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Hungarian Mission in Zalaegerszeg: Sunshine, Great Results, and a Solid Dose of Patience
On the first weekend of October, we and our kennel Dukes of the South headed abroad, specifically to Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. For the two-day national dog show, which was held …
Hungarian Mission in Zalaegerszeg: Sun, Great Results, and a Solid Dose of Patience
On the first weekend of October, our Dukes of the South kennel headed abroad, specifically to Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. We set off for the two-day national dog show, held on October 3–4, 2026, with two irons in the fire – the experienced champion Falco and our promising young junior, Jeff. We brought home not only fantastic show results and kickstarted Hungarian championships, but also plenty of colorful impressions from the event's organization.
Saturday, October 3: A Fantastic Debut for the Young Blood
Saturday kicked off brilliantly in the Beagle ring. Jeff was the first to enter the ring in the junior class. He showed off in full glory, earning an Excellent 1, the CAJC title, and subsequently Best of Junior (BOJ). But it didn't end there for our youngster – Jeff also shone in the competition for adult Best of Breed, taking home the highest, prestigious BOB title!
Falco, competing in the champion class, was not to be outdone. He won his class with ease, graded Exc. 1, and added a CAC title to his name. With this success, he kicked off his journey toward the Hungarian Grand Champion title, while Jeff took his first step toward becoming a Hungarian Junior Champion.
Judge: Lovas Ferenc (HU)
Sunday, October 4: Falco Takes BOB and Fulfills the Toughest Goal
On Sunday, we entered the show ring eager to follow up on Saturday's success. Jeff once again confirmed his consistent form in the junior class, earning Exc. 1, CAJC, and the BOJ title.
This time, however, it was Falco who reigned supreme in the final showdown. In the champion class, he secured Exc. 1, CAC, and went on to win the BOB title. By taking Best of Breed, Falco met the hardest requirement on the path to becoming a Hungarian Grand Champion, which made us immensely happy.
Judge: Orcsik István (SRB)
Results
Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Jeff (Junior Class): Excellent 1, CAJC, BOJ, BOB
- Falco (Champion Class): Excellent 1, CAC
Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Jeff (Junior Class): Excellent 1, CAJC, BOJ
- Falco (Champion Class): Excellent 1, CAC, BOB
Atmosphere and the Weekend's Events
Throughout the entire weekend, we enjoyed very pleasant, sunny weather, which highlighted the appeal of the venue itself. The show was held on very nice grounds by a natural swimming lake. There was plenty of shade, the facilities offered ample refreshments, and a welcome bonus was the option to pay by card (parking cost a fair 6 euros).
However, the organization brought a few awkward moments. The schedule got completely out of hand for the organizers, and an hour-and-a-half delay for the final competitions was no exception. An unpleasant surprise was also finding out that all prizes were distributed exclusively after completing the final ring, something that was not even mentioned in the official show regulations.
A ring for the currently rather controversial hobby class also drew attention. Non-pedigree dogs were judged there, and they subsequently took part in the final BIS competitions as well, which still feels somewhat strange in the official show world.
Despite the organizational hiccups and the endless wait for the finals, we rate the trip to Zalaegerszeg with top marks. Our beagles showed in great condition, both BOB titles stayed with us, and the foundations for new championships have been successfully laid.
All of us—two-legged and four-legged alike—thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and we will continue on our journey toward earning those Hungarian titles.