Star-Studded Panel to Choose 2019 WKC Finalists

By Amy Fernandez

It’s that time of year again. Westminster is looming large. So let’s take a look at what’s waiting in the wings. In other words, who’s judging? The headliners really don’t need much of an introduction but here’s a brief rundown just to get us in the mood.

The Sporting Group is invariably a crowd pleaser, but it’s definitely gonna be something special this time. In charge of the deal this year is Doug Johnson, who is pretty much an iconic name in both the Spaniel world and Westminster lore. Johnson was 15 when he started in Clumbers back in 1984. Since then, he’s bred a daunting number of BIS and national specialty winners and, of course, made history in 1996 with Ch. Clussexx Country Sunrise, the first Clumber to go Best In Show since the breed started competing at Westminster in 1878. Known as Brady, his littermate, Ch. Clussexx Bubbleicious, was also a national specialty winner. Johnson has also made notable inroads in several lesser-known Spaniel breeds including Welsh, English Toys, and, of course, Sussex. His Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee managed to set two Westminster records back in ‘09 as both the first Sussex and the oldest dog of any breed to go BIS. This will be Johnson’s fourth Westminster judging assignment. And it’s safe to say that he knows his way around both sides of this glittery event.

It’s no exaggeration to describe Pat Craige Trotter, this year’s Hound Group judge, as an inseparable part of Westminster history. By last count, her Vin-Melca Elkhounds have topped the Hound Group an astonishing ten times starting with Ch. Vin-Melca’s Vagabond, who won it back- to-back in ‘70 and ‘71, in addition to finishing 1970 as top dog all breeds. Three years later, Ch. Vin-Melca’s Homesteader pulled it off, followed by Ch. Vin-Melca’s Nimbus in ‘77 and ‘79. After a short break, Ch. Vin-Melca’s Call To Arms brought home their sixth Westminster group in 1986. Ch. Vin-Melca’s Calista’s also earned back-to-back groups in ‘89 and ‘90. Pat was back again with Ch. Vin-Melca’s Marketta winning in ‘94 and ‘95. Along the way Vin-Melca also gave us Ch. Vin-Melca’s Howdy Rowdy, sire of 166 champions, and Ch. Vin-Melca’s Last Call, the top producing bitch with 27 champion offspring. Overall it is a record that defies belief. And let’s not forget her groundbreaking 1996 bestseller, Born To Win. Somewhere in between, Pat also began a judging career and this will be her fourth time adjudicating at Westminster.

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=156382

Posted by Alex on Jan 18 2019. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.