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THE WINNERS from Richmond, have, in the last couple of weeks let us into some of the secrets behind their success. I hope you've enjoyed reading about them, I certainly found it interesting and I know for a fact they enjoyed winning! This week however is the week when all you other semi finalists have their moment of glory. After all how many of your friends can say they made to their semi finals of their chosen hobby? Not many I can tell you, so just briefly give yourselves a pat on the back and if your dog is with you I think they could do with a pat as well oh and of course don't forget your parents! As you look around these pages, don't just look for your advert, smile at yourself and then turn over, make sure you read the judges critiques. This is when you can learn why you didn't win, or why you were fourth instead of third or even just a small tip, it doesn't necessarily have to be the critique from your own class. Remember keep your mind open to suggestion, as we all know in junior handling nothing is cut and dry so make the most of the advice that is offered to you in these critiques. Now the lecture's over, well for another year at least! Just quickly though, in case you've forgotten, the summer photo competition must come to a close and soon, so quickly send in those photos (the address is at the front of the paper) of your dog looking cool in the sun. The prizes are waiting for your entry! Other things that are coming up which involve pretty much all of you are the KCJO regional Crufts qualifiers. The South East & East Anglia region are holding their show handling qualifiers this Sunday so good luck to any of you who are entered there. The age groups for this event, whatever region you are a part of are as follows: 8-11 yrs & 12-15 yrs (both age as at 1st March 2001); 16-17 yrs (18th birthday must not fall on or before the day of the International Junior Handling Final at Crufts 2002, ie. born on or before 06/03/1985) and 18+ (age as at 1st March 2001). If you are competing in the 18+ age group you are not eligible to compete for the KCJO Junior Handler of the Year award, however you will compete against the Senior winner for the award of Senior Handler of the Year. Watch out for further details in the KCJO newsletter. Finally, the Discover Dogs exhibition will be taking place on November 3rd & 4th so if you find yourself with spare moment that weekend, make sure you head to Earls Court 2 where you'll find it all happening! Some KCJO members have volunteered to help out at the event and they will be demonstrating Heelwork to Music, Flyball and the Good Citizen Bronze award. Next week I'll be able to give you a run down on this years UK International Handling Competition in Salisbury which will be held the 20th & 21st October. I hope you all enjoy looking over this weeks Richmond special, as we Salute to the Juniors! Judges' reports Toys 6-11 yrs: I thoroughly enjoyed judging the younger Toy handlers, the overall standard for this younger age group was excellent, which required me to make some close decisions. I did not ask for any fancy patterns or attempt to catch anyone out and concentrated on triangles and straight lines as I was looking for handlers who could show and get the best out of the dogs. 1 Sarah Matthews aged 11, Pomeranian, both handler and dog were immaculately turned out, she handled and presented her exhibit precisely without any fuss, she moved her dog at the correct speed making good use of the ring with accurate alignment, she followed my instructions perfectly and was aware of my position at all times, she maintained control on the table and her final presentation was excellent and was at an appropriate distance to allow me to view her dog clearly, it was a close decision between 1 & 2 , I just felt Sarah had that extra sparkle and seemed more in tune with her dog on the day, I wish her luck at the finals. 2 Emma McLaughlin, Papillon, gave a really good performance making it a very hard decision, she set up her dog correctly on the table and moved her dog at the appropriate speed and in correct pattern, she carried out everything I asked with style and accuracy, she was dressed very smartly and complimented her dog, I feel she also has great future. 3 Brett Connolly, coped really well handling a difficult Maltese, he was turned out smartly, he followed instructions and moved his exhibit at the correct pace and in the correct pattern with accurate alignment, his table presentation was good, and he was always aware of my position, he was a well deserved 3rd in a very strong class. Sarah Hayward 12-16:
Being asked to judge the Junior Handling Toy older age group at Richmond
was an honour and a pleasure for me. I was looking for a handler who showed
their dog off to its best advantage without exaggeration but with quiet
confidence and understanding. 1 Glenn Robb, Papillon, never put a foot
wrong, showed professionalism all the time. His dog was always correctly
placed, and he moved in unison with his dog at all times, did everything
that was asked of him in a polite and calm manner. Smartly dressed, a
super handler. 2 Julia Gilchrist, Papillon, another extremely good handler,
performed her patterns well, moved at one with her dog, keeping an eye
on me at all times, knows how to get the best out of her dog and smartly
dressed to complete the picture. 3 Kim Warriner, 6 month old Löwchen.
This pup was quite a handful but this young lady showed understanding
and patience with her puppy, which is what handling is all about. She
got the best out of her dog in a calm and efficient manner without harsh
handling or fuss. Hounds 6-11 yrs: I would like to thank the Junior Handling Association for their invitation to judge their semi-finals. I was looking for handlers that placed their hounds in the spotlight rather than themselves. In general I was impressed with the overall standard of the handling seen here today and I am pleased to see that the future for dog showing is in such great hands. A couple of handlers presented their hounds very well but paid the penalty for not moving their hounds as they were instructed to do. I was disappointed to see one handler adjust her hound with her feet. I hope that all the handlers here continue developing their evident skills and most importantly continue to enjoy showing their dogs at all levels of competition. 1 Emily Thornton, a shining example for both junior and adult handlers to follow. Emily presented her hound to the highest order but with minimal fuss. her hound was stacked both on the ground and the table to maximal advantage and any minor adjustments required were executed in a quiet, unobtrusive manner. Emily moved her hound with precision as instructed and at the correct pace for her breed. i also noticed that her hound was given time to relax although Emily was prepared to react as and when required. 2 Helen Rishworth,
in a hotly contested class Helen came to the fore as the class developed.
Many of the comments for Emily also apply to Helen who presented her hound
efficiently in a quiet, professional and unobtrusive manner. A slight
lapse in concentration when first moving her hound round the ring put
Helen at a slight disadvantage that the faultless display by Emily would
not allow her to redeem. 3 Marijke Gilbertson, presented her hound with
confidence and to advantage, her hound was shown in superb condition and
beautifully stacked but a failure to reposition a front leg in an otherwise
faultless display cost her place at this level of competition, Marijke
moved her hound at a good pace allowing it to move out with good drive
and extension. 12-16
yrs: The standard has always been high at this level but I was very
pleased with the way my main winners handled in a positive, accurate and
calm manner that made me want to look at the dogs and not them. Less of
the over handling movement I have seen in the past. Some handlers still
need to be aware that although the dog is not being judged, it still needs
to be presented with feet accurately stacked, not only side view but front
to back to back ie. not banana shaped. One young lady I placed for calm
perseverance with a fidgety dog. 1 Alayna Morland, aged 17, Whippet. A
very capable, efficient handler who presented her dog well with the minimum
of fuss, moved accurately and at a good pace to show the dog off. Smartly
and sensibly dressed, someone I felt I would be quite happy to let handle
one of my own dogs. This same comment applies to my first three. 2 Toula
Lucas, aged 15, Saluki. Again, most of my comments for my winner apply
to this young lady and it was really splitting hairs with the first three.
She did deviate slightly in her triangle but otherwise was very observant
to my position without being obviously so. Smartly dressed in colours
to compliment her dog. 3 Joseph Woodhouse, aged 15, Whippet. A very pleasant
and confident young man who handles in a nice calm manner. Not quite so
positive on the move as my first two. Perhaps this was due to the dog
he handled appearing rather laid back, something that can be as hard as
a very ongoing dog. Again very smartly dressed in a colour to compliment
the dog. Working A high standard here, and all my decisions were very close and I wish you all well with your future in dogs. 12-16
yrs 1 Fiona Mycroft, Dobermann, again a very high standard in this
class. Exceptional handling from this young lady, getting the very best
from her dog at all times. Excellent rapport, sympathetically handled.
Again never put a foot wrong. Very smartly dressed and presented the dog
very well at all times. Both very alert & confident, expert handling for
one so young, must have a bright future. 2 Stephanie Sutton, Bernese Mountain
Dog. Again, quite a close decision between these two, just lost a little
concentration at the very end, but an excellent standard of handling from
this young lady. 3 Cordelia Nelson, Siberian Husky, another good handler
in the making, just needs to give the dog a little more confidence. 12-16
yrs: The overall presentation of the handlers and their charges was
excellent, making there way into the ring in a quiet yet professional
manner, I personally have the utmost respect for junior handlers as I
find them knowledgeable in all aspects of ring etiquette. Upon shortlisting
down to eight I was splitting hairs to find the final six placings. 1
Samuel Dean, handling his Rottweiler to outstanding perfection, constantly
watching his dog and judge at all times, ceasing every opportunity to
ben noticed, dog and handler working as one, commanding the ring as they
worked in unison. 2 Zoe Pritchard, Great Dane, this is a proud upright
breed and was handled accordingly showing the dog to its full potential,
pushing the dog to the for until the handler disappeared into the background.
3 Charlotte Parsons, handling her Dobermann with grace and elegance, taking
advantage of the complete ring moving the dog on a lose lead, yet in full
control. The red outfit against a black dog showed the animals complete
outline on the move and the stance. Well done. Terriers A high standard here as one would expect for the semi finals. All my decisions were very close and I wish you all well with your future in dogs. Terrier
6-11 yrs 1 Daisy Jones, Sealyham. What a rapport this young handler
has with her dog. Never put a foot wrong, dog & handler working in unison
at all times, both alert and watching the judge at all times. Dog very
repsonsive to handler and showed for her very well at all times. Handler
very smart and confident and dog well presented to judge, expert handling
for one so young. 2 Ashton Pearmain, Scottish Terrier, close up to 1 and
similar comments apply, not quite the confidence and flare of 1. 3 Jason
Tite, Norfolk Terrier, a good handler in the making, just needs to gain
confidence and to watch the judge a little more. 12-16:
Many thanks for the opportunity to judge this group. It is heartening
to see the care and attention shown by these young people. I was very
impressed by the degree of professionalism shown which was far beyond
their years. Every entrant was a worthy winner however, the winners did
display that extra something. All enjoyed the task at hand, with very
few nerves visible. Respect was shown to fellow exhibitors. 1 Laura Smith,
a very confident young lady which she passed on to her dog. Worked well
together displaying a special bond between them. Immaculately presented,
used her knowledge of handling to show off all aspects of her dog, a well
deserved winner. 2 Keely Pearman, once again both dog and handler turned
out well, showed a mature and responsible attitude. Well versed in all
areas of handling, both on the move and on the table, well done! 3 Katie
London. gave her full attention to her dog at all times, showing him off
to his best, a very keen and enthusiastic young lady, with a strong willed
dog to handle. Only recently moved into this age group. One to watch out
for. Gundogs 6 -11 yrs: I was honoured to be invited to judge this competition with 37 entries. It was most interesting and challenging, because these youngsters are the ones to carry our game forward. I was impressed by the skill of the junior handlers, walking around the show for 3 days, I am pleased to say a lot of these youngsters can give the adults a run for their money. I was looking for handlers who showed their dogs sympathetically and with confidence. 1 Shevaun
O'Connor, German Wirehaired Pointer, did exactly what I wanted, moved
her dog at the right pace, and the dog looked right whenever I looked
at it. 2 Joe McDonald with an Irish Red & White Setter, This was probably
more of a challenge, but the handler did his very best. 3 Dawn Ritchie,
Welsh Springer Spaniel, A strong competitor when she first came into the
ring. However, when the final decision had to be made, she moved her dog
on the wrong side. Having said that, she quickly realised and corrected
