Regional Specialty · Macungie, Pennsylvania
October 15–16, 2026 — the Mid-Jersey Labrador Retriever Club back-to-back regional specialties for Labrador Retrievers in Macungie, Pennsylvania
Planning this weekend? Save it to your free account — build your day plan and never miss a closing date.
Save keeps the weekend in your list · Plan adds it to your show schedule · Calendar puts it on your TPA calendar.
Documents 📄 2026 Premium List 📋 Judging Program
Two full Labrador Retriever shows, back to back: the Mid-Jersey Labrador Retriever Club regional specialty on Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16, 2026 at Macungie Memorial Park, 50 Poplar Street, Macungie, PA 18062. Judging starts at 8:00 AM both days; the shows are unbenched and outdoors with show hours 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. Each day offers puppy and veteran sweepstakes, the AKC National Owner-Handled Series, Best Bred-By, Best Puppy, and Best Veteran, plus 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy. Thursday brings a Halloween costume contest, a raffle, and complimentary breakfast and lunch.
Registration for both shows closed September 30, 2026, at 12:00 noon Eastern — entries are no longer being accepted. Entry fees are listed below as a benchmark for next year.
📰 Read our guide: Mid-Jersey Labrador Retriever Club 2026 — back-to-back Lab specialties in Macungie
Listing reviewed — premium list and judging program confirmed.
Region: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania · Superintendent: Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd., P.O. Box 6898, Reading, PA 19610 (online entries at raudog.co/entries) · Event secretary: Ryan Frazier, 117 E Meehan Ave, Philadelphia, PA — 215-839-6294 · Event chair: Heidi Herman, 18 Village Glen Rd, Flemington, NJ 08822 — 908-391-0632 · AKC event numbers: 2026015309 (Thu) · 2026015311 (Fri) · 4–6 Beginner Puppy 2026015310 (Thu), 2026015312 (Fri)
Entries for both shows closed September 30, 2026, at 12:00 noon Eastern. For reference, entries were handled by Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd. — online at raudog.co/entries or mailed to P.O. Box 6898, Reading, PA 19610.
Day-by-day schedule for the back-to-back specialties — judges, entry totals, and what each day holds. Judging starts 8:00 AM both days; all times Eastern, from the official 2026 judging program.
01Thursday, October 15
Macungie Memorial Park, 50 Poplar Street, Macungie, PA — outdoors
Judges: Nancy Popin (Ring 1, 8:00 AM — puppy & veteran sweepstakes, 43 total dogs); Michael D Hamilton (Ring 1, to follow — 57 dogs, Winners Dog, 16 Best of Breed); Dawn Nacey (Ring 2, 10:00 AM — 2 4–6 Month Beginner Puppies, then 49 bitches, Winners Bitch)
Special events: Halloween Costume Contest with prizes during the mid-day ring break (dogs, handlers, or both) · RAVE Rosettes · MJLRC raffle · complimentary breakfast and lunch. This specialty is dedicated to the memory of Joan McInnis, Tulgeywood Labradors.
02Friday, October 16
Macungie Memorial Park, 50 Poplar Street, Macungie, PA — outdoors
Judges: Wendy Ernst DVM (Ring 1, 8:00 AM — puppy & veteran sweepstakes, 40 total dogs); Michael D Hamilton (Ring 2, 10:00 AM — 2 4–6 Month Beginner Puppies, then 52 bitches, Winners Bitch); Dawn Nacey (Ring 1, to follow — 38 dogs, Winners Dog, 15 Best of Breed)
Special events: MJLRC-prepared lunch (small donation) · complimentary breakfast; RAVE Rosettes continue.
2026 judging program (PDF): Mid-Jersey Labrador Retriever Club, Thursday & Friday (Jim Rau Dog Shows)
Thursday, October 15 — day one's ring schedule, from the official judging program. All times Eastern. Move-ups must be made by 7:30 AM.
