Border Driffield 2009 Judge's Critique




Breed Notes - Constant Update

KC Breed Standard

Archive 08
Archive 09 Results And Critiques

Driffield 09 Judge


BORDER DRIFFIELD 09

Judge: Mr Graham Pickering

BEST OF BREED : 4664 GIRLING Mrs S J & Mr C P Benattivo Rock Robin
Dog CC : 4664 GIRLING Mrs S J & Mr C P Benattivo Rock Robin
Res Dog CC : 4694 JOHNSON, Mrs B & WILLIAMS Mr K E Quarryway Dill
Bitch CC : 4636 DEAN Mrs K Yeomeadow Heather for Tyrian
Res Bitch CC : 4676 GUVERCIN Mrs J Glebeheath Figurine
Best Puppy : 4627 CLARK Mrs P Southash Blue Betty Boo Gameway
Best Veteran :
Best Breeder :

BORDER JUDGE DRIFFIELD 09

Thank you to Driffield Agricultural Society for inviting me to judge Border Terriers at their Championship Show. I had a good entry of 169 from 162 dogs and had a large number of quality exhibits to go over. It was a shame that the weather, being extremely windy, meant that because of health and safety reasons I had to judge indoors. This meant that at first the ring was not as spacious as I would have liked and the noise from the wind in the marquee at times disturbed some of the younger exhibits. In addition, the length of the grass and the unevenness of the surface were problematic for some of the exhibitors.

I was extremely pleased with my final line ups and there were many classes where deserving dogs went unplaced due to the quality of the entry. Overall coats, were very good and temperament was excellent. However, I did find two examples of the odd tooth out of place and a number of dogs which could have been tidier particularly around feet and tail.

In my winners I was looking for a correct size Border with a harsh double coat, well muscled, correct bone and looking like it could do a good days work. I found those qualities in my winners.

Minor Puppy – Dog Entries:7 Absentees: 1

1st: Xapex Santiago at Otterwood (Mr M J & Mrs J M Hollingsbee) An 8mth B/T dog of nice size and make up, drew my eye as he came into the ring. He has an excellent typical otter head with a keen expression and has a correct scissor bite. Straight front, good shoulders and well bodied up for his age, with good muscle tone. Nice puppy in profile, with a good top line and carrot tail straight off the back. Shown in full coat that did not detract. Moved well.

2nd: Comberdown Jailbreak to Vandamere (Miss J Singh) Another nice type puppy, more rangy than one, but still well balanced. Typical Border head and expression with correct bite. Good straight front and well laid back shoulders, easily spanned and narrow throughout. Moved out well, lost out to 1 on coat on the day.

3rd: Tyneaster Ancnoc Brom (Mrs S F Gill)

Res: Onthill Fernando (Mr & Mrs R Ramus)

VHC: Hobholt Han Solo (Mrs M A Wallace)

Puppy – Dog Entries: 14 Absentees: 2

1st: Carrock Clayton (Ms J M Fawcett) A 11mth typey and workmanlike puppy, in a good red grizzle coat. He has a lovely otter head, dark eyes, well placed ears and correct scissor bite. Narrow front with good shoulder placement and well laid back rib. Correct bend of stifle and plenty of muscle which added to the overall picture. Moved well fore and aft, BPD and unlucky to meet the puppy bitch today.

2nd: Iacheslei Cantus (Miss A Harrison) Again a lovely type Border Terrier puppy with lots to like about him. Similar comments as above apply, lost out to the 1st place winner on head and coat. Could change place with 1 on another occasion.

3rd: Xapex Santiago at Otterwood (Mr M J & Mrs J M Hollingsbee)

Res: Foxcraig Magic Aurora (Mr G R Sugars)

VHC: Solitary Mist (Mr D & Mrs C Hodgson)

Junior – Dog Entries: 6 Absentees: 0

1st: Benattivo Basilio (Mr C & Mrs S Girling) A nice all round blue and tan Border Terrier, not over done, in good condition and put down well. Typical head and keen masculine expression, with correct scissor bite and ear placement. Nice shoulder placement and rib, easily spanned. Excellent double coat with ticking just coming through. Good bend of stifle and nicely balanced which added to the overall pleasing appearance of a dog that can do the job. Covered the ground with ease – moved well.

2nd: Ravenside Ballymoss (Mr M Lowry) A smart looking Border Terrier puppy, up to size. Good head and expression, correct scissor bite with big teeth and well placed ears. Straight front, correct shoulders and well laid back rib. Lost out to 1st place on head.

