| A Message from Mari-Beth O'Neill |
Happy New Year!!
This year's Junior entry at the AKC Eukanuba National Championship was a record of 166. Congratulations to all that met the eligibility requirements and those who traveled to Orlando to compete in this year's event. I am impressed each year with the awesome talent of the Juniors. I routinely tell judges that judging Junior Showmanship is consistently the hardest class to judge because the quality of the handlers is so extraordinary. I also enjoy getting to meet the Juniors and the parents while outside the ring.
This year's judges were all once Juniors themselves and have participated as professional handlers and successful breeders. Karen Mammano, a member of the AKC Registered Handlers program and Junior supporter from Webster, NY was one of the preliminary judges. Jan Swayze-Curry, a second generation breeder of Whippets and Afghans, perhaps best known for being the mother of Grahem Swayze was the other preliminary judge. The finals were judged by William Shelton, from Pomona, California is a respected multi-group judge and breeder of Pembroke Welsh Corgis. As always, the judges were faced with difficult decisions.
Congratulations to Emma Echols, two time winner of the AKC Junior Showmanship Competition, who will now represent the AKC at Crufts in the International Competition. Second place went to Ania Gabrielle Kelly handling an English Cocker Spaniel, third to Devon Kipp handling a Norfolk Terrier and Fourth to Taylor Ault handling a Golden Retriever. The other finalists were: Chloe Lete handling a Portuguese Water Dog, Corinne Kolzow handling a Smooth Fox Terrier, Daniel Fabelo, handling an English Setter, Grace Freeman handling a Standard Schnauzer, Kristin Lawless handling a Nova Scotia Duc Tolling Retriever, Andie Hall handling a German Shorthaired Pointer, Kylie Soafer handling a Great Dane and Tanner Congleton handling a Golden Retriever.
AKC sponsored a reception for all of the Juniors competing at the AKC Eukanuba on Saturday afternoon, December 15, 2012. My thanks to the parents who assisted in stuffing the goodie bags on Friday afternoon and who assisted on Saturday with the reception
Juniors requested information about what career opportunities may exist that relate to your participation in AKC Events. We have done brief interviews with several current AKC Staff members who participated in AKC Events growing up. We are happy to include in this issue our first interview with the Director of Agility, Carrie De Young. |
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