As all happy families are happy in the same manner, and all the unfortunate in different way, some successful exhibitions also pass both easily and joyfully, and unsuccessful ones become those due to a lot of different reasons.

Only annual dog exhibitions of domestic breeds (Central Asian sheep-dogs, Caucasian sheep-dog and Buryat - Mongolian wolfhounds adjoined to them for the time being as a breed group) have been organized successively by the animal fanciers’ Club "Blago-Convent" for already several years in September beneath gray walls of the Kremlin in Kolomna. This fact denies our assumption of similarity of successful exhibitions as against each other.

Each "Autumn legend" conceals an incomprehensible riddle in itself. What may be the reason of the attractiveness of this modest, even timid, taking place silently and kindly and at the same time precisely, in an organized way, without bustle, especially without abuse, spiteful bark and bites exhibition of dogs which owners even more willingly go to this cozy city notwithstanding the distance (80 kms from Moscow). They still count days up to the following meeting, let even with their rivals, but on the same forest clearing, under high trees with their first autumn foliage falling away. Here, as well as at any exhibition, the First prize is only one, however, there are some less important, but they are for those who have taken the first places. Of course, from almost 300 dogs only some were awarded prizes. But "Autumn legend" differs from other exhibitions, and the difference is that one shouldn’t take offence if the other got the victory. Here it wouldn’t occur to anybody to mutter: "the judges are bought ".

And what different dog owners this exhibition unites! Here are refined intellectuals who are in love with CASD breed for its high intellectual opportunities, and modest workers, doctors, teachers and dense robust fellows with finger-thick golden chains around their necks, and even mysterious individuals accompanied by bodyguards. And what a "parade" of cars is collected near the clearing where the rings pass, - from dirty "copeyka" up to such luxurious shining jeeps that could be rarely seen even in Moscow.

Unshakable love to the breed worthy of such devoted love unites there both owners of CASD and CSD, and spectators. Sometimes it happens - the dog falls ill, there is no opportunity to bring it or there are still any other causes, but the owners still go to Kolomna to attend "Autumn legend", tough even without dogs, but just to support others, take a breath of this exhibition stirring air, communicate, talk about different matters including weather.

By the way, about the weather. I have already written for many times: in Moscow it rains, there are clouds, a wind blowing, and over the clearing in Kolomna there is a warm sun and the light-blue sky. But this time for the first time the morning in Moscow was clear; the sky was first clear, but on the approach to Kolomna large drops of rain started knocking at the bus windscreens. And while there was an exhibition, it was raining too.

That was just a lovely weather for Asians, Caucasians and Buryat-Mongolian wolfdogs. Everyone was exhausted by the summer - dogs, and people, - its unusual heat and fires, therefore the rain was especially necessary for the four-footed. However, their external appearance suffered somehow: washed and brushed before the exhibition to be shown "to the public" dogs felt like normally under a cool rain, though dirty up to the paunch. And all the visitors didn't either growl at the rain, but from time to time, observing the events on the rings, even didn’t pay any attention to it, forgetting about their umbrellas as they prevented to watch, notwithstanding their feet got wet through and heads were as after the shower.

Meanwhile sisters of the Holy Trinity New Golutvin convent were laying the tables near the rings for all the visitors of the exhibition, furnishing them with glasses with hot tea made from curative grasses collected with a prayer, rolls with fried eggs and cheese. And there was a miracle: nobody caught a cold, or fell ill after this exhibition! Everyone who was coming back home along the roads eroded by the rain kept only the best recollections of it.

What a wonderful exhibition: being the real modesty, its glory still crossed the borders of Russia, and the first visitors from foreign countries were Seppo and Irina Ranta. They not only came to Kolomna from suburbs of a small Finnish town Salo themselves, but also brought dogs and prizes.

At “Autumn legend - 2002" the visitors saw a tremendous show: 16 BMW (the Buryat-Mongolian wolfhounds) gathered together for the first time in the world! Dogs of this breed, according to responses of the owners, are extremely clever; they can grasp the borders of their territory, the owner and his family just in a moment. BMW are fine security guards, they are now working in the convent too, having understood at once what is required from them. Marika Terengulova, an enthusiast and "opener" of this breed for us, who arrived to the exhibition from Buryatiya, and Eugenya Manykina from Moscow who became the first there to deal with this breed, were honorable guests of "Autumn legend".

"Autumn legend" collects more and more owners and simple admirers of dogs of domestic breeds each year. The glory of its hospitality, friendliness, impartiality grows. "Autumn legend" becomes a legend itself - it has all the reasons for this: here dogs and people love each other, and this sincere friendliness is invaluable today.

See you on September, 7 and good luck to organizers of "Autumn legend - 2003".

Natalia Dmitrieva

In the pictures:

1. CASD Champion of Russia Orthodox Convent Erkhan (owner A.Burykin), 1-st exc., СС in Intermediate class.
2. The Best Breed Representative Orthodox Convent Ezel (owner A.Burykin).
3. Vice-president ORK CASD Mr. Seppo Ranta (Finland) gives a special prize of Finnish kennels-club to CASD Rottis Alliance Babay (owner Malkin), CW in Cub class.
4. CASD Champion of Russia Eremey (owner Mareeva), CW, CCC, the Best dog of the exhibition.
5. CASD Orthodox Convent Lanzhu (owner N.Andrianova) - the Best cub.
6. CASD Batyrkhan (owner Poletaev), the Best baby.
7. CASD Orthodox Convent Zhasur-Tibet (owner – Kennels "Convent"), СС, 2 exc. in Champion class.
8. CASD Champion of Russia Orthodox Convent Bayburi (owner I.Danilicheva), СС, 2 exc. in Champion class.
9. CASD Akhtar (owner I.Berchansky, Kolomna), CW, СС in Winner class.
10. CASD Bassara Jan (owner N.Smirnova, Yaroslavl), 2^nd champion in Cub class, with young handler Dasha Smirnova.
11. CSD Greta (owner Abashidze, producer T.Yagodkina) CCC, CW in Intermediate class.
12. CSD Russian Risk Lord (owner Abashidze, producer T.Yagodkina), the Best junior.
13. CSD Vorzel (owner Samarin) 1-st exc., СС in Open class.
14. CSD Groznaya Staya Viking (owner Atryakhin), СС, CW in Intermediate class.
15. Marika Terengulova with sisters of the Holy Trinity New Golutvin convent who took up upbringing first Buryat-Mongolian wolfhounds.
16. BMW Vasilia became the Best breed representative (BBR), its owner - Eugenya Manykina (Moscow) was the first to congratulate it.
17. Experts L.V.Zhitkova, М.G. Ovsyannikova, hegumene Xenia and BBR Orthodox Convent Ezel (owner A.Burykin).
18. Hegumene Xenia hands over a memorable gift to Mr. Seppo Ranta (Finland), Vice-President of ORK "CASD".

Information by phone in Kolomna

15-25-33, 14-75-07,

Code 26 (for Moscow and Moscow region),

0966 - for other regions.