| Viking raider conquers Europe in style
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Issue: 11/10/2024
Best in Show at last weekend’s European Dog Show 2024 held in Slovenia was the Australian Shepherd, Ch Brighttouch Drift The Line Through Dialynne (Viking) owned by Melanie Raymond (handler), John Shaw and Kerry Kirtley. Melanie and Viking are pictured here with Best in Show judge Štefan Šinko and Jorgen Hindse (President of the FCI Europe Section).
Photo: Claudiu Pintea, OUR DOGS
Best in Show at last weekend’s European Dog Show 2024 held in Slovenia was the Australian Shepherd, Ch Brighttouch Drift The Line Through Dialynne (Viking) owned by Melanie Raymond (handler), John Shaw and Kerry Kirtley. Reserve was the Standard Poodle Smart Connection Darkness owned by Deivy Lozano, and third was the Afghan Hound Tells Kjavu It’s About Time owned by Brett Hamilton. Also pictured are Hari Ar?on (President of the Cynological Association of Slovenia)
Štefan Šinko (BIS Judge), Igor Selimovic (FCI 1 group judge) and Tamás Jakkel (FCI President).
Photo: Claudiu Pintea, OUR DOGS
One of the most popular winners of a European Dog show in recent years, Viking the Crufts winning Aussie handled supremely by his best mate, Melanie Reymond, brought the FCI show to a fitting conclusion on Sunday night at the exhibition centre in Celje. Past President of the Slovenian KC Stefan Sinko was given the honour of judging best in show and make this prestigious award to Viking and had a fabulous line up of ten top quality dogs to choose from.
Thankfully, after some controversy, the OUR DOGS media team were allowed to live stream the finale for thousands of people following around the world, many from the UK who were sending support to Mel and Viking.
BIS Platinum Dog Show judged by Fabio Amorim from Brazil.
Bad weather marred the start of the show as incessant heavy rain fell, leaving a flood warning for the River Savinja adjacent to the showground; a soggy first day for the Platinum dog show which was won by the Lakeland Terrier and judged by Fabio Amorim from Brazil.
By Sunday, the sun was shining and the mood improved but not enough to stem a number of complaints on social media about the show. It is always a pity for organisers who work so hard before any event when the negative aspects are the ones mainly in people’s memories after the event.
A delighted Melanie Raymond pictured with the BIS rosette
Controversy before the show regarding fees charged to commercial photographers and complaints regarding the 20 euro charge to watch 3 days live streaming set a negative tone from the start; confusion regarding parking availability and charges, congestion in halls, problems with awards and rosettes are sadly now the topics of conversation on social media.
OUR DOGS were the official media partner of the show and also launched the latest International Special Issue from our stand; our official photographer at the EDS was Claudiu Pintea from Romania
More photos and reports from the show will follow in a forthcoming issue of OUR DOGS.
