door Karl DonvilMechelen 2008, up to a new era!
Two years ago Mechelen had a very low entry with only 1093 entries. A new committee was elected and everything was reconsidered. The first results are there, spectacular and very promising results! This year no less then 1589 dogs were in competition for the 28th Sint-Romboutscup!
The Nekkerhalls offer plenty of space and fortunately there was no other event going on. That meant that it was possible to offer huge ring space, more then we are used to. An activity centre for children was installed at one end of the halls and this was new since this year. More dogs results also in an increase of visitors. Notwithstanding the summer holidays and a popular City Festival there was a slight increase of 6%.
Special attention was paid to the selection of the judges. People want to have a fair chance to win. The committee paid special attention not to invite judges who have a reputation to let always the same dogs win. Exhibitors know very well if they have a fair chance and this makes a judge popular or not. They expect an honest explanation if a champion doesn’t win this time. Of course it is the very same dog, but alike us, they can be in excellent condition one day and behave completely different on another show. Especially dogs with long coats and bitches can have this problem. We all know this. But if a judge ignores this and has no courage to set a champion back if not in condition, he gives no fair impression. Exhibitors don’t want to spend their money and such judges don’t have big entries after a while. They don’t mind losing from a better dog, but they don’t take it when they lose from a champion that is completely out of condition or doesn’t want to run properly. There are of course much more reasons why a certain judge has a good reputation or not.
A committee that listens to what goes on and that communicates with its members and exhibitors can fine-tune its final selection and expect higher scores.
For this edition of the Sint Romboutscup, 17 judges were invited from 12 different countries.
Most of them had well to very good entries. Mr.Piotr Kroll from Poland had no less then 133 dogs to judge on Saturday. Sunday was a little more relaxed for him with 60 dogs. Mrs.Haapaniemi Elina from Finland had a total entry on both days, of 177 dogs, 91 on Saturday and 86 on Sunday, a good balance! Mrs. Monique Van Brempt from Belgium, one of the 3 Belgian judges had a busy Saturday too, with 121 dogs, all Companian Dogs. Mrs.Mona Selbach from Norway had 28 English Bulldogs, 46 Amstaffs and 16 Staffordshires and a few other breeds and ended up with 111 entries on Sunday. Mrs.Julie Seamons from the UK was invited to only judge the Golden Retrievers. She had 39 in total and Mrs.Rita Breesch from Belgium had 28 Newfoundlanders, also the only breed she judged.
Special attention needs to be paid to the Cao de Bou or the Majorcan Mastiff, an uncommon breed. A specialty show was organized during this show and this resulted in a nice number of entries, 26 to be exact, out of 6 different countries. At the Stockholm World Show there were only 10. Mr. Sergio Gual Fournier, was invited. He is known as a breed specialist.
Not only the judges panel was international, but also the exhibitors. They represented 17 different countries, even from Russia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy and different East European countries. As this was a good, well balanced and nicely organized show, I can assure you that this show will be appreciated far over the Belgian borders and result in other foreign exhibitors for any upcoming show, on condition of course, that the judge’s panel will respond to the same high standard.
BIS judge was Mrs Monique Van Brempt. Her 3th place went to the Papillon “Queen Bless JP royal Connection” imported and owned by Roosens-Abeloos-Devos from Belgium. Queen Bless is already Champion, bred by Chie Ejima and is a 5 year old dog. He was made BOB by Mrs.Van Brempt and made Best of Group By Dr.Shemel from Austria.
The Weimaraner “Nobiskrug Playing Allegro” is one of Belgium’s top dogs and was placed second. Nobiskrug is 3 years old, owned and handled by Pilatus-Lenaerts and was made BOB by Mr.Theo Leenen who also made him Best of Group.
Best In Show is one of Belgium’s best scoring dogs in foreign countries and has an impressive list of International titles won at European Dogshows, World Shows and at Crufts. It is the 3 year old male “Emmerson van ‘t Stokerybos”, bred and owned by Delrue-Vandewalle. He was judged Mrs. Haapaniemi Elina from Finland and made Group Winner by Mr. Balducci Francesco from Italy.
Belgium has some very good breeders and dogs that are appreciated far over our borders. I am very convinced that the Sint Romboutscup has made a definite turn in the right direction and will gain international prestige. The first results are there, but I think we didn’t see the end yet.
