LISKEARD PREMIER OPEN SHOW

15TH JULY 2007

JUDGE  Mel Vincent

YKC Handling classes

It’s been seven years since I last judged handling classes and my gosh the standard was incredible throughout the three classes. If you didn’t win or indeed were not placed it was absolutely no reflection on your abilities and I hope that no one was demoralised, there is no need.  As a Crufts qualifier the pressure was on and one or two handlers did let their nerves get the better of them, if this was you try a Barley Sugar sweet before you go in next time, they are great for settling ‘butterflies’!  A few overall points for everyone, a stacked dog gives a slight advantage over a free standing one especially when shadowing and dogs are not machines nor would we wish them to be so don’t over react if your free standing dog follows you. Try not to string your dogs up unduly and watch what the arm that doesn’t have the dog lead in it is doing, it doesn’t have to wave about like a flag. Don’t stare out the judge, it is impolite. Finally everyone was dressed smart and tidy and there were no silly costumes, well done! I hope to be at the Crufts ringside next year to see how my finalists get on.

6 to 11 years (8/2a)

1. Jodie Brutto, Border Collie, did an excellent job handling a free standing dog which was nearly as big as she is.  Kept one eye on him at all times, quietly and carefully repositioned him as necessary, never lost her nerve, never came between him and me and listened to me carefully.

2. Katie Pinkerton, Borzoi, again had quite a large breed to manoeuvre, smartly dressed, near perfect round, clearer mouth presentation from 1.

3. Chloe Brutto, Border Collie, close up with 1 & 2, maybe a little hurried.

12 to 16 years (13/3a)

1. Hollie Kavanagh, Doberman, quiet un-fussy handler, one eye on him and one eye on me, listed to me, paid attention and executed her patterns perfectly, repositioned him as necessary, did not stare me out at any time.

2. Amy Balch, Weimaraner, another excellent performance, close up with 1, just felt she gave me too much of a ‘stare’ at the end, watch that.

3. Lily Warren, Shar Pei, wearing a very smart outfit with a skirt which did not interfere with her dog, pushed hard with quality performance, lines not as straight as 1 & 2.

17 to 24 years (4)

1. Johanna Page, Boxer, another quiet, un-hurried, careful handler who paid attention to her dog and me simultaneously, listened to and executed instructions perfectly, never interfered with my vision of the dog.

2. Becky Collier, Border Collie, once again a foot perfect performance, very close decision felt mouth presentation was clearer from 1.

3. Laura Allsop, Whippet, apparently her first attempt at handling which wasn’t obvious, keep at it.

Webmaster - thanks to Mel for sending this critique in.

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