The morning mist was slowly giving way to the pleasant rays of Indian summer as we arrived in the Slovak village of Rumanova with our beagle crew from the Dukes of the South kennel. On Sunday …
Show Sunday in Slovakia: Dukes of the South at CACIB Rumanova
The morning mist was slowly giving way to pleasant Indian summer rays as our Beagle crew from the Dukes of the South kennel arrived in the Slovak village of Rumanova. On Sunday, September 20, 2026, an international CACIB dog show took place here, promising great competition and an enjoyable day spent among fellow dog lovers. This time, we entered the show ring with two irons in the fire – our young hope Jeff and our experienced worker Falco. As it turned out a few hours later, the trip to western Slovakia was worth every single kilometer, and we returned home with a wonderful collection of titles.
Our Results
In the strong competition of the international show, our Beagles definitely stood out and presented themselves in the best light. The judging went briskly, and our boys impressed not only with their typical Beagle elegance, but also with their excellent condition and movement presentation.
Here is an overview of how we did in Rumanova:
- Jeff (junior class): Excellent 1, CAJC, CACIB-J, BOS
- Falco (working class): Excellent 1, CAC, res.CACIB
Young Jeff entered the junior class with tremendous enthusiasm, taking home not only first place with an Excellent 1 grade and the CAJC title, but also the international junior title CACIB-J. The icing on the cake was the prestigious BOS (Best of Opposite Sex) title, which is a fantastic achievement at such a young age and brought us immense joy.
Our proven worker Falco competed in the working class and confirmed his qualities. He claimed the Excellent 1 award along with the CAC title, adding the res.CACIB title in the final runoff for adult dogs. Both boys delivered steady, confident performances and perfectly represented our Dukes of the South kennel.
Atmosphere and the Day's Flow
The entire event took place on the grounds of the local sports field, which in itself gave the show a specific character. The arrival was completely seamless – the organizers deserve great credit for organizing parking right next to the grounds. There was no need to haul crates, tents, and all the show gear across half the village, which is always appreciated after an early wake-up call and a long drive.
The September weather was on our side. It was a truly pleasant start to autumn, with the sun warm enough without making it too hot for the dogs, while exhibitors didn't have to freeze in their jackets. The showground was bustling right from the morning, the aroma of morning coffee mingled with excited barking, and an overall relaxed, friendly atmosphere prevailed.
However, if there was one thing that deserved significant improvement for the future, it was the space within the venue itself. Between the individual rings, near the entrances, and pretty much everywhere around, space was very tight. Once exhibitors arrived with tents, crates, grooming tables, and their four-legged companions, unnecessary bottlenecks formed in the aisles, making maneuvering quite challenging at times. A slightly more generous layout of the grounds would have certainly benefited the entire event and reduced unnecessary stress while waiting to enter the ring.
On the other hand, the catering facilities deserve huge praise. The selection of food and drinks for both exhibitors and visitors was plentiful and tasty, and the service was quick. One could peacefully enjoy a good lunch and discuss impressions with fellow breeders.
An absolute balm for the soul (and paws) was the lovely adjacent forest park directly bordering the grounds. For exhibitors with dogs, it was literally an oasis of calm. Between judging rounds, we headed there for walks with both Jeffrey and Falco. The dogs could comfortably relieve themselves, have a good sniff, and relax on the grass under the trees away from the show bustle and cramped ringside space. For beagles, who need to clear their heads and release pent-up energy before entering the ring, it was an absolutely ideal environment.
In Conclusion
Despite the minor spatial compromises, we rate the show day in Rumanová as exceptionally successful. Beautiful Indian summer weather, a great crowd of people, the forest park just steps away, and above all, the outstanding presentation of both our dogs made this Sunday another unforgettable highlight in our canine season.
A big thank you goes to Otakar Vondrouš for his support and help throughout the entire show day.
We headed home to the Czech Republic tired, but thoroughly satisfied and proud of how our beagles from Dukes of the South performed. We are already looking forward to the next show challenges still ahead of us this year!