Best in Show & Supreme Best in Show unter Mr. Stephen J. Wheeler (Australien) / Mrs Molly Rule-Steele PHARAOH HOUND CH. REEDLY ROAD LYNWAY (Z. & Eig.: Maria Evteeva / RUS, Handling: Olga Popova / RUS) Best in Show am Sonntag AFGHANISCHER WINDHUND CH. XENOS DRALION (Z. & Handling: Roberto Bongiovianni / IT; Eig.: Marika Bramini / IT) 42 unter Mrs Annette Bystrup (Dänemark) HAUPTSPONSOR
SIGHTHOUND FESTIVAL DONAUESCHINGEN 2017 Text: Anna Szabo | Fotos: Anna Szabo + Monika Konopová I dare say no Sighthound event is more eagerly awaited in Europe than the great <strong>Donau</strong>eschingen Sighthound Festival at present, hosted by the German Sighthound Club (DWZRV) on the beautiful equestrian grounds of <strong>Donau</strong>eschingen, a charming little town in the South of Germany. The show always offers much quality and quantity in entries, much drama, excitement and fun... but this year, the enormous undertaking by the Olaf Knauber - Angelika Heydrich twosome and their handful, but ever dedicated team, yielded an event that, even if not flawless, was just sheer magic. This year, I have also decided to join the team and taste the <strong>Donau</strong>eschingen experience to the fullest. And what a rewarding decision that was… I’m not sure my skills as a chronicler are adequate enough to put such a deeply impassioned and immense affair into words properly, but I shall try my best to do so. Despite ever decreasing entries at dog shows, they continue to flourish at <strong>Donau</strong>eschingen, and the 2017 edition of the show once again set a new record entry for itself with close to 1500 combined entries (822 on Saturday!). No doubt the excellent composition of the show’s judging panel contributed greatly to this. International attendance was just as abundant as ever. It is quite flattering to the show that quite a few of the international dog fancy are sufficiently impressed with the quality of competition to want to compete here in the first place. And, they realise, that in order to win, they have to show the very best they have. The opening ceremony with horses and the vendors were as impressive as ever. Much to my pleasure, the organizing team were aided by two golf cars as well this year. Direction Reedly Road Not many breeders in Russia have been able to distinguish themselves by their talent and contribution to the sport in such a short time as Maria Evteeva, and her right hand Olga Popova. Their devotion and passion to Pharaoh Hounds go way beyond just collecting fancy wins in the ring. A true connoisseur of the breed, Maria is a most generous mentor to newcomers and enjoys dog journalism as well. It was her SBIS WW’16 Int.Nord. Multi.Ch. Reedly Road Lynway, handled by Olga, who won Supreme Best in Show, having won Best in Show under Stephen J. Wheeler of Jacosta from Australia on Saturday, under Molly Rule-Steele of Taejeen, also from Australia. There was a great deal of pressure put on ‘Mario’s’ shoulders when he was to take over the reins from his hugely successful half sister, SBIS BIS Int.Multi. Ch. Reedly Road Illuminated, but the young lad has so far lived up beautifully to the expectations. A Group Winner at the FCI World Dog Show in 2016, he is now a three time Best of Breed winner at <strong>Donau</strong>eschingen, having won the Eukanuba Supreme BIS here as well as a Reserve Best in Show last year. He is also a three time Best in Show winner at the Finnish Pharaoh Hound Club National Specialty, the largest of its kind in Europe. ‘Mario’s’ Swedish-bred daughter, owned by Maria, won Best of the Breed under Pamela Marston- Pollock of Falconcrag from the UK on Sunday, and home bred Reedly Road Qosmos Quest, owned by Alexander Foresti in Russia won Best Baby in Show on Saturday. The Xenos Afghans return On Sunday, Best in Show, under Annette Bystrup from Denmark, was the very selectively shown SBIS Xenos Dralion, bred and handled by Roberto Bongiovanni and owned by Marika Bramini in Italy and handled by Roberto. This was Xenos’ 5th overall triumph in <strong>Donau</strong>eschingen, which is the record number of Best in Show wins any kennel, or individual, have won at this show. Three of them were claimed by Roberto’s iconic ‘JJ’, SBIS BIS WW’03 Int.Am.Aus.Multi.Ch. Xenos Joselito, who was a BIS/ SBIS winner on three different continents, World Winner and Italy’s Top Dog All Breeds in 2003 and Best of Winners at the Afghan Hound Club of American National Specialty the previous year. Before him, the first of his kennel to win Best in Show at <strong>Donau</strong>eschingen was SBIS BIS Int.It.Swiss.Ch. Xenos Marnero, Italy’s Nr Afghan Hound in 2001 and a Multiple Best in Show winner all-breed and specialty level. Both him and ‘JJ’ can be found in ‘Dralion’s’ pedigree. Greyhound extravaganza Greyhounds truly are a spectacle to watch at <strong>Donau</strong>eschingen. The depth of quality that pervades the numerically also high entry is just exceptional . Anyone wanting to learn about the breed are strongly advised to attend the show - and especially on the side of a long-time expert who can provide mentorship ringside. Hence, it perhaps doesn’t come as a surprise that the Greyhound Best of Breed winners won Reserve Best in Show both days this year. Saturday’s victor (breed and BIS were both judged by Stephen Wheeler) was SBIS Ch. Fortheringhay’s Awakening of Love, bred and owned by a novice in the breed, Cristina Wüger in Germany. ‘Astrid’ is a Junior Champion in several countries, Group winner at International All-Breed show level, and what I know her breeder owner takes most pride in is that she is a proven Hound on the coursing field as well, having championed International and National coursings and placed third at the European Coursing Championships this year. Sunday’s winner, sent through to the finals by Maggie Holder of Mascott’s from the UK, was Ch. Sobers Xtravaganza, bred and owned by Bitte Ahrens and Pierluigi Primavera in Italy. The main ring is no unknown territory to ‘Ginger’, having won numerous Group firsts and placements in Best in Show at International All- Breed show level. She is now a three time Best of Breed winner at <strong>Donau</strong>eschingen, and this year, won Best of Breed at Italy’s largest Sighthound Specialty as 43
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