This Romanian Show is a Success Despite the Odds
by Kerry Rushby Photographs by Svetlana Valueava
Against a background of economic recession, social network disagreements and a campaign to stop people going to Romania, the organizers of the 2012 European Show came through with flying colors to surprise many detractors with a show that grew in stature over its four days in Bucharest.
With nearly half the dogs entered coming from Russia or Romania, a dog bred in the UK and co-owned in Italy swept to the top of the tree in a star-studded lineup of top dogs from around the globe. This dog was the Lhasa Apso, Zentarr Morgan, bred by Margaret Anderson (this years Crufts BIS winning owner). Best in Show Judge Petru Muntean was delighted with the strong lineup sent through by the breed and group judges and placed the Hungarian owned Afghan as Reserve BIS. This dog was bred by sighthound specialists Vlastislav Vojtek & Petra Vojtekova from Slovakia. Taking the third position was a Swedish owned Flat Coated Retriever sent through from the group by Andras Korosz, the President of the Kennel Club in Hungary, which is the venue for next year’s World Show in May.
SHOW SUCCESS
The whole event had to overcome some obstacles over the last few months when entries were rather low possibly due to a lot of adverse publicity particularly on social media sites such as Facebook. I find Facebook to be a double-edged sword; it can be useful, but it can be destructive! There had been a campaign for months trying to stop people from attending the show and this seemed to have an effect, so much so that 40 judges had been asked to stand down. The source of the internet campaign seemed to be in the USA and then, of course, things snowballed on the ‘social media’ or, in this case, the ‘unsocial’ media. The protagonists complained about the stray dog situation in Romania, none of which is the work of the Romanian Kennel Club, of course; the attitude of the Kennel Club there was to use the event to actually raise the profile of the problem, but more on this later. There was also some confusion over fees for entry and grooming areas. This developed into a Facebook row but eventually a late surge of entries brought the shows total to over 6000 with nearly 2000 coming from Russia and 1183 coming from Romania itself; just 50 entries in the end from Germany was surprising. There were more entries that came in from places like Norway (61) and Latvia (65). This late boost to the entries from Russia probably rescued the show and, in the end, it was reminiscent of the European Show in Slovenia two years ago both in size and structure.
The sight of Russian coaches turning up at shows certainly gives the show treasurer a smile as it means increased entries and usually good business for the trade stands!
In the end, we were treated to a rather good show and to set it off there were four days of stunning weather and those breeds that were judged outside had an Indian summer to enjoy. Inside in the breed rings things were a bit cramped during the day but eventually everyone started to drift over to the main Rom Expo centre which became a hive of activity until everyone left at 8 pm each day. The main ring was a superb, large, well-lit circular arena that gave show manager Petru Muntean the opportunity to stage different themes each night with a bevy of lovely ladies wearing different outfits to adorn the main ring. One night the ladies were adorned in Grecian fashions, another night they were wearing clothes to evoke a Parisian feel of the 1930s!
NATIONAL SHOW AND A SPECIAL PROTOCOL
This spectacular event began with the National Show and the Interra Terrier speciality. Some people were still setting up in anticipation of the bigger days of the European show. Therefore, it took a little while to really get this event going. One of the only problems I saw was the layout of the show with breed judging taking place in separate pavilions away from the main Rom Expo. Consequently, there was a split show feel about things.
Importantly, on this first day a keynote press conference was called by the RKC and chaired by OUR DOGS Vince Hogan in the excellent press facility that was on site. The RKC were clearly in a mood to challenge some of the negative campaigning against them and had put together a protocol and 10 point plan with one of the leading animal groups in Bucharest.
It was stated that The Kennel Club in Romania recognized the problem of street dogs (it is estimated that between 60 and 70 thousand dogs are in this category of strays in the city). The RKC used the forum of the European Dog Show to raise awareness and to educate people about improving the welfare of all dogs, not just pedigreed dogs that attend shows like the European show.
The President of the Romanian Kennel Club, Cristian Stefanescu, welcomed a number of representatives of the National Federation for the Protection of Animals including its President, Marius Marinescu, and well-known Romanian lawyer and dog lover Paula Iacob.
