Show Type: Championship
Venue: NEC, Birmingham
Judge: Stuart McPherson (Brumberhill)
Thank you to those exhibitors, who, in the present financial climate, gave me the highest entry in the Terrier Group, by a considerable margin, nearly half as many again as the next breed. Friday, M6, NEC, extortionate car park charges are not a good combination!!
Thank you to my very efficient steward, who kept things running smoothly, so we could finish in good time, after the very late start due to the problems on the M6.
Now, to the dogs themselves! I know that I was very lucky, in that when I started in the Breed, in 1980, I was taught about type, construction and movement by Ted Hutchinson, a master of the sport, who had campaigned the then Breed Record Holder, plus a string of Champions across many other breeds. This knowledge, plus, I would like to think, a natural eye for quality, has served me well over the following years. Therefore, it saddens me to see the type and constructional faults that are creeping into the breed. These faults are now so prevalent, that newer breeders, exhibitors and some judges, probably think, and accept they must be correct, so widespread are they.
The Standard asks for an “otter“ like head, moderately broad in skull. Too many have excessively broad skulls, giving an exaggerated, almost caricature look, rather than the refined beauty of an otter. Ear set is also a cause for concern. The standard calls for small, V- shaped, dropping forward close to the cheek. Too many ears are perched high, above the line of the skull, dropping forward to the temple, rather than the cheek, giving a foreign, almost Lakeland / Fox Terrier expression. While, I am sure, this may appeal in some quarters, it is totally incorrect on a Border Terrier.
Now, to shoulders, and especially upper arms, a major problem today, particularly in the younger classes. Upright shoulders and very short upper arms, mean the front assembly of the dog appears “tacked on“. The shoulder should be clean and well laid, with a long upper arm, meaning that the dog can stand with their front legs under them, perpendicular to the floor, rather than like a “milking stool. This, affects movement, giving an action that can only be described as “peddling a bike” and causing no reach on the move .They are, after all, a working breed, who are supposed to be capable of “following a horse”.
On the plus side, most were in good coat, and moved soundly behind, something which is much easier to achieve. Two exhibits were so thin, I felt their entry fee would have been better spent on a bag of quality food.
My top winners are examples of Breeders who have stuck to their ideals, of breeding sound, honest, typical Border Terriers, bred to last, not following fashion by breeding, what, to my mind, are shorter coupled, flashier “terrier” types to appeal to the more modern way of thinking. They wouldn’t have looked out of place from when I first started in the Breed, matching beautifully for type and construction.
Best Of Breed: Rhozzum Dankworth
Best of breed
DCC: Rhozzum Dankworth
RDCC: Hobholt Harrier JW
BCC: Mansergh Miss Otis
RBCC: Chesterton Broken Promise
Best Puppy: Tallowbrook Memento of Quatford
Entries: 13 Absentees: 5
Very disappointing class for movement, particularly in front, even allowing for being puppies.
1st - Ethlencoral Pip (Mr D & Mrs G M Hunt)
8 month grizzle & tan. head and expression ok, but spoilt at moment by rather large ears. Hope the proportions sort out as he matures. Excellent neck, shoulder, front & feet. Good topline & tail set. Excellent hindquarters, used well on the move. By far the soundest mover in the class, a very easy winner here. Promising.
2nd - Smartstone Governor (Mrs J P & Mr D A Giles & Birtles)
7 month. Typical head & expression. Good neck, shoulder, front & feet. In full coat, but harsh enough. Sound mover for his age.
3rd - Jacobs Ladder (Mrs G P Maskell)
Res - Hobholt Hustler (Mrs M A Wallace)
VHC - Halcus Annatto (Mr J F & Mrs I H Nicolls)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 4
1st - Pebbledyke Tempus Fugis (Mr K L Foster)
9 month blue & tan. Excellent head and expression. Good neck, shoulder and front with superb feet. Excellent topline & tail set. Very good hindquarters, used well on the move. Superb coat and pelt. Although his handler could make a little more of him, he was sound enough on the move. BPD on head and coat.
