Judges

Intersex
Mardee Ward

A life long love affair with the Samoyed, having been born into dogs by my parents, Robert and Dolly Ward (Starctic Samoyeds). Began sledding at the age of seven, you know, put the kid on the runners and the one dog comes when he's called some 50 yards away.... but I liked it, and continued the sport eventually training and running 6-8 dogs. Ran sprint races in the '60's; '70's; and '80's in CA, OR, ID, MT, CO, NV. Besides using Sams, I worked with, Siberians, cross-bred Huskies, Targhee Hounds, and Irish Setters.... Training and racing dogs gave me a better understanding of dog conformation; understanding abilities and shortcomings in how dogs used 'what they had'.

I began showing in Junior Showmanship around age 10 and trained my first Sammy for Obedience shortly thereafter.... For those how can remember, "Clancy' was the classic clown... All went well until the recall.... and he found he had 'room to wander' before getting to me.. Needless to say that was the end of Clancy's obedience career!! However, I did put several Novice degrees on Sams in the 1970's. I did have better success with my PWC in obedience, putting three titles on two dogs through my high school and college years with several HIT awards.

After college, I began teaching high school and started Hoof'n Paw Samoyeds in 1966.. My first homebred winner was AM/MEX CH. The Hoof'n Paw White Knight (Knavioux) sired by the Eng Import, CH Kiskas Karaholme Cherokee (Painter) out of Ice Ways Angel. His sole BIS came after his eighth birthday after running at wheel the previous winter. Fast forward to the mid '80's, the bitch that set a dynamic pattern for things to come was, AM/CAN CH Hoof'n Paw's Ramblin' Rose (Rosey). She produced Wild Rose Knight (POP) and A Rose Is A Rose (ANA). POP produced three BIS winning sons, and sister, ANA became the all time winning Samoyed bitch with 9 BIS and 9 BISS and a Nat'l BISS in only two years of showing. Yes, records are made to be broken and after 13-14 years two different bitches have surpassed her numbers. Congratulations... But here's one more to aspire to break....FOUR consecutive BIS... So "get 'er done" !!!!!

Enough history, now some facts.... I began judging in 1977 for the AKC. I judge the Working Group, Nor. Elkhounds, Shiba Inus, Am. Eskimo Dogs, and Australian Shepherds. I have judged in Canada, Taiwan, Dominican Republic, Spain, England, Ireland, Finland( And in early October 2010 I will judge the 25th Anniversary Show in Copenhagen, Denmark followed by the Polar Arctic Show)

I pride myself in developing dogs for muti-purpose, i.e., conformation, obedience, agility, herding, sledding, packing, weightpulling, etc. Hoof 'nPaw is proud of its continued generations that have competed and excelled in these various activities. Congratulations to all Sammy owners who value a complete dog for both Work and Show!!

Let me take this moment to THANK all of the Samoyed Club of America members for putting your trust in me to be judging, for the third time, at the National. I get just as excited, as though it was the first time, and look forward to touching all your well conditioned, properly groomed exhibits with CLEAN TEETH!

Dogs
Annella Cooper

Since 1968 Annella Cooper has been breeding and exhibiting Samoyeds (and Siberian Huskies) in Alaska under the kennel name of Orkdomain.

In addition to breeding more than 100 Samoyed champions, Specialty winning dogs and nine Best in Show winners, Orkdomain has won the #2 SCA top breeder award, the SCA Top Winning Dog Award and tied for #1 SCA Top Brood Bitch Award. Many Orkdomain Samoyeds have also received their obedience titles.

Annella’s involvement with Siberian Huskies began in 1982 and lasted for over 12 years. Siberians and Samoyeds working together inspired her recreational sled activities.

In 1999, after 30 plus years as an active exhibitor, and drawing on her previous experience of being on a livestock judging team in high school, Annella applied for AKC judging approval. Since then, Annella no longer exhibits, but enjoys her three Samoyeds living at home and still has a limited breeding program. At this time she is approved by AKC to judge the Working Group, 18 Herding breeds, Miscellaneous, Jr. Showmanship and Best in Show.