Mr. Marinescu replied, “I am very pleased to enter into this agreement with the Romanian Kennel Club and thank them for their support and cooperation”. He then went on to highlight a ten point plan formulated to help the dogs and their environment including the development of a mobile unit to assist in the humane treatment of the dogs and an ongoing sterilization project.
After further speeches the protocol was signed between the National Federation for the Protection of Animals and the Romanian Kennel Club and marked the beginning of an agreement that will last until 2020 when it will be reviewed for the future.
The signing was warmly welcomed by the press corps and we now await further developments and activity from all groups concerned.
BACK TO THE SHOW!
Main show sponsor Eukanuba was very pleased with the organization of the show and staged their Eukanuba World Challenge semifinals on Saturday evening. This was won by a Wire Fox Terrier from Malta much to the delight of breeder Bill Browne Cole who had traveled over from the UK to support the dog; ‘Bertie’ had been piloted by that great handler Ivan Calleja and he went through with another well-known handler Fabbi Manni, he of the green shoes, who qualified a top Bullmastiff.
Margaret Anderson has now qualified two Zentarr dogs for the Eukanuba challenge.
Many people watched the Eukanuba competition via live streaming online which worked very well and was very professional, whilst approximately 50,000 visitors attended the show.
Organizers Cristian Stefanescu (President) and Petru Muntean (Vice President and BIS judge) were both delighted with the progress of the event. The press center was well-run under the direction of Dragos Chibzui and assisted by OUR DOGS as media partners. A daily press conference was always well-attended and chaired by OUR DOGS Editor-in-Chief Vince Hogan. At the official dinner on Saturday, Cristian gave his views on the event and was happy that people seemed to enjoy the spirit of the show and everyone agreed that the RKC had come through to stage a great European event. Cristian and Petru then made a number of awards on behalf of their Kennel Club to key staff and supporters of the show whilst Tomas Jakkel and Rafael Santiago (Puerto Rico) spoke on behalf of the FCI thanking their hosts.
The local visitors took advantage of the warm sunshine and it was busy outside where VDH President Peter Friedrich was judging GSDs on Sunday. We also had a TV celebrity appearance by Romanian/Italian based Ramona Badescu who entertained the main ring crowd and looked very glamorous in the process.
GROUP WINNERS
Swiss Judge Barbara Muller selected as her group winner the Hungarian bred and owned Old English Sheepdog CH BOTTOM SHAKER MY SECRET (breeder Istva Szetmar, owner Jozsef Koroknai). This dog also won the Pastoral Group at Crufts this year. Runner-up in FCI Group 1 was the Flanders Cattle Dog GREY TETIS COURAGE bred and owned by Ukrainian Galina Kalinichenko. Third place went to the American-born Australian Shepherd STONEHAVEN BAYSHORE SECRET STRIKE (breeder Jeff Margeson) and owned by Zuzana and Linda Hodová of Czech Republic.
FCI Group 2 specialist judge and Romanian KC board member and Chairman of the Judges Committee Vasile Carol Papp sent into the finals the Black Russian Terrier OSKAR YABLUNEVYI TSVIT bred and owned by Ukrainian-based breeder Irina Yablonka. Second was the Boxer RU CH MAYDAY DI CASA VERNICE bred by Italian David Vernice and owned by Shamil Abrakimov from Moscow, Russia. Third place went to another resident of Moscow – Dogo Argentino CY RU UA MD RO LV GE CH OPIUM IZ LUNNOY STAI bred and owned by another Russian Marina Rusakova.
Ron Menaker (USA) judged FCI Group 3 and his winner was the Kerry Blue Terrier Multi Champion ROLLICK’S SUPER HERO bred by Charlotta Mellin (Sweden) and owned by Ivana Bilic & Igor Mioc (Croatia). In 2011 this dog represented Croatia at the Eukanuba World Challenge in Orlando and became one of top 12 finalists of this prestigious competition. Runner-up was another well-known winner: Scottish Terrier Multi Ch FILISITE BRASH CELEBRATION bred and owned by Valentina Popova from Moscow, Russia who also represented Russia in Orlando last year and was Res BIS at Crufts in 2009. Mr. Menaker chose as his third place winner the Skye Terrier Multi Ch FINNSKY MOMENTOUS bred by Carina Kitti & Thea Dahlbom from Helsinki (Finland) and owned by Elizabeth Stewart from Ireland.
