MONTGOMERY COUNTY KENNEL CLUB
THE ‘BEST’ OF MONTGOMERY: A LOOK BACK WITH THE BIS JUDGES
A word to those prospective non-Terrier judges: This is where the cream of the crop is being shown! This is probably where the next BIG-winning Terrier will be seen. Remember the Kerry Blue Terrier, “Mick,” with Bill Mcfadden? Mick finished his AKC championship at the Morris & Essex show, took a Terrier Group 1, and then, BIS that day! Wow, is that a way to finish? The rest of his story is history! Mick is not the only Terrier to accomplish such greatness. There have been others over the years. I only mention Mick because I was lucky enough to be judging the breed that day. It was a thrill to point to him for Best of Breed from the classes, then watch him continue the day to BIS! What is the significance of heading the judging panel at “The Greatest Terrier Show?” Is there any particular pressure that comes with this Best in Show assignment? Sunday, October 6, 2002, is forever engraved in my memory! It was my turn to judge Montgomery County Kennel Club’s Best in Show. For me, the pressure was studying the breed standards. (I want- ed to know those standards so completely that I could quote the standard if necessary!) Don’t be fooled, judges DO read the stan- dards, usually the night before, for the breeds they will be judging. In this case, it just happens to be one representative of each breed in the Group! Integrity: I believe the committee that appoints the person to judge BIS at MCKC has total faith that the judge selected will have the integrity to “judge the dogs according to their breed standard” and nothing else. Being a Terrier Person: Being asked to judge Best in Show at Montgomery County Kennel Club has been the highlight of my judging career. Thank you, Dr. Josephine Deubler, Walter Good- man, James McTernan, and all the Montgomery members. The competition at the Breed level is always high at Montgomery. Have you judged any specialties at this show? Have your dogs won any specialties? I have had the opportunity to judge some very nice National Specialties at MCKC. I judged the first National Specialty for the Glen of Imaal held at MCKC. I have enjoyed judging the Cesky Terrier, the Soft Coat- ed Wheaten Terrier, the Scottish Terrier, and the Kerry Blue Ter- rier (the second time at MCKC in October 2021). One of my most challenging assignments at MCKC was the year I judged Junior Showmanship. The young handlers take handling a Terrier cor- rectly for their breed seriously! Yes, Tyrella Kerry Blue Terriers have won at MCKC and at regional specialties and all-breed BIS around the country. I am forever grateful that the Kerry Blue Terrier was my original breed. I had to learn to groom to hide faults, but I also had to know what the fault was in order to correct it by grooming. So, I learned structure first. I do, however, come from a horse background. Oftentimes, when I watch a dog gait, my thought might be, “I am glad I do not have to ride that one or my side would ache!” Or, I think, “That one’s a good walker or has great foot timing.” All these things count when observing breeding stock. Go to a horse show and watch the rider: Does she/he bounce? Why or why not? Do you have a word or two about your Best in Show winner and the dogs that placed in the Group? My Best in Show winner was the Airedale Terrier, Ch. Tartan Scottshire Ultra Glide. Breeders: Carol Scott & E. Forbes Gordon & J. W. Clark. Owners: I. V. Buunavro & E. F. Gordon & C Scott.
The competition at the Breed level is always high at Montgomery. Have you judged any specialties at this show? Have your dogs won any specialties? Over the years, I’ve probably judged eight or ten breed special- ties there. I also won at least one Bull Terrier specialty. Do you have a word or two about your Best in Show winner and the dogs that placed in the Group? I judged BIS at Montgomery in 1982 and in 1999. In 1982, I awarded BIS to Jamboree Jubilea, a Lakeland Terrier, owned and handled by Eddie Boyes. In 1999, the BIS winner was Ch. The Duke of Copperplate, a Norfolk Terrier. He was owned by Jim and Marjorie McTernan and Michael Labrie, and handled by Larry Cornelius. Too many years have passed to allow me to give an accurate critique of the winners now. In the photo above, Dr. Jo Deubler and Mr. Walter Goodman are presenting. Is there a particular “Montgomery Memory” (or two) that you can share that best exemplifies the spirit of this iconic dog show? The memories I have of Montgomery are the great anticipa- tion of the show, helping to set up on Saturday as a club member, the excitement of arriving in the dark at the showgrounds early on Sunday morning, and then the pure luxury of moving from ring to ring to see the best Terriers in the country in top competition. ANNE KATONA 2002 BEST IN SHOW JUDGE The Montgomery County Kennel Club dog show is widely consid- ered to be one of the finest events of its kind in the world. Why do you think this show is held in such high esteem? Duunnn, duunnn… (Think “JAWS” music.) Goose bumps, nerves, can’t stand still, sensory overload, can’t wait to search for “That OUTFIT!” and many, many more exciting thoughts, trials, and tribulations take over for the Terrier breeder, owner and/or handler as October approaches. Watch out. October is here before one can blink! Most TERRIER people know about MONTGOMERY. If one has not been, it is Westminster KC, AKC Orlando, Crufts, Santa Barbara (the old SBKC), all rolled together into one day—one show—of only TERRIERS! Many well-respected Terrier breeders “hold back” a Bred-By Exhibitor pup to be shown on that one day for the world of Terrier breeders to see. They choose to experience the awesomeness of knowing that that pup will compete against only the best of the best of that breed on one day of the year— MONTGOMERY DAY in Pennsylvania, USA! ALL Terrier Breeders worship this day in October. It is an inter- national “holiday” for us, considering the Terrier aficionados who attend from around the world!
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2021 | 165
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