THANK YOU TO ALL PEOPLE WHO CONTACTED US REGARDING THE PUPPY BITCH AVAILABLE FROM THE MATING BETWEEN , SALJAY DELIGHTFUL DELILAH AND OUR MALE "ZAK". WE ARE PLEASED TO CONFIRM THAT SHE WILL GO TO HER NEW HOME IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE IN THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE INTEREST AND SORRY FOR ANY DISAPPOINTMENT , AND CONTINUE TO CHECK THE LIONSLORD WEBSITE FOR REGULAR UPDATES AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.

WE HEAR THAT DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, A STUNNING SHOW QUALITY FEMALE PUPPY HAS BECOME AVAILABLE FROM THE MATING BETWEEN ZAK, AND SALJAY DELIGHTFUL DELILAH. THIS LITTER IS 7 WEEKS AND IS OF VERY HIGH QUALITY AND FURTHER DETAILS CAN BE GAINED FROM THE BREEDER, SYLVIA HORTON ON TEL. 01746 783476 OR EMAIL silviahort@tiscali.co.uk NO TIMEWASTERS PLEASE .

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO COLLECTING THE FIRST OFFSPRING FROM OUR SUCCESFUL MALE, ZAK.THIS IS FROM A MATING WITH SALJAY DELEIGHTFUL DELILAH, OWNED BY SYLVIA AND BERT HORTON. THE WHOLE LITTER IS OF EXCELLENT TYPE, WITH STRONG BONE , GREAT BALANCE AND SUPER PIGMENTATION AND MASKS.OUR CHOICE WAS TO HAVE A FEMALE FROM THE MATING , AND AFTER SEEING THEM , ALL FOUR GIRLS WERE STUNNING , SO A VERY HARD CHOICE.THE THREE MALES WERE ALSO OF EXCELLENT TYPE AND WE WERE PLEASED TO SEE THAT SIX OUT IF THE SEVEN PUPPIES WERE GOING TO SHOW HOMES, BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE LITTER.SO "SAFFI" WILL BE COMING HOME WE HOPE ON NEW YEARS DAY ! A SUPER PRESENT FOR US AT LIONSLORD , AND SPECIAL THANKS TO "GRACE" FOR THIS SPECIAL LADY !

WHILST ANITA WAS OFF JUDGING LEO'S , NIGEL SET OF WITH TRUSTY SON SAM, TO AMSTERDAM, FOR OUR FIRST WINNERS SHOW WITH BROTHER AND SISTER, ZAK AND BELLA.

WE STAYED OVERNIGHT IN AMSTERDAM AND AIDED BY SON SAM WHO WAS A GREAT HELP ALL WEEKEND, HEADED TO THE RAI , FOR THE SHOW EARLY SATURDAY MORNING TO CHECK IN .TO SEE A STRONG ENTRY OF LEO'S AND A FEELING THAT A GOOD DAY LAY AHEAD.

NIGEL'S FIRST CLASS WAS THE SECOND OF THE DAY, OPEN DOG. A CLASS OF 8 VERY NICE AND SUCESSFUL LEONBERGERS , ALL IN THE END GAINING EXCELLENT GRADES AND CRITIQUES FROM OUR ARGENTINIAN JUDGE.WE WERE AMAZED AS WE WERE MOVED AROUND THE RING , AND ZAK, WAS PULLED OUT FIRST IN THE CLASS. THE YOUNGEST AT 22 MONTHS OLD, WE WERE THRILLED .

A NERVOUS WAIT LAY AHEAD AS WE WAITED FOR ALL THE MALE CLASSES TO BE JUDGED.FINALLY THE RING OF HONOUR, AND CHALLENGE FOR BEST MALE.NIGEL WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS BUT STEPPED UP AND THE JUDGE MOVED THEM SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE SELECTING THE CHAMPION DOG, AND ZAK TO MOVE TOGETHER TO COMPETE FOR THE TITLE.AFTER A NUMBER OF CIRCUITS OF THE RING THE JUDGE POINTED AT NIGEL AND GAVE THE BEST MALE TITLE TO ZAK, WOW, WHAT A FEELING ! BEATING 2006 WORLD WINNER - LANCELOT VOM MATTHIASBERG AND BECOMING AMSTERDAM WINNER, BRILLIANT!

AFTER A SHORT TIME THE DUST SETTLED AND NIGEL HAD TO RETURN TO THE RING WITH BELLA, IN INTERMEDIATE BITCH. SIMILAR NERVES ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE EARLIER RESULT. BELLA MOVED AND STACKED LIKE A DREAM , AND MOVED WITH DRIVE AND PURPOSE AROUND THE RING AGAINST 5 VERY NICE OTHER INTERMEDIATE BITCHES. TO OUR AMAZEMENT THE JUDGE PLACED BELLA 1ST !!WHAT A DAY !!

ONCE AGAIN ANOTHER NERVOUS WAIT! THE CHALLENGE CAME AND WE MOVED AROUND THE RING FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY. FINALLY THE JUDGE SELECTED BELLA AND THE CHAMPION BITCH NAMUPALAN FINNISH JEWEL ( A HALF SISTER TO ZAK AND BELLA)TO MOVE TOGETHER, AFTER MORE MOVEMENT HE PLACED NIGEL WITH BELLA FIRST AND BEST BITCH......UNBELIEVABLE!!

BROTHER AND SISTER WITH BOTH TITLES W-06, THE CAC'S, AND THE CACIB'S.

