Ludmilla Fintorová

A Lifelong Journey with Dogs

Dogs have always been part of my life. As a child, I grew up with a Vizsla, and during my teenage years, I had my first dog of my own – a wire Fox Terrier. Later came a Borzoi, and eventually, my first Dalmatian, who truly changed everything. I married the owner of his brother, and together we began breeding under the prefix Plum Pudding. With generous support from Benelux breeders, we were able to produce several successful and outstanding champions.

We lived with Dalmatians for over 50 years, and today we share our home with smooth Fox Terriers and a Dachshund.

Around five decades ago, we helped establish a new club focused on sighthounds and Dalmatians. We were actively involved in publishing magazines, organizing club shows, and participating in various activities including breeding, exhibitions, dog races and coursing.

I received my judging license in the 1970s, starting with Dalmatians and later expanding to the entire sighthound group. Over the years, I’ve judged specialties and club shows in many countries — including Germany (Donaueschingen), Sweden (Skokloster), Finland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, and beyond. I’ve also judged at European and World Dog Shows, and in countries such as Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

For fifteen years, I served on the FCI Show and Judges Committees, and within our club, I was the breed supervisor for Dalmatians. I’m a licensed group judge for FCI Groups 4, 5, 7, 8, and 10, and also for selected breeds in Group 2 and long-legged terriers.

When evaluating dogs in the ring, I value personality, breed type, balanced structure, excellent movement, and a natural, confident presentation.

Outside of judging, I’m also an artist — painting dogs is a meaningful part of my creative work and another way I stay connected to the breeds I love.

Ludmila Fintorová

Elena Edwards

My husband, Michael, and I have shared our lives with Salukis since 1982 and have bred and/or co-bred 19 litters over the past 43 years under the kennel name, Shiraz, producing numerous Group, Specialty, and Best in Show Champions. Perhaps our most notable breeding was our Globetrotter x Kalahari breeding, which produced our tri boy, Ch. Shiraz Global Storm. Storm was an ASA Stud Dog Award recipient who produced numerous Best in Specialty and Best in Show offspring, as well as BIS and BISS grandchildren, including the 2012 World Dog Show Best in Show winner, Am./Multi Ch. Shiraz California Dreamin,’ “Harley,” his sister BISS Ch. Shiraz Dreamweaver, JC, “Eve,” and their dam, MBISS/BIS Ch. Enchanted Shiraz Dreamcatcher, JC, “Sedona”. Most importantly, our Salukis have become their families’ “heart dogs,” something for which we as breeders take great pride. We have competed successfully in both conformation and lure coursing venues and strive to breed elegant, athletic Salukis.

I have always admired breeders and exhibitors who have ‘done their homework,’ putting untold hours of devotion and dedication into the breeding, exhibiting, and care of their cherished Hounds. I am especially proud of Preservation Breeders who strive to breed dogs who exemplify for both type as well as functional skills to continue their breeds’ hallmark characteristics.

In 2013, I was approved by the American Kennel Club to judge Salukis and Saluki Junior Showmanship. Since then, I have also been fully approved by the AKC to judge Afghan Hounds, Borzoi, and Dachshunds. I am also provisionally/permit approved to judge Greyhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and Whippets.

It has been my honor and pleasure to have judged several Saluki specialties in the United States, as well as in Germany and Australia. I have also been honored to judge specialty shows for Afghan Hounds, Borzoi, and Dachshunds. It is always my desire to provide a pleasant and thoughtful judging experience for breeders, exhibitors, and their dogs.

In my ‘other’ life, I continue to work as Clinical Director and Speech-Language Pathologist in a Pediatric Speech Therapy clinic in Temecula, California.

Sincerely,

Elena Edwards

Brian Patrick Duggan, M.A.

Dogs always had a place in my family but perhaps most memorable were our several Irish Wolfhounds during my teens and early twenties. My first Saluki came to me in 1976 (Wendy owned her sire) and together, we bred our first litter in 1983. Our line was originally  "old" Srinagar, Kenmar-Knoll, and one Canadian-English sire, but have more recently imported Salukis from England and Norway. Under our Kyzyl Kum prefix, we’ve bred or co-bred 16 litters in 40 years and back in 1994 were honored as Top Breeder by the American Saluki Association. I’ve shown dogs in conformation, done obedience work, and competed in both lure and open field coursing (serving occasionally as hunt master in the latter).

I was a university technology educator for over thirty years and retired to be a full-time canine historian and writer. I’ve authored numerous articles and four books about dogs in history — perhaps my most well-known is Saluki: The Desert Hound and the English Travelers Who Brought It to the West. I’ve presented my breed research at Saluki Club of America Specialties, the 2007 Festival of the Saluki (U.K.), 2008 Saluki World Congress (Finland), 2012 Saluki Breed Conference (Sweden), 2015 Saluki Club of Canada Specialty, and the 2024 Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club Centenary Gala.

I’ve been honored with judging assignments in Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, and the U.K.  It will be a privilege to evaluate Salukis at Skokloster.

