nikola smolic, croatia
“I was born in Split in 1980, where I received my high school education in classical gymnasium learning ancient Greek and Latin, together with classical piano and opera singing in music school. Music has remained my big love and great part of my life. Through the years I also lived in Russia, Italy, Switzerland and England. In 1999 I moved to Zagreb, where I studied Psychology and Entrepreneurship.
My first show dog was an American Staffordshire Terrier, Multi Ch. Cheyenne That’s The Point. Since 2005 I bred and owned Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, Miniature and Kaninchen Dachshunds, Shiba Inus, English Bull Terriers and Old English Sheepdog, and since then I had numerous BIS winners, World & European Winners, top dogs of all times in our country, winners of numerous BIS on many prestigious shows and bred approximately 200 champions all over the world. Since 2023 together with my fiancé I am breeding Australian Shepherds, Miniature American Shepherds and Miniature and Kaninchen Dachshunds under prefix Nizio’s. Also, for many years I worked as an all breed handler winning many BIS, groups, European and World Winner titles.
I am International FCI all breed judge. Til now I judged in most of the European countries, Asia and South Africa. I am also the President of Breeding Comission of the Croatian kennel club, acting President of the FCI Breeding Commission and President of Tibetan breed club in my country.”
igor selimovic, Croatia
“He was born in 1963 and living all his life near Zagreb – a centre of dog world in Croatia. Being an addict to active and sport life he started his kennel IGGY BOX in 1987. He chose Boxers for “his” breed as he was particularly interested in working dogs. In more than twenty years of active breeding and working with dogs he bred more then 35 litters and raised numerous champions in beauty and working. During this time he also owned or co-owned many world known Boxers who were winning the top prices.
He became a dog show judge in 1992. Starting with Molossoid breeds, adding Shepherds, he became in December 2003 an all round judge. He is also judge specialist for Boxers. During his judging career he judged at the most important all breed championship shows and specialities all over the world as in Italy, Belgium, Israel, Russia, Gibraltar, Spain, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Romania, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Latvia, Germany, Ukraine, Estonia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Ireland, Luxembourg, San Marino, Moldavia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iceland, Brasil, Argentina, Peru, Canada, China, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Australia.
He was also judging at the Eurodog Show in Helsinki 2006, World Dog Show in Poznan – Poland 2006, Eurodogshow 2008 in Budapest (Boxers), World Dog Show 2010 in Denmark (Boxers) & at the World Dog Show 2012 in Salzburg – Austria. He will judge Tornjaks on WDS in Zagreb in 2024.
He has performed various functions in the Croatian Kennel Club, being active in numerous Committees. Has was the General Secretary from 1996-2004, and from 2004-2007 he was a vice President of the Croatian Kennel Club. He was an active member of the organizing committee for more than 150 shows in Croatia. In 2005 – 2007 he was the member of FCI Judges Committee. He is a member of the Examination Commision for new judges of the Croatian Kennel Club. He is the President of Committee for Croatian national breeds of the Croatian Kennel Club.
He is the author of few books about dogs. More than five years he was publisher of monthly dog magazine – «Naši psi – bez granica», in this time – the only one on the market in Croatia, where, besides being a publisher and editor, he was also engaged as a photo reporter.”
suzana simon, Croatia
“Dogs have been an important part of my whole life.
I grew up with German Shepherds and started breeding them at a young age.
25 years ago I started breeding different Terrier breeds under the kennel name „The Best Colour“. I bred more than 30 litters of Irish, Lakeland, Welsh, Kerry Blue, Soft Coated Wheaten and Airedale Terriers and also a few litters of Miniature Schnauzers. I bred and owned more than 100 national and International Champions inlcuding several European and World Winners.
I was born in Zagreb, Croatia and I am a veterinary techican by profession.
As a young girl I started grooming and showing different breeds and during that time I won multiple Bests in Show with different dogs and won many grooming competitions.
