news - 04/10/2003
Bratislava EURODOGSHOW Sunday - Slovakia
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by Karl Donvil
Search your photo click on "SHOP" and "Help" IMPORTANT NOTE: The photos taken in the photocorner are of very good quality and there is no problem for printing them in size 20x28 cm. The photos taken in the main ring are not all pinsharp, due to the difficult conditions. Look very well at the photos and order only larger then 13x20 cm in case you can clearly see they are pinsharp.
Slowakia shows how it should ! “Chapeau” !!!
Really, one can say that the European Championship show held this year in Bratislava (Slovakia) can be called an example of how a good big show should be.
Now we will all know that Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and that it is very near to Vienna, but so different! We will remember the friendly people and the warm welcome of all our canine friends over there and we will no longer wonder if they have good dogs.
With Poland still clearly in mind and the professionalism shown there, I was pretty confident that the Slovakian Kennel Club would take its job very serious. No less then 10270 dogs were entered for the show and during the same weekend and in the very same halls 21 club specialties were held with another 1500 entries. Nothing is perfect of course, but we have to say “chapeau”. The halls were vast, bright, very modern, and extremely clean all over. Although I was a little worried about the parking area, I have heard no serious complaints, except that is was pretty expensive for a day. But who worries as one knows that restaurants are cheap there and hotels are not too expensive. It rained a few times but in general it was not cold at all and the dogs did not need to go outside. As it was not allowed to smoke inside and the restaurants were nicely separated or outside, the air in the halls was clean and not foggy as we often see.
Most of the rings were on the first floor, in the brightest hall. Under it were three other halls, all with large windows. The darkest of them had only rings on one side, the side close to the windows, while the other side was reserved for the commercial stands, smart! In de main hall, beside of the main ring, was an area for the VIP and the Press, with all necessary facilities, included (efficient) Security people!
The main ring was really impressive with one side for the visitors and the other side for the VIP and the Press. On one short side was a podium for the speakers and the officials, on the opposite side was the podium for the winning dogs. This was an architectural masterpiece!
Every inch was used in the most efficient way.
No complaints then? OK then, the position of the press was not ideal and photos had to be taken from a difficult angle. The judges were positioned in front of us. That meant smoke from cigarettes from those who broke the non-smoking rule, and people standing up and running in front of our cameras. Due to the strict time schedule, we were not allowed into the ring to take photos of the winners. But a nice podium was reserved for us right behind the corner and almost all the winners took the time to have us do our job. Unfortunately, some exhibitors could not come as they needed to go into the ring again to show other dogs or groups. But in general we were quite happy compared to most of the other shows in the past.
We didn’t have the feeling at all to be forgotten.
The show itself was great! Every day we enjoyed the amusing folkloristic intermezzos. It was not boring at all, on the contrary, it was a real pleasure for eye and ear! Folkloristic dances were never my favourites, but this was different and almost turned me into a fan. If Polkas are danced with humour, skill and fantasy they can move even the most boring of us.
Every day we also could enjoy supreme performances of heelwork to music. One was a young girl with her Dobermann. She combined the most difficult exercises into one fluent act.
It was perhaps not the most spectacular dance that I have ever seen with a dog in the sense of entertainment, but certainly one of the most spectacular in the sense of skill. Let’s keep in mind that a Dobermann is not the most usual breed for this kind of dog sport. And what about a Dachshund? I can assure you that it looks funny, and this dog did very well too. Very remarkable was the performance of a young lady and her Malinois. She was almost blind. This in mind it was hard to believe what she was able to do with her dog. The dog was barking all the time and this was probably meant so in order to locate her dog and direct him. She did not cover a lot of space in the ring and did not twist very much, but her timing and balance were perfect. It was amazing what she did and one could see that her she and her dog are a perfect couple.
The official part was reduced to a minimum. This is usually rather boring for the audience as they come in the first place to see champions. And they got value for money. The quality of the dogs was high and so were the handlers. Most of them know in the meantime, that certainly for a show like this, not only the dogs must be perfect, but also the handlers. The major part of them was dresses up, without extravagance. This is how it should of course, if not, you lead away the attention of the dog, no matter how lovely he is. This is especially important for the breeder groups!
The group winners were all very lovely dogs, some of them very famous in the meantime. For Mrs. Renée Sporre-Villes, from Sweden, to pick out the Best in Show. As one colleague said, it is indeed unusual that a foreign judge is chosen for this. Whatever she would have chosen, she could not make serious mistakes as the quality of every group winner was excellent. Her choice for the third place was the impressive Afgan Hound, a dog that floats over the ring with the head always fierce and high. This dog is handled by its breeder in the most professional way. The black Riesenschnauzer won second place, a splendid dog and a good mover with an excellent deep black coat. When the winner was announced, there as confusion at first. By hearing “the American…”, the audience could no longer wait to scream of joy. But what American was it, the Cocker or the Staffordshire? Not only the public but also the handler of the Cocker did not hear it clearly, as he already rushed into the main ring jumping of joy, followed by the handler of the Staffordshire who almost immediately turned around disappointed. This was a very difficult moment! It was the Staffordshire who won BIS and not the Cocker. At first it looked like the audience had decided but the real winner already disappeared. He was finally called into the ring again and he could start his triumph around the main ring. Was it embarrassing for the Cocker? I doubt it. I am sure that it must have been a difficult moment for the judge, the handler as well as for the real BIS. But the differences in quality of the Groups Winner must have been so small that Mrs. Sporres-Willes must have looked for the tiniest faults to make her final decisions.
Most credit goes anyway to the organising team with Ir. Stefan Stefic on top. It proves again that big countries can mirror themselves to small countries. The cynological world will remember this show as one that could be compared with the best World Shows and is certainly the best European Dogshow ever.
Text and photos: Karl DONVIL
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