The FCI World Championships took place the weekend of September 6-7, 1997 in Nitra in the Slovakian Republic. Here are the first three places, plus the results of the 9th-place USA team.

1. ISHIKURA HIDEO-JAPAN-97-97-98 = 292 ---GSD
2. BRUNA XAVIER-FRANCE-100-96-95 = 291 ---Malinois
3. HOREJSI MILAN -CZECH-95-96-99 = 290 --GSD

30. DINNENA PAUL A- USA-90-88-91 =269 GSD-ANOV VON DER RODERBURG
41. ATKINS RICHARD-USA-70-94-94 = 258 GSD-DRAGO VOM NEUEN SPECIAL BLUD
45. BALU JEAN CLAUDE USA-76-75-96=247 MALINOIS FAUST DO CHENIL de FRANCE
67. DINNENA JOUCE BURDETTE-USA-22-85-90 = 197 GSD-DACHS vom LISTER TOR
72. DR. JACOBSON MAY USA-20-83-90 =193-DOBERMAN Ch.CHALMARS THE BIG RED ONE

84 dogs competed; 46 passed tracking; 38 failed. Some members of the Belgian team commented that it was like tracking on concrete. USA FCI Team alternate Carolyn Dawson reports that "The tracking fields were consistent (ploughed dirt, with a small amount of grass). On Thursday and Saturday it rained at night, which made it very mucky in the morning. In the afternoon it was dry. That made some conditions very tough."

For next year, Belgium will have two teams at the World Championships. This was decided at the WUSV meeting after the Siegerschau. This is something both organisations here in Belgium (Flemish speaking and French speaking) have been trying to force through for years.

Schutzhund has been officially recognised by the FCI, something the late Hermann Martin had been striving for. This should allow countries like Belgium to have schutzhund trials instead of having to compete in IPO at home and then switch over to schutzhund for the Worlds.

It was also said that there is a great chance that the Worlds in Boston next year will commence on Thursday instead of Friday because of the large amount of entries that are expected -- anything up to 160 dogs are expected. This means in-training will take place on Wednesday and the actual competition will start on Thursday.

A full report of the '97 FCI World Championships can be found on the AKI Polish Club of Schutzhund web site.