| Time | Ring / Judge | What’s judging |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Ring 1 — Nancy Popin | Puppy Sweepstakes (34) — 6–9 mos dogs/bitches through 18–24 mos; Best in Puppy Sweepstakes, Best of Opposite Sex; then Veteran Sweepstakes (9) — veterans 7–9 yrs through 11+ yrs; Best in Veteran Sweepstakes. 43 total dogs. |
| To follow | Ring 1 — Michael D Hamilton | 57 Retrievers (Labrador) — dogs (6–9, 9–12, 12–15, 15–18 mos, Novice, Bred-by-Exhibitor puppy & adult, American-Bred, Open Black/Chocolate/Yellow), Winners Dog; then 2 veteran dogs, 5 veteran bitches, 1 Hunting Retriever; following Winners Dog & Winners Bitch — 16 Best of Breed (11–6), Best Bred-by-Exhibitor, Best Veteran, Best Puppy. |
| 10:00 AM | Ring 2 — Dawn Nacey | 2 4–6 Month Beginner Puppies; then 49 Retrievers (Labrador) — bitches (6–9 through 15–18 mos, Novice, Amateur Owner-Handler, Bred-by-Exhibitor puppy & adult, American-Bred, Open Black/Chocolate/Yellow), Winners Bitch. |
Friday, October 16 — day two's ring schedule.
| Time | Ring / Judge | What’s judging |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Ring 1 — Wendy Ernst DVM | Puppy Sweepstakes (31); then Veteran Sweepstakes (9). 40 total dogs. |
| To follow | Ring 1 — Dawn Nacey | 38 Retrievers (Labrador) — veteran dogs/bitches, 1 Hunting Retriever, dog classes, Winners Dog; following Winners Dog & Winners Bitch — 15 Best of Breed (10–5), Best Bred-by-Exhibitor, Best Veteran, Best Puppy. |
| 10:00 AM | Ring 2 — Michael D Hamilton | 2 4–6 Month Beginner Puppies; then 52 Retrievers (Labrador) — bitch classes, Winners Bitch. |
Ring assignments and start times are from the official judging program. We never guess ring times. There are 106 dogs with 148 entries on Thursday and 104 dogs with 145 entries on Friday, plus 2 Beginner Puppy entries each day.
One breed, two shows — every judge assignment for Labrador Retriever across the weekend, from the official 2026 premium list and judging program.
Breed (dogs): Michael D Hamilton · Breed (bitches): Dawn Nacey · Sweepstakes: Nancy Popin · 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy: Dawn Nacey
Breed (dogs): Dawn Nacey · Breed (bitches): Michael D Hamilton · Sweepstakes: Wendy Ernst DVM · 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy: Michael D Hamilton
All panels are approved per the official 2026 premium list and judging program.
Junior Showmanship is not offered at the 2026 Mid-Jersey specialties — neither the premium list nor the judging program lists junior classes. Listing reviewed
The weekend's puppy competitions are the sweepstakes (see Special competitions below) and the 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy attraction each day.
The AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) — a separate competition for dogs handled by their owners, no professional handlers — is offered both days. Each day also awards Best Bred-by-Exhibitor, Best Puppy, and Best Veteran. Listing reviewed
Puppy Sweepstakes — Nancy Popin, 8:00 AM, Ring 1: 34 entries across 6–9, 9–12, 12–15, 15–18, and 18–24 month classes (dogs and bitches). Veteran Sweepstakes — 9 entries: veterans 7–9, 9–11, and 11 years & over. Best in Puppy Sweepstakes, Best of Opposite Sex, Best in Veteran Sweepstakes, and Best of Opposite Sex all awarded.
4–6 Month Beginner Puppy — 2 entries, Ring 2, 10:00 AM ($15; exhibition only, no championship points).
Puppy Sweepstakes — Wendy Ernst DVM, 8:00 AM, Ring 1: 31 entries across the same age classes. Veteran Sweepstakes — 9 entries across the same veteran age classes.
4–6 Month Beginner Puppy — 2 entries, Ring 2, 10:00 AM ($15; exhibition only, no championship points).
Sweepstakes fees are $26 per entry. Entry fees are divided 40% First, 30% Second, 20% Third, 10% Fourth in each class, after the club's expense reserve and Best in Sweepstakes pool.
The specialty spotlight for this weekend — Labrador Retrievers, both days. Listing reviewed
Thursday, October 15 · Labrador Retriever (Sporting Group) · 106 dogs, 148 entries · AKC event 2026015309 (4–6 Beginner Puppy: 2026015310) · National Owner-Handled Series offered · puppy & veteran sweepstakes (18–24 month classes included) · Best Bred-By, Best Puppy, Best Veteran.
