Sheepdog Nominations
Jennifer Ewers
Jennifer Ewers writes the following:
Herding and working border collies have been a major part of my life for the past 30 years. During that time, I have gained respect throughout the US as a handler, judge and trainer. I have judged The Bluegrass Classic, The National Finals, Soldier Hollow, Kingston Trial, Zamora Hills, Tabletop , Texas State Finals, North West Championship trial (all double lifts) and many other local smaller trials. My husband and I have a 100 acre training facility in Plainview, Arkansas , where we run 100 head of rambouillet breeding ewes. I currently have 2 Open dogs trialing and a string of youngsters coming up. I keep 9 dogs in my kennel. Most of which have come off my personal breeding line of dogs. I am originally from California, I am well versed on range ewes, trialing and judging, which gives me a good understanding of the sheep that will be run on at the National Finals. I am well qualified and look forward to judging the National Finals.
Nominated by Gail Hromadko
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Sonia Craig
Nominated by Nancy Penley
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Fiona McMillan
Fiona first came to Kingston several years ago. Her fairness, her clearsighted judgements, all rooted in Scottish shepherding upbringing, were found so compelling, she was asked to return last year. She has judged the Canadian Border Collie Association National Finals, last year, ion Alberta. Her assignments span east and west: Caora trial in New York and the Trailing of the Sheep Trial in Idaho. She is currently the Scottish President of the ISDS with many leadership and administrative duties which she fulfills deftly. She brings experience, and deep seated knowledge to the judging chair.
Nominated by Amanda Milliken
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Bill Berhow
Involved with Border Collies , ABC,USBCHA for over 45 years. Won usbcha national finals 3 times. Reserve national finals placing 3 times. Canadian national finals winner. Several Purina Award winners. Two times ABC hall of fame winner. Judged most double lift trials in U.S. and Canada. Judged USBCHA national finals 3 times. Judged Canadian national finals twiceWhile I am no longer competing in trials , I continue to give clinics and webinars , including judging and training clinics , around the U.S. I continue to judge regularly around the U.S. I strongly believe in fairness , practicality, consistency, and competency in our judging. Judges , ultimately , have a strong influence on the border collie going forward
Nominated by Rhonda Lauritsen
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Eammon Connell
Nominated by Sue MacDonald
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Ron Fischer
He has been involved with dogs and livestock most of his life. He began trialing 40 years ago with his Australian Cattle Dogs. They competed in arena and small open field trials. He became a judge for AHBA, and traveled all over the US judging trials. He got his first Border Collie over 20 years ago, and began entering large open field trials. He was totally hooked and has had only Border Collies since. He has taken many dogs to the sheepdog finals in both Open and Nursery. After becoming successful at the post, he began judging USBCHA trials throughout Washington and Oregon. He strives for teamwork with his dogs, and enjoys the beauty of seeing them do what they were born to do.
Nominated by Donna Berotti
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James Dumbleton
James and his family farm sheep and cattle in the peak district, Cheshire, England. He also contract pregnancy scans around 100,00 ewes per year in the UK. James has judged a variety of trials in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. He has also judged the Italian, Spanish and German Finals, and has been asked to course direct at many large trials. He’s been asked to judge at the next World Trial. James has competed for England a number of times at International and World level with several different dogs. Jame said that his greatest achievement is fostering a love of sheepdogs and trialing into his son, who is also very successful in trialing: he’s won many trials including the One Man and His Dog (at 12 years old)
Nominated by Haley Hunewill
*****
Sergio Perello
I nominate Sergio Perello to judge the 2025 National Sheepdog Finals to be held in Alturas, CA. Sergio has had vast trialing experience, having won the English National Championship twice and the English Reserve Championship once; he also won the English Reserve Nursery Championship. He was 7th at the International Supreme in 2017, and was a Finalist in the Continental 3 times. All of the above wins were with his great home raised & trained dog, Jim. He has won over 60 Open trials in the UK. Sergio also has extensive judging experience, having judged the English Nursery Finals, the German & French & Brazilian Nationals, as well as, numerous trials in the United States. Sergio brings a lot of practical experience to his trialing and judging, having been a contract shepherd for 8 years. He is also a much sought after clinician, giving clinics all over the world. I believe that with Sergio’s substantial trialing and judging experience, he would make an excellent judge for our National Finals.
Nominated by Michele Howard
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James McLaughlin
Over 100 open wins. Ireland nursery champions, 2 x national champions, x reserve national, Multiple supreme finalist, Reserve supreme champions, 2 team captain for the world trial, N IRELAND double gather champions, 2nd in the world qualifier, 4th in the world 2023, 2 x one man and his dog champions TV programme BBC 1.
Nominated by Alicia Lund
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Cattledog Nominations
Kent Herbel
Kent Herbel has been training dogs since 1979, starting with managing cattle on a ranch in the mid-70s. He has used dogs on cattle ranches in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. Kent began trialing stock dogs in 1989 and now travels across the U.S. teaching clinics, competing, and judging. He has qualified and run in the USBCHA National Cattle dog Finals since 2005 and, along with his Border Collie Sweep, won the 2018 NCA National Open Cattle Championship.
Nominated by Michelle Brothers