2009 AKC National Tracking Invitational

Judges

• Terri Everwine – Barrington, IL

  Terri Everwine has been involved in the sport of dogs since the age of 12 when she owned an unregistered poodle. She satisfied her desire to show dogs by organizing and running a children's charity dog show with a friend. This charity dog show continued for seven years before the pair acquired registered dogs they could show at AKC events.

  Everwine's interest in obedience and conformation quickly grew to include field trials and tracking. She began tracking in 1979, just before the TDX title was born, with a German Shorthaired Pointer. After earning her TD, she pursued obedience, field trials, and hunt test titles. Soon after, she began judging pointing breed hunt tests.

  After attaining Senior and Master Hunter titles on her GSPs, she returned to tracking and earned the TDX on her original GSP. She also titled her other GSPs and Poodles to their TDs and TDXs.

  A friend introduced Everwine to Flat-Coated Retrievers and that relationship enabled her to finish her first CT title. Due to her husband's worsening allergies, the family has switched exclusively to poodles. The poodles that Everwine has owned and/or bred have earned titles in conformation, tracking, obedience, rally, agility, and even herding. Last year, Everwine finished her second CT, this time with an owner bred and handled Miniature Poodle.

  Everwine currently teaches tracking classes for both Rand Park Dog Training Club and Moraine Tracking club, and she has helped many others earn tracking titles over the years. She began judging tracking tests in 1991. She is honored to have been asked to judge at this year's National Tracking Invitational.

  Back to Top

• Jerry Lewis – Urbandale, IA

  Jerry Lewis is an active member of the Des Moines Obedience Training Club and the Des Moines Golden Retriever Club. He is approved to judge all levels of tracking and is very fortunate to have a Golden Retriever, CT Chammy, that has taken him through the steps to a VCD4 title. In addition to judging and working his own dogs, he conducts seminars and tracking workshops to help those both new and experienced to further the sport of AKC Tracking.

  Lewis is the author of VST - A Journey Worth Pursuing. All proceeds of the book go to the Golden Retriever Club of America's cancer research.

  Lewis currently lives in Urbandale, Iowa. He and Karen, his wife of 48 years, have one daughter, Debbie Ascher of Colorado. A graduate from Grand View College and Drake University, Lewis served for 35 years in the information systems area as a computer software and systems administrator. He is deeply honored to be judging the 2009 AKC National Tracking Invitational and wishes each exhibitor the best of luck.

  Back to Top

• Fran Smith – West Palm Beach, FL

  Fran Smith calls herself "the official tracking junkie." Since she was first bitten by the tracking bug back in the mid 80s, it has been her passion. She started as an enthusiastic beginner and has gone on to judge all tracking levels. She has judged over a hundred tracking tests since her tracking career began and attended another hundred tests in other capacities (secretary, tracklayer, exhibitor, and spectator).

  Smith has earned TDs, TDXs and VSTs on her own dogs. When not at a tracking test, she spends her weekends teaching tracking and cannot think of anything more fun than a day in the fields with the dogs tracking.

  Smith was thrilled to be asked to judge at the 2009 National Tracking Invitational. She and her sister, Margi Lehnertz, have attended every NTI and Smith has been lucky enough to have laid tracks at each of them.

  Back to Top

• Ron Simmons – Mill Valley, CA

  Ron Simmons has always loved dogs and had a Boxer, a Cocker Spaniel, and a Puli while growing up. He and his wife started participating in AKC events with their German Shepherd in 1965. While the Marin County Dog Training Club was in existence, Simmons offered obedience and tracking training for the club for 25 years. He was also actively involved with the 4-H Guide Dog Puppy Project for many years. Simmons and his wife are currently active members of Norcal Golden Retriever Club.

  In 1972, Simmons was licensed to judge TD tests and is currently approved to judge all levels of tracking. Additionally, he worked closely with the AKC in developing the current TDX test and was one of the first TDX judges on the west coast. Simmons is also approved to judge all obedience levels.

  Over the years, the Simmons have added two Beagles, one Pug, and five Golden Retrievers to their home. They have earned one UD, three CDXs, six CDs, one RN, four TDs, one TDX, and three breed championships on their companions. Simmons is currently working a Golden in VST and their Golden puppy in obedience and tracking.

  Simmons is now retired after teaching physical and biological science at the middle school level for 37 years.

  Back to Top