Friday, October 16 · Labrador Retriever (Sporting Group) · 104 dogs, 145 entries · AKC event 2026015311 (4–6 Beginner Puppy: 2026015312) · National Owner-Handled Series offered · puppy & veteran sweepstakes · Best Bred-By, Best Puppy, Best Veteran.
This year's Thursday specialty is dedicated to the memory of Joan McInnis of Tulgeywood Labradors, and the weekend doubles as a Lab-community gathering: a Halloween costume contest with prizes at Thursday's mid-day ring break, a RAVE rosettes raffle, and complimentary breakfast and lunch both days (Thursday's hot buffet is free; Friday's lunch is club-prepared for a small donation).
Everything for the trip to Macungie, Pennsylvania — from the official 2026 premium list and judging program. Listing reviewed
Macungie Memorial Park, 50 Poplar Street, Macungie, PA 18062 — (610) 966-4289. All judging is outdoors and the shows are unbenched; show hours 7:00 AM–7:00 PM both days. Dogs may arrive any time before their scheduled judging and will be excused when not needed for further judging.
From the north and east: Route 78 West, Exit 54A (Hamilton Blvd), Route 222 South, left onto Kessler, right onto Hamilton Blvd, left onto Brookside Road (3.7 miles), right onto Buckeye Blvd (becomes N. Chestnut Street), right onto East Main Street (PA-100) 0.4 miles, right onto Poplar Street. From the west (Harrisburg, ~83 miles): Route 81 North to Route 78 East, Exit 54 to Route 222 South, left onto Kessler Ave, then as above. From the south (Trenton, NJ): US-1 S toward Morrisville/Philadelphia, PA Turnpike 1-276 W, Exit 20 onto I-476 N (Northeast Extension), Exit 44 toward Pottstown onto PA-663 W, right on Spinnerstown Rd, right on Limeport Pike, left on Dillingersville Rd (becomes Church View Road), right on Kings Hwy S, left on Kings Hwy N (PA-100, becomes East Main Street), right on Poplar Street.
Host hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Allentown West, 230 Sycamore Road, Breinigsville, PA — (610) 398-6686. The club's room block closed October 12, 2026; call for current rates.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Allentown-West/Fogelsville, 7686 Industrial Boulevard, Fogelsville, PA 18106 — (610) 336-4860 (4.5 miles from the show site). Hyatt Place Allentown – Lehigh Valley, 621 Grange Rd, Allentown, PA 18106 — (610) 387-1000 (3.7 miles). Comfort Inn Lehigh Valley West. Hampton Inn Quakertown, 1915 John Fries Highway, Quakertown, PA 18951 — (215) 536-7779 (9.2 miles).
The club asks exhibitors to be responsible hotel guests: any damage to rooms is the exhibitor's financial responsibility and may result in disciplinary action.
Veterinarian: Macungie Animal Hospital, 161 E. Main St., Macungie, PA 18062 — 610-421-8381.
Official photographer: Susan Follansbee Photography, New Castle, NH — 603-436-4956. Only the official photographer may take win pictures; visit her website to purchase photos.
Hospitality: complimentary coffee and baked goods all days; Thursday: complimentary hot buffet lunch and afternoon cake; Friday: lunch prepared by the club for a small donation.
The first specialty runs Thursday, October 15, 2026 (today) — results have not been published yet. Pending
Winners Dog, Winners Bitch, Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Best Bred-by-Exhibitor, Best Puppy, Best Veteran, and the sweepstakes winners will be listed here once results are published. Check back after the weekend — and see the Mid-Jersey specialty article for the full weekend story.
Panels extracted from the official 2026 judging program and cross-checked against the premium list, October 15, 2026. Judge assignments: Nancy Popin (Thu sweepstakes), Wendy Ernst DVM (Fri sweepstakes), Michael D Hamilton (Thu dogs, Fri bitches, Fri 4–6 Beginner Puppy), Dawn Nacey (Thu bitches & Thu 4–6 Beginner Puppy, Fri dogs). Note: the events listing previously carried generic obedience/rally text — the 2026 premium confirms conformation, sweepstakes, and Beginner Puppy only; no obedience or rally trials and no Junior Showmanship are offered.
