nieuws - 28/11/2003 Judge, Gentleman and Handler - Isra๋l
door Yossi GuyThe judge was not satisfied with the handling of one of the dogs. So he took the lead and showed the handler how to hold it properly. After asking the handler to take the dog around the ring again without satisfactory results he gently took hold of the lead and led him around the ring at a brisk trot. Now he knew the dog's true gait!
How does one determine the success of a show? There are those who count the number of entries. Others relate to the quality of the entry. Club treasurers count the sum of money in the club bank account.
From my point of view, the success of a show is measured mostly by the feeling the handlers have when they leave the ring. Are they satisfied or not? Did the judge do a "hatchet job" on their beloved pet causing them to question themselves why they took the dog in the first place? Did the judge treat them with respect and give them the feeling that even though their dog did not win they would come again just for the fun of it?
Another measure is quite difficult to define clearly the atmosphere. This includes mainly the manner in which the show is run. How the ring staff does its duty, whether the dogs enter the ring smoothly in succession when their turn arrives and how high do tensions run among all the parties involved. This atmosphere is determined both by the judge and the ring stewards.
And this is exactly the feeling shared by all those who participated in the Israeli Rhodesian Ridgeback Club match judged by Mr. Jan Coppens from the Netherlands on Saturday, the 29th of November.
Mr. Coppens, a veteran Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder and former president of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the Netherlands, conveyed a pleasant and yet professional atmosphere exhibiting great patience for the average Israeli handlers, who do not always have a great deal of ring training. He was armed with a large dose of patience and provided every dog the chance to show himself as well as possible. His love of dogs in general and of his special breed in particular was expressed in the affection he displayed for all the dogs he judged.
When some of the handlers did not do their job according to the judge's expectations, he was not put off. He took over and stacked the dog properly. This is not a rare picture, there have been many cases of judges improving the position of a standing dog. However, Mr. Coppens did not stop at that. In three cases he just took the lead and ran the dog once or twice around the ring in order to show his owner how to do it correctly!
"This is not the first show in which I have done that," said Mr. Coppens. "Although I did not start my show career in junior handling, I have been teaching handling classes at the Kempen KC for the past 10 years. I take over a dog when I see it is stressed and not moving properly."
Judging began with a "veteran's parade" attended by one dog and one bitch. The judge was provided with sausages to give the 10 year old dogs. They exhibited their good condition by promptly gobbling up the sausages without even allowing the event to be photographed.
A rare sight in Israel these days was provided by a foreign visitor, Ch. Pingu Ayaba, bred and owned by Tom and Ina Rogosic-Blagojevic of Croatia. Pingu was brought to the show by the owners' friend, Miss Irena Antolic, who braved the bad publicity Israel has been receiving in the press lately and arrived with the dog. Benjamin H. Kiesler, an Israeli advocate who owns the famous Beni's Ridges kennels (WW01 Ramses Beni's Ridges) handled Pingu, who won champion class and was awarded the Israeli championship title.
Best of Breed was a dog from open class, Kenmillone Duran by Eilack, imported from Jack Selby's famous kennel in England by Menashe and Gita Gavish. "On Saturday, when I looked at my BOB, I thought this was a dog that would never damage the breed," commented the judge.
Best Opposite Sex was another import, this time from the United States, Kwetu's Nandi of Rich-Rach, owned by Arik and Etty Nadler and Orit Nevo finished her championship title at this show.
Although citing several faults in the dogs he judged, Mr. Coppens expressed his overall satisfaction with the quality of the entry. He noted several dogs of what he calls the African Type, i.e. the original Ridgeback that had been bred in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He was impressed with several of the well-balanced, muscular dogs, with powerful movement and beautiful heads. He did not mention any particular problems with ridges.
When awarding Best Dog to the winner of the open class over the champion from Croatia, the judge preferred the former because he was more massive compared to the elegant, athletic champion, claiming this dog could fulfill the breed's original designation hunting lions better than the latter.
When the official judging ended, Mr. Coppens was asked to judge three "fun" competitions: the dog with the best movement, best ridge and best head.
The day after the show, several club members and some additional guests including three judges and two vets met with the judge at the home of one of the club members. Mr. Coppens presented some pointers on judging Rhodesian Ridgebacks using improvised slides he had drawn himself. He was kind enough to share some interesting anecdotes about the history of the breed and left an overall impression of good will.
When asked whether he was not afraid to come to Israel, Mr. Coppens replied: "I have never been afraid in my life. I had to cope with criminals and gypsies in the course of my job and they threatened to kill me, but as you see I am still alive."
