by Yossi GuyThe Pedigree International Junior Handling competition at Cruft's is perhaps the most veteran international event at the world's leading show. It began with a handful of children from several countries and has flourished into a truly global event with 36 national representatives competing for the title.
The lineup at this year's international junior handling competition in the main arena was definitely international. From Japan to Iceland, from Mexico to Croatia and everything between. All five continents were represented, including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – actually more than the nations represented in the actual dog show itself.
All the children (mostly teens, some almost adults) had to compete and win at national level in order to represent their nation at Cruft's. The organizers, cooperation between Cruft's and Pedigree, ensured that all the participants were given a local dog of the breed they requested – none of them were able to compete with their own dogs – with cooperation of many local breeders who were generous enough to supply their dogs and remain with them for the entire day.
Besides competing, the national representatives and their adult escorts took place in several social events, including a festive dinner at which they introduced themselves to their colleagues and the social aspect is definitely one that lasts beyond the competition itself.
The event began at around 10:00 in the morning of the last day. The excited participants were gathered in the collecting ring, each trying to calm their own nerves and that of their newly found canine companion. After a few last words of encouragement from their escorts, they were off into the main ring in alphabetical order of their countries.
The judge, Bo Bengston of the USA, first gave each a short series of exercises. After all 36 competitors completed this stage, they went back to the collecting ring and were given another dog with which they had no time to familiarize. Back in the main ring, they went through their paces and then were sent to get their original dog. The judge then chose the final lineup and after another set of exercises gave his decision.
Adell Brancevich from Latvia handling a Pointer was declared winner. The first runner up was Emma McLaughlin of the UK with a Papillon. The second runner up was Juan Miranda Saucedo of Mexico, also with a Pointer. All three received trophies.
Before the group judging that afternoon, the entire entry returned to the main ring where Adell received the HSH Princess Antoinette de Monaco trophy. This 17 year old has already done her fair share of winning, including first place at a European Championship show.
"I have been in junior handling for six years now," says Adell. "I started when my mother took me to my first show and entered me in the junior handling competition and to everyone's surprise I took first place. Then I was hooked. From 2002 until 2006 I took part in about 100 shows. I show different breeds, mainly Australians. At home I have an American Staffordshire Terrier. This is the second time I have handled a Pointer. When I phoned home a few minutes ago to tell them of my win at Cruft's they thought I was pulling their leg."
But, of course, she wasn't and there are plenty of photos to prove it.
Juan Miranda Saucedo of Mexico has represented his country at Cruft's and world shows several times. This was his last competition in this framework since he is almost an adult now. Juan will now change places and is designated to judge the junior handling competition at the coming world show in Mexico.
Mr. Stephen Renda, Pedigree marketing director in the UK, a staunch supporter of the international junior handling competition, explained why his company supports this event. "Cruft's has more people than any other venue. We take the opportunity to meet people. Junior handlers are the future. It's fantastic that you get young people from countries that have only begun to participate in dog sports 10 years ago and now we are seeing them winning the event."
Mrs. Liz Cartledge who has been coordinating the junior handling competition since it began, summed it up in one sentence: "every year, I lose sleep worrying something would go wrong, but it never does."
