The Malta Kennel Club held its 10th international show at the Sports Complex in Cottonera in December.

The Final Group Judging, together with the Best in Show and Final Placing, were held on 8 December 2009 at the Excelsior Hotel.

The number of participants again exceeded past years’ records, including an encouraging number of foreign exhibitors. As a result of the record number of entries, the judging of the show had to be carried out by two judges, Luis Pinto Teixeira and Rui Oliveira, both from Portugal.

The event was a commemorative ceremony for the Malta Kennel Club as it was celebrating two important events in its history. The year 2009 will be remembered amongst the members as it was the 10th Anniversary of the club’s associate membership with the Federation Cynologique Internationale(FCI), a worldwide organisation of 83 member countries which is the world’s governing body for dogs.

Furthermore, in the same year – 5 October, 2009 – the club also celebrated its achievement of being elected to federal membership of the Federation Cynologique Internationale.

For this memorable occasion the Malta Kennel Club was honoured to host the presence of Yves De Clercq, who is the FCI Executive Director. During the ceremony Mr De Clercq presented the federal membership certificate of the Malta Kennel Club to Mr James Muscat, who is the President of the Malta Kennel Club.

The Club also presented a memento of the occasion to Mr De Clercq and to the two judges.

The show judging presented Palace Garden Marcell Livanda, a Pekingese owned by Mr & Mrs J. Sant Fournier, as the Best in Show, whilst the Reserve Best in Show was awarded to an Alaskan Malamute by the name of Multi Ch/Can/Am/International Ch Snow Quest King of Landwood, owned by Mr Dennis Ciappara and Mr Ivan Calleja. The Best Puppy in Show was Del Sur Andalusi Indiana Scout, a Pug owned by Mr & Mrs D. Hayman. The Show Judging ended with the award of the Best overall BIS winner of 2009 amongst the seven Best in Show winners of the year. This award was given to the Alaskan Malamute by the name of Multi Ch/Can/Am/International Ch Snow Quest King of Landwood owned by Mr Dennis Ciappara and Mr Ivan Calleja.