More recently I have put my passion for breeding and showing aside as my husband Oliver, who is an FCI all breed judge, and I travel a lot and run two very busy and successful grooming shops.
In 2014 I started my judges education and I have so far judged numerous Specialty, National and International shows all around the world, including the World dog show in Germany.
I am permitted to judge all the breeds from the FCI groups II, III, IV and IX and most of the FCI group VIII breeds.
I have dedicated my whole life to dogs and I enjoy sharing our everyday life with my 13,5 years old Irish Terrier female. I also love judging dogs and I am very passionate about my job which icludes grooming of different breeds, whether they be purely companions or successful show dogs.”
adrian landarte, Uruguay
“I have been living with dogs, pure bred or not, all my life. I started in the world of dog shows at age of 17, when I bought my first Afghan Hound. From that moment I got involved more and more in this hobby as breeder, exhibitor, judge, organiser and director. I am currently president of the Kennel Club of Uruguay and I was President of the Uruguayan Cimarron and the Irish Setter Clubs. Member of the FCI Show and Show Judges’commissions since 2008. President of FCI Judges commission 2016-2023.
Elected president of the Americas and Caribbean FCI Section for period 2023-2027 and was its vice-president from 2015-2023.
With Jorge Nallem we founded El Retorno kennel having great success breeding Irish Setters, Beagles, Schnauzers, Dachshunds, Fox Terriers, Whippets, Greyhounds and Cimarron Uruguayo. Achieved more than 160 All Breed BIS, including FCI A&C section show, Sicalam, WDS Circuit, BISS FTW US National, BIG at WDS and FCI Section Shows, several World Winner titles and several Top dog of the year all breeds in 4 different countries.
I am an all-breed judge and began my career as an Irish Setter judge in 1987. I had the pleasure to judge and meet friends in more than 50 countries of all continents and very glad and honored to judge at this very special event.”
Chie Yamakado Ejima, Japan
“Mrs Chie Ejima Yamakado has been involved in the Dog World since she was a child as her parents were both dog breeders.
She has bred Akitas, Japanese Spitz, Shibas, Pomeranians, Poodles and she is a successful breeder of Papillons and Golden Retrievers under the world-renown prefix Queen Bless, recognized by the JKC and FCI. She has bred dogs with over 1000 different titles and exported dogs all over the world. Her Papillons are the most titled dogs in this breed all over the world including Group winner & 3 BOBs at Crufts (including 2017), 3 BOB winners at Westminster and many World Winners and European Winners, 4 times BISS at the Papillon club of America National speciality show too.
Mrs Ejima got her All-breeds judging licence in 1998. She has judged in Japan, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Australia, USA, Canada, Estonia, Latvia, Brazil, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark, Mexico, Costa Rica, Slovakia, New Zealand, Singapore and other European and Asian countries. She judged in 35 countries over the world.
She also judged Winner Shows of many of those countries. From 1980 to 2005 she worked as a professional All Breeds handler and has handled many different breeds all over the world including America, the UK and many other European countries, receiving BIS on many occasions. She has No1 dogs in the breed in Japan from 2014 till 2023 with Papillons & Poms.”
