Biography

I started showing in the 1960’s with Labradors, then English Cocker Spaniels (my greatest love of dogs), making up many champions in solid and parti-colours, including specialty best in shows and all breeds.  I handled the record holding BIS winning Labrador of all time in NZ.  Two of these awards were under Gwen Broadley (Sandilands) and Reg Gaddson.  I have also owned/handled English Springers, Irish Setters and Briards.  I have owned and shown Rough Coated Collies for 17 years making up many champions in all three colours.

I am now associated with Weimaraners with my wife Pip who breeds under the Carnmellis prefix, New Zealand’s foremost winning kennel with two out of the four Grand Champions in the breed being owned by us.  We have bred and campaigned the first longhair champion in the breed in NZ (shown against shorthairs).  Specialty wins have been under UK and American specialists and the German Breed Warden.
I gained All Breeds status in 1988 and have judged BIS at All Breeds Championship shows over 50 times.  I am also a licensed All Breeds judge in USA.  Since commencing judging I have judged over 50,000 dogs in nine countries.

In 1996 I judged three shows in USA, these being the Yankee Weimaraner Specialty; Part Gundogs (English Cockers, English Springers, Clumbers, Field Spaniels, Irish Setters, GSP’s, GWP’s, Labradors and Pointers); Part of the Herding Group including Best of Group; (Welsh Corgies, Cardigan Corgies, Old English and Belgium Shepherds) at Ladies and Framingham Championship Shows.

In 2003 I judged at Darlington Dog Show, England.  At this show I had a club record entry of 195 Weimaraners and awarded CC’s to my winners.  I also judged Australian Terriers, Japanese Spitz, Schipperke, Bouvier, Leonbergers and Anatolians.

I have judged over 100 appointments in Australia that include Gundogs and Best In Show at the Canberra Royal (less English Cockers that were judged by Sylvia Bunting, UK.  400 Gundogs, 2,200 in total at the show.

In 2004 I judged at Philippines KC all breeds and BIS; South Korea all Gundogs and Singapore KC all breeds and BIS.  In 2006 I judged at Barrie KC in Ontario and at Manitoba KC in Winnipeg, Canada; Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.  In 2007 I judged various appointments both in Australia and New Zealand.   In 2008 I judged in Queensland doing Terriers, Hounds and BIS on one day then Gundogs and a Doberman Specialty the next day.  I judged the Supreme Top Dog Award in Christchurch, New Zealand.

In October 2012 I judged 8 shows in Texas that included five Best of Groups, Best In Show and the Lonestar Weimaraner Specialty.

In the last 12 months I have judged in China three times.

In 2017 I travelled to Calgary where I judged four days for the All Breeds Club plus the Weimaraner National and GSP Regional.  Following this in Vancouver I judged the Hungarian Vizsla Specialty and at the Sporting Dog Club.

Clubs that I have judged for outside All Breeds Clubs :

Gundogs– Waikato & District Spaniel Club, Auckland Spaniel Club, Otago/Southland Gundog Club, Gundog Society Wellington, Wanganui Gundog Club, Hawkes Bay Gundog Club, Golden Retriever Club Auckland, Southern Golden Retriever Club, Irish Setter Club, Taranaki Gundog Club, Victorian Gundog Club, Queensland Labrador Club, NSW Labrador Club, NSW Golden Retriever Club, NSW Weimaraner Club, Yankee Weimaraner Club, The Weimaraner Club,  Southern Gundog Club Australia, Weimaraner National in Barrie and Labrador Regional Specialty in Winnipeg. Weimaraner National in Calgary  and Hungarian Vizsla Specialty and Sporting Dog Club in Vancouver.

Working– Waikato & District Collie Club, Canterbury Working Dog Club, Auckland Working Dog Club, Otago/Southland Collie Club, Sth Australian Collie Club, Shetland Sheepdog Club of Queensland, Northern & New Castle Corgi Club, Victorian Working Dog Club, South Island Collie Club.

Group/Specialist Clubs:  Otago Toy Dog Club, Central Non Sporting Club, Spitz Breed Club, Central Toy Dog Club, Hawkes Bay Non Sporting & Utility Club, Auckland Non Sporting Club, Asian Breeds Club.  In 2004 I judged the Alaskan Malamute Specialty in New Zealand and a week later judged the Alaskan Malamute Specialty in Australia.  In Winnipeg I judged the Boxer Specialty and had a booster entry for Dobermans in Barrie.

Club Involvement:  Past President/Committee Member of Waikato & District Spaniel Club, Waikato & District Collie Club, Waikato Gundog Club, Cambridge Kennel Association, Huntly & District Kennel Association (Life Member), Northern Weimaraner Club, The Labrador Club, Hamilton Kennel Association past president.  I’m a member of the Waikato Judges Association, ex NZKC Delegate.  NZKC Judges Examiner for five years.  I’ve been a Mediator for NZKC and on the Waikato Disciplinary Hearing Committee for NZKC.