2nd - Stoneygin Jacksson At Nickeltweed (Mrs N J & Mr A P Harris)
10 ½ month red grizzle. Typical head and expression, with good neck & shoulder, topline & tail set. Good hindquarters, used well. Very good coat & pelt. Both promising puppies.
3rd - Foxthorn Renogade At Vallemoss (Mr L & Mrs S Moss)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 2
1st - Badgerbeck Bobby Owl (Miss L M Jenkins)
Two blue and tan dogs of similar age. Both have good head and expression, neck, shoulder, front and feet, with good topline and tail set and hindquarters. Both narrow and racy and presented in excellent coat with good pelts. The 1st, I felt, was just slightly steadier on the move today, but on another day they could well swap places.
2nd - Hesslemere Hi Karate JW (Mrs C Davis)
Two blue and tan dogs of similar age. Both have good head and expression, neck, shoulder, front and feet, with good topline and tail set and hindquarters. Both narrow and racy and presented in excellent coat with good pelts. The 1st, I felt, was just slightly steadier on the move today, but on another day they could well swap places.
3rd - Rhozzum King Pin (Mrs F J Matthews)
Res - Conundrum's Blue Legend At Southash (Mr & Mrs Southam)
VHC - Fehmarn Reap the Harvest (Mrs J Morton Shaw)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 1
1st - Quarryway Dill (Mrs B Williams & Mr K E Johnson)
Light grizzle. Honest, old fashioned type who has often caught my eye from ringside. Typical head and expression, with excellent neck, shoulder, front & feet. Good topline & tail set. Good hindquarters. Presented in excellent coat and good pelt. Very sound on the move, scoring in front profile over 2nd.
2nd - Glebeheath Robin the Hood (Mr P & Mrs J Burroughes)
Red grizzle. Flashier type, narrow with good front & feet and hindquarters. Tail set not so good as 1st. Moved well behind, but shorter upper arm meant he lacked the reach of 1st on the move.
3rd - Alcumlow Starstruck (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
Res - Mansergh Song Thrush (Mrs V Woolrich)
VHC - Highfell Orient (Mr L Jackson & Miss I M Dugdale)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 3
1st - Caznray Double Trouble (Miss C Spencer)
Typical head & expression Good neck, shoulder, front & feet. Excellent topline & tail set. Good hindquarters. Easily the best mover in the class.
2nd - Doramil Adventurer (Mrs M Scale)
Lighter grizzle. Typical head & expression. Narrow front with excellent topline & tail set, coat & pelt. Not quite the neck & shoulder of 1st, which showed in front movement, but moved well behind. Scored over 3rd for narrowness.
3rd - Finehaugh Fella At Kgills (Mr K J & Mrs G Bate)
Res - Highfell Orient (Mr L Jackson & Miss I M Dugdale)
VHC - Tythrop Jupiter (Mr T & Mrs K Kelly)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 2
1st - Hobholt Harrier JW (Mr C K & Mrs M A Wallace)
Red grizzle. Very honest, old fashioned type of dog with no flash or frills. Excellent head & expression, neck, shoulder front & feet. Super topline & tail set. Presented in super, harsh double coat on a thick pelt. Sound, free movement. Reserve CC.
2nd - Glebeheath Johnny the One JW (Mrs J Guvercin)
Red grizzle. Much flashier, shorter coupled dog than 1st. Head & expression ok. Topline & tail set good. Coat was ok, although not the depth and texture of the winner. Narrow, racy bodylines. Moved well behind, but couldn’t match 1st in profile due to shorter upper arm.