FOR BEST OF BREED , GOOD FRIEND MRS WANDA OUD, FROM LONG ESTABLISHED AND RESPECTED DUTCH KENNEL PELGRIMS RING KINDLY HANDLED BELLA , WITH NIGEL HANDLING ZAK IN THE CHALLENGE FOR BOB. THE JUDGE FINALLY DECIDING ON ZAK FOR HIS BEST OF BREED, WHAT A DAY !!

SADLY NOTHING IN FCI GROUP 2 LATER THAT DAY , WITH MORE THAN FORTY DOGS IN THE GROUP OF HIGH QUALITY ,BUT A GREAT EXPERIENCE AT SUCH A HIGH PROFILE SHOW IN EUROPE.AND A LONG DRIVE HOME WITH A BIG SMILE !

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MANY PEOPLE WHO GAVE THERE SUPPORT AND THOSE OFFERING THIER CONGRATULATIONS ON THE DAY AND SINCE WE RETURNED. WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS.

THIS SATURDAY 25/11/06 SAW TERRIBLE WEATHER IN SLOUGH,IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND , THE VENUE FOR ANITA'S FIRST LEONBERGER JUDGING APPOINTMENT. THIS WAS ON BEHALF OF READING AND DISTRICT KENNEL ASSOCIATION,SHE GAINED AN ENTRY OF 11, AND FOUND HER BEST OF BREED IN A FIVE YEAR OLD MALE " WOLFEN A GLORY HUNTER ShCM." OWNED BY MRS KATHY HAY AND HER BEST PUPPY IN THE 11 MONTH OLD " STORMCHASER EXCALIBUR " OWNED BY MRS PAM SMITH . THE POOR WEATHER ASIDE ANITA HAD A SUPER DAY AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO ENTRED THIER DOGS AT THE SHOW AND GAVE HER THIER SUPPORT ON HER FIRST JUDGING POST.

EARLIER IN THE WEEK WE COLLECTED A NEW ADDITION TO OUR LEO PRIDE. A LITTLE GIRL FROM SHADOW (BOLELEJONET CAZAR FOR LIONSLORD), OUR SWEDISH IMPORT , HER NAME IS "TIA" SHE WILL SOON BE 8 WEEKS OLD . SHE HAS SETTLED WELL WITH THE OTHER LEO'S AND DOGS, AND IS 8 KILOS ALREADY, SHE HAS A BEAUTIFULLY FEMININE HEAD AND EXPRESSION AND IS VERY WELL BALANCED. SHE WAS OUR PICK OF THE LITTER OF 11 EXCELLENT PUPPIES, 10 GIRLS AND 1 BOY !THANKS TO DEBBIE CHARWIN AND TIA'S MUM HANNAH FOR LOOKING AFTER HER SO WELL. HER FULL KENNEL NAME WILL BE "DEBBOLLINBY SHADOW DANCER FOR LIONSLORD(NAF,TAF)" WE WILL SOON PUT SOME PICTURES OF HER ON THE SITE AND SHE WILL HAVE HER OWN PAGES IN "OUR LEO'S"

WELL WE MADE IT, 3000 KILOMETRES AND A GREAT EXPERIENCE AT THE WORLD DOG SHOW, MORE THAN 20,000 DOGS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE, IT WAS VERY GOOD.WE TOOK ZAK AND BELLA, UNDER JUDGE RAINER VUORINEN (FINLAND) BELLA WAS NOT FORTUNATE ON THE DAY ONLY GETTING ONLY A VERY GOOD , HER FIRST NON-EXCELLENT, BUT ON THE DAY SHE WAS NOT THE JUDGES TYPE. ZAK DID MUCH BETTER , WINNING 1ST IN INTERMEDIATE DOG, A CAC/CWC , ONLY THREE WERE ISSUED TO THE DOGS ! AND HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF COMPETING IN THE FINAL THREE DOGS FOR THE WORLD WINNERS TITLE, WHICH WAS WON BY THE OPEN DOG, LANCELOT VOM MATTHIASBERG, A VERY NICE DOG FROM HUNGARY WHO WAS ALSO THE EUROPEAN WINNER IN HELSINKI EARLIER IN THE YEAR, A GREAT DOUBLE FOR BOTH OWNER AND BREEDERS. WE WERE ECSTATIC , WORTH ALL THE TRAVELLING , A GREAT FEELING . WE MADE MANY NEW FRIENDS AS WELL AS SEEING OLD FRIENDS TOO . THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SAID SUCH NICE COMMENTS ABOUT OUR DOGS, KEEPING THE BRITISH LEO FLAG FLYING ABROARD.

ONLY THREE DAYS TO GO NOW AND WE SET OF ON OUR JOURNEY TO POZNAN, POLAND. IT WILL BE OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE OF A WORLD DOG SHOW , AND WITH A GREAT SHORTAGE OF HOTELS , AND AN ESTIMATED 21,000 DOGS SHOWING, ITS QUITE NERVE RACKING!WE WILL TAKE ZAK AND BELLA, WHO ARE BOTH SADLY OUT OF COAT , QUITE TYPICAL WHEN YOU PLAN THESE EVENTS MONTHS IN ADVANCE!!BUT WE WANT TO GO FOR THE EXPERIENCE AND TO SEE HOW IT COMPARES TO OTHER HUGE SHOWS LIKE CRUFTS.WE WILL ALSO MEET WITH MANY OF OUR LEONBERGER FRIENDS, INCLUDING MARITA AND SEPPO FROM THE KINGLORD KENNEL IN FINLAND, WHO WILL TAKE ZAK AND BELLA'S FATHER , HE WILL BE THERE COMPETING IN VETERAN , AS HE HAS JUST HAD HIS EIGHTH BIRTHDAY AND STILL LOOKS GREAT. WE HOPE THAT THIER MOTHERS OWNERS FROM RUSSIA CAN MAKE THE TRIP AS IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO SEE DELIYA AND MIKHAIL AGIAN. SO WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED, BUT WE GO WITH LITTLE EXPECTATIONS AND WITH @ 115 LEONBERGERS ENTERED IT WILL BE NICE TO SEE SOME OF THE BEST LEO'S IN EUROPE OR THE WORLD.