Brian Duggan

Yves-Emmanuel Vilanova

I bought my first whippet bitch when I was a teenager in 1976, at a dog market. As it happened, the following week, I met some people and went to the local dog track run by the local sighthound racing club, and discovered that I had acquired a puppy that had a pedigree and correct bloodlines.

My hobbies at that point were ornithology and aviculture and this is how my love affair with whippets and sighthounds started and has endured for more  than 49 years now.

In 1978, my first whippet litter was born under name « des Coursiers de Shanghai ». My five first litters were racing oriented, with good results, finalists at the French and European Championships, winner of the « Coupe de France », and a number of track records at the time. During that period, I became member of the French Whippet Club and discovered the world of shows. In the early 80’s I started to breed more for showing.

At the end of 1987, I became a commitee member of the French Whippet Club and subsequently became Vice-President en 1989 for the next eight years. In 1993 I became qualified as a whippet judge and in 1996 qualified for the Italien Greyhounds.

I had the pleasure of breeding 18 whippet litters, and considering that I did not breed a lot, I exported puppies to Spain and Italy and various  « Coursiers de Shanghai » dogs became French, International, Spanish and Portuguese Champions, as well as recommended by the French Whippet Club and Elite producers.

But  unfortunately, I had to juggle my professional life, witch was becoming busier with more travelling involved, and my breeding and showing activities had to be reduced in a first time, then I decided to put my judging and judging extensions for other breeds on hold.

Currently, having been able to stop working early, I became President of my local kennel Club for 9 years and I can now enjoy my passion and accept judging invitations. I am now qualified to judge the FCI Group 10, French Bouledogue, American Staffordshire terriers, Podenco, Podengo, Pharaon and Cirneco. I had the pleasure of judging various Specilaties and championships in France as well as in 13 European countries, not forgetting Whippets bitches at the World Show 2011 in Paris.

I have still a whippet by my side but as a judge I decided to stop showing .

I will always remember the first time we went  with Jackie Bourdin to the Skokloster dog show. I think it was in 1990, we were there to support the french export Mult Ch Beau Mec du Manoir de la Grenouillère, just…..yesterday !

To be back to the Skokloster Summer Show is a great pleasure and to judge my heart breed  a great honor.

Yves-Emmanuel Vilanova

Magnus Hagstedt (Signum)

When I saw Bo Bengtson’s import Ch Fleeting Flamboyant make his debut in Sweden, at the Swedish KC show in Malmö 1971, I understood that the Whippet was my breed. I was there showing my Afghan Hound Shira, Ch El Khyrias Ala Zakene. Later that year Flamboyant’s son Smokey, bred by Bo Bengtson, became my first Whippet, and I have lived with them since. Ch Bohem Flambingo was the breed’s BOB at the first Skokloster show in 1975.

Through the years I have bred Whippets on a small scale with the prefix Signum, totally 17 litters with 72 (38+34) puppies – and am now making plans for the 10th generation with my own dogs. Whippets from Signum have participated with success at shows, straight and oval track racing as well as lure-coursing. I am proud of my motto – ”Whippets for every reason”, which is important to me. But it is the every day life with my dogs that I appreciate the most. Signum has also had a successful little family of Chihuahuas. I have also owned, but never bred, Afghan Hounds (the first born 1965). Today our canine family also include Salukis.

1983 I passed the Swedish KC education to become a judge. 1985 I judged Whippets the first time in Sweden, at the Swedish Sighthound Club Eastern specialty in Stockholm.

Through the years I have judged Whippets around the world at small and big shows. 1996 I judged the Swedish Whippet Club second jubilee show. 2005 I judged the first ”Whippet National” in Australia in connection to the Whippet Congress in Melbourne. 2009 I judged the largest Whippet show in the world, the American Whippet Club National, in the US, and in 2011, in the breed’s home country, at Crufts – ”The greatest dog show in the world”.

Apart from group 10, I also judge the Mediterranean breeds in FCI group 5, as well as breeds in group 3 and 9.

I have been on the committee for the Swedish Sighthound Club Eastern, as well as on the general committee for the Swedish Sighthound Club. From the start in 1976 I was a founder committee member for the Swedish Whippet Club. Through the years I have held different positions in the Whippet Club: chairman, secretary and regular committee member. I have also been editor of the club magazine Whippet Bladet, on my own but also together with others on different editorial boards. For many years I wrote a column in the magazine: Whippet Wor(l)s. I am now in the process of writing a book on my life with Whippets.

2008 I was in charge of the programme at the Whippet Congress arranged by the Swedish Whippet Club at Krägga, after the FCI World show held in Stockholm. This is one of the most rewarding assignments I have done for Whippets – that the congress became such a huge success was surely our ambition to generously inviting all friends of Whippets to meet and talk about our common interest in the breed.

A big thank you to the club for inviting me to be part of the ”Skokloster Summer Show 2026”, something I am both happy and grateful for.

Magnus Hagstedt

 Anita Marie Therese Gielisse

Krylataja Borzois Netherlands

Owned my first Borzoi at age 12 and started showing from that time Borzois and many

different breeds.I also started working as ringsteward at dogshows

At home we have Borzoi's, German shephard, Fox-Terrier, Whippet and  Poodles I also showed with them.

