World Dog Show 2014 in Helsinki

As a Finn I am very very proud of this magnificent and massive show that was held in Finland last weekend. A super venue! The success for us was unbelievable!! The entry of basenjis was 91 and there were even 10 breeders' groups entered! The honoured judge was mr. Johan Juslin from Finland.

Mr. Vilho "Hi-Lite Cola Candy" was the best Finnish and Finnish bred basenji male puppy being second with hp!! This pic by Kingwanas.



There were 9 bitch puppies and I am proud to tell the 2nd best was our Latvian import Luru "Motion of Life At Wild Africa" with a hp. Pic Tanja Taipalus.



Our beautiful Luna "Hi-Lite Cotton Candy" was 3rd with a hp. Pic by Kingwanas.



BOB-puppy was Mimmi, a daughter of our Hi-Lite Honky Tonk, congrats Ari and Tipi!

We only showed two males, both in huge ch class of 19 dogs!!! Hi-Lite Hot Rod excellent and Hi-Lite Saturday Night Fever "Ruuti" Excellent 1!!! The choosing of the best male was soooooo nerve wrecking...but Ruuti got the cacib and is WORLD WINNER 2014!!!! Pic by Kingwanas.



In the bitches we had 3 girls entered. Our beautiful Russian visitor Taira "Hi-Lite Bulldobas Wonderwall" got vg. It was so lovely to see you Roman and Larissa, so sorry I didn't have more time....
Our super girl Lilja "Hi-Lite Bulldobas Wow Factor" won the great intermediate class and got the BITCH CC!!! Pics by JP.




The champion class of bitches was huge again, 16. But our Hertta "Hi-Lite Hula Hoops" was 2nd and was finally the res-cacib winner making her RES-WORLD WINNER!!




And, ta-daa, the BOB basenji at the WDS was Hi-Lite Saturday Night Fever!! What a stunning dog he is. And what a year for him, in June he won BISS at our Specialty under judge mrs. Sally Wallis. He is not only gorgeous looking, but his temperament is to die for.... Love him very very much. Thank you Tuija and Aki for owning him....



We were also very proud to show our breeder's group, which was the only one consisting of 4 basenjis, the others had 3. And Hi-Lite was placed 2nd!!! Very happy and proud!! Photo by JP.




But the day wasn't quite over... So we went there to look at the beautifully arranged finals. And we so excited to see Ruuti there. The judge was the world famous mr. Rainer Vuorinen. Pics by Liv.




And Ruuti was Group-4!!!! Pic by Petri Örling.



Thank you everyone for making this day to remember! And thank you for bringing your dogs there and for loving them... Hansu & Janne

Triple Int Show at our hometown Kuopio

It was once again time for the traditional Sawoshow in Kuopio, which we are very proud of. It gathers always a nice entry of many thousands from multiple countries. And of course many many of our friends <3
Most happy we were this time to have a visitor from Sweden, Aske "Hi-Lite Hillbilly" from our second litter. Thank you Magnus for coming with him! Besides Sweden, there were basenjis from Norway and Russia.
On Friday the judge was mrs. Heidi Kirschbieler from Austria. BOB-puppy was, like every day, a beautiful daugter of our Hi-Lite Honky Tonk. Congrats Ari and Mimmi! BOS-puppy every day was her brother, so congrats Helena!! We are very proud!

The results of Friday for our dogs were:
Luna 2nd in puppy class
Luru 3rd in puppy class

Aske in open class exc-1, cq, bd-2, cc, res-cacib
Ruuti in champion class exc-1, cq, bm-1, cacib, BOB
Lilja in intermediate class exc-1, cq, bb-3, res-cc
Hertta in champion class exc-2, cq, bb-2, res-cacib

Hi-Lite BOB breeder

On Saturday the results were almost the same, the judge was mrs. Monique van Brempt from Belgium:
Luna 3rd in puppy class
Luru 2nd in puppy class hp

Aske in open class exc-1, cq, bd-3, cc
Ruuti in champion class exc-1, cq, bm-1, cacib, BOB
Lilja in intermediate class exc-1, cq, bb-2, res-cc, res-cacib
Hertta in champion class exc-2, cq, bb-3

Hi-Lite BOB-breeder and shortlisted in the finals by mrs. Hassi Assenmacher-Fayel

On Sunday the results again almost the same, judge was mrs. Marianne Baden from Denmark:
Rommi 2nd in puppy class hp

Luna 3rd in puppy class hp
Luru 2nd in puppy class hp

Aske in open class exc-1, cq, bd-3, cc and a FINNISH CHAMPION!!
Ruuti in champion class exc-1, cq, bm-1, cacib, BOB and shortlisted in the finals
Lilja in intermediate class exc-1, cq, bb-2, cc, res-cacib
Hertta in champion class exc-2, cq, bb-3

Hi-Lite again BOB-breeder and shortlisted in the finals by mrs. Marja Talvitie!!

