The Swedish National Whippet Specialty (Sweden part eleven)

Since leaving Lisa and Krister's house, we stayed in a lovely hotel in Enkoping, the Park Astoria. Oh, and Enkoping should have an umlaut over the o, and this took some practice, but it is pronounced Ee-yin-SHOOO-ping. Yes, dear readers, the k is pronounced sh. How about that!

Lisa moved into our hotel when Helene went home, and Latte (Swede William's daddy who belongs to Helene) did too. Lucky Crystal was going to get to show him in the National. I was a teensy bit envious, but I tried not to let it show.

These were Crystal's and Lisa's beds:

What's that brown lump in Lisa's bed?

Oh it's a tired puppy. The WORLD SHOW Best Junior Whippet, that's all.

This was my bed which I shared with Bree and Stavros:

I called it The Coffin. It was actually a couch, but it was still more comfortable than our bed at home.

We had breakfast in the hotel (tomorrow, the very last post on this trip to Sweden, I will tell you dear readers about the free breakfasts in that hotel) with our wonderful Belgian friends, Rita and Gilbert. (Pronounce that Gheee-BEAR, oh isn't la langue francais si belle! Oui!) We were glad to be with Lisa to help her lug stuff to the show ring. We had set up her tents and dropped off the crate in the evening before we left Kragga Manor. Spirits were high, on the part of dogs and humans: it was a dog show! The day was purely perfect, with clear skies and bright sun and a sweet breeze.

Well, it turned out that I was going to get to show a dog after all. Oh this was too exciting for words. Swede William's lookalike litter brother Looper needed a handler, since Helene had gone home. Oh. My. Goodness. I was going to get to show a dog in Swedish Whippet National! Life was enormously good.

The little puppies showed first, cutie pies all, and then it was Lisa and Stavros' turn. He looked magnificent.

But the judge didn't notice him on that day, and that's dog showing.

Then it was the Americans' turns! Crystal and I went in the ring with William's older brother Dustin and Looper in the huge as huge Open Dog class. Looper takes after his dad more, and William his mom, but there is no doubt they are brothers. And his eyes! I looked in his eyes, and my own eyes got a little leaky.

Crystal went first with Dustin

Then it was Looper's turn

They both got "excellent" which means they got to come back in to compete with the other "excellent" dogs in their class. Looper's dad, Anders, was so excited! He and his wife were the nicest, sweetest couple and they do love their first whippet. That's his registered name: Burnt Sienna Midsummer Love. (William is Burnt Sienna Midsummer Night.) Looper went to rest a bit, and then we went back in the ring.

Looper made the next cut. Oh lordy this was so exciting! Looper was a dream to show - he loves it as much as William does. I had to keep reminding myself that this was real and not a dream.

He ended up finishing second in the class. SECOND IN THE CLASS!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! What a blast. I was so excited, I thought it was impossible to be any more excited until I saw Looper's mom and dad! Wild! We were so thrilled. What a great memory.

Then I got to cheer for Crystal and William's daddy Latte.

They got fourth in the CHAMPION class, so we were a couple of really happy American dog show ladies. Thanks to some generous, good dogs, that is.

We found a great little restaurant in Enkoping, and had a wonderful dinner, and dessert of ice cream with a fancy yellow berry that only lives in Sweden and is a specialty. I think they are cloudberries, but I only heard the Swedish name: hjortron. I have no clue how to pronounce that. A lady brought her little dog in the restaurant (we're so uncivilized in this country) and I was glad I'd be seeing mine soon.

We would say goodbye to Lisa, and Bree, Stavros, and Latte, early in the morning. We would say goodbye to Sweden.

It had been purely magical.

hug your hounds

to be continued... HERE