The world's top dogs head for Long Beach
AS ALL roads in theUK lead to the NEC and the LKA show next week, flights from all the world will be taking competitors and dogs to Los Angeles, California to compete in the second Eukanuba World Challenge held in conjunction with the 2008 AKC / Eukanuba Invitational show in the Convention Centre, Long Beach.
The concept was to add something different and inspiring to their established AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, now in its eighth year. Now the 2008 event will see 12 ‘new’ exhibits which will be representing their respective countries.
Last year’s event pitted dogs from 40 countries around the world against each other over three geographical groups, Asia & Oceana, the Americas and the biggest group, Europe and Africa, which had 28 representatives. There was little doubt that the formula worked and this year with the minor additions and alterations we will see the competitors split more evenly across the continents of the world with the rather large Europe and Africa group reduced from 28 to two sections of 17 and 16. The Americas will have 10 dogs competing and Asia and Oceana, 9.
The 2007 AKC/Eukanuba Invitational show winner in the shape of the top winning Sealyham Terrier Good & Middlebrook’s Ch Efbe Hildalgo at Goodspice will be the US representative in the Eukanuba World Challenge. The show dogs from all over the world will bring together people of all nations from 52 countries to compete in this unique event.
Last year the European winner was the Swiss American Cocker, the Americas the Argentinian Dobermann and the Japanese Border Collie headed up the Asian & Oceana group.
The unique line up of outstanding Champions includes dogs which have won top honours at prestigious shows such as the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, Crufts, FCI World Dog Show, European and Asian Shows. All participants will compete for the title of the 2008 Eukanuba World Challenge Champion and prize money of $10,000. The runners up will receive $3,000 and $2,000.
The judges are Mr Edd Bivin (USA), Dr Paolo Dondina (I) Mr Rafael de Santiago (Porto Rica) and Mr Andrew Brace (GB). The final which will be judged by FCI President and all breeds judge, Mr. Hans Müller.
This year the entire Eukanuba World Challenge event will be held in the Main Arena of the Long Beach Convention Centre before a live audience. The opening ceremony promises to be spectacular with all 52 representing dogs being accompanied into the arena by kennel club officials as flag bearers.
The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday evening, 13th of December, immediately before the judging of the first two sections; Europe 1, and The Americas. The remaining two sections Europe and Africa 2 and Asia & Oceania will be judged on Sunday evening, the 14 th December. The final is scheduled to take place on Sunday ahead of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship’s Best In Show.
