Luxembourg Spring Show 2006
By Vince Hogan, OurDogs.co.uk
It is hard to believe, but again the Spring edition
of the Luxembourg show had an important increase of entries. Last year numbered
4,329 and this year no less than 4,778 dogs were on show.
They came from 28 different countries, which makes it one of the most
international shows on the European continent. Can you imagine this while
Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in Europe?
Best represented were the French with 1336 dogs, followed by Germany with 1113
entries, Belgium with 867 and the Netherlands with 621. Russia had no less then 54
dogs in the show!
Even 5 dogs came from as far as Israel and one from Australia. Amazing numbers!
This resulted of course in well filled rings and some judges had over 100 dogs in
one day, like Alfons Thovar from Spain who had 119 on Saturday followed very close
by Olga Dolysova from the Czech Republic who had 116 entries, all Cavalier King
Charles Spaniels! But Recordholders are Peter Harsanyi from Hungary who had no
less then 128 dogs to judge on Sunday, all less popular group 5 breeds, and
Maritha östlund-Holmsten from Sweden who had 100 dogs on Saturday and 102 on
Sunday. It is obvious that a good choice of judges is most important and
significant for the success of a show and the Luxembourg committee seems to have
mastered this skill.
The success of a show reflects also the popularity of certain breeds and here
again we find some very fabulous numbers. 116 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, 57
Flat Coated Retrievers, 87 Labradors, 104 Goldens, 113 Cocker Spaniels, 78
Rhodesian Ridgebacks, 66 Aussies, 89 Dobermanns, 82 Miniature Schnauzers, 123
Newfoundlands, 100 Great Danes, 69 Rottweilers, 86 Boxers, 98 American
Staffordshires, 76 Whippets and even 32 Irish Wolfhounds. Very significant is the
amount of Dachshunds with 177 specimens of all varieties! This is a number that
you hardly see in a show unless it’s a European or World Show and at least not in
the neighbourhoods of Luxembourg. Also remarkable is the high entry of 23 Vlcaks
who become pretty popular and is a very difficult breed to keep. The show had also
one specimen of the recently accepted breed the Hravatski Ovcar.
I wonder where all this will ever end? It seems like Luxembourg is the place to be
and most interesting to enter a dog. The title of Luxembourg champion was once on
discussion as being to easy to get, but if you see all this then I have the
impression that the number of entries raises the challenge and the risk of losing
your class gets higher every time. Besides that it is a very colourful competition
as a lot of good dogs come from all over Europe in sometimes big numbers.
The show is also very streamlined, everyone knows what to do and where to be. In
the morning it is always busy at the secretary’s office. Normal I would say if you
see where all those people come from. It automatically means that there are a lot
of entry fees that are not paid and should be checked and proved. The more entries
and countries the more difficult this will get in the future, but there were no
serious complaints or difficulties.
BIS was judged by Mr.Owe Germundsson from Sweden. For the 3th place he chose the
very nice Fox Terrier Wire “Zessie von der Bismarckquelle”, owned by Weiss Manuela
from Germany and bred by Axel Möhrke. The name “von der Bismarckquelle” is
synonymous to quality in the breed. “El Minja's Thamina” a Lhasa Apso from the
famous El Minja kennel was his choice for 2nd BIS. The dog is bred and owned by
Mrs and Mr. Van Tatenhove – Van Roosenbroeck from Holland. This kennel has already
produced numerous winners and Lhasa Apso EL Minja's Thamina is continuing this tradition.
Best In Show went to a dog from another very famous and reputed kennel from Italy.
Who doesn’t know the famous Alaskan Malamute and Shiba Inu Kennel ‘del Biagio’?
“Giving-a-New-Royal-Star-de Jungla Negra” is a son of Champion Royal Star del
Biagio and is also a Champion. Mr. Biagiotti was extremely happy and proud to win
this prestigious show and credits go also to his most beautiful and elegant
handler Monica. He certainly has an eye for quality!
