Judges Bios

Specialty Conformation Judge - Leslie Morison

In 1972, Les Morison imported his first Pyrenean Mountian Dog from South Africa to Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia). She became, he believes, the first Breed and Obedience Champion Pyrenean in the world. At that time in the same year he founded his Kennel with the “Pardessus “ prefix. 1974 saw a move to South Africa where he imported a dog from the U.S.A. Four years later he founded the Pyrenean Mountian Dog Club of Natal and held the first qualifying show two years later. 1982 saw his new French import who went on to improve his bloodlines. During his many years of involvement in the breed he produced fine quality stock with many Champions. To date his Ch Pardessus Gironde is still the breed record holder in South Africa..

Les has judged Pyreneans at Championship level in South Africa,Zimbabwe,
Australia & Norway, also at Open Show level in the U.K. He has also judged
Working,Pastrol (Herding) & Hound groups in the aforementioned countries. He has also served on the Natal Working & Herding, Natal Sporting & Natal Afghan Hound Association Committees over the last 22 years. Over the last 15 years he has shown Afghan Hounds & Shetland Sheep Dogs imported from Spain & Australia.

Sweepstakes Judge - Karen Hodgson

Karen Hodgson and her my husband Harry, have been breeding under the kennel name Villairn Reg, showing and loving Bernese Mountain Dogs for almost 15 years. They live on a small 8 acre farm in southern Ontario, in the rural town of Harrow. Karen is retired from the retail world and has the luxury of staying home and tending to my 8 Berners; and when I'm not looking after puppies I look after our 5 grandchildren. A highlights in their career have been Ch. High Alps Buck Stops Here (Buck) winning Futurity at the BMDCA in Kansas in 1993, High Alps Harvest Gold (Holly at 10 1/2) winning Best in Veteran Sweeps at the BMDCO in 2003, and just recently showing Ch. Glorys String of Pearls (Pearl) to Best of Opposite Sex at the 2005 BMDCA, in Gettysburg. Karen is looking forward to seeing all the future stars in the Sweepstakes ring at the 2006 Specialty.

Sieger Show Judge - Gina McDonnell

Gina McDonnell spent most of her teenage years living in Switzerland where she first fell in love with the Bernese Mountain Dog. Soon after her return to Canada she purchased her first Bernese. By 1983 she was breeding and exhibiting Bernese quite successfully under the kennel name of Maitland. She has had many Specialty winners, Best in Show winners and Top Bernese in Conformation points in Canada over the years as well as a Top Producer of Bernese. Gina has also bred Australian Cattle Dogs and now breeds Australian Kelpies and Dorper sheep along with her beloved Bernese on her farm in mid-western Ontario that she shares with her partner Bob and her twin sons, Steven and Kyle. Over the last few years she has been less active in the conformation ring and has concentrated more on the herding arena. She is a CKC herding judge and is on the CKC Herding Committee. She put the first CKC herding title on a Bernese Mountain Dog. Gina has attended all breed conformation shows in Switzerland, has judged Group 3 at Sanctioned matches, has judged junior handling at a Bernese show in England. She is a member of several breed clubs in Canada and the USA and has held various positions in these clubs over the years.

Draft Test Judge - Bev Molloy

Bev Molloy has been involved with English Mastiffs for over 25 years, and is the owner of the Permanently Registered Kennel name of Banda. She was a founding member of the Canadian Mastiff Club, and has served on its' Executive since its' inception. She has bred and/or owned Canadian, American and Mexican champions; group placers; Best Puppy In Show; BISS; BOSS; Best Veteran; Best Brood Bitch; #1 female in Canada; U.S. Nationally Ranked female; Canine Good Citizens; Canine Good Neighbour; etc.

Bev has been a CKC member since 1983. She was on the CKC Draft Dog Committee when it was finally being recognized and the rules and regulations were being hashed out. She has a Certificate of Achievement Level I and Level II from the Toronto Association of Veterinary Assistants; and a Certificate of Achievement in Livestock Medicine from the Province of Ontario, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. I addition to being a draft test judge, Bev is also a Canine Good Neighbour evaluator and teaches Rally Obedience at a local obedience school.

Draft Test Judge - Allan Maniate

Allan has been a CKC Draft Judge for the past 10 years. He was raised by parents who owned a Newfoundland Dog Kennel and who were active in Draft and Water Rescue Work with this breed. At the age of 8 Allan’s training career began when he assisted his father in teaching Draft Seminars and by the age of 13 Allan was teaching Obedience Classes with the Victoria County Kennel Club. Being active in Conformation Showing and Junior Handling, in 1992 Allan was first runner up to the Canadian champion who represented Canada at Crofts Show of Shows in England. Allan has achieved conformation championships, obedience titles, Draft Dog and Draft Dog Excellent titles and has written columns for and has been featured in the Dogs in Canada Magazine, been interviewed by CTV, Y TV, CHEX News Watch and CITY TV for Draft and Water Rescue Work and Conformation Showing.

Although Allan is just 28, he has been training his own dogs for 20 years and has been a professional trainer for the past 15 years. In addition to earning the title of “Master Mechanic” for himself at his 9:00 to 5:00 job, he also runs his own private dog training business and he regularly is Chief Instructor for the South Eastern Ontario Region’s Draft and Water Rescue Seminars. Many dogs have earned their junior and senior level titles thanks to Allan’s assistance to their owners. In addition to doing the training, Allan has often been asked to judge Draft Dog and Draft Dog Excellent Tests for many different working breed clubs.

Allan is married to his childhood sweetheart who is also a Newfoundland Dog breeder. Together they have a 17 month old son who is already proving to be a Newfie lover with the carting itch.

All-Breed Obedience - Isabel Hutton