Dirk Volders aus Belgien

Before saying a word of myself, I first want to thank the DRC to invite me as one of the judges for judging The German Cup. I’m very honored with this invitation !

I bought my first dog in 1991, a golden retriever, just to have a pet dog.
A year later I met a person by coincidence, who went hunting with his Labradors.
That was the start of what it is now, a passion.

In the nineties I had 3 goldens which I took with me for picking-up. Then I bought my first Labrador dog in 2001 by the Goodwood Kennel.
With my first Labrador dog, Goodwood Zenith, I had a few victories on workingtests and Field Trials.

The real rapids in handling of Labradors came with B & Int. FT. Ch. Enjoy des Quatre Cyprès.
Enjoy gave me all a retriever can give his handler. Very nice dog who won many Field Trials in Belgium and abroad. He was also the reason that my next dogs should be out of Enjoy.
His daughter, Jane des Ormeaux de Villebeton and his son Fendawood Huntsman “Hunter” I both also made them up to Belgian & International Field Trial Champion.
The next challenge will be his grandson Jersey Girls Young Blood, and try to bring him also to this level.

The highlights which I have reached with my dogs are the victories with the Belgium team on the Coupe d’Europe in Denmark 2009 and France 2011, and winning 2 times the ICC (the previous EC) with Enjoy in Germany in 2010 and with Jane in Denmark in 2018.

Beside the successes with my dogs. For me is having pleasure and joy with them even more important. On training, picking-up, in competition, but of course also at home ….

Since 2012 I’m an official FCI judge, and judged already many times WT, MT and FT in Europe.

Looking forward to see everybody and I wish all participants a lot of success and hope they all enjoying these two days.
Keep the sportsmanship high !!

Dirk Volders