When I heard that AKC President and CEO Gina DiNardo had announced the concept of the Junior Showmanship Regional Events, I was thrilled. As a member of the AKC Junior Task Force, I have had the privilege of experiencing a truly closeup interaction with the amazing Junior competitors who demonstrate their skill, their passion, and their sportsmanship at the Junior National Finals in Orlando. Now, here was an opportunity for clubs to provide a very special and exciting event on a more regionally accessible level to those very deserving Juniors.
Each December, the Task Force Members volunteer our services during the Saturday Preliminary Junior Showmanship judging. We provide token gifts from the Task Force for each competitor as event mementos, help with any required tasks, and offer our enthusiastic support for “jobs exceedingly well done” to each exhibitor. But mostly, we watch in awe as Mari-Beth O’Neill, AKC Vice President of Sports Services, gathers each group of participants together for a group photo prior to judging, and then these youngsters step into the ring, together with their dogs, and the magic starts.
The hours and years of training, both of dog and handler, are on display as these young competitors show skill levels that rival, or even surpass, many of the top professionals showing dogs in the neighboring rings.
The quality of judging is also awe inspiring. Watching the ability of these judges as they carefully adjudicate the skills of these kids, while also making them relax and give their absolute best performances, is amazing. They are not only outstanding Juniors Judges, but in most instances they were very successful Junior competitors in the past. They too have lived and breathed the passion displayed by the kids they are now judging.
However, the unfortunate part of watching these amazing youngsters has been knowing there are many kids who have similar passion for showing, and similar talent and drive, but for one reason or another have not been able to attend the Orlando Junior Showmanship Finals, and therefore, have not been able to achieve this dream. Now, with the Junior Showmanship Regional Events, there is an opportunity for clubs to provide a very special and exciting event on a more regionally accessible level to those very deserving Juniors.
The Gloucester Kennel Club of Virginia, along with our Cluster partner, the Virginia Kennel Club, immediately requested permission to host the Mid-East Regional Event.
Our two clubs host the First Colony Cluster, held in Doswell, Virginia, each year toward the end of June. The Cluster makes encouraging Juniors who love dogs and Junior Showmanship a priority, and we have done so for the past several years. One of our goals is to make participation in the Junior Showmanship events financially feasible to all who want to compete by charging no fee to enter the classes. We understand the cost of dog show competition and also know that many families are stretched thin economically. We wanted to do our part to encourage all kids who want to compete to be able to do so.
Next, we include learning opportunities for the kids. As a group, we believe there is more to being a true dog fancier than just handling dogs in the show ring. Last year, with the help of the amazing members of the AKC Registered Handlers program, we proudly offered a Canine Structure Seminar to start the learning process. This truly educational seminar was very well received by the kids and concluded with a pizza party.
For the past several years, we have also held a “Best of the Best” Junior competition on Sunday afternoon just prior to Group judging. The competition is held in the Group ring to encourage spectator appreciation for these talented kids as they display their handling skills.
We felt that our Cluster had displayed the type of commitment to Juniors that might be needed in order to be considered as a host club for the Mid-East Regional Event, and so, we submitted our proposal. We were thrilled when we heard that our cluster would indeed be fortunate enough to be this year’s host!
Our plan for the Cluster, which will be held from June 18 through June 21, 2026, will be “All Things Junior.”
There will be four days of regular Junior Competition.
On Saturday, June 20, the regular Junior Competition will be immediately followed by The Regional Junior Showmanship Event judged by Rachel Robertson.
The top four contestants will be chosen to return to the Group ring prior to Group judging for final placement. Placements will be as follows:
Goody bags will be provided for all Regional Event Qualifiers/Exhibitors.
The four days of regular Junior Showmanship competition culminates with the Best Junior and Reserve Best Junior from each day competing for Best of the Best Junior in Cluster. This competition will be held in the Group ring prior to the start of Group judging on Sunday. The “Best Junior in Cluster” prize will be a huge rosette encased in a handmade shadowbox, courtesy of Neil Wilson. A First Colony Cluster Director’s Chair will be awarded to the Best of the Best Junior Winner. Reserve “Best” will receive a smaller rosette and a First Colony Cluster Cooler/Stool. All Junior Classes are free of charge, and a free “Juniors Only” grooming area will be provided to encourage Junior camaraderie.
On Friday evening, June 19, there will be a Junior Seminar, shortly after Best in Show, combined with a pizza party. The Topic will be “AKC Juniors: The Future and YOU!” We will explore what AKC and AKC clubs do for Juniors, how Juniors can give back, and how they can help to keep the sport alive for future generations. We are pleased to announce that Gina DiNardo and Mari-Beth O’Neill will be speaking with the Juniors concerning these very important topics.
On Saturday, SHOW-SAFE will offer a FREE Junior Handling Clinic during lunch break, to be followed by a classroom educational session for Juniors in the meeting room.
On Saturday evening, the Cluster is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner for all. Dinner entertainment will include a “Senior Showmanship Class,” judged by the Juniors.
The Cluster is encouraging all exhibitors to “Show Your Colors” proudly while showing the dogs! And on Sunday at noon, a “Best Grooming Space” decoration prize will be awarded.
We hope the Junior offerings presented by the First Colony Cluster will provide a very special weekend of events for the Mid-East Junior competitors. We are thrilled to celebrate their wonderful talent with them by offering the Regional Junior Event at our Cluster, and we want them to know how much we truly value them as the future breeders, exhibitors, judges, and leaders of our AKC sport.
We look forward to a large Junior entry, and a fun-filled and meaningful weekend where achievements, civility, and camaraderie will be the order of the day for all. We encourage participation in the Friday Evening Seminar and in all the activities that will make this a very special time for these very special young people.
