Show Type: Championship
Venue: Asfordby Acres, Hoby Road, Asfordby, nr Melton Mowbray, LE14 3TL
Judge: Mr Stewart McPherson (Brumberhill)
Entries: 133 dogs making 168 entries
Website: eabtc.co.uk/...
Unexpectedly judging, this year, being brought forward a year, due to the incapacity of the scheduled Judge. Best wishes to Dave for a speedy recovery. My thanks to the Club for the invitation and to my stewards, Andy and Rob, for keeping everything running smoothly and to the exhibitors for a super entry, which I enjoyed judging. It was a super large ring, giving dogs every chance to really move out and the weather, although a bit nippy at times, held out.
Now to the dogs, themselves. On the whole, heads were good, most having the “moderately broad skull” asked for in the Standard, very few being overly broad, with deep stops, more reminiscent of the Asiatic otter, rather than the native River otter.
Necks, into shoulder, were, on the whole ok, the main problem, as ever, being short upper arms, giving a front construction, set too far forward, on the body, rather than under it, more Fox Terrier than Border Terrier, meaning that the elbow was the widest part of the dog, not ideal on a dog bred to go to ground.
Bone varied, while we don’t want heavy bone, a few were too light, those with straight fronts and quality bone, down to small feet, with thick pads were a joy to find.
I’ve got hands like shovels, so the majority were spannable, but even I struggled with one or two! A few were, to my mind, short in rib, lacking the carry back, giving an untypical cut up underline.
Topline and tailsets were in the main good, just a few “not quite” sloping in croup. Tails, in the main, were good, not too many long ones. A few could have been thicker at the base, but none curled over the back.
The majority had good racy hindquarters, very few showing the stilted rear action that seems to be creeping in to the breed, totally incorrect in a breed that should be capable of “following a horse” as there’s no length of stride, driving from the hocks.
The main point of concern, I found, is an alarming number, whose back legs are simply not on the same track as the front ones, when moving, I assume, due to a slight imbalance between the front and rear construction, the angles not matching, to give efficient movement.
Coats and pelts were pretty good, even those short of coat, had, in the main, evidence of harshness. Given it’s pretty much the start of the show season, none were unduly penalised, my view being coats are transient, construction is a constant.
Best In Show: Stowthorney Cloudspotter
Reserve Best In Show: CH Bohamer York'ist Celeste By Tythrop
Best Opposite Sex: CH Yorkpiece Fiery Lucifer
DCC: CH Yorkpiece Fiery Lucifer
RDCC: Hartswelin Veritas With Oatberry
Best Puppy - Dog: Stowthorney Enter Sandman
RBCC: CH Bohamer York'ist Celeste By Tythrop
Best Puppy - Bitch: Gracezheim Inspired By Awbrooksky
Best Puppy: Stowthorney Enter Sandman
Best Opposite Sex Puppy: Gracezheim Inspired By Awbrooksky
Best Veteran: CH Yorkpiece Fiery Lucifer
Oldest Veteran: Wadesleia Lady Madonna Saxheath
Entries: 3 Absentees: 0
1st - Stowthorney Enter Sandman (Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green)
Grizzle and Tan. Just six months, so a real baby, full of promise. Beautiful head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good in rib. Super topline and tailset, with good tail, well carried. Racy hindquarters, used well. Excellent coat and pelt. Handy size. Sound, free movement, holding his super outline, on the move. Loved everything about him, just right for his age.
2nd - Awbrooksky Supersonic (Mr R, Mrs C & Miss L Goddard)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good neck and shoulder. Not just so narrow in front as the winner. Excellent topline and tailset. Excellent hindquarters, used well. Very sound on the move. Super coat and pelt. He, too, is very promising.
3rd - Ardenholm Prince Of Thieves (Miss S Rose)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 1
1st - Ardenholm Prince Of Thieves (Miss S Rose)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good topline and tailset. Good hindquarters. Excellent coat and pelt. Just a shade loose in front movement, at the moment, not a fault in a puppy. Another with promise.
