Ladies Kennel Association 2010 Judge Biography – Tom Johnston

My first introduction to dogs was while still living at home and the family owned a Labrador Retriever.  When I left home the Labrador came with me and I have never been without a dog since.

After owning two horses I moved into the world of dog showing.

Dobermann

I became associated with Dobermanns in December 1974 when I obtained one of the last daughters of Ch. Iceberg of Tavey which started me showing in 1975, my first litter was breed in 1977 and I started judging in 1983. I first awarded CC’s for the first time in 1994 at the North of England Dobermann Club.

Border Terrier

My second breed was Border Terriers , I obtained my first one in 1976, started to show in 1977 and breed my first litter in 1978. I awarded  CC’s  for the first time at The National Terrier in 1995.

Basenji

The third breed in which I have had an active interest in since 1981 when I obtained a bitch from the Tenki Kennels are Basenjis. I awarded CC’s in the breed for the first time in 1993

It has not always been possible to show to a large extent due to a hectic work and study programme but as more time has become available in recent years and I still enjoy showing I have moved back into the show ring.

This has included a Dobermann (7 reserve CC’s), a Rhodesian Ridgeback imported from Sweden (became a Champion in 2005) and I have just made up my 2^nd Rhodesian Ridgeback Champion at 2 years (July 2008). I have also started showing a Hungarian Vizsla puppy this year and have owned one Fox Terrier (Smooth)

Judging Experience

I award CC’s in the following breeds: Dobermann, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, Basenji, Border Terrier, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Irish Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Glen of Imaal Terrier and Bull Terrier..

I have been passed for the Terrier and Working Groups.

I award Green Stars in the following breeds : Elkhound, Irish Wolfhound, Whippet, Dobermann, St. Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog and Newfoundland.

I judge at Open Show level in all Groups. I am eligible to judge stakes classes in the UK.

I have judged abroad in Russia, Australia, South Africa, Malta, Sweden, Finland and Ireland.  I have also judged in Jersey and Guernsey.

I am passed and have judged the following groups in South Africa, Terrier, Hound and Working. I also judged and awarded CC’s in American Staffordshire Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers   breeds which not have CC’s in the UK.

I awarded CC’s in South Africa (May 2004) in Boxers and Bullmastiffs at the Highway Kennel Club

Committee Work

At present I am a Committee member of the Executive Council of The Scottish Kennel Club and serve on the Finance and Administration sub-committee and I am Vice-Chairman of the Show Scheduling Committee.  I have served on the Liaison Committee of the Scottish Kennel Club for several years.

I serve as Chairman of The Caledonian Canine Society. and I am a member of The Kennel Club.  I serve on the Disciplinary (Scotland) Kennel Club Committee.

I am Chief Steward at the Scottish Kennel Club and a Group Steward at Crufts

Education

I have attended the Kennel Club’s Judges Development Programme for Group Judges in the Terrier and Working Groups.

Profession

My profession is in the field of genetics working as a Cytogeneticist diagnosing chromosome disorders.

Ladies Kennel Association 2010 Judge Biography – Natalja Nekrosiene

I have been involved in doggy world over all my life, the German Shepherds came to our family just after my birth and they are still here breeding by my brother. Of course it was the reason, that my first own dog also was German Shepherd, but since 1989 I started to breed Shetland Sheepdogs and one year later my first Rough Collie bitch arrived. The Rough Collies are my absolutely the most favorite breed, and I am quite successfully breeding them with over 25 Champions in Lithuania and abroad as well as European Winner’06 and 07 were won by my dogs. And the third my breed is Smooth Collie where with very few litters I already bred 3 International Champions, European Winner’07 and the most winning Smooth Collie last year

I got my first judging license in 1987. I have judged many times in Finland including Finnish Winner’06, Sweden (Swedish Winner’07), Denmark, Norway, Estonia (going to judge EstW’08), Latvia, Poland (in November I am doing PLW’07 and Middle&East European Winner’07), Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Russia, Isreal, Ireland. Next year I have an appoinment to French Championship Show in Lyon, as well in Germany and Romania.
I have graduated by Lithuanian Veterinary Academy in 1991 and I am a Veterinarian by profession, but nowadays I work in the Lithuanian Kennel Club. I was a member of the board of the Kennel Club since 2000 and last year (2006) was elected as a Vice-President of the LKD. Also I am a President of the Breeding Commission of LKD and member of Breeding Commission of the FCI. Since 1993 I am Vice-President of the Lithuanian British Sheepdogs Club.

I have never judged in Australia before, so it will be my very first visit and I would like to thank you again for your invitation.

Ladies Kennel Association 2010 Judge Biography – Jeff Pepper

Jeffrey Pepper

Jeffrey Pepper has been actively involved with pure-bred dogs since 1969, breeding primarily Golden Retrievers and Petits Bassets Griffons Vendéens. More than 60 Goldens and 50 PBGV champions carry the “Pepperhill” prefix, including National Specialty Best of Breed and Best In Show winners in both breeds. He has also owned and shown champion English Springer Spaniels, Whippets and several Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

First approved to judge Golden Retrievers in 1984, he is now approved by the American Kennel Club to judge all Sporting Breeds and the Group, all Hound breeds and the Group, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Best in Show. He has judged all over the United States, and in Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, New Zealand and The Netherlands. Mr. Pepper has officiated at National Specialty Shows for six different breeds, including both Golden Retrievers and PBGV’s and will be judging Best of Breed at the 2009 GRCA National Specialty.