3rd: Vallemoss Born to Rock (Mr & Mrs L Moss)

Res: Glenbucket Ferguson (Mrs M J Alexander)

VHC: Ashbrae Fellman at Beaconpike (Mr & Mrs Golding)

Yearling – Dog Entries: 10 Absentees: 2

1st: Otterbobs Riggindale JW (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)

A lovely type, well balanced red grizzle Border in good harsh grizzle coat with good thick pelt. He has an excellent otter head, with keen expression and strong muzzle. Straight, narrow front going into well laid back shoulders and rib. Good top line with a well set on carrot tail, spannable, with plenty of muscle – looks like he can do a full days work. Looked hard at him in the line up.

2nd: Digmoor Captain Rook by Tyrian (Mrs K Dean)

Again, another typical Border with lots of breed type, and correct bone. Good otter head and expression with good bite. Straight front and good shoulder placement moving into level topline. Nice harsh grizzle double coat and thick pelt. Took second place on movement.

3rd: Barterhound Twister JW (Mrs B B Roderick)

Res: Foxcraig Magic Max at Tyneaster (Mrs S F Gill)

VHC: Bootstrap Lad of Drigothe (Mr S & Mrs C E Griffiths)

Post Graduate – Dog Entries: 10 Absentees: 5

1st: Earthwise Wolfbane JW (Mr E J Houston)

A smart looking dog, not over done and put down well. Good otter head with masculine expression, dark eyes, well placed ears, correct bite and strong muzzle. Good reach of neck into smooth shoulders and straight front. Well laid back rib into strong well muscled loin, easily spanned. Thick pelt with coat coming into its best. Correct rear angulation, and a sound mover for and aft.

2nd: Foxcraig Magician (Mr G Sugars)

Another well put together Border Terrier dog with a typical head and expression. Clean straight front with good shoulder placement. A good top line, with the tail straight off the back. Harsh coat with a dense undercoat. Lost out to 1 on movement today.

3rd: Vallemoss Voodoo At Roxess (Mr J T & Mrs N Todd)

Res: Chorbeck Moonlight Shadow (Mrs H Haughton)

VHC: Minx’s Diamond (Mrs M Anderson)

Limit – Dog Entries: 19 Absentees: 3

1st: Quarryway Dill (Mrs B & Mr K E Johnson & Williams)

A very hard class to judge and several dogs went cardless today as a consequence of the high quality of the exhibits. My winner was a honest and sound dog with excellent make up and shape and in peak condition, which made him stand out in the class. Lovely, masculine head with strong jaw well filled under the eyes that gives him a very typical border expression. Excellent front and a lovely reach of neck which flows into well laid shoulders and rib. Easy to span and narrow throughout. Good harsh tweedy coat with loose pelt, thick pads on the best of cat like feet. Excellent top line, which remained level on the move, covered the ground without effort. RDCC – seemed to lose interest in the final line up.

2nd: Digmoor Aces High JW (Mr M P & Mrs S V Regan)

Again, another quality Border Terrier who was in good condition and put down well in the show ring. Nice otter head, with ears placed correctly and typical expression and scissor bite. Well balanced and proportioned dog with good muscle tone and a straight front. Narrow throughout and nice in profile. Didn’t seem to like the terrain today.

3rd: Irton Up Helly Aa (Mr D & Mrs A Fryer)

Res: Grindelvald In Full Cry (Mrs M A Bailey)

VHC: Karison Kasper (Miss K Johnson)

Open – Dog Entries: 14 Absentees: 6

1st: Benattivo Rock Robin (Mrs S J & Mr C P Girling)

A strong class to judge with many quality Borders. The winner took my eye as he walked around the ring as he was put down in superb condition and looked like he owned the ring. Lovely otter head with a keen expression, strong under jaw, good bite with big white teeth. Good reach of neck into correct shoulder placement without a hint of coarseness. Narrow throughout, with plenty of strength in the loin, looked as if he could get anywhere. Well muscled up hindquarters with a good bend of stifle. Small tight feet on thick pads. Excellent double jacket with thick loose pelt. Nice length of tail which gave balance to the overall picture. Moved out well, covering the ground with ease. Was very pleased to award him CC and BOB which, I believe, gives him his well deserving title.

2nd: Earthwise Deuteronomy ShCM (Miss A W Culley)

A dog that I have admired from the ringside on a number of occasions and he didn’t disappoint me. He is a true and honest Border Terrier, very unlucky to meet 1 today. A typical otter head and keen varminty expression with a strong muzzle and under jaw. Straight front and good shoulder placement. Good length of back helped with his overall balance. Has the harshest of coats and thick pelt. Well muscled up and good rear angulation, moved well.

