FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AKC/EUKANUBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
2008 JUDGING PANEL RELEASED
NEW YORK, NY (January 3, 2007) – The American Kennel Club® announced today the panel of judges selected for the eighth annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship to be held in Long Beach, CA on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, 2008. The 2008 event will once again showcase the nation’s top AKC-registered and international dogs as well as the popular Bred-by-Exhibitor competition and the second Eukanuba World Challenge.
Heading the panel as Best in Show judge for the 2008 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is Dr. Robert Smith of St. Stephens Church, Va. and Dr. Harry Smith of Durham, N.C. will judge Best Bred-by-Exhibitor in Show.
Dr. Robert D. Smith is a past member of the AKC Board of Directors. He began in the sport in 1960 exhibiting German Shepherd Dogs. But when his wife, Polly, bought him an American Foxhound puppy, the course of his life changed forever. Dr. and Mrs. Smith together bred three generations of Best in Show American Foxhounds and five generations of group winners. As an owner-handler, Dr. Smith had the top-winning American Foxhound for seven consecutive years and is a three-time Owner-Handler of the Year nominee. Dr. Smith is a respected all-breed judge who has officiated at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on numerous occasions including a Hound Group assignment in 2002. Other prestigious assignments include the Westminster Kennel Club and International Kennel Club of Chicago. He has held every conceivable office in dog clubs including all-breed, obedience, group and specialty clubs. Dr. Smith holds a Ph.D. in political science and taught college for twelve years. He then developed and ran statewide small-business assistance programs in Virginia and Mississippi.
Dr. Harry Smith grew up around retrievers and water dogs, thanks to his father’s love of duck hunting. Dr. Smith entered the sport of dogs owner-handling a Pug and has since bred and shown several champions in the breed. In 1966, he was approved to judge Pugs and today judges all AKC breeds. His judging assignments have included the Non-Sporting Group at the first AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, Toy Group at Westminster and other international shows from Wales to Japan. As an active member
AENC Judging Panel 2 of 6
of the Pug Dog Club of America, Dr. Smith served as president and AKC delegate for 10 years. He is also a past delegate for the Troy New York Kennel Club. He has been a member of the Durham Kennel Club, serving as show chairman and breed instructor at weekly handling classes and is co-founder of the Pug Dog Club of Greater Cincinnati. Dr. Smith has a master’s degree and a doctorate in mathematics and has written an important book on the subject. When not traveling to shows, Dr. Smith enjoys needle point art, specializing in dogs. Some of his best work has been exhibited at the AKC offices.
Judges for each of the seven variety groups are:
SPORTING – Louis Auslander – Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
HOUND – Luc Boileau – Burlington, Wis.
WORKING – Sheila DiNardo – West Hartford, Conn.
TERRIER – Hon. David C. Merriam – Bonsall, Calif.
TOY – Sandra Goose Allen – St. Petersburg, Fla.
NON-SPORTING – Helen Lee James – Littleton, Colo.
HERDING – Steven D. Gladstone – Mt. Pocono, Pa.
BEST JUNIOR HANDLER – Randy E. Garren – Apex, N.C.
Judges for the seven Bred-by-Exhibitor variety groups are:
SPORTING – Patricia W. Laurans- Newtown, Ct.
HOUND – Lee Canalizo – Palm Harbor, Fla.
WORKING – Robert J. Caswell – Alpine, Calif.
TERRIER – Enrique Filippini – Buenos Aires, Argentina
TOY – Andrew Brace – Gwent, UK
NON-SPORTING – Lorraine Boutwell - Kansas City, Mo.
HERDING – Dr. Thomas M. Davies- Brimfield, Mass.
