Greyhound World Congress championship show
BEST IN SHOW at the Greyhound World Congress Specialty Show in Norway, under judge Robert Newsham of Windspiel from the UK, was EuJW’15 Ch. Sobers Xantia, bred by Bitte Ahrens Primavera and Pierluigi Primavera in Italy and owned by Pernilla Holm in Sweden.
BEST OF OPPOSITE SBIS BIS Int.UK.Am.Nord.N.S.Dk.Ch.Jet’s Man In The Moon, bred by Espen Engh in Norway and owned by Štěpánka Horáková in Norway
BEST VETERAN IN SHOW was Int.Nord.UK.Ch. Jet’s Signed Sealed’n Delivered, bred by Kari and Espen Engh in Norway and owned by Lise Olesen
BEST VETERAN OPPOSITE was Int.S.Pl.Nl.D.Dk.Ch. Sobers Maria Callas, owned by Malin Åberg and bred by Bitte Ahrens and Pierluigi Primavera in Italy.
BEST PUPPY IN SHOW was Epic Perfect, bred and owned by Annalena Almgren and Johan Rosengren in Sweden.
Males:
Bitches:
Judges report
Mr Robert Newsham – Windspiel Greyhounds
So my journey to the Congress started exactly 2 years earlier on 27th August 2015 when I received an E-Mail from Espen Engh on behalf of the Norwegian Greyhound Club inviting me to judge the greyhound specialty show on the Sunday of the congress, well as you can imagine I jumped at the chance, who wouldn’t , to get to judge the breed both Elaine and myself have been involved with for the best part of 45 years was definitely not to be missed, and at such an important event, (not sure why they asked me to officiate, but maybe the 45 years experience had something to do with it ),
So fast forward 2 years and time to get organised for our trip, we flew from Manchester to Oslo on the Friday, on arrival at Gardermoen Airport we met up with Claire Rishworth and Liz Wilkinson to take the bus trip down to Moss and then on to the venue, on arriving at the Hotel we wasn’t sure what to expect having just drove past a building site adjacent to the Hotel, it isn’t until you go into the hotel and through to the rear of the hotel that you start to really appreciate the venue, beautiful architecture to the Hotel with stunning views of one of the Fjords, our room was perfect with the same views of the Fjord, Fantastic.
The Friday evening was very informal with everyone mulling around chatting and having drinks etc, and we retired to our room about 10.30.
Saturday was the main congress day with very interesting and informative talks by very knowledgeable people , and later in the afternoon we where put into 10 groups of 10 to discuss and try and formulate a Greyhound list of Merit, this was all very interesting listening to all the different views within the group, but we finally came up with a list that everyone agreed on ( unlike some of the groups ).
Saturday evening was very special as everyone where to meet at the Fjord were Champagne was on offer for everybody , and a very illustrious group of people where there to enjoy, I think I said at the time that it was probably the largest gathering of Show greyhound enthusiast’s ever assembled in one place !, it was wonderful and very special.
The Congress dinner followed at 8.00pm and went on until about 11.30, we also had during the course of the evening an auction of Martial Robin’s Paintings which was all very exciting, and proved to be a quite an expensive evening for one Scottish lady.
Sunday morning arrived and time to put on my best attire for the show, my ring was set up just in front of the Hotel, the weather was perfect for showing Greyhounds, I introduced myself to my very able stewards and we were all set to go, I was very pleased with my entry and the overall quality in all the classes with 1 or 2 exceptions, only 1 puppy entered, a male of 4 months, very raw at this age but lots to like, lovely balanced shape with good bone and feet, lots of length to body , very promising , will watch his progress with interest.
In the Junior class i put forward a very strong white dog, up to size with a beautiful outline shape, very masculine in head , strong in neck , well sprung and deep chest, correct top line and good angles to rear quarters, best mover in this class.
Champion class was full of quality and my winner was a black and white parti, one I
have seen and admired from ringside in the UK, lots to like here , strong upstanding male, balance overall shape ticking all the box’s for breed type, moved very correct with purpose , good forward reach and drive from the rear.
Veteran Class,, Int.Nord.Dk.GB. Jet’s Signed Sealed’n Delivered, 8.5 yrs, stood alone but not to be detracted from, one I have judged before in the UK as a 4yr old, still got all the attributes required with a beautiful head with dark eye, balanced length of neck, well placed shoulder, good body length with well developed chest and enough spring, rear quarters all in order , looked more up on the leg than when I judged him last, looked a more balanced profile shape, still moves out with a steady gait, a credit to the owners, well done.
The bitch classes showed lots of breed type, I was looking for that beautiful outline shape, slightly arched neck, topline with some length over the loin with some rise, deep chest taken back and a nice tuck up showing a lovely underline and correct angles to shoulder and rear quarters, i was also looking for width between upper arm and correct width to the rear with hock’s stood square viewed both in profile and from the rear, and movement with good reach and propulsion from behind.
All my class winners had most of the quality’s I was looking for, unfortunately I saw quite a few looking beautiful on the stack but where disappointing on the move, in most cases close behind and in some both front and rear, were I awarded a Very Good , my decision was based on poor movement.
The Champion class an entry of 12 with 1 absent, a quality line up of beautiful Ch hounds, a real joy to judge this class, and my Star of the day a 3year old red girl
Sobers Xantia, for me she was very correct for breed type, she has all the curves and angles i was looking for, beautiful feminine head lovely arch to her neck, correct shoulder, her front was spot on for width, loved her deep chest and tuck up, beautifully conditioned , not over muscled and with a gleaming coat, on the move she was faultless, absolute joy to watch .
Veteran Bitch, Int.Ni.D.Dk.CH Sobers Maria Callas, 8yr old , beautiful made girl showing excellent breed qualities, loved her feminine head, correct neck and shoulder placement, balanced depth of chest and enough length over the loin, rear quarters showing nice angulation and best of feet to complete the picture, lovely example of our breed.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the officers and committee of the Norwegian Greyhound Club for my judging appointment and the hospitality they showed throughout the Congress, so THANK YOU for a great trip.