This article was written for the GSD Breed Council of GB National Magazine, 2008.

INDIAN SIEGER SHOW 2008
Stephen Cox - Kennel Shotaan

Over the last 4 or 5 years I have been lucky enough to have been invited to judge or handle in countries all over the World, in the next 2 years I have 6 judging appointments confirmed, spreading across all continents including another 2 day show to judge in Australia next March, that plus my many handling appointments will see me spending more time outside the UK either Judging, Handling or Exhibiting dogs we sent abroad so it has been said to me many times that I should include my experiences in the National Magazine, when I was younger I was always keen to read Malcolm Griffiths experiences and successes that he had outside the UK, they certainly inspired me in wanting to follow a similar path, so I shall start with my most recent trip to the Indian Sieger Show held in the L.B Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on the 27th Jan 2008.

Inside the Stadium

I have quite a few friends that  I've known for a few years over in India although it is actually my first visit so I was looking forward to meeting up with some of the guys. The main reason however was to handle Shotaan Branko an Erasmus Van Noort son sold by Ourselves and Stefano March to 3 great brothers, Santos, Sachin and Sandeep Shinde, the brothers are all roughly my age, very close knit family and very successful business men. Last year Branko was shown at the Indian Sieger at a time when he had no condition which resulted in an average place for him, from this the brothers learnt a lesson in when and WHEN NOT  to show your dog, this year the Shinde brothers got it right and Branko was very well prepared, in good coat and very good overall condition, he was fit and looked fresh which was good considering the heat, 31 degrees in the shade!

Shotaan Branko

The Indian Sieger show of 2008 was Judged by one of the Worlds most popular SV judge's and a breeder over the many years of some of the most famous and influential dogs, Herr Heinz Scheerer of kennel Huhnegrab.

I must admit I was blown away when we arrived at the show, it was held in one of the main Cricket stadiums in India, maybe with a capacity of 25 000, very professional and expensive I guess too. Inside the stadium the ring was large with a running track around the full ring for the double handlers which I think works very well. The crowds there to see the show were very big, maybe 1500 at a guess, this brings the atmosphere to the show, all day around the ring was 3 and 4 deep of spectators and the buzz was electric, the passion from the Indians could not be any higher and like all Sieger Shows should be, the hype is all around the MAIN EVENT - ADULT CLASS MALE!

From the minute I touched down in India this was always the main topic of conversation by everyone. The entry for this show was also much bigger and better than I anticipated, in the Adult male class a catalogue entry of 48 males, in the Adult female class maybe 35 females, I would say 70% were German imports some very famous ones too. At the show there were many Germans, handling and exhibiting which for me makes the show even better and certainly helps raise the profile of the show, also there are some very talented Indian Breeders and Handlers.

Carlo vom Wierlingshook

One of the first people I bumped into first thing in the morning was an old friend of mine Guru Prasaad, I gentleman I have spent time with on a few occasions in South Africa and in Germany, Guru has a keen eye and much knowledge on pedigrees and bloodlines, I handled a dog of his to VA 2 in South Africa a few years ago, Ferro v Messabua (Uri Amulree son). Guru asked me to handle a junior bitch for him at this Indian Show, he brought 4 litter sisters and let me have my choice, Stafano handled another, the class was large about 27 bitches present, I was pulled out 5th and finished SG3 so a good start to the day, Stefano finished about SG 8 with the sister.

One dog that stood out to me in the early male classes was a new German Import who came into the country 2 weeks before the show, owned by a real gentleman Dr Sanjay Jadhav, his dog is called Carlo vom Wierlingshook a son of Ilbo v Holtkampersee, Carlo went on to win SG1 Youth Sieger.

In the 18 - 24 month class males the winner was Sado v d Ostfrieischen Thingstatte the SG 19 male from the German Sieger 2007, I didn't see this class but I believe Sado is a very good male with superb ring presentation.

Sado v d Ostfrieischen Thingstatte

The Adult female class was for me a top top class with some very famous German Kennels represented, My friend Jurgan Wicht from Team Fiemereck was showing his German VA Bitch Hannie v Team Fiemereck, a Yasko Farbenspiel daughter, I watched her go VA in Germany a few years ago, I seem to remember Martin Schneider (Isidora) handled her that day, Hannie is owned by Harchand Singh and was already a previous Indian Siegerin, she was pulled put in 1st position but close to the end of the class she lost her place to the younger German bitch Ocean v d. Lentvert Hoeve, Ocean was the eventual winner a very good daughter of Idol v Holtkamperhof, Heinz Scheerer commented on the more youthfulness and energetic performance was the deciding point over the now older Hannie. Super class!

