news - 21/06/2008 Brussels Dog Show sets a new standard - Belgium
by Karl DonvilBRUSSELS DOG SHOW SETS A NEW STANDARD
PHOTO VOUCHER BOB /PHOTO GRATUIT BOB /GRATIS FOTO BOB: (ordering photos assistance see below article / commander des photos: voir en dessous de l'article / foto's bestellen zie onderaan artikel / bilder bestellen: lesen sie unten das artikel)
My report on the Brussels Dog Show of last year had several points of critique and was point of discussion during the meeting of the organisation of the show. The major point was that in my opinion the Brussels Dog Show should be the best and most glamorous show of Belgium. I wasn’t aware of this at all. It was a surprise for me when I had a look around and especially when I saw the main ring and winners-podium. I could not believe my own eyes, it was a complete metamorphose. The ring was beautiful and this had much to do with the podium. Alike the podium of Luxembourg and Liège, the background was draped with bleu tissue and real flowers, climbing up the walls. The podium itself was new, bright and clean, in the colours of the sponsor, Royal Canin. It also looks that this company is aware of what impact and impression such a podium has in the media and on the public. It says something about the company as the ring and background says something about the committee and the show as a whole. I was proud and pleased that Brussels has understood to set a new standard. The decoration of the podium was the work of Mr.Laurent Heinesche, who also did the podium of Luxembourg and Liège. One little detail to improve it would be a kind of second small podium where the sponsor could put the free bags of dry food on. If this would stand a little more in the background, behind judge, dog and handler it would get much more attention in the picture. These bags are highly reflective and it would perhaps be better to have an imitation or dummy at hand with a non reflective coating, or why not a simple print from the front of the bag on matt carton. Now the reflections on the bags hide the logos on it and the white spots on it disturb the whole image. But understand me well, I’m no longer complaining, this podium is quoted with a 9!
The entry number of 2649 dogs was another improvement, but this can and must be more. But I trust that this will slowly grow and 3000 entries is not far away anymore. If the efforts of the committee continue, Brussels will be a show not to be missed in the future, a show where all the best dogs of Europe will compete for a prestigious “Euro title”. Brussels is the capital of Europe and the Brussels show must be a reflection of this too. I have the feeling that we arrived at a turning point in the history of this show. A new future is waiting. Use and combine the experiences of other show committees and let us forget about all the political problems in Belgium and unite forces to make this show one of the highlights of the European Dog Show calendar.
Dogs from 18 different countries were in competition here; almost half of them were Belgian dogs. Sweden had 12 entries here, Norway 11 and Finland 4. The British were represented by 33 dogs and Russia had 5. It is a fact that the impact of foreign judges is very important and is reflected in the numbers of foreign dogs in competition. The effect is unfortunately only visible in the following years. That means that probably a lot of handlers rely on what they hear from judges. If a judge is very positive about a certain foreign show, handlers tend to listen and consider entering their dogs. There are now still too many white spots on the map of Europe and that means that a lot of dogs can be recruited from many countries that are not even very far away from Brussels. We must see it as potential markets and we must find ways to focus on them. Our judges could play a major part in this and also our own handlers must be influenced to invite foreign friends and relations to Brussels. This will not only reflect its results on the Brussels Dog Show but also on our other shows. Once a handler finds the way to Brussels and experiences the Belgian hospitality, he will probably hesitate no longer to come again and fulfil the Belgian Championship titles for his dogs. We must understand that not only Brussels will benefit from it, but all the other Belgian shows too! If the national Brussels show grows, the other shows will grow too.
