Show Type: Championship
Venue: Royal Welsh Showground
Judge: Mr David Fryer (Irton)
Entries: 68 for 92
Not a numerically strong entry, but plenty of quality – I had no difficulty finding enough good ‘uns. The Border Terrier standard is short on detail, and needs interpretation. I see the key to that interpretation to be in the first two lines of the standard – ‘Essentially a working terrier‘, and ‘capable of following a horse, combining activity with gameness‘. It is further necessary to fully understand that the work the terrier is expected to do, is to go to ground to bolt a fox; that the horse in question is typically a sturdy hill pony, and the ground to follow it over is typically rough, upland country such as the Cheviots or North Pennines. Hence a sturdy dog is required, with enough scope and length to move economically on rough ground, enough lung and heart room to do it at speed all day, yet small enough to follow a fox to ground. Too short, or too narrow or sprung in the rib will not do this; nor will steep shoulders or under- or over-angulated hind quarters. Coat and pelt must be fit to protect from both weather and fox; quality is of more importance than grooming. Other than one senior citizen with missing teeth (understandable), a few exhibits with chipped teeth (no problem) and several with bites no better than level (not incorrect, merely undesirable), I found no bad mouths. All males were entire.
Best Of Breed: CH Foxfactor Pied Piper JW ShCM
DCC: CH Foxfactor Pied Piper JW ShCM
RDCC: Cobstoneway River Magic JW ShCM
BCC: Manx Ballavale
RBCC: Nogard Take Ten
Best Puppy: Ridgebow Amberwitch
Entries: 6 Absentees: 2
1st - Glebeheath Jump The Gun (Mrs J Guvercin)
A strong headed pup. Rear angulation more correct than shoulder, lacked a bit of body length; as a result, though moving well behind was a bit fussy in front. Has a cracking B&T coat. Well presented and schooled. BPD.
2nd - Ravenside Going Underground (Mr M & Mr D Lowry & Hodgson)
Better overall body balance, but head needs to come, especially in foreface. Movement basically sound but a bit skittish, better in front than behind, but only 6 months so time is on his side. Good coat and pelt.
3rd - Badgerholme Epsom Jet (Mr B Dickinson & Miss T James)
Res - Alcumlow Solitaire (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
Entries: 2 Absentees: 1
1st - Orangebox Arcade Fire (Miss D R Davies)
Stood alone. Has a good strong head and an extremely good, dense, hard coat and thick pelt. Basic construction good, (though tail slightly low set), so moved true fore and aft and drove across well. Well schooled and prepared. Up to size.
Entries: 8 Absentees: 1
1st - Keycharm Phantom by Ridgebow JW (Mr N Duxbury)
This is a proper Border Terrier, nicely balanced, good head, nice ears and eye giving a good expression. Well ribbed back, well angulated both ends, good coat and pelt. Will watch his future with interest.
2nd - Comberdown Finnegan (Mr I & Mrs A Higham)
Very similar type, better ribbed, but head not as good. Also well balanced, head the deciding factor. Also in good coat, with correct pelt; well presented and schooled. Unlucky to meet 1 in such form.
3rd - Saygo Of Hassage (Ms E D Rumsam)
Res - Stoneygin Chesta Coppapot (Mr G & Mrs D Rayner)
VHC - Daluce Fight Or Fall For Emblehope (Miss D Bladen)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1st - Saygo Of Hassage (Ms E D Rumsam)
3rd in Junior, lighter built type, not over-prepared, very appealing expression. Good quality coat, nice pelt. Well angulated, but seemed to be going rather close both in front and behind today.
2nd - Tarkatale Midnight Memory (Mr C & Mrs J Gordon)
Quite attractive, dark coloured dog, a little less sure in front. Good coat, good pelt. A little wide in front standing, and rather upright in shoulder.
