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Adrian Woodfork shares his Westminster 2026 experience, highlighting his breed assignments and the Doberman that went on to win Best in Show.
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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.
Meet the Judges
Sharon Ann Redmer reflects on judging Herding breeds at Westminster 2026, highlighting breed function, type, and standout winners.