Judges for the Eukanuba World Challenge are:
Eukanuba World Challenge Winner: Hans W. Muller, President of FCI – Switzerland
Europe & Africa Section 1: Edd E. Bivin - Forth Worth, Texas
Europe & Africa Section 2: Rafael de Santiago – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Americas Section: Dr. Paolo Dondina – Monterchi, Italy
Asia & Oceania Section: Ellis Hulme – Lancashire, UK
SPORTING GROUP: BREED ASSIGNMENTS:
Uwe Fischer (Germany) Pointers (German Shorthaired), Pointers (German Wirehaired), Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Judy A. Harrington Retrievers (Chesapeake Bay), Spaniels (Field), Weimaraners
Jeannette McGinnis Spaniels (Irish Water), Spinoni Italiani
Dr. Elliot L. More Spaniels (Cocker - All Varieties), Spaniels (English Cocker), Spaniels (English Springer)
James G. Reynolds (Canada) Setters (Gordon)
Robert H. Slay Pointers, Setters (Irish), Setters (English), Spaniels (American Water), Spaniels (Clumber)
Sari Brewster Tietjen Retrievers (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling), Retrievers (Labrador), Spaniels (Sussex), Vizslas
Elliot B. Weiss Brittanys, Spaniels (Welsh Springer), Retrievers (Curly-Coated), Retrievers (Flat -Coated), Retrievers (Golden)
HOUND GROUP: BREED ASSIGNMENTS:
Arlene Davis Beagles (Both Varieties), Dachshunds (All Varieties)
Michael J. Dougherty Basset Hounds, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Petit Basset Griffons Vendéens, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Whippets
Uwe Fischer (Germany) Afghan Hounds
Randy E. Garren Foxhounds (American), Plotts
Jeannette McGinnis Bloodhounds, Harriers, Ibizan Hounds, Norwegian Elkhounds
Carla Molinari (Portugal) Borzoi, Greyhounds, Salukis, Scottish Deerhounds
Zena Thorn-Andrews (UK) Basenjis, Foxhounds (English), Irish Wolfhounds, Otterhounds, Pharaoh Hounds
WORKING GROUP: BREED ASSIGNMENTS:
Dr. Sam F. Burke, Jr. Bernese Mountain Dogs, Bullmastiffs, Doberman Pinschers, German Pinschers, Mastiffs
Houston Clark Akitas, Kuvaszok
Uwe Fischer (Germany) Rottweilers
Judy A. Harrington Great Pyrenees, Saint Bernards
Carla Molinari (Portugal) Dogues De Bordeaux, Portuguese Water Dogs, Tibetan Mastiffs
David M. Powers Anatolian Shepherd Dogs, Samoyeds, Standard Schnauzers
Bernard Schwartz Black Russian Terriers, Great Danes, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Komondorok, Neapolitan Mastiffs
Robert Stein Alaskan Malamutes, Boxers, Giant Schnauzers, Newfoundlands, Siberian Huskies
TERRIER GROUP: BREED ASSIGNMENTS:
Gary L. Doerge Border Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Sealyham Terriers, Skye Terriers, Welsh Terriers
Kathleen M. Grosso Bedlington Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers
Stephen F. Hurt Fox Terriers (Smooth), Fox Terriers (Wire), Lakeland Terriers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers
Chris A. Levy Australian Terriers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Glen of Imaal Terriers, Kerry Blue Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers
Linda C. More Airedale Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Norfolks Terriers, West Highland White Terriers
David M. Powers Irish Terriers, Scottish Terriers
Dr. Lee Anthony Reasin Bull Terriers (Both Varieties), Miniature Bull Terriers, Norwich Terriers, Manchester Terriers (Standard)
TOY GROUP: BREED ASSIGNMENTS:
Richard L. Bauer Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Robert A. Condon Affenpinschers, Brussels Griffons, Chihuahuas (Both Varieties), Miniature Pinschers
Ellis Hume (UK) English Toy Spaniels (All Varieties), Papillons, Pekingese, Pugs
Elaine J. Lessig Chinese Cresteds, Havanese, Silky Terriers, Toy Fox Terriers, Manchester Terriers (Toy)
David Ojalvo (Argentina) Italian Greyhounds, Maltese, Pomeranians, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terriers
James G. Reynolds (Canada) Poodles (Toy)
Dorothy Welsh Japanese Chin
NON-SPORTING GROUP: BREED ASSIGNMENTS:
Richard L. Bauer American Eskimo Dogs, Boston Terriers, Dalmatians, Finnish Spitz
Randy E. Garren Bichons Frises, Bulldogs, Chinese Shar-Pei
Kathleen M. Grosso Keeshonden, Shiba Inu
Stephen F. Hurt Chow Chows
James G. Reynolds (Canada) Poodles (Miniature), Poodles (Standard), Tibetan Spaniels
Sari Brewster Tietjen Tibetan Terriers
Dorothy Welsh French Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, Löwchen, Schipperkes
HERDING GROUP: BREED ASSIGNMENTS:
Houston Clark Belgian Sheepdogs, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Uwe Fischer (Germany) Beaucerons
Jean Fournier Australian Shepherds, Belgian Tervuren, Canaan Dogs, Collies (Smooth), Pulik
Brian Meyer Australian Cattle Dogs, Bearded Collies, Belgian Malinois, Border Collies, Old English Sheepdogs
Cindy Meyer Bouvier des Flandres, Briards, Collies (Rough), German Shepherd Dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs
Linda C. More Polish Lowland Sheepdogs
Zena Thorn-Andrews (UK) Swedish Vallhunds