Coupeville Sports

Gabriella Gebhard takes one of her setters for a run at a recent dog show. (Photos courtesy Stephanie Gebhard)

Gabriella Gebhard is on her way to the big time.

The Coupeville High School rising sophomore, among the best in the nation in her age group of competitive dog handlers, has earned an invite to the biggest show on the books.

Coming off of two more wins as Best Junior at AKC Sporting Dog and All Breed Shows, Gebhard has qualified for the Westminster Dog Show.

The premier event on the circuit, it started in 1877 and has run uninterrupted through the Great Depression, world wars and pandemics.

Gebhard will participate in the 147th edition of Westminster, which is slated for next summer.

To qualify, she had to earn seven Best Junior awards between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022.

Wins #6 and #7 came in Enumclaw, where she teamed up with her faithful canine companion, Walker (Set’r Ridge’s Legend in the Making) to win a Grand Championship.

While that duo is Westminster-bound, Gebhard also has Set’r Ridge’s Climbing to the Top (Everest), who bagged two wins and a Best of Opposite award.

Perfect form, and the awards keep coming.

Altogether, Gebhard has three setters, including Set’r Ridge’s Eternal Faith, and each of the trio is a champion.

While Westminster is the internationally known, broadcast on TV main event, Gebhard and her pooches have plenty of other shows ahead on the schedule.

That includes the Royal Canin AKC nationals, set for Dec. 17-18 in Orlando.

“She (Gabriella) is over the moon,” said mom Stephanie. “We are so excited!”

Westminster-bound.