A fabulous day was had at the NECGB AGM and Contest of Champions yesterday.
Firstly, the points trophies were awarded for wins over the course of 2016. Mya (Grasilva Cruggleton With Laakso), owned by Tanja Mortimer was confirmed as the top-winning Norwegian elkhound puppy of 2016. She is by our Kobi out of Ch Grasilva Gwendoline Mary (a daughter of my Raider). Flint (Grasilva Little Rock Avec Gilkaro JW), bred by Bryony Gray and Vanessa McHugh and owned by Alan and Helen Tress and Katherine Gilluley had to make do with the trophy for top male puppy. However, he was also confirmed as the top points-winning male Norwegian elkhound in the UK in 2016! At the other end of the age spectrum, Kobi (SBIS Am Gr Ch/Can Ch Kamgaard Kut Above) was named as the top-winning veteran of last year. He is co-owned by Stuart Horner with Sally Simmonds and Maggie Mott. Top brood bitch in the UK (based on points won by offspring over the course of the year) was Flint's mother Siri (Am Ch Kamgaard Kiamesha), co-owned by Bryony Gray and Vanessa McHugh. Later in the day and at the same venue, the Contest of Champions took place, and this time, Flint came out on top as the Puppy of the Year, with litter sister, Bryony's own Tia (Grasilva Silver Vine), chosen as Puppy Bitch of the Year. Flint was also the winning male in the Stud Book Challenge. We are excited to see what the future holds for these and other young dogs connected to us.
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The first Championship show of the New Year was Manchester, where Norwegian judge Espen Engh dealt with a large entry of Norwegian Elkhounds.
Kobi (Am Gr Ch/Can Ch Kamgaard Kut Above) was awarded the RCC, his second. Describing Kobi as a very attractive dog with excellent type and quality, Herr Engh was very complimentary in his critique. The star of the show was young Tia (Grasilva Silver Vine), Siri's daughter, who was awarded her first CC with BOB. Siri herself won the Open Bitch class, putting in a good performance. Tia is owned by Bryony Gray and was co-bred by Bryony and Vanessa. Siri (Am Ch Kamgaard Kiamesha) won the RCC at Midland Counties for the second year running, this time under Serena Parker. She was once again handled by her co-breeder, Maggie Mott (Kamgaard). "Eyecatching girl with everything in the right place, lovely head & expression, correct forehand, good body, tailset & hindquarters. She moved true both ways & covered the ground well, shown in good coat & conditioning she was not disgraced with the RCC in such good company." This picture of Siri was taken earlier in the year, at East of England. She was not the only family member to find success on the day. Son Flint (Grasilva Little Rock Avec Gilkaro) won the other RCC and young daughter Tia (Grasilva Silver Vine) was Reserve Best Bitch at the NECGB Open Show, hled later in the day.
.....under a Scandinavian judge, no less. Leila Kärkäs from Finland rewarded Gunnar with the RCC at the show, which featured one of the largest entries of the year.
The CC winner was connected to Conrick Kennel too. Grasilva Little Rock Avec Gilkaro was co-bred by Vanessa and Bryony Gray. His dam is the co-owned Am Ch Kamgaard Kiamesha. Kobi (Am Gr Ch/Can Ch Kamgaard Kut Above) won his second CC, this time with Best of Breed, at Border Union under renowned breed specialist Lorraine Bolton (Rikarlo). Lorraine's family had a long association with the breed in the days when class entries were much larger and filled with quality dogs, which is not always the case today.
The judge's critique said "Nice size dog epitomising the elusive balance between substance/strength & agility/athleticism, that is so much a part of the essence of an Elkhound & which is so difficult to get right. Strong body, well ribbed back, good depth of brisket & deep, short & wide loin. Spot on for topline & bottom line. Excellent tailset & curl. Not over angulated in rear, (the curse of the modern show dog), & this balances nicely with front. I would like a tad more breadth of skull. He appears to be a bit short in neck when standing, but I was reassured on further examination that this is not so, rather an extraordinarily thick ruff. He was true moving front & rear & was nicely balanced in profile. Very pleased to award him the CC & BOB." Kobi was 1st in AVNSC Hound Open and Best AVNSC Hound under Dorothy Grayson-Wood (Isiqa).
[First posted 27 December 2015]
Gee (Ch. Grasilva Gwendoline Mary), the top-winning daughter of our Raider, was safely delivered of a litter of three puppies by our Kobi (SBIS Am Grand Ch & Can Ch Kamgaard Kut Above). Congratulations to the breeder, Bryony Gray. Interest in a litter with such a fabulous pedigree was intense, as can be imagined, and all three of the puppies will be debuting in the ring in the autumn of 2016. We are so proud of the quality of the young offspring of our co-owned Kamgaard imports and look forward to competing with some of them in the years to come. Many thanks for entrusting both Kobi and Siri to us, Maggie and Sally, and making all this possible. The photo below depicts Grasilva Culderry, aged just under seven weeks. [First posted 12 December 2015]
LKA is the final Championship Show of the Year and Kobi wrapped up the year with a RCC under judge Drew Littlejohn (Arcuilean). Son Toki followed in his illustrious sire's footsteps (at times literally) with his own award - Best Puppy, putting in a sterling performance at only his second show for his novice owner/handler, Danni Medhurst. The video above (created by Dog World) shows father and son in action as the awards in the males were made. [First posted 24 October 2015]
Siri (Am Ch Kamgaard Kiamesha) made her debut this month and picked up the RCC here, at only her second show in the UK, under breed specialist Peter Hudson. She was handled by her co-breeder, Maggie Mott, with co-breeder Sally Simmonds looking on. Thank you, Maggie, for handling Siri so beautifully to this win. Siri is co-owned by Bryony Gray (Grasilva) and Vanessa McHugh (Conrick). [First posted 17 October 2015]
The Norwegian Elkhound Association of Scotland (NEAS) extended its legendary hospitality to our show team this week. We had a wonderful time at the show and the dinner in the evening! Breed specialist judge, Annelise Haugstad awarded CCs for the first time and found her Bitch CC winner, BOS and RBIS in a granddaughter of Raider, Grasilva Gee's Quest, owned by Bryony Gray. RCC in the Dogs was my Gunnar (Kinderhorn Espen of Conrick), seen here mid bark on the left of the photo, with his owner. |
Vanessa McHugh
I'm a second-generation Norwegian elkhound owner, exhibitor, breeder and judge. Archives
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