Newsletter June 26, 2013

Plan for the future of the FCI

With a little over a century of history behind it, the FCI has a very promising future. I believe in this future, I believe in the FCI and I feel sure that in our hearts we know that, for the FCI, the best is still to come.

I have a vision of what the FCI should represent in the future, for every member country, for every breeder, for every competitor and for every dog owner. I see the FCI as a frontline organisation, which sets the tone for discussion in the international dog community, with a spirit of openness, in an atmosphere of intellectual dialogue and as a global brand which looks to the best interests of dogs and their owners worldwide.

Rafael de Santiago
President of the FCI

Greyhound Racing at Awans (BE) on 26 May

The sky was grey and threatening for the Maurice BARCHY Grand Prix organised by the CNBCL AWANS – the only club in the Wallonia region – at its facilities in the rue J.L. DEFRÊNE in AWANS. The track was, as always, excellent and well prepared by the volunteers, and played host to 73 whippets and 5 small Italian greyhounds. On this occasion at least, the dogs complied with FCI whippet and PLI standards, which has not always been the case at previous races. The dogs were divided into 8 categories over a distance of 344 metres. The winner’s vest for each category was, as always, presented by Ms Barchy, the daughter of a former mayor of Awans who was an aficionado of greyhound racing in his day.

The atmosphere during and between races was warm and friendly inside the cafeteria as well as outside, in spite of the cold weather. And even the cold weather was an advantage for the races and for the recovery of the dogs.

Anti-doping tests were carried out, with the results due in one month.

There were winners and there were losers, but they will all be meeting again in the coming weeks at other tracks with, undoubtedly, some very different results.

Results