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Opportunities to meet and cultivate new friends are among life’s greatest blessings! Two of those special people the dog world has brought into the lives of my family are Robin and Cindy Stansell.
My Father, Roy Ayers, was an all-breed judge when there were only eight people approved to judge all breeds. His life was tragically cut short in 1993 following an automobile accident that happened as he and my Mother were driving to the Atlanta airport to depart for a trip for him to judge in New York.
Together they made friends around the globe as they were invited for him to judge dog shows. One of Daddy’s favorite quotes to my brother, Roy, Jr., my son, Todd, and me was:
“FRIENDS ARE THE MOST WONDERFUL PART OF LIVING.” And he stressed that friends forged through our passion of purebred dogs and our American Kennel Club activities are great blessings!
The resumes of our friends Robin and Cindy Stansell would be unimaginable to top! Robin can be found judging shows such as our AKC Invitational, Morris & Essex, Westminster, the World Dog Show, and the European Dog Show, just to name a few. Currently, he is an AKC Delegate and he serves on our American Kennel Club Board of Directors. Cindy, also a highly sought after judge, is also an AKC Delegate and she is the current chair of the important Dog Show Rules Committee.
It is fun to answer calls from this exciting couple as it’s hard to keep up with where in the world they may be. For example, their dog show judging assignments have taken them to China, Australia, Russia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, France, Sweden, Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Switzerland, and the Dominican Republic. Don’t let me get started naming the shows in the United States. You might guess “just about everywhere!”
Sadly, the Internet has changed the way many people communicate these days. Long personal letters are to be treasured and saved. Cindy Stansell is the exception to that trend. I want to share with you a letter Cindy mailed when she and Robin recently returned home from judging in the Dominican Republic. It means the world to me and Roy Jr. and Todd.
Dr. Cesar Liriano, president of the federation from 2016-2018. Judge/Lawyer. Shared the story that when he was young, an American judge named Roy Ayers came to judge. He was also on a panel that answered questions about breeding and exhibiting. Cesar was so impressed by his knowledge, his sense of humor and his kindness. Of all the judges that came to the DR, that is the one judge that has a special place in his heart. (He did not know of my connection with you all.) Cesar, who is fluent in English, spent a day showing us the capital.
The current president of the federation is Daneris Baez, an Akita and Siberian Husky breeder.
The show was at an agricultural center which has committed places for the various agricultural animals—and for horse and dog exhibition. The dog section has an outdoor ring big enough for two large rings. On one side is a platform for the trophies, judges and show dignitaries. The other sides are flanked with individual pop-up tents equipped with large box fans. Also, there is a building with an office and conference room.
The schedule for judging was relax until 4. Then go to the show which begins at 6:30 and lasts until 11 pm. This schedule allows the heat to dissipate somewhat.
There were 102 entries. The biggest entries were Rottweilers and Yorkshire Terriers. Group 1 (Pastoral) had 10 entries, Group 2 (Working) had 24 entries, Group 3 (Terriers) had 14 entries, Group 4 (Dachshunds) had 5 entries, Group 5, (Primitive and Spitz breeds ) had 8 entries, Group 6 (Scent Hounds) had 2 entries, Group 7 (Pointing Dogs) had 1 entry, Group 8 (Retrievers and Flushing Dogs) had 5 entries, Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs) had 14 entries, Group 10 (Sighthounds) had two entries, Group 11 (Miscellaneous) had 3 entries and special class – 14.
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