Adrian Woodfork: I was totally surprised when I received the invitation to judge The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show! Especially since I was turned down 14 years ago when I requested to be a ring steward. I had totally given up on ever being a part of anything connected with WKC. So, when I opened the envelope I was blown away. I had to sit down and reread the letter at least three times. The message was clear: The times are changing!
Adrian Woodfork: My assignment consisted of judging seven Working breeds. The quality in each of these breeds was above average; after all, it was Westminster!
My biggest entry was Doberman Pinschers and they attracted the largest crowd. The Dobermans put on a showmanship clinic. I was never so proud to judge my heart breed. However, the one that checked the most boxes and stole the spotlight was the beautiful Canadian-bred bitch, Ch. Connquest The Best Of Both Worlds. This well-conditioned show queen nailed her free-stacks, which produced a silhouette that defined the Doberman Standard: square, well-balanced front and rear, with a strong, level topline and correct tail set. She made me proud by winning the Working Group, and ultimately, Best in Show.
Adrian Woodfork: Before Westminster, I appeared on three Northern California television news shows, plus a newspaper story. Many people wrote to me and approached me to say that they had not seen a black person in the show ring. I always responded that if you look hard enough you’ll find a few of us out there. So, my hope is that, after seeing Eugene Blake, Channing Sheets, and myself participating on the big stage, just maybe some black kid or a kid of color will be inspired enough to say, “I love dogs and I think this could be a fun hobby.” I was 12 years old when I saw Gene Blake’s photo in Dog World magazine, and that is when I knew I wanted to play the dog game. Thank you, Westminster Kennel Club. The more the merrier.
