Dog show competitors earn honors

Scamp, a Schnauzer, won the Showmanship Class Grand Champion title in the 2005 Vernon County Youth Fair dog judging contest held Tuesday, July 5, at the Centennial Park Pavilion. The champion was shown by owner and trainer Bethany Balk. Lexie, a German shepherd, also shown by Balk, is the obedience class Grand Champion.

By Rusty Murry

Nevada Daily Mail

The 2005 Vernon County Youth Fair dog judging competition, held Tuesday, July 5, at the pavilion in Centennial Park featured 14 competitors handling 15 dogs of several breeds in two classes of competition.

A cooling breeze inside the pavilion made the afternoon heat a little more bearable for contestants, animals, and the spectators on hand to see judge Kim Endicott of Joplin put the trainers and animals through their paces.

There were six different categories of contestants in the Showmanship Class. The contestants of each category brought their dogs in and gave it their best effort before relinquishing the arena to the next category.

After all of the different age groups had shown their dogs, the first place animals in each category were brought back in for a "heel off" to determine which animals would lay claim to the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion titles.

After the Champions were announced, the judging moved right into the Obedience Class competition. Again, several levels of skill were represented as the judging went into the night.

It was after 10 p.m. before all the contestants had been given the chance to show how well their animals obeyed. Once again, all of the first place winners returned to the floor of the pavilion for a heel off and the champions were announced.

A third class of competition normally follows, but due to the late hour it was agreed upon by the committee members that the Agility Class competition would not be held this year.

Winners in the Showmanship Class, Junior Novice 10 and under category: First place, Brooklyn Vincent; second place Steven Peelen; third place, Ashlyn Swait. Junior Open 10 and under: first place, Jessi Snead. Junior Novice, ages 11-13: First place, Chelsea Poe; second place, Robert Mahan; third place, Emily Mader; fourth place, Brooklyn Swait. Junior Open, ages 11-13: First place, Jenna Snead; second place, Katlyn Douglas; third place, Kia Dighero. Junior Novice, age 14 and over: First place, Madelyn Hegerman. Junior Open, age 14 and over, First place, Bethany Balk. Showmanship Grand Champion, Bethany Balk, Showmanship Reserve Grand Champion, Chelsea Poe.

In the Obedience Class, Pre-novice 8-12 years, First place, Emily Mader; second, Ashlyn Swait; third, Brooklyn Vincent. Pre-novice, age 13 and older: first placet, Kia Dighero; second place, Robert Mahan; third place, Madelyn Hagerman. Pre-novice 8-12 yrs., first place, Chelsea Poe; second place, Jenna Snead, third place, Brooklyn Swait; fourth place, Steven Peelen. Novice, ages 12 and under: first place, Katlyn Douglas; second place, Jesse Snead. Graduate novice, first place, Bethany Balk. Obedience Class Grand Champion, Bethany Balk. Reserve Grand Champion, Kia Dighero.