18 Breed Notes – WELKS 2026

Continuing my theme of General Ch shows and CC’s in general, I think that two reasons which contribute towards a good entry is the venue and choice of judge. If the show isn’t on an exhibitors list of favourite venues, then getting a half decent entry will all boil down to the society’s choice of judge.

All too often, especially with numerically small breeds, we are lumped together and added onto the end of an all-rounder’s list who is already doing other breeds. The reason being that it’s theoretically more cost effective for the society; which is very short sighted as they will invariably lose more money through a poor entry.

In the last few years, the job of all show secretaries has been made much easier, as they are now no longer reliant on being sent (or having to request) an updated Judging List from the clubs whose breed they wish to schedule. The RKC’s Find A Judge section on their website gives full details of all judges and what breeds (& at what level) they have been approved for. With Level 4 judges (who are passed to award CC’s) it also gives details of all their past (so you can see at a glance how many dogs they attracted at their last appointment) and future appointments.

If show societies are that desperate and finding it so hard to find a judge, why on earth don’t they ask a breed club for suggestions/recommendations?? As at least that way, they might get a better entry. Exhibitors are increasingly becoming more particular which shows they spend their money on and this is being reflected in entry numbers. So really, there is no excuse to keep giving the same person the same breed, in the same catchment area with just a few years apart; as it will be the same exhibitors who will (or won’t as the case may be) enter their dogs.

At WELKS we were second in the ring after 41 French Bulldogs, where our judge was Jill Peak (who last judged Keesies at WELKS just 2 years ago in 2024, when she had an entry of 43 dogs) this time she had drawn an entry of 23 dogs with 2 absentees. Judging started around 11.00am and was done with by 12.30pm; there were no entries in both Puppy classes, Junior & Post Graduate Dog, Yearling Bitch & the Veteran Bitch was absent

DCC with Best of Breed went to the Veteran winner, Hickson’s Ch Only The Lonley (Bert von Ricara (imp Den) x Kichigai Special Edition) with the RDCC and Best Puppy going to the Minor Puppy – Mel Harris & Jean Sharp-Bale’s Neradmik Shooting Star (Ch Aragorn Elessar Elfiyskiy Berill x Ch Neradmik Pandora’s Box)

It was a first big green card for Vikki & Sean Marshall’s Devonia Black Pearl (Arabesque at Devonia (Imp Russ) x Torrikees Made In Heaven at Devonia) with the RBCC going to the second in Open, Andy & Jean Fitches’ Ch Nld Ch Sofia Loren Della Ginevrina (Imp Ita)(Carpe Diem Della Ginevrina x You Are My Everything Della Ginevrina)

Anji Marfleet