Journal Donau 2018

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 Donaueschingen
Sighthound Festival at present,
hosted by the German Sighthound
Club (DWZRV) on the
beautiful equestrian grounds of
Donaueschingen, 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 Donaueschingen 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 Donaueschingen, 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 Donaueschingen, 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 Donaueschingen,
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
Donaueschingen 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 Donaueschingen.
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 Donaueschingen, and this
year, won Best of Breed at Italy’s
largest Sighthound Specialty as
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