It was an all-Australian final at the Good Citizen Dog Scheme (GCDS) Annual Supermatch competition, held for the third time at the Kennel Club Building in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire on Sunday 17th December 2017.
Best in Match was won by Valentino (Soloyal Valentino), a 20 month-old Australian Shepherd from Middlewich, Cheshire, owned by Joanne Such and handled by Lucy Green.
Reserve Best in Match was also won by an Australian Shepherd named Roxy (Ch Allmark Razzle Dazzle Em at Jazdaze). The two year-old bitch is the half-sister of winner Valentino, and is owned by Janet Collins and Neville Uden from Burston, Staffordshire and was handled by Janet on the day.
There were 61 entries overall at the match, which were split into 28 dogs and 33 bitches. The judges, who were announced on the day, were Toni Jackson (dogs) and Richard Stafford (bitches). Competitors were entered into a random draw, and were judged over a series of knockout rounds until a Best of Match was declared.
The GCDS Supermatch was created to recognise and reward exhibitors who support the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme through breed classes and AV GCDS Stakes classes at championship shows.
The competition aims to highlight the role of the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme in providing training and welfare education to owners across the whole spectrum of dog activities.
The GCDS Supermatch is open to dogs in the GCDS breed classes at general, group or single breed championship shows. To be eligible, dogs must have:
- Won a GCDS breed specific class (single or mixed sex) at a general or group championship show, or
- Won a GCDS class (single or mixed sex) at a breed specific championship show, or
- Been placed 1st – 5th in the AV GCDS Stakes classes held each day at general or group championship shows.
The GCDS celebrated its 25th birthday this year and has awarded certificates to over 600,000 dogs.
To enter GCDS Classes at championship shows, all dogs must have achieved at least the GCDS Bronze Award level.