Show Type: Championship
Venue: Asfordby Amateurs Sports Club, Hoby Road, Asfordby, nr Melton Mowbray, Leics LE14 3TL
Judge: Sharp & Bailey
Entries: 225 for 268
Website: www.mbtc.org.uk/...
Dogs: Mrs M. Sharp (Rhozzum)
Bitches: Mrs M. Bailey (Grindelvald)
Dog Critique
My thanks to the Committee for inviting me to judge the Championship Show for the second time, the first being 10 years ago, and thanks to my Stewards for their efficiency. The entry of 103 with only 9 absentees was pleasing.
Some judges concentrate on heads, others on shape of eyes, or on small dark ears, some on presentation, others on neat accurate movement. As for me – I judge on a whether a dog is “fit for function†as a working terrier plus whether it looks like a Border Terrier and no other type of terrier.
A good proportion of the entry had major faults of construction which would render them, not useless, but inefficient at the job Border Terriers are designed to perform. For instance, short rib cages do not allow for lung room for the stamina a terrier needs to run all day, and these short rib cages (often sprung) were very much in evidence in the entry. Some were accompanied by long loins which might give the impression to the ringside that the dog had good length.
Secondly, upright shoulders, often with steep upper arms are a major design fault. A well laid shoulder with well angulated upper arm which brings the elbow under the body is not just a pleasure to look at – these act as shock absorbers when the dog is running so that his joints are not jarred, leading to wear and tear, thus shortening his effective life as a working terrier.
Finally, wide fronts, often associated with the previous construction – a Border should be able to creep into any space occupied by a fox, and these, despite their chunky appearance have very little body under that fur.
Coats were mixed as to be expected – and there were some really good pelts, only a couple with paper thin pelts. Undercoat was often missing on the back, but present on the sides. A handful of bad mouths, perhaps some all rounders might accept these but I could not. Few really outstanding otter heads which stay in one’s memory for years, but most were adequate.
My critique will not contain descriptions of the dogs, but will give an indication of why they were placed as they were. If your dog was not as high in the placings as you had hoped, take a good objective look at him, and you might find out why.
Bitch Critique
A big thank you to the MBTC committee for asking me to judge the Ch. Show it was a great honour. Thank you also to my stewards Ray & Sharon for making the classes run so smoothly. A nice entry of 144 bitches. I enjoyed the day; it was lovely to judge the bitches. The depth of quality in most of the classes was very pleasing. However, the fronts are still a problem within the breed & need to be addressed in future litters. Some quality bitches went cardless, unfortunately there is only 5 cards & many went without being placed. I was so delighted that my fellow judge Marie, agreed that my BCC & BRCC, should win the top honours, Best in Show and RBIS.
Best In Show: Am CH Sulan Easy Does It
Reserve Best In Show: Cedarhill Rising Star At Brankell
Best Opposite Sex: Ottaswell Palamedes
DCC: Ottaswell Palamedes
RDCC: CH Brumberhill Benchmarked JW ShCM
Best Puppy - Dog: Hjelme Noggin at Glebeheath
RBCC: Cedarhill Rising Star At Brankell
Best Puppy - Bitch: Brumberhill Betrothal
Best Puppy: Hjelme Noggin at Glebeheath
Best Veteran: Baywillow Canape At Smalesmouth
Entries: 9 Absentees: 0
1st - Comitis California (Mr T and Mrs L Palmer)
8 month b/t in excellent coat with correct colour. Lovely neck into well laid shoulders. Narrow bodied easily spanned. Good angulation of hind quarters. Not exaggerated in any way. An ideal size.
2nd - Stoneygin Dizzy Rascal (Mr G & Mrs D Rayner)
7 ½ month light g/t. Stronger built than winner but narrow and well balanced with a lovely head.
3rd - Ragatam Rambler (Miss T J Peacock)
7 month bright red. A raw happy puppy with good conformation. Very loose in movement at the moment.
