History of the breed and our kennel.

The Siberian Husky is the smallest and fastest of the arctic sled dog breeds. The Chukchi people of Siberia developed it over a 3000-year period. A nomadic, hunting people, the Chukchi required a dog which could withstand both the extreme arctic winters and the warm Siberian summers, could work amicably as part of a large team, could pull light loads over long distances at moderate speed, and which could live happily in the tents and igloos with the Chukchi and their children.

Gold was first discovered in Alaska in 1880; thousands of people poured into the Yukon and Alaskan territories. The weather was very severe, and those that stayed came to depend upon the sled-dog for survival. It was often the only means of transport to the outside world. Drivers would boast that their teams were the best and a sled-dog race was proposed by Scotty Allan, an excellent dog driver himself, to prove once and for all who had the best teams. The 408-mile “All Alaskan Sweepstakes” was born in 1907. The following year a Russian fur trader, named Goosack, brought 9 of the little Chukchi dogs to Alaska, and the following year they were entered in the 1909 All Alaskan Sweepstakes. Goosacks team was run by a man named Thurstrup. The team was considered to be no threat, the native dogs were larger, fierce and often wolf-like with mixed ancestry, these Siberians were small, docile and rather more fox-like than wolf-like. The 1909 race was run in raging blizzards and all but three teams dropped out. Due to an error of judgement by Thurstrup, the Siberian team came 3rd, they had shown their speed and endurance, and impressed everyone with their remarkable manageability. After seeing the Siberians, a young Scotsman named Fox Maule Ramsey, son of the Earl of Dalhouise, went and bought 70 Siberians. He entered 3 teams in the 1910 Sweepstakes, they came 1st, 2nd and 4th, the Siberian had arrived. (the patron of the Siberian Husky Club of GB today is The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Dalhouise).

There followed a new respect for Siberians. When Ramsey left the Klondike, he sold his dogs to a young man, Leonhard Seppala, who was later acknowledged as the greatest dog driver of all time. Siberians came to public prominence in 1925 when, amongst other sled-dogs, they took part in the famous, “Serum Run”, a race against time, to Nome, a remote coastal town in Alaska. An epidemic of diphtheria had broken out in Nome and the only way of getting vaccine to Nome in the depths of the Alaskan winter was by dog sled.

Although many mushers and their dog teams took part in this heroic venture, history records that one man Leonhard Seppala and his team of Siberian huskies played a pivotal role in its success. Seppala introduced Siberians to the U.S.A. in the 1920s. In 1937 the Siberian husky was recognised by the American Kennel Club. Today there are Siberian Husky Clubs all over the States, concerned with racing and showing. The breed was introduced into Europe around the late 1950’s and became recognised by the F.C.I. in 1966. The first Siberians of recent times to be imported into the UK : came through the temporary postings of US service personnel, who sometimes brought their pets with them.

The first Known pair of Siberians came into the country in 1968 and in 1969 the Kennel Club registered the first Siberian Husky – Yeso pac’s Tasha owned by Bill Cracknell, an American Serviceman. The Cracknells also imported Savdajaures Samovar. In 1977 the Siberian Husky Club of GB was formed and the following year the first ever British Sled dog race was held. I competed in my first race in 1979 and as they say – the rest is history.

Playtime at ZOOX

In 2005 I was very surprised to receive an email from Steve Cracknell. Steve is the son of Bob Cracknell who bred and registered the first known litter of Siberian Husky puppies with the British Kennel Club, they were born on the 30 th May 1971.Bob was posted to the UK with the US Navy in 1969. His 2 Siberians were Yeso Pacs Tasha, a silver grey bitch with brown eyes, from Charlie Posey’s well known kennel, and Savdajaure’s Samovar, a black and white, blue eyed puppy dog. My kennel goes back to these 2 Siberians through one of their puppies. Micnicros Elisha, a grey and white bitch, was one of a litter of 7 puppies born in that first KC recognised Siberian Husky litter. Steve has kindly sent me this very old article and picture of that historic Micnicroc litter.