ZAK'S FIRST BABIES ARE EXPECTED IN MID NOVEMBER FROM HIS FIRST MATING WITH A VERY NICE UK BITCH, THE MATING WAS SUCCESFUL WITH A GOOD NUMBER OF PUPPIES SEEN ON THE SCAN.WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A WAITING LIST WITH THE OWNER OF THE BITCH ALREADY BUT IF INTERESTED PLEASE CONTACT THEM ON THE BELOW DETAIL, ALSO DETAILS OF PEDIGREES BELOW......

BALTIZAR IZ POSELKA SOKOL FOR LIONSLORD

SALJAY DELIGHTFUL DELILAH

CONTACT - SYLVIA HORTON ON - sylviahort@tiscali.co.uk

SHADOW'S NEW BABIES ARE GROWING VERY FAST , BORN ON THE 19TH SEPTEMBER AND NOW ALMOST FIVE WEEKS OLD, THEY LOOK LIKE SMALL ELEPHANTS. 10 GIRLS AND 1 BOY FROM THIS MATING WITH DEBBIE CHARWINS , GIRL HANNAH . SHE IS A VERY ATTENTIVE MOTHER AND BETWEEN THEM,THEY HAVE PRODUCED A WONDERFUL LITTER OF EXCELLENT QUALITY , TYPE AND SIZE. FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY PLEASE CONTACT DEBBIE OR ANITA ON THE CONTACT DETAILS BELOW, ALSO FULL DETAILS OF BOTH PEDIGREES....

Sire : BOLEJONET CAZAR FOR LIONSLORD

Dam : HOGSWELL PEACFUL HANNAH FOR DEBBOLLINBY

Both parents fulfill the breeding criteria and code of ethics set out by the Leonberger Club of Great Britain

For further information and reservations please contact……..

Mrs Debbie Charwin – telephone – 01707 663518

Or

Mrs Anita Holliday – telephone – 01635 273153 or email anita@lionslord.com

NEWS FROM SCOTLAND , SOX'S ( DEBBOLLINBY VALHALLA'S LORD FOR LIONSLORD)OFFSPRING ARE TWO AND A HALF WEEKS OLD. THE MATING TO OLDHOLBANS FYSSAS , PRODUCED SIX VERY EVEN PUPPIES, THREE GIRLS AND THREE BOYS ALL ARE DOING VERY WELL AND KEEPING MUM, AND OWNERS NIKKI AND JOHNNY ROGERSON VERY BUSY. FOR MORE DETAILS AND PICTURES PLEASE CONTACT NIKKI AS BELOW, ALSO LINKS TO BOTH PEDIGREES

Sire : DEBBOLLINBY VALHALLA'S LORD FOR LIONSLORD

Dam : OLDHOLBANS FYSSAS

Both parents fulfill the breeding criteria and code of ethics set out by the Leonberger Club of Great Britain

For further information and reservations please contact……..

Mrs Nikki Rogerson – telephone – 01569 764640 or email nikki.rogerson@amec.com

WOW ….WHAT A WEEKEND FIRST TO BIRMINGHAM WHERE ZAK AND BELLA (BROTHER AND SISTER) TOOK RESERVE DOG AND BITCH UNDER BREED SPECIALIST MRS DEBBIE CHARWIN AND THEN STRAIGHT TO THE CHANNEL TUNNEL FOR OUR EXCURSION TO THE 26TH LEONBERGER CLUB SHOW OF BELGIUM.ON THE SUNDAY. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS RELAXED AND FRIENDLY WITH THE SHOW ATTRACTING AN ENTRY AND TURNOUT OF 109 LEONBERGERS.. THRE HIGH PROFILE LEONBERGERS JUDGED ON THE DAY

