Is
it fair to say that the Kennel Club is not doing enough to
prevent 'bent' judging?
Your
chance to have your say by ringing our VOTELINE
0901
502 0010 - YES
0901
502 0011 - NO
Calls
should cost no more than 25p
Fact
or fiction?
Following
our leading feature article last week, we have been inundated
with comments and responses from readers. The vast majority
of comments are similar and can be summarised as follows:
“Well
done OUR DOGS for bringing this difficult subject to light;
it’s about time people were a bit more honest and faced
up to the problem”
“Well
done to OUR DOGS for picking up the gauntlet”
“at
least the Kennel Club has acknowledged there is a problem;
it may not be every show, every weekend, but it can’t
be denied that it does go on”
“...
vote with your feet; if you think the judge isn’t playing
with a straight bat, then don’t show under them again!”
We
also feature here some longer statements made either by letter
or in our breed notes.
We know the Kennel Club is very interested in seeing and hearing
people’s views, so why not let them know through this
page. We will be featuring the best of your letters and e-mails
over the next few weeks.
Constructive comments on how YOU would tackle the problem
are particularly requested. We can all give examples of the
problem and say it exists, it’s what to do about it that’s
the difficult bit.
We welcome all letters to the Editor by email, fax or letter.
Please reply to: ourdogsedit@lineone.net
•
Tel: 08707 31 65 00 • Fax: 08707 31 65 01
I
suppose there are many reasons for judges straying from the
straight and narrow path of honesty and fair play, but how
much of this is down to the effects and pressures from exhibitors
themselves?
I spent about thirty five years judging Working Trials to
Championship and International level and the same for twenty
five years in Obedience and there has been the very unusual
competitor with a trick up his/her sleeve. However, I judged
one breed show at Open level and, on that occasion, I had
an exhibitor, prior to commencement of judging, do her best
to inform me of her dog's achievements against a Crufts winner.
Although it did her no good, there was no doubt of her desires
and intentions.
During my own years of breed showing I have suspected, at
times, that Working titles against the dog's name had its
disadvantages. I recall one of my dogs, who was awarded an
V rated Ex. by two foreign breed judges. He came into the
discussion with a party who had judged him previously in the
breed ring, when the party said, 'but your's is only a working
dog'.
Although I cannot think of one judge in Working Trials giving
me an advantage or disadvantage as a competitor I would not
say it has not happened. If there is to be any manipulation
within the field of Working Trials there have been suspicions
of the occasional track layer or search steward trying to
make life difficult for an individual competitor. Having said
that, I think that Working Trials is one of the cleanest of
dogging sports.
I could have said the same for Obedience, but is so many years
since I took a competitive interest in the activity, I do
not know the situation at present.
I think that influential exhibitors can play a significant
role in the integrity of the judges.
John Cree
I
agree, the KC is not doing enough to eradicate this.
I heard a CC judge say, "She had not better enter under
me".
Disgusting: it is the dog, not the owner, who should be Judged
on the day.
Suzanne Storm
I
found the full page feature in last week’s "Our Dogs",
with the attention grabbing headline "BENT JUDGES"
very interesting. The editorial states quite clearly that "Our
Dogs wants to shake this skeleton out of the cupboard and invites
columnists and readers to let us have their views..." We
recently had a very public incident at a summer all breed Ch
show, where a disgruntled exhibitor, after the completion of
judging, entered the ring and told the judge exactly what she
thought of his judging, accusing him of being corrupt. I know
this is true because the judge mentioned it in the introduction
to his critique which was recently published in the canine press.
This was then followed up with a letter, published elsewhere,
by another exhibitor expressing dissatisfaction with the judging.
Needless to say, neither of these exhibitors won major honours
on the day. If we don't like the way a particular person judges
then the simplest thing is don't ever enter under him/her ever
again, that is the best way to make sure they never judge again.
I also feel that we are all entitled to what I call "The
Five Minute Moan", when we go back to the benches, rubbish
the judge of the day, because we didn't win, get it off our
chests, then forget it and look forward to the next show.
May I venture to suggest that such a very public expression
of dissatisfaction does little for the breed's image in the
world of dogs. If you have a genuine complaint as to the ability
or the ring procedure of a certain judge, then there are channels
in which to pursue this, this is best done in private, via the
breed clubs. Ultimately, a good judge is one which gives us
a first place! Please let me have your views to get this debate
going.
Paul Keevil
I'm only 13 years old but I have a very strong love of dogs.
When I visited your website I was very pleased to see that you
are concerned about 'bent' judging in serious competitions.
I think it's very important that all worries about this should
be extinguished! I had a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who died
4 or 5 months ago. I wanted to show him but didn’t get
the chance and am completely surprised to know that there is
so much cheating going on in a hobby I always thought was so
honourable. I don't have a dog a the moment and if I did I wouldn’t
show him under these circumstances!
Holli Comaish
I
see that the issue has been raised about people complaining
verbally about dishonest judging, but subsequently not being
prepared to put their head above the parapet. This is of course
a wholly understandable state of affairs. I doubt if there is
anybody in the world of dogs who has not at some stage considered
that what they were watching was not right.
I doubt if there is anybody in the whole world of dogs who has
come out and said, "I’m a crooked judge". Is
there a judge that never made a mistake? I doubt it. Is it reasonable
for people to complain? Well I think it is. I have done so in
the past, not about the honesty of what I had seen but the competence.
Now you may well ask who do I think I am to complain, well I
feel that I have as much right to complain about the judging
as I have the right to complain to that nice Mr Branson who’s
freezing train I have just travelled from London on. I think
the key is how it is done. Histrionics, strong words and threats
do no good at all, but a reasoned letter to the committee of
the show hosting club is the right way. If the club believe
there are sufficient or strong enough reasons for the complaint
they can then act upon it.
I believe everybody should see it as their right to complain
and not feel that they would suffer subsequently. This is a
very expensive hobby we are in and as I have said before, we
are all entitled to a fair shake of the stick. If you think
your dog does not get the same attention as mine or any other
well known individuals, complain to the society. The message
will soon get through to the judges, and it seems to me that
when you cut through to the nitty gritty of most complaints
it gets down to people not being treated fairly.
Alan Hedges
