International Juniors, Then and Now

Photos by Yossi Guy

Over the decades, junior handling has become an important part of the dog-show world. The pinnacle of this sport abroad is the Crufts International Junior Handling competition, which takes place every year in March.

For most overseas Juniors, competing at Crufts is at the top of their wish list. It also comes with lifelong friendships with people the world over. Many competitors polish up their English before and after going there.

Having interviewed quite a few Crufts Junior handlers over the years, I often asked them how they saw their future. A large percentage said they would continue on to become professional handlers and successful breeders, while others expressed their link with the world of dogs by planning to become vets, for example.

Recently I checked in with several former Junior handlers, some of whom represented their country at Crufts over the years and others who excelled in this sport at other important events like the European and World dog shows.

Yuri Gorbachick, 24, Belarus

Yuri began handling at the age of 12. His first dog was a Boxer, but his handling career started with a Russian Toy named “Nonna,” his first show dog who still lives in his house as the foundation of the “Great Olgoria” kennel. A top 10 finalist at Crufts in 2020, the World Dog Show in 2017 and the European Dog Show in 2017, Yuri was top three at the Eurasia show in 2018 with more than 150 Juniors competing. As a child, Yuri wanted to become a vet — a goal he achieved in 2022. In addition to working at a veterinary clinic, Yuri is also a professional handler, opening a handling center for dogs and owners with a close friend. Last year, Yuri began judging Juniors — he is the only person in his country who is a Juniors judge without being a regular breed judge as well.

Mind Supasin, 27, Thailand

I met Mind for the first time at the 2011 Paris World Show when he was a very small boy handling a Thai Ridgeback. He then came to Crufts a couple of times on his own, without anyone accompanying him —  quite unusual. He did well there under Dr. Tamas Jakkel, who judged Junior handling. Now 27 years old, Mind works as an all-breed handler, Juniors judge, breeder and handling instructor. Mind studied chemistry at a university in Thailand but did not graduate because he spent most of his time breeding and showing.

Naomi Van Mourik, 28, Netherlands

Naomi started showing at eight years old, learning by watching at ringside and studying videos of breed rings in the U.S. In 2011, she won second place in Junior handling at Crufts under German judge Christofer Habig. Two years later she won the whole shebang at Crufts under American professional handler Bill McFadden, also taking Best Junior later that year at the World Dog Show in Hungary under British all-rounder Liz Cartledge — a two-fer accomplishment that to date has remained unmatched.

Naomi’s goal was always to become a professional handler and then a judge. Twenty years after she first set foot in the ring, today she gives handling lessons, trains dogs for clients, and has finished many champions as well as winning a couple of Bests in Shows. Having bred Bullmastiffs and French Bulldogs, she soon intends to start with a new breed: Smooth Dachshunds.

Borja Thovar, 30, Spain

Borja’s first time presenting a dog was when he was just two, in the Mini competition with a Chihuahua from Pepe and Josie Requena. Raised with Schnauzers, the breed his grandparents bred, Borja represented Spain at Crufts several times.

“Crufts has that special ‘something,’” he says. “It’s an event that resonates deeply with everyone involved, whether they are Junior handlers, professional handlers, or lifelong breeders and owners. The mix of emotions — joy, apprehension and tension — creates an environment where lasting friendships are formed. Many of those friendships have stood the test of time.”

Always aspiring to become a professional dog handler, today Borja is just that, with many World Winners, European Winners and Best in Show titles in various countries. A particularly special moment for him was placing third in the Terrier Group at Crufts in 2020 — the last major show before the Covid pandemic.

While Borja doesn’t breed dogs himself, his family continues to breed black Miniature Schnauzers.

Currently a Juniors judge, he may expand to conformation and possibly hunt tests in the future.

Patrick Oware, 30, Norway

Patrick graduated from law school in August 2020 and since then has worked as a lawyer at a firm in Norway’s capital city of Oslo. He is still very much involved in dogs, breeding and showing Flat-Coated Retrievers under the Almanza prefix with Ragnhild Uhlin, Susanne Karlstrøm and Anna Lindgren. For years he has been judging Junior handling and has gotten some prestigious assignments in several countries picking country representatives for Crufts and national championships. He has started his judge education at the Norwegian Kennel Club. The absolute top moment of his life with dogs was winning Best in Show at Crufts with “Baxer,” his multi-champion Almanza Backseat Driver.

Fabricio Pistone, 22, Germany

Now residing in Croatia, Fabricio breeds Australian Shepherds, Miniature American Shepherds and Dachshunds under the “Nizio’s” prefix with his fiancé Nikola. Still showing dogs, he has many World Winners, European Winners and Best in Show wins to his credit. While not a breed judge — yet — Fabricio has had the opportunity to judge Junior handling at many international shows, including big events like the 4 Summer Night Dog Shows in Split, Croatia; Junior handling finals in Switzerland and Slovakia, and at the European Dog Show in Slovenia later this year.

Paulina Lisiak, 29, Poland

Dogs have been in Paulina’s life for as long as she can remember. At eight years old, Paulina walked into the breed ring for the first time, and her standard Wirehaired Dachshund won the breed. Soon after, the family was joined by a German Shorthaired Pointer — the breed with which Paulina started her adventure in Junior handling.

Paulina’s “huge dream come true” was winning the Junior handling final at the world-famous Crufts show in Birmingham in 2011, showing a German Shorthaired Pointer and a Golden Retriever.

Paulina has always known that dogs would be an integral part of her life, but she also knew she wanted to help people — and the dog world has always motivated her not to give up on her goals. So today Paulina is not only a breeder and handler, but also a medical doctor. Last year she took over the “Anons” kennel, which she previously ran with her father. In 2021, she became chair of Poland’s Junior Handling Commission, holding this position for three years, and she doesn’t rule out a future judging career.

“I breed breeds that I really love and feel for,” she says — including Wirehaired Dachshunds and GSPs — “and I think that’s the real key to success.”