Border Union Agricultural Society

Thank you to the Border Union Society for inviting me to judge one of my favourite breeds. It was the first time I had judged at this show and loved every minute of it. I spent a couple of days in Kelso and really love the area so much. A special thank you to my wonderful, efficient stewards, Anna McLallan and friend, Joan Savage. Thank you to the exhibitors for bringing so many top-quality champions and other top-quality dogs.

JUNIOR DOG (1)

1. Satherley & Bye’s Silkcroft Perfect Symmetry (AI) JW. What a lovely name! A well balanced, well proportioned, very promising young dog, who has time on his side to mature. Good masculine head with large black nose. Flat skull and well-set correct ears. Shorter in neck. Well bodied, level topline and very good tail set. Correct hindquarters. Moved well but did not get into a full good stride. Mature coat coming. A real showman.

LIMIT DOG (2)

1. Satherley & Wynter’s Lakkas Yankee Sweet Silkcroft (Imp Swe) JW. A very nice looking 2-year-old dog, who still needs to finish for full maturity. Absolutely lovely in every way. Super masculine head, with correct length of skull to foreface, well placed ears, dark eyes, good bite, strong in underjaw, correct head planes and defined stop. Arched neck, straight fore legs, good shoulders, with good return of upper arm. Well ribbed back with short loin. Level topline and good set of tail. Well bent stifles and hocks well let down. He moved very well, with great extension, covering the ground with ease and good head carriage. Lovely coat of good colour, texture and wave.

2. Mcintyre’s Thistlebe Master of The Malt. 5 years old and quite different to the above. He was better to go over than first impressions. Mouth is just OK. Good head and ear carriage. Appeared longer in back for a compact dog. Not moving that well on the day. I would have preferred a more soft, silky coat.

OPEN DOG (5)

A class of top-quality dogs, that I enjoyed judging.

1. Clarke’s Ch Flaxela Perfect Storm. I have admired this kennel for many years, in particular the mother of this dog. I have judged him before and he has improved with maturity. He is so impressive. Well balanced in structure and movement, standing four square with head and tail up, having all the attributes needed. He is just wonderful and fully mature at 5 years old. Beautiful balanced head, arched neck, well bodied, compact body and level top line, short strong loin, well set on tail. Well bent stifles and well let down hocks. Powerful strong muscled hindquarters which he uses to full advantage when gracefully moving around the ring. Correct wavy, wheaten coloured coat, of correct texture. He presents a picture that is true to the standard. I believe he was shortlisted in a very strong Terrier Group. DOG CC & BEST OF BREED.

2. Charleton’s Ch House of Softy Indus (Imp Swe) ShCEx. Another I have judged before. Also a worthy champion with everything about him correct. A good masculine well-proportioned head with lovely big black nose. Flat skull and well-defined stop. Bright, dark hazel eyes, giving the true terrier expression. Well placed and used ears. Moderately long, slightly arched neck. Good lay of shoulders. Well boned, muscled straight forelegs. Deep chest, compact body, strong, level back. Tail set on high, carried well. Hindquarters developed and muscled. Bent stifles and hocks well let down. Coat of correct colour and texture. Free, graceful movement. Well-presented and handled.

3. Clarke’s Flaxella Illuminati JW.

4. Satherley’s Ch Silkcroft Shake It Off JW.

5. Grimes & Watson’s Janeyjimjams Jem Devlin.

VETERAN DOG (1)

1. Dowdy’s Ch Greentree Gold Mombo to Danzilly (Imp USA). A dog I have admired for many years but never had the chance to judge him before. Now 9 years old and still wonderful, such a worthy champion. What can you say about a breed record holder! Fits the breed standard so well, he is the complete package topped off with super, correct wheaten colour coat, soft and wavy. He has wonderful free, graceful movement with reach and drive for a dog of his age. I hope he has many more years of showing. Thank you for giving me the chance to judge him. I believe he was shortlisted in the Veteran Terrier Group, if he was not, he should have been! BEST VETERAN & RES DOG CC.

PUPPY BITCH (2)

1. Witheyman’s Fantasa Blonde Xtasey. 11 months old bitch, well balanced and compact. She is absolutely lovely and one to watch for the future. Well-proportioned head, correct scissor bite, strong muzzle, dark eyes, flat skull and great ear carriage. Good reach of neck, slightly arched, flowing into well-laid-back shoulders, strong level topline, well sprung ribs with good tail set. Excellent turn of stifle and hocks well let down. Correct coat coming through very well. Expertly handled, lovely free, graceful movement with reach and drive. She well deserved her placing. BEST PUPPY & RES BITCH CC.

