NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
Pastoral Day at City of Birmingham was the Saturday, we have lost CCs there, they went to Leeds All Breed Ch Show. In the past they were one of the shows that had the hated single CC, that were brought in by the KC for breeds that did not have high numbers being shown. In spite of not being a ‘KC all breed show’, they scheduled all breeds this year, which I am sure all the numerically small breeds really appreciated. Those of you that take ‘Our Dogs,’ will have seen the fascinating article on how ‘The City’ which was celebrating its 75 Anniversary started. Apparently early in 1944 the Lord Mayor of Birmingham called a meeting, to discuss running another Exemption dog show in aid of the war effort. It was decided though that a bigger show would be better to aid the cause, so the ‘Brighter Birmingham City Canine Assoc’ was created. The show was held on 29th July 1944 at the ‘Big Top Exhibition Centre’ a site that was created by German bombing. At that first show there were 529 dogs with 137 classes, the show continued every year and was given Ch status in 1948 by the KC, and the name changed to City Of Birmingham Canine Association just before the first Ch show. This year there were 8,420dogs entered.
We had a change of judge this year as it was found the original judge, was not qualified to judge the number of classes scheduled. Jane Paradise took over the appointment, she gives CCs in 3 Pastoral breeds and 6 Utility. She found her BOB &BD in Sarah Stonton’s Ch Arnscoft In Di Ana Jack by Ch & Ir Ch Arnscroft Di To Be A Sailor Ir Jr Ch x Ch Arnscroft Di & Comply, he is on a roll at the moment. RBD & BVD Celia Vines Ch Ailort Highlander at Parvodene JW ShCM(Perry) by Ch Olpenden Malachy At Parvodene x Ch Fullani Farek At Ailort ShCM, it was lovely to have Celia and Perry back in the ring as Celia has not been very well lately. BP& BJ My and daughter Debbie’s Rikarlo Gable (Time) by Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold At Knytshall x Kimura Vera with Tapui (Imp Nor).BB & BV Sarah’s Trelowen Andrea AW(S)(Loxy)by Ch Trelowen Conar Tun x Trelowen Kyoo. RBB Jacqui & Michael Cobb and Nancy Kent’s Knytshall Angel Delight RL2EX by Ch Arnscroft Di Nah Sawr Us Rex x Ch Trelowen Veryan to Knytshall.BBP Jacqui, Michael and Nancy’s Knytshall Eloise by Blakk Extacy Van Koekie’s Ranch (Imp NLD) x Ch Trollheimen Elske to Knytshall (Imp USA). Congratulations to Sarah for doing the double.
We were last in the ring after 7 breeds, some of whom only had a couple of dogs entered but of course the paper work for each breed always takes time. It was 1.00pm before the ring was available to us.
This caused us a real problem as the National Australian Shepherd Association were hosting an extra Obreedience Competition at the show. It seemed a good idea to enter the team as we were all going to be there. The Obreedience team was Jacqui Cobb with Angel and Alysha Branchflower with Knytshall Moon of Josephine, Sarah Stonton with (Loxy), and myself with Ch/Bel Ch Tonylynn’s Charles Laffitte(Fizz ).When we entered the heat we did not know that we were going to be so late in the ring. The heat was due to start at 1pm as they thought everyone would be free by then. I went to the briefing at 12.30pm and explained the situation. We were drawn 3rd, but they were very accommodating and said we could go last. However, when I returned to the breed ring there was a delay, as there had been a problem in the previous breed. So we could have done the heel work at the allotted time. We had only just started, when the Obreedience steward came in and said they had finished the heel work and were starting the individual exercises, they suggested we could do those last and then do the heel work. At that point I should have withdrawn the team but hindsight is a wonderful thing. We went up to the ring when we had finished, which was on the grass just outside the old cattle sheds where most of the breed rings were situated. They were only half way through the set exercises so we sat and watched. The PA was awful and we could hardly hear what was going on in the other part of the show. There were three groups on Saturday, and we suddenly heard a group being called but could not hear which one. Thanks to Millie Lambert who had come to watch, having been there to show a smooth collie, she went to find out what was happening, with Sarah having dogs in two groups. Those of you who train dogs know that they can pattern, and the three that have been in the team the longest were defiantly thrown by doing the exercises first and not the heel work. Josephine did ‘Go To Bed’ and scored 6.Angel was doing ‘Stop on Command’ and tried to walk off, but Jacqui had not been given the start command, so was able to start properly and scored 7.Loxy said winning BB &BV in breed was enough and left the arena, and Fizz thought he would pick up the sponge toy, which was first in the line of scent items, rather than look for his cloth. We started the heel work but in the end withdrew the team, lessons learned. Jenny did get some nice photos though of the team, earlier she had been third in the Coventry Ladies handling with Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farrah For Koromandel. Millie returned to say the group order was Working, Terrier and Pastoral, but they were already on the terrier veteran group, so Sarah quickly made her way to the area where the groups were being held. In the end Sarah made both her groups and Time made the Junior and Puppy group, which was the last group of the day. We were thrilled when he was PG2 under judge Mary Deats, and as it was their Anniversary show all the group winners had lovely Rose Bowls, to go with the very nice medals all the top winners in the breed received .We were last to leave the hall, the only good thing was, we had been told the car park shut at 7pm! so we could bring the cars up to outside the hall, which was a definite plus, I could not have had mine any closer without being in the hall!
As well as an Obreedience heat, there was also testing for Bronze, Silver and Gold Good Citizen . The day certainly had its highs and lows, one of the highs was the fact that Lisa Strong’s Loki Snowflake &
Leggatts Dancing Queen at Draccus (Eris) both passed their Bronze Test which was no mean feat, with all that was going on. Congratulations Lisa. I would like to end by thanking, Millie and Lisa for staying to the end to support us and Sarah.
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