2014 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Judging Panel Released

Photo by Lisa Croft-Eliott

NEW YORK, NY (January 8, 2014) – The American Kennel Club^® is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 14th Annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship to be held in Orlando, Fla. on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014.

The 2014 event will showcase the top national and international dogs and will also include popular attractions such as the Best Bred-by-Exhibitor competition, the AKC National Owner-Handled Series Final, AKC Meet the Breeds^® and the eighth Eukanuba World Challenge. The AKC Agility Invitational will again be held in conjunction with the 2014 event, and the AKC Obedience Classic returns after a successful first year in 2013. The AKC Juniors Agility Competition and the AKC National Juniors Obedience Competition will continue to be held with these events in December.

The Brevard Kennel Club, the Central Florida Kennel Club and the Space Coast Kennel Club of Palm Bay shows will precede the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship at the same site on Dec. 9-11, 2014 and a day of specialty and group shows will be held Dec. 12, 2014.

Heading the panel as Best in Show judge for the 2014 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is Mr. Ronald Menaker of Jupiter, Florida and Ms. Patricia W. Laurans of Newtown, Connecticut will judge Best Bred-by-Exhibitor in Show.

Mr. Ronald Menaker has been actively involved in the sport of purebred dogs for more than 40 years.

He has bred and exhibited Giant Schnauzers, Bedlington Terriers, and Norfolk Terriers, owned Border Terriers, and is deeply involved in many breed and all-breed clubs, dedicating his time in various capacities. Mr. Menaker first served on the AKC Board from 1996 to 1998.  Elected again in 2000, he became Vice Chairman in 2001 and served as Chairman from March 2002 to March 2012. He is the past show chairman for the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship and the Westminster Kennel Club show, and is an Honorary Member of The Kennel Club in England.

As a member of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, he has held positions as President, Director, AKC Delegate, and Show Chairman. Additionally, he is a member of the Giant Schnauzer Club of America and the Border Terrier Club of America. An AKC judge since 1994, Mr. Menaker has judged at more than 200 AKC Conformation shows. His many judging assignments have taken him across the country and around the world, including to: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela, etc.  He is currently approved to judge Best in Show, all Working, Sporting, Terrier, Toy and Non-Sporting breeds, and multiple other breeds.

Ms. Patricia W. Laurans began in dogs in 1963 when she bought a pet Doberman Pinscher. The pup was spotted by prominent handler J. Monroe Stebbins, who encouraged Ms. Laurans to show the dog. She then worked as an assistant handler for Mr. Stebbins.

She began breeding and exhibiting German Wirehaired Pointers in 1970, and with the assistance of Joy Brewster, she established a line that produced many Best in Show and national-specialty winners. She has additionally owned Best in Show and national-specialty winners in several breeds under her Laurwyn kennel name.

Ms. Laurans became an AKC judge in 1980 and is approved to judge the Sporting, Hound, Working and Herding groups, and some toy and non-sporting breeds. She has judged the Herding Group and the Junior Finals at Westminster, and has judged at several AKC/Eukanuba National Championships.

Ms. Laurans was a member of the AKC board of directors from 1996 to 2000. The AKC Delegate from the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America since 1980, Ms. Laurans has chaired the Delegates’ Parent Club Committee since 2000.

Judges for each of the seven variety groups and the Miscellaneous Classes are:

SPORTING – Mr. Bud McGivern, Jr. – Staten Island, New York

HOUND – Mr. Michael Dougherty – Escondido, California

WORKING – Mrs. Dorothy Collier – Riviera Beach, Florida

TERRIER – Mrs. Karen Wilson – Sperryville, Virginia

TOY – Mr. Kent Delaney – Orland Park, Illinois

NON-SPORTING – Mrs. Elaine Lessig – Clinton, New Jersey

HERDING – Mrs. Roberta Davies – Brimfield, Massachusetts

MISCELLANEOUS CLASSES & BEST IN MISCELLANEOUS CLASS – Mr. Augusto Benedicto Santos III – Philippines

BEST JUNIOR HANDLER – Ms. Helma Weeks – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

