Miriam Atalla Pontes

Born in Brazil, I was raised in a family deeply involved in the dog world. My parents were breeders of English, Gordon, and Irish Setters, and from an early age, I accompanied them to dog shows. This upbringing naturally nurtured my lifelong passion for purebred dogs, breeding, and the sport of dog showing.
I received my first dog, an English Cocker Spaniel, at the age of seven and went on to breed and exhibit this wonderful breed for many years and the Setters as well.  Alongside my husband, Paulo Pontes—a Doberman breeder—I also had the pleasure of living with and breeding Dobermans.
In 1993, I was approved by the FCI as a judge for Groups 7 and 8 and later became an all-breed judge. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of judging at shows throughout Brazil and internationally.
For the past 12 years, I have been living in the United States, where I remain actively involved in the dog community. I currently show our Whippet in the ring and continue to enjoy every aspect of the sport. At home, we are also accompanied by our beloved senior English Cocker Spaniel.
My lifelong dedication to dogs—both in and out of the ring—continues to be a true source of pride and joy.

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Jos Dekker

TBA

Anita Duggan

I went to my first dog show when I was 6 weeks old and the rest as they say is history. I got bitten by the show bug and started showing some of my mother’s Shih Tzus under the Leorient affix.I started Junior handling and was fortunate enough to represent my country twice at the International Junior handling final at Crufts

In the 80’s we got our first Siberian husky. We have been very fortunate to have owned, bred and campaigned the top Siberian husky in Ireland for many years.  Our small kennels of dogs are record breakers within the breed in Ireland. We have bred the youngest ever Irish Champion in the breed as well as the most winning Siberian husky ever in Ireland. We have since gotten our first Rottweiler to join our small Kennel.

I started judging in 1997 starting with Shih Tzus.  Since then I have judged in many countries including Australia, America, Slovenia, Sweden, Canada, Croatia, Italy, Estonia, Portugal, Russia, Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Finland, San Marino, South Africa, Belgium, Lithuania, Iceland, Canada, Germany and Denmark.

I am currently passed by the Irish Kennel Club to judge all Groups as well as Best In Show and Junior Handling.

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Frode Jevne

Since childhood, animals and especially dogs have been a constant love. I grew up with a German shepherd and tibetan spaniel. My first own dog was a Cavalier king ch. Spaniel bitch. Today I have the shih-tzu and I got my first in 1996. 
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Some highlights from the ring as a handler is winning BOB at Crufts in 2002 with a Boston Terrier, BOB with a Bullmastiff in 20025 and BOS with a Shih-tzu in 2010.
I became a FCI jugde in 2004. An assignment that I respect and are very humble for. I have been judging in many European countries and once in Australia. Been judging at Nordic winner, Danish winner, Norwegian winner, Swedish winner, Finnish winner, Amsterdam winner, Newfoundland Fed-Cup, Split summer show, UK championshipshow and World dogshow, to mention some of my lovely memories and experience as a judge.

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Kelly Lawless Devoy
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I was born into a dog showing family, and began handling at the age of 4. With my parents Paul and Jean, I breed and show Belgian Shepherds and Schipperkes under the 'Revloch' affix, and I had Australian Silky Terriers for many years. Now with my husband, I also show and breed English Bulldogs under my husband's 'Yovedbull' affix. I began judging in 2009, and in the last 16 years I have had the honour of judging in many different countries all over the world. I am an FCI judge of all breeds in Group 1 and Group 2, a Best in Show judge, a CC judge in the UK of Belgian Shepherds and I have started my progression into Groups 6 and 10. I am honoured to have the opportunity to judge for you in February 2026. This will be my first judging appointment in Estonia, and I am very excited to judge some beautiful dogs. I wish all the exhibitors a lovely show and the show organisers a very successful weekend.

Marie- Josée Melchior- Schlechter

I live in a small village in Luxembourg.  I grew up with different breeds in our family such as German shepherd, Poodle and Dachshound. In 1978, my first own dogs were a fawn Great Dane female and a black Dobermann female. Later, a Poodle as well as English Cockers got a part of my family. 
 In 1983 the Dobermann Club was founded in Luxembourg and since the first day, I am a member of this club. In 1996, I started to be a committee member and since 2004, I am the president of the club. Many years ago, I became the president of the breeding commission for working dogs.
In 1990, I became an FCI judge, first for my own breeds Great Dane and Dobermann. Now I am an FCI international all-breed judge. I have judged in many countries during the last 35 years. I judged international shows, national shows, club shows and at world dog shows. This is not my first time judging in Valga. I still have nice memories.
Furthermore, I became the president of the French Shepherd breeds and Pyrenean Mountain Dog Club in 2017. Moreover, in 2018, I became a member of the committee of the section for company dogs of the Luxembourg Kennel Club and since January 2024 I am the vice president of this section.
Since 2019 I was elected for the position of president of the show judge’s commission. At last, I am the vice president of the Luxembourg Kennel Club, Fédération Cynologique Luxembourgeoise (FCL).
I want to thank the organizers for the invitation, and I hope that this event will be a great success for all involved.
Not each dog can win, but at the end of the day, each dog should be the winner of the heart of his owner.

Eva Nielsen

Started my juding training with Golden retriever. At that time I also bred goldens under prefix Dream Max. We started our kennel 1978. My daughter has continued with my old prefix.  Was completed judge at Golden Retriever 1994. After that continued to educate me on more breeds. Over the years we had different breeds in our home such as cocker spaniel, springer spaniel, Keeshond and Siberian husky. Now in recent years, I share my time with Jack Russell terrier. We have never had many dogs but could not imagine a life without dogs .
I have been privileged to judge in many countries, both in Europe and beyond. Club shows at Golden Retrievers I have judged in countries like Australia, New Zealand, the entire Nordic region, Spain, Italy ,Ireland and also in England. Dogs are my hobby, so I keep a lot of courses on the subject.

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Jean Francois Vanaken
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Before the poodles and yorkshires terrier came,  Jean-François Vanaken , since his childhood, was fancied surrounded by his loving dogs : Belgian shepherds, Dachshunds.
JF started seriously breeding and showing the poodles in1975. Later the yorkshiresterrier and maltese joined the doggie family.
Under the kennel name « Des Supers Supers » Jean-françois registered and bred many high quality dogs who were later on entitled with European, National, international ,world Champion titles and also winning the groups and several prestigious Best in Shows.
JF ‘s judging career started in 2007 and since then he is judging very frequently in many countries. He had privilege of judging european and world dog  shows every years from the last few years. Active member in many clubs, JF is also in belgium kennel club direction.
JF Vanaken ‘s passion and devotion for dogdom keeps him very busy…
And explain it all by own statement…
I enjoy judging dogs, dog love me, and «  I LOVE THEM «