3rd - Hawcoat Double Expresso (Mrs E J & Miss R C Larner)
Res - Beenaben Bengeo (Mr J B Baxter)
VHC - Badgerbeck Festive Spirit of Blewecourt ShCM (Mr M & Mrs T Morgan)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 0
1st - Rhozzum Dankworth (Mrs M Sharp)
Light grizzle. I was well aware that he was the Hot Favourite to win today, hardly surprising, as I have given him the Reserve CC on the last two occasions I have judged, and bred a CC winner by him, so it is no secret of my admiration for him! At 5 years old, he has the most superb otter head and expression, which looks at you just right from any angle, and just gets better with age, no hint of coarseness here, with correct ears dropping forward close to the cheek .His neck, shoulder, front & feet are excellent, as are topline, tail set and hindquarters. Presented in superb double coat on a thick pelt. He moved on a long, free accurate stride holding his outline at all times. It gave me great pleasure to award his 3rd CC to give him his well deserved crown, the same honour I had with his father and grandfather! In the challenge for BOB, he looked as though he was still raring to go, whereas the bitch had decided she had done enough for the day, so the award was his.
2nd - Port CH Plushcourt Rossetti (Mrs B A Judge)
Blue and tan.Typical head & expression. Neck, shoulder and front ok, but not quite the excellence of the CC & Res CC winners. Excellent topline & tail set. Super coat & pelt. Used his good hindquarters well on the move. Very typical all through.
3rd - Kersfell Comet JW (Sneddon, Margaret)
Res - Conundrum's Blue Legend (Mr & Mrs Southam)
VHC - Tulawyn Oberon At Tilmoray (Mrs M Small)
Entries: 28 Absentees: 4
1st - Lutrabeck Liberty (Mr R J & Mrs C Hand)
Just 6 months red grizzle. Excellent head and expression. Super neck, shoulder, front & feet. Excellent topline & tail set. Good tail. At her first show and very naughty on the move, but when settled she moved very well. Hope she grows on, as she is very promising at the moment. Delighted to see she is a double granddaughter of Ch. Lutrabeck Limerick, to whom I awarded the first of her multi CC’s.
2nd - Lutrabeck Layla (Mrs S A & Mr M J & Miss J Taylor)
Another red grizzle, very similar to 1st, and turned out to be her litter sister! Most of the same comments apply, not quite as narrow as her. Excellent coat & pelt and very sound on the move. Both very promising.
3rd - Worker's Playtime (Miss S Waller)
Res - Rhozzum Union Rose At Crewshill (Miss J Marriott)
VHC - Rhozzum User Friendly (Mrs M Sharp)
Entries: 14 Absentees: 3
1st - Tallowbrook Memento of Quatford (Mrs V Furness)
Blue and tan. 10 ½ months. Very forward puppy. Strong, but feminine head. Excellent neck, shoulder, front & feet. Superb topline & tail set. Super coat of good colour and texture. Easily the best mover in this class. Shown beautifully on a loose lead. Stood away for Best Puppy and should have a bright future.
2nd - Stoneygin Mo Cuishle (Mr G & Mrs D Rayner)
3rd - Mansergh the Canny Granny (Miss A Roslin-williams)
Res - Gameway Margarita (Mr J & Mrs I M Southam)
VHC - Rhozzum Union Rose At Crewshill (Miss J Marriott)
Entries: 13 Absentees: 5
1st - Aurgwen Alyth (Mrs J M Phillips)
Red grizzle. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front & feet, topline & tail set. Good hindquarters. Good coat and pelt. Very sound mover. Scored in size over 2nd
2nd - Dugaden Dilemma At Artwork (Mr K Freivokh)
Light grizzle. Top sized bitch, who could do to fine off a little. Typical head and expression. Well constructed all through. Sound mover in good coat. Scored in front movement over 3rd.
3rd - Badgerbeck Tree Pipit At Tilmoray (Mrs M Small)
Res - Terracao Nell Gwynn At Esyntona (Mr I Hopper)
VHC - Tojamatt Heather (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
Entries: 13 Absentees: 2
1st - Aurgwen Alyth (Mrs J M Phillips)
2nd - Ottaswell Obsession (Mr J C & Mrs Z C Garcia-sierra)
Light grizzle. Typical head and expression, although not quite as strong as 1st. Excellent neck, shoulder, front & feet, topline, tail set and hindquarters. Very sound mover. Liked her a lot, but in her undercoat on the day.
