TYPE: Open. At: Axel, Terneuzen, Zeeland, Netherlands.


Many thanks to Greet & Ed for the invite to judge for you again, my 3rd year, it was super yet again, it was a pleasure to meet all my Dutch & Belgian friends once again and to make some new friends too. Greet & Ed Vink accommodated Bob (Beesley) and myself and the welcome, as in the previous 2 years was warm and sincere, I am very lucky to be invited and it was a privilege to have been given the opportunity to return, our hosts ensured we were very comfortable indeed. Thanks must also go to Walter & Ed for taking us to Antwerp a beautiful City on Sunday, giving us the grand tour and ensuring we didn’t miss our flight home.
I Judged three classes today and the standard was mixed, it was a very hot day and the weather caused a few dogs to wilt, indeed the Pre-Beginner dogs really suffered, working at the hottest part of the day.
The competitors (many of whom I feel I could call friend), gave us a very warm welcome and the atmosphere was relaxed and at times light hearted, Thanks to all of you for your friendship, I can’t wait to return again.
As in past years the prize giving at the end was very enjoyable and all those there, even those not placed went home with a prize of some description in the draw at the end, There were even gifts for the Judges, I will look forward to wearing my Holland baseball cap when they play during the world cup!!.
And so to the results:
PRE-BEGINNERS:

RING STEWARD: Hanka Jongman. SCOREBOARD: Fransje Van Eekelen.

Many thanks to Hanka for stewarding this class in Dutch for me today, your stewarding was faultless, your company a pleasure and the fact you stewarded in Dutch helped me pick up a few more words in my quest to learn Dutch. You helped to make my job easier. Thanks also to Fransje for looking after my scoreboard, because of the help of this team all I had to do was judge.

1st Evy De Fonvent & YENKA. B/C. (Yenka).
This was a round of quality with just slight wides in heelwork to mark, tighten these up a little and I’m sure you will make steady progress.
CONTRATULATIONS & GOOD LUCK.

2nd Chantal Loncke & FIEVEL OF TIERRAS CALIENTES. Chihuahua. (Fievel).
Chantal & Fievel make very good team and although Fievel works slightly off the leg the distance is consistent. Although I think Chantal has a decision to make, either teach Fievel to sit the same distance away as the heelwork or make Fievel work closer, personally I would teach it to sit at the same position it works, I feel this its natural position.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

3rd Martin Tuller & SORAYA REGINA V.D. AMANDLEGAARD. N.S.D.T.R. (Soraya).
I have a liking for this breed, and Soraya was a nice example. The heelwork requires tidying, do this and you should progress.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.
4th Judith Lerno & TIA VAN ‘T VIJULEUM. B/C. (Tia).
Super heel on lead, but other exercises proved to be a little weak, if you can get the same commitment in the rest of the exercises as you have in heel on lead you have the potential to progress.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

5th Heidi Waelkens & ENYA. Kruising. (Enya).
A very nice team but I feel Enya suffered with the heat, more work needed on the heelwork, but again the potential is there.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

6th Lia Baars & SHANTO’S SILKE. G.S.D. (Zirka).
Wides the main problem for this team today, again another dog to suffer with the heat. With more work on the heelwork this team can progress.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

7th Carin Van Driel & NICKY. B/C. (Nicky).
Loose and untidy heelwork again the biggest problem today, work on keeping the dogs attention, once you have this then think of working on accuracy.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

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NOVICE.

RING STEWARD: Elly Kooyman. SCOREBOARD: Lia Baars.

Many thanks to my good friend Elly for stewarding this class, even managing to work her own dog in ‘A’, your stewarding was excellent and without fault.
Thanks also to Lia, for keeping everyone in order; looking after the scoreboard and sorting out my paperwork, your help was greatly appreciated.
The standard in this class was excellent, with many not in the cards capable of winning on another day.

1st Margreet Mijnsbergen & DJINGA FROM THE GO-GETTERS.G/Ret. (Djinga)
Very stylish heelwork laid the platform for a super round; Margreet & Djinga look good & work well together. I have had the pleasure to judge Margreet in the past and she knows what she wants from her dogs and how to get it.
CONTRATULATIONS & GOOD LUCK.