Bruno Nodalli, Italy
“In his life, Bruno has always had an eye on the animal world, in particular to the dogs, his life companions since ever. He was very fortunate to meet Paola, his wife, with whom he shares the love for animals that they passed “genetically” to their daughter Viviana. Since 1982 he has been breeding Medium and Toy Poodles and since 1990 under the “Osmanthus” prefix. The passion for this breed involved most of his free time, without neglecting his small company of electronic equipment for industrial and civil automation, a business that started in 1977. Retired since the end of 2014, he can now dedicate more time to his doggy and photography passions. They have bred with the aim of quality and not quantity. They have produced one or two litters per year and now even less, but despite this, they have bred many World Winners in adult classes over the years: 1992, 93, 94, 95, 96, 2011 & 2012. European Winners in adult classes over the years: 1990, 96, 98, 99, 2000, 02, 03, 05, 07, 08, 2012 & 2022, numerous Italian & 55 International Champions, Champions of almost all European countries as well as Scandinavia, Russia, Australia, Canada, Israel, USA and South America. BIS winners in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Russia, Hungary, Austria, Serbia, Greece, Belgium and Norway. Their champions Osmanthus Noel Chance, Osmanthus Essence and Osmanthus Allure Sensuelle, who unfortunately left them in April 2021 at the age of 15, represent their fifth generation of World and European Winners. A goal achieved by few and a pride for the Italian breeding. In these 41 most important years of his life, Bruno was lucky to meet the most historical, important breeders and judges of the dog world, whose precious teachings he cherishes with respect and affection. All this has increased his passion and cultural background. In October 2006 he became a Poodle and later FCI International Judge. He is a teacher to new judges for Poodles in France and for Poodles and Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs in Italy. He is currently qualified for the whole FCI groups 2, 4, 5, 9 & 10, and many breeds of group 1 and he is a Best in Show judge. In these seventeen years, he had the honor to judge the Geneva 2013 and Wels 2019 European shows, the Milan 2015 and Brno 2021 World shows, the most important International shows and specialties in the whole Europe, Ireland, Ukraine, Serbia, United Kingdom (Norther Ireland), Israel, Scandinavia, Canada, Russia, Belarus, Japan and Australia. Bruno has written historical articles and comments for various specialized magazines. He is very thankful to the organization for the invitation and is looking so much forward to be in such a famous show.”
Hans van den Berg, The Netherlands
“I started showing dogs when i was 16 years old. My first dog was a Welsh Terrier who never won a CAC, but it proved to be the start of a lifelong love of dog showing, breeding and judging. I both bred and showed many winners in Scottish Terriers, Norfolk Terriers and Chihuahuas. My judging career began in 1978 with being appointed as an all rounder by the Dutch Kennel Club in 2000. I was the first all rounder in The Netherlands after a very long time, a wonderful achievement. Since 2000 I have travelled much of the world, officiating in many countries across the continents. I have had the honour of being invited to judge at some of the world’s best events including at least 10 World dog shows. I judged 3 times at Crufts and was selected to do Best in Show at a number of UK major shows including Scottish Kennel Club, Belfast Dog Society, Darlington Kennel Club and Birmingham National. I had the opportunaty to judge some of the best dogs in the world across Europe, the UK, Asia, the USA, Canada etc. I am very much looking forward to come to Split! Hospitality is great, organisation is professional and more important – I am sure I will have some outstanding dogs!”
Paul Lawless, Ireland
“I am originally from Dublin and I now live in Kildare. My family used to show English Cocker Spaniels and I remember getting my first dog, Suerina Black Knight, a black & tan Cocker male in the late 70’s. I got my first Belgian Shepherd in 1985, a Tervueren named ‘Dancer’ and she started my love of the breed. Along with my wife Jean and daughter Kelly, we are best known for our Revloch Belgian Shepherd Dogs and Schipperkes, but in the past we have also owned Australian Silky Terriers, Rottweilers and Bullmastiffs. We have won numerous World and European Winner titles in our breeds and we also bred and own Multi Ch Revloch Figo, the first and only BSD Groenendael to win BIS at an All Breeds Championship Show in the UK and Ireland.
I first judged at Championship level in 1989 and became an All Breeds judge in 2019 and was very proud in that year to judge Best in Show at the Irish Kennel Club St Patrick’s Day Show. I was delighted and honoured to judge all four varieties of Belgian Shepherds at Crufts between 2017 & 2018 and to have judged all over Europe as well as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the USA. I judged at the European Winners Show in Denmark in 2023 and I will hopefully judge at the European Winners Show in Sweden in 2026 as well as the Pastoral Group at Crufts in 2027.
