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SHOWDOGS: We're very pleased to meet you, Doreen Powell. Can you tell us more about you, the person?

Doreen: I was born in 1932 in Durban, South Africa. My youth was spent at school and dancing: in those days Tap, Ballet and Ballroom. We always had a dog in the home. A family friend, Mr. Wally Rowles, was for many years the Treasurer of the Natal Coast Kennel Club. He used to go off periodically with his briefcase in hand. Little did I know that I would one day do likewise. David, my late husband, and I met in Standard 7 at school and when he left for a 2 year Agricultural study in Kenya I assisted my parents in running our home for abandoned children. To keep them occupied, I joined the local Scout/Cub Pack as Akala earning my Woodbadge.

SHOWDOGS: When did dogs and doggy matters begin to occupy a large portion of your life?

Doreen: When David returned to Durban we were married and it was his interest in purebred live stock which led to us both into the dog world. In 1960 we joined the Natal Boxer Club and the Pietermaritzburg Kennel Club, having bought our first Boxer from Mrs Win Easton. The first Annual General Meeting we attended was held in a bedroom of the Broadway Hotel Broad Street, Durban. It was at this meeting both David and I were literally put into the position of David as Treasurer (he was handed a shoe box filled with!!!!!!!!!!!) and me (who had never touched a typewriter or minutes) as Secretary. It was at the time of the break-away from KUSA by the Boxer Federation. Fortunately we were able to keep the Natal Boxer Club under the umbrella of the Kennel Union.

David and I became involved at a time when clubs needed more say in the running of club affairs and it was then that David instigated the formation of the Natal Liaison Council. At first, it was a body not recognized by KUSA and it did not help our cause when I continually spelt the word liaison in correctly. Mrs McQueen, the then Kennel Union Secretary, was not amused. Eventually we were recognized and Provincial Councils were formed throughout the country.

Our Affix "Galaxy" was registered in 1960 and from then on David and I became involved in admin, showing and training. Our first away show was at Goldfields in 1963 where we were placed 3rd in the Open Bitch Class. We dashed off to the nearest phone to proudly let the family back home know what an achievement that was. Both 1st and 2nd bitches were already Champions. 1st place was awarded to a bitch of Mrs Prim Crighton's (with whom we were later to become good friends) and 2nd place was given to a bitch owned by Mr. Ernie Malherbe, the then Chairman of the Natal Boxer Club, who went over to the Federation on his return to Durban.

When we moved to our small holding outside Pietermaritzburg (by then David was an All Breeds Judge and Chairman and I was Secretary of Pietermaritzburg Kennel Club), our family of three sons and a daughter all exhibited and assisted in our dog work. We imported our first GSD and Miniature Schnauzer and were able to improve those breeds at that time. From then on we both became involved in Training, Stewarding and Judging. It is difficult to compare Aspirant Judges then and now. At All Breed shows one never left before Best in Show - "The Grand Challenge" as it was named. It was here where all Best of Breeds were on show and unless one was not actually in the ring, one watched from outside learning from senior dog folk all about "sloping croups/ sway backs/ incorrect tail sets, etc etc." There were not many Specialist or Group Clubs where one could learn about the different breeds, so the All Breed Shows became a real learning place for us "young keen judges." In 1977 David was promoted to Western Cape Regional Manager in Colonial Mutual. We made the huge move to Cape Town and bought "The Homestead Airlie," in Constantia. At the time I was most unhappy about the move but little did I know how the sport of dogs never ends.

SHOWDOGS: Can you share some of the highlights in your breeding/exhibiting career?

Doreen: One of my most memorable experiences was with my imported Miniature Schnauzer Dog "Parkin" who, at 6 months of age, achieved Best in Show at a Pietermaritzburg Kennel Club Open Show. One of his progeny took me into the Obedience Discipline, which I managed to qualify into Class C. Another highlight was David being awarded the CC and Best of Breed at Goldfields with his imported GSD bitch under the USA Judge, Maxwell Riddle. I remember working in the Aptitude Test with "Bambi", my de Gratton Whippet. That was a big challenge! The highlight of my breeding career was undoubtedly the joy of seeing our breeding with new folk as they became involved in the sport.

SHOWDOGS: What motivates you as a judge?

Doreen: Judging is an on-going learning path. One never stops. Seeing a well presented dog going well is a grand sight. Years of stewarding also gives one a feel of ring control and confidence. In the late 1960's and the 1970's when David and I started judging, one was really judged by one's peers. If they thought you had done a good job you were asked again. There were no Seminars and Videos. But thinking back, one saw so many different breeds of dogs as there were many more classes. The "Litter Challenge", for example, was a very popular class. Imagine today taking litters of 6 week old puppies! One had to have at least three in a litter to show them in that class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another favourite was the Stud & Progeny Class at All Breed shows. There was more social interaction where one discussed the breeds and learnt from senior dog folk. There was also great respect held for the Senior Dog Judges. One pulled one's forelock when meeting an "All Breed Judge" for the first time!!!!!!!!!!!! A Federal Councilor attending a Natal Show was treated like royalty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SHOWDOGS: In which other countries have you judged? Which was the most memorable?

