Shows in December 2025

Brussels, 3 days of exhibition, with a total of 7 shows. What makes Brussels so exhausting?: The large parking lot is very far away, the way to the halls is a nightmare and the halls are cold. There is no map of the rings, no correct time information about when you will be judged. You find all this out at 8 o’clock, when the catalog goes online and you have to be in the ring at 8 o’clock. What’s great?: The truly beautiful decoration of the main ring and the individual rings, all are really wonderfully decorated for Christmas. Also, the fries are very tasty. There are no rosettes, meaning no memento. But on this day you have 3 chances to win a double CAC and that with 3 different judges at the CACIB, the specialty show and the CAC show. That would make the dog Belgian Champion in one day. For all other shows in Belgium, it’s a drama, who would bother to exhibit there? You MUST win in Brussels to get the title.

But as it is, I also went, but only on Sunday with the CACIB, Specialty Show Group 1 and the CAC. Martina Weissmann could not come, so I took “Tilly” with me.

The alarm clock rang on Sunday morning at 2:30, arrival in Brussels in front of the fair at 4:45 am. There was still a parking spot directly on the street just before the entrance to the exhibition grounds. If we’re lucky, there won’t be a parking ticket from the police. The gates to the hall opened already at 6 am instead of 6:30. That was good. Unfortunately, we were in the first hall, which is so cold… only if you move it’s okay; otherwise, put on thick boots and a thick jacket. The dogs don’t care, they have thick fur.

Mr. Bart Vandale/BEL judged the 5 entered OES from the first, the CACIB show.

“Peter and Heidi” did the double and are now brand new Belgian Champions.

CAC also for Martina Weissmann’s Ch. West Side Story aus dem Elbe Urstromtal.

BOB “Ch. X’Texas Amarillo aus dem Elbe Urstromtal”,

BOS “Ch. X’Texas El Paso aus dem Elbe Urstromtal”.

Heidi and Peter had, with this win, obtained the required certificates for the title “Belgian Champion”

The photos were kindly taken by the Englishwoman Mrs. Jules Hodgson. She had entered her bitch in the Open Class at all 3 days of all shows. We were the only OES exhibitors, after the French bitch from the morning had left. It was a very nice group and we had a nice time together.

It was 8:30 am. Now we made our way to the other large hall 11, where the dogs of Group 1 of the specialty show were to be judged. But that took a while. So back the long way to hall 9 and wait in the cold. A good hour later back to the ring in hall 11. There we learned that the judge was taking a lunch break of about 30 minutes and we would be judged only around 2 pm. Back to our base again.

Finally, it was time. I had decided to show only “Tilly”, since Peter and Heidi no longer needed to win a certificate.

The judge Mrs. Helin Tenson from Finland was very enthusiastic about “Tilly” and gave her a fantastic verbal assessment.

Best of Breed “Ch. West Side Story aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal” owner Martina Weissmann. “Tilly” was now also Belgian Champion

Then back to the base in the cold hall 9 and wait for Mr. J-F- Vanacken/BEL to judge the last show of the day, the CAC Show. He still had to judge 70 poodles beforehand. Actually, I didn’t feel like showing anymore, but I didn’t want to deprive Judge Mr. Vanaken of my dogs. So “Tilly” and “Peter” were not shown anymore, but “Heidi” had to go again.

Best of Breed was won by “Ch. X’Texas Amarillo aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal” judge Mr. Vanacken and Jules Hodgson with her reserve bitch “Starjanda Cosmic Dream”

A perfect end to the day, among the last 6 in a huge Group 1. Judge was the well-known Serbian all-rounder Mr. Duscan Paunovic.

The last of the approximately 35 shows we did in 2025 was the traditional Christmas show in Gorinchem, Netherlands, on 21 December 2025. There was one male, one female puppy class, two champions (one of whom was not present) and one veteran female registered for judge Mr J. Wauben/NL.

Traditionally, many exhibitors appear in Christmas outfits and many breeds also hold a small closing ceremony. This is also the case with the OES people. I asked in advance via Facebook who would like to come so that we could celebrate the solidarity of OES lovers. Everyone brings something tasty with them and the appropriate Christmas decorations are also a must.

Before the party, it was time for the judging. ‘Winnetou’ and ‘Westside Story’ turned 27 months old on Saturday, 20 December 2025, and were thus able to win the last qualification for the title of Dutch Champion.

It worked out perfectly!

Best of breed was ‘Ch. Winnetou aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal”, owned by Chris van Beirendonk, and best Bitch was ‘Ch. West Side Story aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal’ owned by Martina Weissmann, who was there.

They are siblings and both became Dutch Champions on that day.

The group photo of our bobtail clique: Peggy Kraaijenveld, … sorry, I don’t know the name, Pleui, Chris and Aunt Conny.

Then we continued with Christmas music, champagne and all the trimmings. It was a successful Christmas party.