Young Royal Kennel Club

YKRC Dog Grooming Judge

Chris Briggs 

I started dog grooming as soon as I left school since then I’ve competed, taught and run my own business in my home town of Barnstaple. I also show dogs and have bred or owned champions in four breeds. I have now been dog grooming for 28 years and I am also a show manager of a general championship show . I judge Miniature Pinchers at Championship level and my most prized possession is a Pastel of my beautiful Belgian Shepherd Joli by Stuart Mallard. I have 3 Hungarian Pumi’s and 2 Miniature Pinschers at home called Roma, Kushti, Chita, Rebel and Dune.  

YKRC Flyball Judge 

Edwin Vinken

In 2004, Edwin Vinken discovered flyball for the first time. His passion turned him into a key member of the Belgian flyball community. When the Belgian flyball section of the KKUSH (Belgian Kennel Club) was founded in 2006, he became its secretary. In 2014, he became the first Belgian on the FCI Flyball Commission, helping develop the sport worldwide, leading to his appointment as chairman of the commission. Until today he combines both functions, trying to push flyball forward on a global scale. 

 As a coach, he's led the Brabo's Thunderdogs, a team known for racing several decades at the Belgian KKUSH competition with only purebred border collies. Edwin's passion for sharing his knowledge led him to author the Belgian instructor course, a program that equips aspiring flyball enthusiasts with the skills they need. Since 2009, he's been the dedicated instructor for these courses, nurturing the next generation of Belgian flyball coaches. 

Since 2006 Edwin has been a respected referee at the Belgian KKUSH tournaments, ensuring adherence to the rules. His expertise was further recognized in 2018 when the FCI appointed him as an official FCI judge. At the last FCI Flyball World Championship in Germany, Edwin served as the head judge for the tournament. 

YKRC Rally Judge

Caroline Ward

I became interested in Rally in 2011 when I thought it looked a fun sport to be involved in with my young Papillon Bella and started out using a DVD of the Rally signs.

In 2012 Darcy a rescue Shetland Sheepdog joined the family and I joined a Rally class as I wanted to find a sport that would help me bond with Darcy and Bella joined the class too.

I entered my first Rally competition with Bella and Darcy at Christmas 2012, eventually becoming interested in helping out at rally’s (scribing, running the scribe sheets between the judge and score boarders and generally helping out).

In 2016 I started judging Rally and was proud to be part of the team assisting Becky Collier at Crufts 2019 and part of a show celebrating ten years of Kennel Club Rally in 2023.

I find Rally a friendly sport and enjoy helping Gail and Ann as part of the Northern Rally Team and judging and teaching Rally.

YKRC Assistant Agility and Jumping Judge

Rory Tidmarsh

I am 22 and recently graduated from University of Bristol in Physics and Scientific Computing. My first appearance in the YKRC ADOTY final in the Main Ring was in 2013 (age 9), with Killibrae Ammo, who was a year older than me!  I have competed in the YKRC finals in the Main Arena 5 times.  I was a member of YKRC Team GB in the European Open Junior Championships 4 times with 3 different Border Collies, winning Individual Silver medals with my dog Sonic, and Team Bronze and Gold. I have been judging for 2 years. 

It is a great honour to be asked to be Assistant Agility and Jumping Judge for the YKRC at Crufts, supporting my friend Marianne, whom I know will set some fantastic fun courses.  The new YKRC ring and Hall is an exciting opportunity to showcase just how fantastic our YKRC partnerships are, and I am looking forward to seeing some great runs from the best seat in the house – the middle of the ring! 

YKRC Stakes Judge

Stuart Payne

I have been involved with dogs for nearly thirty years . My first breed was a Boxer who gave me the bug to show. To date I have had fourty-two UK Champions of which thirty-nine are home bred – thirty-seven Chinese Cresteds and five Pugs. I have bred the most UK Champions in Chinese Cresteds, including both the dog and bitch CC record holders and I am extremely proud to have bred the Top Dog All Breeds in 2021 with Ch Habiba Hold My Purse. I like to give my time back to the world of dogs where I can. I have served as a director of the Royal Kennel Club since 2021 and as Convener of the Scottish Kennel Club since 2018. I am currently approved at Championship Show level to judge Best in Show, the Toy and Utility Groups and to award CC’s in twenty-nine breeds.