I am currently a Director of the Irish Kennel Club and I have formerly served as Chairman of the Judges Committee of the Irish Kennel Club. This will be a first visit to Croatia for me and I am really looking forward to it and am already working on my dance moves…”
Helen Tonkson, Estonia
“- Estonian Kennel Union Chairman of the Board (since 2023)
– Former President of Estonian Kennel Union (2014-2020)
– FCI General Assemble Chairman
– FCI Disciplinary and Arbitration Commission member
– Europe Section´s representative in the FCI Financial Commission
– Estonian Show Judges Committee member 2006-2010
– Estonian Kennel Union, proxy and auditor 2002-2006
– Estonian Society of the Staffordshire Bull Terriers, member of the board
– Estonian Terrier Club, former member of the board.
– Founding member of Great Dane Club and former vice-chairman
Engaged in breeding Staffordshire Bullterriers and Miniature Bullterriers under the affix MOONCRAFT´S since 1996 and breed over 100 Champions – among them several World Winners, European Winners, Crufts class winners, many International and National Champions, USA Champions, Latin-America, Nordic, Baltic, Eurasia, National Champions and Winners. Mooncraft´s kennel has been the TOP-kennel of the year. Helen has owned and shown also Great Danes and a Rough Collie.
Helen got her judges license in year 2000 and judged several International Shows among them World Dog Show 2018 in Amsterdam, World Dog Show 2022 in Brazil, European Dog Show 2021 in Hungary, European Dog Show 2023 in Denmark, Belgium „50-th Eurodogshow“ and Germany „VDH-Europaseiger Show“, Eurasia Winner and Baltic Winner shows. Helen has been invited to judge also the European Dog Show 2020 in Slovenia and World Dog Show 2024 in Croatia.
Helen also judged several Specialty Shows – Amsterdam WDS Terrier Show 2018 (Best in Show judge); Australia Staffordshire Bullterrier Club Specialty Show; Denmark Terrier Festival (Terrier Club 90-th year Anniversary Terrier Festival – Best in Show judge); Belgium C.E.T.S (Continental Europe Trophy Show for Bullterriers & Miniature Bullterriers); Belgium American Staffordshire Terrier Specialty; Czech Republic Bullterrier Club Specialty Show; Chile Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bullterrier Club Show; INTERRA Show 2021 in Hungary; Finland (Finnish Terrier Club main show, Bullterrier Club Trophy and Open Show, Staffordshire Bullterrier & American Staffordshire Terrier Club Show); Germany (VDH-GBF Bayern-Cup and Bull-type Terriers Club Show, VDH-DCBT Club Show); North Ireland Terrier Association Specialty Show; Latvian Terrier and Molos Specialty Show; Lithuania (Bullterrier Club Show, Terrier Club Show); Norway EDS Terrier Club Show; Slovenia Terrier Club Show (Best in Show judge) and Amstaff Major (Best in Show judge); Spain (Terrier Club Show); Sweden (Terrier Club Show); Great Dane Club Show; Mastiffs Club Show.
Helen has judged Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Miniature Bull Terriers at Championship Show (CC) level in England and have ROM status for Standard and Miniature Bullterriers in Australia.”
Tom Isherwood, UK
“I’ve been fascinated about the world of dogs since a child, first attending Crufts in 1992 and eventually a few years later attaining my first show dog, a Papillon.
I left school at 16 and immediately started working with dogs professionally as an owner, breeder, handler and dog groomer. Over the next 24 years to the present day I have bred and owned champions in all sizes of Poodles, Chinese Cresteds, Affenpinschers, Bichons Frise, Papillons and Clumber Spaniels including multiple group and All breed Best In Show winners.
Notably the UK’s # 1 All breeds in 2010, Nora the Chinese Crested and the Crufts 2022 RBIS winner Waffle the Toy Poodle.
My first UK judging appointment was over 20 years ago and I have now had the privilege of judging Specialties and all breed shows in numerous countries around the world including Japan, USA, Italy, France, Russia, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
I’m very much looking forward to my first time in Croatia judging at this iconic show.”