Doreen: I have always been sad that David and I couldn't continue our work and judging together. When he passed away in 1984, I was blessed in having the family support and my dog work.

It was in 2000 that I was invited to judge at the two day Swansea Kennel Club Show in Wales and from then on what an experience I've had in other countries! So many distant places and so many wonderful friends I have made.

In 2001 I was invited to Judge the Herding and Hound Groups at the Melbourne Royal Championship Show. That was 10 days of hard work, and what wonderful organization: some wonderful dogs; entries such as we never experience in South Africa. There were 86 Shetland Sheepdogs, 57 GSDs, 70 Rough Collies. I recall there were 5,000 dogs with four judges working, rotating so that one has a day free.

From then, there were three trips to different parts of India. Here there is a keen spirit and an intense proudness in winning. The dogs are well presented but breeders have great difficulty in improving their breeds becuase imported stock is not easy to obtain. Judging the Obedience Section was a challenge, especially when all Classes were judged in the same ring and before each class one had to do a 'hands on' temperament test of each dog. Imagine going over some of our Class C dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!! With only three months of the year when shows can be held, namely during November/ December/January because of the intense heat, there is a very busy period and then long stretches without shows.

The Philippines and Thailand had some excellent dogs with mainly professional handlers doing the showing. It was in Thailand that I was able to have my hands on a lovely Sealyham Terrier, a breed we have not seen here for many years. In the Philippines the Boxers blew me away!!!!!!!!!!!!

Judging in Brazil gave one an insight into that huge country. The show was held inland after a four hour drive from Rio de Janerio. A local hotel was held in the Hotel where everyone, Judges, Exhibitors stayed. Numerically small numbers in the breeds, but many quality dogs presented. Standing alongside the statue of Christ in Rio de Janerio was something I will never forget.

Over the years the many trips to Windhoek were fulfilling especially when, over one weekend, one must judge all the Obedience Classes and the next day the Breed and Good Citizen Certificate. Namibia offers wonderful hospitality and such keen handlers.

The highlight of all was in 2004 when I was invited back to the Melbourne Royal to judge the Gundog Group and Best in Show. Wow - what an experience! There were 125 Golden Retrievers and what a line-up for Best Puppy in Show! A memorable Weimaraner Puppy did not put a foot wrong and then finally, when the seven Group winners were presented to me, the English Setter just took me and I still get goose pimples when I think of it. All in all, such good exhibitors who accepted my decisions in a friendly and sporting manner. This trip was doubly enjoyable as my co-judge was Rose-Marie Cabion. We had such fun shopping. It is very lonely when one is away from home on one's own.

SHOWDOGS: What do you expect from exhibitors?

Doreen: I expect to be respected when I judge and in turn I respect and appreciate the work that many exhibitors put into their dogs. I appreciate when exhibitors appear in the ring neatly dressed to enhance their dog. It is a dog SHOW, so I expect the dogs to be presented as such, especially the coated breeds. It is so disappointing when one feels under many coated breeds and one's hands are filled with hard mats of hair. Another item I feel strongly about is teeth, which should be clean at all ages. I do like to see the working/ hunting/ breeds move on a loose lead. However, at times the handlers are not able to move their dogs with ease. I do not advocate that one needs to have dogs running round endlessly but it is a joy to see a well bred dog moving out on a loose lead.

SHOWDOGS: How do you handle bad sportsmanship?

Doreen: Fortunately I have never experienced bad behaviour in the ring. As for ringside comments..... once I commence judging I am concentrating on the dogs in the ring. It is very easy to be a ringside judge. What amazes me at times is when one hears "Look what she has put up!" These people seldom see what the line-up was in the first place!!!!!!!!

SHOWDOGS: Do you have any amusing judging anecdotes to share with us?

Doreen: Well, not to me personally but years ago on the Natal July Friday Group Day at the Kloof Golf Course where Hounds/Terriers/etc were judged, Albert Langley, from the UK, was judging the Terrier Group and withheld on the Scottish Terriers. The Exhibitor, an elderly lady standing in first place in the Open Bitch Class dropped dead. What a to-do! Her body was moved to a trestle table while someone ran to the Clubhouse (no cell phones) to call up the family and ambulance. This happened about 11.00am. When the ambulance arrived, they were not allowed to take the body from the grounds. It was almost lunchtime and we needed the trestle table (!!!!!!!!!) for judges' lunches. So the dear lady was moved so that we could prepare the judges' lunches. David was Kennel Union Rep - What a weekend that was.

SHOWDOGS thanks you most sincerely, Doreen, for participating in this programme and wishes you lots of stunning dogs to go over.