NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
You will I am sure know by now that I am very interested in various dog disciplines. Before the Pandemic there were several Buhunds competing in Rally mine included, but recently it has been more or less left to Jacqui Cobb with Eloise and Bear to keep the Buhund flag flying in this discipline.
Rally exercises originated in pure Obedience and is known by several names Rally O in the USA and Rally Obedience in the Nordic Countries, where it has gained wide popularity, but regulations vary from Country to Country and so they have to work to harmonize the rules for the Nordic Rally Championships, where there is a combination of exercises used in the highest competitions from the competing countries Denmark, Finland Norway, and Sweden. The exercises have been divided into different categories depending on their level of difficulty 1point 2points 3points and 4points.A Nordic Championship course must consist of 18-20 exercises, of which at least three are from level 2 three from level 3 and five from level 4. This year the Championships were held in Norway 17th -19th November, the competition moves round to a different participating country each year. The Nordic Championship consists of a team championship and an individual championship and runs over two days. On the first day, there are two rounds for all participants. These rounds define the team results and the first two rounds for the individual championship. On the second day, there is one round for all the participants which is the individual final. The championships are held inside on artificial grass. Stine Strander writes (translated from Norwegian) ‘I live close to Lillehammer with my partner and two Norwegian Buhunds. Dogs are the big love in my life, and it became extra fun when I started competing and our team bond developed into what I have today. I started with Obedience and Agility before I was hooked on Rally Obedience. Keira (Fantejentas Caja) has never competed in anything else. I have competed in Rally Obedience since 2016 and Keira made her debut in it one year later. I am very focused and have a well-developed competitive instinct. I will not give up and work very hard when I have set a goal I want to achieve. My understanding and knowledge of my dogs is very good, Keira loves to train Rally Obedience, she shows lots of energy and great endurance and one of her cute things is that she is very pleased with herself, after succeeding in something we are working on. Keira is very sweet, and our bond is very strong which makes her really give it all when we do things together’ This year Stine had a dream, that they would finally stand on the Podium, having been fifth last year. On the Saturday she and Keira helped the Norwegian team to the silver medal in the team competition. They were ranked number 4 individually before the final. They had to stay away from the competition to the very last minute and keep nerves under control. Stine had her wish as Keira won the silver medal with 1120 points only beaten by a Golden Retriever from Sweden with 1128 points. They are hoping to be picked for the first world championships next year in Torku, Finland. I was interested to see that they run a ‘White Dog’(an experienced dog) over the course first to make sure the course is doable, which is something we have in scent competitions to make sure the scent hides can be found.
Now to showing, The Nordic show this year was held as usual at The Sports Connexion Ryton on Dunsmore Coventry on Saturday 25th November. Many years ago, it was held in the summer and was very popular but for many years now it has been on the last weekend in November, so it does not clash with any Ch show. Sadly, though not the most popular time of the year with some exhibitors when it is dark by 4pm, and in previous years there has also been snow, although this year although it was very cold it was sunny with no sign of snow. I always love the show seeing the diminutive Pom strutting around the BIS ring with the Alaskan Malamute. We had a good entry, but the highest entries were for Japanese Spitz closely followed by the Elkhounds, the show manager told me that the entries were up by 40 this year, although the breeds that had good entries last year tended to be down a little this year and up for the others. It is also a show where I can catch up with Elkhound friends having had Elkhounds for many years with the Buhunds, as the Hound and Pastoral Groups are very seldom on the same day at Ch shows. I was thrilled that Jill Cowper and Gill Bingham’s Graythor Augustus At Rothenborg (Tass) was BPIS under Clare Boggia he is just 10 months old and already has 3CCs &2RCCS. Our judge this year was Debbie Stansbury who gives CCs in 9 Pastoral Breeds and 9 Working Breeds and had travelled all the way up from Cornwall to judge. She found her BOB in Jacqui Walmsley’s Trelowen Amelia At Frostisen (Bunny), she is co-owned by the Frostisen Kennel in Eire but lives with Jacqui in the West Country, RBOB was Dr Jo, Nick and Bethany Guillod -Rees, Draccus Obsidian At Buamereru (Ruby) handled by daughter Bethany, she also won the Junior handling 6-11yrs and was later was Group 5 in the RBOB competition winning money, so I think you could say, they had a good day at the office! BP was Lisa and Alex Strongs, Draccus I Have A Dream (AI)(Raven), so it was great to Buhunds competing for all three final awards at the show. The show also has several stakes classes and Jacqui’s Frostisen Blakk Zitter (Penny)handled as usual by Anne Marie Taylor with whom she lives, was 2ndin the AV Nordic Open Stakes winning treat money and 2nd in the AV Open Stakes both under judge Clare Boggia. The same day at the All-Breed Ch Show held at the National Show Centre in Dublin under judge Mr H Stanley, Frostisen’s Int/Ir Ch Trelowen Aviator At Frostisen (Maggit) Bunny’s litter brother was Green Star Dog (CC) &BOB and Penny’s litter sister was GSB. Shows in Eire are of course run under FCI rules with Buhunds in Group 5 for Spitz and Primitive Breeds
It was Marie Corin’s Birthday, she had brought some liquid refreshment with her so that we could all help her celebrate, and Jenny had brought some of her special cakes to accompany the liquid refreshment!
After the show several exhibitors headed further up north for the Sedgley & Gornal Premier Open Show, will give you the results of this next week.
Stay safe everyone Covid is still with us.
Margaret Deuchar margaretdeuchar@gmail.com