Judges Biographies

Conformation(?) and Junior Handling (?) will be judged by Judy Vanderlip
Sweepstakes will be judged by Sarah Kraft
Obedience and Rally will be judged by Margery West and Shirlee Jacobson
Per Jean Hillbig, tracking judges have not been hired yet
Additional?
Additional?

Judy Vanderlip

Judy started breeding and showing Springers in 1970 under the kennel name of Lyric and has had a Springer in her life since the age of 7. Since 1970 Lyric has bred, shown and campaigned many top conformation dogs and Top 5 Springer Spaniels.

Among their accomplishments are multiple BIS, Group winners and placers and the ESSFTA “Show Dog of the Year” in 2000 and 2001, the Top English Springer Spaniel “All Breed” the same year and in 2009 the ESSFTA Show Sire of the Year.

When you speak to Judy about Springers you can see the love she has for the breed and the specific traits, both physical and mental, that make them what they are. She continues to aid new judges of our breed to understand these characteristics and the finer points of what makes a Springer a Springer.

Sarah Kraft

 

I am a third generation breeder-owner-handler based in Minnesota. I can't imagine living without a Springer! My very first dog when I was a child was a Springer named Bertie, and she embodied all that is good in a sporting dog. She was a great companion, loved everyone and everything, and was a willing participant in every game I concocted for her. While I didn't begin showing dogs until I was 20, with my love of dogs I was easily bitten by the “dog show bug” and have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the breed. For me, the enjoyment comes from breeding, raising, trimming, training, and handling my own dogs. I strive to continue to learn and develop my own skills, and hope I will be competing for years to come. I don't breed often, and strive to produce type, quality, and soundness of mind and body in my breeding program. I feel the National is the ultimate breeders showcase, so it is a tremendous honor to be asked by my peers to judge the Sweepstakes classes. I look forward to seeing all of the promising youngsters and breathtaking Veterans at their finest!

Margery West

Margery took her first dog, an American Eskimo, through dog obedience class in 1973. Having been "bitten" by the "dog bug," she then got her first Sheltie. After putting several obedience titles and two breed championships on them, she branched out into other breeds including Labradors, Goldens, a Curly-coated Retriever, a Belgian Sheepdog, a Schipperke, a Whippet, an Australian Shepherd, Border Collies, a Greyhound and currently a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Sheltie. Margery has titled dogs to an OTCH, several UD's, more CDX's, and many CD's as well as several retriever hunting test titles, rally titles, and one TD. She became an AKC approved judge in 1991, and is now approved to judge all Obedience and Rally classes.

Margery is very involved in teaching others to instruct pet owners. In 1990 she wrote the first edition of the Dog Writers Association of America's award winning book "Social Graces". For 8 years, she wrote "The Pet Class" column for Front and Finish, and a column for the quarterly magazine FORWARD. She is a past President of the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors and is the Obedience Director for the Springfield, MO Dog Training Club.

Shirlee Jacobson

The sport of obedience began for me when I took an uncontrollable Dachshund to the Des Moines Obedience Training Club's beginning classes in 1967. The dog eventually obtained a CDX, but not easily. I joined the DMOTC in 1968 and have been an active member ever since. I am also a member of the Des Moines Kennel Club, American Belgian Tervuran Club, ASSA and a charter member of the Des Moines Shetland Sheepdog Club and currently service as corresponding secretary.

I purchased my first Sheltie in 1969 and this has been my breed of choice up to and including the present. I did put a championship, UDX, and novice agility titles on my Belgian Tervuran. And a UDX on my daughter's Belgian Tervuran. I put a UD on a Keeshond, but most of my obedience training has been with the Shelties. I have shown in both rings and have finished several champions as well as thirteen UD's, six UDX's, and six OTCH's and several agility titles.

I am currently showing two Shelties in Open and Utility. My youngest Sheltie just finished his UD.

I began judging in 1975 and am approved for all classes. I enjoy judging, but my first love is exibiting.

It is my privilege and honor to judge for the English Springer Spaniel national specialty and I wish every exhibitor good luck.

More

More judges will be added as they become known.