Budapest 2008

ICS MEETING BUDAPEST, HUNGARY 2008

After 10 years absence from these lovely meetings, I headed towards Hungary and Budapest again. This time I had the pleasure of travelling together with my good friend Mrs. Helga Dahle, Midtunstiens Kennel, and we met up with Mr. Per Frey and Mrs. Randi Narvesen (Crubow) in Oslo. In Budapest Mrs. Heidi Ellefsen (Privat Collies) and Mrs. Tove Bjervamoen (Lovald) joined us. The Norwegian group was the biggest.. There were participants from Sweden, Denmark, England, Germany, Spain, Israel, South-Africa and of course Hungary. This time we stayed at a more modern hotel, but not as central to town as last time. It's fabolous to meet up with "old time known" and the new ones. This is the magic of these meetings; You meet people with mutual interest.

Visiting Budapest this time it was autum, and the city was "sunbathing" in sun and beautiful colours on the trees and plants. We also had very nice temperature, apart from one day, and the lights in the evening are as beautiful as ever. We went by foot to old Buda, and as I had been there before, I sort of led the crowd and told them what I knew abou the different places. The cause of our meeting in Hungary this year was the Hungarian Collie Club's 50th Anniversary.

We arrived on the monday, and did the unpacking, get to know those who had arrived, find a place for a meal. We stayed at the hotel waiting for the rest of the group to come as they arrived at different hours. All of us, apart from the Swedish group, stayed at the same hotel. The first day is always a bit of settling and dealing with the formalities etc.

Next day we had an excursion to the lovely village of Fòt, where we were shown the Kàroly Church and the area around it, before we were taken (by bus)to a huge and famous horse center, Lazar. It was huge and most beautiful, and we were shown the programme of which they were going to compete with on the World Championships. They were 9 times World Champions on that farm, quite unique. On this horsefarm we also had a lovely dinner with the traditional gypsy music accompanying the meal.

Wednesday afternoon the conferance was held. All the topics touched upon are most interesting, but a bit heavy to absorb in the afternoon. It would have been preferable to do it earlier in the day. The first speech was held by a young lady named Ms. Eva Pech, who showed film and illustrations while talking on mental testing as a tool for finding the dog's "personality". She emphazised the importance of adjusting the testprogramme the the various breed's temperament. We don't do that here.
The second speech was held by Ms. Timaa Kàkâs on colour genetics. Among lots of other things, we learned that colour has 6 genes and that it is the Aguti-gene that is responsible of the colourvariations.
The third speech was given by Mrs. Elena Balazovits (nyitramenti collies), and she talked about the breed standard through the eyes of an international judge. She had a few warnings, which was agreed upon by most of the judges present, to judge to the standard and NOT to personal preferrances, because of the effect a judge's decision has to a breeding programme. She also divided the breed into Classic Collie, Modern Collie and American collie reminding us the it is the European Collie we are dealing with over here. The American Collie has a standard of it's own. The judges carry a heavy responsibility for the breeds on their shoulders.
The fourt speech was held by one of Hungary's most prominent genetics, Prof.Dr. Lazlo Zoltag. He took us through the long evolutionary journey from the mitocondrias to the line breeding programme we stick to today.
In the evening we all went to a Mexican restaurant down the street from our hotel for a meal and to discuss the speeches.

Thursday morning we had to get up a bit early as we should go on a long excursion around the Danube Bend. It is a beautiful scenery with the powerful Danube floating down the valley, and makes a ¨dramatic 90 degrees bend by the city of Eztergom. First stop this day was in the lovely town of Zentendre. This is the"capital" of Hungarian design and handcraft. We walked along cobbled narrow streets and colourful houses with lots of possibilities of shopping. There is SO much to buy, SO much to see and SO much one could want, if only money could allow a little bit more. From Zentendre we went to the city of Eztergom with its gigantic basilica and treasury. This as the first capital of Hungary, and today it is the center of the Catholic Church in Hungary.It is beautifuland really worth seeing. From the walls around the basilica you have the most wonderful view of the Danube Bend and the scenery around.
From Eztergom the bus took through the town of Visagrad. This time it was not time to climb all the stairs to the top of the royal ruins, but I can assure you all it's beautiful. I climbed them in 1996. Now our intestines were crying for food. We were brought to a most spectacular restaurant in Visegrad, called the Renaissance, by the riverside. The waiters were all dressed in clothes typical to the time of the Renaissance, even the services food was served from had that rustique character and it was a wonderful and special atmosphere at that place. We had "hats" or "crowns" on our heads and we all had napkins around our necks. Food was as ever in Hungary superb. A 10 hours trip, with bellies filled to a bursting-point, it was lovely to go to bed that night.

