Poleta Mechti, bred in Russia. This bitch was really well made
and sound, and she managed to show herself without any
problems in spite of the weather.
I haven’t managed to get the names of the other Group winners, but on the first day I chose Best Veteran in Show. There
was no doubt who it was going to be: the famous 9-year-old
Scottish Terrier Int. Ch. Filisite Brash Celebration, owned
and bred by Valentina Popova. Valentina was also showing
several very nice youngsters, so the grand old man will surely
have followers in his footsteps.
In the main ring on Sunday there was also an act of pretty,
young, skillful girl dancers to entertain the general public between the competitions (they couldn’t perform in the rain on
Saturday). The fabulous Russian hospitality is well known,
and this time was no exception. After the show both days, the
dinner tables were set with abundant choice of delicious dishes and drinks. But the plane to Riga left very early on Monday
morning, so we had to leave straight from the dinner table to
drive to Moscow. There was only one hour until the connecting flight this time, so we were able to get home at noon, tired
but enriched by one more unforgettable experience.
Ireland
Cork & District Canine Club’s
35th Annual All-Breed Show
by Paula Heikkinen-Lehkonen
Texterri photo
T
he Cork & District Canine Club in Ireland held its 35th
annual all-breed show in the beginning of June. The
heart and soul of the show and club are Brian Hergarty
and his mother, Helen. I guess Brian inherited the task after
his late father. There were about 1,000 dogs entered, which is
quite a good entry for Ireland.
Before the Irish Kennel Club was founded, all dog events
were held under license from the English Kennel Club. In
1920 they started to organize shows outside of the KC’s jurisdiction, and two years later, the Irish Kennel Club was born.
They took a courageous step some years ago
and undid the tie with England by joining the
FCI. This means that they adopted the FCI
10-Group system, its breed standards and
grading. However, they don’t give written critiques like most of the FCI countries do.
In the Irish shows, the CC is called a Green
Star, and they do have some international FCI
shows with CACIBs every year. However, it
is complicated for foreign exhibitors to bring
their dogs to Ireland. If you want to show your
dog there, you first have t o go to England and
from there to Ireland. But because the UK
recently voted to leave the European Union, this procedure
may change. It is understandable for an isolated island country to be afraid of diseases foreign animals might bring, but
dogs, especially show dogs, are easily controlled, and they are
vaccinated anyway. So they are definitely not the most likely
animals to spread rabies or other severe diseases.
Another remarkable thing the Irish Kennel Club has done is
acquire its own showground near the Dublin airport. The main
shows are held there, but shows in other parts of the country
have to use other venues. This Cork show was at a very nice
outdoor sports ground. It rains often in Ireland, but the weather was fine at this show. The current President of the IKC, Mr.
Sean Delmar, calls the frequent rains ”liquid sunshine”!
Irish judges often officiate at the shows in Continental Europe, and the Irish invite judges from other countries more
often than the British. For example, out of the 11 judges at
Cork, four of us came from abroad. The BIS judge, however, Mrs. Pat Lawlor, was Irish. The Irish Red Setter was her
choice for Best in Show, Ch. Rohanmor Jorja On My Mind,
owned by C. M. Loughlin. I understand this bitch has been a
big winner in the country.
Second place was the Pomeranian Belliver Kiss The Stars,
owned by Sean Carroll and J. Newman, a new little star from
this famous strain. The Groenendael (Belgian Shepherd) Ch.
Revloch Figo, owned by Paul and Jean Lawless, was third.
This dog is also a champion in the UK and in the Netherlands, and if I remember right, has been BOB at Crufts. The
Lawlesses are well-known judges, and they stay in contact
with the continental breeders and take the trouble to show
their dogs abroad. Fourth place went to another Irish breed,
the Irish Wolfhound Ch. Lady Rose of Shantamon, owned by
G. and P. Clarke.
“My” Group winners were the Boxer Benton Track Back,
owned by Paula and Tony Thornton (this dog became a champion on that day); the Lakeland Terrier Ch. Brookside Aristocrat, owned by Tina and Catherine Broaders; and the Golden
Retriever Int. Ch. Zenevieva Mister Bojangles For Whistler,
owned by C. Byrne and A. Stewart. The other Group winners
Best in Show at
the Cork & District
Canine Club show
was the Irish
Red Setter Ch.
Rohanmor Jorja
On My Mind under
judge Pat Lawlor.
The Pomeranian
Belliver Kiss The
Stars was Reserve
BIS.
September 2016 Dogs In Review
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