Show Type: Championship
Judge: Mr W R Irving
Entries: 142 making 149
The entry was 142 dogs making 149 entries with 20 absentees and I thank those who entered for doing so and for the sporting way in which my decisions were accepted. Thanks too to my Stewards whose quiet efficiency meant that the judging was completed in four hours.
I gather that there was comment in some quarters about how much I moved the dogs and I make no apology for that. I moved each dog individually twice and in each class around the ring sometimes on two occasions and sometime three. In these days when so many Borders are stacked to look as the exhibitor wants them to look, my view is that the only way to see the real outline of the dogs is to move them around a few times and see their natural lines, not the outline set up by the handler. Additionally I know as an exhibitor, that in these large classes the dogs get very bored standing around waiting and they welcome the opportunity to move around the ring. For those of us who still like to ‘free-stand’ our dogs, that does make a difference and it is only when you see them either ‘free standing’ or moving in profile, that you can get a true picture of outline. But that’s probably rather an old fashioned view these days
The dogs were clean and well presented but with a number which were shown with absolutely no topcoat. Far too many have too little coat of the type demanded by the breed standard which asks for it to be Harsh and dense with close undercoat. Size was not bad generally speaking – with fewer excessively over sized dogs than I have sometimes seen before.
I was very pleased indeed by the final line up for the dog CC which I thought was particularly consistent for type and quality and the top bitches too were, in my opinion, excellent. Front movement generally still gives great cause for concern and shoulders are not great but there were also quite a few where hind movement was poor too. There were enough good movers to make the top winners strong in that area. I was also able to find enough exhibits with good heads but I have to say that there were rather too many with big heads and rather large, round looking eyes and too much stop.
Overall I very much enjoyed judging the breed on this occasion and I was encouraged by the number of good exhibits, particularly in the puppy classes. That makes me optimistic for the breed’s future.
Best Breeder : Girlings’ a very typical group with good heads and well proportioned all through.
Best Of Breed: CH Picer Bright Idea JW
DCC: CH Vandamere's Secret Agent JW
very pleasing dog, good for size, with good head excellent typical expression, better in front than 2nd in his class. Good coat, enough length, good topline, moved well behind. Showed well. Spannable. Typical dog throughout.
RDCC: Gameway Charles Dickens
another very typical dog, good coat, excellent head and expression, showed well, good neck and topline, good shape and size, good feet , very typical outline, a good typey dog with much quality.
pleasing bitch with a very typical head and expression, good ears, good neck and topline, very good coat and shown in excellent condition. Just the right amount of bone. OK for size. Good hindquarters. Moved out very well. Could do with just a bit more enthusiasm (or encouragement from her handler). Good in rib and correct amount of loin. Plenty of strength of muzzle. Very much a quality bitch.
RBCC: Benattivo Rosina
good skull, correct eye, OK in foreface, excellent neck, topline and tailset, good stifles, slightly better in coat than 2nd in her class and better in front. Enough bone, good for size and very much a quality bitch. I thought fitted well with the Bitch CC winner for type.
Best Puppy: Grindelvald In Full Cry
very pleasing in head, good skull, good strong foreface, could be better in eye, OK in neck. Moved better in front than 2nd in his class. Very good bone, enough of it, spannable, good depth of body, good tail and moved out pretty well. Coat could be better. Scored over minor puppy in maturity of course.
Best Veteran: CH Rossula Magic Borderer Clipstone
A very typical dog standing, excellent for type with very good strong head. Typical expression. Stands with good topline. Good coat and excellent condition. Well proportioned, OK in stifle, good rib and typical loin. Excellent coat.
Entries: 11 Absentees: 1
1st - Orangebox Firecracker (Mr M & Mrs T Anscombe)
a very pleasing youngster, good head and expression, OK in eye and good neck, topline and tailset, showed extremely well. Good enough bone for his age. Easily spannable, shown in good coat and moved pretty well.
2nd - Iacheslei Cantus (Miss A Harrison)
another pleasing puppy, good head and skull, strong muzzle, again good in neck and topline, pleasing in tail. Moved well behind. Nor quite so good in eye as the winner but has a great deal of quality. Showed much better than 3rd.
3rd - Borderella Day Tripper (Mrs P South)
Res - Baillieswells Mosstowie (Professor A S Milton)
VHC - Kighill Mister Clooney (Mr B & Mrs K A Newsome)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 2
1st - Grindelvald In Full Cry (Mrs M A Bailey)
see main critique
2nd - Earthtaw Albury (Miss J A & Mr M W Haydon & Gibbings)
another strong headed dog, good topline, coat coming in. Good hindquarters but needs to tighten up a bit in front. OK in bone, good small feet. Very good outline standing, but not so good moving.
