Don't know if anyone else caught this on the horse channel last night.
I think it was this years show and was on for an hour. Some rather surprising interviews, especially concerning the Gundog group.
One thing that puzzled me, I watched the judging of the Gundog group hoping to see some HWHV's, but there weren't any at all, there were four types of Spaniel, a Curly Retriever, a WHGP ( I think ).....I think that was it.....anyway, why weren't there more breed winners in the ring ?

What was surprising about the interviews?

Maybe they only showed the group shortlist.  Also not all breeds have classes at all champ shows, so your breed may not have had classes.

What was surprising about the interviews?

Just that the Finnish judge of the Gundog group was not impressed with the dogs at all, he was really quite dismissive of them, then another chap was interviewed, and to me ( and the OH ) he seemed to insinuate that the Finnish judge only put up Finnish dogs, three of the Spaniels who got 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th in the group, were all from Finland ( or there abouts ), and were , put up, ( think that's the term ) by people ( in their breed classes ) from the same country.
I know nowt about showing so I really can't say from a knowledgeable stand, but that's how it came across to me. 

Southern Counties doesn't have a breed class for HWV so we're in with some quite strong AVNSC contenders - as a breed we haven't been going all that long so can struggle up against top dogs from well established breeds.

As has been said more than likely many were in avnsc so u edn't see all of the breeds.

What does AVNSC stand for ?

Thanks for clearing up my query :-)

Any Variety Not Separately Classified.

Thank you

a lot of the judges at Southern counties tend to be Scandinavians, one reason many people enter for a 'fresh' outside opinion.

I would suppose that with so many Finns on the judging panel some of the dogs to get through in the group will be put through by other Finns.

Also in Scandinavian countries judges tend to point out the bad points along with the good and the exhibitors are used to quite brutal critiques of even the best dogs, (as judges do written critiques in the ring on each dogs with good and bad, briefly and bluntly) and expect it, not taking offence.  They also have to grade dogs for quality, so are used to looking at them more critically.

The reverse is true it would seem in the USA where they don't critique at all, and even mild negative comments can be taken as an offence.

I think my polite British streak was just a bit taken a back at his frankness lol.
Can't ever imagine someone saying that sort of thing in a Crufts interview.

Now you have me intrigued, what on earth did he say?

I saw the programme the first time it was on.

The judge obviously spoke how he found......

LOL.
The interviewer nobbled him just after the judging and asked him what he thought of the group line up, he told her repeatedly that he thought the quality of the dogs was very poor, he was quite firm on that point, the only dog's he liked were the 3 Finnish dogs, I'm sure judges say this from time to time, just not on tv.
Then she interviewed another British chap who was involved with the show, and he made a thinly veiled comment that Finnish judges were only putting up the Spaniels because they were Finnish. He did also say that the Finn's were not sycophantic in their opinions and would tell it like it is.
I'll have a look to see if I can find it, show folk might think he was right, I just thought it was a bit controversial to be so frank on air.

Found it here http://www.dogworld.co.uk/product.php/75402 the gundog group is judged at about 16 mins in.

It was only 2 of the spaniels that were Scandinavian, not the three that i thought.

Wow he was not impressed.

Rainer Vuorinen is a great favourite of mine because he's so honest and forthright, he could be Scottish for his ability to 'tell it like it is' :-) Interestingly he judged me at the same show in 1992 so he's been judging there for a very long time (he gave my dog the ticket and he then went on to win the group).

> why weren't there more breed winners in the ring ?

I watched it and was right they only showed the judges shortlist in each group.

Rainer Vuorinen is a great favourite of mine because he's so honest and forthright, he could be Scottish for his ability to 'tell it like it is'  Interestingly he judged me at the same show in 1992 so he's been judging there for a very long time (he gave my dog the ticket and he then went on to win the group).

LOL, yes he could have been Scottish. Lovely that he awarded your dog, you know then that he must have been something special for that judge to rate him :-).

Barbara, I'm glad it wasn't just me then that thought his comments were a bit close to the bone !