Ingemar Borelius/2017
The Nordics is the common name for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden founded
on a strong belief that the Nordic countries are having a common culture and a
strong will to do things together. The term is more relevant than the term
Scandinavia that is sometimes used as an alternative for these countries. But it primarily means Denmark, Norway and
Sweden or formally just Norway and Sweden, being divided by the Scandinavian
mountain range. There is no doubt a strong tradition of cooperation in the
Nordics when it comes to culture, politics, defence and in most other areas.
We do what we can in the small Flatcoat world to promote this partnership. Among other things a yearly Nordic Championship for teams and individual dogs is arranged in the different countries based on a revolving scheme.
For the very first time in 2008 the Nordic Championship was arranged in Denmark for individual competition only and at that time it was an International A-test, based on the FCI rules, offering a CACIT (an International Certificate) to the winner. As far as I know this is the only time when an International A-test has been arranged for Flatcoats only but hopefully not the last? Furthermore, I believe it’s the first and only time a Flatcoat have been awarded a CACIT on warm game (the only possibility today), being Annika Christiansen’s Seamaster’s Eternity. (It might be of interest to know that International Field Trials for Flatcoats only is allowed according to the FCI rules if the local Retriever Club is giving a permission).
From 2009 and onwards this event has been a strong tradition with a team challenge for country teams of four competing one day, in a B- (Cold Game test) or C-test (Working test). On the other day all dogs compete individually at an A-test (Field Trial), or at a B-test. Rules for the event are not strict but adjusted to the local conditions where Sweden and Denmark find it easier to arrange proper Field Trials for the individual competition.
In Denmark results on Winner class level (= Open class in UK) are always “competition prices” but for all the other countries quality prices as well as competition prices, ranking the first, second and third best dog etc., are awarded to all dogs.
The most highly merited dogs in the four countries are invited by the local Flatcoat Clubs/ communities and looking at the team compositions it’s quite clearly reflecting the dominance of a few leading breeders in the different countries.
Looking at Denmark the Jiggers kennel is the dominant with the outstanding bitch Multi Ch Jiggers Tarka Lovely Alma, with two individual wins, in the forefront and a number of participants either being stamped by the Jiggers brand or exposing a pedigree truffled with dogs from the Jiggers line, producing some of the best Danish workers since the early 1970-ties. It’s relevant to note as well that the Nordic retriever culture rely quite heavily on the Danes being the frontrunners for the different working retriever testing models that are used all over this area.
Looking at the Finnish team a similar picture is evident with the leading Taka Tapiolan kennel in the driver’s seat, continuously producing some of the very best Finnish workers since the late seventies but many other pro work oriented breeders contribute as well to the Finnish teams.
The Norwegian picture is somewhat different but nevertheless as evident as the others with the Waternuts kennel strongly dominating. It’s no doubt that this kennel has been the leading Nordic kennel since the beginning of this century, winning more persistently at the major events than any other Nordic breeder and with a team of dogs that is a first-class synthesis of the very best Swedish/Danish/British working lines.
Looking at Sweden at the end the picture is quite evident that Sweden excel as a team winning the team challenge eight out of nine times. Although competition is hard with first class performers from all countries, Sweden has obviously entered the most even teams. Twelve Swedish entries have been dogs from the Waternuts family of dogs, but the list of dogs represents the variety of Swedish work oriented breeders. Ingela Karlssons bitch, Coatfloats Marimekko, being the most consistent participant/winner, as part of the Swedish team during seven consecutive years and with two individual wins, of which the second was at nine years of age.
The picture gallery from the Nordic Championship at Kristianstad in 2014 exposing a bit of the nice and friendly atmosphere at this reoccurring event.
- 2014-10-18 Saturday B-test: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2ToDdfFQST1lhxtC2
- 2014-10-19 Sunday A-test (field trial): https://photos.app.goo.gl/yblmyLJp7ngXKLbg2
As usual, please report any faults to bearstream@me.com