FCI Group 4 judge Stefan Sinko from Slovenia gave the first prize to the Standard Wirehaired Dachshund MAGICAROMA bred and owned by Annaluce Saletti from Italy. Bred and owned by the Russian breeder and handler Irina Hapaeva. Rabbit Shorthaired Dachshund FORMULA USPEHA COLIBRI was second and third was the Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund INT HR GI IT LUX RO CH BAUCHAL’S PATAS ARRIBA bred by Gianfranco Bauchal and owned by Lucia Terruzzi both from Italy.
Italian judge Claudio de Giuliani who then took over the FCI Group 5 selected as his winner the Pharaoh Hound AT LU RU JCH JWW-12 REEDLY ROAD ILLUMINATED bred and owned by Maria Evteeva. His runner-up was Shiba RU CH HANDZIMEMESITE URUSEY YATSURA bred by Elena Zakamskaja and owned by Tatiana Kulakhmetieva & A. Kurenkova & E. Zakamskaja. Third was the Pomeranian BY CZ RU SI UA RU CH GRAND IZ RUZY HANNA MONTANA bred and owned by Liya Emelianova. All three finalists came from Russia.
FCI Group 6 judge was Dutch all-rounder Hans Van Der Berg who award first to the Basset Hound Multi Ch BASSJOY CRAZY NIGHT bred in Malta by Sharon & Jeff Mifsud and owned in Spain by Mariano Galan. Second was the Finnish Hound EE LV JCH HALLA-AAMUN ALEXANDRA bred and owned by Tanja Kiriloff from Finland. Third was the Rhodesian Ridgeback BALT BY RO RU UA CH EUJW-10 FAIRA ARIF KAMILIFU bred by Olga Syalmova and owned by breeder Angelina Evmenova in Moscow, Russia.
Miguel Angel Martinez from Argentina chose as the FCI Group 7 winner the young English Pointer WEIMPOINT KEEP SMILIN bred by Kristina Pilats Lenaerts from Belgium and owned by the breeder and Dorothya Zahauj from Hungary. Second place went to another international traveler – the Irish Red Setter RU CH APPLEGROVE BECHAMEL bred by Lena Argard from Sweden and owned by Igor Trusov & Maria Kanygina from Saint Petersburg, Russia. Third finalist in this group was the Bracco Italiano CICLONE bred by Eugenio Stucchi and owned by Gianni Guffanti both from Italy.
The Chairman of the Hungarian Kennel Club Andras Korozs judged FCI Group 8 and sent the Flat-Coated Retriever NORD SE CH CACI´S WIN-A-LATTE bred and owned by the Swedish breeder Carina Ostman into the finals. Second was awarded to the English Cocker Spaniel BACHELOR OF BLACK MIRAGE bred by Dr. Tamas Jakkel and owned by Attila Aron Czegledi from Hungary. Third was the Portuguese Water Dog Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Do Sol Da Laurita bred and owned by Laura Browne from Portugal.
It was Toy breed specialist judge from Italy Francesco Cochetti who was in charge of selecting the FCI group 9 top three dogs. He went for the glamorously presented Lhasa Apso ZENTARR MORGAN bred by UK-based Margaret Anderson and co-owned by the breeder and Italian Stefano Paolantoni. Second was the American-bred Pug ROSE’S KNOCK DOWN EIGHT COUNT bred by Rose Carla from Oregon and owned by Theerawut Phaprasrisulee from Chachoengsao, Thailand. Second runner-up was the French Bulldog A’VIGDORS RAMASSEUR DES COMPLIMENTS bred by Revaz Khomasuridge and owned by Anna Nikulina both from Moscow, Russia.
