Helen Theron
2026 RRCQ Speciality Judge.

Judges Resumé

From as far back as I can remember, I have always had Ridgebacks in my life.  Every core memory has been shaped in one way or another by the Ridgebacks that were with me at the time. At a very young age I moved to live with my aunt, Janet Wang, on her farm in the Western Cape of South Africa. I was immediately taken with the breed and spent countless hours exploring the farm with several Ridgies keeping me company,
and watching that I was safe. The more time that I spent with them, the more my fascination with the breed grew and I began to pore over every book, magazine and article I could find about them, breeding, showing and anything even remotely dog related.

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I consider myself to be a second-generation Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder and I own the New Zealand “branch” of Nomvuyo Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Nomvuyo Rhodesian Ridgebacks was founded by my aunt and mentor, Janet Wang, in 1978 in South Africa and I am unbelievably proud to be able to continue on with the kennel name here in New Zealand. I have been actively involved in breeding and exhibiting Ridgebacks since 1997 and began my judging career in 2007 with the Hound group and added on the Gundog group in 2023.
 

I have been lucky enough to have been exposed to some incredible Ridgebacks through the years through my aunt and the Nomvuyo kennel as well as being on the other end of the lead of at least 60 RR that I have piloted to their championship title for the Nomvuyo kennel. We have owned and campaigned some of the top winning Ridgebacks in South Africa with a #1 All Breeds winner, a #5 All Breeds winner, and multiple years of having dogs in the Top 10 All Breeds.

I handled extensively whilst living in South Africa, first winning the KUSA Child Handler of the Year (with a RR)
and then going on to win KUSA Junior Handler of the year on three separate occasions (twice with a RR) and
then representing South Africa at Crufts for all three wins. My handling focus was mostly on the Hound breeds as I have a special love and passion for them, but I was often also seen in both the Gundog, Working (Utility in AU and NZ) and Toy rings.
 

My entire working life has revolved around dogs and animals through working in the Veterinary Industry as
both a qualified Veterinary Technician and Animal Behaviourist. I have a special interest in breed specific health problems and have spent years educating those in the the veterinary industry about some of them, as well as advocating for ethical, preservation breeders. I currently manage Animal Health for a large Salmon Farming company in the South Island of New Zealand and also work as an artist in my spare time specialising in capturing the purebred dog. I have served as the Chairman of the Overberg Kennel Club (All Breeds Club) as well as on the committee of the South African Rhodesian Ridgeback Club. In 2014 I was awarded the Major Tom Hawley Floating Trophy which is awarded bi-annually for “outstanding contribution to the Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed”.

I consider it a huge honour to be invited to judge for any club and take my judging assignments very seriously.
The best part of judging for me, is to be able to put my hands onto beautiful dogs and see the passion, work
and years of dedication that have gone into breeding the dog in front of me.