Elisha went to live with the Warrens, who later mated her to Ilya of Northwood, he had come over from the USA with the Leich family. That mating produced a litter of 3 puppies, one was a black and white bitch called Quinbury Kozachokane. Four years later and Liz Leich who then owned Karni, mated her to Skicrest Comanchi, a red and white dog bred by Jenny Manley of the Skimarque kennel. Comanchi was also a great grandson of Savdajaure’s Samovar on his dam’s side. That mating produced our foundation bitch, FORSTALS ANEKA.—and the rest is most certainly-History!!

Aneka is at the back of every Zoox and Zateizzi bred Siberian Husky. Her legacy lives on through her 2 litters of puppies and even today, many generations down the line, through selective line breeding I can still see her looking back at me, her type is firmly stamped, and it is due to her, that many people say they can always recognise my breeding. She was truly, a great foundation bitch. She was also a prolific winner in the ring. Aneka was the first Siberian bitch to win BIS at an open show, and she was reserve in the then huge Working Group (now known as group2, and in those days it also included the pastoral breeds) back in 1983 at the City of Birmingham Championship show, three years before the breed gained CC status. Also at that show were her two daughters, Zoox Aducha who was Reserve Best Bitch and Zoox Anakma who was Best puppy, she won a total of 13 best puppy awards that year. These 3 bitches along with our exceptional lead dog Kippa, made up our 1984/85 Race team, they ended the season Top Racing team in the country. Aneka was Top Bitch in the SHCGB points system in 1979 & 81. My one regret is that I never really concentrated on campaigning her once we got CC’s, because by then she was 8 years old and I had other younger dogs to show, so she never gained her title, but to me she was, and always will be a champion.

Click here to veiw Forstals Aneka's pedigree

Forstals Aneka, our first Siberian Husky --------- also sitting with her daughters, Zoox Aducha (Dudu) and Zoox Anakma (Ana), in the days when all my dogs knew the meaning of "sit and stay", although they are all attached to a long lead hidden behind them, just in case!

Aneka was a great worker in harness, and from an early age led our team of Samoyeds. (We already had a small kennel of Samoyeds, 4 became Champions and they all worked in harness, they also competed at different times in our mixed team of Sams and Siberians. In our first three seasons of rally competitions, from nine races, they won six, came second twice and third once, competing against all Siberian Teams. Aneka passed on her great working attitude to her puppies. I am a great believer that well over half of the working attitude comes through from the dam, breeding from a bitch who has little working attitude is not a good policy if you are trying to breed Siberians with a good work ethic. As our team became faster and she older, Aneka could always be relied upon to take out the youngsters, leading the puppy and pensioner team, she never put a foot wrong. She was also pretty good at obedience---in other words, a dream husky, she taught us such a lot, and gave us an insight into this amazing breed.

Our second Siberian was a half brother to Aneka, on the dam’s side. Forstals Kipoochi was one of the first dogs born in this country with the piebald colouring, apart from the the quarantine born litter his sire, Forstals Roy a Lin Poorga was born in. Kippa was an amazing dog, aloof and as hard as nails. He had many good wins in the ring, but it was as a working dog that he excelled. He led our race team for six seasons, the first three with Aneka, competing double lead at 14 races, winning 12 and second twice. At the end of the 1984/85 season when annual awards, similar to todays Championships, were given for the first time, his team was Top "C" class Team (3-4 dogs) and Team of the Year. The following year he ran lead with Zoox Gamishka, from nine races they won eight and came second at the other, again ending the 85/86 season Top C-class Team and Team of the Year. In the 86/87 season he again ran lead with Mishka, but this time in the B class, leading a team of five to Top B class Team, with 4 wins a second and third from six races. In their last season as leaders when Kippa was just short of his 9th birthday, they ended the 87/88 season Runner-up Top B-class Team, this was the last season for many years, that annual awards were given. We were so lucky to start out with such fantastic dogs, and our thanks go to the Forstal kennel for letting us have these two exceptional Siberian Huskies.

