by Karl DonvilAalst 2006
If the weather is not too best, it is usually good for a show. This was the case with the National show at Wieze, organised by the club of Aalst. There was more public as usual and all parking places were already taken in the morning. The halls are spacious enough to have a national show and the entry was not bad at all with 1156 dogs in competition.
For a show of this size the international interest was very good with dogs coming from 9 different countries. The majority were native dogs (815), followed by the Netherlands (261), but there were even 11 specimen from the UK and two from Ireland. This was probably due to the fact that Mr.Moran from Ireland officiated at this show with the record entry for him with 93, mainly Toy breeds.
On Saturday there were only 4 groups to be judged. Mrs Reyniers from Belgium had the best score (85 dogs) with some Terrier Breeds, 16 Labradors and no less then 46 Newfoundlanders.Mrs Carberry from the UK had the next best score in one breed with 41 English Bulldogs. It was the only breed he judged on this show. Nice other breed scores were the 31 Golden Retrievers for Mrs.Van Luijk-Grevelink from Holland, Mr.Alferink, her compatriot, with 30 Bernese Mountaindogs and Mr.Konings, also from Holland with 27 Great Danes. On Sunday it was Mr.Kuzelj from Slovenia who had no less then 45 Poodles.
Our Belgian judges did well too. Mrs Van Brempt judged on both days and had 107 dogs in total. Mr.Pollet judged only on Sunday and mainly dogs from group 5 and ended up with 85 dogs. Mr. Selimovic from Croatia had also much interest as he ended with 106 entries for both days.
Although this is only a national show, it seems that a lot of exhibitors like this show. There are not much occasions where people can test their puppy or junior dogs or where novice exhibitors can make their first steps into the world of dogshows. In the show statistics we can clearly see the high score in Puppy Class (104), Junior Class (249) and Intermediate (158) which is about 50% of all the entries. I have seen several upcoming champions on the winners’ podium and some will certainly have a very promising career. The BIS dog and Hopkeizer was the nice poodle, only 15 months of age, Evolution des Supers Supers, bred and handled by Mr.Vanaken, probably our most successful Toy Poodle breeder and famous far over the Belgian Borders.
This doesn’t mean at all that this show had no top-class dogs. On the contrary, 154 dogs were entered in Champions Class and Best Bitch in Show was the Basenji Ch. Abotere's Ijaba, bred and handled by the also very famous and successful Dutch breeder, Mrs.Jennifer Gielisse.
I already commented the unusual system handled on this show to have two BIS winners, a dog and a bitch, gaining the title of respectively Hopkeizer and Hopkeizerin. As this system
Interrupts the logical flow of elimination until the final winner is know, it results often in very strange situations like a bitch that has been beaten in her own group by the other sexe, can still end up Best Bitch in Show, and beat another bitch even if that bitch won her group. It would at least be better if for the selection of Best Bitch, only bitches would be withhold that won their group. Fortunately this time it was not the case as both BIS dog and BIS bitch were group winners.
Forgive me to plead another time for a nicer podium and better light in the main ring. It would already make a big difference if the podium was painted in a bright colour or draped with a nice looking cloth and illuminated with a few spotlights.
To conclude I can only wish that this show will continue to be successful and popular. It has certainly its charm and the committee understands the art of picking the right judges in order to attract many and many good dogs. A CACIB award is granted for the near future. Will it be a 3 day show or will a part be outdoors or in a tent? Anyway, I am very confident that the organisers will be able to handle this and turn it into another successful show. Next year is another CAC and will be on 17 & 18 march.
