Norwegian Elkhound Club of Great Britain

NORWEGIAN ELKHOUND CLUB OF GB, April 6

ROBERT GREAVES MEMORIAL STAKES - My thanks to the club for inviting me to judge these classes held in memory of one of the dog world’s most loyal supporters who contributed so much to the breed and who will be missed for many years to come. Thank you also for your kind hospitality and for the delicious Sunday lunch. Elkhounders have a reputation for sportsmanship and for being willing to work together for the breed - long may it last. I appreciated the entry in these classes and had some top class examples to go over.

PG (3) 1 McHugh’s Kamgaard Kloudberry Jam for Conrick, headstrong yearling at the teenage stage but with a lot of promise, the framework is there & he just needs time to fill it out. Admired his head proportions, unquestionably male but without coarseness, super small ears of the correct shape, dark eyes, scored on his lovely clean neckline into smooth shoulders, well boned into correct feet, well set tail, needs to body up but had an excellent topline, short loin & balanced angulation, one of the better movers behind, absolutely true, can tighten a bit in front action but when he settled looked well going round. Will be interested to see him in full maturity which I suspect will take some time to reach; 2 Mortimer’s Laakso Julaften, a close decision here between two contrasting styles as this junior girl had much to admire & though younger scored on maturity. Quality head, well carried ears if slightly bigger then winner, super bone, front & feet, well bodied, good tail set, moved well in front, a shade close behind. For me winner scored slightly on a cleaner neck line & a slightly more balanced side gait on the final go-round but sure that Julaften will also catch many an eye; 3 Payne’s Bowerhinton Bakuto. O (4) 1 Simms’ Ch Aftonlee Aros at Elverdal, this handsome male just shouts ‘quality’ & is hard to ignore, showed beautifully here & displayed the smartest of outlines, topped off by a well presented coat of eyecatching colour. Lovely head type with correct balance of skull to muzzle, well carried ears, dark well shaped eye, the right amount of slightly arched neck into clean shoulders, excellent topline & tail set, well bodied with short loin, beautifully balanced overall with matching angles each end, true front, correct feet, moved soundly with great style and an unexaggerated rhythmic gait. Can imagine he will end up with quite a collection of tickets. Best in stakes; 2 Hennessey’s Laakso Esko, handsome well made boy with a quality head and sensible expression, OK neck, good upper arm, decent bone, good topline & body shape, a shade more hind angulation than 1, stood a little wide in front at times. Another with quality if not quite the masculine presence as winner.; 3 Benner’s Graythor Loves The Luxor. V (5) An especially enjoyable class to go over as one would hope for in this slow maturing but long lasting breed. 1 Simms’ Ch Seasara Earl Grey, caught my eye straight away for his super overall balance & lack of any sort of exaggeration, with his steady showmanship he made the most of his chances, admired his good male head type, dark slightly oval eyes, well set and sized ears, has a lovely clean line through his neck & shoulder into a firm level topline finished off by a well set & carried tail. Correct bone for his size, neat feet, in good coat & condition, carried himself beautifully going round keeping his shape and with a smooth side gait. Splitting hairs for the top spot, pleased but not surprised to find that the eventual winner was his son; 2 Stephenson’s Bowerhinton Bangalore at Brawdor, fine upstanding dog of a slightly taller type, another all-male boy with a handsome head, correct neck, good bone, straight front but feet could be better shaped, powerful hindquarters, steady side gait & sound coming & going, Just preferred overall balance of 1 but was in tremendous form & condition at 9 years & earned his place in a top quality class; 3 Mortimer’s Ch Laakso Canute.

SIMON PARSONS