23rd - 25th July 2005

LEEDS CH SHOW

Judge  - Gail Storie

A few general comments before the critiques.

I thoroughly enjoy judging the handling classes.These young handlers are the future of our hobby/sport and should be nurtured. However they do need to be taught correctly.

Whatever is common practise in breed rings is not necessarily  acceptable or appropriate , nor correct in handling classes. I do not like to the positioning of any part of the dog by anything other than the handlers hands. The use of feet or knees to move the dogs feet can be construed as harsh handling.

On the same subject the object of handling is to show the dog to ITS best advantage, copying adult handlers is not always the way to achieve this. Whatever the particular fashion or fad within a breed, some always look better shown on a loose lead rather than being strung up, and some free stood rather being stacked.

All of the young handlers were extremely polite, although some could have smiled more, this is supposed to be fun!

A word on attire. Most were extremely well presented and it appeared that thought had gone into choosing clothes whose colours complimented the colour of their dog. However for the young ladies things that I found that detracted from the overall picture were: wearing sandals, wearing training shoes, having dangling ear-rings and wearing slogan t-shirts beneath jackets. For the young gentlemen I would say that however hot it is on the day, wearing a jacket always looks smarter, you can put it on just before entering the ring and remove it immediately after; if a jacket is worn it should not swamp the handler, and ties should be pinned so that they do not flap.

A lot of exhibits had dirty teeth. If any of you were to become professional handlers taking the dog into the ring would only be part of it, grooming , including the cleaning of teeth would also be expected.

As to the actual handling things that kept cropping up over the 3 days and which handlers need to be aware of were: dangling leads, being aware of the position of the judge before starting the requested pattern ( s ), getting ahead of the dog on the move, incorrectly showing the mouth/teeth, presenting the dog too close to the judge, and very poor corners particularly on the triangle.

Day 1 - Gundogs and Hounds

The overall quality of the handlers in these 2 groups was better than in the other 5 groups.

6 - 11 years (21)

This was an excellent class and I was REALLY splitting hairs with my decisions.

1. Kerry Maidwell handling a Whippet - showed excellent shadowing skills, patterns were neat and precise and she presented her dog correctly.

2. Eleanor Brown handling a GSP - encouraged her dog all of the time. Gave a good present and was one of the few who made the best use if a large ring.

3. Emma Craig handling a Golden Retriever - good all round handler who also made good use of the ring, however she needs to improve on her lead work as she got in a bit of a muddle with it.

4. Charlotte Oxman handling a German Wire-haired pointer -encouraged her dog  well and had good shadowing skills, a very close decision with 3.

5. Perry Osborne-Brown handling a Flat-Coated Retriever - I would like to give a special mention to this young man. Before I short listed I really thought that this young man would win this class. He presented the dog correctly, showed the mouth well, maintained good pace on the move and was encouraging his charge all of the time. His corners were a bit loose though. I then had such high expectations of him that after the short listing when he performed the required pattern incorrectly he was moved down the line. However after judging I found out that he is dyspraxic, hence the incorrect pattern. The advice I would now give him is that if he is unsure of where to start a pattern he should say to the judge that he is sorry , but he is dyspraxic and could he be told in which direction he starts ( not how to do the pattern itself ). Anyone who judges these classes should be understanding about this. You show so much promise Perry I hope that you continue with your handling.

12 - 16 years (24)

A class oozing with quality handlers

1. Annalese Jones handling a Whippet - the colour of her outfit complimented he dog very well. Her patterns were excellent throughout. Most professional

2. Rebecca Craig handling a Cocker Spaniel - I was splitting hairs yet again with this decision. Kept pace with her charge very well and was precise  in her patterns.

3. Hannah Rose handling a GSP - an unobtrusive professional handler. Her patterns were precise. Any of the top 3 could change places at other shows.

4. Charlotte E J Nickel handling a Whippet - won this class on day 3 handling a West Highland White Terrier. Her patterns are good and she encouraged her dog but didn’t quite have the poise of the top 3.

5 - Heather Rose handling a German Wire haired pointer - was let down by loose cornering.

17 - 24 years (13)

As you would expect in this age group the standard of handling was very high.

1 - Laura MacDonald handling a Rhodesian Ridgeback - I liked the attitude of this handler very much. Her young Ridgeback was not always co-operative but she kept calm and encouraged him. Her patterns were acceptable. An older, more experienced dog would have made her job so much easier.

2 - Helen Taylor handling a Weimaraner - very close decision between 1. Patterns were good and moved dog well, just preferred the way Laura coped with a more difficult charge.

3- Nicola Craig handling a Cocker Spaniel - a competent and understated handler.

4 - Faith Earl handling a Pointer - anyone of these top 4 could change places and it was one of those occasions when I wished I could have asked them to swap dogs. I very neat, precise all round handler.

5- Eleanor Bryant handling an English Setter - was let down by poor lead position. 

Day 2 - Working and Pastoral

6 - 11 years ( 10 )

1. Hollie Kavanagh handling a Doberman - showed excellent shadowing skills, presented mouth correctly, completed patterns accurately

2. Jayne Perks handling a Rottweiler - a very close decision between 1 and 2 and similar remarks apply, just preferred the overall finished look of 1. 2 very promising young handlers

3. Ashlie Pike handling a Tervueren was let down by her shadowing skills.

4. Georgia Waterworth handling a Boxer - needs to have neater lead control .

5. Olivia Rose Smith handling a Shetland Sheepdog - needs neater lead control and she did not look at where I was standing before she started her patterns.

12 - 16 years (10)

1. James Rogerson handling a Siberian Husky - an extremely competent and professional handler who kept good pace with his dog. My only criticism would be a flapping tie.

2. Shannon Thomas handling a Shetland Sheepdog - very mature handler in her attitude, confident with neat, precise patterns. Would prefer more animation on her part.

3. Jonathon Lane handling a Saint Bernard - a very polite and well presented young man. Just needs to be more aware of the pace of his dog as he tends to get ahead of it on the move which makes it seem as if he is not getting the best out of the dog.

4. Robyn Connell and 5 - Rebecca Ellrich both handling young Boxers - splitting hairs to  separate these 2. Both stacked and strung up their dogs which was not to the dogs advantage. Yes Boxers, especially young ones are a handful but they look so much better free stood and gaited on a looser lead.

17 - 24 years (2)

1. Tony Westcott-Smith handling a Pyrenean Sheepdog - executed good patterns and was most encouraging of her charge.

2. Rosanna Lee handling a Shetland Sheepdog - a competent handler but slightly exaggerated in her politeness which I know is a difficult thing to gauge. She also positioned her dogs foot using her own foot which for me is a big no no.

Day 3 Terriers, Toys and Utility

6 - 11 years (19)

1. India Hewett-Smith handling a Border Terrier - a pleasant, smiling young handler. Had good shadowing skills and her corners were very neat. I liked her attitude to handling very much.

2. Emily Tearle handling a Bulldog - this young handler had to change dogs to an 8 month male as her original charge was required in the breed ring. Although obviously distressed at this change she tried really hard and put 100% plus effort in, which is really all that one can ask for in this age group, hence her placing. She was smartly dressed and knew how to complete her patterns.

3. Caitlin P Forbes handling a Cesky Terrier - she handled this dog much better in the later breed class which I also judged. She has a good attitude to showing and was patient with her young dog. If she can forget that these are handling classes and treat them more like breed classes she should do much better in the future.

4. Daniel Akrigg handling a Manchester Terrier - a very smart young man with a very experienced dog and therefore he was not able to show exactly how competent a handler he was.

5. Djemille Heddouche handling a Bichon Frise - another handler whose dog seemed to be on auto pilot and therefore again was hampered by not being able to show just what she could do.

12 - 16  years (18)

1. Charlotte E J Nickel handling a West Highland White Terrier - excelled in this class with the preciseness of her patterns.

2. Jade Hayden handling an English Toy Terrier - needs to practise presenting on the table with this young dog. Performed as straight a straight up and down as I have seen.

3. Liam G Thornton handling a Smooth Fox Terrier  - very polite young man, was aware of my position at all times but patterns were rather loose.

4. Charlotte Trasler handling a Miniature Pinscher - very close decision with 3, would have preferred her to communicate with her charge more.

5. Sophie Michelle Carmichael - handling a Chinese Crested - her corners were good but her T was of such and an uneven length as to look totally unbalanced.

17 - 24 years (6,2a)

1 - Laura May Nicholas handling a Welsh Terrier - very well dressed handler whose outfit complimented her dog perfectly. Accurate, competent, professional.

2- Nicola Hall handling a Tibetan Terrier - another whose chosen outfit complimented her dog well. Encouraged her dog at all times but needs to tighten up on corners to complete the picture.

3- Lisa Moir handling a Japanese Spitz - a veteran dog who still had some spark making the handler work. Good patterns.

4 - Kirsty Miller handling a Skye Terrier - I initially thought that she would be my winner in this class. She is a very good handler regarding the completion of patterns and keeping pace with her dog. However she let herself down very badly by allowing her charge to have such dirty teeth.

Webmaster - thanks to Gail for sending in the report.

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