Res - Nogard Aeron (Mr J A & Misses F F & E H Evans)
VHC - Tojamatt Warlord (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 1
1st - Hjelme Noggin at Glebeheath (Mrs J Guvercin)
10 months g/t stood out in this class when standing and when moving. Correct in shoulders, ribs and hind angulation. A lovely expression although his muzzle could be a little stronger. Looked up to size but spanned well because his ribs are correct (not oversprung) Outstanding drive off his hocks, floated round the ring apparently effortlessly. Best Puppy in Show.
2nd - Tojamatt Warlord (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
8 month old g/t in full coat. VHC in MPD. A really handy size with good length to ribs. Little too wide in front for me.
3rd - Totherend Tornado (Mr R G & Mrs E A Wright)
9 month old b/t with good conformation. Narrow ribs of good length but needs time for his loin to strengthen so that he can move with more co-ordination.
Res - Brackenfell Bok To Bach (Mr C Hall & Miss L Ellis)
VHC - Breckgreen Blue Steel Ironfield (Mrs L J Mudd)
Entries: 12 Absentees: 0
1st - Riseburn Retro (Miss C Tutin)
15 month old b/t of excellent type and colour in excellent coat. Good for size, top line, shoulders and hind angulation. Really good drive off his hocks. I predict a good future when he matures.
2nd - Alcumlow Solitaire (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
17 month old g/t. Close between 1 & 2 but preferred length of leg of winner. Narrow bodied with lovely otter head. Good top line held on the move.
3rd - Kgills King Of Swing At Awbrooksky (Mr & Miss Goddard)
16 month old light g/t. A handy sized, honest type, very sound on the move.
Res - Badgerholme Epsom Jet JW (Mr B Dickinson & Miss T James)
VHC - Terabyte Red Robin (Mr J N & Miss A J Thomas)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 1
1st - Ragatam Rambler (Miss T J Peacock)
3rd in MPD as before
2nd - Foxpaw Pipps Cross (Mr P & Mrs H Fulker)
7 month g/t dog unplaced in MPD. Handy size but rather upright in shoulders. Pleasing expression.
3rd - Intack Sir Duke (Mrs K Keeetley)
12 1/2 month old g/t . Good honest type with lovely loose pelt. Over size.
Res - Otto Little Jeep (Mr A Page)
VHC - Baillieswells Drumguish (Professor A S Milton)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 1
Not an easy class to sort out.. Although only 3 were present, each one handled well on the table, but did not move as well as I hoped.
1st - Mansergh Burne Jones (Miss A Roslin Williams)
G/t in good coat and hard condition. Excelled in shoulders and ribs. He won on his superior hind action although he moved rather wide in front. Rather dour, but I have seen such characters come to life in the field.
2nd - Ravenside Rumours About Caldewgate (Mr A E Burke)
A heavier built g/t in good coat. Not so easily spanned as 1 but moved well.
3rd - Hobholt Hallmark (Mr C K & Mrs M A Wallace)
B/t with all the essentials – narrow and with excellent hind movement but was not happy to be handled on the ground.
Entries: 12 Absentees: 0
1st - Mansergh Burne Jones (Miss A Roslin Williams)
As before
2nd - Gellisown Flintstone (Mrs T Broadbent)
G/t youngster. Narrow and racey, easily spanned. Good topline and tail set. Could do with carrying more weight. Less mature than winner.
3rd - Otterwood Cyrus JW (Mr M J & Mrs J M Hollingsbee)
G/t well made throughout but not so narrow as those above him but a sound and honest Border Terrier.
Res - Cobstoneway Ocean Sunrise (Mrs G Stevens)
VHC - Shaamit Guarantee (Mrs J O'Shea)
Entries: 16 Absentees: 1
1st - Stowthorney Swinging Sam (Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green)
G/T who looked up to size but under his good dense coat was a spannable dog. Good length of body and balanced angulation, fore and aft. A sound unexaggerated Border.
2nd - Ragatam Poco For Borderbridge JW (Miss B J Singh)
B/T in good coat and condition. Pleasing head and expression. Had a tendency to stand wide in front, but moved OK.
