2-day Show of Maastricht/NL

Maastricht, the Burgundian City in the south of the Netherlands. This year, the organization had something new. A 2-day Show during the weekend. Normally we would have had 2000 dogs, divided over 10 Groups, in 2 days. Now, we had 1750 dogs per day! During both days we where with the OES in the original Hall. Here we had 20 rings. In the 2nd, new hall, there where only 10 rings. During the first day, the 19 entered Beardies where judged in the new hall. It was very quiet here and enough space. During the second day we where in the old hall and last breed in the ring. It was so crowded that we could hardly enter the ring, not speaking about the fact that there was almost no space to stand and wait before entering the ring.

Something that us OES and Beardie Showers irritated enormously was a group of people from the Action Group “Animal Welfare”. With high raised fingers they came towards us, telling us what we could and couldn’t so! In this situation we all agreed with each other and frightened them off. It has got everything to do with manners and about the fact how to approach people, in order to make them familiar with upcoming and future changes.

Mrs. A. Gregori from Belgium had to judge the 19 eneterd Beardies on Saturday. I have been searching on the internet, to find out what she has bred and which successes she has had at shows, but was unable to find anything. Therefore it is unknown to me, from where she has got her knowledge of the Bearded Collie breed. One thing was very clear: the well known group had everything under control. They had only enetred their 2 dogs for this day and not for the Sunday with the Hungarian Judge.

“Schoko” received her most bad judging report sofar, in her until now so successful, young career: Her eyes are too light, a bad, much too soft topline, bad movement. But: Has a typical head.

Here a picture of Schoko (Firstprizebears Liz Taylor), who became 2nd after Sweet Happiness of Benji Bunch.

On Sunday, Mrs. Korosz-Papp from Hungary judged the 18 Bearded-Collies. It was an excellent day for our Firstprizebear-Beardies and our dear Eef Martens. I should have brought Lasse along, because he would have been her type. Again we had “Schoko” starting in the Intermediate Class. But the opening was for Peggy Jeurissen and her 8 month old “Firstprizebears Letterman” (Lasse x Donna Summer). He was alone in Puppy Class and became Best Puppy. Later in the Big Ring he ended up as 4th Best Puppy of All Breeds against more than 50 other puppies. The judging was done by the Spanish B.Sanchez Garcia. Kristel Verbakel showed “Firstprizebears King of Pop” in the Intermediate Class and he won. Eef Martens had entered her “Clanyardbay Mac Geddes“. She is 11 months old and it was her 2nd show. She is a daughter of  Ch. Firstprizebears Hitchkock en Firstprizebears Eureka. In a strong competitor field, Geddes showed her professional side: 1st Place and Youth CAC. “Schoko” won the intermediate Class and later against Geddes, the Champion Bitch and the Bitch from Open Class, her first CACIB and again a CAC. She now has 5 CAC’s in the Netherlands, of which 4 are sufficient for the Title, BUT: she has to become 27 months of age and win once more out of the Open Class. Peggy, Eef and I: 100% satisfied.

Clanyard Bay Mac Geddes bred by Eef Martens (Hitchkock x Eureka) 11 months old.

Youth Class:  A Hearts Wish Poem of Alambar, Dorith von der Grabenmaus (4), Miners Lake Unforgiven (3), Clanyard Bay Mac Geddes(1), Snugglebears Kieps Sjiek Blumke (2)

BOB Beardie Connection Kenij, the Judge Mrs. Korocz-Papp, BOS Firstprizebears Liz Taylor

Peggy Jeurissen with her Firstprizebears Letterman in the large Puppy Group of All Breeds. “Jazz” became 4th.