25 Breed Notes – Border Union 2018

It’s no secret that Border Union is one of my favourite shows, with a lovely fairly quick draining showground in a beautiful part of the country and when blessed with glorious weather – I think it’s unbeatable. This year though, the rain which had threatened all week started Saturday morning and by the time came for Keesies to be judged it was pouring down and so it was a ‘all move inside’ to use the very small wet weather ring. By all accounts, to say it was ‘compact and bijou’ in the marques was an understatement!

Our judge was well-known ‘all-rounder’ Margaret Wildman, who was awarding CC’s in keesies for the 2nd time (her first appointment was at Leeds in 2014); she had drawn an entry of 30 dogs with astonishingly, no absentees; but this is the third Ch show this year where there have been no puppies entered.

Margaret lost no time swiftly judging her entry of 68 plus French Bulldogs outside, before cracking on inside the marque with keesies (who were second in the ring) and judging was over just after 12.00pm.

It was a 2nd CC with BOB for Peck & Matthews’ Byquy Workin Boots (Ch Wund-R-Y Workin for a Livin at Szaryk (imp Can) x Byquy Willma) the winner of open, who was handled by David Matthews. Keeping it in the family, the RDCC went to Flash’s half-brother Zander – Matthews & Ransley’s Szaryk Dutch Bargemaster with Valindale (Ch Wund-R Y Workin For A Livin at Szaryk (Imp USA) x Keesridge Faithrustnpixiedust at Szaryk (Imp USA)) from Limit, handled in the challenge by Melanie Reed Peck.

David and Flash then went on the get a 4th place in the Utility group from judge Howard Ogden.

The BCC went to Karin Hickson’s Ch Kichigai Magic Dancer JW (Kichigai Luke Skywalker x Kichigai Tiny Dancer) and the RBCC (her first) going to Tom & Caroline Gate’s Lacetrom Shuna (Ch Winklestar Hadar x Lacetrom Cruivie) handled as usual by daughter Michelle Wright.

Here in sunny (but very windy) Yorkshire, we’ve had hardly any rain to speak of now for quite a few weeks and everywhere is rock hard and bone dry. One of the consequences though, is that there seems to be an inordinate amount of both grass seeds and ticks lurking around. One poor dog at my local ring craft is recovering from a nasty infection as a result of a tick bite, whilst another dog at my local training club has really suffered from a migrating grass seed. According to their owners’ vet’s, they are seeing an awful lot of similar cases – more than usual for this time of year. A reminder then to spend extra time thoroughly checking all your beasties after they’ve been running out and about!

Anji Marfleet