Webmasters gets visitors from distant shores

Liz and Claire Millward, of Alouann UK, arrived in Oslo on Friday August 14th (2009) for a weekend visit. The purpose of their trip to Oslo was to see Victoria again, to show her at two exhibitions in Oslo; the NKKs International Show at Bjerke and the Afghan Hounds of Norway's Speciality Show at Linderud, to prepare Victoria for these shows, and to meet friends and acquaintances in Norway. The result of the visit was over all expectations. Read on for more about this.

Thursday August 13th

It all began with Torill (Knudsen) and Victoria coming up from Stokke the day before, Thursday, to help the poor webmaster, part-owner and host, to put his place in order before Liz and Claire were to arrive the next day. The first thing we did was to get a car. Then the webmaster bought a new camera, an Olympus E-30 with a 12-60mm lens, with the result that a "few" pictures were snapped during the weekend. A small selection of these can be found on this page. We had set up/moved the dog crates to the living room, so that the master bedroom, where they usually are, was vacated for Liz and Claire. Tommy (Al-Dahná's Tirone) and Uno (Al-Dahná's Unforgettable Uno), webmasters two Afghan Hounds got to try them out in their new place.

Al-Dahná's Tirone and Al-Dahná's Unforgettable Uno tries their crates in the living room Photo: Alf H. Refsum

Food and drink was bought in, the floors were washed and beds made up. Everything was in order when Thursday came to an end. Not a bad job I have to say. So it was a good start for the entire visit. Well we could not have Victoria in the crate in the living room, as she was at the end of her first season and the two males, Tommy, and Uno, showed her conciderable interest, both actively and verbally. The solution was a crate in the bedroom where Torill slept. It worked really well. Tommy was also bathed and groomed, you have to be presentable when important guests come around.

Friday August 14th

Liz and Claire landed on Gardermoen airport at 10:25 on Friday morning. They came early in the day so that there was some time to see some touristy stuff in Oslo and to do some retail therapy in the shops in Bogstadveien, before the job with Victoria began.

First a short stop at webmaters apartment for tea, biscuits, a little chat and not at least to say hello to Victoria and the other dogs. Victoria recognised Liz immmediatly (Liz had shown her at the exhibition in Bø), and placed herself strategically between Liz and Claire on the sofa, well protected from males, and also very close to the goodies (biscuits).

From right Tommy, Claire, Victoria and Liz Photo: Alf H. Refsum

Next stop was the Vigeland Sculpture Park. It is one of the few places in Oslo where one can take both people and dogs for sightseeing. It was fortunately good weather with sunshine, nice and warm. There were lots of people in the park, which was good social training for dogs. This was also a good opportunity for Liz and Victoria to become better known. Lots of photo opportunities, and here are some of the pictures.

From left Victoria, Torill, Liz, Tommy and Claire Photo: Alf H. Refsum

From left Tommy, Claire, Victoria, and Liz, Torill is hidden behind Claire Photo: Alf H. Refsum

The Monolith, far right is Torill with Liz and Victoria in front of her Photo: Alf H. Refsum

Liz and Victoria training Photo: Alf H. Refsum

Tommy with Torill as a background Photo: Alf H. Refsum

After the trip to the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the dogs were left behind in the apartment before Bogstadveien with its cafes and shops, was given a visit. We first had a small meal at The Broker Café, before we went down and up Bogstadveien. No pictures from this part of the visit.

Liz and Claire brought with them a suitcase full of doggy stuff which they had bought in England. They brought with them shampoo, conditioner, foam, brushes, etc., and also a new coat that hopefully might fit Victoria, in case it should begin to rain. Before they left England, Liz checked the forecast for Oslo, and it not look entirely good. The pink rain coat fit perfactly, which was good, because it was absolute needed.

After the trip in Bogstadveien the suitcase and its content was brought out, the kitchen table was moved into the living room where the light was better, Victoria was put on the table, and Claire and Liz went to work. Meanwhile, dinner was prepared by the webmaster. It was planned that Stian and Keino would join us, but unfortunately they could not come as they had their own guests.

After the trip to the bathroom, Victoria was once again put on the table and this time it was for drying and grooming. In comparison to the webmaster, the two Alouan girls were super-efficient. The job was fiished very quickly, and the results was amazing, as one can see from the photos below.

Claire and Liz worked with Victoria after her bath Photo: Alf H. Refsum

Uno followed the whole process quite closely Photo: Alf H. Refsum

Claire and Liz works with Victoria Photo: Alf H. Refsum

The finished result - amazing Photo: Alf H. Refsum

After Victoria was finished she went to bed and slept all the way to Saturday, while we got us some food and drink, and got a chance to talk a bit, something that was not exactly easy when the dryers went full blast. After that we also crawled into bed.