3rd - Digmoor Bankers Bonus (Mr M P & Mrs S V Regan)
A lithe handy sized g/t with nice neck and shoulders. Not so good in front as those above him.
Res - Oughterside Minty's Pride (Robert Scott)
VHC - Intack Red Admiral (Mrs V Waldron)
Entries: 14 Absentees: 1
1st - Ottaswell Palamedes (Mr D & Mrs G M Hunt)
G/T in excellent coat and condition. Lovely type with gorgeous head and expression. Built on narrow lines. Super front. His long legs might give the impression that he is short in body, but he is well ribbed back with a flexible loin. I would like a little more drive from his hind quarters but there were none to beat him today for the CC.
2nd - Brumberhill Blue Tempest (Mr S A Mcpherson)
Another dog, a B/T, in super coat and condition. Well put together – a very balanced mover if slightly lethargic today.
3rd - Hawcoat Lord George (Mrs E J & Miss R C Larner)
G/T in full coat. Spanned well although his coat made him look heavy. Went a bit close behind but used his hocks well. Lovely type.
Res - Ravenside Workforce (Mr M Lowry)
VHC - Borderella Day Tripper JW ShCM (Mrs P South)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 3
1st - CH Brumberhill Benchmarked JW ShCM (Mr S A Mcpherson)
G/T in peak coat and condition. So well made – his shoulders, neck and ribs are a joy to handle. Slightly over-angulated behind for me. His head has matured beautifully since I last judged him. Never an enthusiastic mover in the show ring, he did enough to win this class, but in the Challenge held indoors, the floor was not to his liking. Res CC.
2nd - CH Rexlands Cock Robin (Mr & Mrs D Matthews)
G/T in full coat. A handy size with all the essentials. His exuberant movement might be a nuisance in the field.
3rd - CH Foxfactor Pied Piper JW ShCM (Mrs K D Stockley)
Well known G/T in excellent coat and condition. He is more a show dog than a working dog due to his broad chest, but his head is lovely and he moves well, driving off his hocks.
Res - Hobholt Helmsman JW (Mr C K & Mrs M A Wallace)
VHC - Onthill Super Trouper (Mr R & Mrs A M Ramus)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 0
1st - Kgills King Of Swing At Awbrooksky (Mr & Miss Goddard)
3rd in Junior
2nd - Foxpaw Brilliant Disguise (Mr P & Mrs H Fulker)
Light g/t. handy size. His rather upright shoulders but well angulated hind quarters resulted in rather unco-ordinated movement.
3rd - Dymanti Roman Warrior (Mr P J & Mrs A K Taylor)
G/t of quite nice type but not the conformation required as he was upright in shoulders and rather broad in chest.
Res - Brookbank Beauly (Mrs S P Norris)
VHC - Cedarhill Stargazer (Miss A Speake & Mr H S Speake)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 1
1st - CH Hobholt Harrier JW (Mr C K & Mrs M A Wallace)
G/t nearly 8 year old. Has kept his narrow lines well, and can still move like a Champion. I think he could carry more weight.
2nd - CH Tythrop Tapas (Mrs J Lee)
G/t Another well know Champion, aged 8 ½. Has not forgotten how to put on a good performance, and has maintained all the qualities that gave him his title.
3rd - Foxfactor Hornblower JW ShCM (Mrs K D Stockley)
Another 8 ½ year old who still looks in his prime. In very good coat and moving really well.
Res - Kersfell Comet JW (Sneddon, Margaret)
VHC - CH/Nord CH Otterbobs Ninezergh (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)
Entries: 1 Absentees: 0
1st - Oxcroft Rocco (Mr M Walton)
Red dog with the super type of head we expect from this kennel. Bit erratic in movement. Good in body length, straight front with well boned legs.
Entries: 20 Absentees: 5
1st - Stineval Sequoia (Mr A & Mrs C Horner)
Lovely neat puppy, lots to like about her. Good head well set ears. Front needs to tighten but still young enough. Level top line which she held on the move. Good rear angulation. Moved well from rear. Presented in excellent coat, showed well
2nd - Abisu Domino (Mr C Kerry & Miss L E Westland)
another quality pup, feminine head, good front and rear assembly allowing good movement, excellent coat, not as showy has 1 , still one to watch.
