dog with quality construction all through. Moderate length of neck, well angulated quarters at both ends, good topline, and moved well. Nice head and expression, in good coat, and spannable, Res. DCC.
2nd - Oxcroft Jethro (Mr J Price)
Very otter-like head and strong jaw, good neck going into a narrow and well ribbed back body. Lovely overall proportions, nicely angulated, and has substance without any coarseness. Right out of topcoat on the day.
3rd - Tojamatt Rhythm N'blues at Raedwulf (Mr M & Mrs V Atkinson)
Res - Otterpaws Mountain High (Mr & Mrs G Birrell)
VHC - Bordergold Rudolph (Mrs A Sutton)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 1
1st - CH Glebeheath Just a Gigolo (Mrs J Guvercin)
A really outstanding dog, full of quality throughout. Very typical otter-like head, moderately broad with the correct lack of stop, strong jaw, and dark eyes. Beautiful balanced proportions and conformation. Superb straight front, cleanly laid shoulders going into a narrow body, well ribbed back, excellent topline and tailset, and decent hind quarters. Moved very freely and soundly to complete the picture, very pleased to award him the Dog CC.
2nd - CH Cedarhill Ghost Writer JW (Mrs M Fleming)
Another masculine and well proportioned border. Typical otter-like head, good neck, spannable ribs and well angulated quarters, with a nice turn of stifle and good second thigh. I liked his overall outline, just beaten by the exceptional conformation and front of the winner.
3rd - Tojamatt Taboo (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
Res - CH Ridgebow Two Hoots (Mr N & Mrs A Duxbury)
VHC - Dandyhow Friendly Fire at Chevinor ShCM (Mrs H A Metcalfe)
Entries: 1 Absentees: 0
1st - Grettacs the Wizard ShCM (Mr B & Mrs L P Inness)
Has a good typical head, decent construction all through, and a balanced overall outline. In a really good harsh coat, and moved well. Looking really good at two days short of his tenth birthday, Best Veteran. Delighted to see him come fourth in the Terrier Veteran Group.
Entries: 7 Absentees: 1
1st - Weststar Lone Ranger (Mrs C Swain)
Nicely proportioned, generally quite typical appearance with well angulated hind quarters and a decent overall outline. In good coat. I would have liked a little more strength of muzzle.
2nd - Otterpaws Red Red Wine (Mrs J M Dixon)
An attractive 8 month old bitch, similar proportions to first, very nice head, in good coat. I just preferred the topline and shoulder arrangement of the winner.
3rd - Thornheswin New Beginning (Mrs C E & Mr R F Boyd)
Res - Borderstream Zodiak (Mr & Mrs S Ward)
VHC - Foxwater House Of Jazz (Mrs J Spence)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 1
1st - Otterpaws Red Red Wine (Mrs J M Dixon)
2nd - Tojamatt Ann Brandreth (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
A very promising pup of nearly 8 months, with a great deal to like about her. Good head and neck, well laid shoulders, well ribbed back, good topline and well angulated hind quarters. Lovely overall conformation and outline, unfortunately she was desperately out of coat on the day.
3rd - Pherlas Bluebell (Mr R M & Mrs H Rowland)
Res - Borderxpress Echo Beach (Mr R Wright)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 1
1st - Carrock Curiosity (Ms J Fawcett)
A promising 10 month old pup, well constructed and with balanced proportions. Lovely otter-like head, moderately broad with lack of stop and a strong muzzle. Good neck going into well laid shoulders and a good topline, nicely ribbed back and spannable. Scored in head, front and overall outline, Best Puppy.
2nd - Otterpaws Red Red Wine (Mrs J M Dixon)
3rd - Tojamatt Ann Brandreth (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
Res - Blaisdon Step Above (Miss A Thomas & Mr J Thomas)
VHC - Brankell The Price Is Right At Weirbrook (Miss C Worsfold)
Entries: 14 Absentees: 4
1st - Ragatam Essence (Miss T Peacock)
Beautiful overall outline and proportions. Typical head and expression, narrow body, ribbed back, with a good topline. Straight front, and nicely angulated hind quarters.