2nd - Chainsmoker Fiery Lucifer At Modrelabky (Miss L Cecho)
Blue and tan. Not quite the head of the winner, at the moment, but it is typical and should finish well, given time. Just preferred neck, shoulder and front of the winner as just inclined to stand a touch wide, at times. Super topline and tailset. Good hindquarters used well. Superb coat and pelt. Needs time, but has promise.
3rd - Onziemehurst The Navigator (Miss A Nettle)
Res - Elemcella Calvin Candie (Mr C Tait)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 1
1st - Arunmere Rhapsody In Red JW (Miss J Hughes)
Red grizzle. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent topline and tailset. Good hindquarters. Good coat and pelt. Sound, free mover.
2nd - Ebffiniau Cupid's Arrow (Ms E Brinkley)
Grizzle and Tan. Close decision here. Super head and expression. Excellent make and shape, all through, with super topline and tailset. Sound free mover. Just a shade raw, at the moment and not quite so “together “ on the move.
3rd - Gracezheim Bounce Back To Awbrooksky (Mr R, Mrs C & Miss L Goddard)
Res - Fairhambrook King Solomon (Mr P Tomlinson)
VHC - Dassett Oberon JW (Mrs S Spafford)
Entries: 2 Absentees: 1
1st - Dejurra Invisible Sun (Ms M Masefield)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Narrow front, good feet. Not just so easy to span. Excellent coat and pelt. Racy hindquarters. Moved ok
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1st - Onziemehurst The Navigator (Miss A Nettle)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good front and feet. Could do with a touch more upper arm. Good topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters. Coat just coming in. Sound mover. Easier span than second.
2nd - Dejurra Invisible Sun (Ms M Masefield)
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1st - Flegato Fidelio At Oatberry (Miss K Tuffin)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder. Good front and feet. Excellent topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters, used well. Very good coat and pelt. Sound, free mover.
2nd - Gracezheim Bounce Back To Awbrooksky (Mr R, Mrs C & Miss L Goddard)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good in neck and shoulder. Just not quite so narrow, in front, as the winner. Good topline and tailset. Super hindquarters. Excellent coat and pelt. Sound, free mover.
Entries: 6 Absentees: 2
1st - Onziemehurst The Red Baron JW (Miss A Nettle)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder. Narrow front and good feet. Good topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters. Excellent double coat with good pelt. Sound mover.
2nd - Borderella High Tide (Mrs P South)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good neck and shoulder, with narrow front. Just a touch down on his pasterns today. Racy hindquarters. Sound mover.
3rd - Baillieswells Kilchoman (Mrs A Morgan)
Res - Umbala Marula (Mr & Mrs G J Fordham & Mrs G Cove-Print)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 1
1st - Ravenside Play The Game Kersfell JW (Mrs M Sneddon)
Grizzle and Tan. One I was pleased to get my hands on, as he has caught my eye from ringside, often playing the fool for his owner! Today, with a “runner”, he was sound and free, on the move, showing he can do it! Typical head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good rib, narrow all through. Super topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters. Good coat and pelt. Handy size. Real “old school” Border!
2nd - Chesterton Vancouver (Mr A J & Mrs W Mooney)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Close up to the winner. Not quite the neck, shoulder and underline of the first, but very similar. Excellent coat and pelt. Racy hindquarters. Sound, free mover.
3rd - Staynorwood Nightcap (Mr G & Mrs C Richardson)
Res - Duke of York Fiery Lucifer To Stowthorney (Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green)
Entries: 12 Absentees: 4
1st - Ebffiniau Whiskey In The Jar (Miss E Brinkley)
Grizzle and Tan. Excellent head and expression. Super neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good in rib, narrow all through. Excellent topline and tailset, with good tail, well carried. Excellent coat and pelt. Sound, free, stylish movement. Liked him a lot. Close up, in the challenge.
2nd - Goxfell Gotcha (Mrs J Stamp & Mr D Joyce)
Grizzle and Tan. One I like a lot and not dissimilar comments to the winner. Super to go over. Not quite in the excellent coat of the winner today, and, while his movement was sound as a bell, he wasn’t as “active and game” as the first, who looked as though he could go all day!
