Respect should not be confused with tolerance, since tolerance doesn’t necessarily imply any positive feeling, and is compatible with contempt, which is the opposite of respect.
Introduction to Judges (As per the schedule of the Combined Canine Club)
Mr.Andrew Brace (England)
Andrew Judges all breeds and groups recognised by the English Kennel Club also Best in Show
Now on the 29-05-2010 my blog was as follows – Click Here
“ANDREW BRACE, one of the UK’s top all-round judges, has been warned and fined £300 over the nature of his judging of Border collies at Blackpool last year.
Following the judging, many people watched the video of Mr Brace on YouTube, and many more commented on an apparent lack of interest in the exhibits. Several complaints were lodged with the Kennel Club.
At its meeting in February, the General Committee considered these objections and subsequently upheld them. The Committee said it ‘was particularly disturbed by Mr brace’s cursory nature of examination of exhibits and his disinterested, detached and offhand manner towards exhibitors.’
He was found to be in breach of Regulation F9 – failing to maintain and abide by the highest standards in accordance with KC Rules and regulations and the Code of Best Practice for Judges”
Now at Combined Canine Clubs Easter Classic Mr Brace had 17 breeds to judge, the majority of them in the Terrier Group.
After speaking to a friend of mine whom was showing in a terrier breed, “Judged” by Mr Brace, and whom had no prior knowledge re the above, it seems that the warning and fine may have meant nothing.
In a casual conversation towards the end of the dog show, I asked this exhibitor how they had got on, and was advised they got Reserve Green Star. A fact that they were quite happy with except that the judge paid very little attention to the exhibit on the day . On top of this after the dog had been stacked on the table, and before the dog was ready to move, the judge used a squeaky toy to get the dogs attention. This of course did get the dogs attention, not just then but the whole time that the dog was moved, and all he wanted to do was get back to this toy, and his head and vision was constantly fixed on the holder and not on the job in hand.
I know that there is a complaints process at each show, but in all honesty, the onus should be on the appointed judge to carry out the task that they often say they are privileged to do
We have mentioned here in the past about the rising financial costs in attending a show, and we are delighted that some clubs go to the expense of bringing in these “Top Judges” but the least the exhibitor deserves is the judges full attention for the few minutes that some of us get to be in the ring.
I must say in my nine years of showing it has only happened twice, once at breed level and once at group level, and both judges were out of the top draw. Maybe it’s a fact that these judges can sort the wheat from the chaff, but we all pay the same entry fee, and deserve the same amount of attention and respect as the eventual Best in Show exhibit.
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