2026 BREED JUDGES
MR. TYRON ATKINSON | Melbourne, Victoria. Tyron Atkinson’ s lifelong passion for purebred dogs began with his family’ s Irish Setters in the 1970s, leading to a distinguished career exhibiting and breeding Sporting breeds, including Best in Show – winning Irish Setters, Pointers, English Cocker Spaniels, and American Cocker Spaniels. Under the Nauvoo and Lakewinds prefixes, he has bred top winners while maintaining a selective program. Based in Melbourne, Australia, he shares his life with English Cocker Spaniels and contributes to the sport through roles with the Melbourne Royal Championship Show and the Canine Museum Foundation. Licensed to judge Toys, Terriers, Gundogs, and Hounds, he has officiated across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Inspired by his father’ s love of“ Big Red,” Westminster has long held special meaning for him, and 2026 marks his first judging assignment at the show.
MR. TIMOTHY BRAZIER | Palm Springs, California. A second generation dog enthusiast, Timothy Brazier’ s career began in Canada at a National Specialty, where his Kerry Blue Terrier became the top dog. Specializing in all three varieties of Poodles, he later moved to the U. S. and finished championships on approximately 1,000 Poodles, with over 30 All Breed Best in Show winners and more than 500 Best in Shows, including several # 1 Non Sporting dogs and a Toy Poodle ranked Top Dog All Breeds in America. He has also bred four National Specialty winners. At Westminster, he has celebrated multiple Non Sporting Group wins, a Reserve Best in Show, and numerous group placements with Standard and Toy Poodles. He judges selectively, including assignments at the Poodle Club of America National Specialty, and is honored to be officiating at Westminster for the first time.
MRS. CONNIE H. CLARK | Aptos, California. Connie Clark has been connected to Westminster since the early 1980s, first assisting handler Clay Coady with Welsh Terrier Ch. Anasazi Annie Oakley, and later exhibiting Airedale and Wire Fox Terriers. She served for many years as a ring steward before beginning her judging career, with Westminster assignments in Toys and Terriers in 2020, the Terrier Group in 2023, and eight Toy breeds at the 150th anniversary show in 2026, which marks her third Westminster judging assignment.
MR. THOMAS W. COEN | Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Thomas Coen bred his first Shetland Sheepdog litter under the Macdega prefix in 1962 while still in high school. With his wife, Nioma, Macdega has produced the breed’ s Top Sire, eight National Specialty Best of Breed winners, eight All Breed Best in Show winners, and more than two dozen Register of Merit producers. A professional handler for 30 years, he retired in 2000 to focus on judging, officiating across the U. S., Canada, Japan, China, Denmark, and Brazil, as well as at multiple National Sspecialties. His Westminster journey began as a child and was fulfilled in 1975 when he won Best of Breed with Ch. Halstor’ s Peter Pumpkin ROM. He later handled Shelties to Group Seconds and a Group Third at the show. This year marks his fourth Westminster judging assignment.
MR. JOSE M. DOVAL | Santomera, Spain. Jose Doval began in the dog show world in 1990 with Golden Retrievers and soon added Labradors, breeding under the De la Enna prefix with his wife, Eva. Their breeding program has produced champions in ten countries, including World, European, and International winners, alongside Spanish Water Dogs, Brussels Griffons, and Standard Poodles. A founding member of the Spanish Retriever Club, he served as Secretary and President, and today is President of the RSCE( Spanish Kennel Club) and a member of the FCI General Committee. An FCI International Judge since 2006, he has officiated in more than 40 countries across five continents, including multiple World and European shows. This year marks his first Westminster judging assignment, which he says is“ a lifelong dream fulfilled.”
26 THE WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB 2026