Horley & District Show Society

Thank you to the very hard-working committee for inviting me to judge the handling today at your show. It was a real pleasure to watch such a variety of handlers, from our youngest Juniors to the more experienced Adults. Each handler demonstrated dedication, skill, and a clear bond with their dogs, which made my task both enjoyable and challenging.

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JHA Junior Handling

6–11 Years (5 entries, 2 absent)

1st – Bethany Guillod-Rees

Bethany showed excellent control and a lovely, steady pace throughout her round. She demonstrated a good knowledge of ringcraft, answered all of my questions with confidence, and adapted well when I moved one of her dog’s legs, making the necessary corrections quickly and effectively. A very polished performance for her age group.

2nd – Amelia Blanchard

Amelia is a very promising young handler with a calm and composed style. She moved her dog beautifully with smooth, clean turns and presented confidently on the table. A slight preference today for the extra neatness in the presentation of teeth and the final overall picture shown by the first-placed handler, but nonetheless a lovely performance with great potential for the future.

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12–16 Years (3 entries, 2 absent)

1st – Honey Beynon

Honey impressed me with her ability to handle what was a particularly challenging dog on the day. She remained composed and calm, demonstrating both patience and control. She moved her dog around the ring with purpose, keeping it straight and close, while maintaining focus throughout. A commendable effort in a difficult situation, showing maturity in handling.

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Adult Handling

17–29 Years (5 entries, 3 absent)

1st – Emily Bennett

A very accomplished performance. Emily presented her dog with precision and confidence, showing teeth clearly and without fuss. She moved in complete harmony with her dog, maintaining rhythm and ring awareness throughout. A really well-rounded handler who displayed both polish and natural connection with her dog.

2nd – Phoebe Toublic

Phoebe is a handler I have enjoyed watching develop over time. She showed great communication and a strong partnership with her dog, demonstrating clean turns and smooth movement. Unfortunately, a small mistake today cost her the top spot, but her potential and skill are undeniable, and she is one to watch for the future.

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30–45 Years (6 entries, 2 absent)

1st – Roxanne McDonald

Roxanne delivered a very professional round, with strong presentation both on the table and on the move. She answered my questions clearly and confidently, and importantly, maintained awareness of my position in the ring at all times. Her clean turns and ability not to impede her dog’s natural movement gave her the winning edge in this class.

2nd – Helen Johnstone

Another highly capable handler who presented her dog to a very high standard. She demonstrated good ring awareness and a confident style, very close to the first-placed handler. On the day, I preferred the slightly more polished overall performance of Roxanne.

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46+ Years (6 entries, 2 absent)

1st – Sue Tubb

Sue gave a refined and highly professional performance, from her confident lead handling to the presentation of her dog both on the table and in front of me. She answered questions accurately and presented a beautifully framed picture of her dog, demonstrating great awareness and precision. A very polished winner of this class.

2nd – Gill Stewart-Brown

Gill handled with calm assurance, keeping a nice straight line and demonstrating good control of the lead. She presented her dog well. Just pipped to the top spot today by the extra finesse and polish of the first-place handler, but nevertheless a strong and competent round.