by Karl DonvilAntwerp BRABO Show 2012, the LIKE THIS show.
Indeed, the Brabo shows new goal is to become the (Facebook) Like This show. Providing big rings, plenty of space for a drink and a snack, a pleasant main ring, etc. that are the points the organization focuses on. Let me add a few other items like a very nice and complete catalogue, environmental friendly cue to small font and less printing, lots of commercial stands and space to let your dog go out. In fact nothing new but one has to do it.
There is a small increase in entries from 1687 to 1743 this year. This year there was a big Camping Show in the area next to the halls that attracted lots of visitors, but according to the President of the club, Mr.G.Surinx, it affected the Brabo show in a positive way with regard to visitors who grabbed to opportunity to pay a visit to both events. The Brabo show is always held in the Bouwcentre, now called Antwerp Expo . It is not right in the city, but easily accessible by tram from the city, by bus from the neighborhood and with car as situated right next to the ring and the many highways. Trade stand holders need lots of visitors and after the weekend there were mixed feelings. Some were really happy and had a good turnover, others were less happy, mostly for the Saturday. However, at Brabo they are positioned well as they are all situated in the places where visitors pass or come to eat and drink, and certainly they are all very visible.
Brabo has always been an active club and national pioneer for many disciplines. During the day there was entertainment for the public. The main ring itself has had a transformation for the better compared to former years. The colors are not that flashy any longer and the whole gives a cleaner impression. The ring is ornamented with chandeliers, creating a cozy atmosphere. However, and that is not a blame for the club, but the ugly podium of the sponsor is still in use. It is time that this podium is replaced as it is no longer clean, is splintered at the edges and the surface is totally worn. I would suggest that the Belgian Kennel Club would buy a professional podium to rent, one that can be ornamented individually by every club or sponsor. The time schedule was well respected and the main ring ended as planned.
For sure Brabo is well known and a very international show. Dogs were entered under no less than 20 different flags. The majority were from Belgium (1031), Holland was represented by 400 dogs and France and Germany respectively by 148 and 113. The United Kingdom was on the 5th place with 17 entries and all the rest came from different European countries nearby but also as far as Sweden, Finland, Spain and Russia. There was even one entry from Egypt!
Brabo has a policy of inviting a minimum of 50% Belgian judges and they did so this year too as 18 of the 35 judges were Belgians. But I wonder if this is such a good option as it seems to make things very complicated. Belgium is a small country and contrary to many other countries it is pretty tough in Belgium to become a group judge, let stand an allrounder. This results in a limited number of judges to choose from if you don’t want to have the same judges judging always the same breeds. 35 Judges is a lot if you compare to Luxemburg with more than 3 times the number of dogs judged by only 44 judges. And one can say Belgian judges are cheaper but they also need a hotel room, are refunded travel expenses and dine a few times. If, for example, a few allrounders and a few group judges are invited from abroad, they can judge a lot of breeds and save money to the organization. But if 50% of the judges need to be from Belgium, you probably need to take some breeds away from the foreign judges to give to some Belgian judges in order to reach the minimum number of 50 %. The result is that guest –judges have less breeds and less entries and a lot of Belgian judges are invited for only a few breeds or dogs, only in order to reach the 50%. Of course, national judges must receive opportunities to practice judging, but 50% doesn’t make sense. Let’s say that a judge/day stands for one judging unity. A judge that judges both days is two judging unities. From the 52 judging unities that I counted for both days I found only 9 times a judging-unity with 50 or more dogs. 1743 entries divided by 52 judging unities results in an efficiency rate of 33,5 dog/judging unity. For Luxemburg there were 75 judging- unities for 5176 dogs and this results in an efficiency score of 69,2, more than double! But no problem, if this is the policy of the Brabo show than there is no reason to complain as it does not affect the exhibitors at all, it does not affect the judging either or the course of the show. So, the fact that most judges seem to have few entries to judge does not mean they are unsuccessful but it is only a consequence of the policy of the show itself.