Annella has judged the Samoyed Club of America’s national specialty – in 2000 (Futurity), 2004 and again in 2010. She has judged the Samoyed Club of Canad's national specialty in 2002, but due to a conflict had to turn down a request to judge their national again in 2010.

Overseas judging assignments have included Spain, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, Russia, Poland, and China. She has pending assignments in South Africa and New Zealand, both in 2011.

Annella thanks everyone for the honor of judging at the national specialty this year. What a wonderful opportunity to see so many beautiful examples of our breed, not only in the conformation ring, but in all their varied performance activities. It is also a time to spend with many friends, to share knowledge and talk about our favorite subject – our Samoyeds. And, last, but not least, a special thanks and tribute go to the Show Chairperson and Committee for this wonderful week in October.

Bitches
Celinda Cheskawich

Thank you all so much for granting me the honor to judge bitches at the Samoyed Club of America 2010 National Specialty. It is these Sammie girls who represent the true future of our beloved Samoyed breed. I appreciate having the opportunity to meet these gloriously gleeful girls and to place hands on their balanced, conditioned, muscular bodies and then watch their well timed single tracking, free trot out & back and see the picture of endurance in their balanced side gait.

Samoyeds have continuously been part of my life for over forty years. My first Silveracres Sammies in the sixties accompanied me on hikes and bike trips in summers and on cross country ski adventures in winters. Living at 9,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains was the perfect place to learn that Samoyeds are definitely a Working breed. Upon moving to the city, I always had a running companion and a Columbia River Gorge hiking buddy at my side.

I was very fortunate to have had the direction of Doris McLaughlin in the beginning of my affiliation with the breed. At the end of the eighties I decided to enter the world of showing dogs and fell in love with it. d’Keta Samoyeds has been a passion realized through the love of our Samoyeds and careful planning together with my good friend Christie Smith and the support of husband Jim. My focus in breeding is to strive for balancing the inseparable trinity structure-movement-type without sacrificing health, temperament or beauty. While the d’Keta dogs have been very successful in winning multiple Groups, Specialties and National Awards of Merit, it truly is the enduring friendships with the families who are owned by the many generations of our dogs that make it a joy to be a breeder.

As an Officer, Board member, or Founder of local Samoyed clubs in both the Southeast and Northwest, and one who has also worked Sams in therapy, pack hiking, herding, sledding, obedience, agility and skijoring, I have also conducted dog-training classes for over 20 years, served successfully on four National Specialty Committees, and as Samoyed Club of America Governor and at least four terms as SCA Recording Secretary. Prior to my retirement I held demanding marketing, management or training jobs with Starbucks Coffee, AT&T and the Alexis Hotels. Now hospitality has gone to the dogs & I run a small boarding kennel. During this summer I’ve completed the Championship on my black & white Siberian Husky and when not out on the road enjoying traveling, I share my home with 5 Sams & 2 Persian cats.

Futurity
Diane Garcia

My love for animals and dogs started early in my life. I have never been without a dog.

My interest in dog showing and breeding came after my marriage to my husband Mike, at age 23. I loved the arctic breeds and I decided to buy a Siberian Husky and thought I would show her. Not understanding the differences in show quality of dogs at my young age, it wasn't until I purchased my 3rd Siberian that I met Tommy Oelschlager of Kontoki Kennels in PA. Tommy took me under his wing and taught me much about breed type, structure and movement. I owned 8 Siberians over the years thereafter, finishing numerous AKC Champions, breeding 5 litters and handling my favorite girl "Cybil" to a National Best of Opposite Win in 1982.

After my Siberians began to age and pass away, I began to think about adding another breed. I had always loved the Samoyeds and when my beloved Cybil left us, I knew I wanted another puppy and felt this was the best time to consider a Samoyed.

