Zofia Raboj was winner of the Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling final 2024.
With Judge Rony Doedijns, Organisers Liz Cartledge and Marina White
The Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling competition brings together young handlers from across the world. Each country has one representative who competes in the main arena, with the chance of winning the ultimate title. Split into two exciting rounds, the contest requires the finalists to demonstrate their handling ability and rapport with unfamiliar dogs that they have met less than an hour before the final.
The finalists have each selected a first, second and third choice of breed but will not have met the individual dogs before. The judge will make a secret shortlist, with all the finalists later returning to the arena for the final parade where the winner will be crowned. The judge of the 2025 event at Crufts will be Kimmo Mustonen from Finland.
The Joe Cartledge International Junior Handling final takes place in the main arena on Friday 7 March. Part one takes place from 8.30am-10am and part two from 6.15pm to 6.35pm. Come and support your national junior handling representatives!
Read more about Kimmo Mustonen here
How important are junior handlers to the dog showing community?
Young people are the future. That must also be the case in the dog showing community. I have worked my whole life in education, so I see how important it is to support young people in finding the right hobby for them. Today's junior handlers are the future dog breeders, exhibitors and show handlers. They make our future.
What advice do you have for those competing in the final?
Trust yourself. You have practised a lot and done your best. Now it's time to enjoy yourself. It's important to have fun at dog shows. This is our hobby and we love it. In a competition, only one can win, but you are all winners and superheroes in your own lives.
What makes a great handler?
The best handlers bring out the best in the dog. They make the dog shine. The handler himself/herself is never the centre of attention, but the dog plays the most important role in the show. The best handlers themselves are in the background and the dog is the star. The best handlers know how to read the dog and are able to anticipate the dog's behaviour and the action in the ring.
What junior handling competitions have you judged in the past? Do any stand out as a particularly good memory?
I haven't judged many junior handler competitions in recent years. When I got the invitation to judge at Crufts 2025, I decided not to accept other junior handler invitations. Years ago, I judged these competitions more often when I was younger. I value junior handlers and these competitions a lot. Without them, we wouldn't have skilled handlers at shows. It really doesn't matter where and what kind of shows junior handlers are judged at, it should always be done equally well and with respect.
Were you a junior handler? If so, what breeds did you handle?
When I was a child, junior handling was just developing in Finland. I did participate in competitions a bit. Sometimes I did better than usual, but I learned from each experience. I mainly showed my family's dogs, which were St Bernards and hunting dogs, such as Finnish Hounds and Finnish Spitz.
The list of competitors for the 2025 final at Crufts
- Australia, Deana Musolino
- Austria, Kimberly Wallner
- Belgium, Saartje Callens
- Canada, Abbey Mahn
- Croatia, Zara Valić
- Czech Republic, Kristýna Palatková
- Denmark, Simone Riisgaard Kristiansen
- Estonia, Aare Teiva
- Finland, Selina Norppa
- France, Sophie Marion
- Germany, Katlin Niekamp
- Greece, Eftychia Sezenia
- Hungary, Dóra Domanovszky
- Iceland, Eyrún Eva Guðjónsdóttir
- Ireland, Molly Mullan
- Israel, Liry Sokolovsky
- Italy, Giorgia Giuliano
- Japan, Sarah Hasegawa
- Latvia, Alise Semata
- Lithuania, Dija Maksimaviciute
- Malta, Keira O'Leary
- Mexico, Dylan Gomez Ruiz
- Monaco, Zofia Jaras
- Netherlands, Soleile Huikeshoven