Jean Lawless, Ireland
“I am originally from Dublin and I now live in Kildare, just south of the capital. My family always had dogs but my involvement in the world of show dogs began when I met Paul in the late 1980’s. We are best known for our Revloch Belgian Shepherd Dogs and Schipperkes, but in the past we have also owned Australian Silky Terriers, Rottweilers and Bullmastiffs. We have won numerous World and European Winner titles in our breeds and we also bred and own Multi Ch Revloch Figo, the first and only BSD Groenendael to win BIS at an All Breeds Championship Show in the UK and Ireland. I first judged at Championship level in 1994 and became an All Breeds judge earlier this year. I was delighted and honoured to judge all four varieties of Belgian Shepherds at Crufts between 2017 & 2018 and to have judged all over Europe as well as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the USA. This will be my first visit to Croatia, it was always on my bucket list to attend the Split Four Summer Nights, so even extra special to judge here now.”
Nemanja Jovanovic, Serbia
“Nemanja Jovanović is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Under the prefix Heartily, he is breeding West Highland White Terriers, Boston Terriers and Jack Russel Terriers. He is also co-owning few Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Many of his dogs became National and International champions. He also bred and made up several World and European winners, Club winners, BIS and BISS winners.
Nemanja Jovanović is an FCI All Breed Judge. He judged at many International and National shows in more than 50 countries on all continents.
He judged at the World dog shows in Helsinki, Moscow, Amsterdam & Geneve and at the European dog shows in Brno, Brussells, Warsaw, Budapest & Paris, and has also judged the Melbourne Royal show.”
Alberto Cuccillato, Italy
“Alberto Cuccillato was born in Naples in 1956 and in 1983 he started breeding English Cocker Spaniels (Di Cesarina Kennel) producing several Champions in the course of thirty years of breeding; activity currently suspended.
Starting June 2003 he is a national Judge ENCI and from 2005 an International judge Enci/FCI.
Currently Alberto is an all-rounder judge and also a trainer and examiner for new judges.
Alberto Cuccillato judged in all the most prestigious Italian Dog Shows, have been invited further to judge more times in France (twice to the Championnat de France) and in Finland and then in Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Norwey, Belgium, Holland, Latvia, Estonia, Lituania, Republic of San Marino, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia Erzegovina, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, Bielorussia, Cina, Russia, Australia, Argentina, Austria and USA.”
Jorge Nallem, Uruguay
“Owner of “El Retorno” Kennels. Breeder of Wire and Smooth Fox Terriers, Standard Schnauzers, Whippets, Beagles, Boxers, Short haired Dachshunds, Greyhounds, Irish Setters and Cimarron Uruguayo. He has achieved more than 200 all breed Bests in Show with his dogs participating in many countries as well as many World Winner titles. He became a Fox Terrier judge in 1987, and an All Breed FCI judge in 1996. Specialist judge for Dachshunds, Old English Sheepdogs, Boxers, Dobermanns, Schnauzers, Fox Terriers, Basset Hounds, Irish Setters, Poodles, Shih-Tzus and Afghan Hounds. Member of the FCI Standard Commission since 1999, President since 2015. President of the Kennel Club Uruguayo (1996-2000, 2004-2008, 2014-2016). President of the judges committee of the KCU (2000-2004, 2010-2012 2013-2014, 2016-2018, 2019-2020, 2021-2022) He has been President of the Cimarron Uruguayo Breeder Society, and councilor of the KCU several times since 1989. Trainer of new judges in Uruguay and expounder at the America´s and Caribbean Judges Congress in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009. Expounder on first FCI World Judges Congress in Kiev 2017 and Moscow 2020, Mexico 2022. FCI Delegate for Americas and Caribbean Show 1999, 2003, 2005 and for the World Dog Show 2005 (Argentina). He has judged in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, all South American countries, most of European and Asian countries. He judged at the World Dog Shows in Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Sweden, Hungary, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, China, Spain, Brazil; at Section FCI Shows of Americas and Caribe at Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina, México, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador; and European Section Shows in Finland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Ukraine, Hungary and France, at AKC Invitational Eukanuba World Challenger in USA. In Australia at the Royals of Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Sydney.”
