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Training
seminar ‘landmark’ for joint clubs
In
July 2001 delegates of the committees of the Finnish Spitz Club
and Society held an inaugural meeting to discuss the formation
of a Joint Judges’ Sub-Committee to deal with all things
pertaining to judging the breed in an attempt to procure better
future co-operation between the two organisations, writes John
Blaber.
This initial was successful and in December the first proper
meeting of the Sub-Committee was held. Two items were agreed
immediately, ie. the unification of the two Judges Lists, long
overdue for they had been at variance for over 20 years, and
the organisation of a Judges’ Training Seminar to comply
with the Kennel Club’s requirements for the Judges’
Criteria. The seminar was deemed essential to enlighten future
judges of the finer points of Finnish Spitz, of which they should
be specifically aware when judging the breed, and to correct
any possible misinterpretations that have crept into judging.
Since the early 1980s a number of Judges’ Training Seminars
have been held separately by each organisation. This seminar,
the first to be jointly run by the club and society, included
an assessment test and was duly held on Saturday 21st September
at Shenstone Village Hall, Staffordshire. Primarily it was aimed
at those on the Joint Judges B and C Lists, especially those
who were unable to attend the last Seminar and those who have
been added since the formation of the joint Judges’ Sub-Committee.
Successful
Dolores
Gatti, a championship show judge who was a very successful
exhibitor in the 80s and early 90s, was and she gave an excellent
talk about the approach to judging the breed and the finer
and specific points of which prospective judges should be
aware. This was followed by a ‘hands-on’ session
with a few Finnish Spitz exhibits that owners had kindly brought
along for them to be picked over, not only to be criticised
but also to be praised.
A written Assessment Test (only one of the previous seminars
included such a test) was an essential part of this Seminar
in order to comply with the Kennel Club’s requirements
for the Judges’ Criteria, ie. every prospective judge
must have attended a breed specific seminar and passed an
examination or assessment. This took place after lunch and
it comprised a number of questions in three parts, ie. the
Breed Standard, the various points of the Finnish Spitz and
finally some illustrations that were required to be placed
in order with the writing of adequate critiques using wherever
possible the wording in the breed standard.
The seminar was the first ‘land-mark’ venture jointly
run by the club and society. Quite a number of people were
sufficiently interested in learning a little more about judging
Finnish Spitz with 28 attending and 14 actually sitting the
test and from this point of view it proved to be an unmitigated
success. Despite previous pitfalls co-operation is not insurmountable
and, with continuing effort from members of both organisations,
all other pitfalls will be surmounted and co-operation will
be continuing.
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