Poodle Variety Magazine January-March 2025 - January – March 2025

Gina Wieser
Toys

Gina received her first AKC Toy Poodle as a gift from her mother on her 10th birthday, the start of it all. Her mother was an avid dog lover, a passion passed down from her father. By the following year, there were multiple show Poodles in Gina’s family which eventually became the home of Hell’s-a-Blazen Poodles. Located on five acres of farmland in Connecticut, Hell’sa- Blazen was built with the guidance of their mentor, Wendell Sammet. Gina’s mother, Frances, was the driving force behind the development of Hell’s-a-Blazen. In 1975, Gina became a licensed AKC professional handler and continued actively breeding and showing with her mother. Hell’s-a-Blazen has bred approximately 200 champion Poodles worldwide and continues to be present in most white Toy Poodle pedigrees today.

In 2005, Gina’s show and breeding kennel, located north of Tampa, FL, suffered a total loss following a pounding hurricane. While moving through the slow reconstruction process, in March 2006, Gina decided to accept a position as an AKC Executive Field Representative. She worked for 14 years covering the Midwest region. She also presented the PCA Poodle Judges’ Education for AKC Advanced Judges’ Institutes, was a regional rep for the AKC Registered Handlers Program and traveled to China as an educator during the development of the NGKC judging base.

Gina’s involvement with Judges’ Education began in the 70’s with the Dover Poodle Group, a Poodle education group under the tutelage of Jim & Annie Clark.

Retiring from AKC in 2020, Gina now judges and is actively involved with her parent club, Poodle Club of America. Gina serves PCA as a breed mentor, Junior Education Chairperson, and Judges’ Education Director. She works as the general manager for a designer boutique, active in her local city government and board member of the Weston-Platte City Kiwanis Club.

The small town of Weston, MO is home for Gina and her husband, Cliff. The resident fur-babies are Ziggy the Toy Poodle, Mary Frances the Chi, and Tula the cat. Gina and Cliff have two sons, Nate and Danny, and five awesome grandchildren.

Mrs. Helen G. Tomb-Taylor
Miniature Poodles

Helen Tomb-Taylor is highly regarded in the Poodle breeding community. She is particularly known for her expertise in judging and selecting top quality show Poodles, with reviews often highlighting her discerning eye for breed standards and commitment to producing healthy, beautiful dogs.

She has finished 40 Miniature Poodle champions, many owner-handled. She is an active member of Poodle Club of America, Bluebonnet Poodle Club and Houston Kennel Club. She has been active in dogs since 1982 and judging since 2003.

Michael Gadsby (UK)
Standards

The prefix “AFTERGLOW” was registered by Michael Gadsby over 40 years ago. It produced a champion and group winner in the second recorded American Cocker litter. This American Cocker was the beginning of what would become one of the UK’s most successful kennels ever.

There have now been over 150 British champions owned and/or bred across 22 different breeds. Included are 17 different BIS winners in American Cockers, PBGV, Afghan Hounds, Toy and Standard Poodles.

Breeder of 2 Crufts Supreme BIS winners and a further 3 Crufts Res BIS winners in three different breeds.

On 4 occasions, the kennel has produced the Top Dog All Breeds in the UK. Twice with Standard Poodles and twice with American Cockers.

Mike has judged extensively around the world, and in the UK, awards CCs in 37 breeds and judges 4 groups and BIS.

Mr. Jack MacGillivray
Inter-variety

My career in dogs began in 1969 at age 19 when I acquired a beautiful Airedale from the famous Terrier handlers, Tom and Ann Gately. Due to my schooling, I was only able to show the Airedale one time, winning a 5-point major and Best of Breed at the Rio Grande Kennel Club show in hometown Albuquerque, NM.

In 1970, Cindy and I were married. She influenced me away from Airedales and toward Poodles. As I completed college, we attended many shows in the southwest and eastern U.S. as spectators. Soon after beginning a family and finishing school, we acquired a beautiful Standard Poodle that was already the winner of the William Penn Futurity in Pennsylvania, and already a Canadian champion. She was Ch. Pannovia’s Lady Jane from Toronto and was a combination of the Wycliffe and Lowmont lines. She was also the last champion sired by the famous producer, Can. Ch. Bibelot’s Tall, Dark, & Handsome. Cindy and I began showing Janie in 1974.

Cindy acquired great skill with grooming and I loved handling. We owner-handled as a team. In that era, Standards were very popular and entries in bitches would number anywhere from 15 - 25 at the shows we attended. In highly competitive shows, Janie quickly earned her U.S. title and several group placements. We then retired her to become our foundation in Standards.

We then turned our interest to Toys and acquired the wonderful Cardin Tiffany Gem, a puppy out of the English import, BIS Ch. Capilon Toy Gem. Tiffy had exceptional type for the time and drew immediate attention from prominent judges and breeders. She had exquisite bone to size, proportion, with wonderful front shoulders and side movement. She finished under breeder-judges and won several groups. Later, she produced the group winner and PCA puppy winner, Ch. Montec MacGillivray, the most notable of her offspring. We continued to breed Toys very selectively and had several Toy champions; however, none were as fine as our original Tiffy. We have always held Toys close to our hearts and have always had one living with us since we were married.

Our first Standard litter from Janie was quite special. Our favorite, Ch. MacGillivray High Interest, began a successful career with her BOV win from the BBE class under James Clark at PCA in 1979. Her littermate, Ch. MacGillivray Tax Exempt, went Reserve from the open class.

The 1980’s were very rewarding for Cindy and I as we selectively showed our homebred Standards and Toys mostly at specialty shows in the southwest. At the same time, we were fortunate to have several of our champions campaigned in the east by Paul Edwards. Most prized, however, was always PCA, where we had many owner-handled wins. We had the time of our lives during those years and retired from active breeding and showing in the early 1990’s.

In 1996, I became licensed to judge Poodles. Since that time, I have been elected to judge at the Poodle Club of America 7 times, Standard variety 3 times, Toy variety 2 times and the Intervariety 2 times. I have also judged in Australia 2 times, New Zealand 1 time, and dozens of Poodle specialties throughout the U.S. and Canada.

I served on the Board of Governors of PCA for nearly 30 years between 1980 and 2016, including two years as PCA President.

Wishing everyone a great time and good luck at the PCA National Specialty!

POODLE VARIETY AD DEADLINE for the PCA SPECIALTY ISSUE MAY 20TH

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