Saija Juutilainen, Finland
“Breeds owned / bred: Saluki, German Pincher and Labrador Retriever. Breeder since: 1979 Prefix: Wallaby’s. Languages: Finnish, English, Swedish. Year of first qualification: 1999 I have judged in following countries: besides Finland, in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine and USA. Qualified to judge: All Breeds. Already in my child hood, I used to live with dogs, because my grandparents had a Rough Collie and later a Welsh Corgi Pembroke. In the late 60´s, we lived in Helsinki and I saw formal President Urho Kekkonen walking with his Borzois, which he had as a presents from the Soviet Union – my very first contact to Sighthounds. My parents bought their first pedigree dog in the early 70´s – a Karelian Bear Dog for elk hunting and we had a Bear Dog litter, with seven puppies at home. My first, own dog, was a black & tan German Pinscher bitch and I bred my first own litter with seven puppies, in the July 1979.
Dogs have been an important part of my everyday life ever since the 1960s – for that reason, one can easily draw the conclusion that I am a well over middle-aged, passionate friend of dogs. My grandparents had a few Lassie-like shepherd dogs and later a Welsh Corgi. We always had dogs at home, everything from Karelian Bear Dogs to Pinschers. We got our first Saluki in the autumn of 1980 and started breeding them in 1984. So far, we have had altogether 28 litters. I have also bred one Pinscher litter in the summer of 1979. Today we have three Salukis and a Labrador Retriever at home.
The Saluki has always been The Breed for me in all respects – even though I sometimes feel that my hands are completely full during our walks when we meet dogs or people we know, not to mention cats and bunnies! The intelligence and ease of the Saluki make everyday life together comfortable. On the other hand, their independence and stubbornness make my blood pressure go up from time to time. Nowadays, my work in the Customs, judging appointments and hobbies fill my calendar years ahead and take up a great part of my time. Consequently, I do not breed as much for now – I like however to follow up on the development of the breed and litters both in Finland and abroad.
I felt that studying to become a dog show judge was a natural way for me to pursue my interest in dogs; ever since I got involved with dogs, I had been active in different clubs as a secretary, member of show committees, as a ring steward and as chair of the Finnish Saluki Club from 1995 to 2003. Today, I am in charge of training new judges into the secrets of the breed. Studying and judging different breeds is continuous learning and that is why it is interesting – I also feel that it gives one new points of view for understanding and judging one’s own breed. The first time I judged Salukis was at an unofficial show in Sweden in 1997. This gave me the idea of applying to a judge’s course. I authorized to judge Salukis in the summer of 1999 and today I am judging all breeds. Judging appointments have taken me to several different countries and I love to come and judge in famous Split Summer Show 2024.”
Boris Chapiro, France
“An all-rounder judge of the French Kennel Club ( Societe Centrale Canine).
Started his cynological career in the late 1980-es.
His first breeds were Rottweilers and Dobermans. After that was a breeder of American Staffordshire Terrriers for 20 years (*Neusky Perspective* kennel). Has handled numerous international champions and champions of many countries, the dogs from his kennel were prize-winners of European and World Dog Shows.
During the last 18 years together with his wife has been breeding Apricot and Red Standard Poodles (* Iz Volzhskoy Serenady* kennel). Proud to have many World and European Champions as well as Champions of many countries, born in the kennel.
Has judged many prestigious international dog shows in France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Romania, Croatia, Russia, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Moldova, Slovakia, Slovenia, Belarus, Poland, Finland, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Turkey, Hungary, the Ukraine, Israel, Thailand, Argentina, Switzerland, Greece, Canada.
Was a member of Judging Teams of World Dog Shows in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2021 and European Dog Shows in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 & 2021.”