3rd - Ottaswell Palamedes (Mr D & Mrs G M Hunt)
Res - Foxthorn Democrat (P A Griffiths)
Entries: 3 Absentees: 1
1st - Beaconpike Red Saturn (Mr S & Mrs K Golding)
Lightly made, head still needs to develop. Nicely balanced dog with good angulations. Not very settled on the table or on the move, particularly needs to settle in front movement. Good quality coat, good pelt.
2nd - Mingrovia Flintstone Chief At Rubyfin (Mrs S J Channer)
Heavier looking dog, with a more impressive head, nice length of rib but slightly upright in front. Moved OK. Good coat and pelt.
Entries: 9 Absentees: 2
Very good class, could have used more cards!
1st - Cedarhill Beyond the Stars JW (Mrs C Dean)
Neatly made grizzle & tan, well balanced, moved soundly, good head and eye, spans well, good rear assembly, moved well out and back and going across. Quality coat in good order.
2nd - Dowgri Diggory (Mr W & Mrs T J Baird)
A slightly taller dog, looking a touch shorter in body. Strong skull, perfect bite. Well made rear assembly, moving very well both ways and across. His quality coat was not at it’s best today. These two could easily change places another day
3rd - Ravenside Hurricane Run at Ridgebow JW (Mr N & Mrs A Duxbury)
Res - Cobstoneway Lazy River (Mesdames R & J Squibbs & Barker)
VHC - Chesterton Top Hat And Tails By Kersfell JW (Mrs M Sneddon)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 2
1st - CH Foxfactor Pied Piper JW ShCM (Mrs K D Stockley)
Well balanced dark grizzle dog, good strong head and nice expression, good bite. Good head carriage, nicely laid shoulder, clean front, decent rib, strong loin, good length of coupling, level topline. Well angulated behind with a correct tail and tailset. Excellent coat for both texture and depth, thick pliable pelt. Movement straight and true going and coming, good length of stride and strong drive. Awarded DCC , a close decision but head and drive were decisive. BOB
2nd - Cobstoneway River Magic JW ShCM (Miss C Spencer)
Could easily change places another day, also with a good head and expression though not as strong in head as 1. A redder dog, with excellent coat and pelt, correct shoulder, and rib if anything slightly better than 1. Correct length of back and nicely angulated behind. Overall another very well balanced dog. Movement also good both ways and across. RDCC
3rd - Olderhill Afortunado (Mrs S Wilson)
Res - Iacheslei Cantus JW (Miss A Harrison)
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1st - CH Clipstone Hard Cash (Mrs J & Mrs E Jackson)
Dark Grizzle dog, up to size, narrow front; doing well for 11 year old; coat thin on the ground, could have done with a few more weeks to grow through; moving well. A long time favourite of mine from the ringside, and didn’t disappoint on handling. A sprightly gent!
2nd - Kersfell Comet JW (Sneddon, Margaret)
A more compact dog, shorter coupled, not the front of 1, movement not so smooth and easy; better size and good coat and pelt.
Entries: 0 Absentees: 0
Entries: 5 Absentees: 1
4 very attractive and promising babies, of differing types; will watch progress with interest
1st - Ravenside Time Passes (Mr M Lowry)
Small pup, rather flighty at first, but moved well when she settled. Nice balance, hope she gets a bit more bone as she develops. Good, deep coat; plenty of room in the pelt to grow. Well angulated both ends, ribs carried well back. Standing up nicely for herself.
2nd - Ellie Jake Here I Am (Mr K Mcdowell)
Very smart looking B & T , good tight coat. Good movement, not quite the scope of 1, head not as typical; nice shoulder and good length of rib, good tail and tailset. Well angulated both ends.
3rd - Ianteg Aurelia (Miss S Richie)
Res - Vallemoss Hope Festival At Bordaholic (Mrs T L Bromley)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 0
1st - Ridgebow Amberwitch (Mr N Duxbury)
Nicely balanced, well laid shoulder, nice length of rib and perfect tailset. Attractive and typical head and expression, good coat and pelt. Slightly wayward at first on the move. Settled and moved better in the challenge, my final choice for BP.
