LINES FROM LINDA
by LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR
Left: Author and Doug Ljungren, AKC Vice President of Sports and Events
I t’s the time of year for reflection. AKC’s 2017 events have already begun at a frantic pace, leaving little time to relish our accom- plishments and savor our victories. Pausing for a breather is something we may long for, but the excitement keeps us going! With more than 22,000 competi- tions for AKC-registered purebred dogs each year, there is truly something for everyone. Competitions and events held under AKC rules and regulations include conformation, obedience, agil- ity, rally, tracking, herding, lure cours- ing, coonhound events, hunt test and field and earthdog test. Performance sports represent 53% of the total entries in AKC events. There are approximately 14,200 combined performance events yearly. Conformation events comprise 1,400 All Breed shows, 200 Group shows and 2,500 Specialty shows. While there are a relatively small number of confor- mation events compared to performance events, the number of entries per confor- mation event is much larger.
The mission of our American Ken- nel Club is clear: AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity and promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breed- ing for type and function. AKC also advocates for the purebred dog as a fam- ily companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. The AKC Breeder of the Year for Sport Award is given to those who have dedicated themselves to improving the health, temperament and performance of dogs in a given sport. The 2016 Breeder of the Year by Per- formance Sport award recipients are: • POINTING BREED FIELD EVENTS Albert and Cynthia Cropek Brittany Spaniels • RETRIEVER FIELD EVENTS Mitchel and Margot Brown Labrador Retrievers • SPANIEL FIELD EVENTS Kevin Battistoni English Springer Spaniels
• HOUND FIELD EVENTS Wayne and Marty Parker Beagles • HERDING
Kathy Greenwood Belgian Malinois • LURE COURSING Mary Childs Borzoi/Whippets • EARTHDOG Dawn Martin
West Highland White Terriers
• COONHOUNDS Mike Crockett
Black and Tan Coonhounds
• AGILITY Nina Plail
Shetland Sheepdogs
• OBEDIENCE
David and Judy Guaraldo Shetland Sheepdogs
• RALLY
Gayle Watkins Golden Retrievers
• TRACKING
Cynthia Nauer Labrador Retrievers
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AKC EVENTS: PERFORMANCE SPORT BREEDER OF THE YEAR HONOREES 2016
38 • S how S ight M agazine , F ebruary 2017
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