Saturday August 15th

The next day began early for the webmaster. Walking the dogs and shower before the completion of all the small things one should bring to a show, such as food and drink, etc. The show on Saturday was the Crufts-qualifying NKK International Show at Bjerke, under judge Richard Meen from Canada. We had some hopes of qualifying for Crufts, but was by no means sure about this.

Victoria is being made ready for the ring Photo: Alf H. Refsum

As we expected the rain came. It poured down and it was not exactly ideal conditions for long-haired dogs such as Afghan Hounds. Nothing to be done about that. Fortunately, Victoria did not let rain affect her at all, so it went very well in the end. Liz managed to handle Victoria through the rain and they won Best Junior Bitch and the Crufts qualification. We had achieved the goal for this weekend and was super happy.

Victoria and Liz in the rain Photo: Alf H. Refsum

After the show we went straight home for a new round in the bath and on the table for Victoria. In fact, it was the 4th time that week. She took it as gently and quietly as the times before and the result was as good if not better than on Friday. After finishing Victoria and receiving some instruction from Liz and Claire on further care in preparation for Crufts, the champagne came on the table. Then we waited for Keino and Stian would arrive. When they arrived, received their glasses of champagne, and finished these, we went out for a meal. That was Saturday.

Sunday August 16th

Like Saturday, the Sunday began early for the webmaster. Walking the dogs, etc. The show on Sunday was the Afghan Hounds of Norway Speciality Show on Linderud, under judge Dr. György Tesics from Hungary (actually Serbia) and Kennel Ben Bens. We were very uncertain of what Victoria could achieve, but had been told that he liked the old Scandinavian lines, so it should be okay. Nonetheless, it was fine weather with brilliant sunshine, although a little rain was forecast for the afternoon. We were really quite a lot more relaxed to start with, since our aspirations were not that high and Vicatoria had qualified for Crufts already.

The weather was nice, although the ground was very wet Photo: Alf H. Refsum

It soon became clear that Dr György Tesics would hold an open judging of each class. He told us loud and clearly what he liked and did not like in each placed dogs and how he saw the individual details in relation to the standard, especially with European eyes. It was an incredibly fun and educational performance, even for other judges as Liz and Claire. There was no doubt or questions about the decisions he made, or why he decided like he did.

Victoria started the day by winning Junior Bitch class, and was also picked to copete for the "Best Movements" and "Best Head and Expression" competitions. It was quite clear that Dr Tesics György liked Victoria.

Victoria in the ring for assessment in the Junior Bitch class with Dr. Tesics György, Victoria and Liz in the picture Photo: Alf H. Refsum

The showground was, as said earlier, not dry from all the rain the day before and had not dried up before the show started. This situation led to the showground becoming quite muddy eventually, and you had to watch so that the dogs stayed reasonably clean. The handlers on the other hand had a tough job staying clean.

Camilla Tell's shoes not looking all that clean Photo: Alf H. Refsum

Next was the Best Bitch judging. The Champion Bitch class had been the largest and perhaps best that had been in Norway this year, and the Best Bitch final had a very good lineup.

The lineup for the Best Bitch Photo: Alf H. Refsum

When Victoria was picked out among the bitches that were going to be placed we began to be very excited and nervous. Did she have a chance?. When Dr Tesics György selected her as Best Bitch, there was applause all around the ring. Increadibly fun. She had beaten a large number of champion bitches. The justification the judge gave for his decision was very straightforward and comes clearly out in the critique he wrote:

One very promising young female, that in almost each part in the body is in standard. Perfect head. Scissorbite. Low set ears. Enough long neck, Good topline. Prominent hip bones. Well set and carried tail. Correct front and very good hindleg angulation. Excellent coat. Free, easy powerful movement. Excellent presentation.

There is not much more one can say. A very good critique.

Victoria wins Best Bitch and the CC. Dr Tesics György, Victoria and Liz in the picture Photo: Alf H. Refsum

Then came the two quick finals before Best of Breed and BIS for the day. Maybe a little too much for a young bitch. Towards the end, she was very tired. Victoria won the final in the "Best Head and Expression" competition.

Victoria wins the Best Head and Expression final. Dr Tesics György, Victoria and Liz in the picture Photo: Alf H. Refsum

The final of the BOB/BIS winner was between Victoria and Wilson (Am Can N UCH. Agha Djari's Wilson Of Xenos), and was decided in favor of Wilson. Dr György Tesics justified his decision by saying Wilson was more mature than Victoria. A last word about his persoal choice is that he asked if he could take Victoria home with him. She had clearly hit a good spot with him.

Victoria wins BOS and BIS-2, Wilson wins BOB and BIS Photo: Alf H. Refsum

There were some incredibly happy owners who went home after the show. We all received many congratulations from those who were still left at the showground (almost everybody). Thank you very much for that.

Links to other pages with results and pictures

• Al-Dahnás Vitae Victoria
• Alouann: Victoria
• Alouann: On Tour
• Afghan Hounds of Norway: The Afghan Speciality 2009 - results