Mouscron

Mouscron is a small town in Belgium, near the French border and home to an International dog show, one that has attracted me back over a number of years.  This year, Sue and I headed off with Matkamies and Kia, but as many of you know our trips are not without mini (or major) dramas and for this one, we were somewhat disappointed to arrive at our hotel and find the restaurant did not open weekends!!  So we had a quick beer (we tend to take supplies!) and walked back through the snow edged roads on slippery paths into the town of Bondues, could we find anywhere to eat???  No we couldn't!  We trekked for a couple of miles rather worried that one of us would slip and break something, and so headed back towards the hotel and had to take advantage of a MacDonalds!  At least the dogs were welcome in MacDonalds, and they got a lovely long walk.  So couple of miles back to our hotel and guess what no bar either, just as well we had supplies.

Elbereth Matkamies, Group 5 winner Mouscron

Then the next morning as we tried to check out there was some confusion over whether we had pre paid our room, the debate and checking delayed us so we were late leaving for show, and this venue is notorious for having hardly any parking on site - so yes you guessed it a few trips up and down side streets to try and find a parking space.  The best option seemed to be an unused building site - where there was a lot of snow and ice on the ground, until we got out of the car - and the heavens opened with heavy rain!  So it was an interesting walk pulling trolley and trying not to succumb to the ice.  We made the vet check at the show entrance with minutes to spare and headed to find our ring, but being unintentionally late there was no where for us to set up crates/anywhere for dogs or grooming table and later was much needed given the walk into the venue and fact we now had muddy wet dogs!  Luckily we saw a friendly face - and soon a few people kindly squeezed up and we were in situ and ready to roll.  The dogs were dried, brushed and got ready, and soon we were in the ring, our competition being some well known dogs from France.  Matkamies then won the Champions class and best dog to gain another CAC & CACIB, then Kia did the same, another double for the litter mates under judge Mrs Kavcic from Slovenia.  Then it was the wait for the Group, and first there was prejudging in the collecting ring, and as ever a very large group for Group 5 Spitz and Primitive breeds, last year here we were shortlisted, so when we made the shortlist of five again I was delighted.  Then tension mounts as under FCI they award the placings in reverse order, so as the sibe left the ring it was the 4 remaining places and we were still there!  Group 4 was called then the G3 and I realised we were still in the ring with the Akita Inu - and I strained to listen out for the announcement from the ring steward (in french of course!) of the winner - le gagneur du groupe  - Le Suomenlapinkoira!  The first time a UK Finnish Lapphund has won a Group at Championship show level, in UK or under FCI rules!

We did not go any further in the competition for BIS, but were delighted to represent the breed there.  Matka didn't quite see what fuss was about and chilled out on his grooming table as we packed up for the dash back home - and a tighter than expected deadline to get the the tunnel!  Thanks to Sue for driving and the all important photos of great weekend!  Where shall we go next!!!

The Second CC

Last year when CCs were first offered for the breed, the bitch CCs were well spread, with no bitch winning more than one CC, and so I guess as 2012 started the pressure was on to see who would win a second CC.  

Elbereth Kia Joins Bridus

At the Finnish Lapphund Club of GB's second Championship show judged by top Finnish allrounder, Hans Lehtinen, the bitch entry was higher than the dogs (37 dogs making 54 entries and 49 bitches making 64 entries.) so competition was strong, therefore absolutely delighted that Sue and Emma Bird's Elbereth Kia Joins Bridus headed a strong open bitch class and went onto win her second CC with me handling.  Her first CC was won at Birmingham last May under Sue Dunger, when she did double with brother Matkamies.  

Kia is a very big winner overseas as well, having numerous CACIB and she took BOB at Luxembourg, she actually has more than the required 4 CACIB for her International title - but under FCI rules we have to wait until a year and a day has passed before trying to win the qualifying CACIB for this title.  Last year in addition to her CC she won BB at Working and Pastoral Breeds of Wales and BOB at South Wales.

Elbereth bred dogs had a lovely show with 4 of Mamo's young babies, E Tarmo, E Tulin Kaukaa for Limishka, E Mysrky and E Leena qualifying for Crufts at their first Championship show, we also took first and second place in the breeder's competition, having fielded two teams.

A lot of catching up

Eek seems I have been forgetting to update the blog, so have a fair amount of catching up to do!  First a lovely picture of Zuni (Elbereth Halti) at fourteen, she is by Carlacot Azure out of Sulyka Mischa at Elbereth, the dark puppy of the four.  Much loved by Anty, she doesn't look her age.

Another oldie - E Lusa - just short of her 12th birthday - she is of course Toive's sister from THE pet passport litter.

Then onto some show news - in Luxembourg - Matka and Kia did the double, two CACIB, and CACL, which gave Matka his Luxembourg Champion title.  With Kia taking BOB.

Then in the new year Marian and I took the two to Mouscron in Belgium, under Finnish judge Elina Haapaniemi, where they were the only two lapphunds to be graded excellent, and were awarded the CACIB again - this time Matka taking BOB, he was then shortlisted to the last 6 in the group.

A week later Sue and I headed off to Holland for the Eindhoven show, little were we to realise what an experience/adventure that would be!

Podium 3 photo

First the SatNav got us to with half mile of hotel, but we found that the direct route is closed (google earth never showed that) so have to wing it and try and guess the right diversion sign for us, get to hotel with minor detour, and then plan for easy trip to show next morning.  Guess what other end of road from hotel is also closed for road works so have to take a guess and head vaguely in direction we thought we needed, ignoring SatNav telling us to do numerous U turns! Find venue easy enough but then it’s a game of spot the car park – took three laps around the venue to find the underground car park which was to ultimately to cost 14 euros for the stay – and we complain here at £8 for NEC.

We load up the show trolley and walk in very cold weather to venue, to then find we have lost the all important folder containing all Matkamies’ papers; entry pass for show and more crucially pet passport, so have to bluff way into show handy not speaking the language, and consider my options on replacing pet passport, thoughts of leaving Matka in Holland to return to UK to get copy passport, or just sit down and cry.  Two trips back by both Sue then I to retrace steps back to car and we still don’t find the folder.  So we ask the show secretary if by any chances it has been handed in – you can imagine the relief that we find that a couple in local apartment block have found the folder and we can go and collect it.  So big thanks to Jordie Holtman who phoned the locals and got directions, so we could rush off and retrieve the all important documents.  The couple who had picked it up were lovely, and wanted us to stop for tea – but we had to rush back to the show.  So have to say by the time I got in the ring I was somewhat high on adrenaline/relief, but delighted to win the CACIB and CAC, and best dog with Matka and Kia taking res BB and bitch CACIB. The fun did not stop there – as the afternoon progressed the snow started to fall and temperatures dropped further – it was soon apparent that our journey back to our hotel would not be easy, and we had to stay for the group.  Well the group was judged by Mrs E Upmeijer and I was delighted that a day that started so stressfully should end this well with a FCI Group 3 placing.

When we got out of the venue the snow was thick on the ground and a 4 mile trip took nearly an hour as we followed snow ploughs galore and navigated back still avoiding the road closures.  Then on the Saturday we had the journey home, whilst there was no new snow and the motorways had been cleared well, the minus 11C temperature meant for careful driving and the three hour outgoing journey became five hours on way back.