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2018 Grand American Bench Show Judges

Grand American is proud to announce...

November 20, 2017

The following individuals are featured as bench show judges for the Grand American, held in Orangeburg, South Carolina, January 4-6, 2018

Friday's show will be judged by Jamie Criggers:
Jamie states, "I am from Prince George, Virginia. I am a machine operator in a Hummus factory. I got started in coonhounds very early on; my dad took me coon hunting before I could walk. We hunted and showed both Treeing Walker hounds and Black and Tans. My uncle taught me how to bench show around 8 years old. I started helping him show his hounds. My parents bought me my first show and hunting dog when I was 10. I stopped showing in my mid-teens. I got back into hounds and started breeding Redbones in 2006. I do bench, conformation, field trials, water race, and nite hunt (water races being my favorite). I have owned, shown and loved all the different coon hound breeds, but the Redbone is my heart. My biggest wins were Opposite Sex at Autumn Oaks 2011 & Overall Grand American in 2012. My greatest accomplishment is being the breeder of the 2010 National Grand Show Champion. I have judged the Virginia State Youth & Virginia State Championship. I am a Director on the American Redbone Association and a Trustee on the National Redbone Association boards. Outside of hounds, I enjoy bow hunting, deer hunting & kayaking."

Saturday's judge will be Michael Seets:
Michael is from Stone Fork, Illinois where he and his wife, Myra, raise and train coonhounds. Mike has been an English breeder since 1978, but loves all breeds, as we have seen in his many accomplishments within all the breed standings over the years. Mike has judged almost every major bench show event including The World Show, Autumn Oaks, and the Winter Classic. Not only has he judged these events, but Mike has won almost all the major events as well. Mike has 14 World Champion titles in various Kennel Clubs. He has won the Purina Outstanding Bench Show Coonhound of the Year six different times with four different dogs. Mike has made his mark on the bench show world and has some pretty talented grandkids following in his footsteps! We look forward to watching the future of our sport in the next few years.

New at Grand American this year: a Youth Spotlight Series Bench Show has been added, judged by Rebecca Sox! From Wegener, South Carolina, Rebecca began showing AKC Pembroke Welsh Corgis at 13 years old, as well as handling a Gordon Setter, English Setter, and German Shepherd. Much later she found the joy of coon hunting, and showing coonhound breeds. While enjoying the dog shows, she was also competing in barrel racing, in which she is still active today. Rebecca has a daughter, Claudia Sox, who also is a competitive horse women, and an avid deer hunter.

We look forward to another great set of shows!

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