(TournamenT of Champion of Champions of The ameriCas & The Caribbean) FCI TORNEO CAMPEONE DE CAMPEONES DE LA AMERICAS Y EL CARIBES
W hen I first got the invitation to attend the competition in July in Mexico, I was hon- ored, but not familiar with the event. I had read about it in the past, but this was going to be a new adventure— like attending the FCI World Show in Russia or Crufts. After researching the event, I found out that it is considered by many to be the most prestigious event that the FCI sponsors in the Americas. We also learned that the Torneo can only be held in a country once every six years and it will be in another country next year. So when the time came, off we went to Mexico City on a direct flight from Salt Lake City, Utah. When we arrived, our host (and co-owner of our boy) Juan Carlos DeLuna and his personal driver met Randy and me at Mexico City’s huge airport. After a pleasant drive through the city, we end- ed up in a lovely community, Lerma, which is about an hour north of the city through the rain forests in the moun- tain. Mexico City sits at an elevation of over 7,300 feet above sea level. Lerma, which would be our home base for the next week is over 8,400 feet. But com- ing from a fairly high elevation in Idaho, we didn’t notice much difference. Arriving at the Casa de Luna was a treat. In a lovely gated guarded com- munity, the home is beautiful and the accommodations were outstanding. JC and his lovely wife, Maria (and their adorable daughter, Renata) were the most gracious of hosts. We were pam- pered beyond belief. The wonderful international restaurants at which we dined were world class. One of my favorites was the San Martin Hacienda, established in 1566, which is renowned for its authentic Mexican offerings. The day prior to the tournament we got to visit JC’s huge business operations in downtown Mexico City with over one thousand employees. Then we set out on a six-hour tour of by TimoThy reese
co-breeder & co-owner of GCH Dunkirk Imperial Palace Paramount
aztec statues.
the city, including the famous Templo Mayor , the fabulous Aztec ruins (which were only discovered in downtown Mexico City in 1978, just a block from the Presidential Palace). Then Saturday came and it was all about the tournament. Saturday eve- ning, those finalists for the Toreno , gathered at the amazing Royal Hotel and Resort in south Mexico City, not far from the beautiful offices of the Kennel Club of Mexico City. The ball- room where the finals would be held was beautiful with the ring in the middle the center of attention. Flags from every country in the Americas and the Caribbean lined the outside of the ring and the stage was beauti- fully adorned with the unbelievable trophies and ribbons which would be awarded to the four eventual winners. Around the ring were the tables where a five course dinner would be served. All decked out in black, white and silver; it was stunning. Then the tournament finale began. One hundred twenty-six finalists were called in for judging in groups of three. There were three international judges in the first round. Each judge examined the dogs and moved them, scored each dog on a point scale of up to 100 total possible points and then we left the ring to wait. I was in the fifth group to enter and be judged. When that round was completed, all the scores were then posted on a giant screen in the waiting area so we could see where
we stood. I was amazed. We scored the second highest score—a single point behind the top-winning Mexican Xoloitzcuintli, a crowd favorite. At the end of the first round, 50% of the competitors were elimi- nated and the remaining dogs enter into round two—with three different International Judges. Again we entered the ring in groups of three and the same procedures were followed, with each judge scoring each dog on a scale of 100 points. At the end of round two all the scores were again shown on the giant screen in the wait- ing room. No one in the ballroom could see the scores, but all the handlers were crowded five to six deep around the screen to see their scores after that round—because 50% of those in the second round would be eliminated there as well. At the end of the second round, we were so honored to be the
aztec ruins.
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