From the 32 judges, officiating here, only 11 were Belgians, which is in my own opinion the way it should be to give this show its international character. Especially the Scandinavian judges were numerous and scored very well. Mrs.Elina Haapaniemi from Finland had the best results with 73 dogs on Saturday and no less then 130 entries on Sunday. Mrs.Marja Talvitie, also from Finland had 103 dogs on Saturday and 86 on Sunday. Mr.Powel Szelray from Poland was very close to them with 80 dogs on Saturday and 86 on Sunday. Mr.Göran Bodegard from Sweden had 159 dogs in total, Mr.Laurent Pichard from France 145 and Mr.Peter Fodstad from Norway 130. Mrs.Karin Hedberg from Finland, judged only on Saturday but ended up with 86 dogs in her ring. The only two UK judges that were invited were both specialist judges, Mrs.Sue Brown had 77 Golden Retrievers and Mr.Vic Cole had 41 Labradors. Mr.Willi Güllix from Germany was also invited to judge only one popular breed, the Newfoundlanders, he could gather 59 examples in his ring. There were more judges who attracted high numbers of dogs in certain breeds and the list would be too long. Many of them were Belgian judges who were new in some breeds. Anyway the judges list looked like well balanced and studied.
During the day, a lot of activity was going on to amuse, entertain and inform the public. For the first time visitors became a Brussels Dog Show News(paper) containing a map of the halls and stand, a program and general information on what the Royal Society St.Hubertus stands for and it was written in Dutch and French. Visitors could enjoy demonstrations of Doggy Dance (Heelwork to Music), a Social behaviour test, breed presentations and Police and Army dogs at work. The Belgian Rottweiler club was well placed to demonstrate that the so feared and so called “very dangerous” Rottweiler could be a most lovable companion dog and that the bad reputation has little to do with the breed itself but more with people who abuse its power and turn it into dangerous fighting machines.
The Brussels Dog Show is supposed to be the most important promoter of the Belgian national breeds. Mr.Norman Deschuymere was granted the honour of judging Best In Show. He has a reputation as a connoisseur of the Belgian Breeds is one of our allrounders with a good international reputation. His 3rd BIS went to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier “Hostaff’s Gamkaleradebössor”, owned by Douw Marius. This dog was entered in Champions Class under Mr.Peter Fodstad from Norway. He was bred in Sweden by Larsson Johan & Ingela and is now 4 years old. Mr.Fodstad was the Group judge and found that he should go on to compete for BIS.
Mr.Laurent Pichard had judged the lovely Bichon Maltais “Epice des Supers-Supers”, a 3 year old dog bred by Mr.Laurent Heinesche and entered also in Champion Class, and was persuaded that this dog would be the BIS winner. When he saw him later in the Group ring he made him Best of the companion Group. Mr.Deschuymere was impressed by this dog too and placed him 2nd BIS. He was probably most of all fascinated by the very nice Shipperke, a popular Belgian Breed. Little “Atilla du Clos de la Prere” was picked out by Mr.Paul Jentgen who judged this breed. Atilla was entered in Champion Class but is not a dog but a bitch, a French-Belgian combination bred by Nicole Robert and owned by Costanza Ferraris and Louis de Liederkerke from France. Atilla was judged on Saturday and alike the two other dogs she ended Best of Group under the very same breed judge, Mr.Jentgen, who was also persuaded that this dog would be the possible ultimate winner of this show.
In fact, Mr.Deschuymere had to place 3 dogs on top, all 3 judged by the same judge who judged the breed as well as the group and all who were convinced that their dog would be the most probable Best In Show winner, a most uncommon coincidence. The fact that Atilla was a Schipperke and a Belgian Breed could play in advance as well in favour of her. Mr.Deschuymere would certainly not have let her win if she should have the slightest defect although his hearth would have gone to one of his favourite breeds, the Schipperke. We can conclude that Atilla is a top representative of the breed. The owners hesitated first to come back on Sunday to compete for BIS, but Atilla was ready in any way and didn’t need to be convinced to come back. She is a conqueror and proved it!
The Brussels Show committee worked hard to give this national show a definite turn in the positive direction. Now it is your turn to come next year and to convince yourself. Be aware that the competition will be tough and international, but the glory of the winner will heard far over the Belgian borders as the Brussels Dog Show aims high and the title will become one of the most prestigious of Europe. I thought I was dreaming last year in my report, but this time I am awake!
