Midland Border Terrier Club

The Midland Border Terrier Club

Open Show, Asfordby

11th February 2018

Judge Mrs Elizabeth Barrett ( Howthwaite )

Firstly, I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge their show, and thank you to the exhibitors for the lovely entry. Thank you also to my ring stewards Jem Thomas and Paul Brannan for their hard work and efficiency in keeping the classes running smoothly. I had some very pleasant surprises on the day when going over new dogs. Some dogs I found to be much lighter to handle than they appear from the ringside and also in the same vein, two or three were way over an acceptable departure from the standard weight. I found what I was looking for in so much as I believe we should be looking at the whole dog in balance. I sometimes think it is easy to get so hooked up on breed points that we lose sight of the whole picture. There were one or two difficult decisions on the day, but the dogs with balance, lightness and lack of exaggeration were generally rewarded and I do like to see a dog “active” as the standard calls for.

Minor Puppy Dog

1. Ianteg Cream Cookie – Mrs C Baker. Dark grizzle & tan that caught my eye straight away. Lovely head and expression. Nice neck and shoulders. Up on the leg and well grown for his age, but balanced in outline. Narrow and ribbed well back. Just right for bone, standing on good feet. Excellent topline and well set, short tail. In very good coat with plenty of undercoat and thick pelt. Moved very true, I’m sure he has a bright future ahead of him.

2. Jrasamuyr Campbell Black – Ms C Khatchikian. Lighter framed blue & tan. Head needs time to mature but nice expression. Excellent front and shoulders. Not too heavy in bone. Good feet and legs. Easily spanned, narrow and well ribbed back. Well angulated front and rear with hocks well let down. Good harsh topcoat but lacking a little in undercoat and pelt. He moved well although looked a little coltish at times.

Puppy Dog

1. Sweeping Is This Your Final Answer Awbrooksky – Mr R W J & Miss L A M Goddard. Grizzle and tan. Nice for size. One I have judged before and he came here in the same fit condition. Good bone, easily spanned. Excellent topline, which he never let go. Well set tail. Strong hindquarters which he used well on the move. Shown in a good topcat with thick undercoat and pelt. I just love the way this puppy owns the ring on the move.

2. Dandyhow Captain Morgan – Mrs K M Irving. Light grizzle and tan. Nice head with little stop, short strong muzzle, dark eye and excellent neat ears. Good neck, shoulders and front. Nice bone running right through pasterns to small well padded feet. Good in body and ribs and easily spanned. Excellent thick undercoat and pelt, but lacking in topcoat today. Very sound and true on the move, but not quite as animated as 1.

Junior Dog

1. Sweeping Is This Your Final Answer Awbrooksky – Mr R W J & Miss L A M Goddard. See 1st in Puppy Dog

2. Bowencloud Busy Bee JW – Mrs S J Ruth. Dark grizzle and tan. Different stamp to 1 slightly bigger all round but still easily spannable. Good head with strong muzzle, dark eyes and well set ears. Good shoulders and angulations front and rear. Well ribbed back. Good topline and tailset. Excellent hindquarters which he used well on the move. Shown in an excellent topcoat with good undercoat and pelt. Free and sound on the move, but just a little loose in the wrists. Hopefully this will tighten up with age.

Novice Dog

1. Sweeping Is This Your Final Answer Awbrooksky – Mr R W J & Miss L A M Goddard.

2. Dandyhow Captain Morgan – Mrs K M Irving

Post Graduate Dog

1. Glebeheath Smash N’Grab At Jordith – Mrs L M & Mr A M Jordan-Smith. Grizzle & tan. Nice size dog, free from any exaggeration. Typical head with short strong muzzle. Good neck into well laid shoulders. Nicely balanced angulations front and rear. Just right for bone. Good in body and ribs with a good topline and tailset. Shown in a good double coat with thick pelt. Moved well.

2. Brumberhill Breitling – Mr T & Mrs K Kelly. Grizzle & tan, another nice for size. A little more up on leg than 1 and squarer in outline. Nice head and expression without being overdone. Keen dark eye and neat ears. Not too heavy in bone. Excellent topline and tailset and narrow throughout. Shown in the harshest of topcoats with good undercoat and pelt. Moved very well in profile and true coming and going.

Limit Dog

1. Hawcoat Mr Fixit – Mrs E J & Miss R C Larner. Nicely coloured blue & tan. Lovely head and expression. Big teeth and a lovely dark eye. Good neck into well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Just right for angulations front and back. Well ribbed back with a good topline and underline. Strong in loin. Excellent hindquarters which he used well. Shown in a full harsh topcoat with excellent thick undercoat and pelt. Moved with freedom and accuracy. Reserve Best Dog

2. Breckgreen Soldier Blue – Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green. Blue & tan. A more old fashioned type of head with lovely dark eye. Good skull and little stop. Excellent neck and shoulders. Just right for bone. Very good in body and ribs. Nicely angulated hindquarters. Harsh topcoat just coming through with thick pelt. Another very good mover, from all directions.

