Conformation

Whilst my family have owned dogs for as long as I can remember, my own first dogs were a Golden Retriever and an English Setter, who were registered with the UK Kennel Club in 1991. This was my introduction to conformation showing. They were followed by another English Setter, an Irish Red and White Setter and finally a Labrador Retriever.

Originally from Scotland, I moved to Canada in 2011 and became a CKC Judge for Sporting Breeds in 2013. I am now approved to judge Sporting, Hounds, Working and Toys at CKC and AKC Shows.

Since my move to Canada, I have co-owned a beautiful English Setter, who has achieved great success including a Canadian Grand Champion Excellent title. He, whilst very lightly shown in the USA, also carries his AKC Champion title. In October 2022, we obtained a Russell Terrier who now rules our lives at home, and we wouldn’t have it any other way 😊

My first judging appointment in the UK was in 1997 and since then I have progressed to awarding Challenge Certificates in both English Setters and Irish Red and White Setters.

My involvement with Dog Show Clubs is extensive having been involved with several breed clubs in the UK, and in 2019 took over the role as Show Chairman for the Oakville Club in Ontario.

I consider judging a privilege and I have been fortunate to judge many BIS, Groups and Breed Specialties for the Sporting, Hounds and Working Breeds, in the UK, USA and Canada, and I am honoured and very much looking forward to judging my first shows in Australia. I would like to thank the club and its members for this prestigious invitation.

Obedience

Kim's interest in obedience commenced when her family purchased their first Golden Retriever in 1988, Cleo gained her Novice and Open titles.

Kim took up tracking after her second Golden Retriever gained his Novice title and he completed his Tracking and Tracking Dog Excellent titles. Her first performance judging licence was Tracking in 2004.

Kim was later encouraged to commence Obedience judging and gained her CCD licence in 2008. She had a break from judging to concentrate on trialling her own dogs for quite a few years after that, gaining titles from CCD through to Open and trialling in UD.

In 2009 Kim gained her Track & Search licence, Rally Obedience in 2011 and after encouragement to continue further with Obedience judging, Novice & Open Obedience in 2015 & 2016. In June 2017 Kim successfully completed both UD and UDX practical exams to become a full panel obedience judge.

Kim's dogs bred under the Goldnymph prefix compete successfully in Conformation, Tracking, Track & Search, Obedience and Rally and have gained many titles over the years. She is currently successfully campaigning two young Golden Retrievers in the show ring and training three for obedience and tracking.

Kim judges regularly in Victoria and has judged all these disciplines in other states of Australia. She has judged Obedience at the 2019 Royal Melbourne Show and Obedience and Rally at National Trials for several breed clubs over the years, with appointments for the German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever Nationals in Victoria in 2023. Kim is also judging Obedience classes at the 2023 Sydney Royal Show and Rally at the 2023 Royal Melbourne Show.

Kim has also been a member of the Dogs Victoria Obedience, Tracking & Endurance Committee (OTEC) Training and Assessment panel for Obedience, Rally, Tracking and Track & Search for many years. It has been very rewarding to mentor new trainees in these disciplines and to see them pass and become competent judges.

Kim is looking forward judging at our Specialty and wishes all competitors the best of luck.

Rally

My love for dog training began in 1982 with my Weimaraner, Jessie.

I started trialling with my Dalmatians, Rommy and Rebel, and in 2005 Rommy and I achieved our Australian Obedience Champion Title.

Ringo my wonderful GSP gained his UD title, and in 2017 became a Rally Obedience Champion.

Weimaraner, Eli, is a Triple Champion, being a Rally Champion, Tracking Champion and Australian Champion (conformation).

As well I have made up five other Weimaraner Australian Champions (conformation).

My next challenge is my gorgeous Aussie Shepherd, Kody.

I love seeing people working with their dogs and wanting to give back to the sport I love, I joined the OTEC Judges training scheme in 2019.

I gained my Rally Judges License in 2022, and in June 2023 my full panel Obedience Judges license.

When I’m not participating in dog activities I love spending time with my family, especially my delightful grandsons Edward and James.

Thank you to the NSDTR Club for this appointment.

Retrieving Ability Test for Gundogs (RATG)

I have been involved in dog activities for many years. My interest first began back in 1982 when I visited my local dog club with a friend. I joined the Gippsland Obedience Dog Club in 1983 with my first Weimaraner and have been involved with the club since then.

My kennel prefix is Weilander and my breed is still the Weimaraner with my preference being for the Longhair variety. Over the years I have enjoyed trialling my dogs in Obedience, Tracking, Jumping, Retrieving and Retrieving Ability Test for Gundogs.

My interest in Obedience took me onto gaining my licence to judge CCD, Novice and Open levels. During this time my interest was taken on another path, and I looked into Retrieving Trials. My dog at this time taught me a lot, and this field of gundog work has given me a great deal of enjoyment to this day with a few more of my dogs following on. Currently I am starting again with a new young pup.

When the Retrieving Ability Test for Gundogs (RATG) was introduced in 2011, I was asked if I would be interested in being involved with the promotion and judging of this event. Over the years it has been a very enjoyable and rewarding activity to be involved in.

I wish everyone and their dogs who are entered the very best of luck, and achieve a pass or not, always enjoy your canine companions.