HEIDI PARSONS UK AND FCI JUDGE FOR RHODESIAN RIDGEBCAKS ‘PRIORPARK’

 

My career in judging started way back in 2006 when I was asked to judge RR’s at Gloucester canine society with an entry of 26 dogs for an open show. Since then I have gradually and slowly progressed up the judges ladder learning all the way, fast forward 16 years and I now award CC’s in RHODESIAN RIDGEBACKS in the UK.

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My first CC appointment was at the East of England Championship dog show in 2019, a beautiful collection of 95 hounds.

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My next appointment was for the Birmingham Dog show society in September 21, the first show to be held indoors during covid. My entry was 81 RR’s.

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Following on from there I was delighted to accept an appointment to judge

RR’s in Austria in May 22 at their 35th Club Championship show in Stadl Paura, RRCO a beautiful horse venue, perfect for our breed, a fantastic big ring with some beautiful exhibits.

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I have now also judge judged my first hound group at Boston & DCS in MAY 22 along with Irish Wolfhounds (a breed I very much like) and a Post Graduate stakes class.

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Further appointments include Hyde Canine society hound group appointment in November 22 and a future CC appointment for RR’s in 2025 to be KC approved.

 

The points I am looking for most when I judge RR’s are that they are a hound that’s fit for purpose, correctly made with no exaggerations that could do its job, all day if necessary as it was bred to do. It’s so important we keep our breed standard and type and with that I have no preferences to colour, I like all 3 of our standard colours. I love to see a hound’s effortless gait and that’s what I search for, there is something so special when watching a ground covering, fit dog display an accurate gait with soundness. Not always an easy find but a correctly built hound should move as such.

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September 2023 was me judge my 3rd set of tickets for Rhodesian Ridgebacks at Richmond Championship show, a super entry with some beautiful quality hounds.

Future appointments include Pollard Canine Society in May 2024 to judge the hound groups and several breed and stakes classes.