Top junior handlers from around the world are set to travel to Crufts at the NEC, Birmingham to take part in one of the world’s leading junior handling competitions – the Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling competition.
On Friday 7 March 2025, the prestigious final will take place across two parts in the BP Pulse LIVE arena. The first part will be from 8.30am-10am followed by the parade and final at 6.15pm.
The first winner of this competition – Tracie Laliberte from the USA – was crowned at Crufts in 1984, when just seven countries competed in the final. The competition has grown over the past 41 years with 38 countries now represented by their national champions.
The competitors are aged between 12 and 19 and the final is the peak of any young person’s junior handling career. Each handler will not be competing with their own dogs, however they will be provided with a breed of their choice. On the morning of the final, they will have just one hour to get to know this dog before showcasing their handling skills and breed expertise with that dog in the main ring in front of the judge.
The list of competitors and the countries they represent are:
- Australia, Deana Musolino
- Austria, Kimberly Wallner
- Belgium, Saartje Callens
- Canada, Abbey Mahn
- Croatia, Zara Valić
- Czech Republic, Kristýna Palatková
- Denmark, Simone Riisgaard Kristiansen
- Estonia, Aare Teiva
- Finland, Selina Norppa
- France, Sophie Marion
- Germany, Katlin Niekamp
- Greece, Eftychia Sezenia
- Hungary, Dóra Domanovszky
- Iceland, Eyrún Eva Guðjónsdóttir
- Ireland, Molly Mullan
- Israel, Liry Sokolovsky
- Italy, Giorgia Giuliano
- Japan, Sarah Hasegawa
- Latvia, Alise Semata
- Lithuania, Dija Maksimaviciute
- Malta, Keira O'Leary
- Mexico, Dylan Gomez Ruiz
- Monaco, Zofia Jaras
- Netherlands, Soleile Huikeshoven
- New Zealand, Georgia Calman
- Norway, Julie Erikson
- Poland, Nikola Molęnda
- Portugal, Maria Flores Ribeiro
- Romania, Alexandra Ambrus
- Slovakia, Ella Šimová
- Slovenia, Ela Kolenc
- South Africa, Lea Olivier
- Spain, Adriana Sánchez Natividad
- Sweden, Tuva Skoglund
- Switzerland, Jara Sutter
- Ukraine, Kateryna Velichenko
- UK, Ellie Darling-Steele
- United States, Lila Holberg
The competition will be judged by Kimmo Mustonen from Finland. Kimmo is an all-breed judge, a terrier specialist and has judged across the UK, Europe and Australia. He has owned and exhibited Border Terriers, St Bernards, Finnish Hounds, Finnish Spitz and Swedish Elkhounds.
Kimmo Mustonen has this advice to the finalists: “The best handlers bring out the best in the dog. They make the dog shine. The handler is never the centre of attention, but the dog plays the most important role in the show. The best handlers themselves are in the background and the dog is the star. The best handlers know how to read the dog and are able to anticipate the dog's behaviour and the action in the ring.”
Tom Mather, Crufts Chairman, said: “This competition is always particularly special to watch as we see the younger generation stepping into the spotlight, many of whom may have not ever been to Crufts before, let alone walking into the main arena. I must also thank all the dog lenders for their time and efforts in providing dogs for this final.
“We look forward to hosting this spectacular event once again, where the finalists are already champions of their countries, and hope the audience will show support and encouragement for each and every handler as they represent their nation.”
For more background on the Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling competition, read more about the judge, and view the competition’s Roll of Honour, see the Crufts website.
Crufts takes place from 6-9 March 2025; tickets for the event are available at crufts.org.uk.