I contacted John Studebaker of Windy Ridge kennels and he happened to have a young litter just born. I purchased a female from John, named her "Maliy" (which means Little One in Russian) and she became Ch. Windy Ridge's Sweet Symphony. And so began Arctic Fox Samoyeds. Maliy lived until she was 15 1/2 years and her legacy lives on in her son "Glacier" (Ch. Arctic Fox Glacial Epoch ROMX). Glacier had a fabulous dog show career from 2001-2005. He won 8 Best in Specialties, was a multiple Group 1 winner, was a Top 5 Samoyed for several years and was the Number One Owner Handled Samoyed in 2004. He sired 21 litters producing 30 AKC Champions. Today his kids and grandkids can be seen in conformation rings as well as performance and working events all over the country.

I breed infrequently, having bred 5 litters of Samoyeds in 16 years. I enjoy showing my dogs myself in conformation and I enjoy mentoring others and helping others whenever possible. I believe the Samoyed is first a working dog and should exhibit the structure and movement that is required to do the jobs our dogs were bred to do. I also want to see a dog that conforms to our wonderful standard. I believe in preserving the lovely temperament of our Breed as well as striving for excellence in all areas of health.

I am currently the Vice President of the Buckeye Samoyed Club in Ohio and have been an officer in the club for the past 12 years. I also am active in the SCA, having served on numerous committees over the years.

In my personal life, I am a Registered Nurse for the past 34 years, my specialty is cardiac nursing and I am currently employed part time. I live with my husband of 33 years on 11 acres with our 8 Samoyeds. I have owned horses in the past and love to trail ride. I also enjoy gardening and bird watching in my not so spare time!

I have judged numerous Samoyed and Siberian Sweepstakes over the years and one day my goal is to become an AKC judge. I am truly honored to have been chosen to judge this year's Futurity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sweeps
Donna Dannen

Obedience
Richard Mullen

Richard has judged Obedience since 1978. His interest in dogs and competition led him to become involved in and eventually approved to judge Tracking, Confirmation and more recently Rally. He has trained and titled a variety of breeds in Obedience and Tracking and has been successful showing in Confirmation many which were dual titled.

Over the years he has taught all levels of Obedience classes with the goal of having it be fun for the dog and rewarding for the handler. He has served as Vice President of the German Shepherd Club of Greater Charlotte and as President of the Knoxville Dog Training Club.

When judging Obedience, his hope is that every dog/handler team qualifies. In that effort he tries to make it a relaxed, fun time in the ring. He knows the value of a good steward and how much they contribute to the success of the show. He has often said he has never had a bad steward and that there is no such thing as a problem we can't work out. He feels the exhibitor come first and every effort is made to be considerate and thoughtful of them. His favorite class is Novice A and he tries to welcome the new exhibitor with a positive attitude and warm demeanor. First and foremost when judging he makes every effort to be fair to every team every time.

Richard was recently honored by being a finalist for the 2007 AKC Life Time Achievement Award (Performance).

Rally
Richard Mullen *See Obedience for Bio

Agility
Kele McGlohon

Agility Judge Kele McGlohon's love of Samoyeds goes back to the 80's when she lived in the mountains of Twin Lakes, Colorado. She and her three Sammies, did their share of ski joring, winter camping and hiking among the "fourteeners".

In the 90's, Kele moved to Savannah, GA, and welcomed a German Shepherd Dog, into her pack and got involved in obedience competitions.

Kele became so engrossed in dog sports, that she attend "dog school" where she furthered her dog skills with service dog training, narcotics detection, Search and Rescue, Schutzhund and personal protection training.

Along the way, she added a Golden Retriever, a Giant Schnauzer, and two Belgian Malinois to her family.

When AKC introduced agility into their companion events line-up, Kele dove in and never looked back. She's been judging, teaching and competing in agility ever since.

Herding
Frances Andrews – morning
Leila Jane Bradley - afternoon

Weight Pull
Bob Sencenbaugh