Today’s judges have been chosen for their experience and commitment to the Canine world across many breeds and for many years. They are still very active in the organization of shows throughout the UK, the educational programmes, as well as continuing to breed and show. We are particularly lucky to have as the main judge, Mr Ronnie Irving, until recently the Chairman of the UK Kennel Club. This post had responsibility for most of the work done to improve and oversee the myriad facets of the Canine world in the UK as well as cooperation with all other Kennel clubs worldwide. We hope they will enjoy their experiences of the Middle East dog world and we know they will find it a happy and progressive day.

Sandra Johnston

From a child Sandra kept animals and her parents encouraged her to breed her rabbits and guinea pigs. The family had dogs – terriers originally then a golden retriever. The first dog she owned was a Tibetan Terrier who was looking for a home. She has now owned and bred basset hounds for many years and has been the top breeder in Scotland together with husband Tom. On leaving school she worked in insurance then stock broking before moving into market research and then into journalism. She currently works for a Canine Newspaper, writing features, covering show news and local events. She covers the annual Crufts Dog Show going behind the scenes to catch up with all the news and gossip from the show. She has also worked with various television companies in the development of TV programmes on dogs and dog shows. Her dogs have been used by the BBC for television programmes and have also been used in advertising campaigns. She is a Committee member at the Kennel Club as well as her National breed club, and also the Secretary of a successful General Canine Society organising four shows each year. She is an International Judge and has exported show dogs across the world. This is one of her favourite events and she always enjoys the show and looks forward to meeting both the regular and new exhibitors each year.


Tom Johnston

Tom grew up with a pet dog and it was when he married that he got the first of his Basset Hounds with his wife Sandra. As a husband and wife team they have become well known breeders with many winning dogs and champions. Tom trained as a technical instructor and after working in the UK for a few years moved to Abu Dhabi where he worked at the Sheik Zayed College for the Combined forces just outside Abu Dhabi. He then transferred to Dubai to the Institute of Applied Technology and Sandra was a frequent visitor. A few years ago Tom and Sandra judged the Dubai Dog Show stepping in when the judges were snowbound on route to the show. Shortly after that show Tom began to steward each show and then organise and run the show ring together with Sandra who now also does the commentary. Although currently working in the UK they still retain their contacts in the United Arab Emirates and look forward each year to the show.


Ronnie Irving

Ronnie Irving is a third generation breeder, born in Scotland and from a family who bred working Border Terriers prior to their recognition by the UK Kennel Club in 1923. Both his father and grandfather were well known in the breed and Ronnie was brought up in the same traditions eventually breeding and owning several champions before his marriage to Kate. This marriage joined two of the most famous and influential families in the breed, since Kate’s mother was also a prominent breeder and under the affix of Dandyhow these kennels have produced more than 60 champions – more than any other UK Kennels. When professional commitments took them tolive in America Kate continued to breed and Ronnie handled the dogs. Since first becoming a Championship Show judge of the breed, Ronnie has now passed to judge many breeds, Championship Show groups and Best in Show. His judging career has taken him across the world where he has judged at the most prestigious shows in various countries, including Montgomery in the USA, Australia, extensively across Europe and many Shows in the UK including twice at Crufts. He has recently returned from another judging trip to the USA but this will be his first visit to the Middle East.

He has written books on dogs and for a long time has been and a regular contributor to the canine press in the UK and USA covering many issues. Until recently he was the Chairman of the UK Kennel Club, taking up this post in 2002, where his remitcovered canine issues in the UK and liaison with Worldwide Clubs on with many topics covering the canine world.He retired from this post a few months ago and this now allows him to spend more time on his canine interests.

Kate Irving

Kate Irving was first involved in dogs through her mother, whose kennel name Dandyhow (now owned by Kate) has produced more Border Terrier champions in the UK than any other kennel. Kate has herself had a separate interest in the kennel name since the early 1990s and since that time has bred many Border Terrier champions in her own right. She has also bred champion DandieDinmont Terriers. She still breeds and shows and her most recent champion was just last year adding another to the huge total of champions from this kennel.Kate first awarded Kennel Club Challenge Certificates in 1974. She has judged at Crufts on two occasions as well as in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand. She says that she is much more interested in breeding dogs than she is in judging but is in fact a popular and sought after judge.

Irene Glen

Irene is currently showing in the Gundog Group but started her showing career with Afghan Hounds, Chinese Cresteds and Whippets, She has been particularly successful with her gundogs with champions in several breeds.Her specialisms in the gundog group are German Short Haired Pointers, German Wire Hairs and Italian Spinone although she is an experienced judge of all the gundog breeds. Her judging career spans almost 30 years and covers many breeds throughout the various groups. She is a popular judge both in the UK, Ireland and overseas in various countries.

David Shields

David’s judging career started 40 years ago and has taken him across the world as a specialist judge as well as at Crufts – the most prestigious show in the world and the largest. He started his show career in Cocker Spaniels but has developed his interests throughout the gundog group and into several other groups. He is a Championship Show Group judge qualified in the UK and also covers many breeds abroad. He is a popular judge of all breeds in the UK and is still actively involved in breeding and showing producing many Champions and winners in his chosen breeds. He is involved the UK Kennel Club judges’ development programme delivering seminars and like our other judges is still very active in all aspects of the canine world.