Mr. Pepper is President of the Dog Judges Association of America. He also served as President of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America and Vice President of the Golden Retriever Club of America. He is a founder, and current Treasurer of Take The Lead, a foundation assisting members of the dog fancy who are dealing with a life-threatening or terminal illness. He was elected a Life Member of GRCA in 1994 and a Life Member of PBGVCA in 2009.

Mr. Pepper is the author of five books. The latest, a new work on the Golden Retriever to be published by Kennel Club Books in the Spring of 2010 is directed at somewhat more experienced Golden fanciers and judges. He has written numerous feature articles appearing in the AKC Gazette where he has also served as breed columnist for Golden Retrievers since 1998. His articles have also appeared in a number of canine magazines.

Mr. Pepper has provided judges’ education and breeder education programs for numerous clubs around the United States. For two years he did a series of lectures on dogs and breeding in 6 cities in China, sponsored by Nestlé Purina China. He has written extensively on these subjects over the years. He holds a Masters Degree from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. He currently lives in Salinas, California with his three Cavaliers.

Ladies Kennel Association 2010 Judge Biography – Svante Frisk

Svante Frisk

Svante Frisk, Sweden

I was born in mid-60 on the westcoast of Sweden as a child. I was very interested in animals of all kinds and after nagging my parents they finally brought me a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
To get the chance to work with animals and learn more about them I worked at the animal hospital in Gothenburg, it gave me a lot of valuable knowledge of animals and human beings.

Since I started I have been a leading breeder of Parson Russell Terriers. My affix is Toutchstone. My first longlegged Jack Russell came to me in 1985. The breed was officially recognized by the FCI in 1991 and I then started showing my dogs. Up till now I have bred and owned 70 showchampions and some trackingchampions. As I´m very intrested in all type of dogs but aspecially Terriers I have also bred Smooth Foxterriers, Lakelands, Welsh and of cource Jack Russells where I started with two Australien bred bitches. In the house there is also a very special loved called Kaisa, she is a sighthound, a Polish Greyhound, because of her I´m also very much in to sighthounds. My patner breeds Bernese Mountaindogs.

So far I’ve had the pleasure of judging a lot of shows for terriers and other breeds as well as all breeds shows in Scandinavia, Ireland, Italy and the Baltics countries, Germany , Poland, Luxembourg and Russia. I have also judge the World Dog Show in Denmark for the breed parson russell terrier, affenpinscher ang german pinscher.

I´m licensed to judge all terrierbreeds, schnauzer- and pinschers, rottweiler and great danes, newfoudland, leonberger, saint bernhard dog, shetland sheepdogs, collies, white swiss sheperd dog, swiss mountain breeds danish / swedish farmdog and also 11 sighthoundsbreeds, 5 tibetan breeds, boston terrier, cavalier king charles spaniel, frensh bulldog, pugs, swedish vallhound and faraohound and cirneco dell ´etna in total 81 breeds.

My interest in animals also includes horses, I´m a licensed dressage judge and trainer, and then I´m not working with trimming dogs I tech riding and dressage.

Ladies Kennel Association 2010 Judge Biography – Gunnar Jensen

Gunnar Jensen

Gunnar Jensen, is Norwegian and belongs to the Norwegian Kennel Club. He has used breed and show Newfoundland, Irish Setter and Italian Greyhound, but the most famous are his Great Pyrenean Dogs (25 years with a breed). He had the most winning Pyrenean male ever – own bred Multi CH, World &European Winner (both times placed in Group), he bred also Junior World & EU Winners as well he bred and owned 12 different dogs BIS-winners.

Gunnar is a judge since 2001 and has judged in his Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Hungary, the Netherlands , has an appointment to Ireland this year and to main Scandinavian shows as Finnish & Nordic Winner’09
He works as Kennel and Breeding manager in a Guide-Dog School in Oslo and responsible for breeding of Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and Standard Poodles.

Ladies Kennel Association 2010 Judge Biography – Seamus Oates

Seamus Oates lives in Dublin, Ireland, where he has been involved with dogs all his adult life.
He is the FOUNDER of the St. Bernard Club of Ireland which he established in 1972. He is also
a founder member of the Bulldog Club of Ireland. Under his “Oatfield” prefix, he has bred and
made up many Champions in both Breeds.

He is an “All Breeds” FCI Judge and he has judged in almost all European countries including Russia.
He has also judged in Japan, S.Korea, China, The Philippines, S.Africa, Argentina, New Zealand,
Australia and USA. He has also had the Honour of judging at CRUFTS last year.

He now looks forward to his return visit to judge at the LKA in Auckland.