JUNIOR PRELIMS – Ms. Cassandra Clark of Tustin, California and Mrs. Linda Clark of Tulsa, Oklahoma

Judges for the seven Bred-by-Exhibitor variety groups are:

SPORTING – Mrs. Anne Savory Bolus – Harrison, Tennessee

HOUND – Dr. Anne Gallant – Springfield, Tennessee

WORKING – Mrs. Joan Anselm – Keswick, Virginia

TERRIER – Mr. Robert Black – Newtown, Pennsylvania

TOY – Mrs. Peggy Lloyd – Round Top, Texas

NON-SPORTING – Mrs. Houston (Toddie) Clark – Decatur, Tennessee

HERDING – Mrs. Kathleen Steen – Alpharetta, Georgia

Judges for the Eukanuba World Challenge are:

Eukanuba World Challenge Winner: Mr. Jorgen Hindse, Denmark

Section Judges:

• Mr. Damir Skok – Croatia
• Mr. Leif-Herman Wilberg – Norway
• Mr. Aramis Lim – Australia
• Mr. Ronnie Irving – United Kingdom

Sporting Group:                                        Breed Assignments:

Mrs. Patricia V. Trotter                                    Spaniels (Boykin), Spaniels (Clumber), Spaniels (English Springer), Spaniels (Field), Spinoni Italiani

Ms. Bonnie Linnell Clarke                                Brittanys, Retrievers (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling), Retrievers (Chesapeake), Retrievers (Flat-Coated), Setters (Irish)

Mrs. Paula Hartinger                                        Pointers (German Shorthaired), Pointers (German Wirehaired), Vizslas, Weimaraners, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, Wirehaired Vizslas

Ms. Denny Mounce                                         Pointers

Mr. Houston Clark                                            Retrievers (Curly-Coated), Retrievers (Labrador), Retrievers (Golden), Setters (Gordon), Setters (Irish Red and White)

Mr. Charles Trotter                                          Setters (English), Spaniels (American Water), Spaniels (Cocker – ASCOB), Spaniels (Cocker – Parti Color)

Ms. Theresa Hundt                                          Spaniels (Cocker – Black), Spaniels (Welsh Springer),

Mrs. Barbara Müller (Switzerland)                  Spaniels (English Cocker)

Mr. Andrew Brace (UK)                                  Spaniels (Irish Water), Spaniels (Sussex)

Hound Group:                                              Breed Assignments:

Ms. Patricia Cruz                                             Afghan Hounds, Borzoi, Irish Wolfhounds

Dr. Robert D. Smith                                          American English Coonhounds, Foxhounds (American), Foxhounds (English), Harriers, Otterhounds, Treeing Walker Coonhounds

Mr. Andrew Brace (UK)                                  Basenjis, Beagles (Both Varieties), Rhodesian Ridgebacks

Mrs. Lisa Warren                                            Basset Hounds, Greyhounds, Plott Hounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Whippets

Mrs. Francine Schwartz                                 Black and Tan Coonhounds, Bloodhounds, Norwegian Elkhounds

Mrs. Carol Spritzer                                          Bluetick Coonhounds, Dachshunds (All Varieties), Redbone Coonhounds, Portuguese Podengo Pequenos

Mrs. Catherine Bell                                          Ibizan Hounds, Pharaoh Hounds

Mrs. Barbara Müller (Switzerland)                  Petit Basset Griffon Vendéens

Mr. David Miller                                                Salukis

WORKING GROUP:                                         Breed Assignments:

D. Killilea (UK)                                                  Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Standard Schnauzers

Ms. Theresa Hundt                                          Anatolian Shepherd Dogs, Chinooks, Doberman Pinschers, Kuvaszok

Mr. Douglas Holloway                                     Bernese Mountain Dogs, Cane Corso, Dogues de Bordeaux, Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies

Mr. George E. Marquis                                    Black Russian Terriers, Boxers, German Pinschers, Rottweilers, Tibetan Mastiffs

Mrs. Helma Weeks                                          Bullmastiffs, Mastiffs

Mr. Edward F. Lyons, Jr.                                Giant Schnauzers, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Komondorok

