Judges

Born in 1967 into a family of Rough Collie breeders, Sergio began breeding Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs and Old English Sheepdogs. He also bred Siberian Huskies, Giant Schnauzers, and now only Rottweilers, having obtained several Championships and Best in Show in Uruguay and abroad in most of these breeds and achieving first place in all breed rankings in 2022 with a female Rottweiler he owned.

Sergio was first licensed as a judge in 1987, with the Uruguayan Kennel Club, and became an FCI All Rounder judge in 1997. As a professional handler, Sergio obtained several national and international championships in different breeds over many years. He is now a member of the examining board for future judges and a specialist judge for the Collie, Old English Sheepdog, Boxer, Doberman, English Cocker Spaniel, Setter, Siberian Husky, Great Dane, Dachshund, and Rottweiler breeds.

Sergio has judged specialist and all-breed shows on several occasions in Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Italy, Romania, Poland, Finland, Sweden, and Norway.

In 1982, I began breeding and showing Boxers, Pomeranians, Pugs, Shetland Sheepdogs, Sheepdogs, German Shepherd dogs and Miniature Pinschers. In 1983, I started breeding Pomeranians and participating in dog shows. In 1997, I imported the No 1 Boxer, Hite’s Johnny’s puppies, from the United States. In 2008, I imported Hadleigh’s Pomeranians for breeding and achieved all-breed rankings of No 2, No 6, and No 8.

I am currently serving as the President of the Kennel Club of Taiwan and Vice President for Finance of the FCI Grooming Committee. I was certified as an FCI multiple groups judge in 2008 and later qualified as an FCI all-breed judge in 2017.

I have judged several national all-breed dog shows in Taiwan. Additionally, I have been invited to judge in Peru, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, and Korea (2019 Asia, Africa & Oceania Section Shows, 2024 Asia, Africa & Oceania Section Shows), as well as in Brazil, Russia, and Vietnam.

Born in Mexico City, Ricardo Saldaña Solórzano grew up in a family of dog lovers. Aged 11, he started participating in Dog Shows as owner-handler. Later he became a Steward for the Federacion Canofila Mexicana (Mexican Kennel Club), an activity which he performed during many years; in this time he also stewarded for judges all around the world.

He participated actively as a steward and judge in the 1978, 1984, 1999 and 2007 World Dog Shows in Mexico City. He was member of the Board of the FCM for 20 years. He has represented Mexico in the General Assembly of the FCI meetings in Germany, Switzerland, Argentina, Belgium and Mexico. At 16, he was judging his first match show. He obtained his first license to judge in 1980 and in 1988 he was credited as judge with international license to judge all breed by the FCM and the FCI. He has judged in more than 40 countries, in many of the most prestigious shows. He has judged in World Dog Shows; Royal Shows in Australia; New Zealand and South Africa Championships; many of the most prestigious shows in USA and Canada; FCI Shows in Asia, South America and Europe.

Ricardo was President of FCM’s School of Judges and has organised and participated in many seminars and conference to prepared new judges. For 15 years he was President and Show Chairman of the Club Canofilo de Michoacán, in Morelia. He has owned dogs of various breeds such as English Cocker Spaniel, Smooth Fox Terrier, Xoloitzcuintle, Toy Poodles, Pomeranian and Smooth Chihuahua; he has bred Labrador Retriever and American Cocker Spaniel. But his breed is the Pugs, which he has bred for over 26 years. Many have become Mexican and international champions and BIS winners. He is co-owner of the Guivercelli Kennel along with his wife Gabriela Guillen, breeding many more winning Pugs around the world and the top winning Pugs in Mexico. He has judged Pug specialty shows in Brazil, New Zealand, Russia and Argentina.

Ricardo has written for dog show magazines in Mexico, Argentina and USA and is a professional journalist, producer of television and specialist in institutional marketing.

I got my first Norwich Terrier in 1972 and until today I have bred 174 puppies from 67 litters. I have imported around over 20 dogs from England, Sweden and Italy. The first GB CH to be imported to Finland was GB & INT CH Elve Sir Tarquin in 1993. His son INT CH Rivale Pianoforte was the first Finnish-born World Winner at the first World Dog Show in Helsinki 1998. I have bred or owned 36 Finnish Champions and 27 INT (FCI) Champions.