On Friday I was supposed to go an visit the Nyitramenti Collies and see my Tamp's son. Instead, I ended up in a chemistry shop to have remedies for my soar throught, rising fever and the harsh flue. So taking pills and sleep for a couple of hours, was far better for me than to go anywhere at all. But I felt ever so sad not being able to go as I surely would like to have seen them all again. In the evening we had the dinner and celebration of the club. It was held in a restaurant on the outskirts of Budapest, and I would have preferred that restaurant a little bit bigger as there were no space for dancing. But we had a wonderful time, lovely food, and our host, Mr. Peter Harsanyi, handed out handmade plates given to us by collie-lovers in Transylvania (Rumenia). It's on my wall. now. Lots of awards and honours were handed out to honorable members and VIP's for the Hungarian club. Mr. John Geddes (Ingledene) presented gifts from the ICS to the club and as a little delayed send off to our founders Mrs. Audrey Chatfield and Mr. Per Frey. We were entertained by a super singer and dancer, Eric, who took his audience by storm. Ther was also a very, very nice duo singing beautiful songs especially from revolutionary times not many years ago.. It was brilliant. Another lovely night.

On the Saturday there was the club Show. Unfortunately, on the day of the outdoor show, it was a freezing cold wind, and very heavy rain. I had not got enough warm clothes on me, and with a ever growing flue in the body, it was not a very good idea to stay for very long at the show.I really felt sorry for Mr. JOhn Geddes that had to stay there all day judging. I stayed for a couple of hours before I HAD to return to the hotel. Having a hot bath and a little bit of sleep it was devine to me. It was a pity to leave the Show, but I had no options.

The European Show were held on the same grounds, but it was indoor the following day which was nicer and warmer.There were three judges for the Collie. Mrs. Elena Balazovits was doing the puppies, juniors and the Smooths. Mrs. Ildiko Muzslai (Double Schotch ) was doing the remaining bitches and Mr. Peter Harsanyi (Kaokoi) was doing the remaning dogs.
Dog CC was awarded to Indiana Jones Dell'Isola Dei Collies, Italy. His parents are Gulliver of Cedarwoods x Glen Morristone's It's nolita. Best Dog and BOS was CH. Early Sunshine Hirundo from Slovenia. His parents are Queenly Mighty Quinn of Kassiopeia x Dreaming Dove Hirundo.
Bitch CC was awarded to CH. Anastahisia de Clos des Duchesse from France. Her parents are Royal Black du Chemin des Randonnes x Tzarine du Clos des Duchessse. BOB was a veteran bitch CH Nyitramenti Igneous Lace, owned by Mrs. Brigitta Czurgai. Her parents are CH Nyitramenti Captain Blood x Nyitramenti Winkel of Sunny Valley.

In the evening we arranged a farewell dinner in another beautiful restaurant in Obuda, another old part of Budapest, and yet another lovely meal. Food is very good in Hungary and it's plenty of it.

Monday was saying good bye to all. It's always sad, but it carries hope to meet again. Unfortunately, Sidney,Australia is a bit too far away for me, but I hope to meet you all in Denmark in 2010.

Fisherman's Bastion	The Ladies outside Heroes Square Monument
Heidi and myself outside "Astri's" restaurant
Farewelldinner - who is going to Sidney?	Ada with the falken
Little bit scary	but he was so nice