With nearly 6,000 dogs at the Exhibition Centre at Lillestrom, just outside Oslo, the Norwegian Kennel Club proved again that not only is the Exhibition Centre big enough to host larger shows, like the Europe Winner Show 2015, but also that they have the staff and expertise to run them.
In many breeds, entries far exceeded the expected, so that extra judges had to be called in. Still, the rings and the grooming areas were large enough and the facilities otherwise coped well. Over 18,000 visitors over the two days contributed to a great atmosphere around the Main Ring, where demonstrations were held all day long. The Grand Final was the Parade of the Breeds, where most recognised breeds participated, with a lot of owners in national costumes or dressed to illustrate the function of their breeds.

Ole Staunskjaer, the Danish all-breed judge and Grand Old Man, judged group 1, Herding dogs. For the top of the podium, he chose the Bouvier des Flandres, Norw & Danish Ch “Excerno Really Rebel af Minx”, Danish bred, by an US Ch import out of a Danish bitch going back to the famous Vanenblikhoeve kennels. He was followed by a very rare breed at the top in this corner of the world : the Welsh Corgi Cardigan, Int Ch “Golddigger Cymraeg Ci”, owned by Pernilla Holman and Lars Hallblom, bred by Belgium-based Norwegian Christine Sonberg. “Dollar”, as he is affectionately called, has had a fantastic year, starting in January when I gave him the group, and ending up as the first cardigan ever to be among the top ten dogs of all breeds”.

Group 2, Schnauzer, Pinscher and Molossoid Breeds, was judged by Dutch Peter J M Montfoort, who chose a Bullmastif, selected by Ron James, N & S Ch “Game Keeper's Reprint in Fawn Ink”, from two “Game Keeper's” dogs, but going back to American lines, owned and bred by Hegle and Aga, Norway. He was followed by a Saint Bernard Dog, N&S Ch “Killiaasens Babette”. None of the Group 2 dogs on the top winners this year came through to the group final.

Danish Birgit Seloy, known for her Pugs, judged group 3, Terriers. Her winner was the well-known Swedish owner/breeder who handled Int Ch WW “Crispy Legacy”, by “GBCh Fairwyre Adventurer at Alkinra”.
He was followed by an impressive Kerry Blue Terrier, Ch JWW “Kerzmin Byblos”, owned and bred by Russian Sergiy Vyaznin, now settled in Oslo, Norway, a Swedish Australian Terrier, CH “Jaskarin Bravo”, and finally a well-known guest to top honours in this group : Anja Gylder Corneliussen's Bull Terrier Int ch “Emred War Dance”.

Swedish all rounder Kenneth Edh, now fit as a fiddle again after his set back last year, judged the combined groups 4, Dachshunds, and 6, Scent Hounds. He chose Miniature Wire-Haired Dachshund : Ch “Wervest Winn”, owned and bred by Norwegian Vera Vestby. Winn has certainly lived up to his name, with several groups and BIS placements on record, ending up among the top 15 dogs of all breeds this year.

Group 5, Spitz and Primitive Breeds, was judged by our new and very popular all-rounder Arne Foss. As group winner, he chose the outstanding American Akita bitch, Int ch, multi titled “Estava Rain Front Row”, who by this consolidated her place as Runner Up on the Top Dog of the Year list, by Multi Ch “Echo Star Any Time Any Where” out of Int Ch “Redwitch”.
Magic and sparkling, this young bitch has had a spectacular career so far for her breeder/owner/handler Friedrich Birchmar. I have had the great pleasure of judging her and awarding her top honours ; the 2nd in this group, Swedish Siberian Husky, Int Ch “Bedarra I'm Hot You're Not”, owner/breeder was presented to perfection by M. Peiponen. 3rd was another of my great favourites, Norwegian bred, Danish owned Int Ch “Pei Fang Eyecatcher”, the cream Chow Chow Sheila Jakeman will surely remember from giving her BOB in Austria, when we had the pleasure of judging her one day each.

Group 7, Pointers and Setters, were judged by Norwegian Petter Steen, known for his Kerry Blue Terriers and Dachshunds. Lars Hjelmtvedt's German Short-Haired Pointer “Lamark Lars”, a Finnish import, won with Norwegian Irish Setter Ch “Valaskjalv's Vimur” 2nd owners Norwegian gundog specialists Vigdis and Per Nymark.

Well-known Brit, Dr Ron James, did the final selection among the Retrievers and Spaniels in Group 8 and chose Multi ch “Statesman Deep Devine”, “Ada” to friends, who has a long list of winner titles for her owner/breeder/handler Vibeke Paulsen. “Ada” is out of a “Very Vigie” bitch and has been placed consistently throughout her long career. This very strong group had several hard contestants for the top honours, among them all-breed judge Annika Ulltveit-Moe with her new breed, the Portuguese Water Dog who ended up 3rd behind a Norwegian Welsh Springer spaniel, Ch “Casein Baia de Guanabara”.

