Celebrating 50 Years of the Weimaraner Klub Group Nordrhein-Westfalen The Major Herber Memorial HZP (Autumn Breed Test) with CACIT And the Founding of the International Weimaraner Klub (IWK)

A Legacy Rekindled 

On the weekend of 14 September 2025, an exciting new chapter was written into the rich tapestry of the Weimaraner’s history. Hosted in the scenic town of Billerbeck, deep in the rural province of Westphalia, this year’s Major Herber Memorial HZP marked not only a pinnacle event in the Weimaraner calendar—but a turning point for the breed globally. 

This year also celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Weimaraner Klub Group Nordrhein-Westfalen, which had the honour of hosting the prestigious HZP. In a weekend packed with tradition, excellence, and promise, Weimaraner enthusiasts from across Europe and beyond came together to honour the past, celebrate the present, and lay the foundation for the breed’s future. 

Origins in the Mists of Time 

The Weimaraner’s history stretches back to the early 19th century, when the Count of Weimar began breeding these silver-grey hunting dogs for his foresters and gamekeepers—and as gifts for aristocratic allies across Europe. It took until 1890 for the first official studbook to be created, followed by the founding of the Weimaraner Klub in 1897 under the name Verein zur Reinzucht des silbergrauen Weimaraner Vorstehhundes. 

From that point forward, the breed was protected by strict breeding regulations—no crossbreeding permitted—ensuring the preservation of the Weimaraner’s unique working character and striking appearance.  

Who Was Major Herber? 

Major Herber (1867–1946) is rightfully known as the Father of the Weimaraner. When he assumed leadership of the Klub in 1921, in the wake of WWI, the club had dwindled to just 21 members. For the next 25 years, including the dark years of WWII, Herber worked tirelessly to preserve the breed’s integrity. 

Even when the Weimaraner Klub was forcibly merged with the German Shorthaired Pointer association by the National Socialist regime, Herber continued to maintain his own studbook, protecting the breed’s purity. 

He was a staunch advocate for hardness, tenacity, and especially the desire to retrieve—qualities he considered non-negotiable. In his words, breeding dogs without these traits meant “robbing the breed of its existential right.” To honour his unwavering dedication, the Major Herber Memorial HZP has been held annually in Germany since 1951. 

2025 Major Herber HZP – A Test of Excellence 

This year’s event promised to bring together 21 Weimaraners and their handlers. Unfortunately, six teams were withdrawn due to unforeseen circumstances, but the remaining competitors demonstrated exceptional skill and temperament. 

The test evaluated dogs across a range of key working traits: 
– Use of nose and search patterns 
– Pointing ability 
– Tracking and retrieving furred and feathered game 
– Water work (incl. retrieves) 
– Desire to work, obedience, and steadiness to gunfire 

 

One dog did not pass the test, but the event culminated in a standout performance from Jana vom Isarmünd, handled by Erwin Köhler, who earned 190 out of 193 possible points and was awarded CACIT honours. 

The evening concluded with a festive traditional dinner and cheerful camaraderie among friends—some of whom, it is rumoured, only found their beds by first light. 

Breeding Show & Best in Show 

The following day featured the official breed show, with 17 dogs (both smooth and long-haired) presented, alongside 5 stud dogs available for evaluation by breeders. 

The Best of Breed (BOB) and Best in Show (BIS) title went to Walter vom Emstal, a magnificent male embodying the classical Weimaraner type—powerful, balanced, and true to form. 

The Birth of the International Weimaraner Klub (IWK) 

Perhaps the most significant outcome of the weekend—and one with global implications—was the founding of the International Weimaraner Klub (IWK). 

Exactly 135 years after the first studbook was established and 74 years after the breed’s post-WWII revival, eight national Weimaraner clubs united in Billerbeck to form a new global body dedicated to the preservation, protection, and development of the Weimaraner as a versatile, forceful hunting dog. 

Founding Member Nations: 
– Austria 
– Belgium 
– Czech Republic 
– Denmark 
– Germany 
– Netherlands 
– Slovakia 
– South Africa 

More clubs all over the world announced their intention to join the IWK in the future, but could not be present at the founding meeting. 

The first President of the IWK is Mr. Jürgen Donhauser (Chairman of the German Weimaraner Club), with Mr. Miloslav Novác (Chairman of the Czech Republic’s Club) serving as Vice President. 

To ensure momentum, several working groups were immediately established, with goals set for cooperative breeding standards, international testing frameworks, and shared health data. In the coming months, we can expect a wave of new initiatives and stories as this alliance builds a united future for the breed we all cherish. 

Conclusion 

From the fields of Westphalia to the pages of a new global chapter, this historic weekend was more than a celebration—it was a declaration of unity and purpose. The Weimaraner, a breed forged in history and honed by tradition, now steps forward into a new era with a strong international community behind it. 

And so, with proud hearts and our faithful dogs at our feet, we look ahead—knowing that the legacy of the grey ghost lives on.