The 2009 World Taxidermy Championships Judges

25 World Class
Taxidermy Judges

Over the years, the WTC has earned a reputation for having consistent judging, year after year. Ribbons are earned solely on the quality of the work. With this consistency comes validity; an award earned at the World Taxidermy Championshps will mean something, now, and twenty years from now. It is not impossible to win, as hundreds of competitors have demonstrated, but the judging is of the highest calibre.

With 25 world-class judges working at the 2009 show, this will be among the largest group of taxidermy judges ever assembled for a single competition. The following judging assignments have been established for the 2009 World Taxidermy Championships. Changes are possible and will be based on the actual workloads for various categories.

2009 World Taxidermy Championships Judging Administration

Judging Chairman:	Wesley (Skip) Skidmore
Data Processing:	Tom McNeal, Gail McNeal

Mammal & Gamehead Judges
Cary Cochran
John Matthews
Joe Meder
Gary Powell
Jean Roll
Skip Skidmore
Don Stevens
Jessica Stevens
Fred Vanderburgh
Jan Van Hoesen
Marcus Zimmerman

Bird Judges
Simon Blackshaw
Bill Brandenburg
Jack Fishwick
Dave Luke
Frank Newmyer
Danny Owens
Stefan Savides
Peter Sunesen

Fish and Reptile Judges
Simon Blackshaw
Gary Bruch
Don Frank
Clark Schreibeis
Garry Senk

Freeze Dry Judge
Rod Connelly

Novice Judges
Don Stevens
Jessica Stevens

Akeley Award Judges
Ken Edwards
Simon Blackshaw
Stefan Savides

Collective Artists Judges
Gary Bruch
Ken Edwards
Danny Owens
Marcus Zimmerman

Master Division Judging Procedure
For 2009, each entry in the Master Division will be independently scored by three judges and the scores averaged together. Once first places are determined in the subcategories, a competition supervisor will gather all category judges (five for most categories) to vote for eligible entries for Best in World titles. They will each cast a secret ballot for Best in World. The judges will be allowed to discuss and confer about the eligible entries before casting their ballots. If two entries receive equal votes the judges will be asked to vote again on those two entries only. The results will be kept secret and announced at the World Show awards banquet.

2009 Best in World Categories and Judges
Category 1. Medium-Small Lifesize Mammals (smaller than 50 lbs. [coyote/peccary])
a. Small mammals: less than 10 pounds
b. Medium mammals: greater than 10 pounds
c. Small mammals group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Jean Roll, John Matthews, Jan Van Hoesen
Judges who vote for Best in World: Jean Roll, Fred Vanderburgh, John Matthews, Skip Skidmore, Jan Van Hoesen

Category 2. Large Mammals (larger than 50 lbs. [cougar/deer])
a. Large mammals (long/thick hair)
b. Large mammals (short/thin hair)
c. Large mammals group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Marcus Zimmerman, Gary Powell, Skip Skidmore
Judges who vote for Best in World: Marcus Zimmerman, Gary Powell, Skip Skidmore, Joe Meder, Jean Roll

Category 3. Whitetail Deer Heads
a. Whitetails long/thick hair, open mouth
b. Whitetails long/thick hair, closed mouth
c. Whitetails short/thin hair, open mouth
d. Whitetails short/thin hair, closed mouth
Judges for 3 score sheets: Fred Vanderburgh, Cary Cochran, Joe Meder
Judges who vote for Best in World: Fred Vanderburgh, Cary Cochran, John Matthews, Joe Meder, Marcus Zimmerman

Category 4. Medium-Small Gameheads (mule deer/wildebeest and smaller)
a. Small gameheads (coyote and smaller)
b. Medium gameheads (deer, bear, sheep)
c. Half-lifesize gameheads
d. Gameheads, group
Judges for 3 score sheets: John Matthews, Gary Powell, Joe Meder
Judges who vote for Best in World: Fred Vanderburgh, Gary Powell, Joe Meder, Cary Cochran, John Matthews

Category 5. Large Gameheads (caribou/waterbuck size and larger)
a. Large gameheads (long/thick hair)
b. Large gameheads (short/thin hair)
c. Half-lifesize large gameheads
d. Gameheads, group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Gary Powell, Marcus Zimmerman, Fred Vanderburgh
Judges who vote for Best in World: Joe Meder, Skip Skidmore, Gary Powell, Marcus Zimmerman, Fred Vanderburgh

