NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
The Nordic open show is organised by the Finish Spitz Club and is the only show in the UK for just Spitz breeds, unlike FCI countries where Group 5 is for Spitz and primitive breeds, in the UK the Spitz breeds are split over all 5groups. The show has been held for over 50 yrs and is the only show where you can see the diminutive Pomeranians in the same ring as the Canadian Eskimo Dog, holding their own in the numerous stakes classes. When it first started the show was held in the summer but for many years now it has been in late November, at the Sky Blue Connexion Coventry. Not the most popular time of the year with some exhibitors when it is dark by 4pm and it can be very cold, one year it even snowed lightly. This year no such problems for the show which was held was on Saturday 23rd November .The show opened at 9am with Junior Handling and 9yr old Isaac Shorer-Wheeler was third in a strong 6-11yr old class, judged by one of the top junior handlers Robyn Arnall. He was handling his Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farah of Kormandel JW ShCM who he co owns with his mother Jenny and Kirsty Gillies. We were in the same ring, but after 17 Finish Lapphunds and 28 Siberian Huskies, going in just after noon. We had a good entry and a very quality one, every dog entered apart from the puppies had a least a RCC. The good entry was partly due to the fact that the committee had a meeting in one of the rooms upstairs after the judging, so most committee member had also entered their dogs. Our judge was Britt Marie Young who gives CCs in 6 Breeds in the Pastoral Group 1 in the Working Group and 1 in the Utility Group. She found her BP in Millie Lambert’s Sturtmoor’s Free’n Eezee(Sheira) who was 7months on the day, and has had phenomenal start to showing career, starting with BP & RBB at Midland Counties followed by 2 BOB with Group 2 and 4 placing in adult groups and 5 BP wins with 3 puppy groups wins. BOB was my and daughter Debbie’s Rikarlo Gable (Time) with RBOB going to Lillian and Michael Rumsey’s Ch Arnscroft Di Nah May who was also BVIB. The show committee decided that as last year the AV Varieties classes would be held after BIS & BPIS which were judged by David Cavill, and the RBOB competition judged by Kevin Young, as they wanted a good audience for these. There were no success for the breed in theses,however in the Varieties classes also judged by David Cavill it was different ,with Buhunds being placed in the top 3 in all the AV classes they entered. The first one was Veteran where my and daughter Debbie’s Ch/Bel Ch Tonylynn’s Charles LafitteAW(P)R2(EX) was third. In AV Puppy Jenny & Ollie Shorer- Wheeler and Dawn Deeley’s Sturtmoor Ffascination with Kormandel(Fable) was also third handled by breeder Millie, as Jenny being club secretary was in the club meeting. Fable is Sheira’s litter sister. Next was Junior which was won by Time. Last but by no means least was Not Bred by Exhibitor, where Lisa and Alex Strong’s Leggatts Dancing Queen At Draccus(Eris) was second. This was the last class of the day and it was nearly 4pm, so only those participating and their supporters were left, with the show being taken down around them. So, whether it is best to have these classes before or after BIS I do not know, either way by the end of the show most exhibitors will have left.
The same day across the Irish Sea the Cloghran All Breed Ch Show was held in Dublin, where under Mr J Hanlon GSD & BOB was Brenda and Tony Bethells Ir Ch Zodiac’s Featuring Fredrik of Minforst Jun Ch CW19. He now has 18GS and 21RGS and 3 CACIB’s, so is not yet an International Ch as he needs 4 CACIB’S for this. GSB & RBOB the same owners Ir Ch Minforst Gladriel CW19, she has 14GS &8RGS and4 CACIB’S but is not an Int Ch either and can’t be till March 2020,as there must be a year and a day between winning the first and last CACIB.RGSB Kerry & Fritz Frost, Addrienne Frost Treadwell, Jacqui Walmsley and Caro Flanagan’s Leggatts Gimmegimmegimme from Frostisen, who is Eris’s litter sister so a successes for the sisters in two countries on the same day.
It was a busy day for the breed as back in the UK, Poole Canine Society’s Dorset Top Dog Competition was being held, for which Jacqui Walmsley’s Blakk Extacy Van Koekie’s Ranch (Imp Ned) (Moley) had qualified. To qualify dogs must have a CC, RCC or a group placing. Jacqui said it was not Moley’s day but she had a lovely day with great company and food. Win or lose it is always a great way to advertise the breed, and he had qualified.
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.