Border Union Agricultural Society

Border Union Championship Show 16th June 2024 Skye Terriers Many thanks to the Society for their kind invitation to judge and to the exhibitors for allowing me to go over their dogs. I have been away from the ring for a few years now, so the majority of exhibits were new to me. Thanks to the exhibitors for persevering through our changeable and wet (at times) Scottish weather. When I’m judging I’m specifically looking for breed type. A couple of general observations from this entry – Many exhibits were extremely long in body. This appears to have been achieved by an exaggerated length of loin, not length of rib. This results in exhibits who are unable to hold their topline, standing and on the move. I was a little disappointed with the coat colour and lack of undercoat in some of the cream exhibits today. The cream topcoat I was expecting had brown and ginger through it. PD (2) 1. Heale & Davies Rhoderns Aribika of Trelwaneki 9 month old dark silver dog. Strong head for his age with well set ears. Nice tight front. Very long in body. Moved soundly. Pleased to award him Best Puppy in Breed ahead of his litter sister. 2 Taylors Verumamicus Drusus Very raw 6 month old cream dog with lovely dark points. Good length of neck. Shorter in body with a level topline. A little erratic on the move but time is on his side. JD (0) YD (0) GD (1) 1. Taylors Riskeytree Ruaridh at Billkenstar Dark silver boy with a lovely masculine head and a good ear set. Solid front and a level topline on the move but not on the table. Sound, if a little lazy on the move! PGD(0) LD (3; 1) 1 Mcleods Esgia Glen Garioch Dark silver dog of good type. Masculine head. Well placed shoulders. Good length and solid topline. Low to the ground. Moved ok with some encouragement. 2 Mclean & Weirs Rhoderns Hamish Dark silver dog with a masculine head and well placed ears. Longer in loin than 1. A little loose on the move. OD (3:1) 1. Heaths Ch Lavauxs Bahamian Chris Really nice dark silver dog. Super masculine head. Strong, well-muscled shoulders. Level topline which he held on the move. Pleased to award him the reserve Dog CC. For me he lost out to the CC winner (his sire) on overall finish and masculinity. 2 Mclean & Weirs Kometa Rossi Nazareth (Imp Cze) Cream dog with dark points. Strong head with well set ears. Level topline although not quite as low to the ground as 1. Moved out ok if a little wide in front. Veteran Dog (1 entry) 1 Kendricks Ch Frisco Kiaro at Jeraro (Imp Cze) I have judged this boy before as a youngster. He is stunning as a mature adult. Really strong masculine head with a lovely dark eye. Well placed ears. Great neck with a solid front and well placed shoulders. Good length of rib which gave him a level topline. Moved out soundly showing a clean pair of hocks. Delighted to award him the Dog CC, Reserve Best of Breed and Best Veteran. PB (2) 1 Mclean & Weirs Rhoderns Ananke Dark silver puppy who has a lovely feminine head with well-placed ears. Good length of neck. Holding her topline well standing and on the move. Moved soundly in this class but wilted a little when it came to the challenge for best puppy. 2 Chapmans Verumamicus Dione Another very raw baby of 6 months. Strong head with well set ears. Shorter in body with a level topline. Movement a little erratic at the moment. JB (1 entry) 1 Mclean & weir Rhoderns Ananke YB (0) GB (3) 1 Volkovas Verumamicus Calypso Feminine cream bitch with dark points. Good length of neck set in to decent shoulders. Low to the ground and kept her topline level standing and on the move. 2 Whitelams Madaza Star cream bitch again with super dark points who was close up to the class winner. Liked her head and ear set. Tight front. Level topline. Moved out well. 3 McDonalds Riskeytree The Countess PGB (3) 1 Roberts KILFINAN SEREN GAIL AT SUNABIL Dark silver bitch who was really well put together. Feminine head. Good length of neck. Lovely level topline. Moved out soundly. Interesting to see how she matures. 2 Hamiltons Headscrook Heads or Tails Silver bitch with a lovely outline. Strong head with a good neck and topline. Moved soundly. LB(6) Lovely class of quality bitches. 1 Mcleods Esgia Cry Freedom Beautiful dark silver drop eared bitch. Long, low and level – exactly what I was looking. Lovely feminine head with an elegant neck. Straight front and strong, well placed shoulders. Good length of rib which gave her a level topline standing and on the move. She moved out soundly and got better each time. Pleased to award her the Bitch CC and BoB. 2 Roberts Tarskavaig Speed Bonny bBat at Sunabil Another I have judged before as a very raw baby. She has developed in to a lovely feminine bitch. Good length of neck. Well placed shoulders. Level topline. A little sluggish on the move in the class but upped her game in the challenge to win the reserve Bitch CC. 3 Curtis Brakemill Midsummer Dream OB (3;1) 1 Curtis Ch Verumamicus Aurora of Brakemill JW OSW Cream bitch shown in lovely condition. A shade bigger than I prefer. Strong head with well set ears. Good topline and a strong backend. Moved well around the ring. 2 Roberts Sunabil Tywysoges O Libanus (ai) Another I have judged before as a youngster. She has matured in to a really nice bitch. Feminine head with a dark eye. Well set ears and a lovely neck set in to well placed shoulders. Good length and topline. Moved soundly. Just not the finish of 1 at the moment. VB (3;1) 1 Heaths Perrylands Hello Again Cream bitch in lovely fit condition. Feminine head. Straight front and a level topline. Moved soundly 2 McLeods Noap Charoit Madlen Mardzheri at Esgia (Imp Rus) Dark silver bitch with a strong head. Long and low. Lost her topline a little on the move. Frances Carlton (judge)