MRS.R.REYNIERS(GERMANY) – BABY CLASS – JUNIOR CLASS – MALE AND FEMALE LEONBERGERS

MRS CELIA PETERS (UK) – INTERMEDIATE – CHAMPION CLASS FEMALE LEONBERGERS

MR GUIDO PEROSINO (ITALY) – INTERMEDIATE – CHAMPION CLASS MALE LEONBERGERS

SHADOW OUR SWEDISH BOY FAILED TO IMPRESS ON THE DAY IN HIS INTERMEDIATE CLASS, TOTALLY OUT OF COAT AND STILL GOING THROUGH THAT CHANGING STAGE, BUT OUR OTHER TWO 19 MONTH YOUNGSTERS DID RATHER BETTER , BELLA ( BELLA DONNA IZ POOSELKA SOKOL FOR LIONSLORD) GETTING THIRD PLACE AND A NICE TROPHY IN A STRONG INTERMEDIATE CLASS , THE WINNER OF THIS CLASS WENT ON TO WIN BEST FEMALE AND CAC. ZAK ( BALTIZAR IZ POSELKA SOKOL FOR LIONSLORD ) WAS ENTERED IN OPEN, A VERY BIG CLASS OF 22 DOGS OF WHICH HE WAS THE YOUNGEST AT 19 MONTHS OLD. AMAZINGLY HE WON THE OPEN CLASS , AND THEN WENT ON TO THE CHALLENGE AND "RING OF HONOR" AND WON BEST MALE AND THE C.A.C.!!! WE WERE OVER THE MOON, THEN GOING ON TO BEAT THE VERY NICE YOUNG BITCH FROM HOLLAND , TO TAKE BEST OF BREED AND BEST IN SHOW…..INCREDIBLE WHAT A WONDERFUL FEELING. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERY ONE CONCERNED WITH A LOVELY SHOW ESPECIALLY CORRINE SMESMAN WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH THE SHOW ORGANISATION , AND OF COURSE THE JUDGES WHO THOUGHT SO HIGHLY OF BOTH ZAK AND BELLA.

http://www.leonbergerclub.be/show2006/

ANITA RETURNED HOME , WEARY ,AFTER A WEEK AWAY IN SOUTHERN IRELAND COMPETING WITH LEONBERGER BROTHER AND SISTER "SOX" AND "DELTA". WHAT A WEEK IT WAS WITH BOTH BROTHER AND SISTER DOING REMARKABLY WELL. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL JUDGES AT THE FOUR SHOWS WHO THOUGHT HIGHLY OF OUR YOUNG DOGS.

"SOX" – DEBBOLLINBY VALHALLA'S LORD FOR LIONSLORD , TOOK THE BOB AND CACIB AT THE FCI INTERNATIONAL SHOW IN CLONMEL , AND WENT ON TO TAKE BOB AT BOTH KILLARNEY AND LIMERICK, THREE BEST OF BREEDS,THREE GREEN STARS AND THEN RESERVE BEST OF BREED IN THE FINAL SHOW IN TRALEE. WHAT A TRIP HE HAD.SISTER "DELTA" – DEBBOLLINBY VOGUE FOR LIONSLORD , TOOK RESERVE BEST BITCH AND RCACIB , AT THE FCI SHOW IN CLONMELL, RBOB AND RESERVE GREEN STAR AT KILLARNEY, 1ST IN HER GRADUATE CLASS AT LIMERICK, AND FINALLY BOB AND GREEN STAR AT TRALEE ON THE FINAL DAY

WHAT A WEEK, FOUR BEST OF BREEDS IN THE FOUR SHOWS ON THE MUNSTER CURCUIT FOR LEONBERGER, WE ARE OVER THE MOON, NEXT STOP BELGIUM ON THE 3RD SEPTEMBER FOR THE 26TH ANNIVERSARY CLUB SHOW OF BELGIUM FOR LEONBERGERS.

OUR SWEDISH IMPORT , SHADOW, BOLELEJONET CAZAR FOR LIONSLORD, IS CURRENTLY SPENDING A WEEK LONG RECREATIONAL BREAK WITH A NEW GIRLFRIEND. HE FORCASTS LOTS OF FUN , FLIRTATION AND WHO KNOWS WHAT . SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD HOLIDAY TO ME SHADOW ! YOU LUCKY FELLA. WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED ON ANY RESULTS AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HIS LITTLE HOLIDAY LATER.

AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY , WE RECEIVED BACK THE HIPS AND ELBOW SCORES FOR OUR TWO RUSSIAN IMPORTS, ZAK ( BALTIZAR IZ POSELKA SOKOL FOR LIONSLORD) AND BELLA ( BELLA DONNA IZ POLESKA SOKOL FOR LIONSLORD) WHEN YOU IMPORT , THERE ARE ALWAYS MANY RISKS AND UNKNOWNS, EVEN WHEN YOU RESEARCH THE LINES AND BACKGROUNDS , NOTHING IS EVER CERTAIN. BUT WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE REULTS…………..

ZAK - BALTIZAR IZ POSELKA SOKOL FOR LIONSLORD = ELBOW = 0
= HIP SCORES = 0 : 0

BELLA – BELLA DONNA IZ POSELKA SOKOL FOR LIONSLORD = ELBOW = 0
= HIP SCORE = 5 : 5

WE ARE ECSTATIC THAT BOTH HAVE CLEAR EYES , ELBOWS AND GOOD EVEN HIP SCORES , AND WHAT A GREAT SURPRISE WITH ZAK RETURNING ZERO HIPS, WE COULD NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING BETTER.

JUST SENT IN OUR ENTRIES FOR THIS SPECIAL SHOW IN GERMANY . IT IS A CELEBRATION OF 100 YEARS AND IS TWO FCI SHOWS AT THE SAME VENUE ON THE 13TH AND 14TH OCTOBER, IN DORTMUND, WE WILL TAKE JUST TWO DOGS , ZAK AND BELLA AND THEY WILL COMPETE IN INTERMEDIATE CLASSES IN BOTH SHOWS, UNDER TOP EUROPEAN JUDGES WILLI GULLIX AND ALBERT HELLENER.. ONCE AGAIN VERY LARGE ENTRIES ARE PREDICTED AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE OTHERS THERE FROM THE UK. ENTRY FORMS AND DETAILS IN GERMAN AND ENGLISH CAN BE FOUND ON THE SHOW WEB SITE www.zuchtschau.vdu.de

