Show Type: Breed Supported
Venue: Lockmeadow Market Hall, Barker Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8LW
Judge: Siân McKay (Redesholt)
Entries: 23 dogs making 27 entries
Terrier Group Judge And Best In Show Judge: Sharon Confue (Anjofra)
I would like to thank the London and Home Counties Terrier Club for affording me the opportunity to judge at this year’s Premier Open Show, and to my very capable steward Sharon, who kept things moving in the ring.
Regarding the exhibits: I had some lovely examples that exemplified what I look for in a Border Terrier. The stamp of the breed the head- its proportions such, that it is capable of doing its job underground, and a body constructed to deal with the terrain and weather of Northumberland; so, in good fit hard working condition.
I did not find any suspect mouths and no kinked tails.
Best Of Breed: G3, Tulawyn Garretson by Onthill
Reserve Best Of Breed: RBOBG4, Onthill Living The Dream
Best Dog: Tulawyn Garretson by Onthill
Reserve Best Dog: Onthill Living The Dream
Best Puppy - Dog: Thistlemead Fortitude
Best Bitch: Onziemehurst Milly Earhart JW
Reserve Best Bitch: Onthill Crystal Clear To Foxpaw
Best Puppy - Bitch: Bostontime Super Lady
Best Puppy: Bostontime Super Lady
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1st - Thistlemead Fortitude (Mrs P M Heeley)
7-month-old dog with a good strong otter head in the making-big teeth and inquisitive gaze from well-placed dark eyes. Temperament sound. Good reach of neck flowing into level topline both when static and on the move. Correct proportions fore and aft, underline and tailset- good for bone, and standing on good cat-like feet. Lovely carrot-like tail. Worked well with handler and presented a super silhouette. Presented with a harsh thick jacket and good thickness of skin and loose pelt. Still a little loose at the front, but forgivable for a baby.
2nd - Onziemehurst The Red Baron (Miss A Nettle)
9-month-old dog with a masculine head dark alert eyes strong jaw and big teeth. Temperament sound. Not quite so level on the move as 1 today, but nevertheless presented a well-proportioned silhouette that was good for bone and a day’s work. A bit unsettled when on the move, but has time to mature and relax into a steadier gait. Short of coat, but evidence of a good coat on the rise, good pelt.
Entries: 4 Absentees: 1
1st - Arunmere One In A Million (Mrs S and Mr J Wilks)
Year-old dog with a masculine head with good sloping stop and strong muzzle, with corresponding big teeth. Nice shoulder placement, length of back and in good working condition, with strong loin, level topline on move and static, and good tailset. Correct underline, turn of stifle and well let down hocks. Evidence of good coat coming through and decent thickness of skin and loose pelt. Movement was ok needed a bit more drive today.
2nd - Borderrush Brugal Rum For Twizzlemere (Mr V J & Mrs M Pearce)
Year old dog, taller than 1 but still had good ratios throughout, though lacking in the bone and condition of 1. Another dog with a good masculine head in the making with a kind alert dark eye, and good proportions through head. Static: good level topline and tailset. Angles fore and aft mirrored correctly, narrow throughout, and ribs well back; but as mentioned, would have liked to see a bit more of a second thigh in evidence. Harsh jacket and loose pelt. Movement was his downfall today as he was a bit choppy, not working with his hander consistently.
3rd - Onthill Island Rover (Mrs V A Markall)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 0
1st - Tulawyn Garretson by Onthill (Mr R & Mrs A Ramus)
This dog caught my eye as soon as he entered the ring with his self-confident yet understated showmanship, temperament, movement around the ring and profile. Hands on he did not disappoint. Superb otter head with a relaxed but keen expression, whisper of a stop; correct, for me, length of muzzle, inferring powerful jaws, housing as evidenced, big teeth. Great flow of neck into correctly laid back shoulders, narrow throughout and correctly proportioned body that was of good bone and in fit, hard condition. He maintained a level topline whilst on the move and standing…strong carrot like tail, and had the best reach, drive and coat and pelt on the day, so I showed no hesitation in awarding him Best Dog and Best of Breed. Pleased to watch him go on to be placed Group 3 in Show.
2nd - Onthill Living The Dream (Miss F Wingrave)
First in Open Dog.
3rd - Arunmere One In A Million (Mrs S and Mr J Wilks)
Res - Borderrush Brugal Rum For Twizzlemere (Mr V J & Mrs M Pearce)
VHC - Onthill Island Rover (Mrs V A Markall)
Entries: 3 Absentees: 0
1st - Onthill Living The Dream (Miss F Wingrave)
Smart dog presented in fit, hard condition ready for a day’s work and constructed so to do. Another dog with a super otter head, correctly proportioned to enable a powerful bite from strong jaws with big teeth. Shallow stop, well placed dark eye with inquisitive intelligent expression. Head flows into good length of neck that is used well to present a super outline of correct ratio’s both at rest and on the move. Good thickness of skin, loose pelt and harsh jacket. Balanced dog, with great front- narrow throughout and gave hints that if he were on a looser lead, he would reach out and drive a bit more than he did today, as he and his handler were not consistently in simpatico. Nevertheless, there is much to like about this dog and did push, once settled a bit more in second class, to be awarded Reserve Dog and Reserve Best of Breed. I was delighted to see him go on to be placed Group 4 in the Best Reserve in Show Group.
