CH/DUTCH CH/GER CH/ DEBUCHER LE BARBU

20/2/1997 - 6/4/2011

"Barbu" was put to sleep today after a severe stroke. Fortunately, I was with him and able to keep him peaceful in his last moments.

Barbu was not just a great show dog but an endearing character at home. He put the GBGV on the map in the UK. He won Best in Show at the "Winners" Show in Amsterdam in 2000 becoming a Dutch Champion. He was subsequently Top Hound and no.7 All Breeds in the UK in 2001 winning 3 Hound Groups. He returned to Europe and became a World/German and European Champion also winning Best in Show at Hannover. In 2003 he was Reserve Best in Show at the "Winners" Show in Amsterdam, I believe this is the only time a dog has achieved these two awards.

He was the kindest dog with a brilliant attitude and willing to please both at home and in the ring. Top Grand Basset for 8 years, he also won Best of Breed five times at Crufts. He became the first UK GBGV Champion winning his first CC at Crufts under Jessica Holm and subsequent two from Zena Thorn Andrews and Mark Cocozza at 9 years of age!

He loved running in the woods but never strayed far from me. His best friend for 14 years was Debucher Jaromir who is still with me and missing his old friend . " Jaro" has now come into the house and is with "Sophie" Debucher Sauve Qui Peut, Barbu’s grand daughter, who won the first bitch CC at Crufts with him in 2006.

His legacy lives on but to me he is completely irreplaceable.

VIVIEN PHILLIPS.

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This is the story of Barbu - so that he will be remembered!

On 20th February, 1997 Efficace du Roc de Deymier had a litter. It was to be her last, as she was 7 ½ years old. She had been mated to the first GBGV imported via the Balai Directive and this was to be his first litter. He was Bien Fait du Greffier du Roi.

From this litter we kept a dog and a bitch. Debucher Le Barbu (photo 1) and Debucher Lyrique. At 11 months of age Barbu had already notched up his first BOB at a championship show and in 1998 he was top GBGV. He continued an excellent show career in the UK including BIS at the BGV Club Championship Show in 1999 under judge Mogens Hansen.

In 2000 he was once more Top GBGV in the UK and with his Passport travelled in October to Holland with Jolanda Huisman who began showing him in the Netherlands. Unbeaten he went to the Winners Show in Amsterdam and became the first British dog in Europe to get a BIS.

He gained his Dutch Title at the end of 2000 notching up another BIS in show at Wijchen and returned to the UK in time for Crufts where once again he was BOB.. In 2001 he was unbeaten once more and in June gained his first Hound Group under judge Terry Thorn at Blackpool Championship Show (Photo 3),. This was followed by two more groups at Windsor (Judge Ellis Hulme) and Peterborough (Judge Pat Clayton) He ended 2001 as Top Hound and no 7 top dog all breeds a fantastic achievement for what was still regarded in the UK as a "Rare Breed" He also gained BOB once more in Holland at the Winners Show.

2002 and Barbu won the Champion Class at the National d’Elevage in France and then the CAC at the World Show in Amsterdam. He returned to become top GBGV for the 4th year and his 3rd BIS at the BGV Champ Show!

He returned to Holland in 2003 and Jolanda, now his co owner took him to Germany where he gained his German title and then we went on to the World Show in Dortmund where he once more received the CACIB under Renaud Buche and then on to France where he won the Champion Class again and travelled back to Germany to win BIS in Hanover (Photo 4) and then completed the year by winning RBIS at the Winners Show in Amsterdam (photo 5) IN the UK inspite of his travels he was once more Top GBGV in the UK.

In 2004 Barbu was still showing his heart out although now 7 and a veteran. and winning Best Scent Hound at the Houndshow handled by Jolanda Huisman (Photo 6) and completing his 6th year as top GBGV. Crufts 2005 was his 4th BOB win at this great show and he was short listed in the hound Group. He was shown sparingly but still managed to be joint top GBGV and BOB and Reserve BIS at the BGV Club Show. He also entered Veteran Stakes at some championship shows, and was Reserve Best Veteran in the stakes at Birmingham National He also won Group 2 at Southern Counties under judge Hans Lehtinen.

Barbu is now 9 and finally the breed was fully recognised by the KC and at Crufts in 2006 we had our first CCs on offer. Barbu, who now did not have time on his side won the first ever CC awarded in the UK (Judge Jessica Holm) (Photo 7) His son over from Holland won the Reserve CC (photo 8) and his Grand daughter Debucher Sauve Qui Peut, co owned by my grand daughter Amelia won the Bitch CC handled by my daughter Meredith (photo 9).

Barbu then went on to win his second CC in Scotland at SKC under judge Zena Thorn Andrews and gained his title at Southern Counties under Mark Cocozza (photo 10) Barbu was now a UK Champion as well as Dutch, German and World champion. A great ambassador for the breed with an amazing show career.

 

Although now semi retired except for forays in Veteran class and Stakes, his son En Rigolant du Greffier du Roi has achieved his Dutch and International Title and his grand children Debucher Sauve Qui Peut, Debucher Savoir Faire and more recently Debucher Yorrick are making their mark in the show ring.

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