2nd - Beaconpike Drops of Jupiter (Mr S & Mrs K Golding)
Unsettled on the move, smaller than 1, a bit shorter coupled but with a well laid shoulder and well angulated behind; good coat and pelt.
3rd - Cedarhill Rising Star At Brankell (Mr P Brannan & Miss M Kelly)
Res - Tilmoray Turtle Dove (Mrs M Small)
VHC - Rubyfin Kara Emerald (Mrs S J Channer)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 1
1st - Foxfactor Cue The Music JW (Mrs K D Stockley)
Well made, sound bitch; strong foreface and skull; Nice outline; correct shoulder, elegant neck, good rear angulation. Excellent movement both ways and across; nice coat and pelt.
2nd - Nantcoch Ffion (Mrs J M Phillips)
Rich red coloured bitch, not as strong in foreface ; generally well put together. Not as settled on the move, but moving ok. Seemed to be carrying a bit of spare weight?
3rd - Rhozzum Vanity Fair (Mrs M Sharp)
Res - Kersfell Chorus Girl (Mrs M Sneddon)
VHC - Iacheslei Corus (Miss A Harrison)
Entries: 3 Absentees: 1
1st - Kersfell Chorus Girl (Mrs M Sneddon)
(reserve in JB) Slightly larger type, short on coat today, sound but not impressive on the move.
2nd - Tilmoray Turtle Dove (Mrs M Small)
(reserve in PB) Short on head strength, tall, and moving a bit close. A good coat.
Entries: 2 Absentees: 1
1st - Beaconpike In A Storm (Mr S & Mrs K Golding)
On her own, a sound little bitch, well balanced body, decently made in front, going OK, better behind than in front. Good head and expression. Totally out of coat which left her pelt feeling a bit thin.
Entries: 7 Absentees: 0
Very good class, quality went all the way through and beyond the cards.
1st - Manx Ballavale (Mrs A M Gregory)
Compact little red bitch; typically feminine head with strong skull, close fitting little ears, nice neck to well laid shoulder, ribbed well back. Well angulated but not overdone hindquarters and neat little tail. Moved well coming and going, and particularly across, driving well from behind. Coat of good texture and depth. BCC.
2nd - Nogard Take Ten (Mr J A & Misses F F & E H Evans)
More upstanding, stronger bitch; Superb head, well laid and muscled shoulder, good rib; well angulated behind, maybe shorter coupled than 1. Best coat of the day, harsh, dense and full. A tendency to over enthusiasm on the move, but sound when settled. In top condition, well muscled . Res BCC
3rd - Gameway Dragonfly JW (Mrs P Clark)
Res - Karison Koffee (Miss K Johnson)
VHC - Thistlestone Jenny Wren ShCM (Miss J & Mr S May & Whisker)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1st - Rhozzum User Friendly (Mrs M Sharp)
A rangy, grizzle bitch, sound. Good head and expression, correct lay of shoulder, well ribbed back. Strong, lean loin and well made hindquarters. Good, harsh coat, loose thick pelt. Strode out well, easy action with good drive from behind.
2nd - Doramil Camorra (Mrs M Scale)
Nicely balanced red bitch, good body construction but head not so strong. Good shoulder and rib, good rear angulation. Moved well , but unexceptional. Coat not as far on, but of good quality.
3rd - Kersfell Sea the Stars at Annesuz (Mrs S Marwood)
Res - Badgerbeck Tree Pipit At Tilmoray JW ShCM (Mrs M Small)
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1st - Mansergh Maisytoats At Alcumlow (Barber, Mr., Mrs. & Miss)
A youthful 9 yr old, tall and narrow. Good overall construction, and quite sound on the move. Good coat and condition, well presented and shown
2nd - Annesuz Sam's Legacy (Marwood, Mrs. S.)
13 1/2 yr old, short of teeth, showing her age a little but still game, though no longer supple. Front and movement still true, well balanced construction, lovely type and temperament, but had to give way to youth today.
Entries: 1 Absentees: 0
1st - Nantcoch Ffion (Mrs J M Phillips)
2nd in JB (above)