THE RING STEWARD
handing out the ribbons. The excellent ring steward keeps the rib- bons pulled and gets the next class in the ring as quickly as possible to keep the flow running smoothly. Ring stewards are the ones who let the judge know that someone is changing dogs, armbands, etc. They keep it all running on time. There is nothing more frustrating for judges or stewards than the exhibitor who comes running in at the last minute and doesn't know the dog’s number and has to hold things up while the stew- ard helps them sort it out. It is also an issue when exhibitors have multiple entries, but do not have anyone there to assist them with managing and changing dogs between classes. Often, neither the judge nor the stewards know what is happening. In some cases, these people run back to their crates to switch dogs and this can take up a lot of valuable time that hurts the other exhibitors as everyone is trying to adhere to a schedule. The schedule is very important and judges face the ire of the field reps if they start to run behind—regardless of the reasons. Ring stewards pay attention to everything that goes on in the ring and, on occasion, they are the first-line witnesses when poor behavior is shown by exhibitors and judges alike. They also try to assist the judge in any way possible by seeing to it that they have water to hydrate and by calling for the photographer, the super- intendent, or the field reps should they be needed for any reason. Many things go into making a show a success, including good venues, good judges, kind exhibitors, great club members, and many other things. However, when you have good ring stewards, things run on time (with most of them not even being noticed). This group of individuals is just one small part of the many unsung heroes that make our sport great.
Although these professional stewards do receive some monetary compensation, most of them are truly wonderful assets to all shows and trials. Ring stewards do a lot of things that are not noticed or are taken for granted—by both judges and exhibitors alike. The stew- ard is the first person the exhibitor engages with before entering the ring. New exhibitors especially appreciate the cheerful and help- ful steward. On occasion, some can be gruffly and can change the experience for the exhibitors and for the judges. These individuals need to be reported to the chief steward or club official so that they can be replaced, if possible. Stewards pass out the armbands and keep a close accounting of who is present, who has or has not picked up their armbands, and any special information that should be double-checked with the judge, like move-ups or class changes. Usually, the stewards will also pull out the appropriate ribbons and trophies—if provided for each class. This can save the judges a significant amount of time during a full day of judging. They are also a big help when clubs offer NOHS, Bred-By, Veterans, and other special classes. While judging, the judge is not supposed to ask the exhibitor the age of the dog being shown. If the judge needs this information, they are to inquire from the steward about the dog’s actual date of birth as the steward has a copy of the catalog with that information. There are also times when exhibitors have various issues, from being handicapped to a variety of other issues, that the steward will inform the judge about before the class is judged. Stewards also keep track of the placements and awards of each class and, should a judge’s book be marked incorrectly or accidentally not marked, the steward's records often help to resolve doubts. On average, conformation judges are expected to judge between 25-30 dogs per hour. This includes marking their books and SHOWOFF © Ribbon Racks
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116 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2021
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