The Main Ring at the World Dog Show (Sweden part six)

We had a little time to kill between the Whippet judging, and when Stavros and Lisa would show in the Main Ring, so we went to the vendors' area to shop. There were hundreds vendors from all over! But they wanted the equivalent of many, many, many cups of coffee, so I was only window shopping. Crystal found a delightful interactive dog toy called a Tornado:



And we met the inventor, even!

We shopped a little too long and lost Lisa. She had to lug all her stuff and her dogs by herself to the main ring. I felt terrible.
"No problem!" she gamely said. "I have wheels."

I had finally found her in the staging area behind the Main Ring, being pre-judged. In the Main Ring the entertainment had started, with an exhibition of native Swedish Breeds and folks in native costume, and singing and dancing. Someone needed to stay with Bree, but Lisa wanted photos of Stavros in the Main Ring. Now it was Crystal's and my turn to say "No problem!" Crystal sat with exhibitors on the end of the ring with Bree, and I took Lisa's munga huge camera. A guard stopped me as I entered an area where I could get a better vantage point.

"Press only, please," said the guard.

"Ah! I am Press!" I whipped out my Dog Writers Association of America card, which states on the back, "Please extend all press courtesies" and the guard smiled and showed me the best place to get a view.

This was the largest, most beautiful group of young dogs I had ever seen. If my research is right, the combined Terrier, Sporting, and Sighthound Groups equal approximately ninety-six different breeds, all competing for four placements.

I was worried about Lisa. She was due with her first baby in five weeks. She had gotten up at three am to drive into Stockholm to retrieve us, and then she showed two dogs, going back in for Best Bitch and Best Junior. Now she was in this humongous main ring in front of a huge crowd and TV cameras, and I think by then it was close to six o'clock.

I needn't have worried. The Swedes are tough stock!

THIS LINK will take you to a video of all of the events of the Main Ring that night. Happily, the Juniors competition is first in the video! And yes, you can hear both me and Helene screaming in the background. My guard looked askance at me as I screamed for Lisa and Stavros. "My breed, I can't help myself," I lamely explained.



[Stavros on the Big Screen. The hanging banners are Swedish native breeds]

Stavros had made the final cut of eight! It was surreal!

[Lisa and her puppy awaiting the judge's final decision.]

Yes, they did! Combined World Dog Show Junior Group 3rd!

During the photo session after the judging, Lisa told the judge who was from Norway, that Stavros's daddy was from Norway. "That is why he's so handsome," said the judge!

The drive home from any dog show always goes faster when you've had a great day, and the two hours to Lisa's house flew by. The countryside was gorgeous, and heck it was bright daylight out, and before we knew it we were there.

to be continued...

hug your hounds