news - 22/03/2003 Champion OF The Year 2003 in Greece - Greece
by Yiannis Vlachos The CHAMPION of the Year Contest in Greece was held of the evening of Sunday 23rd of March at the Athenaeum Intercondinental Hotel. The event was sponsored by the magazine "O KOSMOS TOU SKILOU", and Purina Pro Plan. The judge for the evening came from Norway, and was the very well known all rounder Mr Tore Fossum. This was the third occasion he has been invited to judge in Greee, and he is certainly regarded as a very popular and knowledgeable judge in the country.
In the competition there were 31 Greek Champions entered, and representing all the groups. For the judging they were brought out in pairs, who had been drawn by lot prior to the start of the judging. The rounds then continued on a knock out basis until the winner was the only dog left. The prize for which they had competed was a free trip to compete at the World Show in Dortmund.
The dog who went through to gain the title Champion of the Year 2003 was a british bred Rottweiler "Billy", or to give him his full name, Gr.Ch.Cuidado Guitar Man. He is sired by UK.Ch.Fantasa Ultra Violet, out of UK.Ch.Cuidado Dizzy Miss Lizzy. He is owned by Mr George Albanis, and was bred by the well known breeder Miss Kate Pinches, who now lives in Greece. Billy is one of the top winning working dogs in Greece, a multiple B.O.B. winner, 2 times Best In Show, and on that night was in a superb condition.
Reserve Dog Of The Year was the American Cocker "Aurora", better known as Gr.Ch.Princess Aurora of Ray Of Light, she is by Gr.Ch.Moonlight Show Silk Stocking, out of Gr.Ch.Moonlight Show Spark Flying. This lovely bitch is homebred, and always shown by her equally stylish owner Miss Evangellia Doulou. Aurora too, like the overall winner has won at the highest level, and went Best In Show last year under Mr Fossum at the National Championship Show in Athens. Her litter mates are group winners too, which says a great deal for the quality of the litter!
Pulled out in the final four was the Pyrenean Mountain Dog "Bubby" or Gr.Ch.Shiresoak Wizard's Harvest. Another bred in the UK, here by Ms Pat Baylis, and owned by Mrs Annita Nathanail. He has won many prizes in Greece and abroad, and is another who comes from a winning family, as his litter brother was BOB at Crufts 2000, and his sire was BOB & Group4 at Crufts 2003.
Also in the final four was a Caucasian Ovtcharka ( Russian Sheepdog) "Bullis" or Gr.Ch.Djauri Bionis Bullis. This dog was bred in Russia by Mr N.Kozyrka and is owned by Mr Chatzhichristos Dimitris. This dog is another consistent winner and at the last European show in Paris, won the ResCACIB.
We wish Billy the best of luck at the World show, and look forward to have such a great time at next year's contest.
