LINES FROM LINDA: OVERCOMING THE ODDS
Kudos to Lisa Jumper for capturing photo memories.
needed. Exhibitors really liked this set-up. Stewards were not as happy and struggled some. The judge’s table had the ribbons and the judges handed out their own ribbons. What went well: There was much less congestion for exhibitors waiting to get into the ring with those exiting the ring. There was not an exhibitor who didn’t like having this set-up, even those needing to go back in with another dog in the next class. It actu- ally helped make it easier for them.” ENTRANCE AND EXIT “What to improve: Large entry breeds needed a bigger table for all the armbands; making sure the entrance and exit are cor- rect for flow; exhibitors should go into the ring across from the judge and move to the judge’s side; new exhibitors were confused where to exit (have a sign easy to see that says exit here); the exhibits who didn’t get a ribbon were lost on how to leave the ring; marking a 6' area from the ring gate to keep people from standing up against the rings.” JUDGING “What went well: Splitting large classes; bring all dogs in for a class, split it however it works for the ring. For Groups, bring in all the dogs, count them as they enter, split it in half. The judge can either walk down the entire line of Group dogs, then have dogs leave, or once you know you have xx number, the breaking point exits. The judge makes a cut in the first half, keeping at least five dogs. They exit the ring and the second half enters. Make a cut from the second half; the cut dogs leave and the first kept dogs come back in. This allows the judge to move those keepers together and make the final placements. What to improve: Communication to the judge from the show chair. By requir- ing this procedure, it is taking control from the judge. Some judges really did not like doing it this way, but they cooperated and
you, not necessarily wearing it. So anywhere you mention having a mask, be clear it says wearing and how you want it worn. Also be clear if there are times they can have it off.” ENFORCEMENT “We walked around the building con- stantly reminding to put the mask on or pull it up over the nose. The first day we had 99.9% cooperation, second day, 95%. On the third day, we still had 95% coop- eration, but those whom we had to con- stantly remind were starting to push back and even get belligerent. Sunday morning, I had the AKC Representative make an announcement before the National Anthem was played. This was really good and made the difference. We recommend that clubs have the AKC Representative make daily announcements—this should have been done from day one. Make announcements more often throughout the day, by club members. If you find [you’re]patrolling, having to remind lots of exhibitors to pull the mask up or put it on, I would stop judg- ing, have the AKC Representative make another announcement. I believe this would get people to comply better. In talking to exhibitors, it really was not wanting to not comply, but needing a break from the mask, and I have to say, keeping it on for 12 hours was not easy. Having a mask break would be nice, even if it was only for five minutes. I think this is why we started having to remind people more often. This being said, maybe it would have been better to allow masks off when in their set-up and no one around (10' circle around the person).” RINGS “We had an entrance and exit for each ring, with the steward at the entrance and the judge at the exit. We required the stew- ards to lay the armbands out on the stew- ard’s table individually (not a stack, but one at a time). The exhibitors walked up to the steward’s table and picked each number they
90 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2020
Powered by FlippingBook