As one is never enough, we had decided to get a bitch as company for Kai, and also to show and work. We met Myra and
Keith Butler (Kaytoo) at some Championship Shows we were at with Kai and visited them in North Yorkshire to meet their dogs. We knew
and admired Kiki from the show ring and were thrilled that she was being mated to
Paco, imported from the
Lago Degli Orsi Kennels in Italy and then owned by Walt and Kath Howarth (Hawkam).
We visited the pups several times before we went to pick up our beautiful Elke in November. As soon as we got her home, Kai was completely smitten and has looked after her ever since.
Elke has the sweetest
temperament and is well known for her extremely laid back approach to
showing.
Elke's show career got off to a great start when she won
Best Puppy, Best Of Breed and went on to win the Working Puppy Group at a local Open Show in 2002. Since then she has never looked back.
She qualified for Crufts each year with the exception of 2008. After a short break during most of 2008 she is now showing more regularly in the
Veteran classes and qualified for Crufts 2010 with a 2nd place in Veteran at
Crufts 2009!
Her successes to date include:
at Championship Shows:
15 x 1st in Breed and Rare Breed Classes including -
1st Limit Bitch - Crufts 2005 (judge: Dave Killilea)
plus:
1 x Best Puppy in Breed (SKC Aug 2002)
1 x Best Rare Breed Puppy (Blackpool 2002)
1 x Best Opposite Sex Puppy (Blackpool 2002)
3 x Reserve Best Bitch (Wk & Past Breeds Ass of Scotland 2002 & 2005
& SKC Aug 2006)
1 x Best Rare Breed (Darlington 2003)
and at Open Show Level:
17 x 1st in Breed, Rare Breed & NSC classes including -
1st Postgraduate Bitch - AMCUK Show May 2003
(judge: Barbara Stanier)
1st Postgraduate Bitch - AMCUK Show September 2003 (judge: Frank Kane)
1st Limit Bitch & 1st Special Rescue Open Bitch Stakes - AMCUK Show September 2005
(judge: Stuart Mallard & John Phillips)
plus:
2 x Best Puppy in
Breed 1 x Puppy Group 1
1 x Puppy Group 2
2 x Best NSC
5 x Best of Breed
2 x Group 3
1 x Group 2
Elke has also been consistently placed in the Top
Bitch and Top Malamute classes of the Malamute of the Year competition run by
the Alaskan Malamutes Club of the UK.
2002 - 7th Top Puppy
2003 - 4th Special Beginner
2004 - 9th Top Bitch & 18th
Top Malamute
2005 - 9th Top Bitch & 18th
Top Malamute
2006 - 11th Top Bitch & 19th
Top Malamute
2008 - 20th Top Veteran
2009 - 11th Top Veteran
see
more pictures of elke
some of the
judges comments
"Very nice type with a lovely outline. Good
feminine head with dark eye & correct earset. Good reach of
neck. Good front & forelegs with short strong pasterns. Good
rear drive giving correct movement when viewed from behind. Well shown
& presented"
Barbara Stanier, 1st Postgraguate Bitch, AMCUK Show May 2003
***********
"Excellent class for depth of quality...beautiful moving,
in excellent coat & condition, feminine head but still strong, lovely
pigment & legs, came into her own on the move with excellent force from the
rear & good stride, holding a correct topline."
Frank Kane, 1st Postgraduate Bitch, AMCUK Show, September 2003
***********
"Won this class with some to spare. In full bloom,
lovely front & feet, strong rear, excellent head, good thick ears, correct
eye, strong neck, correct shape, very clean on the move with excellent side
gait."
Dave Killilea, 1st Limit Bitch, Crufts ,March 2005
**********
"Very
nice bitch, very nice head, very good movement. Out of coat but deserved
to be recognised for her very positive attributes."
Ron Menaker (USA), 2nd Limit Bitch, Blackpool, June 2006
**********
"
Last judged her when a puppy winning Junior in 2002 & how she has progressed
as I hoped she would, now a mature bitch with very feminine features but still
with the the strength & substance I want in a Malamute, very pleasing head,
good ears, eyes & bite, plenty of length in neck & excellent topline
made her look great in profile."
Roger Cruden, 1st Limit, Barrow, March 2006
**********
"Very
heavy build but still with good outline. Beautiful head, eyes & ears,
strong and rather thick neck, strong straight front, well boned, very deep &
wide chest, wide thighs, good tail, parallel hocks, very true mover."
Terry Thorn, 2nd Limit Bitch, SKC, May 2006
**********
"All
round nice bitch, well constructed & well muscled, nice harsh coat, correct
topline & pleasing head, moved very well showing efficient drive."
Keith Givens, 2nd Limit Bitch & RBB, SKC, August 2006
**********
"Very eyecatching pretty bitch
of good height to length ratio, good bone & coat, moving soundly all round."
Anthony P Rees, 1st Limit Bitch, Driffield, September 2007
**********
"Another really super bitch I
loved her stance so natural and firm, A really good outline that was one of
quality and strength with good balance, very sweet expression that charmed you,
strong arched neck, good deep ribbing that was well back, covered in a good
thick jacket, I felt these two bitches where hard to split, presented in tip top
condition."
Steve Hall, 2nd Veteran Bitch, Crufts, March 2009
**********
"8 years bitch, grand
old lady enjoying her day out, very much in her mother's mould, super
make & shape, pretty head, super dark eye, good ear, thick coat,
good bone & tidy feet. Sound but careful on the move so she
had to give way to the younger dog but I did like her very much."
Jenny Shorer-Wheeler, 1st Open, Barrow, October 2009
**********
"Litter
sister to 1st. She also was in good hard condition with plenty of
substance and moved soundly, she has a pleasing head with nice eye &
ear size, shape & placement. She has a good overall look with
correct harsh coat."
Keith Givens, 2nd Veteran Dog / Bitch, National Working &
Pastoral Breed, July 2010
**********