Photostudio Karl DONVIL and www.123dog.net give you the opportunity to memorise this victory and offer you a free studio photograph 13 x19 cm.
Go as soon as possible with your dog to the photo studio of Karl DONVIL in the neighbourhood of the main ring and have your dog photographed.
The photos will be published on www.123dog.net usually between one and two weeks after the show (subscribe the newsletter). Make an order of minimum 16 EURO and look for a photo that you want as your free photo (to find the number of the photo, click on the camera icon in the right corner of the photo) and write the photo number on your voucher.
Pay your order. You will receive a confirmation and an order number by e-mail. Fill out and send your voucher ASAP by regular mail to:
Karl DONVIL, Doornstraat 6, 3370 BOUTERSEM, BELGIUM. If you want to be extra sure,
reply your order confirmation to karl@123dog.net and add again your favourite photo number and tell me that the voucher is on its way by regular mail.
Your photos will be send to you within the shortest time by regular mail along with your free photo.
Important: you voucher is only valid in combination with an order of minimum 16 EURO and
when the order is paid. Your free photo must be a photo taken at the show where your dog won BOB.
FRANÇAIS
Félicitations, votre chien est devenu meilleur de race.
Photo studio Karl DONVIL et www.123dog.net vous offrent l’opportunité de mémoriser cette victoire et vous offrent une photo gratuit 13 x 19cm.
Allez le plus vite possible avec votre chien au studio photo de Karl DONVIL dans les environs du ring d’honneur et faites photographier votre chien.
Les photos seront publiées sur le site www.123dog.net normalement après une ou deux semaines (inscrivez sur notre lettre de nouvelles). Faites une commande de minimum 16 EURO et choisissez une photo que vous voulez recevoir comme photo gratuit (pour trouver le numéro du photo, cliquez sur le dessin du camera à coté du photo) et notez le numéro sur votre bon.
Payez votre commande. Vous recevrez par e-mail une confirmation et un numéro de commande. Remplissez et envoyez votre bon le plus vite que possible par la poste à :
Karl DONVIL, Doornstraat 6, 3370 BOUTERSEM, Belgique. Pour votre double sécurité vous pouvez aussi envoyer un e-mail avec votre numéro de commande et numéro de photo gratuit à karl@123dog.net . La commande et votre photo gratuit seront alors envoyées le plus vite possible par la poste.
Important: votre bon est seulement valable en combinaison avec une commande de minimum 16 EURO et après payement. Votre photo gratuit doit être fait sur le show ou votre chien est devenu meilleur de race.
NEDERLANDS
Proficiat, uw hond werd Beste van zijn ras.
Fotostudio Karl DONVIL en www.123dog.net bieden u de gelegenheid om dit te vereeuwigen en bieden u een gratis foto 13 x19cm.
Begeef u zo spoedig mogelijk met uw hond naar de fotostudio van Karl DONVIL in de buurt van de erering.
De foto’s worden gepubliceerd op www.123dog.net na ongeveer 1 à 2 weken (abonneer u op onze nieuwsbrief). Maak een bestelling van minstens 16 EURO en kies een foto die je graag als gratis foto wenst te krijgen (klik op het camera ikoontje rechts bovenaan de foto om het nummer te kennen) en noteer dit nummer op je bon.
Betaal je bestelling. Daarna krijg je een bevestiging en ordernummer per e-mail. Vul je bon
verder in en verstuur hem zo snel mogelijk naar Karl DONVIL, Doornstraat 6, 3370 Boutersem, België. Om dubbel zeker te zijn kan je ook nog een mailtje sturen naar karl@123dog.net met je ordernummer en het nummer van je gratis foto.
Alles wordt dan per gewone post zo snel mogelijk naar je toegestuurt.
Opgelet: Deze bon is alleen geldig in combinatie met een bestelling van minimum 16 EURO en na betaling. Uw gratis foto moet zijn genomen op de show waar uw hond Beste van het ras is geworden.
