Swedish Championship was as usual held at Stockholm, now renamed to Stockholm Hundmässa DOG2010, on December 18-19th.
This was my last Swedish Championship but I was still calm and not nervous at all, but I had trouble sleeping the night before. I knew some pressure on me because it has gone so well all year and especially during the last competitions, so I was "forced" to show that I really was worth it!

The judge for the year was Marjut Peiponen from Sweden. Her husband is a well known handler but I didn't recognize her.
The competitions began on Saturday at nine o'clock in the morning. This year was only 41 qualified / entered, but it did not make things easier. Those who were there, was obviously a threat to me.
Before we got there we had become, by invitation, to Swedish Championship, divided into six groups with five or six athletes in each. I had no luck on my side and was named to start in the fifth group, because of that we also showed Leonberger that day and we had dogs in almost all classes - mainly in the bitch, so I really needed to be there. Luckily I got to change with a girl who was in the first group so I was done with the first set already at half ten! Everyone in my group went to the quarterfinals, which would take place at one o'clock so I had long time afterwards.

When the clock turned one, everyone gathered at the Junior Handling ring again, to continue the contest. We were then up again into three different groups, to show our skills individually again, by example triangles and rectangles. When it was finished, all remaining in again and she did a thinning to the semifinals, she took out about 20 of us. Then it was time to swich dogs. I got a Flat Coated Retriever, which I actually never been shown. They may be very special, very alert and with a big personality, but mine was a cool one. Easy, but pretty lasy. It was in all cases quite good, and after a while we changed back to our own dogs again.
Then it was time for thinning to final - Top-10. I was chosen! I felt very relieved and happy, but now it was almost time to recharge before the final again ...

The clock turned three and it was time to gather together. It took some pictures while we were talking together ourselves and each other excited. This is it!
When all ten finalists had run into the big ring (Stockholm is the best all year, what a feeling!) So we had to do "back-and-forward". Pretty simple, but such a simple thing can easily become difficult ...
Afterwards, the judge Marjut take the difficult decision to thank the five of us. It was only when I started getting really nervous, I felt my hands shook, ha ha ...
I was not chosen! One step closer to represent Sweden at Crufts and the World Dog Show 2011!

This year's Joker dog we could not think of what it was. But once it came in, I laughed a little inside. It was Boston Terriers! As was also the year's mascot for the entire show.
I got a really cute little brown bitch. They called her "Ruth". All other dogs were black and a little bigger, so my bitch stuck out a bit extra, which can be good!
When we have been awarded our dogs, we left the ring and then get us about 30 minutes with the dogs. The first minutes were Ruth a bit sensitive and insecure. But it dropped quickly and it felt good to end!
In the finals again, I was the first to come in which was fun and a bit cool! Ruth did well but seemed to have a little stage fright ...
We all had to do opposite triangle and then it was time for the judge to make a decision. When that was done we got our own dogs again to be placed. Soon it was over! The decision was taken ...
On a Reserve got to Pernilla Lindström associate itself with her Saluki, who was also Top-six in European Dog Show in Slovenia earlier this year! Fourth place went to Joseph Blom with her American Cocker Spaniel, who won the Championship two years ago! Third place - and also Bronze, went to me! So happy, yet disappointed, it was so close!
The winner was finally Sandra Norén Wallin with American Cocker Spaniel as well and the Silver went to the last year's winner Vilhelmiina Walldén with her Australian Terrier.

The year is almost over, and this was my last competition as a Junior Handler ever! My, how strange it sounds to say so. But yes, it's actually over now. But what a year I've had!

Waiting for our turn



In the pre-judging


Top-10


Linnea Sandberg, Jessika Junehall, Pernilla Lindström

Me and Enya i the finale

Joker dog; Boston Terrier


Top-5



BRONZE! With beautiful C.I.B N DK CH FINV-03 NV-06 VWW-10 Thornapple Summer Squeeze "Enya"

Thank you Anna-Lena and Niklas Munkvall for all support and trust for letting me borrowed your princess during the year. Couldn't do all this without you!