On Saturday, Mr.J-F. Vanaken starts the list with a score of 93 thanks to 81 Chihuahuas that showed up to be judged by him. Mrs.R.Blessing from Germany had 60 dogs on Saturday, including 30 Border Collies, the very same number as Mr.P.Roosenboom from Belgium who judged 23 Pugs and 37 Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Mr.T.Eerola had 40 Poodles on Saturday and had 39 Bulldogs on Sunday when he had 50 dogs in total. Mrs.M.Van Brempt from Belgium and Mr.Heinesche from Luxemburg had also over 50 dogs on Saturday. Mr.P.Fortemps from Belgium officiated on Sunday only and had a nice score of 68 entries, all Cockers and Spaniels. Mr.P.Baelen, another Belgian Judge, a breeder of Bernese Mountaindogs himself, had 35 of them bringing him to a total of 50 entries on Sunday. Mrs.V.M.Soleckyi from Poland had a nice score of 48 Leonbergers on Sunday. The 43 Great Danes that came for Mr.J.Hartich from Germany are worth mentioning too. Best scoring judge was Mr.Hans Van den Bergh from Holland. Saturday was quiet for him with 36 entries but on Sunday on the contrary, he finished with the best day score of 100 entries. The Popular American Staffordshire Terriers had contributed well with 37 entries. He was also granted the honor to judge Best In Show.
His 3rd place went to the Yorkshire Terriër “ Hunderwood Daily-News” owned by Eric Bernard (FR), this 3 year old dog was entered in Champion Class under Mrs. Dewilde who picked him out of 16 others to send him to the Groups to be judged there by her husband Mr.August Dewilde who made him Best of the Terrier Group. A Teckel on place two is certainly not a common view. Mr.Kazmiersky from Poland was the judge for the Teckels an also judged the Teckel Group. His eye fell upon the Dutch Kaninchenteckel wire haired “ Alpheratz Jerez” owned by Satter-Mol Coby . This male was entered in Open Class.
In 2007 the whippet Daydream Di Mahanna won here Best In Show, now her daughter “Hannah di Mahana” was on term. Brabo is the lucky show for Mr.Delabelle. Winning a show twice with mother and daughter is hard to believe, but here we have the proof. Hannah is born the year after mom’s victory and is an International Champion already. She had 16 competitors in her ring that was judged on Saturday also by Mr. Kazmiersky. And it was Mr.Dewilde who judged her for the Groups and gave her the ticket for the finals, amazing (Mr.Dewilde judged Best In Show in 2007)! Hannah looks very much to her mother, go to this link to see her in my article of the Brabo 2007 show: http://www.123dog.net/servlets/gateway/user/GalleryNews.jsp/tab/2/sub/2/id/296/hasresults/true/haspictures/true/typeid/1000/jlang/en/dogs.html.
Note in your agenda on 13-14 April 2013, “Brabo Dog Show, not to forget!” Be numerous as there is plenty of space, there are plenty of judges and the welcome is great: Like It!
Text and photos: Karl DONVIL
Results: Paula Dictus
Resultaten Show Antwerpen (Brabo) Datum: 14 & 15/04/2012
Uitslagen zaterdag:
Show Handling: Jury: Dhr Roger Dictus (BE)
Finale Ere-ring
1) Stotijn Katinka (BE)
2) Soete Deborah (BE)
3) Van Houtven Jolien (BE)
4) Marville Christine (BE)
5) Flamant Erin (BE)
6) Sas Janna (BE)
Koppels: Keurmeester: Dhr. Staf Van den Bosch (BE)
1) Mops/Carlin/Pug – Lord Of Greyskull – Eig: Christian Montens (BE)
2) Cavalier King Charles Sp. – van ‘t Zwart Water – Eig.: Kathleen Van Gompel (BE)
3) Zergspitz/Pomeranian – Little Stars Poms – Eig: Weijers-Sloeserwij Ans (NL)
Groepen: Keurmeester: Dhr. Staf Van den Bosch (BE)
1) Middelspitz Zwart – d’Un Soir de Noel – Eig: Bazin-Deckmyn (FR)
2) Mops/Carlin/Pug – Lord Of Greyskull – Eig: Christian Montens (BE)
3) Cavalier King Charles Sp. – van ‘t Zwart Water – Eig.: Kathleen Van Gompel (BE)
Beste Baby: Keurmeester: Mevr. Ingrid Hectors (BE)