2nd - Digmoor Turn The Page (Mr M P & Mrs S V Regan)
This dog has a superb otter heard with the slightest of stops, strong short powerful muzzle, and alert, keen dark eyes. Another balanced dog presented in fit, hard condition ready for a day’s work with the narrowness, angles fore and aft and ribbing to so do. Thick skin, loose pelt and harsh coat would enable him to work all day; and although a taller dog, he is in correct proportions that would not hinder him underground. He lost out on higher honours today as his movement was more hesitant and inefficient than 1 today.
3rd - Onthill Nighthawk (AV)1 (Mr V J & Mrs M Pearce)
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1st - Bostontime Super Lady (Mr O Cox)
8 months old grizzle bitch who won this class on best balanced movement and reach and drive. Good otter like head with correct proportions, strong muzzle and big teeth… would like a smaller ear. Good for bone, and stands lightly on small cat like feet with thick pads- testament to her condition which was fit with good second thigh, and narrow throughout with good underline and well sprung ribs. Correct angles fore and aft – carrot-like tail carried well, with a strong base. Exhibited in a super dense thick harsh coat with thick skin and loose pelt. She has a strong loin connecting to racy hindquarters, which propelled her around the ring with a regular, fluent movement. This movement secured her Best Puppy Bitch and BPIB.
2nd - Thistlemead Fortuity (Mrs P M Heely)
7-month-old bitch- still very much a baby and less sure of herself on the move today than 1, but eager to please, and worked well with her handler. Super otter head in the making, from neat well set on ears to her strong muzzle and big teeth. Appears in the midst of a growing spurt therefore a tad croup high today…underline correct with no tuck up. Narrow throughout, ribs carried well back- lighter in bone than 1. Exhibited in super harsh dense coat and with good loose pelt and thick skin.
Entries: 3 Absentees: 0
1st - Onthill Daydream Believer At Forestacre (Mrs S J Fermor Bradstock)
Nice feminine bitch with gentle expression and strong muzzle and big teeth. Good for bone, spannable – correct lay of shoulder and rear angulation correct, with decent turn of stifle, second thigh and well let down hocks. Good feet and carroty tail which she carried properly. Best on the move in the class today, moving with adequate reach and drive. Presented in a harsh dense coat with loose pelt.
2nd - Sweet Dancing Lady (Mrs J Cox)
Another feminine yet well put together bitch. Kind eye, good proportions throughout. Lovely reach of neck that flowed into correctly placed shoulders. Smart both in silhouette and from rear and front; was slightly straighter in stifle and not so forward on the move as 1 today. Exhibited in a super harsh coat with thick skin and loose pelt.
3rd - Ceilloch Griffin At Onziemehurst (Miss A Nettle)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 2
1st - Digmoor Solar Aquarius (Mr M P & Mrs S V Regan)
Super workmanlike bitch – soundly constructed with characteristic otter like head sporting big teeth and keen dark eyes. Correct ratios fore and aft- narrow throughout – ribs well back connecting to strong loin and racy hindquarters. Good for bone and presented in harsh coat with thick skin and pliable pelt.
2nd - Onthill Oh What A Night (Mr R & Mrs A Ramus)
Cracking typical Border head on this bitch- feminine yet correctly proportioned with a gently gaze, well placed and correctly sized ears and big teeth. Great reach of neck into a level topline and carroty tail. She stands on catlike feet and is good for bone. Carrying a bit of condition today, nevertheless gave a good account of herself on the move, but just not the purpose in her action of 1 today.
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1st - Onziemehurst Milly Earhart JW (Miss A Nettle)
This bitch flew into the ring, moving effortlessly with fluid reach and drive. A good example of a typical feminine Border ready for work, presented in fit hard condition. Feminine head, good reach of neck, and stands lightly on cat like feet and was excellent for bone. Excellent racy hindquarters the angles of which, mirrored her fore. Exhibited in thick harsh dense coat with loose thick pelt. Pleased to award her Best Bitch in Breed.
2nd - Onthill Crystal Clear To Foxpaw (Mrs H Fulker)
Very smartly turned out bitch with a feminine head with inquiring dark eyes good set on of ears and big teeth. Narrow throughout, though finer boned and not quite the second thigh of 1. Level topline which she kept whilst static and on the move. Presented in a pinwire harsh coat, with pliable pelt and thick skin. Moved around the ring with purpose and decent reach and drive worked well with handler, pushing hard in the Bitch Challenge, just being pipped today by one who was more forward in movement. RBBIB.
3rd - Starmix Candy (Miss J Feeney)
Res - Bluanquors Sun Princess (Mrs M Mcauliffe)