Regulations for INT CH are four CACIBS in three countries under three different judges and one year between the CACIBS. Due to COVID-19, our dog Ragus Beyond Question had two CCs before moving to the US. The RIVALE kennel has been many times the top breeder in Finland as well Top Stud Dog/Bitch.

I have also imported the first Azawakhs and Lagotto Romagnolos from Italy to Finland, Pomeranian from Japan, Miniature Schnauzers from Spain and Boston Terrier from UK.

I became a judge for Norwich Terriers in 1986, and I have judged the breed all over the world. In 2016 I judged at the WDS in Moscow with an entry of 86 dogs. In 2024 I had the honour to judge 28 dogs at the Swedish Norwich Terrier Club. In England the first Championship Show with CCs was at Richmond 2005 and after that I judged the breed two times and the Terrier Group at Southern Counties. This year I will judge the breed at the Finnish Norwich Terrier Club’s CC-Show as it will be the club’s 40th Anniversary.

I became an all-breed judge by the Finnish Kennel Club in 2007. I have judged the breed in following countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Canada, Argentina, Peru, Portugal, South Korea, China, Thailand, Japan and Australia.

My first appointment in Australia was in the early 1990s at the Royal Adelaide Show. My next Royal was Sydney in 2006. In total, I have judged at 14 shows in Australia.

I am approved to judge the following breeds with CC by the Royal Kennel Club:

• Hound Group: Basenji, Basset Fauve De Bretagne & Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand)
• Terrier Group: Kerry Blue Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Norfolk Terrier, Norwich Terrier & Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
• Utility Group: Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, Miniature Schnauzer, Schnauzer & Tibetan Terrier
• Working Group: Bernese Mountain Dog, Giant Schnauzer, Newfoundland & St. Bernard
• Pastoral Group: Finnish Lapphund, Lancashire Heeler, Norwegian Buhund, Samoyed & Swedish Vallhund
• Toy Group: Affenpinscher, Chinese Crested, English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan), Italian Greyhound & Yorkshire Terrier

I first started showing dogs in 1978 when I obtained my first English Setter. I have bred only a few English Setters (under my Windsor Park kennel name) but with some success, having owned a Best in Show winning dog and an ‘In Show’ winning home-bred bitch in New Zealand. I also exported several English Setters to Australia. After a break from owning, breeding and showing Setters, I decided it was time to own and exhibit a Griffon Bruxellois, again with some success.

I became involved in club management in 1978 when I was elected to the committees of both the English Setter Club and the Southern Gundog Society. I spent 10 years as the Secretary/Treasurer of the English Setter Club. I have been Vice President and President of the Southern Gundog Society and was thrilled to be made honorary life member of this society. I am currently President of the NZ Griffon Bruxellois Club.

In 1983 I judged my first Ribbon Parade and gained my first Championship Show Group licence (Gundogs) in 1987. I have been a Championship Show All Breeds judge since 2010. I have been a committee member of the Christchurch Branch of the NZ Dog Judges Association and am currently involved with the NZDJA as a lead examiner for the practical examinations of eligible candidates. This role is an honour and gives me great pleasure when I see candidates progressing through the system on their judging journey.

I have judged at All Breed, Group and Specialty Shows throughout NZ, in Australia (Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, SA and WA), Canada and South Africa. More recently judging at FCI Shows here and overseas, including judging BIS.

I really enjoy being a part of the dog world and having contact with the people and their dogs. I really look forward to each and every judging appointment and to me there is nothing better than having the privilege of judging beautiful dogs and meeting great people along the way (except maybe riding my Triumph Street Triple motorcycle!).

Mr Powers has been involved in the sport of pure bred dogs since the early 1970s as an exhibitor, owner-handler and breeder in both the United States and Mexico. He has bred an eclectic variety of breeds with the main emphasis on Pulik, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Norwich Terriers and Dachshunds. To a lesser degree he has been involved with Border Terriers, Alaskan Malamutes, Borzoi and Whippets. Also, he belongs to dog clubs on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border and has been involved in putting on shows in both countries.