2021 WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB
THE GROUP JUDGES
better attention to where I’m headed now!) My preparation was a great surgeon and physical therapist, and who knew moving from February to June would work so perfectly for ME! 2. The show was not held in New York City for the first time in the club’s 145-year history. What are your thoughts about the Lyndhurst location? Interestingly, very much like “going home” for me since my foundation breed was Great Danes and Lyndhurst was the site of the Great Dane Club of America National and Futu- rity for many years—and I judged my first AKC show there, the National Futurity. For this year, the Lyndhurst site was just perfect and the weather was most cooperative for the judging in outdoor rings. The site is magnificent. It certainly was a great success and a perfect decision for “the show to go on!” 3. Since the Groups were not judged at Madison Square Gar- den this year, did the night “feel” different to you in any way? I must say that the invitation to judge WKC at Madison Square Garden is an amazing feeling. That said, this Westminster KC was a historic show; a year never to be forgotten, an amazing site, and I wouldn’t ever now trade this year for any other year or place. It was unique, unforgettable, and wonderful, and it was certainly a prod- uct of much planning and work that I still can’t imagine. It totally felt like Westminster Kennel Club! 4. What about the lack of spectators; did you miss the raucous New York crowd? I must say that I didn’t really notice or focus on anything but the dogs, once I’d walked into the Group ring. Even at Madison Square Garden, as a handler on that floor, much of the crowd noise stays above you and isn’t as noticeable as you would think. 5. Breed judging was live-streamed each day, and Groups were featured live on Fox Sports. How important is this kind of cov- erage to purebred dogs? I believe it is very important, especially this year with limited access to the show. The public must know that, as Pat said, all show dogs are pets. Being able to see and learn about breeds, when intelligently discussed, has great value in those looking to add a dog to their household. Marketing is a double- edged sword these days, so the public needs access to good, under- standable information. When I hear the term “rescue” and it’s a dog shipped up in a van from another part of the country for $$$, it is like a nail on a chalkboard. People DO think they are rescuing. 6. Let’s talk about those dogs! How challenging was the assignment? Can you share your selection process? The Group was the finest Working Group I have judged, and the majority in that Group could respectably be standing in first place at any all-breed show. Hands-on, there was correctness in size, type, soundness, details, thick ear leather where it should be, correct coat texture, bone and substance, and eye color. In the end, there are only four ribbons to be awarded, and that evening I was so pleased to have the cut of quality and the four that I placed to remember for a lifetime. 7. Do you have a word or two about your winner? About the dogs that placed? The Samoyed I had early on in his career; a beau- tiful example of the breed in every way and presented perfectly. He was shown at an easy gait and not raced, handled on a loose lead, and got into his collar beautifully. I had never had the Doberman, and again, a beautiful representative of her breed in type and sound- ness. The Dane I had given a specialty to a couple of years ago, and I find her to be an outstanding example of the Great Dane in size, soundness, and temperament; with her size she is still feminine, with substance. The Pyr was equally correct in substance and head type for his breed, a sound mover, and again, shown at an easy gait. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Great Dane was breeder/owner-handled. I think it is important for exhibitors to know that, with quality, you are competitive.
5. Breed judging was live-streamed each day, and Groups were featured live on Fox Sports. How important is this kind of cover- age to purebred dogs? There is no question that the coverage on Fox Sports reaches a large audience. I will also say that the announcers, Chris, Gail, and Donald, do a fabulous job promoting purebred dogs throughout their commentary. This alone is an added bonus to the coverage. 6. Let’s talk about those dogs! How challenging was the assign- ment? Can you share your selection process? The most important part of the judging process was to judge each dog against its own standard. It’s so easy to find an average dog of a popular breed, but to understand the nuances of the rare breeds is one that some people find difficult. After examining each individual dog, I realized that I had a number of those rare breeds that were excellent examples of their breeds. Thus, the reason you saw the Bluetick Coonhound, Redbone Coonhound, and Harrier in the placements. 7. Do you have a word or two about your winner? About the dogs that placed? Bottom line is that each of the four winners in my Hound Group were beautiful examples of their breed and showed off every aspect of their breed characteristics to the fullest. 8. In your opinion, does this year’s show reflect positively on the sport of dogs and on preservation breeders? Yes, it sure did. So many winners were either owner-handled or breeder/owner- handled. It demonstrated each of their handler’s dedication to their breeds. 9. Would you like to share a few words with the members of the Westminster Kennel Club? Only just a few? Well, this event in our unique times was so well done that each WKC member deserves a Medal of Honor. Faced with a monumental task, they pulled it off like never before. 10. Have you got any advice to offer next year’s Group & BIS judges? The key words from the WKC and Fox Sports team is to be “deliberate” and “decisive,” since you are on live TV. Just go in and judge them like normal, but with these two words in mind... and enjoy yourself.
WKC HOUND GROUP G1 GCHP Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon (Whippet) G2 GCHG Evenstar-Wesridge’s One Hail Of A Man (Bluetick Coonhound) G3 GCHG My She Dances Like Uma Thurman (Redbone Coonhound) G4 GCHS Blythmoor Sheez-Beez Tell Me No Tales (Harrier)
JUDY HARRINGTON
1. The past year has been unlike anything the (dog show) world has experienced. How did you spend your time preparing for this year’s assign- ment? Not the way I had envisioned when I received the invitation! I tripped over a cinderblock in my garage in late November, and had surgery early December to put my kneecap back together. (I’m very careful and pay
206 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JULY 2021
Powered by FlippingBook