Forstals Kipoochi (Kippa) an outstanding lead dog of his day, and I think he would still have been a force to reckon with today! (Click to view Kippa's pedigree)

Three pictures of our early teams, all being led by Kippa and Aneka. Their enthusiasm to be off is evident in the picture above, where they are in the starting chute at Broxa in 1984, a rally we ran, competing in the C-class which they won.We competed in 7 C-class races that 84/85 season, winning 6 and second at the other. Competing at 14 rallies in 3 seasons, Kip and Aneka led our teams to 12 wins and two second places and Top C- class team and Team of the Year 1984/85, which was the first season a championship was run.. Aneka is at the back of every Zoox and Zateizzi bred Siberian Husky. Just out of interest, the jumper I am wearing is made from Sammy/Sibe hair, I wore it when I judged a show in Sweden outdoors in the middle of winter, it kept me very warm.

---1986--- 20 Years Ago, the show and rally scene.

It is hard to believe that it is 20 years since Sally Leich awarded the first set of CC’s in Siberian Huskies at Crufts 1986. During those 20 years Forstal’s bred dogs have won 9 CC’s at Crufts, Zima 6, Zoox 4, Yabet 3, Azgard 2, Skivolk 2, Tikchik 2, and a further 12 kennels have each bred one Crufts CC winner.

The very first dog CC winner was our Zoox Gadzheek, who was Top winning Siberian husky dog 1985 -86 & 87, and the first bitch CC winner was the Luxmoore’s Zima Zala Snygoorachka, both became Champions the following year. Competition in the show ring was fierce with only 8 sets of tickets on offer and entries topping 100 at most shows.

In that first season, 2 Siberians, who had both been prolific winners through the previous decade, became the first British Champions in the breed. It was fitting that SHCGB member, Ana Sanchez crowned both Forstals Mikishar the Amarok and Forstals Noushka at the WKC; they were the only champions made up that year. Dave Foad’s great lead dog Danlee Paook, and the Monk’s Asturias Princess Katrinka, bred by Ana Sanchez, were the RCC winners at Crufts in ’86. Katrinka went over to Alaska with Lesley and ran in the “last great race”, the Iditarod, covering a distance in excess of 1100 miles. Lesley was the first Club member to compete in this great race. Katrinka returned to England, and in 1992 again won the RCC at Crufts .A true example of a Siberian Husky.

In March 86, Lesley’s husband Roy, decided to increase the challenge in this country of man and sled-dog team. He, his son Julian, Alisdair McDonald and Derek Lomas made history by crossing the infamous Laraig Ghru pass, from Aviemore to Braemar, a journey of 30 miles. Three of Roy’s four dog team were Zoox bred. One year later Lesley and Roy were running teams over three times that distance on daily training runs across the frozen tundra, forests, mountains and glaciers in Alaska. Roy said, that as he stood on Front Street in Nome, watching teams complete a trail of over 1000 miles, that the Lairig Ghru fell into perspective. I should think it did, because the Monks were to push themselves further than most of us even dream about. In1988 Lesley competed in the Iditarod, and successfully completed the trail in 19 days 13 hours 22 minutes, two years later and Roy also competed for the first time, completing the gruelling trail in 15 days 18hrs 15mins; a great achievement. It was in 1980 when I first met Lesley and Roy, they had their first 3 Siberians from me, I often wonder if they had any idea at that time, how their lives would change. Lesley would often travel over to join me out training, and some weekends Roy and Ian would also join us up at Broxa Forest, where we would run the dogs, then sit around in freezing weather having a picnic.Eventualy their pioneeriring spirit led them to Alaska where they spent many years building up their Shapatka kennel, where they lived a life thats difficult to imagine, worlds apart form ours. They set the benchmark for others to follow.

Between1984 and 87 rally entries increased from a meagre 11 at the snowbound Aviemore of 84 to 60 in1987. Over that time 25 rallies were ran by the SHCGB. Four were organised by each of the following-- Penny and John Evans, Mike and Lyn Harrison and the Forstals kennel. Chris Jackson and Ian Smith ran 3; Dave& Jan Foad also ran 3. Kieth McCallum with a little help from us ran 3 and we organised another 2 at Broxa. Linda and Jeff Pritchett organised 2 at Sherwood, where we had to contend with a huge amount of spectators, even more than today.

Main winnere over this 3 year time were—Ian McRae 21 wins, Sally Leich 15, Simon Luxmoore 9, Rob Hyden7, John Brown 7, Ali Koops 7, Ian Smith2 and Freddie Palmer 1.

