door Kiriakos KontadakisThe Cyprus Kennel Club has organized its first double CACIB Show for this year in Limassol (Lefcosia) on the weekend 24. -25.03.2007 and it was , as always, a good opportunity for the Cypriot dog fanciers to meet, talk, and evaluate the steps of their country in the marvelous world of purebred dog breeding.
The show organizing team has worked hard, and everything went well.There were several foreign exibitors, with nice results, all very pleased by the cypriot hospitality.
The judge team included Mrs. Beata Petkevica from Latvia, Mrs. Sonia Falletti from Italy, Mr. Bo Skalin (Sweden) was also there, Mr. Andrzej Kazmiersky (Poland), Mr. Ove Germundsson from Sweden, Mr. Joao Filipe Lisboa from Portugal and last -but not least- Mr. Karl-Erik Johansson.
A small show, full of enthusiasm and good will, reflected very well the foreward steps of Cyprus. Better dogs, more professional work, and very serious junior handlers!!
There were Dogos Canarios (2) and Central Asian Owtcharkas (Sheepdogs)(2).Two wonderful breeds, from Spain and Russia.On the other side, Dogos Argentinos, Japanese Tosas and Filas Brasileiros, although well known FCI recognised breeds, are ALWAYS absent from the Cypriot Shows. Why? They are included in the Dangerous Dogs Act, and forbidden in Cyprus. I could never understand this.Central Asian Owtcharka is a very popular fighting breed in some countries. Dogo Canario is a wonderful cattle dog and a very effective man stopper as well. When well socialized they behave fine between unknown people, and when not, they can be as dangerous and ferocious as Filas and Tosas. So? Perhaps the Cyprus Kennel Club would do something to change this.These Group II breeds are man-centric, wonderful and sensitive companions...but a stranger can't easily feel this. Almost every breed can be aggressive, so the point must be the aggressive, provocative people first........and their activities of course....and not some breeds.
Labrador retrievers were the most popular breed (43 specimens) and they were analyzed by Mr. Johansson.Second breed was the Rottweiler (32) judged by Mrs Petkevica, and third the Samoyede (29 dogs), in the ring of Mr. Lisboa.
Best Puppy in Show was the belgian bred English Bulldog Feder of the Tivolli Bulls, owned by Mrs.Demetriou - Koutsoudi, chosen by Mr Skalin.
Best Junior dog in Show was a fantastic young American Akita 9 months and 1 day old at the day of the show. Shyllar Bear Face Believe It, a very typical young male, on his first show in the Junior Class, won Best Junior in Show by Mr. Germundsson, and later, by Mr.Lisboa he was Best in Show Winner, making his breeders (Shyllar Kennel, UK) and his owner (N.Panayotou, Cyprus) very proud!!! What a day for them!!!!!
The Reserve Best in Show Podium was occupied by Theogonia Aegean Light, Male Bichon Frise (BOG Winner by Mr. Kazmiersky), out of two Jitterbop dogs (Finland), born in Athens -Greece (Theogonia kennel), and owned by Mr. Moyseos (Cyprus).
Third Best in Show dog was the well known, lovely harlequin Great Dane CH. Hildydane Zsacharias, bred by Hildydane kennels (Australia), owned by Paul Bainbridge &Craig Hulme.