Group 9, the toys, had our old friend over from Britain, Liz Cartledge sorting out the good, the bad and the indifferent, and found the American Standard poodle, Elisabeth Brown's Multi Ch “Aleph American Idol”, most worthy of top honours, followed by Elisabeth Olsen's homebred Ch multi titled Pug “Tangetoppens Hot and Spicy”, who thereby climbed on the list for Top Dog of All Breeds. This clever breeder constantly produces quality dogs and “Tangetoppen” Pugs, Min Pins and French Bulldogs are seen winning all over Europe. 3rd was a Finnish Lhasa Apso with the well-known kennel name “Chic Choix”, Ch “Chic Choix Cleopatra Eurydice”.

Another of the sport’s Grand Old Men, Kari Järvinen from Finland, judged group 10, the Sighthounds. Multi BIS multi titled Int Nord Ch “Shiraz California Dreamin”, former Swedish top dog of all breeds, runner up at the Eukanuba World Challenge, was sent to the top of the podium. He is owned and handled by Niclas Erikson and Ingunn Solberg of Sweden. He was followed by another Swede, Afghan Hound Int multi Ch multi winner “Al-Naciara Binit Roula von Haussman”, bred in Chile by that clever Ramon Podesta, now owned by Elisabeth Leven.

Best progeny group day one, judged by Mike Macbeth was that of a Flat Coat Retriever : “Black Mica's That's Enough”. Day 2, judged by Tuula Plathan, Min Schnauzer black/silver “Chivalis Copy-Cat”. Yet none of them could threaten Phalene Ch “Candygolds Kickoff” at the top of the list for Best Stud/Brood for Anne Grethe Lyngstad and her “Freetain” Phalenes.

Swede Torbjoern Skaar chose day 1 the “Tangetoppen” Pugs as Best Breeder's Group, while day 2 Fernando Rodrigues ended up with the “av Geehrbach” Eurasians. Still, the same was the case here; no threat to kennel “Freetain” Phalenes and Anne Grethe Lyngstand, who have been constantly on the podium with this rare breed all over Norway as well as all over the rest of Europe.

Before a hardly recognisable ex-pat Knut Sigurd Wilberg could do the final honours, he had to judge Best Veteran as well. Day 1 Int Ch multi titled Tibetan Spaniel “Sagaland Simba”, owned by Sonja Dramstad, won, thereby climbing on the Veteran of the Year list. Day 2 Marianne Holmli's Chow Chow Int Ch multi titled “Pei Fang Fight the Future” won. She took her first title at this show 9 years ago as a Junior, and now repeats it at 10, still owning the ring when she enters. But none of them could move the Welsh Terrier, Int Nord Fin Ee Lux Slo, UCh “Ecco's Harley Hurricane”, owned by Grethe Larsen, Norway, from the top of the list. He thereby became Veteran of the Year 2011.

This year, there was no suspense regarding Top Dog of All Breeds before Knut Sigurd Wilberg entered the ring for the Grand Finals. For the 3rd year running, German Shepherd Int Ch “Zanta av Quantos” won. This year she was unbeatable and didn't even enter at that final show of the year. It has never happened before, as normally a show dog will retire after winning this title. This will now also be the case for “Zanta”, as she will be mated on her next season. Last year she shared the win with the fabulous Wire-Haired Dachshund Int Ch multi titled “Treis Pinheiros Matisse”, owned by Camilla Hübbe, Denmark. 2nd place went, as mentioned before, to the outstanding American Akita, Int Ch, multi titled, “Estava Rain Front Row”, owned, bred and handled by Friedrich Birkmar, followed by the super elegant Greyhound Int Nord UCH multi titled “Showline Sporting Step”, owned, bred and handled by Knut Blütecher and his wife Cecilia who also last year ended up in 3rd place.

But back to the 4 top winners at this show: Knut Sigurd chose a nearly all Swedish group of dogs for the podium, with the Fox Terrier Int Ch “Crispy Legacy” on top, the fantastic Saluki Int Ch “Shiraz California Dreamin” 2nd and the much titled American Standard Poodle, Int Ch “Aleph American Idol” 3rd ; the only Norwegian dog was the Miniature Wire-Haired Dachshund Ch “Wervest Winn” who ended up 4th. None of this had any influence on the list of the Top Dog of the Year.

This was the final show 2011, and for once the exhibitors could start their way home without snowstorm and ice on the roads making the return journey a hazard. So we can be pretty sure they will be back again for more next year :-)

Anne Indergaard