JUST CONFIRMED OUR ENTRY DETAILS TO THE BELGIUM LEONBERGER CLUB SHOW FOR 2006. THIS IS TO BE HELD IN BRIELPORT IN BELGIUM ON THE 03.09.2006. THIS IS THE 26TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW FOR THE BELGIUN LEO CLUB AND HAS ATTRACTED HIGH QUALITY JUDGES FROM THROUGH OUT EUROPE , DR GUIDO PEROSINIO(ITALY) , WILL JUDGE MALES FROM INTERMEDIATE TO CHAMPION CLASS, MRS CELIA PETERS (ENGLAND) WILL JUDGE FEMALES INTERMEDIATE TO CHAMPION CLASS WITH MR R.REYNIERS ( GERMANY) JUDGING ALL REMAINING CLASSES.IT SHOULD BE FUN AND MEANS THAT WE WILL GO DIRECTLY FROM THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW ON SATURDAY THE 2ND SEPTEMBER DIRECTLY TO THE TUNNEL TO MAKE THE EVENING CROSSING AND DRIVE INTO BELGIUM FOR THE SHOW , IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE ENTRIES FROM OTHER PET PASSPORTED UK LEOS , SO ANY ONE INTERESTED IN EXHIBITING OR VISITING THE SHOW SHOULD CONTACT – CORINNE SMESMAN, FROM THE BELGIAN LEO CLUB ON THE FOLLOWING EMAIL, FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND ENTRY FORMS. Corinne.smesman@leonbergerclub.be

RECEIVED CONFIRMATION OF ENTRY INTO THE WORLD DOG SHOW, HELD THIS YEAR IN POZNAN IN POLAND.@ 1500 KILOMETRES EACH WAY , SO A BIT OF A TREK, BUT SHOULD BE AN EXPERIENCE FOR US. WE WILL TAKE OUR RUSSIAN PAIR ZAK AND BELLA, AND SEE HOW WE GET ON. THIS WILL BE OUR LAST FOREIGN SHOW FOR 2006, BUT HOPE TO DO MORE IN 2007 AS ALL SIX LEOS ARE PASSPORTED AND READY TO GO.

WELL, WHAT A JOURNEY ! IT STARTED ON THE 7TH JUNE AT SOME CRAZY HOUR AROUND 4 AM . WE SET OFF TO THE CHANNEL TUNNEL WITH ZAK AND BELLA , IN THE VAN, AND TRUSTY FRIEND TONY BY MY SIDE.I HAD THE SHORT STRAW AS ANITA WAS FLYING TO HELSINKI ON THE 10TH AND I WAS TO MEET HER THERE. BUT A GOOD ROAD TRIP WAS AHEAD.WE ARRIVED AT THE TUNNEL IN GOOD TIME , AND TOOK THE PLANNED CROSSING INTO CALAIS, FRANCE. WE SET OFF PLANNING OUR ROUTE BY ROAD THROUGH EUROPE, CROSSING FRANCE, BELGIUM, HOLLAND AND THEN INTO GERMANY, WE ARRIVED AT OUR FIRST DAY DESTINATION, BERLIN AT AROUND 4 PM, 700 MILES COVERED SINCE WE LEFT, A GOOD DAYS DRIVING ON GOOD ROADS AND SOME WELL DESERVED GERMAN BEERS FOR ME AND TONY AND NICE FRESH CHICKEN BREAST DINNER FOR THE DOGGIES.

WE WOKE EARLY THE FOLLOWING MORNING OF THE 8TH JUNE , AND TOOK THE DOGS FOR A NICE WALK IN THE NEARBY FOREST, HAD SOME BREAKFAST AND SET OFF , OUR TARGET, TO CROSS POLAND , THE ENCLAVE OF RUSSIA AND STAY IN RIGA, LATVIA, WHERE I HAVE SOME FRIENDS. SO OF WE WENT SPEEDING ALONG DE-RESTRICTED GERMAN AUTOBAHNS, TOWARDS THE POLISH BORDER NEAR SZCZECIN. WHAT A CHANGE WE FOUND! THE POLISH ROADS WERE HORRENDOUS AND LOTS OF ROAD WORKS, THIS SLOWED US DOWN GREATLY AND SOON OUR PLANS LOOKED DIFFICULT, WE HEADED ON TOWARDS GDANSK ON BUSY AND VERY POOR ROADS. ONE SPEEDING FINE LATER WE WERE FINALLY HEADING TOWARDS KALLINGRAD IN RUSSIA ON THE E28, TOWARDS THE POLISH / RUSSIAN BORDER . AVOIDED A COUPLE OF SPEED TRAPS THANKFULLY, AND ARRIVED AT THE BORDER CROSSING LATE AFTERNOON AFTER A LONG HARD AND HOT DRIVING DAY . WE HANDED OVER OUR DOCUMENTS , ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT WE COULD NOT ENTER ! WE DID NOT HAVE RUSSIAN VISA'S IN OUR PASSPORTS . I DIDN'T THINK BEFORE THE TRIP ! WHAT A MISTAKE. WE TURNED AROUND AFTER BEEN TOLD TO RETURN TO THE EMBASSY OR CONSULATE IN GDANSK TO GET A VISA STAMP, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO FOR THE BEST. IT WAS 6PM AND WE WERE 2 HOURS FROM GDANSK , THAT MENT AN OVERNIGHT THERE WAITING FOR THE EMBASSY TO OPEN ON THE 9TH !! WE LOOKED AT THE MAPS AND TOOK A DECISION , WE WOULD GO AROUND RUSSIA!! THIS MEANT GOING ACROSS POLAND , THROUGH LITHUANIA AND PICKING UP OUR ORIGINAL ROUTE. NO PROBLEM FOR US HARDENEN DRIVERS , DIDN'T SEEM FAR ON THE MAP!!

