This year's Nordic Championships took place in Norway, Lillestroem, in connection with the Nordic Winner-10 27-28th November.
I had the honor to be a part of the Swedish National Team after having fought so hard during this year. Since this was my last year as a Junior Handler, it felt more important! When the inquiry finally came, I put everything else aside. I would give everything!
We were four girls who have been selected to represent Sweden, both in the team but also individually: It was me, Josefin Blom, Linnea Sandberg and Sandra Norén Wallin.

The trip to Norway began on Friday, we travelled with Josefine and her mother Gun-Mari. As the final out of Junior Handling was not until Sunday we took with us our Leonberger Yummie for showing her under a good judge. Group 2 was on Saturday so we could calmly walk around and look and be social to all exhibitors but also concentrate on trying to win the title NORDJW-10 with Yummie - which she won!!!

Our coach for this year was experienced and talented Cindy Pettersson. She is not just an exterior judges in several breeds, but she is also a member of Junior Handling Committee, which felt especially good to have a knowledgeable adult who was interested in really out to help us and knew what it was about!
She and the four of us girls had been booked on the hotel closest to the show, while parents and other relatives were spread out in other places because it was already full at the hotel.
On Saturday it was time for dinner with the rest out of the Nordic countries; Home country Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark. Many of the girls and the boys was well know - both in the breed rings when even course through Junior Handling all around, including the World Dog Show in Denmark this year. It was not until that moment when we meet the other competitors, with all that it began to tingle in my stomach, it was now or never!
During the dinner we also got to know what breed you would get the next day. I was lucky and got my first choice, a Portuguese Water Dog! My other two choices were Lagotto Romangolo and Siberian Husky.
We went to bed early that night to be really loaded to on Sunday morning. At nine o'clock, we would be ready and in place by the ring to get the dogs we would have for the day.

The day had come! Me and Josefine, we shared room together, woke up before the alarm rang and we felt us on top!
We were there in good time and at nine o'clock I and she got our breeds, I got my Portuguese and Josefin got her first choice; a Kerry Blue Terrier. But that was only us. Linnea's dog was delayed and Sandra had no access to any of her three choices so she had to take a West Highland White Terrier instead. Linnea had to change a dog a couple times but then she also got the breed she ask for, a Welsh Corgi Pembroke.
It was not only Sweden who had problems with dogs, at least one in each team missing their dogs because of the snowstorm outside did delayed everything. So when the clock was ten, when the Junior Handling was calculated to start, they moved it forward to the eleven o'clock instead. But that was positive for me because I had two hours with my dog instead of one!
The dog I got was a six year old bitch, World Winner several times, so she knew how to walk on a leash. She cooperated right from the start and I felt very safe with her.

Before the competition started so it was assigned, the order in which Sweden would be in each group and also what number we got. Sweden was fortunate that we were going in as the fifth contestant in each group, which was the last one. And then I was fortunate to be Sweden's third shooter, but since I already had such a long time for me with "Cyan", as my dog's name was, so I changed my start number with Linnea who would actually go into the first group.
The contest started. The judge for this year was Mr Michael Gadsby, kennel Afterglow, from UK.
I had in weeks studying on the breed Portuguese Water Dog, because you have no idea what the judge will ask you about - but of course he did not ask anything at all! I was for once not nervous which made me very confident all day, mostly at my individual pre-judging. It went so good and I was very pleased with Cyan.
When all groups were done we felt superior, we had been flawless!

The finals, which began a few hours later started up with Junior Handling. We came in as in a parade, country by country basis with our team leader at the forefront of the national flag!
When Norway came in the gallery exploded, and close there after, when Sweden came in, ha ha ...
We then stood ourselves up as a breeder group to await the team result. The judge had already decided before the finals began. The BRONZE went to Finland, which consisted of three girls and one boy, one of the girls was only twelve years old!
Then it was SILVER that would be awarded. "... Goes to Sweden!". GOLD went to Norway! Although Silver is good, we were still disappointed, and not nearly as excited as we hoped. But now, in the end, we are obviously grateful and excited about what we accomplished!
After shooting in the team we went back to where we stood, that the judge would then make a thinning out of those he wanted to go to the individual medals. He picked out one from Denmark, one from Iceland, one from Finland and two from Norway and Sweden, it was Sandra and Josefine. Me and Linnea had to be OK and instead cheering on the others.
In the end, the placements looked like this; Bronze medal went to Patrick Oware from Norway, Silver went to Sandra Norén Wallin from Sweden and the Gold went to Victoria Gill, although she come from Norway! Josefine became Top-7 with her hard terrier. Well done girls!

Tired but happy we wore then we go back to Sweden again in the snowstorm which pulled us over. Late at night we went back home to Stockholm and went to sleep quickly.

I will never forget this weekend and have been representing Sweden in this way!
Many thanks to our coach Cindy Pettersson, who did such a good job and did not give up on us this weekend! And thanks to all who helped with sponsorship and mothers who drove. Thanks also to Runi Kristiansen who let borrow beautiful Cyan. But mainly, thanks to my wonderful team mates Josefin, Linnea and Sandra!

Int Nord Lux Est Port UCH NV-07,08 SV-08 ESTV-08 LW-08 MW-08 KBHV-09 DV-09 WW-08,09,10
Isostar's MissMatch "Cyan"

Sweden


Me and Josefin

SILVER TO SWEDEN!!!

From the left;Josefin, Sandra, Linnea, me and then our coach Cindy