3rd - Gameway Blue Charm At Southash (Mr J & Mrs I M Southam)
Res - Merumhor Winterfell (Mr C & Mrs J Martin)
VHC - Baillieswells Stronachie (Professor A S Milton)
Entries: 11 Absentees: 2
1st - Brumberhill Betrothal (Mr S A Mcpherson)
lovely head, mod broad skull but still feminine, little bit straight in forearm .good length of neck. Level top line, which she kept on move. Good rear angulation gave drive on move on neat small tight well padded feet. In excellent coat, which you would expect from this kennel. A real show off.
2nd - Twigglestone Elfenor (Mrs L I Aldous)
unfortunate it meet 1 to-day she’s full of quality, excellent head, good bite, well laid shoulders into level top line, good rear quarters moved well keeping level top line on the move. In good show condition.
3rd - Tarkaswell Double Agent (Mrs C E Samsom)
Res - Baillieswells Stronachie (Professor A S Milton)
VHC - Orangecastle Zaurak at Foxfactor (Mrs K D Stockley)
Entries: 14 Absentees: 2
1st - Ploughdown Portia (Mr & Mrs E Armstrong)
lovely well balanced bitch, lots to like good head, short muzzle, correct bite, straight front, well muscled hindquarters giving her drive on the move, keeping a level top line. Tail a little on the long side. In excellent course coat, neat feet. A worthy winner.
2nd - Cedarhill Wish Upon a Star (Mrs C Dean)
Another quality bitch, good head and expression , neat straight front and feet. Correct neck and shoulders level top line, not quite the length of rib as 1, but still narrow. Well angulated rear quarters, moved well. In tight harsh coat.
3rd - Ravenside Time Passes (Mr M Lowry)
Res - Akenside Calypso (Mrs L Gosling)
VHC - Ironfield Athena (Mrs L J Mudd)
Entries: 11 Absentees: 1
1st - Cedarhill Wish Upon a Star (Mrs C Dean)
As Junior
2nd - Merumhor Winterfell (Mr C & Mrs J Martin)
still very immature, showed well, neat size, well balanced, short muzzle, preferred head of 1. Good front and rear angulation, moved well. Course coat.
3rd - Baillieswells Stronachie (Professor A S Milton)
Res - Benattivo Best Bet Karison (Miss K Johnson)
VHC - Mascani Daisy At Cynetkoy (Mr S D Watson & Mrs A S Kenna)
Entries: 15 Absentees: 7
1st - Benattivo Double Flame (Mr C & Mrs S Girling)
lovely feminine bitch of correct size. Good straight front, well laid shoulders, level top line into well set tail, presented in correct coat. In tip top show condition. Moved out well.
2nd - Rubyfin Kara Emerald (Mrs S J Channer)
good head, neat shoulders, good bend of stifle, longer in back, moved well, good double coat. Preferred size of 1.
3rd - Ploughdown Placida (Mr & Mrs E Armstrong)
Res - Ridgebow Amberwitch (Mr N Duxbury)
VHC - Hobholt Heiress (Mr C K & Mrs M A Wallace)
Entries: 15 Absentees: 7
1st - Brumberhill Bejewelled (Mr S A Mcpherson)
short muzzle broad skull & neat ears, well balanced throughout, good level topline. Hindquarters gave her drive on the move. In excellent coat.
2nd - Asplands Astrid for Tythrop (Mrs J Lee)
Lovely neat bitch, good expression, preferred head of 1, good reach of neck into level top line, neat tail. Narrow throughout, moved well.
3rd - Brookbank Brora (Mrs S P Norris)
Res - Southash Party Knight (Mr & Mrs T Knight)
VHC - Oxcroft Real Deal (Mr J Price)
Entries: 9 Absentees: 5
1st - Wadesleia Woodland Ringlet (Mr A & Mrs H A Fletcher)
neat feminine bitch, short muzzle, short ears, level top line. Slightly short in coupling. Moved ok, excellent in coat.
