door Karl DonvilMechelen 2009, rehearsal for the 30th edition next year.
In every club there are some breeders who have a big influence on the show and the choice of its judges. They can invite specialty judges and are aware of their popularity and impact on the entries. Sometimes it can be very significant like here in Mechelen. This is the case here with the Cao de Bou or the Perro Dogo Mallorquin. While last year there were 26 entries , this year there were no less then 47 specimen of this rather rare breed on this area of Europe. Mr.Carlos Salas was invited from Spain to judge them.
Mr.Salas had a nice total number of 91 dogs on Saturday. Besides the Cao de Bou, he also had 7 Dogo Canario and 36 English Bulldogs. On Sunday he could relax with 28 dogs. The club also counts a few breeders of French Bulldogs and this had the same effect. Mr. Istas François from France was invited. On Saturday he judged a few Terrier breeds and 21 Shar Pei, which brought the score to 41. On Sunday the French Bulldogs were on term, 61 all together, the best scoring breed of the show. Mr.Istas had also 29 Chinese Cresteds and a few other breeds and this way he ended up 92 dogs in total. Mr. Germundsson from Sweden had the highest entry number overall with 79 dogs on Saturday and 60 on Sunday. Other good scores were Mrs.Ann Ingram from Ireland with 71 dogs on Saturday –including 24 Yorkies- and 50 on Sunday and Mrs. Dorota Witkowska from Poland who had 75 dogs on Saturday, including 35 American Staffordshire Terriers. Mr.Jean-François Vanaken from Belgium judged only on Sunday and only the Chihuahua’s and ended up with 53 specimen in his ring. Mr.Vleugels Koen, also from Belgium, judged 38 Rhodesian Ridgebacks. He is starting his judging career in this breed. In fact the whole panel of judges were very international and only 6 were Belgian judges. They were 23 all together and represented 13 different countries. Mrs. Nagel was even invited from as far as from Australia. On Saturday she the Dobermanns and Newfoundlanders and on Sunday she had the Australian shepherd breeds, the Malamutes and Huskies and a few others. She also took over a few breeds from Mr.Pohling from Germany who was excused.
The total number of entries increased to 1647 and they represented 15 different countries. There were dogs from all over Europe including one from Russia. The Neckerhalls can, however, hold easily a lot more dogs. It could be the best hall from Belgium but unfortunately it has one very big handicap, its acoustics. It echoes so much inside that is hardly possible to make a announcement, let stand give comments in the main ring. There is nothing much the committee can do about this and it would be unfair to blame them for this as those things they have control over is done very well. I look forward to next edition, the thirtieth!
Mrs.De Ridder-Onghena, one of our Belgian all-rounders, was asked to find the BIS. All dogs needed to come back on Sunday. Again I deplore that all dogs were lined up. The dog who ends up number 10 has also won his group, but with a number 10 in front it creates an impression as he ended last. On some shows, like in Luxemburg, they all leave the ring and only the winners are asked in again starting with the 3rd place. This is a much more elegant solution. Probably there are other elegant solutions. Mrs.De Ridder’s choice for 3rth place was the Weimaraner Grey Classic’s Fox Mulder from Edwin and Kristina Lenaerts-Pilatus, his breeders and masters from Belgium. He was judged by Mr.Juslin Johan from France who made him Best of Breed. Mr.Ove Germundsson from Sweden made him his Group winner. Fox Mulder was entered in Male-Champions class and is 3 years old. The Clumber Spaniel Clussexx Chance Encounter from Mr.and Mrs.Counotte-De Vree was awarded Runner-up to BIS. This male Champion, was imported from the USA and is now 5 1/2 years old and was judged by Mr. Borges Manuel from Portugal. His judge for the group was Mrs.Ann Ingram from Ireland. Mrs. Robyn Nagle from Australia had probably good hope that if she made Champion Tundrafoot’s Bern Baby Bern, her best of Breed, this Male Champion could possibly win this show. Tundrafoot is 3 years old, owned by Nancy Daponte from Belgium and bred in Canada by Paul and Margaret Knight. Mrs.W.Van Dijl from the Netherlands judged this dog’s group and made him Best. For the BIS judging Mrs.Daponte decided to show the dog by herself . Probably a good choice. We will probably meet Trandrafoot not only at the upcoming shows but surely next year when the club celebrates its 30th edition. I recommend you this show as you will probably have an exclusive judge, you will have spacious rings, great hospitality and strong competition which makes any victory much more significant. Be there 21-22 August, entry forms can be found on www.kvsr.be.