2. Addison’s Eblanahalls Humblebrag. Nearly 10 months old and a nice type of bitch. Seems to lack the outgoing Terrier spirit, which is a shame. She has time on her side and perhaps more schooling with maturity will help. A nice compact balanced outline. It will be interesting to see how she matures.

JUNIOR BITCH (3)

1. Satherley & Bye’s Silkcroft Crystal Ball (AI). An attractive feminine bitch with a good balanced outline. Well-proportioned feminine head, flat skull of good width, dark hazel eyes and correct ears. Nice length of neck, slightly arched. Level, firm topline. Good ribbing, muscular loin and good tail set. Moved OK. Correct soft silky coat coming through well.

2. Addison’s Eblanahalls Humblebrag. AS ABOVE.

POST GRADUATE BITCH (1)

1. Ronan & Paton’s Denzilly Poppet Magic (AI). A lovely looking feminine pretty compact bitch who would not show herself off, which was a great pity. Still immature and chest not fully dropped. Reasonable head with good expression and bite. Nicely bodied. Sympathetically handled and moved very well. Coat of good wheaten colour, silky with a good wave.

LIMIT BITCH (3)

1. Dowdy’s Denzilly Waking The Witch (AI). I preferred the coat of this bitch, which won her the class. The colour of ripening wheat, soft, silky, lying in curls. Super type, lovely proportions showing off a really good outline. Correct head, dark hazel eyes and well-set ears, well used. Nice, slightly arched neck flowing into well laid shoulders. Straight forelegs nicely boned and muscled. Correct length of body, good spring of ribs, level topline and correct tail set. Moved well.

2. Grimes & Watson’s Keevasdream Purple Bliss for Spudler. Wonderful mover. 20 months old and I hope her coat stabilizes, as at the moment it is a little pale and not loosely wavy or curly enough for me. In this breed I consider coat so important. Otherwise, she is lovely. Very good head with dark eyes. Excellent reach of neck flowing into well laid-back of shoulders. Not so compact as some, acceptable in a bitch. Strong, level topline, good hindquarters and tail set. Well-handled and moved very well with good length of stride.

3. Macgregor’s Kirktonhill A Touch of Snow ShCEx.

OPEN BITCH (9)

What a wonderful class! 9 entered and 8 present. All those present either had extra letters at the front or at the back of their names. Thank you for entering such lovely bitches.

1. Howes’ Ch Flaxela Flirtini at Daisymaes (AI) JW. I considered the first two had the right type of coat. Soft and silky, hanging in loose curls or waves, the colour of ripening wheat. Fully mature and gorgeous. Splitting hairs’, I considered this bitch to have a slightly better head. Flat skull, parallel planes, defined stop and dark eyes finished off with well set ears. She certainly gave the appearance of a compact, strong, well-built, well-balanced bitch. Long, strong, slightly arched neck. Well laid shoulders and strong, straight forelegs. Well bodied and ribbed back. Well set tail. Good bend of stifle and well let down hocks. No wonder I liked this bitch so much, as she is the sister of my Dog CC winner. BITCH CC.

2. Paton’s Ch Danzilly Raspberry Beret. Another super bitch, who I see is daughter of my Reserve dog CC winner. Both such worthy champions. She is also absolutely super in every way. A close decision between 1st and 2nd, both related to my dog winners. I’m obviously going to type. What else can be said of a lovely champion, who also beat other lovely champions and top winners on the day.

3. Satherley’s Ch Silkcroft Never Miss A Beat.

4. Lui’s Eblanahalls Kiss Curl JW.

5. Charleton’s Ch House of Softy Indi Janeyjimjams (Imp Swe).

VETERAN BITCH (2)

1. Wright’s Abbeymead Capelli D’angelo. A very nice overall type at 7 and a half years old. Well-proportioned head, nice ear set and good, slightly arched neck. Level topline. Not quite such a compact body, but acceptable in a bitch. She was not concentrating very well, which upset her movement. Nice soft wavy coat of wheaten colour.

Felicity A. Snook

JUDGE