3rd - Karison Kamellia (Miss K Johnson)
Res - Badgerbeck Tree Pipit At Tilmoray (Mrs M Small)
VHC - Alcumlow Starry Night (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
Entries: 15 Absentees: 6
1st - Ottaswell Carmen (Mr D & Mrs G M Hunt)
Light grizzle, very similar to her kennelmate in the previous class, the same comments apply, but in excellent coat with a good pelt. Did her well last time I judged, as a Minor Puppy. Typical head and expression, shade stronger than Obsession.
2nd - Wagtail Lass Via Ycart (Mr K K Fraser & Mrs T J Butler)
Red grizzle with excellent head and expression. Well constructed all through and moving well. Excellent coat and pelt. Just not quite so narrow in front and rib as 1st, but very typical.
3rd - Rhozzum Folly (Mrs M Sharp)
Res - Benattivo Plum At Eltonfurze (Mrs A Fray)
VHC - Aurora's Popcorn (Mr E Tart & Miss A E Speake)
Entries: 14 Absentees: 3
1st - Mansergh Miss Otis (Roslin-williams, Miss A.)
Grizzle, presented superbly, in deep pin wire double coat on a thick pelt. As with the dog CC Winner, she has the most exquisite otter head and expression, totally feminine, compared to his masculinity. Super small ears, dropping forward close to the cheek. Exceptional neck, shoulders, rib, carried well back and narrow bodylines that most breeder/exhibitors can only dream about. She also has the correct length upper arm to match her well laid shoulders, a rarity today. Excellent bone and feet. Super topline and tail set, with good tail. Beautifully balanced all through. She came into the ring on a high, displaying sound, free movement as she went round the ring. Although she went a shade dour later, very typically Border Terrier, it was too late, I had already seen she could do it .A bitch who certainly needs to be handled to fully appreciate her considerable virtues. Great pleasure to award her the CC, her second, and wish her well in the quest for her third.
2nd - Blue Tutu Via Ycart (Mr K K Fraser & Mrs T J Butler)
Blue and tan. Well presented in super coat and pelt. Close up and similar to handle. Excellent topline and tail set. Moves well and have no doubt she will gain her crown, but for me, on the day, not quite the superb neck, shoulder and narrow bodylines of the 1st, but very few have! Scored in front profile movement over 3rd, who was a shade upright in shoulder.
3rd - Glebeheath Figurine (Mrs J Guvercin)
Res - Baywillow Canape At Smalesmouth (Mrs J Roberts)
VHC - Badgerbeck Fantacy JW (Mr J C Roberts)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 3
1st - Chesterton Broken Promise (Mooney, Mr. A.J. & Mrs. W.M.C.)
Light grizzle.Gave her 1st. in Post Grad. at Darlington ’02, At nearly 8 years old, looks less than half her age. Still has the most superb neck, shoulders and front, the best in the class, proving if they’re made right, they last right. Excellent head and expression, topline and tail set. Good hindquarters. Super coat and pelt. Beautiful outline, which she kept as she powered around the ring. Sound, free, accurate movement. Very unlucky never to have gained her title. Res CC.
2nd - Mansergh Maisytoats At Alcumlow (Barber, Mr., Mrs. & Miss)
Dark grizzle. Judged and liked her, twice before, maturity suits her. Typical head and expression, which has improved with age. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Super topline and tail set. Powerfull hindquarters which she used to full advantage, holding her outline on the move. Superb coat and pelt.
3rd - Dandyhow Madam Butterfly (Mrs L A Crawley)
Res - CH Picer Bright Idea JW (Mr G & Mrs S Pickering)
VHC - Badgerbeck Purdi JW (Miss L M Jenkins)