Category 6. Game Birds
19. Pheasants
20. Grouse
21. Quail
22. Migratory game birds (doves, rails, coots, cranes)
23. Game birds, group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Peter Sunesen, Danny Owens, Dave Luke
Judges who vote for Best in World: Danny Owens, Jack Fishwick, Bill Brandenburg, Dave Luke, Peter Sunesen

Category 7. Non-Game Birds
24. Small birds (magpie and smaller)
25. Large birds (crow, rook and larger)
26. Raptors and owls (birds of prey)
27. Non-game birds, group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Jack Fishwick, Peter Sunesen, Simon Blackshaw
Judges who vote for Best in World: Jack Fishwick, Dave Luke, Stefan Savides, Peter Sunesen, Simon Blackshaw

Category 8. Turkeys
28. Turkeys, strutting
29. Turkeys, open wings
30. Turkeys, standing
31. Turkeys, group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Stefan Savides, Frank Newmyer, Danny Owens
Judges who vote for Best in World: Jack Fishwick, Frank Newmyer, Danny Owens, Stefan Savides, Dave Luke

Category 9. Waterfowl
32. Diving ducks (mergansers, stiff tails)
33. Puddle ducks
34. Geese and swans
35. Waterfowl group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Bill Brandenburg, Frank Newmyer, Stefan Savides
Judges who vote for Best in World: Dave Luke, Frank Newmyer, Danny Owens, Stefan Savides, Bill Brandenburg

Category 10. Warm Water Fish (skin mounts)
36. Sunfish, perch, walleye, crappie, other bass
37. Other, 12 inches or smaller
38. Other, larger than 12 inches
39. Saltwater
40. Group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Garry Senk, Gary Bruch, Simon Blackshaw
Judges who vote for Best in World: Garry Senk, Clark Schreibeis, Don Frank, Gary Bruch, Simon Blackshaw

Category 11. Cold Water Fish (skin mounts)
41. Trout, salmon, char
42. Pike, muskellunge, pickerel
43. Other, 12 inches or smaller
44. Other, larger than 12 inches
45. Group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Clark Schreibeis, Garry Senk, Gary Bruch
Judges who vote for Best in World: Garry Senk, Clark Schreibeis, Don Frank, Gary Bruch, Simon Blackshaw

Category 12. Largemouth Bass (skin mounts)
46. Largemouth bass (single)
47. Largemouth bass (group)
Judges for 3 score sheets: Garry Senk, Gary Bruch, Don Frank
Judges who vote for Best in World: Garry Senk, Clark Schreibeis, Don Frank, Gary Bruch, Simon Blackshaw

Category 13. Reptiles, Amphibian, Other (skin mounts)
48. Reptiles, amphibian, other (single)
49. Reptiles, amphibian, other (group)
Judges for 3 score sheets: Simon Blackshaw, Skip Skidmore, John Matthews
Judges who vote for Best in World: Simon Blackshaw, Garry Senk, Skip Skidmore, John Matthews, Gary Bruch

Category 14. Reproductions
50. Fish
51. Reptiles, amphibians, other
52. Mammal
53. Group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Garry Senk, Gary Bruch, Simon Blackshaw
Judges who vote for Best in World: Simon Blackshaw, John Matthews, Gary Bruch, Garry Senk, Skip Skidmore

Category 15. Re-Creations
54. Mammals
55. Birds
56. Re-Creation Group
(Mammals) judges for 3 score sheets: Jean Roll, Jan Van Hoesen, Skip Skidmore
(Birds) judges for 3 score sheets: Jack Fishwick, Frank Newmyer, Stefan Savides
(Group) judges for 3 score sheets: Will be selected according to species entered
Judges who vote for Best in World: Jack Fishwick, John Matthews, Frank Newmyer, Jan Van Hoesen, Stefan Savides, Skip Skidmore, Jean Roll

Category 16. Mixed Group
57. A combination of two or more different categories.
Judges for 3 score sheets: Will be selected according to species entered
Judges who vote for Best in World: Will be selected according to species entered