FCI International CACIB Show Lahore

Mr. Hans Almgren

FCI JUDGE

Sweden

Hans Almgren was born into a hunting family in northern Sweden, where dogs were an essential part of everyday life. From an early age, he accompanied his father on hunts ranging from elk to waterfowl, gaining firsthand experience of the deep partnership between hunter and dog. His early admiration for the <strong>Norwegian Elkhound</strong>, known for its exceptional elk-herding abilities, and the Swedish <strong>Hamiltonst&ouml;vare</strong> laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong dedication to purebred dogs. Though he continues to maintain his family forest home in northern Sweden and participates in hunting when possible, his professional path soon expanded into breeding, exhibiting, and judging at the highest international levels. Hans began keeping <strong>Shih Tzu</strong> in the mid-1970s and started breeding in 1979. His first kennel prefix was <em>Bombers</em>, later continuing under the prefix <em>Adorenaline</em>. Over the decades, he has bred and owned 23 Champions, 3 World Winners, Sweden’s first <em>Champion of Champions</em> winner (1983), A <em>Veteran of Veterans</em> winner (1994), and a Sweden’s top-winning Toy/Utility dog for nearly ten consecutive years in the late 1980s and 1990s. One of his dogs still holds a remarkable record with over 55 FCI Group 9 First Placements. Earlier in his career, he also owned and exhibited <strong>Rottweiler</strong>, <strong>Briard</strong>, and currently owns a <strong>Wirehaired Dachshund</strong>. Certified as a judge by the <strong>Swedish Kennel Club</strong> in 1995, Hans Almgren has since built an extensive and respected international judging career. He is an FCI All-Breed (Allrounder) Judge, and a Best in Show Judge (since June 2015) He has officiated at prestigious events including the <strong>World Dog Show</strong> and the <strong>European Dog Show</strong>, as well as numerous championship shows across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. In the United Kingdom, he has been entrusted to award Challenge Certificates in nine breeds. He has judged extensively in countries including Japan, China, Thailand, the Philippines, South Africa, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Lebanon, and Vietnam. Alongside his distinguished career in the dog world, Hans spent 35 years as an IT manager in Stockholm. In this role, he led international teams responsible for maintaining IT systems for insurance companies, banks, and pension funds across multiple countries.

Ms. Annika

FCI

Sweden

Annika’s ’About me’: I have been involved on all levels in pedigree dogs for more than half a century under the kennel name Whisborne . I’ve produced over 180 champions in several breeds, mainly English Springers Spaniels and Lhasa Apsos, but I have also been involved and made up champions in American Cocker Spaniels (my original breed in which I became involved in the early 1970’s) , Shih-Tzus and several other breeds. In 2006, I won Top Dog all breeds in Norway with a Shih-tzu. However, the Springers have been particularly successful and include group-winners all over Europe, as well as four FCI World Winners. Ch Whisborne Devil in Disguise, also a Springer, was one of our best dogs and his record includes group wins at FCI World Shows . The Lhasas have also been successful at the highest level all over the world and have won numerous Best in Shows at championship show level in Scandinavia. Nowadays, the focus is very much on Dandie Dinmont Terriers, and dogs bred here have already won top awards including Terrier groups. The Whisborne prefix will be celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024. Judging has taken me to all corners of the world. I was first licensed to judge by my home country Norway in 1984 and became a very active allrounder in 2001, having regularly judged at major FCI shows and specialties on all continents and at FCI World and European Dog Shows. More recently, I’ve judged English Springers at Southern Counties Championship Show, England, which is my breed’s country of origin. In 2026, I’ll have the honour of judging BEST IN SHOW at the FCI European Dog Show in Stockholm, Sweden.