it. 12-16: As I'm sure you are all more than aware the opportunity to judge a semi final at Richmond for an ex-junior is one which deems itself very highly. Even more so the chance for me to judge the Gundog 12-16 class was more than just an honour but a memory that will stay with me forever. When the juniors enter the competition they do so without knowing who their judge will be. I was spoilt for choice with a wonderful entry, so thanks to the competitors for showing Gundogs! There were ten to fifteen handlers in the class who could been worthy winners, I'm just sorry there weren't more red rosettes to go round. I was not aiming to catch anyone out but rather looking for a handler who could show their dog to its best possible advantage. A handler who stood out from the crowd but at the same time not detracting the judge from the dog. I found all these qualities in the juniors who I shortlisted for further assessment. My winner however had something extra, 1 Kirsty Miller, English Springer Spaniel. This young lady is an outstanding handler, she impressed me from the moment she entered the ring. She is not necessarily the fanciest handler but she has a skill for showing dogs and that can not be denied. Kirsty showed off fluent movements, a watchful but not staring eye and guided her Springer around the ring at the correct pace and with ease. Unlike many handlers Kirsty was able to show her dog with minimum fuss & maximum effectiveness without making too much of herself. A superb performance, one which any top handler would be proud of, good luck in the final. 2 Chantelle Prior, Cocker Spaniel. Another handler who impressed on entering the ring. She got the best out of her Cocker with quiet effectiveness, wearing a well coloured suit to contrast her dog. She completed everything I asked of her and did it proving herself to be a very skilled handler. Chantelle's performance could not be faulted and I'm sure she will prove to be a very successful handler, well done. 3 Lauren Vincent, Flat Coated Retriever. A handler who has much to credit her, she too handled her dog in an excellent fashion, but unfortunately there can only be one winner. Lauren has the ability to make showing a freestanding breed look easy & she had her Flat Coat under control at all times without faultering. It is hard to get the accuracy with a larger breed but this is something Lauren manages with ease and impresses in a quiet, skilled manner. Thank you
to all of the handlers, it was an unbelievably hard decision to make as
the performances put in by so many were faultless. In the end, however,
it comes down to the judges preference and on the day Kirsty fitted the
bill. I was grateful for the sporting manner in which the handlers accepted
my decisions, after all for many of them it could easily have been their
day. Utility 6-11: It always gives me great pleasure to see children and dogs, play, work and interact with one another. Today was no exception, and I thoroughly enjoyed this appointment. I fully understand why all sixteen children present had qualified for today's semi-final. I was most impressed by their presentation, they had taken great care of their appearance and all dogs were shown in clean and excellent condition. The standard of handling was very high for this age group and I really had to put these youngsters through their paces in order to reach my decision of the final selection. They were all very polite and took their placing and non-placing in a very sportsmanlike manner. 1 Karra Lawson
was really at one with her dog. Her presentation was excellent, standing
her Lhasa Apso correctly both on the ground and on the table, no fuss
at all, moving at the correct speed for the breed, paying the right amount
attention to both judge and dog at all times. She knew her triangles,
I could not fault her on any aspect of her handling. This was real teamwork
in action. 2 Rachael Ward showed her Schnauzer with great confidence.
She paid a lot of attention to standing her dog correctly front and rear
and showed its dentition with ease. She had a good rapport with her dog
Whether doing a triangle or coming or going in a straight line she moved
in harmony with her dog at the right speed. Just needs to remember to
pay adequate attention to the judge too. 3 James Rogerson with a German
Spitz (Mittel). James had a wonderful rapport with his dog which was a
pleasure to watch. He presented his dog very well, Whenever I looked,
he held his dog's attention, standing correctly at all times, and free
standing, which is not that easy. He was very gentle in his handling to
which his dog responded positively, both standing and on the move. He
also allowed him to relax in between. Would like to see him move a little
more harmoniously with his dog. 12-16 yrs: The overall standard of handling and presentation was high. Nerves got the better of a few, especially the younger contestants, but this happens to us all some times and we look back and think "I could have done that better" this is the way we learn. Narrowing
down to just six was difficult. Very few came between the dog and myself,
some cam close and then remembered at the last moment, unfortunately in
correcting themselves they list the momentum of the dogs movement. It
is difficult I know but at the end of the day, your ultimate aim is to
show your dog to the very best advantage when you get into the breed rings.
