NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
We all thought that life was beginning to return to some kind of normal with severe Covid cases appearing to drop, and although we all still need to be careful, we were looking forward to Crufts, then on 24th February Russia invaded Ukraine and the world was again turned upside down. The news showing the terrifying atrocities and devastation with the unimaginable cost to the people and animals of Ukraine, the pictures of people fleeing with their pets, dogs cats birds and even a turtle leaves one with a feeling of helplessness of how one may help. Donations and praying that somehow a ceasefire may be negotiated and showing support Ukraine seems all that we can do.
Pastoral day at Crufts was the Thursday and when we walked into Hall four there was a kind of feeling déjà vu, but it was not same, yes there were the big rings covered in green carpet, the benches and the exhibitors but the changes had started when we received our passes, instead of being sent to everyone this year there were emailed and had to be printed off and were scanned on arrival and departure instead of being handed in. Then there were number of well know stands missing, a number having advertised deals online for their products during Crufts as the they would not be attending, back in 2020 many stands pulled out just before the show so I assume this year they thought it would be safer not to go. Also, back in 2020 all the talk was of Covid and there were hand sanitisers everywhere, and the dogs were having to get used to the smell on owners’ hands, this year there were some hand sanitisers and some people were wearing masks, but the most noticeable thing were Blue & Yellow ribbon lapel badges being worn by so many people, as well as I am sure you will have noticed by a number of the Group judges, some also had Blue and Yellow ties, and a number of exhibitors wore Blue and Yellow clothes. There were also collecting boxes on all the KC stands for people to donate money which is going to be added to the £50,000 being donated by the KC, to help the people and dogs of Ukraine.
It was though a fantastic day for the breed although it did start on a sad note, as on the Wednesday evening we learnt that Judy Hearson (Jumasue) had withdrawn from her judging appointment in the breed. Judy will not have done this lightly and I am sure whatever the reason we all wish her well. Our replacement judge was Steve Hall also known as ‘Mr Blackpool’ as he has been secretary of Blackpool Ch show for many years. He has also judged both the Working and Pastoral Groups at Crufts and he is approved by the FCI to judge every breed approved by the KC and is approved by the KC to judge more than 40 breeds and BIS. He has judged the breed on 5 occasions the last being at City of Birmingham in 2018, when we had CCs there. He was also judging 45 Portuguese Water Dogs in a ring adjacent to our benches, mid-morning there seemed to a number of security personnel men around, we then realised that judging in the Portuguese Water Dogs had stopped as HRH Prince Michael of Kent who is president of Crufts was chatting to Steve and exhibitors in the ring.
We were in after 71 Samoyeds who had a late start of 10.30am so we knew we would not be in after lunch, we decided therefore to have our picnic first, as usual we could have fed half the NEC but it was nice to sit down and catch up with friends, it was also Jenny Shorer- Wheeler’s 40th birthday the Monday after Crufts so Kirsty with son Callum’s help had made her a lovely birthday cake with icing in mauve Jenny’s favourite colour and to her embarrassment, we all sang Happy Birthday.
Judging started just after 2pm and Steve found his DCC and BOB in Nancy Kent and Jacqui and Michael Cobb’s Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold at Knytshall (Jamie) handled as usual by his breeder Jenny Shorer-Wheeler, he is by Ch/Can Ch Kyon’s Bold Norseman x Ch Maidofcopper For Koromandel (Imp Fin)(Pikka).This was his 19th CC he also has 13 RCCs, it was also his third consecutive BOB at Crufts, this is no mean feat the last dog to do this was Debbie Penniston Fleming’s Am/Uk Ch Visions Dino At Trollheimen(Imp US) who was BOB from 2013-15, other dogs have been BOB three times but not many have had consecutive BOBs. Jenny’s Pikka Jamie’s dam won the BCC 3 consecutive times but was never BOB.
RDCC his 3rd Marie and Adam Camm’s Kligenthal Almuric(Bergen) he is by Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farah x Koromandel Gild The Lily (Hildy) who is Jamie’s litter sister. The dog results were the same as Manchester Ch show earlier this year. BCC her 6th she also has 6 RCCs Maddy Norman’s Ch Arnscroft Deliah at Veekay(Lottie). She is by Ch Arnscroft Di To Be A Sailor x Ch Arnscoft Di Or Comply. RBCC her 3rd Kirsty Irvine’s Kimura’s Vera with Tapui(Imp Nor )(Betty) she also has 3CCs and is by Multi Ch Kimura’s Peer Gynt x Nor Ch Kimura’s Nelly. BP making the trip over from Northern Ireland worthwhile, Sue Sercombe’s Trelowen Forest Gump (AI) handled as usual by daughter Jacqui, he won the RDCC at LKA and is by Ch/Ir Ch Trelowen Conar Tun x Ch Trelowen Dizzy Rascal.
The Pastoral Group judge was Jeff Horswell who had already given Jamie a CC, when he gave him a second at Leeds after becoming our replacement judge when Bethany Chambers was unwell, so there was hope that he might consider Jamie favourably in the group. It very thrilling when he made it into the final cut of 9 from a super group of dogs. I have been in the breed 30yrs and can only remember 2 occasions when a Buhund has been placed in a group at Crufts, the first one was in the Working group before the group was split, so to make it into the cut was fabulous to watch.
Jenny had a busy Crufts, some of you will have heard her announcing the dogs as they went into some of the groups.
Next week my notes will be about Discover Dogs such an important part of introducing the breed to a wider audience.
The weekend before Crufts Sarah Stonton took Jack aka Ch Arnscroft In Di Ana Jack RL1EX 1EX to Peterborough for a Level 2 Scent Trial, which he won gaining full marks in a time of 221 seconds for all 4 searches, which was 179 seconds faster than the second placed dog, so congratulations it is not easy to win a trial.
Stay safe everyone, Covid numbers are on the rise again so be careful.
Margaret Deuchar margaretdeuchar@gmail.com
The 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