Mr. David Cavill (UK)                                       Leonbergers

Mrs. Catherine Bell                                          Neapolitan Mastiffs, Portuguese Water Dogs, Saint Bernards

Mrs. Barbara Müller (Switzerland)                  Newfoundlands

TERRIER GROUP:                                           Breed Assignments:

Mr. Michael Shoreman (Canada)                     Airedale Terriers, Bedlington Terriers, Border Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers

Mr. Fred G. Ferris                                            American Staffordshire Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Manchester Terriers (Standard), Welsh Terriers

Mr. Lowell Davis                                             Australian Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Irish Terriers, Norfolk Terriers

Ms. Patricia Cruz                                             Bull Terriers (Both Varieties), Miniature Bull Terriers

Mrs. Charlotte Patterson                                 Cesky Terriers, Fox Terriers (Smooth), Fox Terriers (Wire), Glen of Imaal Terriers, Lakeland Terriers

Mrs. Lorraine Boutwell                                    Kerry Blue Terriers, Rat Terriers, Sealyham Terriers, Skye Terriers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, West Highland White Terriers

D. Killilea (UK)                                                  Miniature Schnauzers

Mr. Jon Cole                                                    Norwich Terriers

Mr. Charles Trotter                                          Russell Terriers

TOY GROUP:                                                  Breed Assignments:

Ms. Marjorie Tuff                                             Affenpinschers, Brussels Griffon, Havanese

Mr. James Moses                                            Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Mr. Kari Järvinen (Finland)                              Chihuahuas (Both Varieties), Chinese Cresteds, Italian Greyhounds, Poodles (Toy)

Mrs. Sari Brewster Tietjen                              English Toy Spaniels (King Charles & Ruby), English Toy Spaniels (Blenheim & Prince Charles), Japanese Chin, Toy Fox Terriers

Mr. Ralph Lemcke                                            Maltese, Pomeranians, Silky Terriers, Manchester Terriers (Toy), Yorkshire Terriers

Mrs. Vicki L. Abbott                                         Miniature Pinschers, Papillons, Pekingese, Pugs, Shih Tzu

NON-SPORTING GROUP:                               Breed Assignments:

Ms. Denny Mounce                                         American Eskimo Dogs, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chow Chows, Schipperkes

Mr. David Kirkland                                           Bichons Frises, Dalmatians, French Bulldogs, Keeshonden, Norwegian Lundehunds

Mrs. Francine Schwartz                                 Boston Terriers, Lhasa Apsos

D. Killilea (UK)                                                  Bulldogs

Mrs. Sari Brewster Tietjen                              Cotons de Tulear, Poodles (Miniature), Poodles (Standard)

Mr. David Cavill (UK)                                       Finnish Spitz, Shiba Inu

Mr. David Miller                                                Löwchen, Tibetan Spaniels, Tibetan Terriers, Xoloitzcuintli

HERDING GROUP:                                           Breed Assignments:

Mr. Michael Shoreman (Canada)                     Australian Cattle Dogs

Mr. James Moses                                            Australian Shepherds, Bouviers des Flandres, Briards, German Shepherd Dogs

Mrs. Barbara Müller (Switzerland)                  Bearded Collies

Mr. Carl Lieppman                                           Beaucerons, Belgian Malinois, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Pulik, Shetland Sheepdogs

Mr. Jon Cole                                                    Belgian Sheepdogs, Caanan Dogs, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Polish Lowland Sheepdogs

Mr. David Cavill (UK)                                       Belgian Tervuren, Border Collies

Mr. Robert J. Caswell                                      Collies (Rough), Collies (Smooth), Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, Finnish Lapphunds, Icelandic Sheepdogs, Norwegian Buhunds

Mrs. Barbara Müller (Switzerland)                  Old English Sheepdogs

Ms. Marjorie Tuff                                             Pyrenean Shepherds, Swedish Vallhunds

*Panel subject to final approval.

The 2014 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship will mark the 14th event in AKC’s premier showcase for dogs, which is presented with Eukanuba.

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Posted by chesliepickett on Jan 8 2014. Filed under Breaking News, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.