2nd - Oughterside Magic Sky (Mr R W Scott)
Narrow throughout, good reach of neck. Preferred head of 1. Not as strong in muzzle, good front & rear angulation. Lacking coat.
3rd - Bandicoot Hello Dolly with Regaltwist (Mrs H M & Mr A J Barnes)
Res - Trixdale Sweetie Pie (Mrs C A Jones)
Entries: 24 Absentees: 4
1st - Baywillow Blue Design (Mrs M B Reeves)
Quality feminine b/t bitch, short strong muzzle flat stop, mod broad skull, good expression. Well laid shoulders, narrow throughout excellent rear quarters giving her plenty of drive on the move in good double harsh coat. Showed well.
2nd - Merumhor Solstice Belle JW ShCM (Mr C J & Mrs J H Martin)
One I’ve admired from ringside. Super full head but still feminine, good length of neck, into level top line which she held on the move. Neat tail. Straight front spannable. Good front movement just lost out to 1 in rear movement. In excellent coat. Showed and presented well.
3rd - Sulan Look at Me (Mrs S J Baxter)
Res - Foxfactor Cue The Music JW (Mrs K D Stockley)
VHC - Beaconpike In A Storm (Mr S & Mrs K Golding)
Entries: 13 Absentees: 4
1st - Am CH Sulan Easy Does It (Mrs S J Baxter)
This bitch stood out in this class for quality. Head of correct portions, with good dark eye, varmity expression. Correct bite large teeth. Narrow throughout, ribbed well back. Good forearm on neat tight feet, well laid shoulders, hindquarters well muscled, correct bend of stifle. Moved around the ring with confidence & drive. In super coat. Never stop showing all day, well handled and presented. BCC & BIS
2nd - Cedarhill Rising Star At Brankell (Mr P Brannan & Miss M Kelly)
Another quality bitch. A head like that of an otter, she’s got it!! Neat ears good bite. Narrow throughout. Excellent front & rear angulation. Well balanced, coat coming through. It was so closed to choose between 1 & 2, it was down to 1 was in better coat. Well shown and handled. A well deserved Res BCC & RBIS
3rd - Benattivo Faberge JW (Mr C & Mrs S Girling)
Res - CH Bandicoot Jazz JW (Mr G E & Mrs V L K Docwra)
VHC - Dandyhow Sonata JW (Mrs K M Irving)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 3
1st - Brookbank Brora (Mrs S P Norris)
Good typical head , well laid shoulders, narrow good length of rib, correct rear quarters, in good coat, very difficult to assess movement has she was a little playful.
2nd - Cynetkoy's It's All a Fiasco (Mr S D Watson & Mrs A S Kenna)
neat bitch, good head, shorter in leg than 1, good front & rear angulation. Not got correct length of rib. In good coat, moved ok.
3rd - Ianteg Aurelia (Miss S Richie)
Res - Trixdale Sweetie Pie (Mrs C A Jones)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 2
1st - Baywillow Canape At Smalesmouth (Mrs J Roberts)
7yrs old. Lots to like about her, good expression, short muzzle, good front angulation, narrow throughout, ok stifle. Moved with drive kept a good level top line, good tail set. In correct double harsh coat. Best veteran in show
2nd - Totherend Bluebelle O'Ball (Mr R G & Mrs E A Wright)
8 1/2yrs old good broad skull, stronger in bone than 1, good front and rear angulation moved well. Full coated.
3rd - CH Manx Margaid ShCM (Mr B J & Mrs K D Stockley)
11 1/2 yrs old
Res - Aurora's Popcorn (Mr E Tart & Miss A E Speake)
7 yrs old
VHC - Wagtail Lass Via Ycart (Mr K K Fraser & Mrs T J Butler)
7 yrs old
Entries: 1 Absentees: 0
1st - Oxcroft Rumour (Mr J Price)
good strong short muzzle broad skull, varmity expression. Easy came to hand. Narrow could get any where in field. Good course coat.