3rd - Fevstone Polar Ajax at Saxheath (Mrs A Heathcote)
Res - Manorcroft True Statesman At Martifers (Mr M & Mrs J Sharp)
VHC - Lessien Honky Tonk (Miss S Pateman)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 3
1st - Chesterton Viva Las Vegas (Mr A J & Mrs W Mooney)
Grizzle and Tan. Another I’ve liked from ringside. Good to get my hands on him. Super head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder. Narrow front, with good feet. Racy hindquarters. Coat nicely coming in. Very sound on the move. Typical Border all through.
2nd - Comberdown Likely Lad (Mr I & Mrs A Higham)
Grizzle and Tan. Excellent head and expression. Taller male, with good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters. Coat coming in well, with good pelt. Just not so positive in front movement today, as the winner.
3rd - Botterox Flint JW (Miss S L Hillman)
Res - CH Cobstoneway Stand By Me JW (Mrs G Stevens)
VHC - Digmoor Turn The Page (Mr M P & Mrs S V Regan)
Entries: 1 Absentees: 0
1st - Onziemehurst The Navigator (Miss A Nettle)
Entries: 3 Absentees: 1
Didn’t expect to find my top winners from Veteran, but, on the day, both were on top form and neither could be denied!
1st - CH Yorkpiece Fiery Lucifer (Mrs J L Lee)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression, with the correct “moderately broad skull”. Excellent neck, shoulder, narrow straight front, with good bone, down to good, small feet, with thick pads. Body is deep and narrow, with ribs carried well back. Handy size. Easily spanned. Exceptional topline and tailset, with super tail, which never stopped wagging, carried perfectly. Racy hindquarters, he knew how to use. Sound, free, accurate mover, holding his outline on the move. Presented in superb double coat, of exceptional blue colour, on a thick pelt. A class act, he certainly couldn’t be denied top honours today!
2nd - Hartswelin Veritas With Oatberry (Mrs K Tuffin)
Grizzle and Tan. Another handy sized male who belies his years! Excellent head and expression. Super neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good rib, narrow all through. Excellent topline and tailset. Good hindquarters. In excellent coat, on a good pelt. Sound, free, accurate mover.
Entries: 6 Absentees: 3
1st - Stowthorney One Fine Day (Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green)
Grizzle and Tan. Litter sister to the Best Puppy. Like her brother, a real baby, with a beautiful head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters. Super coat and pelt. Still a baby, on the move, but sound and free. Pushed hard by the second, but just preferred her body proportions, at the moment.
2nd - Riseburn Rumour On Hobhill (Mrs S Pickerin)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression, which will only improve with time. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent topline and tailset. Good coat and pelt. Racy hindquarters. Sound mover. Real showgirl! Just a touch longer cast than the winner, at the moment, but promising
3rd - Betula Damascena Fisherbloom (Miss G Adams)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 2
1st - Gracezheim Inspired By Awbrooksky (Mr R, Mrs C & Miss L Goddard)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent topline and tailset. Ribs carried back, giving a good underline. Racy hindquarters, she used well. Stylish, free mover, with super double coat and a good pelt. In the challenge for BPB, she was just more “together” on the move. Another promising youngster.
2nd - Holteal Sixpenny Worth (Mrs G Vaughan)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good in neck and shoulder. Narrow front. Racy hindquarters. Good coat and pelt. Sound positive mover. Just not the topline of the winner.
3rd - Arunmere Worth The Wait (Miss J Hughes)
Res - Onziemehurst The Rocketeer (Miss A Nettle)
VHC - Borderrush Riscal Rioja (Miss A J Hall)
Entries: 13 Absentees: 6
1st - Otterbobs Indeedido (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)
Typical head and expression. Ok in neck, shoulder and front. Good topline and tailset, with good tail, well carried. Good double coat with good pelt. Shade shorter coupled than I prefer. Would prefer a touch more scope and leg, but, on the day, she was the soundest mover in the class.