Hannie v Team Fiemereck

At last the big moment had come for the judging of the Adult Class males, when all dogs first entered the ring it was full, the first dog almost touching the last dog, a great sight to see though a full ring of some outstanding males and at this point the atmosphere around the ring was seriously electric and great to be part of with Branko. There has been so much speculation building up to this show about which male would make Sieger, the votes were 50/50 between the newest import and V22 from the German Sieger, Franjo v Lehnhof and a prevoius V12 from German Sieger Bob v Graffenburg, who would it be???

The debate is still going on now 3 weeks since the show. There were so many other top males in the class though including a Croation VA male, Nero v Hamburgerland an SG 10 from German Sieger to name a few, other males from kennels like, Piste Trophe, Fiemereck, Di Casa Marreli, Wustenburgerland, Wilhelmswarte, Santamar, Murrtal, Messabau etc. etc.

Our target with Branko was to make the top 10 placings and hopefully fight for more positions from there, personally after seeing how well Branko was looking and how he has developed since leaving the UK nearly 2 years ago, I was feeling positive we could maybe start higher, first we needed a perfect individual to make a good first impression on Heinz Scheerer, that we managed and was pulled out in 4th position, fantastic and we held the placing until the end, all credit to the team in how they have managed branko in this last year, V4 at the Indian sieger against some great opposition with 30 plus dogs behind him, many were Champions and top rated males from Germany.

Stephen and the Team Celebrating their V4

The winner in the end was Franjo v Lehnhof.  Franjo was bought by another guy I have known for a few years now Vishal.  Vishal lives in London but is loyal to his own country and its development which is why he along with partners pay big money for top rated German males which he then bases in India. 2nd was Bob v Graffenburg, a dog who moves and presents himself in his class superbly, a very good male. I know many people feel Bob should have been the winner, I was in the class concentrating on Branko and holding onto to V4 so in truth I can not really make any comment on who should have won.

Franjo v Lehnhof V1 

 Bob v Graffenburg V2

What I can say though is that this show is one of the best I have ever been too. Big rings, big crowd, big Adult Classes, big competition and a buzz around the ring of real enthusiasm, everything a Sieger Show should have and I look forward to returning on many more occasions in the future. Also a big well done to the team with Branko who have, since the Sieger Show, gone on to achieve his title of Indian Champion.

My time in India showed me what a great country it is, the people are so kind and hospitable and I thank those who looked after me so well, they know who they are.

