NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
Bank Holiday weekend was a very busy one for several Buhunds and their owners. On a rather wet Saturday morning August 24th ,it was North Devon Canine Association Premier Open Show held at The Matford Centre in Exeter, luckily the Buhunds were scheduled to be inside, the judge was Diane Stewart-Ritchie who gives CCS in 28 breeds across the Hound, Gundog and Utility Groups, she found her BOB in Mary & Coralie Dosson’s Kligenthal Bran Mak with their Leggatts Part Time Lover (Barnaby)as RBOB and BPIB. The next day it was Horley & District 812 class Premier Open Show held on the South Of England Show Ground, West Sussex. This is a very prestigious open show and was nominated for a Pawscars award this year, and although it did not win to be nominated showed how highly it is thought of. Sandie Tadd is the secretary and two of the committee members are Neil Hood and Lisa Strong, with Neil also being the chief steward. It has Junior Warrant Heat, and being a Premier show the 1-4 in each group qualifies for Crufts 2025, there is also a classification for every breed. Marie Corin said she had an early start as her and Adam Camm’s Bergen aka as (Ch Kligenthal Almuric) helped Bethany Guillod-Rees win the junior handling 6-11yrs, under judge Andrea Keepence -Keyte. There was a good entry for breed judge Gary Clarke who gives CCs in 8 Pastoral breeds, he found his BOB in Bergen with the same owners homebred Dexter (Mazads Nom de Plume) going RBOB, Marie thanked Jasmine Freeborn for handling him in the challenge. Jasmine also handled Sue Crocker’s Leggatt Superstition (Franny)to BPIB, and very generously offered £10 for BOB £5 for RBOB £10 for BPIB plus £3 £2 £1 in each class and Lisa & Alex Strong’s Draccus Buhunds sponsored some lovely rosettes for BOB, RBOB & BPIB. Bergen was also 2nd in the Champion Stakes under Jeff Horswell winning more money! and was shortlisted in the Pastoral Group under Jenny Shorer-Wheeler. The next day Bank holiday Monday there was more travelling for Sue and Jasmine as they headed up to Leicester City Canine Society show, held at The Sports Connexion Ryton on Dunsmore. The Buhund Judge was Lynn Vidak who gives CCs in Shetland Sheepdogs, she found her BOB in Sue Crocker’s Leggatts Jive Talkin (Noodle)with Jasmine handling Sue’s Franny who was BPIB.
In Eire the Munster circuit began with Clonmel on Sunday August 18th. The Circuit is a series of All Breed Ch Shows held under IKC rules in the province of Munster, with the shows being held every second day. The circuit is very popular with Exhibitors from the UK and further afield who often make a holiday of the circuit. The shows are like our open shows and there is no wet weather cover was so everyone needs to go prepared! I went with a group of Buhund and Elkhound exhibitors for many years up until the Foot & Mouth crisis stopped UK dogs going to Ireland, although Irish dogs could come over to the UK and then go back, which seemed rather odd! Debbie and I then started showing abroad and have never been back to Ireland, but we did have a great time with the late Elisabeth Coleopy naming our group as Bu Elks on Tour. My first Buhund and first show Elkhound both became Irish Champions. For some years now the IKC has been FCI, with 10 groups and you need 7 Green Stars for the dog to become an Irish Ch, the dog must also be graded Excellent before it can go forward for a Green Star, Buhunds and Elkhound are both in Group 5, Spitz and Primitive Breeds. Addrienne Frost- Treadwell has kindly sent me a report of this year’s circuit. Addrienne who along with her parents Kerry and Fritz Frost moved to Eire in 2006 and between them they have the Frostisen Kennel with their UK representative Jacqui Walmsley. ‘Circuit 2024 the Clonmel Judge was Dick McCoy (Ire) Int/Ir Ch Frostisen Yo Samity Sam (Broady) by Ir Ch Fabrajs Your Obedient Servant (Mr Burr) (Imp US) x Ir Jun Ch Leggatts Gimmegimmegimme (Imp UK) was graded VG as he did not show perfectly, harsh I thought but you can’t win them all! Then my Elkhound Barbelka Demon Dancer (Jack)and Ravenspring Daire (Freddie) the Kerry Beagle won BOB, so I had to stay all day, but it was worth the wait as Freddie was G4 in G6 Scent Hounds. Killarney was the second show Jenny and David Langford had come over from the UK, and stayed with me for a week’s holiday bringing with them Frostisen Zeffer (Loki), he has a RCC and is by Ir Ch Leggatts Fernando From Frostisen (Imp UK) x Ir Ch Kyon’s Dronningen Av Frostisen (Imp Can).He was graded Ex by judge Mr J Madden (Ire)who shortlisted him in the Group after awarding him the GSD & BOB. This was a warmup for the third show Limerick where he again won the GSD was BOB under International All Breed judge Alessandro Zeppi (Italy). GSB Caro Flanagan and the Frostisen’s Ir Ch Frostisen You Win Again (Skye) Broady’s litter sister. I had joked before the circuit that I planned to win two places in one group this year. Well Limerick was the show where it happened! I was showing Loki and running Jack as well. Loki was G2 and Jack G3 a stunning result. The judge Alessandro Zeppi gave Loki a fantastic critique and wanted to meet his owners and breeders to congratulate them. The last show of the circuit was Tralee on Saturday 24th the judge was Dione Fitzsimons. Loki was again GSD & BOB with Skye winning GSB. Brenda and Tony Bethell’s homebred Ir /Int Ch Minforst Gladriel (Ella)was RGSB and BV which now subject to IKC ratification means she will have her the title of Irish Veteran Champion, she is by Ir/Int Ch Zodiac’s Fredrik of Minforst(Imp Us) x Lux/Int/Ir Ch Arnscroft Glad Di Ola . Jack was also G4. The weather for the Irish show scene can be very variable, it is not much fun standing in the middle of the field with the raining pouring down, but then luck in the groups always helps and Loki pulled out all the stops. There was a great deal of down grading this year, lots of really picky judges some breeds totally downgraded like Broady at Clonmel ,so I was extremely grateful to walk away with 11 BOBs 13GS and 5 Group places and made up a Ch Junior Ch and a Vet Ch showing not only Loki, Jack and Freddie but also a White Swiss Sheperd a Finnish Lapphund and a Basset Hound so a very busy circuit . At the end of ¾ yr results in G5 Ir Ch Trelowen Aviator At Frostisen is 13th and Loki is joint 25th with Sue Sercombe’s Ir Ch Trelowen Forest Gump (ai).’ Thank you, Addrienne. I well remember showing our Papillion in the pouring rain on the circuit, with the dog under one arm and carrying an umbrella in the other hand to try and keep him dry, the Buhund and Elkhound just had to shake!
Margaret Deuchar margaredeuchar@gmail.com