Don’t ever say again that becoming a Luxembourg Champion is easy to get. The
quality is high, the numbers of entries are big, the judges are very international
and less familiar in our Areas and all this makes hard competitions and
prestigious wins. Who wins at this Show can say that he has real quality. If you
are really ambitious, come and challenge yourself at the September edition, the
2nd and 3rd.
Luxembourg BIS was judged by Mr.Ove Germundsson from Sweden. He selected the
Alaskan Malamute ‘Giving-a-New-Royal-Star-de Jungla Negra’ owned by Guiseppe
Biagiotti from Italy as overall winner, pictured here on the right. Also pictured
are Nic and Gitty Schwab and handler Monica from the Biaggio Kennels.
An international gathering on the Our Dogs stand, pictured left to right are Ian
Wiltshire and Sabrina Smit, Our Dogs representatives from the Netherlands, Mia
Ejerstad from Sweden who handled the Group 10 winner, Vince Hogan from Our Dogs
and Libby Brychtova with friend both from the Czech Republic and flying the Czech
flag…perhaps the wrong way round!
The complete judging panel pictured after Best in Show on Sunday night. President
Gitty Schwab and Secretary Nic Schwab are seen here congratulating the winning
Italian Alaskan Malamute.
Our Dogs friends from Europe including Darren from Transgroom with Katarina Round
and canine friend, her husband Bruno (hiding at the back) along with Vince Hogan.
Gitty and Nic Schwab, President and Secretary respectively.
Kennel Club representative Sue Sampson is pictured alongside Our Dogs official
photographer Karl Donvil.
Pictured enjoying themselves at the official dinner are brothers Sigurd Wilberg (left)
and Leif Wilbberg (right) along with show judge Hassi Assenmacher-Feyel.
Roz Dunn the Westie judge from the UK,left) and Sigurd Wilburg (right), along with
Vince Hogan from Our Dogs (centre).
BIS judge Ove Germundsson and Vince Hogan making a presentation of a signed book
on behalf the guests and judges to Nic and Gitty Schwab at the official dinner on
Saturday night.
Russian judge Mrs.Irina Petrakova chose the Group 4 winners with the Standard
long-haired Dachshund ‘James Bond v.d.Northgosertjes’ Nagel-Endenburg from the
Netherlands coming out on top.
Hungarian Short-haired Pointier ‘Hertelendy Aliz "Szikra"’ owned by Tibor Hámori
from Hungary came top of Group 7. This group was judged by the well known Mr.Tamas
Jakkel from Hungary.
Group 6 Finnish judge, Mr.Harri Lehkonen, decided on Basset Hound ‘Dom Pedro Iv el
Rey’ owned by Italian Fulvio Marelli as first place winner.
Group 3 was judged by Mrs.Paula Heikkinen-Lehkonen from Finland. Top of the group
was the Wire Fox Terrier ‘Zessie von der Bismarckquelle’ owned by German Manuela
Weiss.
German judge of Group 1, Mrs. Hassi Assenmacher-Feyel, gave first place to The OES
‘Creditcard aus Dem Elbe-Urstromtal’ owned by Cornelia Loest from Belgium.
Azawakh ‘Shani Kel Dahoussahaq’ owned by Francesca Zampini from Italy and handled
by Mia Ejerstadt took first place in Group 10, judged by Mrs.Christine Delabelle
from Belgium.
Italian judge of Group 9, Mr. G.Batta Tabo gave first place to the Lhasa Apso ‘El
Minja's Thamina’ owned by S.H.M. Van Tatenhove V.Roosenbroek from the Netherlands.
Mr.Leif-Herman Wilberg from Norway was judge of Group 8. In first place he picked
Portuguese Water Dog, ‘American Dancer's Magic Thunder’ owned by E.M
Rijnbeek-Hagendijk from the Netherlands.
Group 2 winner was the Giant Schnauzer ‘Puskin de Pomerland’ Manzano owned by
Angel Miguel from Spain.
