door Karl DonvilBrussels dog show was excellent only one month after the Champion of Champions show.
For its 115th edition the Brussels Dog Show, one week before Christmas, had a very nice entry of 3574 dogs. The difference of 400 dogs less than last year has probably two reasons. First there was the terrible weather that struck the exhibitors on Sunday. This has probably made certain exhibitors reluctant to enter their dogs. But I don’t think this has had so many influence. Let’s not forget the last weeks and the busy year with all the festivities around the FCI Centenary. Only 5 weeks before there was the Champion of Champions Show in the very same halls. There was also Kortrijk and Amsterdam. This costs a lot of money if you want to participate to all those shows and probably a lot of exhibitors decided to stay home.
All by all there were more than enough dogs and the 33 judges (out of 13 different countries)had enough to handle these two days. The Brussels Dog Show is always very special as all participants get a free breakfast offered at the stand of Royal Canin, a very nice initiative to welcome the people. There is also the Christmas Pet- market and every morning Father Christmas as brought in on a sled pulled by a span of Huskies. It is fun for the visitors as there is always something going on in the main ring. The entry fee was free for children under 12 and thus an excellent day out for the family. The theme this year was “ the dog in our society” and visitors could enjoy demonstrations illustrating the many aspects of the relation between man and dog. Brussels Dog Show offers a double CAC and is also a Crufts qualifying show. Of course this gives certain advantages over other shows but Brussels is the principal show and a combined result of all the clubs in the country. And since several years this show has evaluated in the positive direction. The main ring is gorgeous in one word and lighted with chandeliers. The podium was ornamented with Christmas decoration and a blue background. The catalog was very complete and paid much attention to all the people who kindly helped to organize this show. I think this must have been well appreciated. The exhibitors came from 21 different countries. No less than 1812 dogs were from Belgium, France and the Netherlands had 648 and 643 entries respectively, Germany was represented by 287 dogs. But there were also entries from countries as far as Finland and Sweden, and even one from Greece and one from the USA.
The judges were very well chosen as some had far over 100 entries on one day. 21 of the 33 judges had over 75 entries on one of the days. Mr.Van Montfoord from Holland had 79 Great Danes on Saturday and 67 dogs on Sunday, 59 of them Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. From Norway we had Mr.Per Andersen to judge 95 dogs on Saturday of which no less than 59 Leonbergers. Mrs. Cuthbert had 81 dogs on Saturday, amongst them 34 Bullmastiffs and 27 Mastiffs. Doing all the Collies and Shelties (79) on Sunday she ended up with a total of 160 dogs. Mr.Ben Karpel came from Israel to judge 106 dogs on Saturday, 86 of them Bulldogs. Together with a smaller variety and also very popular, the76 French Bulldogs that he judged on Sunday, he ended up with 182 dogs for the weekend. Mrs.Deridder had also good scores, 70 American Staffordshires and 72 Border Collies. Mr.Paul D’Hooge, also from Belgium, judged on Saturday only. He had 75 Newfoundlanders. Mr.Javier Sanchez from Spain was most busy on Saturday with all the Pinschers and Schnauzers, a total of 104. Mrs.Martha Heine from Germany had 72 Terriers on Saturday and no less than 130 dogs out of group 5 on Sunday . Mr.Des Manton from Ireland also proved very popular . He had 138 on Saturday and 83 on Sunday. The 72 Staffordshire Terriers and the 70 Aussies contributed generously to his popularity. Together with the Romanian judge Mr. Ionescu Augustin he shared the title of most popular judge of the show. Mr.Ionescu had only 69 Cockers on Saturday, but on Sunday he had no less than 152 dogs all out of group 5 that he shared with Mr. Heine. Mr.Deschuymere from Belgium filled certain gaps on Saturday and had only 48 dogs, but on Sunday he concentrated on Shepherd breeds, good for 117 specimen. Mr.Czic Istvan from Germany judged Terriers on Saturday, 65, and on Sunday he also had an amazing score with 129 Companion dogs. The popularity of the Chinese Cresteds is growing if we look at the 52 specimen present here. Mr.Freddy Declercq from Belgium judged on Sunday only, but to give him only the Chihuahua’s was a wise decision as he was more than busy enough with 97 specimen in his ring. Mr.Wieremiejczyk from Poland judged group 8 dogs on Saturday but on Sunday she had a good score with 87 dogs out fo group 6, not included the Rhodesian Ridgebacks as they were reserved for Mr.Barnes Kelvin who only judged them on this show, but seen the 74 who were present it proved another wise decision. And that counts for Mr.Frederik and Mrs. Muriel Hathaway who judged only on Saturday. Frederik had the 86 Golden Retrievers for his account, while Muriel took care of the 81 Labradors. Mr.Jens Witers from Germany took care of the Teckles, all varieties, on Saturday and had a free on Sunday. Same for Mr/Catalan L. from Poland who judged breeds from group 7. They could have a look at the ring of Mr.Renaux Alain from France who judged on Sunday only. He had a total of 72 dogs, 52 of them were Beaucerons and that is a long time ago since we had so many together over here in Belgium. Or they could go to see the judging of sighthounds. Mr. Pordham Kenis from the United Kingdom was judging some of the breeds on Sunday only and had a nice score of 84.
Mr.Norman Deschuymere was asked to judge the finals and place all 10 groupwinners. The winner of the Dachshunds was not present however. His 3rd place went to the American Cocker Spaniel
“Very Vigie Century Fox” owned by Doucet Joelle. Century Fox was bred 4 years ago by Mr.Laurent Pichard. Mr.Ionescu judged him on Saturday when he was entered in Champion Class males winning the group from 24 other competitors. The very same judge made him later on BIG and granted him a ticket for Sunday. Res. Best in show was for the3 year old male Fox Terrier Wirehaired “ Slicey Heart of Mine”. He was bred by Lorrain Denys and is proudly owned by Mr. Loubet Vincent also from France. The Fox Terriers were judged on Saturday by Mr.Czik Istvan Mr.M.Heine judged the group in the afternoon. Best In Show went to a Belgian Breed from a Belgian owner and breeder, the Papillon Siljans Truly Yours owned by Jan Roosens. Jan is a breeder himself but imported this 3 year old bitch from Sweden. Siljans was another choice of Mr.Istvan who judged the breed and the group. I suppose we will meet this dog at Crufts in a few months and on some other shows in the meantime. Jan Roosens has been BOB at Crufts with a Papillon a few years ago and even ended in the finals of the Group. Will we see him again in the main ring this year, and will it be again a finalist? Who can say, be be aware of him as he was a worthy BIS of Brussels! Next year the show is a little earlier, 8 and 9 December, and maybe this could positively affect the number of entries as not so close to Christmas and no Champion of Champions to stand in the way. Reaching the 4000 must be a possible. Give us a help and enter in time.
