Friday
23rd June and we set off to fly from Stansted to Milan, (we being Mandy
Dance,
Fay Hutchings, Laura Sexton, Rachel Barney and myself).
Some
idea of the type of flight we took can be gained by the fact that a burst tyre
delayed our flight. We didn't quite have to put our feet on the floor and run,
but it was close!!
We
landed at Linate airport Milan in almost 30 degrees heat and then came the next
glitch.
We had to find our way to our hotel, and we thought it was providential that it
was in a
place called 'Loreto'.
We had
to take a bus and then get the underground to reach our hotel. At this point one
of
our party realised there wasn't a 'Phil' available and we all had to carry our
luggage ourselves.
Now some of us foreseeing this problem had travelled light.
Anyway,
we managed to find our hotel, and found out that our rooms were on the third
floor,
and the lift was slightly smaller than the average 'phone booth. Impossible to
get all of
the luggage and us in one trip. Those of us who braved the stairs needed a drink
when
we all eventually reached our rooms, (and very nice they were too, considering
this was
a "how to travel on a shoe string" trip). We were completely worn out,
and it was only
early afternoon. It's amazing though when on holiday how a small rest, and a
freshen up
can work wonders.
It was then time to venture forth to experience some wonderful Italian cuisine.
It was
a beautiful balmy evening, coats were left behind, and sandals slipped onto
white
English feet and out we went in search of dinner.
We
found a wonderful little restaurant where we sat outside talking in the late
sunshine
and watching the Italians coming home from work.
We had
real Italian food, and sat lingering over dinner for so long, chatting and
enjoying
being away from dogs, husbands etc. that we failed to notice that the pretty
light show
was in fact the beginning of a storm.
By the time we got back to the hotel we were soaked through.
However
the next two and a bit hours were spent watching (and listening) to one of
the
most spectacular thunderstorms I have ever seen!! It was also time to 'phone
home to find
out how Chris had got on at Blackpool Ch. Show.
The
next morning, the storm over and the sun shining, we headed off to the Fiera
Milano
Centre for the show.
I have
to say I was a little disappointed. After visiting both the All Winners in
Amsterdam
and Longchamp in Paris, I was expecting something on similar lines. However,
there were
very few trade stands for us to spend our lira on, and the whole show, which was
spread
out over three floors, seemed to have no real dog show atmosphere.
The
Dachshunds did not disappoint us however. Nine rings all full, three coats,
three sizes.
They certainly get good entries. No benching here, all the dogs were either in
crates or sat
with their owners' ringside. The dogs around the ringside were very well
behaved, and there
was very little barking.
The
three sizes are Kaninchen (smaller than a miniature), Nano (like our miniature)
and
Standard (which are smaller than our standards)
The entries were as follows:-
Smooths,
Kaninchen 45. Nano 62, and Standard 76. Longs, Kaninchen 40. Nano 57,
and Standard 75 Wires, Kaninchen 54. Nano 101, and Standard 126
So as you can see, standards are the most popular size, and Wires the most popular variety.
There
six classes for each sex, Champions compulsory for Italian CHs., optional for
International
and foreign CHs. (the winner can compete for the CACIB), Open, minimum age 15
months and
the dogs entered in this class compete for the CAC (except dogs submitted to a
working trial)
and the CACIB.
Intermediate, from 15 months to 2 years, the dogs entered in this class compete for the
CACIB.
Working,
minimum age 15 months and reserved for the dogs entitled in this class
according
to the rules. Compete for the CAC and CACIB.
Junior,
9-18 months, dogs do not compete for the CAC and CACIB. Puppy, 6-9 months,
dogs
do not compete for the CAC and CACIB.
The dog and bitch winners of the CACIB were awarded the title WORLD CHAMPION 2000.
E.N.C.I. CHAMPION OF THE YEAR were awarded to the dog and bitch winners of the CAC.
The
winners in Wires were, Kaninchen, CACIB/WORLD CHAMPION Jeffrey V.D. Stoofhoeve
(dog), from the Netherlands.
Nano
winner, CACIC/WORLD CHAMPION Marcus Delle Magiche Emme (dog), from Italy
and
this is a Cobra son.
Standards,
CACIC/WORLD CHAMPION Zack Della Val Vezzeno (dog), from Italy. The
Dachshunds
have a group on their own. The winner was the Standard Smooth, Ch Ultra Vom
Golf, a dog from Hungary.
The Standard Wire winner was third in the group. I am indebted to Fay Hutchings for these statistics.
I have
to say here that although I did have a quick look at the Longs, (who do not have
the huge
amounts of coat that some of our dogs have), and Smooths, I spent most of my
time by the Standard
Wire ring. Although our dogs are undoubtedly bigger, there was not the huge
difference in size that
I was expecting.
My
overall impression was that almost all the dogs had good wire coats. Heads were
very good,
correct Dachshund heads with some really lovely expressions. And although some
will disagree,
they are not like our show dogs. All of the dogs that I saw in Italy, and they
came from all over the
Continent, were higher on the leg, all seemed narrower, they didn't have the
spring of rib we are used to.
Toplines on the whole were very good, and feet were excellent in most exhibits.
Most
were finer in bone; there was certainly not the angulation in the forequarters
and hindquarters
we are used to seeing. All the dogs were in fit, hard condition, some may say a
little lean to what we
are used to, but the dogs are worked. Most of the dogs I saw excelled in
movement, and boy did they
move, no "twice up and down" here. After studying the dogs for the
day, I decided that we wouldn't
show our dogs in Europe; my own dogs are bigger, lower to ground, heavier boned,
with more angulation,
I personally feel that they would stand out like a sore thumb.
I did
go to see World Champion Freckle Face Cobra, a Miniature Wire, and a very nice
dog he is too.
It was very impressive to watch him and his offspring in the progeny class. He
was one of the few
dogs that I saw that perhaps could compete favourably with our dogs here but I
think that he would
perhaps struggle with the scales.
I
thoroughly enjoyed my time at the World show, and I hope to travel and see more
Dachshunds
round the world, but after seeing Dachshunds in Europe, Australia and America, I
am glad to be
able to go home to my pack.