Our entry at the National on 9th May was the biggest for the breed this year at 24 dogs, surpassing even Crufts. The judge was Hans Lehtinen – a Finn, and the number was reduced by four absentees.

BCC and BOB was Hannah and Rob Thompson and Angela Cavill’s Ch Toveri Pimu, from VB, and DCC, his third, Terry Dalley’s T Markku, making him the second new champion of this year.

RDCC was Dolores and David Montgomery’s Finnish import Pettukangas Karu for T at his first show since arriving in the UK and RBCC was Ch T Neiti, owned by Clare and Brian Masters.

To round off the major awards, BP was Steve and Alison Piearce’s Sukunimi Antipodean Kiwi on his last appearance in a UK show ring before his long journey to New Zealand at the end of the month. Steve tells me that he will be cared for by a professional pet exporter the whole of the way.

We should now note the renewed rise of dogs with the Toveri kennel name in their names. Ten were entered and shown, and only one failed to get a first place.