I made the first cut by asking handlers to show the bite themselves, some
dropped the lead in doing so. I kept in those who had kept control of
the lead and also shown the bite in a kindly way, that is letting the
dog know what was happening by saying "teeth" or "bite" or some similar
command, this preparing the dog, rather than suddenly grasping the lips,
you cannot expect the dog to know this is going to happen. A reverse triangle
was the next test, then my final decisions were based on movement at the
correct speed and stride for the exhibit, maximum use of the rather awkward
ring, consideration by the handler to the dog and presentation overall.
Whilst I know you have to watch the judge at all times, I am not impressed
by exhibitors (in handling or breed competition) who stare outright at
the judge, if you are doing this, you are not noticing if your exhibit
has moved out of his pose. 1 Rebecca Roskell, German Spitz, a quietly
efficient handler, she was always in the right place at the right time
working, as one with her exhibit, she certainly got the best from him
both standing and on the move and made sure I could appreciate him, without
any 'over the top' handling. All her basic routines, turn etc were perfect
and she skillfully managed to always have one eye on e and one on the
dog, without being obvious. The only thing I could fault was that she
was wearing black trousers behind a black exhibit, which is not really
ideal as you can lose the outline of the dog, however I later learned
that a major disaster on the morning had rendered the show outfit unwearable,
next time pack a spare! If she handles this well in actual breed competition
she should trouble the best, well done. 2 Lucy Dixon, Miniature Schnauzer,
a little older and more experienced perhaps, smartly turned out herself,
she confidently performed all the tasks I set her correctly, moving the
dog at the right pace and making full use of the ring, at all times keeping
her exhibit presented to me. 3 Nicola Hall, presenting her Tibetan Terrier
to the very best advantage, again another clever and confident young lady
who made no mistakes and with the added difficulty of having a long coated
breed to contend with, Hard to split her and Lucy for their style and
ability, felt that Nicola could just have used a bit more of the ring
to show off her exhibits movement. Pastoral 6-11 yrs: I was very impressed by the professionalism of the juniors showing under me. It was good to see the children well dressed and not over dressed. Also handling the dogs well and sensibly without over handling. The majority of the children listened and took notice of what I asked them. 1 Daniel Petrie, GSD with a very professional and in command approach, this was a good strong dog that could have easily run away with someone not in full control. But although he was in full control, he was also very attentive and kind to his dog. 2 Hollie Guichard, Shetland Sheepdog. Another attentive handler with a good approach and lovely attitude to her dog. 3 Miss S Margetts handling a Rough Collie, again a handler who listened to what I asked, and handled her dog sympathetically. It would
be nice to think that these children prepared their dogs for the show
as well as handling them. This has to be an important part of the show
scene. 12-16 yrs: It was a very pleasant day judging the junior handling semi-finals at Richmond. The overall standard of presentation was very high, my ring was well organised (thank you for that). I've judged this competition many times on the continent before and have sometimes been disappointed because of so many unnatural, artificial attitudes and behaviours of the juniors. I have felt many times, the competition isn't for the dogs, only for the parents. I happily realised that this organisation have found the right way to teach the youngsters how to handle a dog and how to compete with each other in a natural, professional way. I've seen quite a few 'over handling' during the day. It is a job to enjoy, a profession and not an easy one. 1 Jane Cryer,
a talented young lady with a Border Collie. She was born to be a dog handler,
she did an excellent job, finding the best balance and contact between
the dog and the handler. It was a joy to look at them, nothing was exaggerated.
She controlled her Border Collie very well all the time. It was nice to
see her winning the handling at Darlington a a week after, well deserved
win. 2 Jayne Clegram was a charming young lady with a Sheltie. It is not
the easiest breed to handle...but she did it with perfection. She chose
the best speed on the move and used her dogs temperament very cleverly.
I think she has a bright future with her enthusiasm and sense of dogs.
3 Craig Gamble, Border Collie. I'd give him my dogs to handle without
any hesitation. Maybe his 'artistic impression' was a little less than
some of the others but his Border Collie showed its possibly best form
in every single second, standing and moving as well. He let his dog be
more important than himself, and he drove the dog from the background.
This natural, clever style of handling, what I personally like. Well done!
see the pictures from this event
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