3rd: CH Stineval Acerola with Tyrian JW (Professor S P Dean)

Res: CH Tythrop Tapas (Miss J Lee)

VHC: CH Vandamere’s Secret Agent JW (Miss J Singh)

Minor Puppy – Bitch Entries: 11 Absentees: 2

1st: Achnagairn Code Name Glebeheath (Mrs J Guvercin)

An eye catching grizzle puppy with good ring presence. Correct shaped shaped head with scissor bite. She has super body lines with ribs carried well back. Good reach of neck, best of shoulders and narrow front. Lovely double jacket with good pelt. Moved out well. Unlucky to meet winner of Puppy Bitch for best puppy bitch.

2nd: Otterbobs Truant (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)

Another lovely puppy with all the requirements of the breed – nice feminine otter head with a keen expression and dark eye. Straight front with small tight feet and harsh double jacket. Correct amount of bone with good muscle. Appropriate bend of stifle meant that she had good rear angulation and she moved out well fore and aft.

3rd: Ravenside Rockfel (Mr A & Mrs H A Fletcher)

Res: Hollowpoint New Beginning For Earthwise (Mr E Houston)

VHC: Tyneaster Ancnoc Dara (Mrs S F Gill)

Puppy – Bitch Entries: 15 Absentees: 5

1st: Southash Blue Betty Boo Gameway (Mrs P Clark)

What a lovely class of puppies – a joy to judge! I was spoilt for choice and I wish that I had more cards as some really nice examples of the breed went without places.

Striking b/t puppy bitch with a very mature attitude. Lovely in profile and didn’t disappoint on the table. Excellent feminine otter head with plenty of width and strength in foreface. Scissor bite with correctly placed white teeth. Straight front with a good length of neck into well laid back shoulders. Lovely body lines, level top line and carrot- like tail straight off the back. The best of harsh b/t coats with plenty of ticking. Well angulated at the rear and she moved out with confidence that belied her young age. Very pleased to give her Best Puppy in Breed – I am sure that she has a very bright show future in front of her.

2nd: Carrickfarm Mika (Mrs V M Armstrong)

Another lovely specimen of the breed, in good condition and put down in the ring well. Typical otter head with dark eye, animated expression and correctly placed ears. Straight front, well bodied up with a strong loin and good rear angulation. Level top line on the move with tail straight off the back.

3rd: Kighill Diamond (Mr B & Mrs K A Newsome)

Res: Ragatam Kingsai at Redfox (Mr & Mrs D B Marr)

VHC: Plushcourt The Bees Knees (Mrs B Judge)

Junior – Bitch Entries: 12 Absentees: 1

1st: Grindelvald Miss Teak at Eltonfurze (Mrs A Fray)

Another good class of bitches, which I think bodes well for the future of the breed. There were difficult decisions to make and the first three could change places on another day.

Headed this lovely class – she is a quality grizzle bitch with a lovely outline in profile. A typical feminine otter head with good scissor bite, dark eye, keen expression and ears dropping close to her cheek as they should. Good reach of neck into clean shoulders, well muscled and just the correct amount of bone. Shown to perfection in a very good double coat. Moved out well fore and aft.

2nd: Benattivo Rosina (Mr C & Mrs S Girling)

Again, similar comments apply to this lovely young girl. A little lighter in make up than 1st but this not detracting from her quality and I am sure all three placings will have a bright future in the show ring.

3rd: Benattivo Gem Stone for Daluce (Mr J & Mrs H M Thomas)

Res: Rexlands Golden Plover by Karison (Miss K & Mrs D Johnson & Pearson)

VHC: Joncroft Scullery Maid by Apasc (Mrs A Culley)

Yearling – Bitch Entries: 15 Absentees: 6

1st: Irton Polka (Mr D & Mrs A Fryer)

Although there was again a lot of quality in this class, some of the exhibits were out of their best coat which impacted on some nice type border girls going without places.

A hardy looking workmanlike bitch in rich red grizzle coat which was at its best. Proper Border otter head with plenty of strength under the eye which gave her a real keen and mischievous expression. Good bite and strong white teeth. Smooth front into straight front – this bitch is just right for bone which added to the overall picture of being able to do a good days work. Easily spanned and with good balance. She moved out well once she had settled into the ring.

