Cruft's 2007

Judge Hans Lehtinen, Finland

I decided very late to go to Cruft's. I don't regret it!
As always a really nice adventure. Already on the plane from Amsterdam I met Kristiina Sandman who breeds Welsh Corgi Pemprokes, Rowells, and her friend Ulla from Finland. We had a great day at Cruft's on the friday. They watched Corgies but I was "free" so I could walk around and look at all the stands and buy all what I wanted. Luckily enough! Saturday it was so crowded or as Glen Dymock express' it "Cruft's is such a drama!"

Ulla and Kristiina

Saturday morning arose and it was great to get into Basenji mood through meeting all old friends and have time to chat a little before judging started.
People from all over the World was there plus a few more Swedes, Elisabet Ahrfeldt, with her mother Barabara, who was there to compete in the Junior handlers final and representing Sweden, and Linda Carlsson, Zahleka basenjis.

Sally Wallis with Sally Wournos (ordf. BCOA) and Jon Curby (OFA) by the ringside.

Judging started with Hans Lehtinen entering the ring.
As always he went through the dogs with a natural authority.

Puppies were first and winner was Zordia's Indiana Jones who's mother is Swedish, Ch Faraoland Toyou at Zordia.

Zordia's Indiana Jones best puppy

  
Best dog Ch Embeau Saffari with CC and IR Ch Bushwacker Nevada Smith by Horsleys with RCC

I was very excited to see the bitches and especially Millie, Ch Klassic's Million Dollar Baby at Tokaji, who won last year. I have during the last year seen her sister win the American National and her mum won progeny bitch.
She didn't disappoint me and not the judge either, apparently.
 

       
Best bitch Ch Klassic's Million Dollar Baby at Tokaji with CC och Zordia's Jawara with RCC.

Hans: Hmmmm, how am I going to do this...........

......yes, this is how it should be, the dog BOS and the bitch BOB!
The second year in a row Ch Klassic's Million Dollar Baby at Tokaji wins BOB.
(Obs, known faces in the background Christian Jouanchicot and Sue Kite, Klassic's.)

After the judging invited Sally Wallis all us foreigners to lunch with all goodies as chicken, wine and a lot of other things. Really a very nice and appreciated initiative by all us foreign guests including me, even though she did forget the Woodpecker in the fridge :-))
I did by a raffle ticket and Jon Curby commented it was no use to sell me one because my sister and I win all the time! How right he was. I won a very nice embroidered basenjibag.
After that I flipped and bought a lot of things in the Basenji stalls both needed and not. But it is for a good cause :-)) Then I put Jon (Curby) to watch the bags, everybody wanted to talk to him anyway :-)), and I went off for more "hunting" and finally my old Fagge got the exclusive bed he has wanted for so long. I almost had to get down on my knees to get it, they only sell them on order.

Fagge went straight to bed in his new bed!

All fun things have to end but I saved the best to the last. I got an evening with pictures from the last trip to Africa, the one they did in 2006 into the jungles of the Congo to look for basenjis. I don't think one realises what an adventure it is to travel into the deep jungle to look for basenjis. One picture was of a fantastic tricolour basenji and hope I can get back to that picture. That puppy was not going to US or Europe because he was traded to two brindle puppies. But that face and the tan markings!!

A BIG thank you to all who made this trip such a wonderful one. To travel alone has it's moments!
Thank you Jon, Sue, Annechien, Sally wallis, Sally Wournos, Catherine W......................................

Yooodels to you all
Mia