It was a perfect weekend with our friends...thank you all for coming and having a quality BBQ time at ours :D
Special thanks to Magnus, and congrats for Aske's champion title. He is now SE & FI champion Hi-Lite Hillbilly!! This makes our H-litter an ALL CHAMPION LITTER!!
Can't wait for another SawoShow in couple of years....

Helsinki & Saarijärvi Show Weekend

We decided to enter two shows with some slightly different dogs in the end of July. On Saturday we were at Helsinki National All Breed show and the judge was mrs. Hana Petrusova. In the puppies we showed siblings Vilho, who was 4th in the male puppies and sister Luna, who was 3rd.
Our boys did well too, Ruuti was 3rd best male and Rocky exc-3 with a cq in champion class. Girls did even better! Lilja was 3rd best bitch with a res-cc and Hertta was the best bitch! Wow!
Our breeder's group was BOB-breeder :)


On Sunday we were at Saarijärvi National All breed show. The judge was charming mr. Roberto Schill from Romania. Luna got an excellent critique and was BOB-puppy! Ruuti was BOB, Lilja BOS with a cc and Timon 2nd best male and BOB-veteran. So a lovely clean sweap!
But in the finals we did hit the jackpot, to us it definately was a jackpot!! Timon did it again by winning BIS-3 veteran under lovely judge mrs. Anca Giura!!!
And mr. Esa Ruotsalainen gave Group-1 to Ruuti!! Ruuti finished Best In Show 3 under judge mr. Roberto Schill again!!! Amazing day!! Congrats everyone for making it possible and thank you for taking such perfect care of your dogs, our loved ones...

Here is Ruuti pictured winning Best In Show at the Finnish Specialty in June.




And here is Timon a couple of weeks earlier winning BIS-3 and BIS-3 veteran at Juva show:

Kemi Show in Northern Finland

We had a lovely weekend at our friends Mervi & JP, the owners of our magnificent girl Lilja.
On Sunday it was time for this show and the judge was mr. Harri Lehkonen. Did I mention it was hot?? ;)
Luna was given BOB-puppy prize with a marvellous critique :)
Then it was time for our lovely boys; Seti who was competing in intermediate class and Timon in veteran class. Our oldie won best male and Seti "Wise Guy" had 2nd best male placement with another cc and first cacib from Finland! He looks great!
Lilja won the bitches (with I guess her 20th cc from Finland and a cacib) and in the end she was BOB and Timon BOS and BOB-veteran. Lilja was also shortlisted in the finals.

Congrats all the owners of our wonderful pups, you make this all possible <3


Here a couple of pics taken by JP.


Luna the puppy being evaluated by the judge.



Seti with his owner Tiia.



Lilja on the table.



Timon BOS and BOB-veteran and Lilja BOB.

Wonderful show weekend!

On Saturday we were at Oulu International show, where the judge was mrs. Tuula Savolainen from Finland. It was the first show for Luna to enter the puppy class among the official shows. She looked beautiful and was BOB-puppy with a flattering critique!
Ruuti was best male and our lovely Tico was 2nd best male!! Lilja won the bitches and was finally BOS to Ruuti!! Hugely happy we were!

And Ruuti even managed to get another Group-placement as the judge mrs. Marjatta Pylvänäinen-Suorsa gave the 4th prize to our golden boy!!

Then I went home and chilled all day Sunday but Mervi and Lilja went to Kokkola.... it was an entry of 6 adults and Lilja was Best of Breed!! The breed judge mr. Nils-Arne Törnlov was also the judge at the finals and Lilja was Group-4!!! So wonderful!

Thank you and congrats for this whole weekend Mervi, Tuija, Mari and Niina!! You are the best.



Photo Kirsi Hyvärinen.

Timon's surprise

It was such a hooooooot day last Sunday and we took Timon to Juva show. The judge was lovely Soile Bister and she gave Timon BOB-veteran and BOB! Special note was given to his head, side movement and temperament :)

But in the finals all the fun began... First it was time for the choosing of Best in Show Veteran. And mr. Paavo Mattila placed Timon as BIS-3 veteran!! And we were smiling a lot :)
Even though Timon was soooo hot, he showed himself bravely also in group 5 and the Danish judge mrs. Hanne Laine Jensen gave the first prize to our lovely gentleman!!

We had again our hopes up for the BIS competition, as the judge was mr. Paavo Mattila. And guess what? Timon was BIS-3!! We are naturally thrilled. Thank you for these pics Helena Tampio.

Seti and Lilja win again in Sweden!!

I was so happy to hear the news from Sweden again last Saturday. Seti and Lilja went to Piteå International, the entry was 7. The results were great, as Seti won BOB this time and sister Lilja was BOS!!! Wonderful, beautiful siblings! Congrats Tiia and Mervi.



Pic by Mirva Viinamäki