And last, but not least the FCI Group 10 judge sighthound specialist Gerard Jipping sent into the finals the Afghan Hound INT AT HR HU RO RS SK SI US CH OUDRY GANDAMAK bred in Slovakia by Vlastislav Vojtek & Petra Vojtekova and owned by Csilla Bakos from Hungary. First runner-up was the Saluki INT HR CZ PL SK CH AZHARA AL ZAHRA bred and owned by Petra Pudova from Czech Rebuplic. Second runner-up was the Italian Greyhound VALERIO DEI RAGGI DI LUNA bred by Gaetano Caldarone & Sergio Anconetti and owned by Gaetano Caldarone Sirtori from Italy.
Kirsi from Show Tailors and Petru Muntean had kept the commentary going each night but on Sunday Petru donned his evening suit and took over duties in the center of the ring as the BIS judge; a great honor for this popular man to judge BIS in his home country. Music, fanfare, lights and an enthusiastic crowd (that sadly was depleted as the night wore on because things ran a little late on Sunday) meant for a great atmosphere as some top winners and well-known handlers strutted their stuff for Petru, otherwise known as Mr. Dracula for his exploits at the famous Dracula Dog Show held earlier in the week as part of a weeklong tour of shows.
His top three out of the truly international and spectacular lineup were the Lhasa Apso, Afghan Hound and Flat Coated Retriever. All were greeted with wild applause.
OVERVIEW
A delighted Margaret Anderson, breeder of the BIS winner, rounded everything off by giving an insight into her fantastic year to date.
“Morgan has only been in Europe 9 weeks. He looked stunning before he went. He has only been lightly shown in the UK due to Elizabeth being campaigned. Javier has handled and presented Morgan to perfection.
“I just want to say a sincere thank you to every one who has commented on my lovely ZENTARR MORGAN and, of course, not forgetting his superb handler & presenter Javier.”
Javier recently won BIS at the famous international Estoril show in Portugal so Morgan has already hit the heights in Europe. He is co-owned with Stefano Paolantoni from Italy. We believe that the plan is for Morgan to return to the UK to Margaret who already has had a sensational year already winning Crufts with ‘Elizabeth’ the Lhasa Apso.
The show was clean, (yes, congratulations to the clean-up crew, a lesson learned from other shows’ problems) and friendly. There was a great results and catalog service provided by the new company Show Tailors. The main ring was lovely with a huge screen for people to watch. The show had great weather, a friendly city and at the same time provided a great profile for the stray dogs in Romania. There was nothing like the doom and gloom suggested on the internet prior to the show; I think a lot of people were pleasantly surprised.
The flag transfer took place as Romania handed it over to Switzerland. This show will probably be an entirely different scenario to Romania, but that’s why we like traveling around Europe, for the variety of life. Flag waving, anthems and Swiss horns made for a spectacular climax.
Swiss precision in Geneva next August replaces Romanian passion, with a break half way in May for the Hungarian treat as we hit the World Show trail back to Budapest!
HISTORY OF THE ROMANIAN KENNEL CLUB
The first Romanian Kennel Club (The Society for the Improvement of the Canine Breed in Romania) was founded on April 10, 1927 in Bucharest under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Nicholas of Romania. In 1933, this organization obtained legal status and became a member of the FCI.
After 1945, this club was shut down and the new kennel club was organized only in 1969. It was named the Romanian Kennel Club. Its activities were quite limited prior to the Romanian Revolution in 1989 and many breeds and bloodlines became extinct. In 1990, following serious disagreements at the General Assembly of the Romanian Kennel Club in Bucharest, the original Romanian Kennel Club was divided into two national organizations: the Romanian Kennel Club (R.K.C.) and the Union of the Independent Kennel Clubs of Romania (U.I.K.C.R.)
In March, 1996, the clubs made the first step towards reunification. The boards of judges of the two previously separated national kennel clubs were reunited under Dr. Atilla Kelemen. Following this step all U.I.K.C.R. members joined the Romanian Kennel Club which led to the “de facto” reunification of the R.K.C. Later that year a new constitution was voted in which led to the election of the new board. In 1996, the FCI admitted the Romanian Kennel Club as its associated member and in 2001 the Romanian Kennel Club became a federal member of the FCI.
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Posted by subschron
on Jan 10 2013. Filed under Current Articles, Uncategorized.
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