SABI 2002
TRIP
On a recent trip to the UK Sr. Flavio Fussetti and
Dr Grecchi representing SABI the Bracco Italiano breed Society in Italy visited
and addressed the British breed society seminar. On that occasion an invitation
was extended to both Jonathan Shaw and I to attend the forthcoming SABI Prove
(Pointing Test) and Raduno (show) at the end of that month.
Flavio and
Sr.Gritti(Di Cascina Croce) Flavio, Jonathan & Pups
Diva
di CascinaCroce & Pups
Some
Bracchi Kenneled
Stuart at Lake
Como
Sr.Danilo Rebaschio (professional handler
and
trained By Sr. Gritti at
La Tollara with Judge looking on.
The Judges gather just
before lunch to comment on the dogs they have assessed.
Lunch under a hot sun.
After Lunch the show. Dogs were judged indoors while
bitches were in the outdoor ring in the sun. I'm afraid sleeping in the shade
became a priority at this point.
Day two, and up to the hills of Canossa for a joint
Bracco/ Spinone prove. Officials collect the dogs log books at the start of the
day.
There is a fine cast Spinone and Bracco bronze for
the overall winner.
The
atmosphere here was much cooler than on the previous day and the swarms of
mosquitoes of the day before were just memories.
This
was a managed game area with cover
crops of sunflowers and big rolling fields of alfalfa which had fairways mown
through them.
On this day I was watching
Proffessional handler Sr. Tognolo who handled all 15 dogs in this particular
batteria. He operates somewhat like a professional racehorse trainer keeping
training and campaigning all dogs palce with him by the owners (the cost approx
£3000 per year)
After lunch we got talking with Luigi Bottani (another professional trainer/handler) and convinced him over coffee and grappa to run some Spinoni for us. He didn't need much convincing!!.