YKRC Agility and Jumping Judge

Mariann Bayliss

I have been competing in agility for nearly 16 years, a member of the YKRC for over 10 years and a judge for 4 years.

I have had the privilege to compete at Crufts and on the international stage, winning numerous medals at the Junior Open World Agility Championships, World Agility Open and IFCS World Agility Championships! 

The YKRC has been a huge part of my life and I am so incredibly grateful to be able to judge this year alongside my fantastic assistant and friend Rory Tidmarsh! I hope every one enjoys the courses and most importantly enjoys their moment on the green carpet!

YKRC HTM Head Judge

Gina Pink

I am very privileged to be the Head HTM Judge this year.  I started my journey in Heelwork to Music back in 1997 with my little white collie, “Whizz”; little did I know then what amazing adventures this sport would take me; the dogs I would train; the places around the world I would visit and the awesome new friends I would make along the way. 

I have been fortunate enough for some of my accolades to be to have won the Crufts HTM competition in 2007 with my special collie “Tapper”; made my rescue German Spitz “Bailey” the first of his breed to work Advanced HTM and represent Team GB in 2010; appeared on numerous tv programmes promoting our sport including the Disney programme “The Secret Life of Dancing Dogs” and taught and judged around the world.

I have also demonstrated, competed and judged at Crufts since 2006 and, therefore, understand the nerves and excitement the Young Royal Kennel Club competitors will be feeling.  I understand the amount of work they have invested in their routines, outfits and props and the hours of thought that will have gone into every second of each routine, whether it is a heelwork or freestyle performance. But above all I hope they feel very proud of themselves, their achievements and, above all their dogs.  It takes a very special relationship to compete with a dog, regardless of its age, breed or characteristics and I hope all of your goals and dreams come true as you step into the YKRC ring.  

HTM Judge

 Carmen Schmid

When I started Heelwork to music and Freestyle, I never planned to go to a competition!  Today I look back to 18 years full of competitions and very good experiences. I trained my Cairn Terriers in Dog Dancing for 20 years. I love daily training, the challenge to find the right way for the different characters, each of my dogs is an individual with very special characteristics. They always give their best, even if we did not reach the winner’s podium. I had so many lucky moments with my dogs in the ring. My highest goal is always to let my dogs bright in the ring. When I reach this, I feel like the happiest handler in the ring. When I became judge, I found another great pleasure of our sport. I love sitting at the judge’s table and giving a welcome to the competitors. Whether beginner or master class, it is a great enrichment for me to see the choreographies from my very special place.

Being invited to judge at Crufts 2026 is an unbelievable pleasure and honor for me.  I look forward to judging the Young Royal Kennel Club members. I started HTM in my 40’s and sometimes I wish I had stared earlier, when I was young.  I envy you a little for the time you can already spend as young people with this wonderful sport and with your dogs. I wish good luck to all competitors. Make your dog’s shine and enjoy your time in one of the most famous venues.

HTM Judge

Louise Ballard

I was very excited to be asked to judge the Heelwork To Music competition this year, it was a lovely surprise after being part of the demo teams at Crufts for many years to be asked to judge. My Heelwork to Music journey started after competing in Working Trials and Agility for many years then back in 2000 I saw Richard Curtis performing his Great Escape routine, so I contacted him for some lessons and was hooked. I have competed with a few different breeds, Collies, Miniature Poodles, Lowchen, American Cocker Spaniels and a Working Cocker, all have their own interesting challenges. One of the highlights of my HTM journey was being invited along with my Lowchen, Gino, to be part of the team of handlers who performed a routine on the Animal Honours Awards which was broadcast on ITV and was hosted by Paul O’Grady. I spent several years with my daughter at the YKRC Heelwork to music ring and think it is wonderful to see the younger handlers putting together lovely routines and enjoying working their dogs and creating fabulous memories. Have the best fun and everyone takes the best dog home.

YKRC Obedience Judge

Pamela Stevens

My journey in obedience began when I was very young, and like many juniors, it all started by tagging along to dog training with my parents. My mum, Sandra McIntosh, and dad, Jim McIntosh, founded Knightswood Dog Training Club in Glasgow in 1970, and from around the age of eight I was there every week, watching, learning, and desperately wishing for a dog of my own.