3rd - Felfree Ricardo Tubbs (Miss F Freer)
Res - Borderella Day Tripper (Mrs P South)
VHC - Brave Scooby Doo of Garw (Mr C J Ward)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 0
1st - Barterhound Twister (Mrs B B Roderick)
very pleasing in head and expression, good neck and topline, good tailset, excellent hindquarters. Better in front than 2nd. Enough bone and spannable. Coat still OK for quantity. Moved up and down very soundly and showed extremely well.
2nd - Bandicoot Double O Seven (Mr G E & Mrs V L K Docwra)
another dog with a very typical head, and expression. Showed extremely well, good for size, excellent topline, coat just coming in, very good hindquarters, scored there over 3rd and also in head but could be better in front. Good bone, good feet and ok for body proportions.
3rd - Ethlencoral Pip of Ottaswell (Mr D & Mrs G M Hunt)
Res - Digmoor Aces High (Mr M P & Mrs S V Regan)
VHC - Mingrovia Flintstone Chief At Rubyfin (Mrs S J Channer)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 0
1st - Barterhound Twister (Mrs B B Roderick)
2nd - Digmoor Captain Rook By Tyrian (Mrs K Dean)
OK in outline, could be stronger in head but showed better than 3rd and was better behind than him too. Both about the same in front. This one?s coat is a bit past its best but OK in feet. Good topline, good neck, Good eye and enough body length. Good stifles.
3rd - Clipstone Tailor (Mrs J & Mrs E Jackson)
Res - Brookbank Could It Be Magic (Mrs S P Norris)
VHC - Hynerbrook Mountain Ash (Miss A Clarke)
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1st - Tufterslodge Walnut At Orangebox (Mr M & Mrs T Anscombe)
reasonable in head, good neck, topline and outline, moved OK behind. Not bad in tail, coat reasonable, good enough in shoulder, good feet. OK ears, could be slightly darker in eye and slightly better in front but scored very much over 2nd for front, eye and topline.
2nd - Kyscafter Emrys (Miss L S Robbins)
bigger stronger dog with strong skull and OK in head, a bit light in eye, slightly big in ear, could be better in front, good coat. Plenty of strength but could be better in topline and could move better behind.
Entries: 17 Absentees: 2
This was a very strong class both in quantity and quality terms and there were dogs placed further down the line that I very much like as well.
1st - Gameway Charles Dickens (Mrs P Clark)
Reserve Dog CC see above.
2nd - Benattivo Rock Robin (Mrs S J & Mr C P Girling)
another very pleasing dog with an extremely typical head and expression. Excellent neck, topline and tailset. Not putting on quite the same showmanship as 1st going around the ring and coat just coming in. Very pleasing bone, good feet, good hindquarters and typical Border.
3rd - Iacheslei Torus JW (Miss A Harrison)
Res - Jenabeck Cie Coch of Nogard (Mr J A & Misses F F & E H Evans)
VHC - Cedarhill Authorized JW (Mrs C Dean)
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1st - CH Vandamere's Secret Agent JW (Mrs D Phillips)
Dog CC see above.
2nd - CH Stineval Acerola With Tyrian JW (Professor S P Dean)
slightly bigger type and bigger in head than 1st here, good topline, good coat, good hindquarters, moved well behind but didn?t move quite so well in front as the winner. Not quite the expression but ok for depth and length of body. Good in loin.
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1st - CH Rossula Magic Borderer Clipstone (Jackson, Jean & Elspeth)
Best Veteran see above.
2nd - Brookbank Break the Spell JW (Norris, S.P.)
a very pleasing dog. Again good in head, neck OK, coat coming in moved well behind. OK in front, well proportioned. A dog of quality but beginning to show his age.
Entries: 12 Absentees: 1
It is interesting that both the Minor Puppy winners and the Puppy winners were litter brother sister combinations.
1st - Orangebox Stargazer (Mr M & Mrs T Anscombe)
very pleasing in head and expression, good coat coming in well for her age, very pleasing bone, Good behind, good feet, good size. OK in rib. Good tail a bit over-stripped out. Scored slightly over 2nd in front.
2nd - Iacheslei Cantilena (Miss A Harrison)
OK in head, could be better in ears. Very good coat, good neck and topline, good tail and tailset. Very good hindquarters. Needs to settle down a bit in front. Plenty of bone.
3rd - Biddestone Picnic (Mrs A Hibberd)
Res - Benattivo Gemstone For Daluce (Mr J & Mrs H M Thomas)
VHC - Mansergh Speckles (Miss A Roslin-williams)
Entries: 12 Absentees: 1
1st - Grindelvald Miss Teak At Eltonfurze (Mrs A Fray)
very pleasing bitch, typical, particularly good head and expression, moved pretty well both ends but even better behind than in front. Good coat, good topline, must not grow on, good tailset when she uses it. Good stifles and well muscled behind. A quality puppy and BPB
2nd - Rexlands Golden Plover By Karison (Miss K & Mrs D Johnson & Pearson)
smaller type and very smart, typical head and expression, good neck and enough bone. Good bend of stifle, good coat, enough length of body and OK in tail. Ears carried a bit high at times today but she moved pretty well in front.
