Midland Border Terrier Club

LADIES KENNEL ASSOCIATION 2008
CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

Border Terriers Thank you to those exhibitors, who, in the present financial climate, gave me the highest entry in the 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.
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 & 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 & constructional faults that are creeping into the breed. These faults are now so prevalent, that newer breeders, exhibitors & some judges, probably think & accept they must be correct, so widespread are they.
T he 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. Earset 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 T.
Now, to shoulders & especially upper arms, a major problem, particularly in the younger classes. Upright shoulders & very short upper arms mean the front assembly of the dog appears ‘tacked on.’ The shoulder should be clean & 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 af fects movement giving an action that can only be described as peddling a bike & 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 & 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 & construction.

MPD (13,5a) Very disappointing class for movement, particularly in front, even allowing for being puppies. 1 Hunt’s Ethlencoral Pip, 8 months grizzle/t, head & expression OK but spoilt by rather large ears, hope the proportions sort out as he matures. Excellent neck, shoulder, front & feet, good topline & tailset, excellent hindquarters used well on the move. By far the soundest mover in the class, a very easy winner here, promising; 2 Giles & Birtles’ Smartstone Governor, 7 months, typical head & expression, good neck, shoulder, front & feet, in full coat but harsh enough, sound mover for his age; 3 Maskell’s Sextonmagic Jacob’s Ladder.

PD (7,4) 1 Foster’s Pebbledyke Tempus Fugis, 9 months bl/t, excellent head & expression, good neck, shoulder & front with superb feet, excellent topline & tailset, very good hindquarters, used well on the move, superb coat & pelt. Although his handler could make a little more of him, he was sound enough on the move. BPD on head & coat; 2 Harris’ Stoneygin Jacksson at Nickletweed, 10½ months r/grizzle, typical head & expression, good neck, shoulder, topline & tailset, good hindquarters, used well, very good coat & pelt. Both promising puppies; 3 Moss’ Foxthorn Renogade at Vallemoss.

JD (9,2) 1 Jenkin’s Badgerbeck Bobby Owl; 2 Davis’ Hesslemere Hi Karate, two bl/t dogs of similar age, both have good head & expression, neck, shoulder, front & feet with good topline & tailset & hindquarters, both narrow & racy, in excellent coats with good pelts. Felt 1 was just slightly steadier on the move but on another day they could well swap places; 3 Matthews’ Rhozzum King Pin.

YD (7,1) 1 Johnson & Williams’ Quarryway Dill, light grizzle, honest, old fashioned type who has often caught my eye from ringside, typical head & expression, excellent neck, shoulder, front & feet, good topline & tailset, good hindquarters, in excellent coat & good pelt, very sound on the move, scoring in front profile over 2 Burroughes’ Glebeheath Robin The Hood, r/grizzle, flashier type, narrow with good front, feet & hindquarters. Tailset not as good as 1. Moved well behind but shorter upper arm meant he lacked the reach of 1 on the move; 3 Barber’s Alcumlow Starstruck.

PGD (9,3) 1 Spencer’s Caznray Double Trouble, r/grizzle, typical head & expression, good neck, shoulder, front & feet, excellent topline & tailset, good hindquarters, easily the best mover in the class; 2 Scale’s Doramil Adventurer, lighter grizzle, typical head & expression, narrow front, excellent topline, tailset, coat & pelt. Not quite the neck & shoulder of 1 which showed in front movement but moved well behind. Scored over 3 for narrowness; 3 Bate’s Finehaugh Fella at Kgills.

LD (10,2) 1 Wallace’s Hobholt Harrier, r/grizzle, very honest old fashioned type of dog with no flash or frills, excellent head, expression, neck, shoulder, front & feet, super topline & tailset, in super, harsh double coat on thick pelt, sound, free movement. RCC; 2 Guvercin’s Glebeheath Johnny The One, r/grizzle, much flashier, shorter coupled dog than 1. Head & expression OK, topline & tailset good, coat was OK, although not the depth & texture of 1. Narrow, racy bodylines. Moved well behind but couldn’t match 1 in profile due to shorter upper arm; 3 Larner’s Hawcoat Double Expresso.

