Dogs In Review Magazine Novemeber Issue

Right: At the ﬁrst show in Pärnu, Noreen Harris chose the Finnish Lhasa Apso Int. Ch. Chic Choix Diamella Inspiration for Best in Show. Far right: Mr. Zaza Omarov’s choice for BIS on Sunday was the Dalmatian Ch. Gwynmor Hitch Hiker. Two Shows in Pärnu by Paula Heikkinen-Lehkonen W hile my husband was judging in Oulu, I was at Pärnu in southwestern Estonia, where the weather was warm and sunny. Many exhibitors take a little holiday and enjoy the city’s attractions, like the beautifully restored buildings, spa hotels, beaches and many excellent restaurants, in addition to attending the dog shows, which are held outdoors on short-cut grass in a sports stadium. The 16 judges represented various nationalities, the furthest-traveled one being Mrs. Noreen Harris from Australia. She was the BIS judge on the ﬁrst day, and she fell for the Finnish Lhasa Apso Int. Ch. Chic Choix Diamella Inspiration, owned by Jaana Karenmaa-Nurminen. She won BIS at the big Turku show this January, and she is also a champion of six different countries. I believe this bitch lives with her owner’s sister Tiina Karenmaa-Virtanen, who usually handles her, like at this show. The next day she won the Group again and ended up Reserve BIS, so it was a good weekend for the Karenmaa sisters. Reserve BIS was the lovely Yorkshire Terrier Ch. Nefertiti Queen Of Egypt, owned by Julija Kriscenko of Latvia. She, too, managed to win her Group again on Sunday. Third place was the Beagle Ch. Woodland West’s Margarita Of Starbuck Torbay, owned by Irina Pavlenko from Russia. This American import was BOB on Sunday, too, but did not place in the Group. Fourth was the Labrador Retriever Ch. Mocny’s Islander, owned and bred by Tiina-Loviisa Rönkkö of Finland, another one of the double Group winners of the weekend. He has done well in Finland and has passed the ﬁeld trials, so he should be an international champion now. Noreen Harris met him once three years ago when she was judging Labradors in Finland. She placed him second in his class then, so obviously he has matured well! There were several other Finnish Group winners: the Afghan Hound Ch. Neliapilan Mesiasirkus, owned by Vilma Helle; the Miniature Pinscher Ch. A’Dreams Black Winner, owned by Esa Rönkkö; the Norrbotten Spitz Ch. Hopeapajulaakson Reetu, owned by Tuomo Valjus; and the Wirehaired DOGSinREVIEW.com Standard Dachshund Royal Pepper’s Pretty In Pink, owned and bred Sari Hirvonen. Last but not least, the winner of the Pointing Gundog Group was the Weimaraner from Russia, Belfegorus Euphoria In Soul Fidel, owned by A. Savicheva. The young Wire Dachshund won her Group again on Sunday. This 1-year-old bitch had been shown only a couple of times in Finland before this, and in her ﬁrst show, the result was “good,” which actually means not very good! But since then she has improved. I don’t know what the reason was for that low grading, but on Sunday I judged the breed and the Group and can hardly think of anything that could be improved on this young beauty! On Sunday the BIS judge was Mr. Zaza Omarov from Georgia. Although there were several dogs that had been seen winning top placings the day before, he didn’t let this inﬂuence his decision. His favorite was the happy and lively Dalmatian Ch. Gwynmor Hitch Hiker, owned by Tatiana Tarasenko of Russia. The dog is bred in the Netherlands. He hasn’t been shown in Finland, but a Finnish breeder has used him for breeding. There are 12 puppies by him waiting to be old enough to enter the show rings! On the previous day, another champion dog beat him in the breed ring. A new day, a new chance! The Lhasa that was BIS on Saturday was now second, and third was a new face, the young Irish Setter Sarmando Dream Lady Power Of Love, owned and bred by Lina Matulevice of Lithuania. Her litter brother was BOB and second in Group on Saturday, so it was a good weekend for the siblings. For fourth, Mr. Omarov chose the Irish Wolfhound Ch. Dwarf’s Valley O’Neill, owned by Larisa Blazevica of Latvia. The other new Group winners were the Bernese Mountain Dog Ch. Ridon Hennet Quantus, owned by Evelin Saveljev of Estonia (he was second in Group on Saturday); the Smooth Collie Ch. Clingstone’s Make My Day, owned by Satu Asikainen of Finland; and the Swedish Elkhound Int. Ch./Dual Ch. Karhunkerääjän Tupolev, owned by Anna Paananen of Finland. Some of the BOB winners couldn’t stay for Sunday’s ﬁnals because they had to catch the ferry and also drive home. It is a pity, but some people do have to work on Mondays even if it is summer! PHOTOS BY TEXTERRI 122 ESTONIA

Dogs In Review Magazine Novemeber Issue | Page 125