My first opportunity came with my mum’s Sheltie, Brandy. He wasn’t the easiest dog — especially when it came to retrieving — but he taught me so much. I was allowed to train him on the condition that I practised during the week and listened carefully to everything I was taught at the club. That experience shaped my love for obedience and showed me how rewarding perseverance and teamwork can be. Training and competing with Brandy is something I still look back on very fondly.

As a teenager, I went on to train my own Border Collie, winning out of Beginners and competing through the Royal Kennel Club Junior Organisation. I qualified for Crufts in 1985, and I still remember how exciting — and nerve-racking — it felt. One moment that really stands out is the sendaway, marked by black tape in a cross on the floor, and how thrilled I was when my dog completed it successfully. Those early junior experiences are memories that have stayed with me ever since. I achieved Obedience Champion status and competed in the Championship at Crufts in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Judging has also become an important part of my obedience journey. I judge regularly and in 2009 qualified to judge Obedience Championship Class C (Ticket). However, being invited to judge the Young Royal Kennel Club Obedience at Crufts is especially meaningful to me, as this is where my own Crufts journey began as a junior competitor.

I have spent a great deal of time designing my YKRC courses to take account of the different age groups within each class, ensuring they are fair, achievable, and enjoyable. My team and I aim to support and guide each junior through their round, helping them feel relaxed and confident so they can enjoy every moment. I hope this experience helps create special memories for the juniors — just as my own YKRC journey did for me all those years ago.

If you know someone aged 6-24 years, the Young Royal Kennel Club is an ideal place to make new friends, develop your love of dogs and acquire new skills. The annual membership fee for the Young Royal Kennel Club is just £20, includes:

• Membership number so you can compete with your dog in YRKC Crufts Qualifiers held at a variety of dogs shows throughout the year.

• Opportunities to try out different disciplines at YRKC training days and weekends.

• Opportunities to attend YRKC events and camps

• Fetch magazine for members, which is issued twice a year.

• Free Crufts ticket (one day pass)

• A YRKC member-only ring at Crufts, where members qualify and compete at the highest level

Sign up today!

Discover the brand-new YRKC area in Hall 8, where our dedicated ring will showcase major finals across key activities, including agility, obedience and ringcraft. Whether you are new to the club or already experienced in the world of dogs, this is a fantastic opportunity to meet YRKC members, learn more about everything the club has to offer and soak up the unique atmosphere of Crufts — while catching up with friends and cheering competitors on in the ring.

Dog showing, or exhibiting as it is known, is the most popular canine activity in the UK. In the Young Royal Kennel Club stakes finals, the judge will compare each dog against the official Royal Kennel Club breed standard (which is a guide for the characteristics for that breed, including health and temperament). The dogs which come closest to the breed standard receive the top places.

YRKC handling competitions let members compete against one another to find out who is the best at showing their dog. The competition is held in exactly the same format as a breed ring, but it isn't the dog being judged, it's you! 

Dog agility is an action packed and hugely exciting sport for you and your dog. It involves loads of obstacles for your dog (not you!) to run through, jump over, and weave in and out of – and all against the clock! Not only does agility test your dog’s fitness, you can also show off your skills as a handler, directing your dog around the agility course.

Training your dog for competitive obedience is fun, challenging and an interesting activity for you to enjoy together. Competitive obedience shows take place all over the country throughout the year, and are open for competitors of all levels to enter. 

Heelwork to music is obedience training with a twist! Your dog has to show its understanding and knowledge of training commands - but the great part is that your dog can show off their obedience skills within a dance routine with music, which has been created by you.

There are two types of HTM classes, freestyle and heelwork, and most shows stage official classes in both categories.

Flyball competitions involve two teams of handlers and their dogs racing against each other. These competitions are great for making new friends, while enjoying time with your dog and competing.

Our annual award is the chance to celebrate young people who are transforming the lives of others. We seek to recognise young people who have overcome huge challenges, or who go above and beyond to demonstrate their love of dogs, and encourage others to become a part of the dog world.

The YRKC offer lots of ways for young artists to practice and enter competitions. We hold one main competition a year. The winner will receive a range of prizes and have their work on display at Crufts.

Even if you own a short-haired breed, dog grooming is an important part of dog care in the show ring as well as with pet dogs. Regular dog grooming is also a good way of checking the general health of your dog.