SO THIS WAS OUR CHOICE AND WE HEADED OF EAST TO WEST ACROSS POLAND. IF WE THOUGHT THE ROADS WERE BAD SO FAR, WE HAD SEEN NOTHING YET, HUGE HOLES, SINGLE ROADS TREE LINED, WITH LOTS OF CROSSES WHERE POOR DRIVERS HAD MET THEIR FATE !! WE WERE STRUGGLING TO GET OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR AS WE REACHED OUR FIRST STOP AT OLSZTYN. TIME WAS GETTING LATE BUT WE PRESSED ON THE LONG DISTANCE LEFT, TOWARDS SUWALKI AND THE LITHUANIAN BORDER. WE STRUGGLED ON THE ROADS, AND DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN, WE COULDN'T DRIVE EASILY IN THE DARK IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS EVEN FOR EXPERIENCED DRIVERS, SO WE DECIDED TO LOOK FOR THE NEXT TOWN AND FIND A BED AND BREAKFAST TO STAY FOR THE EVENING, AS WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN POLAND. THEN OUT OF THE DARKNESS, THERE WAS LIGHT ,A HUGE LIGHT, AND AN ENORMOUS HOTEL ! IT WAS LIKE A MIRAGE WE HAD SEEN NOTHING BUT TREES AND FIELDS FOR MILES AS THE SUN WENT DOWN AND THEN THIS OASIS APPEARED. A FIVE STAR HOTEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WILDERNESS!! WE PULLED IN ASKED FOR TWO ROOMS AND IF THEY ACCEPTED DOGS, THEY DID SO WE DECIDED TO STAY. NOT DARING TO ASK THE PRICE AS IT CLEARY LOOKED VERY EXPENSIVE. THE HOTEL WAS FULL, AND IT HAD 1200 ROOMS ! WE FOUND OUT THAT THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP, POLISH LEG WAS BEEN HELD THERE AND THIS WAS RALLY HQ. SO IT WAS FULL OF RACE TEAMS , DRIVERS AND SPECTATORS. A FEW BEERS AND GOOD SLEEP LATER WE ROSE AND DECIDED TO CHECK OUT EARLY BEFORE THE RALLY STARTED AND THE ROADS GOT BUSY. WE WERE AMAZED TO FIND THAT OUR TWO LUXURY ROOM, DOGS , DRINKS AND FOOD, CAME TO A BILL OF 60 POUNDS, RESULT!

WE SET OFF , FINDING OUT THAT WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO A BIG TOURIST AREA OF LAKES AND FORESTS CALLED MAZURSKI PARK. THIS WAS CLEARLY THE REASON FOR SUCH A LARGE HOTEL IN SUCH A REMOTE AREA. WE CONTINUED HEADING TOWARD LITHUANIA, CROSSING THE BORDER AND POINTING OURSELVES TOWARDS LATVIA AND A VISIT TO SEE SOME FRIENDS AND BUSINESS COLLEGUES IN RIGA. WE ARRIVED IN RIGA AT 4PM AND HAD A MEETING AND CHAT WITH FRIENDS BEFORE STARTING THE FINAL LEG FOR THE DAY , A TRIP THROUGH NORTHERN LATVIA AND INTO ESTONIA , AND ITS CAPITAL TALLIN, WHERE WE HAD A BOAT TRIP SCHEDULED FOR EARLY THE FOLLOWING MORNING, COULD THE END BE IN SIGHT? WE LEFT RIGA AND SET OFF UP THE EAST COASTLINE OF LATVIA GREAT SCENARY AND FORESTS BUT WE ENCOUNTERED 50 KILOMETRES OF ROAD WORKS AND BAD DRIVING CONDITIONS, WHICH WE ENDURED IN 30 DEGREES OF HEAT!. FINALLY AT NEARLY 8 PM WE NEARED THE ESTONIAN BORDER NEAR TO AINAZI. ONCE AGAIN WE HANDED OVER OUR DOCUMENTS , WITH CONFIDENCE, KNOWING THEY WERE EU MEMBERS WITH NO VISA NEEDED. SADLY ALL WAS NOT STRAIGHT FORWARD. WE HAD FOUND A REAL JOBSWORTH. HE WANTED THE VEHICLE DOCUMENTS WHICH WE THOUGHT WE HAD GIVEN, BUT HE WAS INSISTANT UPON SEEING THE ORIGIONAL V5 DOCUMENT FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS IN ENGLAND !! WE TRIED TO BARGAIN WITH HIM AND OFFERED TO FAX A COPY , BUT HE WAS HAVING NONE OF IT AND TOLD US TO RETURN TO ENGLAND AND GET THE DOCUMENT , HE CLEARLY WAS UNAWARE THAT THE UK WAS 1700 MILES AWAY!!! OUR TRIP WAS FINISHED WE THOUGHT , THERE WAS NO WAY AROUND AND IT WAS 8PM AT NIGHT, WHAT WOULD WE DO. WE SAT AND THOUGHT , SPOKE WITH FRIENDS IN LATVIA AND ON THE PHONE IN ESTONIA, BUT WITHOUT THIS V5 WE WERE DOOMED.