2nd - Foxfactor Fire Cracker (Mrs K D Stockley)
Similar qualities to first, balanced proportions with decent overall conformation. Good in topline, and hind angulation. Just slightly preferred the head and expression of the winner, though not a lot to choose between the two.
3rd - Ebffiniau Bluebell Before Summer At Tojamatt (Miss E Brinkley)
Res - Valicetarn Velvet (Mrs V Mason)
VHC - Karison Kalluna (Miss K Johnson)
Entries: 13 Absentees: 3
1st - Otterbobs Duchess (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)
A typey border throughout, with a lovely otter-like head and expression, and moderate and balanced proportions. Good shoulders, easily spanned, fairly long in body but not excessive, good topline and turn of stifle. In very good coat.
2nd - Alcumlow Bloom (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
A beautiful bitch with an eye-catching outline, including an excellent topline and strong, well angulated hindquarters. Nice head, neck, and overall conformation. Looked really good on the move and covered the ground well.
3rd - Goxfell Reivers Rose (Mrs J Stamp & Mr D Joyce)
Res - Gameway French Fancy Avec Orangebox (Mr M & Mrs T Anscombe)
VHC - Ycart Hunts Bays N Stays (Mr K K & Mrs T J Fraser & Butler)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 1
1st - Northborders Lady Mary (Miss J North)
A nice sized bitch who meets the standard very well, with a lovely overall outline, and balanced, unexaggerated proportions. Moderately broad skull, moderate length of neck going into cleanly laid shoulders, straight front, well ribbed back, decent topline and nicely angulated hind quarters. A typical, quality bitch all through, Res BCC.
2nd - Oxcroft Damson Of Glenorchy (Mrs M Davies)
A slightly longer type than first, also with balanced proportions. Lovely otter-like skull, generally well constructed, with a smart and typey overall outline. Has a good blue and tan coat. Just felt the winner edged it on angulation.
3rd - Stineval Kordia JW (Mr & Mrs A G Horner)
Res - Evajays Treasure (Mrs E Drury)
Entries: 13 Absentees: 3
1st - CH Glebeheath Fingers On Lips (Mrs J Guvercin)
A real eye-catcher, and full of quality. Beautiful and typical otter-like skull with lack of stop, correct eyes, ears and expression. Moderate length of neck, cleanly laid shoulders with good angulation and a beautiful straight front. Lovely topline and tailset, narrow body, and nicely angulated hind quarters. Looked superb standing, and moved freely and with style. Altogether a balanced, beautiful and unexaggerated border, I was delighted to award her Bitch CC and BOB. Ultimately, it was her head that tipped the scales in her favour over the dog, but a very close decision.
2nd - Bardenfox Tale as Old as Time (Mr I & Mrs J Broomhead)
Another beautiful bitch, full of quality all through. Also has a lovely, typical otter-like head, balanced proportions, ribbed back, with sound and nicely angulated quarters front and rear. An honest all round border, looked right from all angles and moved well.
3rd - Foxfactor Fancy Free (Mrs K Stockley)
Res - Borderxpress Miss Potter (Mr R Wright)
VHC - Karison Krumble (Miss K Johnson)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 2
Two nice sized and quite typey looking borders, though both were perhaps a little bit on the well-covered side, I thought!
1st - Seymours Bubble And Squeak For Raleniro ShCM (Mr M J & Mrs D A Lorraine)
Decent head and expresssion, moderate length of neck, strong loin and nicely angulated hind quarters. Right out of coat on the day, but won on her generally neater conformation and overall outline.
2nd - Chorbeck Little Miss Pickle at Hollinholme (Mr J & Mrs Y Robinson)
Also has a good head and expression, with neat and correct ears. Good topline and tailset, in very good coat. Generally just a little more compact and not so well angulated as the winner.