nieuws - 12/07/2003 Great Dane Specialty Finland 2003 - Finland
door Maria Winsor-GinalaIt’s the second time I was invited by the Suomen Tanskadoggi ry (the Finnish Great Dane Club): the first was in 1997, when I judged all colours at their “Colour-Format” show. This time it was the annual championship Special show, held in Mikkeli on Sunday 13th of July. The venue was a spacious field and the level sand surface of the two big rings offered excellent conditions for the dogs to move on. My co-judge was the distinguished Bjorn Eisnarve (Diplomatics kennel, Sweden) who was doing the fawns and brindles.
There were 96 black, harlequin and blue Great Danes entered in all age classes but since under the Kennel Club rules a judge is not allowed to judge more than 90 dogs per day, the 7 black/harl/blue puppies were judged by Bjorn, leaving me with 89 Danes to go over: 55 black and harlequins, 34 blues.
My Best of Breed of the black & harlequin colour is an exquisite young harlequin bitch from the junior class, merely 11 months old but of such outstanding quality and flowing movement that could not be denied, Hoppingham’s Sardi’s Dream of AJ (“Dream”). Not surprisingly, she goes back to mostly BMW bloodlines. Her sire, Int. Fin. Est. Ch. Ozaena’s Aint No Reason (second to my BOS winner in Champion class) is out of Necku BMW Hillary. Her dam, multi-Ch. Sardi How to Marry A Millionair, bred by Sara Dingman, USA, was second to Fin. Ch. Chanoz’s Gift Of Serenity, bred by by Lori Beilke, also in the US. Best opposite sex to the well-named “Dream” was a gorgeous black male, Int. Fin. Swed. Ch. Catapha’s Legacy of Atomic (breeder Taina Toivonen), a most worthy champion from a notable kennel. The first in junior males class is a harlequin import from Germany Blockbuster von Schontal, (Akari Claudia Bohemica x Ice Queen Liberte) who won his first Best of Breed a week after the Specialty. Another nice German import was the harlequin winner of open bitch class, Nykanens Princess Liberte (Vendetta de Royal Topaz x Ina La Douce Liberte). In open male class the winner was Ketomaen Artturi (Sandor Fred vom Gravital x Iris Canis Canum), a strong harlequin of continental bloodlines.
In blues my BOB was the American import, Fin. Ch. Wisiwyg Luke Skywalker v. Longo (Longo’s Endless Gossip x Wisiwyg Diamond Solitaire) with his own lovely daughter, Granneman’s Jedi Princess Amidala, going BOS from the junior class. I was not surprised to hear afterwards that “Hermann”, as my blue winner is known, enjoys track racing: he was the fittest of all my entries and also the best mover. He finished RBIS under Bjorn with the harlequin third. BIS was the fawn bitch Fin. Swed. Norw. Ch. Love Dane’s Monday Romance (Pyramids Reann Romeo del Lago x Love Danes Just A Romance). I gave Best Puppy to the harlequin bitch Genneda Vanity Fair (breeder Mario Tapio-Genneda also won best blue breeder’s group under me) with the fawn puppy Love Dane’s Valentine third, and Best Veteran to the lovely blue Fin. Ch. Newpopman Angel Blu Unik. Best blue puppy and 3rd Best Puppy in show was the very promising Bonel Pohacontas, by an Italian-bred male, Terminator del Castello Gamenario, out of Bonel Indiana. Bonel kennel has produced some outstanding blues over the years.
I also judged the breeder’s competition and one very nice group was presented by the “Rivercrest” kennel (Pia & Atte Lehtila). Some of his young and upcoming progeny should have a brilliant future. Rivercrest was second best kennel group in Show and first was Love Danes, with Genneda third. Best Progeny Group was the dogs sired by Fireside Hideho Dogiwogin (Am. Ch. Fireside New Kid In Town x Wikiera Southgate Yanca), a fawn male owned by Anna Veteli. Mr Eisnarve made two new Finnish fawn Champions on the day, the male Faxidan Herkules (Fireside Hideho Dogiwogin x Faxidan Filippa) and the female Dogiwogin Justine (Diplomatics Sent To Dogiwogin x Dane Amor Madame Versailes).
We had a great time both the day before and at the show itself. The exhibitors are so nice that is always a pleasure to judge in Finland and enjoy the quality of the Danes, the sportsmanship and hospitality of the people, as well as the beauty of the country. The Finns enjoy many sports with their dogs and the show itself included Obedience competition, judged by Riika Karvinen. The Open class winner was Dogiwogin Laodicea. Quite a few also do agility, swimming, racing etc, proving that a well-made Dane is a very athletic dog.
I am grateful to the committee for inviting me. My ring secretary and ring steward were perfect. Space doesn’t allow mention of all the dogs I liked but I will follow their progress with interest. The Scandinavian Great Dane scene offers plenty of quality and I wish them all the best for the future.
