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 6 March 2026, 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 6.05pm.
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 42 years with 37 countries now represented by their national champions.
The competitors are aged between 11 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, Paige Trotter
- Austria, Kimberly Wallner
- Belgium, Naud Vaesen
- Canada, Abbey Mahn
- Croatia, Zara Skok
- Czech Republic, Julie Chocholatá
- Denmark, Simone Riisgaard Kristiansen
- Estonia, Aare Teiva
- Finland, Maisa Turunen
- France, Jadde Broutard
- Germany, Tamira van Meegen
- Greece, Vasiliki Vracha
- Hungary, Luca Papp
- Iceland, Jóhanna Sól Ingadóttir
- Ireland, Deárbhla Nugent
- Israel, Odelia Letuchi
- Italy, Greta Pasqualone
- Japan, Mua Tanaka
- Latvia, Alise Semeta
- Lithuania, Rugile Klimaite
- Malta, Francesca Attard
- Monaco, Valentina Gatto
- Netherlands, Soleile Huikeshoven
- New Zealand, Georgia Calman
- Norway, Mimmi Indine Nilsen
- Poland, Maria Molęda
- Portugal, Maria Flores Ribeiro
- Romania, Alexandra Ambrus
- Slovakia, Sára Synčák
- Slovenia, Nikita Rehak Friš
- South Africa, Lea Olivier
- Spain, Valeria Lopez Tomas
- Sweden, Kristin Finnsdottir
- Switzerland, Jara Sutter
- Ukraine, Maria Kahirova
- United Kingdom, Megan Slack
- USA, Tatum Bartlett
The competition will be judged by Adrian Hili from Malta who is no stranger to Crufts and the International Junior Handling final. He represented Malta twice in 1999 and 2000 – going on to win the event overall in 2000 handling a Pointer. He has bred multiple champion Basset Hounds and Standard Long-haired Dachshunds with his parents and handled his own Basset Hound to win Best of Breed at Crufts in 2004. He has spent the past 25 years successfully handling other people’s dogs from all groups and won more than 40 Best in Show awards in Malta and Europe.
Judge Adrian Hili has this advice to the finalists: “It’s an honour to represent your country at this prestigious event and having competed in this competition before, I know how the young handlers will be feeling. Just relax and enjoy the moment and handle your dog with kindness and skill to ensure it is the star of the show.”
Tom Mather, Crufts Chairman, said: “This competition is always particularly special as the younger generation showcase their handling skills and expertise with dogs they only get to meet on the morning of the competition. We are so grateful to the volunteer dog lenders who provide dogs for this final. We hope there will be a large number of supporters spectating to watch each country perform at their best as they take to the Crufts stage. For some handlers it may be their first time at Crufts!”
Crufts takes place from 5-8 March 2026; tickets for the event are available at crufts.org.uk.