Breed profile · Rhodesian Ridgeback specialty history

Rhodesian Ridgeback specialty history

The full record of the Rhodesian Ridgeback’s national and regional specialties, year by year — dates, venues, judges, entries, and winners, with sources. The current year is shown in full on the breed profile; this page is the archive.

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2026

National specialty

The 94th National Specialty — Saturday, October 10–Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Hotel Topeka at City Center, 1717 SW Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, Kansas 66612. The national conformation ran Wednesday, October 14 through Friday, October 16, with Best of Breed judged Friday, October 16. Entries closed at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Event Chair: Lynn Miller. Event Secretary: Diana Komarek. Superintendent: Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd. The national drew 314 dogs and 337 entries in conformation.

The week ran the full Ridgeback program: obedience and rally, sweepstakes, the 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy competition, junior showmanship, stud dog, brood bitch, and brace classes, the Top 25 on Thursday, October 15, and lure coursing on Saturday, October 17, at Jacomo State Park. The judging program listed 353 dogs and 501 entries for the whole week.

Results (2026 national). Best of Breed: GCH CH Rivercity’s Wrapped In Dreams, a bitch, owned by Judith & James Chapman, Linda Hellinge, and Lauren Hay-Lavitt, bred by Howie Bailiff, Crystal Bailiff, Troy L. Abney, and Judith Chapman. Best of Opposite Sex: GCHP CH Camelot’s Godfather BCAT. Best Junior Handler: Peyton Pasquini; Reserve Best Junior Handler: Hunter Olson. Reserve Winners Dog: Azize’s Lionhearted Berkut. Winners Dog, Winners Bitch, and Best of Winners are unconfirmed.

Regional specialties

Regional Rhodesian Ridgeback specialties verified for 2026:

San Diego Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Regional Specialty — Friday, January 2, 2026, Indio, California: (AKC event 2026609301). Held at the Empire Equestrian Park and Polo Field with the Kennel Club of Palm Springs cluster. Judge: Mr. Raymond Yurick. 81 Ridgebacks in competition. Best in Specialty Show: GCHP CH Camelot’s Godfather BCAT, handled by David Bueno.

Other 2026 regional specialties had not been verified from club or AKC sources as of November 7, 2026.

2025

National specialty

The 93rd National Specialty — Sunday, October 19–Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the World Equestrian Center, 1750 NW 80th Avenue, Ocala, Florida. The national conformation ran Tuesday, October 21 through Friday, October 24, with Best of Breed judged Friday, October 24. Entries closed at noon on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Event Chair: Nancy Faville. Superintendent: Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd. The national drew 352 dogs and 404 entries in conformation.

The week ran the full Ridgeback program: rally, obedience, the 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy competition, sweepstakes, junior showmanship, and lure coursing alongside the conformation show.

Results (2025 national). Best of Breed: GCHS CH Cambridge’s King of Dublin City CGC TKN. Best of Opposite Sex: CH Kengali’s A Legend Will Rise FDC JC CA ATT FITS. Winners Bitch: Chilolo MT Mayhems Missing Piece. Best Junior Handler: Hunter Olson; Reserve Best Junior Handler: Oliver Horne. Winners Dog and Best of Winners are unconfirmed.

Regional specialties

No regional specialties recorded for 2025.

2024

National specialty

The 92nd National Specialty — Saturday, October 19–Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Bastian Agricultural Center, 2100 W 11400 South, South Jordan, Utah. The national conformation ran Wednesday, October 23 through Friday, October 25, with Best of Breed judged Friday, October 25. Entries closed at noon EDT on Thursday, September 12, 2024. Event Chair: McKay Stirland. Event Secretary: Jennifer Gysler. Superintendent: Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd. The national drew 328 dogs and 383 entries in conformation.

The week ran the full Ridgeback program — agility, obedience, rally, sweepstakes, the 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy competition, lure coursing, scent work, kennel and breeder stakes, and Fast CAT — alongside the conformation show. There were no junior showmanship entries.

Results (2024 national). Best of Breed: GCHS RoseGold’s Chase The Rainbow With PupukeaRidge CGCA TKI DCAT. Best of Opposite Sex: Jesmyster’s Stardust Voyager of Pundamatenka. Winners Dog, Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, and Best Junior Handler are unconfirmed — the AKC event record shows no junior showmanship entries for 2024.

Regional specialties

No regional specialties recorded for 2024.