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AN INTERVIEW WITH A JUDGE Greetings from Australia
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS.
tralia at the time I purchased my foundation bitch Aust Ch Tirche Al Talika from Col Ireland.
Patrice Johansen, All Breeds Judge, Jomeja Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Judge, mentor, breeder, and owned by Rhodesian Ridgebacks since 1976. I am currently the President of Yuggera Canine Club (Multi discipline all breeds club), and have previously been a Director for Dogs QLD, Chairperson for the CJC (conformation judges committee), President of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Council Australia, Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of QLD, and Secretary for Ipswich Kennel Club. I am a lecturer and assessor for trainee judges and have written articles on the RR for national and international publications.
WHEN DID YOU START WITH YOUR JUDGING CAREER AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A JUDGE? PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR JUDGE’S CAREER AND YOUR HIGHLIGHTS.
WHEN DID YOUR LOVE OF DOGS BEGIN? PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR PAST AND PRESENT DOGS. I had an Aussie Terrier as a child, however, was much more passionate about horses and continued down the competitive path with my horses for many years. In 1972 my cousin introduced me to his RR pup, in 1976 I owned my first RR (not pedigree) and after retiring from riding and racing thoroughbreds I decided to show dogs. I acquired my beautiful foundation bitch in 1979 Aust Ch Tirche Al Talika. Talika went on to produce several specialty and BIS winners. I bred my first litter in 1981 and in that litter had a Best in Show Specialty winner. Jomeja Ridgebacks went on over the years to garner major awards, obtain championship titles, do obedience, security work, hunting and Specialty show honors such as best ridge, best head, best gait, and most successful breeder. So many lovely dogs have contributed to the continued success of Jomeja. The years have seen hiatus from showing and breeding with family and work commitments, but I am proud to say that I am still breeding the quality Rhodesian Ridgebacks that I was so proud of many years ago.
HOW DID YOU GET INTRODUCED TO THIS BREED? My first RR encounter was from my cousin who had purchased a RR pup in 1972, I had my first RR in 1976. After speaking to the few breeders in Aus-
The grounds for my decision to become a judge was to provide accountability for decisions which were made in the show ring that impact on the future of the breed. To a degree a judge holds the future of breeds in their hands by the decisions they make in the ring. Often as a breeder I heard that someone used a particular stud dog because he was a champion or had gone Best in Show. No other reason. This is fine if the dog is a worthy recipient and can in fact assist in producing a promising litter. Kudos to the breeder or was it just luck? However, many times this is just not the case. For my breed it was this realisation and in fact the responsibility of a judge was the commitment to the breed and the future of our breed. I could as a judge assist to positively influence the future of our breed. I gained my Rhodesian Ridgeback licence in 1991 and went on after a long break to commence my all breeds judging training in 2004 and became an all-breeds judge in 2013. I have judged all over the world for specialties, nationals, and all breeds shows. There are highlights every time I judge it would be hard to pick one. Judging the RR specialty in Johannesburg South Africa would be one of my favourite appointments. Most recently I also judged at an exceptional all breeds show in Serbia. Judging different breeds, we do not have in Australia is a great experience and of course the different judging processes around the world always makes for an interesting time. Meeting new people and creating friendships is something that I have been blessed with in my travels. The continued learning every time you walk into the ring, the opportunity to hone your judging skills and talking to some of the experts and greatest mentors of breeds around the world cannot be surpassed.
RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE
PATRICE JOHANSEN
