NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
I cannot believe that we are at the end of another month. Despite it being such a difficult year the months seem galloping by, probably in some way just as well as hopefully it means that we are nearer having a treatment or vaccine for Covid.
Last weekend should have been our Ch show. When we went into lockdown in March we cancelled our AGM and Fun day and moved our open show which should have been held with Working and Pastoral Ch show in July, to the Ch show date where we also hoped to be able hold our AGM. The Ch judge was happy to move to next year, and at the time the KC was suggesting it was unlikely an event could be held before the end of September. On August 15th, the KC issued further guidelines, “saying a society should ensure that best efforts are undertaken to ensure that the venue/ground is Covid-19 safe, in line with government advice including risk assessments. All clubs must appoint a Covid safety officer whose is to monitor and oversee that Covid -19 prevention procedures are maintained throughout the day. The Covid safety officer must be named on the event schedule”. Following a discussion amongst the committee there was a majority decision for the show to go ahead, but there would be no AGM. The KC has said that this year’s AGM can be held on the same day as next year’s so long as both are separate events.
The show was to be held in the car park of Stanton Village Hall Burton On Trent. The schedules were sent out with a closing date just 2 weeks before show, no cheques were cashed, numbers of those attending was limited, the one time being a small numerical breed helped, and the judge knew that the show might be cancelled at the last minute.
The Covid officer was our Secretary Jenny Shorer-Wheeler, there was a Covid Secure statement page in the schedule. There would be a QR code poster that could be scanned by those with the government app or a track and trace document to be signed, for those that did not have the app. The show would be held outside regardless of the weather, everyone had to stay in their cars except when exhibiting their dogs, with the cars spaced out in the carpark. Everyone would have to wear a face covering and classes would be called by the steward using a white board, everyone had to take their own refreshments.
In the event the show went ahead with all the Covid guidelines being kept, there were also other canine activities including an agility show, and a Collie breed show on the same day, but with the winter weather fast approaching, I am not sure that there will be many more events till well into next year.
The judge for the show was Neil Hood (Bucafrey), he found his BD & BIS in my and daughter Debbie’s Rikarlo Gable JW, (Time ) by Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold at Knytshall x Kimura’s Vera at Tapui. RBD& BVIS Jenny & Isaac Shorer -Wheeler & Kirsty Irvine’s Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farrah of Koromandel JW ShCM by Ch Visions Dino of Trollheimen x Arnscroft Di Sing On Ice. Best Black Dog Jacqui Walmsley’s Blakk Exstacy Van Koekies Ranch(ImpNed) by Ned Ch Med Hjartas ssar x Int ChYrsa-Jitze Fra Den Norske Garden. RBIS, BOS & BB Jenny Shorer -Wheeler’s Ch Maidofcopper for Kormandel JW (Imp Fin) (Piika) by Nor Ch Gnipagrpttens QU x Multi Ch Cipacan Mila Magia. RBB & Best Black in Show Lisa & Alex Strong’s Leggatts Dancing Queen At Draccus(Eris) by Frostisen Winsome x Knytshall Noor Ul Ain. Sadly, there were no puppies. Once the main winners had been declared, as it was a club show there were further classes to decide the ‘best of’ for each class, dogs v bitches. Best Junior & Best Novice was Mair Corin’s Kligenthal Almuric(Bergen) by Mo x Koromandel Gild the Lily. Best Yearling Mary Dosson’s Kligenthal Bran Mac Morn who is litter brother to Bergen. Best Post Graduate Eris. Limit winner Time. Best Open Piika Best Veteran Mo.Best Vintage Veteran my and daughter Debbie’s Ch/Bel Ch Tonylynn’s Charles Lafitte AW(P)RL2EX by Ch Olpenden Malachy at Parvodene JW ShCM. Special Working Time. Special Class Not Bred by Exhibitor was won by Eris. Bred by Exhibitor was won by Jacqui & Michael Cobb and Nancy Kent’s Knytshall Diamond Ted by Ch Arnscroft Di Nah Sawr Us Rex ShCM x Ch Trelowen Veryan at Knytshall.
Very many thanks to Neil Hood for judging under rather weird circumstances and also for providing lovely sashes to the main winners, and cookie cutters in the shape of a Buhund, expertly made by Tom Glibbery. Thanks also to Julian Collins for stewarding so expertly, to Alysha Branchflower who was official photographer for show, and last but not least Nancy Kent who made little cardboard boxes for those placed in each class, they contained the award card the rosette a few little goodies for owner/handler and a toy for the dog, many were rope toys that had been made by Nancy during lockdown. The boxes were on a table so they could be collected as the competitor left the ring.
It was great to have two new members attending, Marie with Bergen and Mary with Teddy, this was their first show as the puppies had not been 6months till just after Crufts, now they are out of Puppy and in Junior and may well be out of Junior when shows start up again. They did really well, and I hope to see them both in the ring next year.
The weather stayed dry for most of the show although it was windy and rather cold, but when the photos were being taken for the top awards it started to drizzle, and as the ‘best of’ classes were being judged the rain became heavier and as the show finished the heavens opened and the rain was torrential. I think we did well though as the agility show had rain all day which eventually flooded the jumping ring!
I have really enjoyed writing about an actual show for the first time in almost 8 months, but I expect it will be many more months before I can write about another one.
Stay safe everyone and I hope to see you all next year at some point.
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.