- New Zealand, Georgia Calman
- Norway, Julie Erikson
- Poland, Nikola Molęnda
- Portugal, Maria Flores Ribeiro
- Romania, Alexandra Ambrus
- Slovakia, Ella Šimová
- Slovenia, Ela Kolenc
- South Africa, Lea Olivier
- Spain, Adriana Sánchez Natividad
- Sweden, Tuva Skoglund
- Switzerland, Jara Sutter
- Ukraine, Kateryna Velichenko
- UK, Ellie Darling-Steele
- United States, Lila Holberg
ROLL OF HONOUR - WINNERS
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Zofia Raboj from Poland, Siberian Husky |
| 2023 | Inigo Espila Gaya, from Spain, Jack Russell Terrier |
| 2022 | Crufts held, no IJH final |
| 2021 |
Crufts cancelled due to Covid |
| 2020 | Selma Martensson from Sweden, Australian Shepherd |
| 2019 |
Destiny Hamilton, from Australia, Australian Shepherd |
| 2018 |
Antonio Ribeiro, from Portugal, English Springer Spaniel |
| 2017 |
Scarlett Burnside, from Ireland, Pointer |
| 2016 |
Demi Weijmans, from Netherlands, Irish Setter |
| 2015 |
Daria Moiseeva, from Belarus, Pointer |
| 2014 |
Colton O’Shea, Canada, Pointer |
| 2013 |
Naomi Van Mourik, from the Netherlands, Basenji |
| 2012 |
Raquel Colaco, representing Portugal, German Shorthaired Pointer |
| 2011 |
Paulina Lisiak, representing Poland, German Shorthaired Pointer |
| 2010 |
Aleksandra Szydłowska, representing Poland, English Springer Spaniel |
| 2009 |
Maria de los Angeles Piñeiro Tavares de Melo, representing Brazil, Pointer |
| 2008 |
Taryn Ashley Hamilton, representing Canada, Labrador, judge Renée Sporre Willes |
| 2007 |
Adell Brancevich, representing Latvia, Pointer, runner-up Emma McLaughlin (UK) with a Papillon. Judge Bo Bengtson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Lepiane |
| 2006 |
Cait Pansegrouw, representing South Africa, Australian Shepherd. Judge Steven Seymour. |
| 2005 |
Pia Adlesic, representing Slovenia, Maltese. Judge Luis Pinto Teixeira. |
| 2004 |
Melanie Cotter, representing the USA, Pointer. Judge Svend Lovenkjaer from Denmark |
| 2003 |
David Mercieca, from Malta, Whippet, 13 years old (one of the youngest winners) |
| 2002 |
Marion Stiphout representing the Netherlands, Weimaraner. Judge Christopher Habig. Runner-up was Jane Cryer (UK). |
| 2001 |
James Newman, representing Ireland, Pomeranian |
| 2000 |
Adrian Hili, representing Malta, Pointer |
| 1999 |
Nicholas Urbanek, representing the USA, Pointer |
| 1998 |
Angela Lloyd, representing the USA, Whippet. Judge Ingela Nilsson (Sweden). |
| 1997 |
Victoria Moen Morch, representing Norway, Ibizan Hound |
| 1996 |
Rikki Jeppesen, representing Denmark, Standard Poodle, judge Rudi Hübenthal. |
| 1995 |
Tamara Dawson, representing the UK, American Cocker Spaniel |
| 1993 |
Kati Rasku, representing Finland, Whippet, judge Michael Camac (Australia) |
| 1994 |
Rebecca Hean, representing New Zealand, Golden Retriever. |
| 1993 |
Oliver Pang Tai Boon, representing Singapore. Judge Kenneth Edh. |
| 1992 |
Sara Robertson (nee Pettit), representing the UK, English Setter |
| 1991 |
Pernilla Wistad, representing Sweden, Shih Tzu. |
| 1990 |
Lana Ekbom, representing Sweden, West Highland White Terrier. Judge Felix Cosme. 3rd Tracey Alexander, Bichon Frise (UK)
Photo courtesy of John Hartley |
| 1989 |
Lana Ekbom, representing Sweden, West Highland White Terrier. Judge Felix Cosme. |
| 1988 |
Clint Livingston, representing the USA, Pointer - (13 countries)
Photo from Dog World Annual 1989 |
| 1987 |
Simon Briggs representing Australia. American Cocker Spaniel. judge, Ann Stevenson (USA). (9 countries)
|
| 1986 |
Ivan Smith, representing Ireland. Irish Setter. Judge, Peter Green. (10 countries) |
| 1985 |
Nathalie Wogan, representing Ireland. Keeshond. Judge, Rick Chashoudian (USA) (8 countries)
Photo Hartley, taken from Dog World annual |
| 1984 |
Tracie Laliberte, representing USA. Lhasa Apso. judge Geir Pederson (7 countries) |
Photo | The Kennel Club library
Watch part one of the final from Crufts 2024
Watch part two of last year’s final
where we see Zofia Raboj from Poland take the title, judged by Rony Doedjins (Netherlands)