2nd - Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress (Mr R Wright)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical feminine head and expression. Good in neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good rib, narrow all through. Excellent coat and pelt. Super front movement, still needing to firm a touch behind with maturity.
3rd - Ravenside Billow And Breeze Of Redesholt (Mrs S McKay)
Res - Yeomeadow Sunflower At Botterox (Miss S L Hillman)
VHC - Chorbeck Queen Of Jazz With Foxwater (Mrs J Spence)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 1
Super class!
1st - Lienlo Lionflame (Dr N Lowndes)
Red grizzle. Beautiful otter head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good rib, carried well back, with good underline. Super topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters, used well. Coat, although a touch short was harsh, on a thick pelt. Super stylish, free, accurate mover, holding her outline on the move. Not easily discounted in the challenge, she was in my final four, where coat just told against her.
2nd - Howthwaite Molly Malone (Mr R J & Mrs E A Barrett)
Blue and Tan. Typical feminine head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good rib, narrow all through. Excellent topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters. Sound, free mover. Super showgirl in good coat and pelt.
3rd - Normbar Fancy Nancy JW (Mrs N Ellis)
Res - Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress (Mr R Wright)
VHC - Hytheside Olive At Leysh (Mrs C R Ricks)
Entries: 11 Absentees: 4
1st - Ragatam Mulberry (Mrs S McCann & Mr S Meikle)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good neck, shoulder, topline and tailset. Super front and feet. Racy hindquarters. Super harsh coat and good pelt. Sound mover in profile, just a touch close in front, coming towards.
2nd - Arunmere Worth The Wait (Miss J Hughes)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression, just needing time. Good in neck and shoulder. Racy hindquarters. Good coat and pelt. Sound mover. Shade longer cast than first, she just needs time to strengthen in topline.
3rd - Jackofox Sweet Allison (Mrs L Thornburn)
Res - Borderrush Riscal Rioja (Miss A J Hall)
VHC - Yeomeadow Sunflower At Botterox (Miss S L Hillman)
Entries: 3 Absentees: 0
1st - Flegato Fons Amoris (Mrs M Fleming)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression, not overdone in any way. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent rib, carried well back, giving her a good underline. Excellent topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters, she used to advantage. Super sound, free mover, keeping her outline on the move. Shade short of coat, but what she had was harsh. Liked her a lot and considered her in my final four, in the challenge.
2nd - Ravenside Ramona At Borderrush (Miss A J Hall)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Totally different in type to the winner, being shorter coupled all through. Excellent coat and pelt. Sound enough on the move.
3rd - Wreakevalley Flighty Miss (Mr P and Mrs K Oakman)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 2
1st - Coral Gem Fiery Lucifer Via Ycart (Mr K K & Mrs T J Fraser & Butler)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical in head and expression, with moderately broad skull. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good in rib, so narrow all through. Good in topline and tailset, with good tail, well carried. Racy hindquarters, used well. Good in coat and pelt. Best mover in the class, on a long stride, keeping her outline on the move.
2nd - Ranthorn Return Favour For Cobstoneway (Mrs G Stevens)
Grizzle and Tan. Good head and expression. Good in neck, shoulder, topline and tailset, with good tail, well carried. Straight front, just not so narrow through, as the first. Racy hindquarters. Good coat and pelt. Very typical all through. Sound mover.
3rd - Rundlebeck Little Dorrit (Mr B & Mrs C Manchester)
Res - Arunmere Nighthawk (Miss J Hughes)
VHC - Borderrush Beeble Honey Rum JW (Miss A J Hall)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 0
1st - Irton Firestorm (Mr D & Mrs A Fryer)
Red with super typical head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Super rib, underline, topline and tailset, with good tail well carried. Racy hindquarters.
Super sound, free mover, keeping her outline, on the move. Very short of coat, but there was evidence of harshness. Won the class on movement and size. Very “old school” in a good way!