OD (6) 1 Sharp’s Rhozzum Dankworth, light grizzle, I was well aware that he was the hot favourite to win, hardly surprising, as I have given him the RCC on the last two occasions I have judged & bred a CC winner by him, so it is no secret of my admiration for him. At 5 years has the most superb otter head & expression which looks at you just right from any angle & just gets better with age, no hint of coarseness here, correct ears dropping forward close to the cheek, his neck, shoulder, front & feet are excellent, as are topline, tailset & hindquarters, in superb double coat on a thick pelt, moved on a long, free accurate stride holding his outline at all times. CC, his 3rd, to give him his well deserved crown, the same honour I had with his father & 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 w as his; 2 Judge’s Por Ch Plushcourt Rossetti, bl/t, typical head & expression, neck, shoulder & front OK but not quite the excellence of the CC & RCC winners. Excellent topline & tailset, super coat & pelt, used his good hindquarters well on the move, very typical all through; 3 Sneddon’s Kersfell Comet.
MPB (28,4) 1 Hand’s Lutrabeck Liberty, just 6 months r/grizzle, excellent head & expression, super neck, shoulder, front & feet, excellent topline & tailset, good tail. At her first show & very naughty on the move but when settled she moved very well. Hope she grows on as she is very promising, delighted to see she is a double granddaughter of Ch L Limerick, to whom I awarded the first of her multi CCs; 2 Taylor’s Lutrabeck Layla, r/grizzle, very similar to 1 & turned out to be her litter sister, most of the same comments apply. Not quite as narrow as her. Excellent coat & pelt, very sound on the move. Both very promising; 3 Waller’s Worker’s Playtime.

PB (14,3) 1 Furness’ Tallowbrook Memento of Quatford, bl/t, 10½ months, very forward puppy, strong but feminine head, excellent neck, shoulder, front & feet, superb topline & tailset, super coat of good colour & texture, easily the best mover in this class, shown beautifully on a loose lead, stood away for BP & should have a bright future; 2 Rayner’s Stoneygin Mo Cuishle, light grizzle, 10½ months, made from a larger mould, hope she doesn’t grow on. Typical head & expression, good neck, shoulder, front & feet, good coat & pelt. Moved well in front but could be better behind; 3 Roslin-Williams’ Mansergh The Canny Granny.

JB (13,5) 1 Phillips’ Aurgwen Alyth, r/grizzle, typical head & expression, good neck, shoulder, front, feet, topline & tailset, good hindquarters, good coat & pelt, very sound mover, scored in size over 2 Freivokh’s Dugaden Dilemma at Artwork, light grizzle, top sized bitch who could do to fine off a little. Typical head & expression, well constructed all through, sound mover, in good coat, scored in front movement over 3 Small’s Badgerbeck Tree Pipit at Tilmoray. YB (13,2) 1 A Alyth; 2 Hunt’s Ottaswell Obsession, light grizzle, typical head & expression although not quite as strong as 1. Excellent neck, shoulder, front, feet, topline, tailset & hindquarters, very sound mover. Liked her a lot but in her undercoat; 3 Johnson’s Karison Kamelia.

PGB (15,6) 1 Hunt’s Ottaswell Carmen, light grizzle, very similar to her kennelmate in the previous class, the same comments apply but in excellent coat with good pelt, did her well last time I judged as a minor puppy, typical head & expression. Shade stronger than Obsession; 2 Fraser & Butler’s Wagtail Lass via Ycart, r/grizzle, excellent head & expression, well constructed all through, moving well, excellent coat & pelt. Just not quite so narrow in front & rib as 1 but very typical; 3 Sharp’s Rhozzum Folly.

LB (14,3) 1 Roslin-Williams’ Mansergh Miss Otis, grizzle, presented superbly, in deep pin wire double coat on thick pelt, as with the DCC winner, has the most exquisite otter head & expression, totally feminine, compared to his masculinity, super small ears, dropping forward close to the cheek, exceptional neck, shoulders, rib, carried well back & narrow bodylines that most breeder/exhibitors can only dream about, has the correct length upper arm to match her well laid shoulders, a rarity, excellent bone & feet, super topline & tailset 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 T, 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. CC, her second; 2 Fraser & Butler’s Blue Tutu via Ycart, bl/t, well presented in super coat & pelt, close up & similar to handle, excellent topline & tailset, moves well & have no doubt she will gain her crown but not quite the superb neck, shoulder & narrow bodylines of the 1, but very few have. Scored in front profile movement over 3 who was a shade upright in shoulder; 3 Guvercin’s Glebeheath Figurine.

OB (10,3) 1 Mooney’s Chesterton Broken Promise, light grizzle, gave her 1 in PG at Darlington 2002, at nearly 8 years, looks less than half her age, still has the most superb neck, shoulders & front, the best in the class, proving if they’re made right, they last right, excellent head & expression, topline & tailset, good hindquarters, super coat & pelt, beautiful outline kept as she powered around the ring, sound, free, accurate movement. Very unlucky never to have gained her title. RCC; 2 Barber’s Mansergh Maisytoats at Alcumlow, dark grizzle, judged & liked her twice before, maturity suits her, typical head & expression which has improved with age, good neck, shoulder, front & feet, super topline & tailset, powerful hindquarters used to full advantage, holding her outline on the move, superb coat & pelt; 3 Crawley’s Dandyhow Madam Butterfly.
STEWART McPHERSON