Best in show

Sarisin's Zhdan Byeli Boyar
(Fun Fun x Ch. Sarisin's Youzhnaya Zima)
Breeder/Owner Diane Sari
1. Very promissing, BIS
The youth owns the future

A small group of international SRO friends sat down together one evening during a dog-camp in Czech. As usual we were chatting about the SRO. It was here the idea came up to organise an Euro Youzhak show, a show where European SROs could compete under a Russian breed-specialist, but also a long weekend in which owners could discuss about the future of the breed in Europe, talk about health issues such as hip dysplasia, exchange information between different countries and of course have fun and admire each others dogs.

We started dropping the word on shows, inviting SRO owners and breeders, judges and other people who might take an interest in the Euro Youzhak. The response was great, someone even promised us a busload full of SROs from Russia (we are still waiting for them :). Not only SRO owners showed interest in this event, we  were receiving requests for information from judges and other persons interested coming from different European countries including Israel, Austria and the USA.

The logo of the Euro Youzhak had to be something special. It was my choice to start with the head of Sarisin’s Demon Bikrey, his contribution to the breed in Europe has been very important. His appearance was rousing admiration and respect where ever he showed up. He also brought us together, the club of SRO friends. It is my tribute to a wonderful dog. It is our wish that the Euro Youzhak will become a 2-yearly event. The logo will change each time, the keynote will always be an outstanding SRO, a SRO who’s important contribution can be found back in his/her offspring. SROs like Corsairey Casch Al Capone and Asis Stix.

The closing date was 31st. of July and by that time we received 50 entries coming from 11 countries (Italy, Hungary, France, Germany, Latvia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Russia, Lithuania, Czech Republic and Netherlands). Not too bad for a first show.

We found a beautiful accommodation in Zbraslav, an excellent place for dog events and not too far from Brno. A former military camp with all necessary facilities such as 4-bedded rooms, a beautiful terrain, kennels, a restaurant and plenty space to walk our dogs.

In the meantime we (especially Diane and Tamara) continued to put the organisation and schedules on paper. Thanks to a generous financial gift of Sergio and Antonella we could continue to do whatever was necessary, after all things had to be paid. Meanwhile Ilona was busy finding sponsors for the show. Slowly the breed clubs from different countries came up with beautiful gestures, for which we can’t thank them enough.
The Czech Club made it possible for the Euro Youzhak to become an official FCI show (CAJC for best Junior, CACs/resCACs for Intermediate, Open and Champion class)
The Russian International SRO Club offered the title “Champion of International South Russian Ovcharka”  for best male (BOB) and best female (BOS). Unfortunately there was a misunderstanding about this. The Russian International SRO club was under the impression that the Euro Youzhak would be held under the flag of their club. Due to the fact that we had to communicate in different languages (English, Czech and Russian) we failed to notice the importance of this condition. After discussing the problem with Mrs. Tsukanova (thanks Sveta for being there and helping us out with the translations), we tried to find a solution which would take care of this problem, we didn’t succeed and finally had to decide to withdraw the Russian titles. Our sincere apologies for this inconvenience.
The Hungarian Karakan Club for Russian breeds offered 2 beautiful plaquettes for the best junior male and female.
The Italian Club offered 2 wooden boxes each with 3 bottles of the finest Italian wine.
The Lithuanian Ovcharka Club offered a special reward for best junior male and female.
The Dutch Club offered a special reward for best veterans.

Other gifts came from people who were well disposed toward this special event, thank you so much for your support:
Wilma Versloot (Best of Breed)
Kennel Moravia Touri, Marcela Palickove,
Kennel Gladiator Ex Asia, Romana Fojtova (Best Veteran)
Kennel Askania Skazka, Sylvia Pons (Best in Show)
Kennel Corsairey Casch, Ilona and Lubos Kupcikovi (Best Baby)
Kennel Velvet Wire, Tamara and Jiri Kahankovi (Best Puppy)
Kennel Sarisin’s, Diane Sari (Best of Breed)

Last but certainly not least we would like to thank the sponsors, we appreciated your generosity. The main sponsor was Biofaktory (NutriCan foods) and in alphabetical order we present to you the other sponsors:
Alkohol shop Cesky Tesin
Casopis Svet psu
Casopis Pes pritel cloveka
Casopis Planet zvirat
Casopis Fauna
Delikan-vyrobce krmiv
Vytvarnice Marta Mastna
Velkosklad napo ju KANIA Cesky Tesin
Sergio and Antonella Zavattaro

Wednesday 28 August 2002
The day of arrival. Like many participants we had a long travel behind us and felt quite tired when we finally arrived in Zbraslav. A number of participants already had settled down, their warm welcome made our tiredness disappear like snow for the sun, we had a lot to catch up and it took quite some time before we started to unpack the cars. Tamara and Ilona were already busy with preparations for the Euro Youzhak show, one look in their bedrooms, filled with food, cups and other dog-stuff, was enough to realise how much work had to be done. It was thanks to a good friend of them Mrs. Elena Tsukanova was picked up from the airport early in the morning, believe me it is not much fun to travel through Prague during traffic time. Meanwhile they also had to collect the stuff sponsors offered for the show, shortly both ladies had a very busy and crazy day, unfortunately we could not help them out, language sometimes can be a barrier.