2nd - Decent Fiery Lucifer To Lessien (Miss S Pateman)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent topline and tailset. Good rib, narrow all through. Racy hindquarters. Touch longer cast than the winner, and a size up, but super sound on the move. Excellent coat, of good colour with a good pelt.
3rd - Rundlebeck Mill On The Floss (Mr B & Mrs C Manchester)
Res - Louajak Blue Fizz (Miss C Gwilliam)
VHC - Brankell Angeleyes At Nantcoch (Mrs J M Phillips)
Entries: 15 Absentees: 5
Excellent class. Five top class bitches placed.
1st - Stowthorney Cloudspotter (Mr J P & Mrs K C Young)
Blue and Tan. Could feel myself smiling, as I went over her! Everything flowed through my hands, seamlessly, from her excellent head and expression, totally feminine, to her beautifully carried tail! In between, excellent neck, shoulder, straight front, with good bone, down to good feet. Easily spanned rib, carried well back. Narrow all through. Excellent underline, topline and tailset. Racy hindquarters, used well. Super sound, free, easy mover, keeping her outline on the move. Excellent coat, of good colour, and a super pelt. Very classy. Loved her!
2nd - Howthwaite Gaan Divilish (Mr R J & Mrs E A Barrett)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical feminine head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Super topline and tailset, with good tail, well carried. Moved well, around the ring, keeping her super outline. Coat slightly passed its best, but harsh. Good pelt. Real showgirl, active and game, a favourite of mine.
3rd - Awbrooksky Czechered Flag (Mr R & Miss L Goddard)
Res - Ycart Just Stood Baying (Mr K K Fraser & Mrs T J Butler)
VHC - Otterbobs Aira Force Flegato (Mrs M Fleming)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 0
1st - CH Bohamer York'ist Celeste By Tythrop (Mrs J L Lee)
Blue and Tan. Typical head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, straight front, with good bone, down to super feet. Super rib, even after two litters, she’s still narrow all through. Excellent underline, topline and tailset, with super tail, carried at just the right angle. Racy hindquarters, she uses to advantage, on the move, keeping her super outline. Excellent coat, of super colour, with good pelt. Super free, easy, accurate mover. Splitting hairs, in the challenge, with the Limit winner, could easily have gone either way! Two top class bitches, love them both!
2nd - Comberdown Roisin Dubh (Mr I & Mrs A Higham)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Super neck and shoulder. Straight front with good feet. Narrow all through. Excellent topline and tailset. Good tail, well carried. Racy hindquarters. Shade short of coat, but what she had was harsh. Sound mover, keeping her outline on the move.
3rd - Ragatam Daydreamer JW (Miss T J Peacock)
Res - CH Stowthorney These Days JW (Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green)
VHC - Tiny Tia Clootie Dumpling (Mrs D Bullen)
Entries: 12 Absentees: 4
1st - Ragatam Mulberry (Mrs S McCann & Mr S Meikle)
2nd - Onziemehurst Ms Pankhurst (Miss A Nettle)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good neck and shoulder. Straight front. Good topline and tailset. Good coat and pelt. Sound enough on the move.
3rd - Chorbeck Queen Of Jazz With Foxwater (Mrs J Spence)
Res - Jackofox Sweet Allison (Mrs L Thornburn)
VHC - Borderrush The Last Sprout (Miss A J Hall)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 1
1st - Borderxpress Echo Beach (Mr R Wright)
Light grizzle. Beautiful otter like head and expression. Excellent neck, shoulder, front and feet. Good rib, narrow all through. Excellent topline and tailset, with neat tail, well carried. Racy hindquarters. In excellent coat, with good pelt. Sound, free mover.
2nd - Wadesleia Lady Madonna Saxheath (Mrs A Heathcote)
Grizzle and Tan. Typical head and expression. Good neck and shoulder. Narrow all through. Racy hindquarters. Harsh double coat. Sound on the move.
3rd - Foxwater Miss Adventure At Dejurra (Mrs A E Pitt)
Res - Queen Charlotte (Miss H M Chaplin)