On September 11th, I set off straight after work to Arlanda where I jumped on  plane destined for Warszawa. I met Henric Fryckstrand just before depature who was also going to the same show judging. Arriving at our destination we were met by Andrzej Stepinski who drove us to the hotel and really was the perfect host throughout the week-end. At the hotel we met our fellow judges, Rinie Leenen from the Netherlands who was doing Labrador dogs and BOB the following day and Rune Fagerström from Finland who was doing bitches. Henric did Flatcoats and I judged Golden Retrievers, all this took place at the second day of the Polish Kennel Club Show on the Saturday the 12th.

I had a good entry of Goldens and the overall quality was very good I felt and the winners excellent specimens of the breed. Best of breed went to Ch Gutta Herkus (Guess Giacomo x Erima Herkus), a bitch of outstanding quality in my opinion. Obviously I was very pleased when Henric Fryckstrand shared this opinion and made her best of breed the following day at the Retriever Speciality Show where she also was crowned BIS under Henric, a very worthy winner.

At the Retriever Speciality Show the entries in all Retriever breeds were higher than on the previous day and I did Labrador males and BOB, Rinie Leenen bitches. There were 88 dogs and 94 bitches, a great entry and a great honour to be invited to judge. Again I thought the overall quality was very good. Many coats were on the blow which was a pity but this cannot be avoided, dogs do shed their coats and there is nothing any of us can do about that.

Best Puppy 3-6 months was won by a very charming and well presented black called  Artur The King Totus Tuus by Mallorns Gromit. He later in the day won BEST PUPPY IN SHOW under Rinie Leenen.

Best Puppy 6-9 months was headed by a yellow namely Renji Gorska  Fantazja, again a really lovely puppy, he finished as runner up BIS puppy under Rune Fagerström.

Best Junior and later in the day BEST JUNIOR IN SHOW went to a chocolate bred in Finland, Loresho Bronze Flush by  Stronglines Dalwhinnie out of Loresho Fudgy Brownie.

Runner up BIS veteran Weathertop Storm Cloud who is actually owned by Saudji and John Crook but residing in Poland. Since he is by Balrion Ring Round The World my dear old late Blondella Bally Who can be traced back in his pedigree. Storm Cloud was in very good form and moved without any effort which is just what you want to see in a Labrador.

My Best Dog was won by a yellow from working called Fart Perfect Partner (Addiciated to Love De L'etang Balancet x Brawos Bis Afera). As soon as he entered the ring he caught my eye and he covered the ground when moving.

A very nice masculine dog in good coat of excellent type he, for me, stood out in the dog challenge on the day.

I completed my judging just before Rinie Leenen so went to the ringside of her ring to see what I would get in to challenge for BOB. There were some nice bitches in the final line up and Rinie decided that a young bitch from intermediate called Lemonade  Kociokwik was the winner. She looked very nice from the ringside and I couldn't wait to get my hands on her. I then discovered she was just as nice to go over as she was to watch from a distance and felt no hesitation to make her best of breed. She later finished as runner up BIS under Henric Fryckstrand. Her owner must be very proud of her and I shall follow her future career with interest.

After the show it was a quick good-bye to everyone and then off to the airport. It had really been a lovely and memorable week-end.

 PHOTOS BY MARKUS PELKONEN and MAX WECKSTRÖM

1) BOB Ch Olivia Original Sensation BOS Ch Olivia Spirit of American Idol

2) BOB veteran Ch Olivia Original Sensation BOS Ch Finnsky Alan

3) Best Progeny group Ch Finnsky Alan

4) Best In Show Breeders group Kennel Finnsky (Thea Dahlbom and the late Rolf Dahlbom)

Last week-end I had the great honour to judge Skye Terriers at the Finnish Skye terrier Club Main Speciality show and there was an impressive entry of 52. Only 2 were absent so no less than 50 turned up.

It was really lovely to be given the chance to go over such a great entry and even more lovely to among those find so many lovely specimens of the breed. I felt very honoured indeed.

Best dog line up was very impressive. It was headed by Ch Olivia Spirit of American Idol, a super dog with so many virtues including his outstanding showmanship, followed by Ch Finnsky Fireball, Ch Of Skyeline Captain Hook and Ch Finnsky Alan - all super dogs of excellent breed type.

D CAC was awarded to Of Skyeline Eden Glassie, an eyecatching young dog who was long low and level with a beautiful head. R CAC to another nice youngster, Skyeluck Adalia's Aidan.

The four bitches in the final line up were very impressive Skyes of high quality and it was headed by Ch Olivia Original Sensation who also won BOB. She is every inch a Skye terrier in my book, of super breed type, long low and level, fluent mover, coat in first class order. Behind her stood the drop eared Ch Linum La Gioconda, Ch Of Skyeline Dream With Me and Ch Finnsky Acasia - as I said, all super bitches.

BCAC was awarded to Skyewatch Kiss Me Again, a very nice elegant bitch, long low and level, beautiful neck and shoulder. RCAC to Juger Edelweiss Eternal Glory, another very nice bitch who is a credit to the breed.

Ch Finnsky Alan presented a progeny group in which some of his very beautiful daughters were included and kennel Finnsky yet again presented a breeders group outstanding for uniformity and quality. Later in the day it was best in show breeders group.