Thursday 29 August 2002
In the afternoon we joined a seminar about hip dysplasia. The seminar was organised by Biofaktory Foods. Knowing that there would be SRO owners from many different countries the seminar was held in the Czech and English language. An interpreter (Jakub Kadlec) took care of the English translations but during the seminar we discovered that the veterinarian wasn’t too bad in English as well. Of course translations are always slowing down the speed in a lecture, something we knew in advance, but it was certainly worth the try. Unfortunately the seminar was interrupted because of an unexpected photo session for a Czech Dog magazine which took a lot of time. By the time the photo shooting was finished it was too late to continue the discussion about hip dysplasia. We do hope Biofaktory is willing to work with us again in the future, hip dysplasia is an interesting subject. Except for the heredity part we slowly start to recognise the importance and effects of food, movement and environment.

Friday 30 August 2002
The day of the Euro Youzhak show. It was very early in the morning when Ilona, Lubos, Tamara and a few friends started to prepare the club booths and show ring, the result was impressive. Unfortunately a lot of people couldn’t make it to the show. The people from  Russia and Ukraine already informed us in advance they were having problems with visa and without visa there is no way they could travel to Czech. Of course we were very disappointed, except from the fact that their presence would have been an important contribution to the original purpose of the Euro Youzhak event it was also a financial set back for the committee. Of course others were having equal good reasons (car broke down, female in heat, etc) and like the saying goes “the show must go on” and the show did go on.
With great interest I have been following the judging of Mrs. Tsukanova. She took her time and each dog had to undergo a critical examination. The overall quality was good but we have to pay attention to teeth and height. I might be mistaken but I think Mrs. Tsukanova did have a slight favour for the females. Today’s SROs showed proper behaviour in as well as outside the ring, yet they didn’t loose their temperament, the velvet glove with the iron fist is still needed. Many all-round judges like to see the dog moving alert, head up high (Bobtail like). This is not natural, when the SRO moves the head should be at the same height or slightly higher as the body. The same tendency can be noticed when dogs were put in show position, a “long” neck is disturbing the overall picture. We must pay attention to the official FCI standard. This wonderfull breed doesn’t need any form of exaggeration.

The winners of the first Euro Youzhak are:
Best Baby: Sarisin’s Zhdan Byeli Boyar
Best  Puppy: Harchan Bear Corsairey Casch
Best Junior: Asina Jemchug Iz Odessa
Best Veteran: Verocei Harcos Alekszej
Best Opposite Sex: An Sarah z Medvediho Doupete
Best of Breed: Askania Skazka Pouchkin Orlik
Best in Show: Sarisin’s Zhdan Byeli Boyar

Saturday 31 August 2002
We spend a great deal of the day strolling around, walking the dogs, hanging on the terrace and swimming, others went to Brno for a sightseeing trip under the experienced guidance of Gabor and Hedi Hargitai. During the day exhibitors for the Czech Club show started to arrive with their dogs (mainly COs and CAOs but also some Krasky Ovchar and Sarplaninac). Many familiar faces and of course we had to catch up on each others stories, it’s part of the fun.
In the afternoon we attended a seminar with Mrs. Elena Tsukanova. On the basis of videos from several shows we were planning to discuss the breed’s future. At first people were hesitating to ask questions but slowly things were getting pretty interesting and Mrs. Tsukanova got bombarded by many questions which she patiently answered. Thanks to “our” interpreters Sveta Kokkonen (Russian to English) and a very nice BRT lady (Russian to Czech) we were all to participate in the discussion.

In the evening the Czech Club organised a party, as usual it started with an excellent goulash and to our surprise they also organised a band. Of course we had to celebrate Romana's birthday too!
I can’t speak for others, but my evening was one to remember. Izwikata.

Summarising we can say the Euro Youzhak was a success. Of course there are a number of things which need improving or change. We are critical and willing to learn, after all it was the first Euro Youzhak ever.

On behalf of the Euro Youzhak Committee I would like to thank everybody for making our wish come true.

If it is possible there will be a second Euro Youzhak take place in the future. The committee will evaluate and carefully explore the possibilities for this event.  We will keep you posted, in the meantime we are open for your suggestions. Hieke Dijkstra