Hello - I'm Vanessa McHugh, and I live with my husband, Brian and our sons, Paddy and Conor in Glossop, near Derbyshire's beautiful Peak District. Glossop is an attractive town surrounded by lovely countryside which is sadly being destroyed by soulless developers.

I am the Horners' daughter, and so grew up alongside several members of this handsome Nordic breed. I was given my first dog, Barlestone Henrik (Roo), a few weeks after my 21st birthday. I joined the Norwegian Elkhound Club of Great Britain (formerly the BEC) in 1987. I have one twelve year old bitch, Barlestone Nussi of Conrick (Spooky), one seven year old Champion dog, Ch. Kinderhorn Dain of Conrick JW ShCM (Raider) and a young dog, Naraena Knut av Conrick (Ekko). I also co-own the Horners' youngest bitch and previously was a member of a syndicate which co-owned multi-titled Champion dog, Camalot's Faithful Knight JW ShCM, who has had a good deal of success both in the UK and overseas.

My dear friend in past years was my beloved rescue, Barlestone Henrik (Roo).

I have bred two litters under my own affix, as well as being part of the establishment at Kinderhorn, but I'm taking a break for the time being to concentrate on professional matters. I do sometimes have details of friends' litters - please contact me for more information.

I am gaining experience as an Open Show judge, having passed the BEC Judges' Training Course with Distinction in 2000. I judged the bitches at the Norwegian Elkhound Club of Great Britain's Open Show in 2007. Follow the links on the right to see some more details of my judging experience.

I am a member of the Norwegian Elkhound Club of Great Britain (NECGB), the Norwegian Elkhound Association of Scotland (NEAS), the Norwegian Elkhound Society of Ireland, Gudbransdal Elghundklubb in Norway and the Norsk Kennel Klub (NKK). I was formerly a Committee member of the NECGB.

I have attended shows in the UK, Ireland, the USA, Sweden and Norway.

I was also lucky enough to be invited to go hunting in Norway during the 2005 season. You can read more about this adventure by following the link on the right.

My sons, Paddy and Conor, enjoy the dogs as much as any teenager can be expected to, fulfiling the function of winter warmer on the couch. Conor had previously done well in Junior Handling, winning the NECGB Trophy for Top Junior Handler four times, three of those years consecutively, but has now retired from competition.

The affix Conrick was granted by the Kennel Club in 1998.