WE RETREATED TO A HOTEL FOR THE EVENING AND I SPOKE WITH ANITA, THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO SOMEHOW GET THE V5 TO ME IN LATVIA. SO THE SEARCH FOR FLIGHTS WAS ON. NO FLIGHTS THAT EVENING TO LATVIA , AND NO FLIGHTS WITH AVAILABLE SPACES ON THE SATURDAY !! A PROBLEM AS THE SHOW WAS ON THE SUNDAY AND WE WERE STILL IN LATVIA.SO WE FOUND A FLIGHT TO TALLINN IN ESTONIA, ON SATURDAY, ARRIVING EARLY AFTERNOON, AND ARRANGED FOR A VERY GOOD FRIEND, RAUL TO COLLECT ANITA AND THE V5 DOCUMENT FROM THE AIRPORT AND TRAVEL THROUGH ESTONIA TO MEET ME OVER THE BORDER IN LATVIA. WELL IT WAS OUR ONLY CHANCE AND WAS STILL RISKY . SATURDAY CAME AND WE WAITED WALKING THE DOGS IN THE LATVIAN FORESTS AND RUNNING THEM ON THE BEACH AT AINAZI, TIME PASSED SLOWLY AND AT 5PM WE GOT THE CALL TO SAY THAT MY FRIEND RAUL AND MY WIFE ANITA WERE JUST COMING OVER THE BORDER INTO LATVIA. WHAT A RELIEF, AND A GREAT THANKS TO RAUL FOR HIS HELP. WE CROSSED THE BORDER WITH V5 AND NO FURTHER DELAYS AND HEADED FOR TALLINN TO CATCH THE LAST SEA CAT CROSSING AT 10.30 PM IT WAS TIGHT BUT WE MADE IT WITH ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO TO SPARE . WE LANDED IN HELSINKI AFTER A 1HR 40 MINUTE CROSSING ON THE PERFECTLY FLAT 80 KILOMETRES OF BALTIC SEA. WE HEADED FOR OUR HOTEL LATE, TIRED AND WEARY.

THE DAY OF THE SHOW , SUNDAY 11TH JUNE, RELEAVED WE WERE THERE AFTER ALL THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF THE PREVIOUS DAYS AND 2000 MILES OF DRIVING. WE DIDN'T CARE OF THE RESULTS WE WERE JUST GLAD TO HAVE MADE IT IN ONE PIECE. WE MET UP WITH OUR GOOD FRIENDS MARITA AND SEPPO FROM THE FAMOUS FINNISH LEONBERGER KENNEL – KINGLORDS. THERE BOY KINGLORDS MR DE-SEVRES IS THE FATHER OF ZAK AND BELLA, SO IT WAS NICE FOR THEM TO SEE THE BABIES WHO HAD LIVED WITH THEM FOR THE FIRST 9 MONTHS OF THEIR LIVES BEFORE COMING TO ENGLAND. OUR AIM WAS TO ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE AND GET A CRITIQUE FROM SUCH A HIGH PROFILE SHOW. THE TIME CAME FOR ME TO TAKE IN ZAK IN THE JUNIOR DOG CLASS, WITH THE ADDED PRESSURE OF HAVING THE TITLE EUROPEAN JUNIOR LEONBERGER ON OFFER. I WAS QUITE NERVOUS, IN A VERY BIG AND HIGH QUALITY JUNIOR DOG CLASS. THE JUDGE , MR GUIDO VANDONI FROM ITALY, WENT OVER ALL THE DOGS AND,MADE HIS CUT , DOWN TO THE LAST 6 DOGS AND WE WERE STILL THERE, THEN HE WOULD PULL OUT HIS FINAL 4 FOR THE PLACES, WE AMAZINGLY MADE THAT CUT. WE THEN ALL MOVED AROUND THE RING , THE FINAL FOUR TOGETHER, WITH THE CROWD CLAPPING VIGOROUSLY UNTIL THE JUDGE CHOSE HIS JUNIOR WINNER, SADLY NOT US, AND THEN THE RUNNER UP. I WAS AMAZED WHEN HE POINTED AT ME WITH ZAK!! A GREAT FEELING JUNIOR LEONBERGER RUNNER UP IN THE EUROPEAN WINNERS SHOW, BETTER THAN WE COULD HAVE EVER PREDICTED. I WAS VERY HAPPY AND THE JUDGE SAID THAT IT WAS A VERY CLOSE DECISION BETWEEN THE WINNER AND ZAK, AND THAT BOTH WERE EXCELLENT YOUNG DOGS. CONGATULATIONS TO MAXIGORE MIGLIORE , WHO WAS THE JUNIOR EUROPEAN WINNER. BELLA'S TURN NEXT AND A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW FOR ANITA HANDLING HER. AGAIN A JUNIOR EUROPEAN TITLE AT STAKE AND A BIG CLASS OF QUALITY YOUNG BITCHES. SHE MOVED AND LOOKED WELL HANDLED EXCELLENTLY BY ANITA AND MADE THE FIRST CUT, BUT SADLY NOT THE FINAL 4 , FINISHING FIFTH OVERALL. STILL A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT TOO , EXCELLENT CRITIQUES, TWO PINK, EXCELLENT RIBBONS, A RUNNER UP AND A FIFTH IN EUROPE. WHAT A DAY, AND MADE ALL THE TRIP PROBLEMS FADE INTO INSIGNIFICANCE.