Open Dog

1. Gameway McVitie JW – Mrs P Clark. Dark grizzle & tan. Appealed to me very much for narrowness, size and balance while free standing. Good head without being overdone. Excellent neck into well laid shoulders. Just right for bone which runs right through his pasterns into excellent neat well padded feet. Very good in body and ribs and easily spanned. Excellent underline and topline which he kept on the move. Well set short tail. Shown in a good double coat. Balanced on the move and free from exaggeration. Best Dog & Reserve Best In Show.

2. Stowthorney Mr Tickle JW - Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green. Grizzle & tan. Upstanding dog. Lovely head and expression. Short strong muzzle good skull and little stop. Well laid shoulders. Not too heavy in bone. Deep and narrow in body and well ribbed back. Well muscled and in good fit condition. Top coat just coming through but excellent undercoat and pelt. A very sound moving dog from all directions.

Minor Puppy Bitch – A nice puppy class.

1. Glebeheath Fingers On Lips – Mrs J Guvercin. Light grizzle & tan. Very much a baby at just 6 months. Feminine head with short muzzle, good skull and little stop. Good neck into well laid shoulders. Just right for bone, standing on neat feet. Nicely angulated front and rear without being overdone. Good topline and underline. Strong loin. Excellent hindquarters with well let down hocks. Shown in a very good double coat with thick undercoat and pelt. Happy and free moving. Was pleased to award her Best Puppy In Show

2. Oxcroft Jessie – Mr J Price. Light grizzle & tan. Narrower and rangier puppy than 1 with a lovely outline. Beautiful feminine otter head with very little stop and dark eye. Excellent neck and clean, well laid shoulders. Excellent front, and not too heavy in bone. Standing on small well padded feet. Excellent in body and ribbed well back. Good topline and tailset with a short strong tail. Well angulated hindquarters. Short of topcoat today but lovely thick undercoat and pelt. Keen and covered the ground on the move.

Puppy Bitch

1. Thistlemead Harmony – Mrs P M Heeley. Dark grizzle & tan. Typey head, with well set neat ears and dark eye. Lovely through neck and shoulders with good return of upper arm. Just right for bone running right down through pasterns. Good topline and underline with short, well set tail. Nicely angulated hindquarters which she used well. Shown in a very good double coat with thick undercoat and pelt. Easily won this class on movement which was sound from all directions.

2. Picer Beth Chatto – Mr G & Mrs S Pickering. Grizzle & tan. Stronger bitch than 1. Nice head with little stop and strong muzzle. Good neck into well laid shoulders. Well angulated front and rear with well let down hocks. Plenty of bone. Good through pasterns and well padded feet. Good topline and underline with well set, short tail. Shown in a good quality top coat with thick undercoat and pelt. Sound moving in profile but moved rather wide coming and going today.

Junior Bitch

1. Nantcoch Field Skipper – Mrs J M Phillips. Grizzle & tan who very much appealed for size. Lovely head and expression with good skull, little stop and dark eye. Very good neck into well laid shoulders. Not too heavy in bone. Very good body and ribs and easily spanned. Good topline and underline and well set tail. Good hindquarters but not overdone in any way. Shown in a harsh topcoat with good undercoat and pelt. Balanced happy on the move.

2. Bowencloud The Bee Charmer – Mrs S J Ruth. Dark grizzle & tan. Litter sister to 2nd in Junior Dog and very similar remarks apply. Good head with strong muzzle. Nice neck and angulations front and rear. Good topline and underline and well ribbed back. Nice hindquarters which she used well on the move. Shown in an excellent double coat with thick undercoat and pelt. Moved well, a close decision.

Novice Bitch

1. Terracao’s If I Can Dream – Mrs V Hall. Dark grizzle & tan. Very good in head. With strong muzzle good skull and well set ears. Just right for bone standing on good feet. Good topline and underline with strong loin. Good in hindquarters which she used well. Shown in an excellent double coat. Moved ok.

2. Jrasamuyr Violette Szabo - Ms C Khatchikian. Light grizzle & tan. More of an old fashioned looking head than 1 with a lovely dark eye. Good neck and shoulders and not too heavy in bone. Standing on excellent small neat feet. Narrow throughout and very good in body and ribs. Short of topcoat today. Moved well in profile but not as positive as 1 behind.