2nd Henk Eekman & BRITT DARA VAN’E OLDE SALLAND. G.S.D. (Britt)
Henk had a very successful day today, which doesn’t surprise me one bit. His handling is as near faultless as can be and his dogs know their job. Just minor faults in all exercises, with slight wides in heelwork claiming most of the marks lost today.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

3rd Carola Van Tilburg & LUNA TALE GYHRO. B/C. (Ghyro).
Another round showing great potential, again minor faults in heelwork costing most of the marks. But I am sure that this team will progress, due to Carola’s ability and Gyhro’s potential.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

4th Marie-Christine Vanuxem & TAO THE TWO FACED DOG. W/S. (Tao).
Yet another pleasing round to judge and another round team who on another occasion are capable of winning, but yet again wides in heelwork the main fault. Tighten these and this team are sure to progress.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.
5th Rick Van Veeran & SEALIGHT IT’S A MAGIC MIRACLE. B/C. (Magic)
It was nice to be able judge Rick this year as last year she was recovering from an accident, your handling today as always was first class but slight drifts in heelwork cost you today. That said it was still a good round to watch & Judge.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

6th Christina Decuypre & JIPSINGER KAIPO. A.S.D. (Kypo)
A nice keen Aussie shepherd who tries so hard for Mum, again loose heelwork cost the majority of the marks lost, but I feel this is another dog with loads of potential and I look forward to following this teams progress.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

7th Dona Vandenhule & QUELLYANE GOMEZ. B/C. (Gomez)
What super, super dog who without the silliness in Recall would have taken the red one today. Your heelwork was stunning especially Heel Free. If you can get Gomez to concentrate for all the round not just 75% of it you are destined for much higher things. I look forward to following your progress on the Dutch obedience website.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

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CLASS ‘B’.

RING STEWARD: Pluen Van Der Ster. SCOREBOARD: Francois De Brucker.

Many thanks to Pluen for stewarding this class for me today, your stewarding was faultless and professional, your company was also greatly appreciated.
Thanks to Francois for sorting out the scoreboard, organising the competitors and keeping my paperwork in order. Thanks also go to my decoy when scent came round; your help was greatly appreciated.

1st Henk Eekman & BORDERS FOR JOY FREEDOM OF FAITH. B/C. (Fate).
I have already mentioned Henk’s handling in my novice report, so when this team entered the ring I expected something good, I wasn’t disappointed. Sendaway was their biggest point taker today, retrieve only had one very slight mistake, but their heelwork was stunning, tiny mistakes and crispy tight turns that were a joy to see. One of the best Heelwork rounds I have ever had the priviledged to judge, thank you.
CONTRATULATIONS & GOOD LUCK.

2nd Marianne Van Der Ster & AMAZING YODA OF ALBIONS MARCH. B/C. (Yoda).
This was a true exhibition of teamwork at its best, the set exercises were completed without fuss and with only minor faults, and with a neater scent or one less fault in heelwork they could have taken the red one today.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

3rd Annelies Van De Velde & DI LUKA. W/S. (Luka)
Another round out of the top draw, super heelwork with only little lags to mark, and with a tidier sendaway would have taken the honours today.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

4th Davy Alliet & FOUZY WOUZY FROM IMKES FRIENDS. B/C.
Not the best round I have seen from this team, with some uncharacteristic faults, but the round was still worthy of this place. This is a team who on their day are a match for anyone.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

5th Sandra Pierson & AKSO PIERSON. B/C. (Akso).
This round had a bit of everything, with some promising signs & a potential to go on to better things. It was a pleasure to Judge Sandra & Akso today this team enjoy their time in the ring.
WELL DONE & GOOD LUCK.

Thanks once again to Greet & Ed for giving me some more wonderful memories, for looking after us so well, I look forward to seeing you both, Rick and Hans at Lune Valley show in August, have a safe journey. Thanks must also go to Ed and his small band of stay stewards for a job well done.
Finally thanks to all competitors for not keeping me waiting, for entering under me and for accepting my decisions so sportingly.
Those who venture to England I hope you receive as warm a welcome here as I did in Holland and I look forward to seeing you all in the future.
Cheers Steve Rutter.

PS. Sorry about the lateness of this report, been up to my eyes in it lately.