news - 24/09/2004
105th Lisbon Dog Show - Portugal
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by António Arrais
The recent 105th Lisbon Dog Show failed to amount to the general expectations regarding the number of participants, which were no more than 581. The reason for such reduced attendance was, no doubt, the near absence of non-Portuguese dog breeders: little more than 70, very few compared to those in other events organized by the Portuguese Kennel Club. For example, in the latest North Portugal Exhibition, of about 1400 enlisted animals, one third was foreign; also, in the Lisbon Dog Show of late July, more than one third of the 1200 participants were foreign. This represents an average, per show, of some 430 international contestants – almost the TOTAL number attending this show…
The impossibility to gain the support of the CAC-QC was, very likely, decisive to this significant absence; in fact, the Organizing Committee considered, and was afraid of, this outcome, and resorted to all possible means to entice international breeders; this was clear in the choice of location and in the choice of the jury members (in number and eminence).
The home of the show, the Lisbon FIL (Lisbon International Fair), is no doubt one of the best in Lisbon for this kind of event – be it in location, infrastructures or available equipments (the large – and free – parking lot, for example). The inside was separated into six rings, a grooming area and a vast honour ring, in which occurred a great many events throughout the two days of the show – always with remarkable attendance by the general public. The commenting of Rui Araújo was essential to keep up the excitement all through the hours-long show.
The podium was taken only by animals of great merit, as were the cases of the Portuguese Water Dog “Smooth da Pedra da Anixa” (BIS of Portuguese Breeds), belonging to Isabel Vieira Santos, and of the also Portuguese “Topaz da Ponta da Pinta” (BIS Puppies), a male Serra da Estrela Mountain Dog long-haired, which was presented by Manuela Paraíso, owner of the “Ponta da Pinta” brand and a reference in this breed.
The choice for the Absolute BIS was also an excellent one, both regarding the animals presented and the work of the Handlers. This quality was evident with the performance of Marta Flores (Professional Handler), who much contributed to the third place attained by the Short Haired Chihuahua “Dachida’s Lucking Good”, of J. Requena.
The name Pedro Oliveira da Silva is associated with competence in the ring and superior breeding, so it is no surprise that the second place in the podium was ascribed to his “Mitcharrow Love Bug of Francos Valley”, a male Golden Retriever, only 19 months old. This dog reminds us of others presented by Oliveira da Silva which also ranked high in previous Portuguese or international shows.
To complete this impressive lot of winners, we have another name acknowledged worldwide for an excellent work in dog breeding and selection: José Homem de Mello. Viewed by many as the top breeder of the Basset Hound, in this show he acquainted us with “Hard Rock dos Sete Moinhos”, RBIS in the latest World Exhibition. This male, co-property of José de Mello and Bianca Teixeira, is another story of success in the already long record of the “Sete Moinhos” brand.
For all these reasons, this was a show of the highest quality, which proves that the excellence and success of the participations is not necessarily constrained by their small number.
António Arrais
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