RESULTS

OPEN CLASS MALES V1 1090 FRANJO VOM LEHNHOF P-7/2008 MR. VISHAL SUDAM & RAKESH RAMARAPU V2 1031 BOB VOM GRAFENBURG 2007/4047 MR. ABDULLAH HARCHAND V3 1070 IGOR VON DER ROMMELSBACH P/22/2008 MS. PRISHA DESAI V4 1081 SHOTAAN BRANKO 2006/28259 MR. SANDEEP SHINDE V5 1002 AMIGO DER ROTE KRIEGER 2007/006065 MR. A. MATHEW V6 1041 OKIO VOM HOHEN HAUS 2007/031558 MR. KAPIL KRISHNAMURTHY V7 1088 NERO VOM HAMBURGER LAND 2007/004602 MR. VISHAL SUDAM V8 1039 SAMBESY VON DER WILHEMSWARTE 2004/020000 MR. K. HARISH KAPIL V9 1029 CH.ZAPP OD KOVACICA *07/7345 MR. A.I.S.BHINDER,AJMER SINGH V10 1069 EXO VOM SANTAMAR P/216/2007 MS. ARSHIYA V11 1049 OTHELLO VOM WUTENBERGERLAND 2007/016578 MR. P.A SURESH V12 1046 CH.FIRE BOY 2004/014882 MR. N. KRISHNA KUMAR V13 1021 URI VON DER WILHEMSWARTE 2006/005806 MR.K.ANAND KUMAR YADAV V14 1065 KENKRAFT'S JENNY BASCO 2004/9667 MRS. GEETA S. NADKARNI V15 1010 YANKEE YAGO 2003/016362 DR.M.RAGHUNANDAN REDDY V16 1006 EROS VOM NINDORFER HAUS 2006/027640 MR. AZIM FAROOQUI V17 1011 TEJA'S FEDOR 2003/019346 MR.PRADNEY TAKSANDE & PRAVESH SHIVHARE V18 1044 ADOLF VOM KINGSLAND 2005/022310 MR. N.BALAJI V19 1071 ARCKINOVA'S LARUS 2004/008075 MR.NANDU K. & KAPIL P.KAPADIA V20 1047 VANDO VOM TOLESTRAND 2004/005864 MR.N.MAHENDER V21 1013 NARRO VOM HASELHOF 2007/002602 MR.G.SUDHEER V22 1005 RONNY DI CASA MASSARELLI P/27/2008 MR. AJMER SINGH & GURINDER SINGH ASSAL V23 1018 TOM 200/003832 J.HARISH KUMAR GAUD V24 1061 DAX OD TIGANJICE 2007/018282 MR.UDAY RAMESH KULKARNI V25 1067 LUK STARODJURDJEVACKI 2006/009046 MRS.SULAGNA KUSHARY V26 1026 ROCK CROMONTANA 2005/01943 MRS.MANJULA KANNAN V27 1017 ALLEN OF DOGMATIX 2003/019954 MR.J.HARISH KUMAR GAUD V28 1008 RUSTY VOM KAUFUNGERWALD 2006/17080 MR.CH.SURESH KUMAR V29 1058 CASSANDRA'S ZAMB 2006/007829 MR. SANJIT KUMAR MOHANTI SG 1020 LUTZ VON DER PISTETROPHE 2006/20206 MR.JEGAN ANDREW SG 1028 JENNY'S CANTO 2005/013799 MR.A.G PREM KUMAR SG 1052 VIRORAM'S CLOD PLAY 2005/0011650 MR.R.ANAND SG 1042 MOON'S WAY FIGHTER BOY 2005/012926 MR.MAYANK AGARWAL SG 1009 HAN SOLO ZUM KOLBENGUB 2003/013308 DR.ZAKI AHMED FAISAL EXCUSED 1060A URAN VOM SERBERLAND 2006/002569 MR.SUNNY DHALIWAL EXCUSED 1075A QUIRO VOM MURTTAL 2006/007399 MR.R.V.KRISHNA EXCUSED 1035 ARLAS VOM KINGSLAND 2005/22311 MR.ASHISH DHAGE

OPEN CLASS FEMALES V1 1128 OCEAN VON DER LENTVERT HOEVE P/23/2008 MR. P.J.HARALE V2 1140 HANNIE VOM TEAM FIEMERCK 2007/35483 MR. HARCHAND SINGH V3 1146 GOLDWINS AICA 2005/024578 MR. M.J PADMANABHAN V4 1121 OLLY VON MELANCHTHON P/11/2008 MR.KALA KRISHNA V5 1158 EBSY OF DOGMATIX 2004/020490 MR. SANJAY DESAI V6 1200 EICKO VOM BRIJARWALD 2006/024421 MR. SUNNY DHALIWAL V7 1148 HOLLY VON ARMINIUS 2007/030394 MR.P.A.SURESH V8 1135 SUREWYN'S ALLMA 2006/3663 MR.ASHISH DHAGE & MR. SANDEEP KHIRE V9 1182 ONA VOM TEAM FIEMERECK 2005/021798 MRS.SULAGNA KUSHARY V10 1116 TESSY 2005/005358 MR.J DHANASHEKHAR V11 1129 IVETT VOM HAWELKAWEG P/25/2008 MR. A. I. S BHINDER V12 1131 FARINA OF DADHWAL 2006/9176 MR. AJMER SINGH V13 1181 YESSY VOM TEAM FIEMERECK 2005/021798 MRS.SULAGNA KUSHARY V14 1160 RELLY OF DOGMATIX 2005/014115 MR. SANJAY DESAI V15 1111 HASIA VOM WOLFENHAUS 2006/0000720 DR.P.S.J.JAMBUKESWARAN V16 1198 JANA 2005/016259 MR.SUKHBIR SINGH PAINTAL V17 1118 KINGSWAY'S CONNI 2005/021812 K.ANAND KUMAR YADAV V18 1162 KELLY OF DOGMATIX 2004/020483 MR. SANJIT KUMAR MOHANTY V19 1197 ODESSA OF PALAEOLAND 2005/012549 MR.SHARAD R. SHUKLA V20 1173 GREENFIELD'S JADE 2005/016513 MRS.INDU LAJAPATHIE SG 1206 FAG'S KIN AT VIRORAMA 2005/020160 MR. VIJAY RAMAKRISHNA SG 1187 MIENERAUS ARATHI 2002/014551 MR. PAVAN KUMAR YADAV                                       E. & O. E.