Time really flies! At the twilight of 2016 we can definitely say that this year was challenging but gratifying. To run a global federation like the Fédération Cynologique Internationale is not an easy task. Cultural, political and vision differences bring conflicts that must be promptly resolved, taking into consideration how the results will affect the cynological community. Thanks to a great team work and efforts we managed to solve the issues we were faced with during this past year.

After months of speculations regarding the ability of the RKF to organise the World Dog Show 2016, the most important dog show in the World was a world-class event with marvelous dogs, incredible hospitality and excellent press. On the other hand we were sad to hear that Ecuador resigned from the organisation of the FCI General Assembly and the World Dog Show 2017. Making history, the VDH, in an unprecedented situation, took a step forward to organise both events in Leipzig, Germany, next November. We are grateful and proud that the VDH took this huge responsibility.

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Rafael de Santiago
FCI President
30th Malaga International Dog Show
Malaga - a truly unique CACIB

As was to be expected, Sunday morning dawned in the same way as Saturday had done and it was another rainy day.
The venue opened on time and with a larger number of dogs entered on this occasion, the draw of the SCCS (the Sociedad Canina de la Costa del Sol meant that we had the very impressive figure of 952 entries in the Lanca catalogue.

The schedule on Sunday was almost as intense as it had been the day before, with the winning dogs being granted the Sun Coast Winner distinction - another initiative launched in 2015.

Unlike previous years, this time we had lots of handlers and exhibitors who did not used to come here, travelling not just from all over Spain but indeed from all over the world, and we hope that the distance will not stop them from continuing to make the trip. We realise the effort involved in coming here and it shows just how committed to Malaga both exhibitors and handlers are. Having attracted them in the first place, we now need to nurture these “delicate flowers”, to make sure that the Malaga International Dog Show keeps on growing.

Against this background, and speaking of people who were at the show, there was an FCI stand represented by Mari Luna Durán, the organisation’s Public Relations Manager, who shared it with Catarina Molinari, representing FCI Youth.

The mayor of Malaga, Mr Francisco de la Torre, was seen in and around the venue during the morning and was rather surprised at just how much was going on at the Fycma.

The various group finals got underway at 3.45 p.m., before the judging of group III and then, watched by everyone who was there, we paid a well-deserved tribute in the ring of honour to one of our country’s master breeders, my dear friend Alberto Velasco.
Next came the lap of the ring of honour and then, before the Spanish breed finals, the ring hosted the Huella de Oro (Golden Paw Print) competition and the previous year’s winner was presented with the trophy at the same time. This year’s Huella de Oro, which commemorates the late José Haro, was contested by a total of 52 champion dogs from various different FCI countries and the 2016 winner was the Dogo Canario Grando Presa de Casas de Goxy.

The Best-In-Show final, which commemorates the late Norman Huidobro, was held on Sunday and judged by Jean-François Vanaken from Belgium, who awarded the title to the pug Diabolbric’s Rumour of War. This was the closing event of the 2016 show and the lap of the ring of honour was so well-organised that it finished right on time.

Congratulations to the Sociedad Canina Costa Del Sol, its Chairman Manuel Ramírez and his team, who managed to raise the bar to a level it will be hard to beat. See you in 2017.

Marcelino Pozo Ruiz
www.cynologies.com