New Page 2

David H Bates

B List

I have lived with ridgebacks all my life, the first male RR to come into our family was Ridinghills Stroller. My mother went onto make him up a champion and he was to become the foundation of the Gunthwaite Kennels.

Although I have been involved with the dogs in all aspects my main hobby was showing and breeding the Old English Game Birds. I had my first Best in Show at the age of 5 years old which was to become the first of many. I was privileged to be invited to judge at the Old English Game Club Show at the age of 21 and later that year I was asked to judge the Big Game at the National Poultry Club of Great Britain (which is the Crufts of the Poultry World) and have continued to judge the game birds at the highest level both here and abroad since then.

The photograph below is of a grey pullet that I bred, she won everything there was to win.

At the age of 30 I decided that I would like to have a go at handling the dogs and since then I have taken various ridgebacks through to winning top honours and also through to their championship title.

I judged my first Championship Show at Driffield (4.10.06) albiet without challenge certificates and had a lovely quality entry and thoroughly enjoyed the day. My Best of Breed then went onto make the split in the Hound Group.

The photograph below is of the bitch that I handled through to Best of Breed at Crufts 2004 and she then went onto make the split down to the final 8 in the Hound Group. What a day was had by all.

Back to Judges Page