The top dog, who won the Best in Show award at the Parkes and District Kennel Club annual championship over the long weekend, is widely considered the best Dobermann in Australia at the moment. Neo (Supreme Champion Ikons Chosen One) has won 37 Best in Show awards all over Australia. His owner, Daniel Filipovic, has had him since birth 3.5 years ago.
They have come from near Geelong for the second year to the Parkes championship. Another dog from Victoria Lumi, a Finnish Lapphund, won Runner-up Best in Show with owner Bianca Ralphs. Bianca comes from Wodonga, but her parents live in Parkes. It was the biggest prize her dog has ever won.
Up to 100 dog owners with 350 dogs came from as far as Perth to take part in the event with three all breeds championships shows over two days. Richard Madden, President of the Parkes and District Kennel said various reasons made it attractive for participants to travel to Parkes. These included the quality of the field and competition, catching up with other dog owners, chasing a title and the format of the show.
Neo and his owner Daniel Filipovic also won the inaugural Murray Maguire Memorial Trophy as winner of the first show. The trophy was introduced in recognition of the recent passing of Murray, a member of the Parkes Club. The show was a great opportunity to view many different breeds of dogs and their many talents. Beautifully groomed and exotics breeds were in action including a Hungarian Vizsla, Afghan Hound, Pug, Tibetan Spaniel, Pomeranian, Affenpinscher, Pointer, Norwegian Elkhound, Borzoi, Beagle and many more.
By Maggi Barnard