Graduate Bitch

1. Totherend Blue Jean Genie – Mr R G & Mrs E A Wright. Blue & tan. Strong headed bitch with good muzzle and little stop. Very good neck into well laid shoulders. Excellent topline and underline and well ribbed back. Well set short thick tail. Nicely angulated front and back. Shown in a good topcoat with excellent thick undercoat and pelt. Balanced and free moving.

2. Tojamatt Make Believe – Mr & Mrs D Matthews. Light grizzle & tan. More up on the leg than 1. Lovely head and expression. Short strong muzzle and little stop and lovely dark eye. Not too heavy in bone and narrow throughout. Easily spanned. Good topline and tailset with a good thick tail. Lacking in topcoat today, but excellent undercoat and pelt. Not happy on the move today.

Post Graduate Bitch

1. Totherend Blue Jean Topsy - Mr R G & Mrs E A Wright. Blue & tan, litter sister to 1st in Garduate and very similar all round, just a little stronger. Very good head with short strong muzzle and thick well set ears. Nicely angulated front and back. Standing on excellent well padded feet. Good topline and strong loin. Short well set tail. Excellent undercoat and pelt. Free moving in profile but moving a bit wide behind.

2. Oxcroft Damson Of Glenorchy – Mrs M Davies. Good coloured blue & tan. She has the most beautiful otter head. Lovely shaped skull with short strong muzzle, very little stop and lovely dark eye. Very good front and shoulders. Not too heavy in bone. Ribbed well back. Racey hindquarters. True on the move but not the topline of 1.

Limit Bitch

1. Borderxpress Miss Potter – Mr R Wright. Grizzle & tan. Feminine head with a lovely kind eye and well set ears. Good neck into well laid shoulders. Not too heavy in bone, standing on excellent small well padded feet. Well ribbed back, narrow throughout with a good topline. Very good hindquarters. Shown in a new double coat with good undercoat and pelt. Very true on the move. A nice unexaggerated typical Border.

2. Sulan Strictly Blues Dancin’ – Mrs S J Baxter. Blue & tan. Good head with flat skull, strong muzzle and well set ears. Good neck and well angulated front. Good bone with strong pasterns and well padded feet. Well ribbed back with excellent topline. Well set short tail. Shown in a good topcoat with thick undercoat and pelt. Moved well from all directions.

Open Bitch

1. Byrewick Valentine - Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green. Lovely coloured blue & tan. Caught my eye as soon as she came into the ring. Good head, free from exaggeration with strong muzzle good skull, little stop and dark eye. Good neck into well laid shoulders. Nicely angulated front with good return of upper arm. Just right for bone with strong pasterns, standing on good feet. Good in body and ribs and easily spanned. Excellent topline and underline with well set tail. Strong in loin but without any heaviness. Just right for hind angulation with strong well let down hocks. Excellent harsh coat with the thickest of undercoats and thick pliable pelt. Sound and free moving in profile and true and accurate coming and going. Pleased to award her Best Bitch and Best In Show.

2. Brankell Double Or Quits JW – Mr P Brannan & Miss M Kelly. Grizzle & tan. Nice head with short strong muzzle and little stop. Good neck and shoulders. Just right for bone standing on neat well padded feet. Easily spanned and ribbed well back. Excellent topline and well set short tail. Well angulated hindquarters with well let down hocks. Shown in an excellent new topcoat with good undercoat and pelt. Happy and active on the move. Reserve Best Bitch

Veteran Dog or Bitch

1. Ch Cobstoneway River Magic JW ShCM – Miss C Spencer. Grizzle & tan dog. Lovely head with good skull, little stop, strong muzzle and nice eye. Good neck and shoulders. Nice bone with strong pasterns and excellent well padded feet. Very good in body and ribs and handles much smaller and narrower than he first appears. Excellent topline with short, thick, well set tail. Good hindquarters which he used well on the move. Shown in an excellent deep double coat with thick undercoat and pelt. Very sound moving from all directions. Just lost his enthusiasm in the challenge.

2. Ch Cedarhill Authorized JW ShCM – Mrs C Dean. Grizzle and tan dog. One I have always admired both for type and balance in profile. He certainly hasn’t lost this with age. Lovely head and expression with dark eye, short strong muzzle, very little stop and well set ears. Lovely neck and shoulders with good return of upper arm. Just right for angulations both front and back. Nice bone and standing on good feet. Good topline and underline. Strong loin. Well set short strong tail. Excellent hindquarters free from exaggeration. Shown in a quality double coat with thick undercoat and pelt. At 11 ½ he is starting to look his age on the move so had to give way to a more youthful veteran today.

Brace

All four braces were well matched.

1. Mr R Brewster & Ms J Green

2. Mrs S J Ruth