Judging record

On this page, you can read Michael and Wendy's Judging CVs, find details of upcoming appointments and see pictures of past appointments.

Michael & Wendy Sharman (Naraena Norwegian Elkhounds)

Our attraction to the breed was sealed in January 1972 when we purchased our first Norwegian Elkhound, Kym of the Hollow. We have observed the breed in Norway and the rest of Scandinavia since our first visit in 1987 as well as other countries around the globe and have enjoyed meeting many fellow enthusiasts.

Our kennel name, Naraena, was registered with the UK Kennel Club in 1980 and the first litter was whelped in 1981. Our breeding programme has been controlled by work commitments and desire for a new puppy. Several litters have introduced new bloodlines to the UK in order to improve the small gene pool. Most of our puppies have been sold as family pets over the years where temperament is so important. Unfortunately working ability has not been an option in the UK but the strong instinct is there and can be rekindled very easily. We personally delivered one puppy to a family in Holland who decided to take their dog into the showring. He earned the title of NL CH. Naraena Einar and is the sire of our INT CH CIB Elsa av Naraena. Puppies that we kept for ourselves should, in our opinion, have attained their titles had we been able to devote enough time to showing over the years.

Michael was the first to embark upon the judging ladder and Wendy followed shortly thereafter. Neither of us wanted to follow this course until we had learned as much as possible about the breed. To this end we attended events, seminars, etc., offered by the breed clubs and other canine authorities in the UK and during our travels abroad to Europe, Scandinavia and the USA.

Michael Sharman

Judges:
Norsk Älghund Grå (Norwegian Elkhound)

Michael was the first to embark upon the judging ladder when he was invited to judge at the Elkhound Association of Scotland's (now the Norwegian Elkhound Association of Scotland) Club Open Show in the spring of 1985. He awarded his first Certificates at the Hound Association of Scotland's Championship Show in 1990. He was in the centre of the ring at the Norwegian Elkhound Club of Great Britain's Championship Show in April 2008 and is looking forward to judging the breed at Crufts Dog Show in 2011.

He has judged the breed in the UK licensed by the UK Kennel Club, in Eire licensed by the Irish Kennel Club and in the USA licensed by the AKC. Under the agreement with the UK Kennel Club he can award CACs and CACIBs under the FCI.

Michael is a serving Officer of the Norwegian Elkhound Club of Great Britain, a post he has proudly held since his election in 1980, and is a member of the Norwegian Elkhound Breed Council. He has been an Associate Member of the Kennel Club since 1980 and is now a full Member. For many years he has been a Life Member of the Scottish Kennel Club.

Wendy Sharman

Judges:
Norsk Älghund Grå (Norwegian Elkhound)

Finsk Spets (Finnish Spitz)

Västgötaspets (Swedish Vallhund)

All breeds - Inofficiell Utställning

Wendy entered the middle of the ring for the first time at the South Eastern Hound Club's Open Show in March 1986 having owned the breed since 1972. She awarded her first Certificates at the Elkhound Association of Scotland's (now the Norwegian Elkhound Association of Scotland) Championship Show in October 1995 and has judged the breed in the USA licensed by the AKC. Under the agreement with the UK Kennel Club she can award CACs and CACIBs under the FCI.

Wendy has also judged Finnish Spitz at Open Show level since her first appointment in October 1993 at the Hound Club of East Anglia's Open Show. Having studied, attended seminars, passed the examination and judged the breed when invited over the years, her name now rests on the appropriate Finnish Spitz Judging List from whence she hopes to be invited and to award Certificates in the breed. Under the agreement with the UK Kennel Club she can award CACs under the FCI.

She owned her first Västgötaspets (Swedish Vallhund) in 2003 having studied the breed for a few years beforehand. She passed her judging examination and 'hands on' assessment in 2009.

In 2009 she began an anatomy and judging course under the guidance of the well known and respected all-rounder judge, Nils Molin. The course was run by Västra Kennelklubben (a local branch of the Swedish Kennel Klub). Having passed the course, Wendy is now able to judge all breeds at Inofficiell (Open Show) level.

Wendy initiated the idea of a Club Magazine in 1981 and joined the committee of the British Elkhound Club (now the Norwegian Elkhound Club of Great Britain) in 1984, a post she was proud to hold until she decided not to offer herself for re-election due to the impending move to Sweden.