Australian Shepherd Association of NSW Inc

Ms Gail Karamalegos (USA) came out to officiate for us at Easter 2014. Gail is an ASCA Senior Breeder Judge as well as an AKC Breeder Judge and has judged across the US (including at Nationals) and Europe. This is her first trip down under. This was the NSW club's first US breed specialist.

Gail's Autobiography:

26 years ago, I was sitting in the stands at a local rodeo in Snook, Texas, when I saw my first Australian Shepherd. I had no idea what kind of dog it was that was in the arena, with its bob tail and strange coloration (dark blue merle), doing tricks and helping the clown deal with the occasional contrary bull, but I asked a nearby cowboy if he knew what kind of dog it was, and he said "Aussie-- Australian Shepherd." At that moment, I knew that I wanted a dog like that, so I did what most people did in those days-- I looked in the classified section of the local paper. There was one ad for Aussie puppies, and I called the man, Thomas Brady, to see if he had any pups left. He said he had two, they were 8 weeks old, and I drove out to his ranch to see them. One was a striking dark red merle bitch with very minimal white, and I bought her for $60. He owned both parents -- the sire was a Slash V bred dog who turned out to be a CH Slash V Buckeye Bobby son, and the dam was bred by Joel Finch of Tex-Star Aussies -- and they were working ranch dogs. Luckily, Terry Martin (Slash V Aussies-- ASCA Hall of Fame Kennel) lived nearby, and I met her and learned a great deal about the background of my puppy and the breed in general. To say I was hooked is an understatement.

Over a year later, I met Lauri Butler of Cimarron Aussies, and purchased my first conformation bred puppy, who became my first champion-- CH Cimarron's Callie Rose. Lauri and I became best friends and I learned how to handle for the show ring. Seven years later, she tragically died of a heart attack, and I was on my own. I had learned so much from her, but I took it much further, studying canine structure & gait from the most knowledgeable people in the dog world, but always maintaining a tremendous respect for the working background of the breed. Over the years since I began in this breed, I finished 7 Cimarron dogs and 27 Callisto dogs in conformation, and have produced dogs with multiple titles in herding, agility, rally, flyball, and obedience. My foundation sire, CH Cimarron's Sterling Silver achieved ASCA Hall of Fame (HOF) Sire and AKC ROMX-I sire, his daughter CH Callisto's Rosie O'Donnell achieved ASCA HOF Dam, and her daughter CH Callisto's Ziggy Stardust only needs one more qualifying titled offpring for her ASCA HOF Dam. In 2012, my kennel achieved ASCA Hall of Fame Kennel, which for me is the pinnacle of everything I wanted. I have specialed 5 dogs to the ASCA Top 10 over the past 17 years, with numerous National Specialty Premier awards, Best Stud Dog, and Best Brood Bitch, and done so while maintaining the moderation that is so important to the breed.

The natural progression for me was to become a judge. By profession, I've been an Occupational Therapist for 37 years, and have an acute awareness of kinesiology, anatomy, and have spent countless hours studying how animals (not just people!) move and function. I had my first ASCA breeder judge assignment in 2001, and reached Senior Breeder Judge status in 2006, and I became an AKC judge in 2005. One of the greatest pleasures of being a judge is the privilege of travelling to various parts of the U.S. and overseas, and I have often conducted breed seminars on some of my trips to Europe as well. The people I have met in Finland, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, France, and Belgium, have always made me feel so very welcome!! Travelling the world and seeing Aussies in other countries, and getting to judge them, is the most incredible experience.

Years ago, I served on the ASCA Breed Standard Review Committee, and I've been a member of the ASCA Conformation Committee now for several years. I'm a founding member of Eastex Australian Shepherd Club, and have served as an officer, show secretary, steward, and general do-it-all person. These have often been thankless jobs, but have been rewarding nonetheless.

Writing a bio is hard-- I never know how much to write, and there's always things left out when you think about them later on. But a very large part of my life has been devoted to this wonderful breed, and I hope that I have given as much to the breed as I've received.

Saturday, 19 April 2014

Judge: Ms Gail Karamalegos (USA)

Baby Puppy Dog

Minor Puppy Dog

Puppy Dog

Junior Dog

Intermediate Dog

Australian Bred Dog

Open Dog

Baby Puppy Bitch

Minor Puppy Bitch

Puppy Bitch

Junior Bitch

Intermediate Bitch

Australian Bred Bitch

Open Bitch

Neuter Dog

Neuter Bitch

Property Classes

Gaited Dog

Gaited Bitch

Headed Dog

Headed Bitch

Best Footed

Best Merle

Best Solid

MVA Dogs

MVA Bitch

Breeders Team

Obedience Judge: Ms J Walder (NSW)

Open

Community Companion Dog

Rally Obedience Judge: Mrs Sue Fedoryschyn (NSW)

Excellent B

Advanced B

Advanced A

Novice