NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
Well, the heat is back, they say it will not be as bad as last time as there is not so much humidity, that as it may be but here in London as I start these notes it is 33 degrees which is quite hot enough, and now is turning into a long heatwave. With it comes cancellations of many canine activities, with Windsor of course being an example, sometimes small competitions and training sessions are moved to early mornings, but the welfare of the dogs must always come first. Scent work is particularly difficult as obviously the only way dogs can cool down is by panting so they cannot sniff and pant at the same time. The other interesting thing is how scent behaves in the heat, gun oil in particular dissipates very quickly so the dogs are just not able to find the hides particularly at the higher levels when the hides are often small and well hidden. So, the answer is to cancel or postpone to when you think it might be cooler! It is hard for the trainers many of whom earn their living by teaching and often have venues booked well in advance which must be paid for, and if people cannot make a rescheduled date, then they need a refund. One trainer joked she was moving to the Faroe Islands!
Not sure anyone would want to be on the committee of a Ch show at the moment, first Windsor now another heatwave Saturday 11th was National Working and Pastoral Ch show, held on its usual venue of the Three Counties Showground , which of course has cattle sheds which can be used in wet and hot weather, the exhibitors and judges were told they could decide on the day with rings set up both outside and inside, but no tents or gazebos are allowed on the ground .Then Thursday afternoon there was an announcement that Three Counties who own the showground said tents and gazebos would be allowed in certain areas but must be fixed to the ground, then everyone wanted to know if they would be judged inside or outside so whether they should bring the their tents etc or not ! at the same time it was announced our judge was not well so we along with 2 groups and the breeders class there would be a change of judge. Having run a large one-day horse show for many years I know only too well what a nightmare these changes cause along with the weather problems. Our judge should have been Gary Clarke who would have been giving CCs in the breed for the first time, so very sad as it is always special giving CCs for the first time in a breed and of course, we hope he makes a speedy recovery. Kevin Young was the replacement judge giving CCs in the breed for the 8th time, the last being at LKA last year and before that at Crufts in 2024.He gives CCs in 64 breeds across 5 groups with the most being in the Pastoral Group. We were first on the ring at 9am meaning it was an overnight stay for some or a very early start for others if they did not live locally, but it did mean we missed the worst of the heat. Kevin found his BOB & DCC in Millie Lambert’s homebred Sturtmoor’s Gon’n Dun It JW (Gunna), he is by Draccus Diamond Day O’ Buhcafrey x Ch Sturtmoor’s Free’n Eezee. This win gave him his crown, his first CC was at the club Ch show in April under Char John the second was at Birmingham National in May under Caroline Friend-Rees, so he has had a very successful 2026 in spite of having to miss 2CC shows, as Millie judged Crufts and of course Windsor was cancelled, he also has 3 RCCs. He was later shortlisted in the Pastoral Group under Derek Smith. RDCC his 8th Jenny Shorer -Wheeler’s Ch Koromandel Tusen Takk (ai)JW ShCEx OSW (Muchly) he also has s 24CC he is by Trollheimens JR Made For Cascillus x Sturtmoor Ffacination With Koromandel. BPD & BP Bridget & Chris Curnow’s Draccus Yin (Magnus) by Tapui Haraldsson at Jjavacobe x Ch Leggatts Dancing Queen At Draccus , he has a RCC and was later puppy Group 4 under Lynn Salt, handled by Anne Marie Taylor. BCC her 5th Ollie Wheeler’s Ch Knytshall Thistle Ink It Up Koromandel JW (Inky), she is by Koromandel Best Served Cold At Knytshall x Knytshall Eloise she also has 3RCCs. RBCC her 5th Anne -Marie and David & Mary Taylor’s Ir Ch Frostisen Blakk Zitter (Penny), she is by Ir Ch Leggatts Fernando From Frostisen (Imp UK ) x Ir Ch Kyon’s Dronningen Av Frostisen (Imp Can) she also has a CC.BVB & BV Jacqui Walmsley and the Frostisen Kennel’s Trelowen Amelia At Frostisen VW she is by Ch Trelowen Conar Tun x Trelowen Lola.
Following on from her success at Boston Ch show 11yr old Bethany Guillod- Rees had more success here as she won the Pastoral Junior Handling 6-11, qualifying her for the final in October at Stoneleigh, she was handling her and her parents Dr Jo and Nick Guillod -Rees Draccus Obsidian at Bucamereru (Ruby),the judge was Heather Vine. It was a hot day with the sun beating down from a cloudless blue sky, but made bearable as there was a lovely breeze and shade under the trees.
The next day the club held its Open show in conjunction with Evesham Premier Open show which also has Buhund classes held on the same venue as the day before. Those not living locally stayed overnight and some just came for Evesham and the club show. The judge for Evesham was Jackie Mackenzie she found her BOB in Millie Lambert’s Sturtmoor’s Gon’n Dun It JW (Gunna) RBOB Ollie Wheeler’s Ch Knytshall Thistle Ink It Up Koromandel JW (Inky)BP Bridget & Chris Curnow’s Draccus Yin (Magnus) so the same CC and BP result as the day before. Later in the day Gunna was PG 2 under Sophie Wray-Ramsden giving him his final points for his Show Certificate of Excellence (ShCEx) and Open Show Winner (OSW). For this he had to gain 50 points at open shows, 1pt for BOB 4pts for winning the group down to 1 for 4th and 5 extra points for BIS, so not easy to do and at the moment there are only 3 other Buhunds to have gained the awards. So, a brilliant weekend for them having become a Champion the day before.
Anne -Marie Taylor’s Ir Ch Frostisen Blakk Zitter (Penny)also had a good day winning the Ch Stakes under Karen Bird with some nice prize money.
The judge for the club show which followed the Evesham judging was Dr Elisabeth Ashcroft who is a Level 2 judge for the breed. BIS Jenny Shorer -Wheeler’s Ch Koromandel Tusen Takk (ai)JW ShCEx OSW. RBIS Millie Lambert’s ’s Sturtmoor’s Gon’n Dun It JW (Gunna)BOS Sue Cocker and Jasmine Freeborn’s Leggatt’s Superstition (Franny)RBB.BV& Best Black Sue and Jasmine’s Leggatts Voulez Vous (Tissy) BP Bridget & Chris Curnow’s Draccus Yin (Magnus.) Luckily the judging was all finished by lunchtime before the worst of the heat kicked in.
I will give more details of the club show in next week’s notes.
I finish with many congratulations to Lucy Beatrice Gilbert who has married her fiancé Dan and is now Mrs Stevens.
Margaret Deuchar margaretdeuchar@gmail.com
Any views expressed in Margaret’s Breed Notes are hers and hers alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK