by Karl DonvilGENK, LKV Show celebrates its 35th Anniversary with a super CAC show.
I wrote last year that Genk would not get a nice present for its 35th Anniversary. Indeed, this popular show was only granted a CAC show, while two years ago this was the 3rd biggest show of Belgium. But the exhibitors thought different. They wanted to celebrate with the committee and entered 1724 dogs, and that's a lot for a CAC show, more than many CACIB shows.
No wonder the committee was very happy. This proved that the LKV show is very popular and that the title did not matter that much. Next year they will have again a license for a CACIB show and...the show will be a Crufts qualifier show and that's a late but much appreciated anniversary gift. Last year the Ambiorix Trophy, also a CAC show, had a few more entries, 1764, and they have their show in the very same halls. The Limburghall of Genk is well situated, close to Germany, very close to Holland and within close range to France. And that showed; Germany had 139 entries, France 148 and the Netherlands 321. Belgium had 1055. Besides that there were entries from as far as Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia, Norway, Ireland, and even San Marino, no less than 16 nationalities all together. Some breeds were well represented but it was also a good occasion to meet some rare breeds too like the Korea Jindo Dog, 4 Iceland Dogs, 5 Tosa Inus, 5 Finnish and 3 Swedish Spitzes, a Tornjak and an impressive Foxhound. All breeds that are not very common in Belgium.
15 Judges officiated and only 6 of them had the Belgian Nationality. The other nine came each from a different country. Maybe this is key to this show's success: assembling a judges panel as if it were a CACIB show. Judges that are not predictable usually attract more dogs because exhibitors believe to have a fairer chance to win. Of course judges with a good reputation, authorities in their field, attract also lots of dogs as are breed specialists. And of course it is important that judges are not too often invited for the same breeds. All this applies for this show when analyzing the catalog. Mr.Colm Hastings from Ireland Had 125 entries in total. His busiest day was Sunday when he had 30 Staffordshire Terriers among his 85 entries. Very popular and having a good reputation is allrounder Mrs.Lisbeth Mach from Switzerland. She had the second best total with 187 dogs and she had the best score on Sunday with 109 entries. 55 Golden Retrievers and 35 Labradors and you hardly need a few more to reach that score. Mr.Gustaaf Van Den Bosch from Belgium had a total of 164 dogs. On Saturday he judged 30 Akitas and on Sunday, when he had 96 entries in total, he had 35 Bulldogs and 24 Bull Mastifs amongst them. From Germany came Mr.Hartich Josef to judge 40 Border Collies on Saturday and 46 Great Danes on Sunday. Of course he had more breeds in total, 122. A good score on Saturday was for Mrs. Munkval Anna-Lena from Sweden. ON Sunday she had only 27 dogs for her account, but on Saturday she had 84, including 34 Australian Shepherds. Mr.Christian Juanchicot from France was the best scoring judge on Saturday and the best scoring of the whole weekend. He had no less than 207 entries, 115 on Saturday, 92 on Sunday. On Saturday he had 28 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, 34 Rhodesian Ridgebacks and 25 Miniature Spitzes, on Sunday 26 Bernese Mountain Dogs and 30 Dobermanns where interested in his opinion.
Mr.Jovanovic Nemanja from Serbia had a total of 147 dogs. Saturday was his busiest day with 86 dogs to judge, including 39 French Bulldogs. He had the honor of judging Best In Show. His 3rd place went to the Labrador Retriever "Leonardo of Angel's Head". This dog was entered in Open Class and judged by Mrs.Lisbeth Mach. He had strong competition but won it from the Champions. He is only little over 2 years and bred and owned by Onckelinx-Thierry from Belgium. It was Mrs Stojkovic Liliane who judged his group in the finals. Reserve BIS was for the Welsh Terrier "Abbeyrose Machete in Sanherpinc". This dog was bred by Duafala in Holland and was born in April 2013. He is now owned and handled by Mr.Krautscheid also from Holland who entered him in Champion Class where he was the only representative of the breed. It was Mr Jovanovic himself who judged the breed. The group judge for the Terriers was Mr.Jos De Cuyper. Mr.Jovanovic also judged the 10 Basenjis on Saturday.. 19 Months old female "I Will Survive Out Of Africa" was entered in Open Class and won the ticket for the main ring wheres he was again judged by Mr.Jovanovic." I Will Survive Out Of Africa" is bred and owned by Mr. Patrick Daponte and bred by judge Mr.Christian Juanchicot from France.
If" I Will Survive Out Of Africa" will get her ticket next year for Crufts, then come to see or compete him next year on March 12 and 13 in the very same Halls, again a CACIB show and Crufts qualifier.