3rd - Worker's Playtime (Miss S Waller)
Res - Lutrabeck Liberty (Mr R J & Mrs C Hand)
VHC - Earthtaw Apple (Miss J A & Mr M W Haydon & Gibbings)
Entries: 15 Absentees: 1
1st - Benattivo Rosina (Mrs S J & Mr C P Girling)
Res CC see above.
2nd - Gameway Margarita At Southash (Mr J & Mrs I M Southam)
not quite in such good coat as 1st but good head and expression, good neck, topline and tail. Moved better behind than in front. Good small feet and a very pleasing exhibit.
3rd - Hartswelin Far Away (Ms L J Godefroid)
Res - Lorrivale Lerryn of Olderhill (Mrs S Wilson)
VHC - Thistlestone Blue Weasel (Whisker & May)
Entries: 14 Absentees: 4
1st - Aurgwen Alyth (Mrs J M Phillips)
very good size for a bitch, pleasing in head and expression. OK in eyes and OK in ears, good neck and topline, excellent coat, good hindquarters, moved quite well in front. Good shape and proportions. Not too big.
2nd - Tythrop Treen of Baillieswells (Professor A S Milton)
totally different colour, good for size, moved out well, OK behind, can stand a bit straight in stifle if not watched by her handler, good bone, OK in skull but needs a bit more furnishing on muzzle to complete the picture, good feet and very good tail.
3rd - Badgerbeck Tree Pipit At Tilmoray JW (Mrs M Small)
Res - Dugaden Dilemma At Artwork JW (Mr K Freivokh)
VHC - Lighthorne Lottie (Mrs L J Vintcent)
Entries: 15 Absentees: 3
1st - Yeomeadow Heather For Tyrian (Mrs K Dean)
very upstanding blue and tan bitch with very good topline and tailset. Moved pretty well in front and behind, good head, skull, eyes and foreface, very good in outline and has much quality. Well muscled. Pretty headstrong at times.
2nd - Karison Kamellia JW (Miss K Johnson)
smaller type, very good head, good skull, excellent neck and really good coat. Correct tail and had proportionate bone and good feet. Moved out pretty well and is another quality exhibit.
3rd - Hartswelin She's Magic (Ms L J Godefroid)
Res - Kighill Cheeky Minky (Mr B & Mrs K A Newsome)
VHC - Borderella Elsa (Mr F & Mrs H Freeman)
Entries: 11 Absentees: 0
1st - Penlumeg Pendant (Mrs B S Harris)
standing looks very good. Typical head and expression, enough strength of muzzle and correct skull. Excellent coat. Enough neck. Topline OK standing but does not always hold it well on the move, good hindquarters and correct tail. Just the right amount of bone. Moves well but sometimes with little enthusiasm.
2nd - Ottaswell Carmen (Mr D & Mrs G M Hunt)
bigger bitch, good head and expression, good broad skull, strong muzzle. Excellent neck, shown in good coat. Good tail of correct thickness. Not quite the front of the winner. Good in rib and loin. Plenty of muscle and good in stifle.
3rd - Benattivo Mulberry (Mrs S J & Mr C P Girling)
Res - Gameway Set And Match (Mr P & Mrs H Fulker)
VHC - Pherjan Phoebe (Mr N & Mrs M Yates)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 2
1st - CH Picer Bright Idea JW (Mr G & Mrs S Pickering)
Bitch CC and BOB. See above.
2nd - Comberdown Ciara (Mr I & Mrs A Higham)
rather a different type. Not so good in coat as winner but moved pretty well in front and behind but doesn?t always stand right in front. Could be stronger in foreface but good hindquarters with plenty of muscle. Good topline and OK in tail
3rd - Glebeheath Figurine (Mrs J Guvercin)
Res - Mansergh Miss Otis (Roslin-williams, Miss A.)
VHC - Badgerbeck Fantacy JW (Mr J C Roberts)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 3
1st - Kelgram Kashmir At Artwork (Freivokh, Liz & Ken)
moved very well for her age. Very good in neck, topline coat and tailset, tail a bit long but in proportion. Good enough expression. OK in front. Good small tight feet. Long enough in body and good in rib not overdone.
2nd - Towden Peaberry Espresso (Cole, Mrs. E.)
not quite the style when moving as 1st, but good in skull and very fit for her age. Correct amount of bone. Not quite so good in front as 1st. Good tail and well muscled hindquarters.
3rd - Olderhill Hesta At Borderella (Mrs P South)