2nd: Stoneygin Dolly Mixture At Pherjan (Mr C & Mrs C A Maltby)

A more rangy bitch than 1, with a good otter head and good strength of muscle. Straight front and good shoulder placement. Lovely tight neat feet on thick pads. Lighter built than 1, moved out with ease.

3rd: Foxcraig Magic Spell at Roxess (Mr J T & Mrs N Todd)

Res: Stineval Celeste at Merumhor (Mr & Mrs C Martin)

VHC: Ragatam Jasmine at Paleside (Mr & Mrs D Mitchell)

Post Graduate – Bitch Entries: 13 Absentees: 4

1st: Foxcraig Magic (Mr G Sugars)

A strong looking red grizzle bitch with dense undercoat and pin wire top coat. A real working border terrier head with lots of strength in the foreface and in muzzle. Lovely big white teeth set square in the mouth. A straight front, good shoulders and plenty of bone and well muscled up to add to the picture of ‘essentially a working terrier’. Good loin and rear angulation – moved around the ring covering the ground with ease.

2nd: Riseburn Roulette (Miss C Tutin)

A credible bitch that presented a lovely picture in profile. She has a feminine border head with correctly placed ears, dark eye, large teeth and plenty of under jaw. Clean shoulders, without any coarseness, good length of back and strong loin. Stood on neat cat like feet with thick pads – moved well.

3rd: Beeley Bestseller (Miss B J Singh)

Res: Vallemoss Matilda May (Mr A & Mrs H A Fletcher)

VHC: Achnagarin Plum Duff (Mrs A Fraser)

Limit – Bitch Entries: 15 Absentees: 3

1st: Yeomeadow Heather for Tyrian (Mrs K Dean)

A superb class full of quality exhibits that again meant that I had some really difficult decisions to make. A true b/t bitch with lots of ticking in excellent double coat and put down to perfection. She has the sweetest of feminine otter heads, not overdone but with plenty of strength in her foreface and muzzle. A lovely reach of neck running into clean shoulders with the straightest of fronts, lovely tight feet, thick pads and is firm in her pastons. She is narrow throughout and easily spannable and good rib. Strong in loin, with correct rear angulation and is well muscled up. In profile her top line is level and this remains so on the move. She looked a real picture as she moved around the ring, covering the ground effortlessly. Despite real competition in the final line up I couldn’t resist awarding her BCC.

2nd: Remony Barley Twist JW (Mrs A E Gregory)

Another lovely and typey Border bitch – a little more up on the leg than 1 but still lovely to go over on the table. Nice feminine otter head with a typical expression, good bite and ear placement. She has the best of fronts, good reach of neck and clean shoulder. Narrow throughout and easily spanned. Shown in excellent condition and put down well with tidy tight feet. Moved out well fore and aft – perhaps not quite with confidence of the 1st place. However, it was a really close decision here and in the final line up she pushed hard for RCC.

3rd: Glebeheath Minnie The Motor At Blewecourt JW (Mr M & Mrs T Morgan)

Res: Wagtail Lass Via Ycart (Mr K K Fraser & Mrs T J Butler)

VHC: Karison Kamellia JW (Miss K Johnson)

Open – Bitch Entries: 8 Absentees: 2

1st: Glebeheath Figurine (Mrs J Guvercin)

A line up of real quality – all worthy winners and could change places on another occasion.

A real eye catcher as she walked around the ring – she looked in really good condition and she didn’t disappoint when I went over her on the table. She is of excellent make up and shape with a super otter head of the correct proportions, with a really keen expression and good ear placement. Correct scissor bite with white teeth set and a strong under jaw. She has good smooth shoulders which move into an excellent front. Her demeanor showed real confidence and she was up on her toes – quality that I do like to see in Borders. Easy to span, she has good rib and strong loin, her tail set is good and this gives the viewer a picture of real balance. Presented in a good double jacket and in profile she looks a picture. She moved around the ring like a dream. In the final line up, she pushed really hard and gave me a very difficult decision. RBCC today but could change places on another occasion.

2nd: Tallowbrook Memento Of Quatford (Mrs V Furness)

A lovely b/t bitch in very good order, narrow throughout, she is easily spannable. A super head and expression, correct bite. Her reach of neck and shoulders are correct and she has a first class front. Correct in top line and tail set and she moved out with drive, true and with confidence. Lovely picture in profile.

3rd: Comberdown Ciara (Mr I & Mrs A Higham)

Res: Blue Tutu Via Ycart (Mr K K & Mrs T J Fraser & Butler)

VHC: Tythrop Traviata (Mrs J Lee)

Judge: Mr Graham Pickering


Go To Top Of Page