WOW, WHAT A DAY FOR US AT LIONSLORD, WE ARE STILL VERY NEW AT THE SHOW CIRCUIT AND THIS WAS OUR FIRST MAJOR EUROPEAN SHOW, I THINK WE HAVE GOT THE BUG! SO ME TONY AND THE DOGS HEADED TO THE PORT LEAVING ANITA IN FINLAND UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM KINGLORDS. AN EVENING CROSSING AND A NIGHT IN TALLIN WHERE THE SUN WAS STILL UP AT 1 IN THE MORNING, VERY ODD WALKING ON THE BEACH WITH YOUR DOG IN THE EARLY HOURS, IN DAYLIGHT!

OUR TRIP BACK WAS A LITTLE LESS EVENTFUL, ALTHOGH STILL GRUELLING , CROSSING ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, POLAND, AND INTO GERMANY. WE STAYED NEAR TO BERLIN AT A FRIENDLY VETS TO HAVE THE DOGS TICK AND WORM TREATED FOR THE RE-ENTRY INTO THE UK. SO AFTER GERMAN CAME HOLLAND , BELGIUM AND THEN FRANCE, THE CHANNEL TUNNEL AND 30 MILES FROM GOOD OLD BLIGHTY! WE GOT HOME IN THE EVENING OF THE 14TH JUNE , SEVEN DAYS AND 4000 MILES LATER. WHAT A TRIP, NOT SURE IF I WILL DO THAT DISTANCE BY CAR AGAIN SOON, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW !!

Just received confirmation of our entry into the Dutch Leonberger Club , 40th Anniversary Show on the weekend of the 16th / 17th September 2006. There are many activities to celebrate the anniversary over the weekend and it should be fun. We will take three Leos, Zak, Shadow and Bella. For further information and entry forms please contact . Inschrijf@dogachtigen.com the judging of the Leonbergers will be on the Sunday the 17th September. For those interested there is also a Cacib show in the nearby town of Zwolle, for Leonbergers, on the Saturday the 16th September and the judge will be Mrs. R. Alfernik and entry details can be gain at the following site. http://www.ijsselshow.nl

Another good day meeting lots of friends and catching up on life as a Leo owner. Around 130 Leos at the show, with judge Judy Oriani, we had a positive show day with Zak, and Delta getting first and second in their classes and sadly Sox and Pluto not placed today. We would like to congratulate the two CC winners as it was their first set of tickets . Dog CC went to Helkenna's Travellers Joy from Arcanine owned by Mr and Mrs R Pitchford now residing in France! Bitch CC and B.O.B. went to Darren and Mandy Spencer's – Vannroy Keepsake at Mandazz. Best Puppy in Breed went to Penny Dabell's new import bitch – Estelle Von Lowenkraft Mit Vesictilion, well done to all the Reserve CC, and class winners. We are looking forward to the Scottish Kennel Club, as the next Leonberger CC show, Anita will be attending and collecting my father in Yorkshire for the journey to Edinburgh.

Nigel judged Leonbergers for the first time at Maidstone , for Whitstable and district canine society, getting an entry of 11 leos he found his best of breed , in Debbie Charwins, - Hogswell Hornblower for Debbollinby and best puppy in Dave and Heather Naills – Davenheath Blue Angel. Thanks to all those who entered and special thanks to Janis King for the chance to judge at the show. Nigel is now looking forward to the potential of more judging appointments in 2006 and 2007

W.E.L.K.S. offers the first set of challenge certificates for Leonbergers in 2006 , our judge on the day was Mrs Madeline Lusby , breed specialist and Leo book author .a large entry as usual of more than 120 Leos. The weather was good, and it is always a good place to catch up with people you haven't seen for a while. We arrived in good time to bench the dogs and get settled before our first class. “Sox” Debbollinby Valhalla's lord for Lionslord was first up in post graduate dog , sadly he was not chosen today, although i felt he look and moved well on the day , it was not to be , and he didn't make the line up. Next for us was “Pluto” Kumamatata awesome boy for Lionslord, we put him in limit for the first time so we were a little concerned as he is not three until august ! It was a very strong class , and we were very happy when we were placed third , which meant qualification for Crufts 2007! We were really happy for the breeders les and Julia Strudwick and of course Pluto. It was my turn to watch now with Anita taking in the girls. Firstly “Bella” – Bella Donna iz Poselka Sokol for Lionslord, our Russian girl. It was her first ever show since arriving in the country last December and she was place first in a tough junior bitch class , what a great start to her show career. This was followed by Anita handling “Delta” Debbollinby Voge for Lionslord , a post graduate bitch class with 17 entries! A big ask as she is still only 20 months old, but to our pleasure she was also given first place. What a great start to the season , 3 qualified for Crufts from this show and Zak from Crufts making 4 , we could not have asked for more.

Anita has registered three of our leos, with the Irish Kennel Club , with a view to showing there this year. Delta, Zak and Bella , will be the first Lionslord dogs shown in southern Ireland. Anita will partake in the Munster circuit in august 2006 , doing three or four shows there.

Had confirmation of our entry to the European winners show, in Helsinki in June. We will take our two Russian imports , Zak, and Bella . They will both compete undr fci group two on the 18th June in junior dog and bitch classes. Junior European winners titles will be available , so you have to give it a go ! Anita is flying and meeting our friends Marita Ans Seppo from the famous Finnish kennel, Kinglords. Their successful world winning male , Kinglord Mr De-Sevres is the father of Zak and Bella. Nigel will drive with the dogs and a friend , through ten countries to get to the show , and will have covered almost 6000 kilometres by the time the trip is over. It should be great fun and we are looking forward to it very much. Details of the show and entry can be found on the Finnish Leonberger web site www.leonet.fi