Also my work as paraveterinair was always working with animals.

The Borzois my first and for ever love are still around me. I'am breeder of them since 1978 and

judging the breed since 1980.

FCI approved judge for Groups 10 – 5 – 4 and almost for all the breeds in FCI group 1 & 3 and

judging several breeds in group 2 & 9. Also approved as Best In Show judge.

For me as judge is very important that a dog have a good temper, nice type with great movement

and looks happy and healthy.

KRYLATAJA LJOEBOV is the oldest still active Borzoi Kennel in the Netherlands and I have

bred & owned many specialty winners, national & international champions,World Champions,

Europian Champions, International Champions etc etc

Some of my dogs also won Top Dog of the Year and the Dog of the Year Show, Crufts BOB and group placer etc etc.

49 Borzoi Champions total.

I'am also the breeder of BISS, Am/Can.Ch. Ljudmila's Akim Krylataja Ljoebov , a male I exported to American  and Akim can be found in many of the top winning Borzois worldwide.

An achievement I'am very proud of and proof that my dogs are not only succesful in the ring but also as producers they pass on their qualities on to the next generations.

I have judged in many countries all over the world and it would be an honour for me to judge at your beautiful show,

Lovely regards,

 Anita M.Th.Gielisse

Louis Dehaes

FCI judge of

Group 8.

Group 10.  And Coursing

Group 5.

Pharaoh Hound - Podenco Canario - Podenco Ibicenco - Cirneco Dell'etna - Podengo Português.

Group 9.

Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel, Havanese, Lowchen, Maltese, Bichon Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Cavalier King Charles, King Charles Spaniel, Chinese Crested and Tibetan Terrier.

I was one of the foundation members of coursing in Belgium later on we make the FCI rules for ‘lure coursing’. I am an official ‘lure coursing’ judge also and Chairman from the coursing commission Belgium.

I start judging in 1990 my first breed was afghan hounds, I showed and breed with a lot of success.     I was a committee member of the BELGIUM ROYAL SIGHTHOUND CLUB for many years and a few years as vice-chairman, we also organized the first world congress for all sight hounds 2002.

 In 1999 I start the Belgian Afghan hound club. I’m still the chairman of this club.

I have been judging different place in Europe, ‘Specialty breeds’, national and international show in my own country: Belgium, also; Germany, Poland, UK, France, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Finland, Luxemburg, Austria, Ireland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Netherland, Hungary, Slovenia, Norway, Australia.

I had my first afghan early ’80.  That afghan loved to race so I discovered my interest in racing. The next year I fell in love with a wonderful golden male who I saw at a dog show, he stole my heart and so started showing afghans, and I am still showing afghan from my own bloodlines.

Because my wife fell in love for a whippet, we both a whippet, who later became a Champion of different countries.

 Our kennel name is ‘Du Jegdalek, I bred and owned many BIS, Specialty BIS, Champions with international and national champion title all over Europe  stop breeding on 2020.

Best regards Louis Dehaes

Christian Magré

Shows

Group 10
Judge – FCI Qualified judge and trainer for:

• Borzoi

• Polish Hound

• Deerhound

• Greyhound

• Irish Wolfhound

• Magyar Agar

• Italian Greyhound

Qualified for the following breeds:

• Afghan Hound

• Azawakh

• Galgo

• Saluki

• Sloughi

• Whippet

Group 5
Qualified judge for the following breeds:

• Basenji

• Canary Island Hound

• Portuguese Warren Hound

• Pharaoh Hound

• Cirneco dell’Etna

• Ibizan Hound

• Canaan Dog

Judge in the countries:
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, France, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland

Work

Qualified judge and trainer:

• Dog track events

• PVL (Coursing) events

Canine Professional Positions

• President of the French Greyhound Club

• President of the Coursing Club of the Côte d’Amour

• Member of the National Greyhound Commission

Christian Magré

Ute Lennartz

Dogs have always been part of my life and I have been involved with purebred dogs since early childhood  (Terriers, hunting hounds, Great Danes, German Shepherds, Dachshounds and Poodles).

At an international dog show in Hannover in the 1960ies I saw my first Salukis and

fell in love with this ancient and  noble breed. Since 50 years now I share my life with Salukis. 

 Jakob Pribil and I co-own the Mata Salamata’s kennel.  Our Salukis have won at major events in Germany and abroad and many are BIS winners and you find them worldwide in pedigrees of successful Salukis today.

I served on the board in our Sighthound Club  DWZRV in different positions and I’m licenced to judge the FCI-Group 10, some breeds of the Group 5 and  some national breeds.

I have judged Sighthounds  at major events worldwide.(World Dog Shows, Saluki National USA, Santa Barbara(USA),Championship Shows in England, Specialties in Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Finland, Italy, Switzerland , Austria, Australia, Japan, USA and of course in Germany).

I’m interested in all aspects of the Sighthounds and I want to see a functional hound, full of  breed type and with the typical expression and movement like the Standard describes it.

I feel honoured to judge  at this special event .

 Ute Lennartz