The 85/86 season proved hectic with nine official rallies, a Fun Run and the Eskimo Dog Clubs weekend work shop in Wales. (Now don’t all laugh—but it did indeed seem very hectic—even today with the vast number of rallies to choose from, you still don’t run many more than that—we didn't have a choice and most of us did try to enter all the rallies scheduled.)

Enrties reached almost 50 at some events, with a total of 75 mushers competing that season, 34 for the first time. The D2 class was introduced. Trails were lengthening and this sesason saw the B class run over 16 miles in 2 days.

In the D class Rob Hyden and Simon Luxmoore were still battling it out, but this season John Browns team improved to win at the last 4 rallies. Shane Brereton, only 16 yrs old, won the best newcomer award. Ian McRae had another good year winning 8 of his races, with Sheril Leich coming 2 nd at 4 of them. In the B class Sally Leich won 5 events and retired from one, this enabled Ali Koops to gain sufficient points to come equal first with Sally. The annual awards for the 85/86 season were

Musher of the year 1985/86

D class

Simon Luxmoore 31 points and runner up Rob Hyden with 28 points

C class

Ian McRae 44 points --Sheril Leich 27 points

B class

Sally Leich and Ali Koops 25 points with Dave Foad 3rd on 10 points

Top Tems 85/86 were

D class Simon’s. Forstals Annyka—Zima Zala Snyegoorachka

C class Ian’s Forstalls Aneka, Forstals Kipoochi Zoox Gadzheek and Zoox Gamishka

B class Sally’s Forstals Kooshak, F; Zhenski, F’ Scan, F’Valkadav and Goosack of Kolyma.

The following season saw an increase to 91 mushers taking part , 29 were newcomers. A few of the top mushers moved classes, Ian moved up to the B class and Ali moved down to the C class. Both Rob and Simon moved up to the C class and competition was keener than ever. In the B classes Ian won at the first 4 rallies and Sally the last 2. Ali had a great season winning 5 races, with Simon chasing her to 2 nd place at 3 of them, and winning one. In the D class, John Brown won 3, and Ian Smith 2. Roger Hull was best newcomer.

The annual awards for the 86/87 season were

Top Musher

B class Ian 27 points and a very close runner up Sally with 26points

C class Ali 29 point runner up Simon 21 points

D class John 24 points runner up Ian Smith 19 points

Top Team

B class-Ian’s Forstals Kipoochi, Zoox Gamishka, Z’ Aducha, Z Gadzheek and Z Dukara.

C class Ali’s Forstals Meshka, F’ Babiche, F’ Barashka and Goosack of kolyma.

D class John’s Asturias Takuvik and Kayaks Chinook

With the growing misconception that the Siberian Husky was a split breed with a major difference between working and show dogs, the SHCGB committee approved the Complete Siberian Husky award, based on a dogs wins on the trail and in the ring. (very similar to the present day Dual purpose award) Of the 8 dogs that qualified for the award that first year, 7 had won BOB or/and BOS at Championship shows (this was the last year before the breed was granted CC status). The following year 14 qualified, of which 8 have since won CC’s or RCC’s and 6 became Champions.

Complete Siberian Husky 1985/86

1- McRaes-Zoox Gadzheek 90 points

2-McRae’s -Forstals Kipoochi 78 point

3 McRae’s-Forstals Aneka 66 points

Complete Siberian Husky 1986/87

1 McRae’s Zoox Dukara 115 point

2 McRae’s Zoox Gadzheek 86 points

3 Leichs Forstals Meshka 67 points

All the above 3 became Champions.

During this time, there were a number of dogs I greatly admired. The ones I shall always remember are Sally’s two outstanding workers, Goosack of Kolyma and Greenberets Snowy Lyscha, these two have had a huge influence on the breed, and appear in the pedigrees of many great dogs. Our Forstals Kipoochi, an outstanding lead dog with a great character, and as tough as they come. He taught us such a lot, and led our team to many wins over 6 seasons. Zoox Gadzheek an outstanding wheel dog, he would always give his very best in harness and was a real showman in the ring. You are very lucky if you ever own and run an outstanding dog, we are extremely lucky to have had three that I would class in this category, they were Zheek, Kippa and some years later Umi, we had lots of very good dogs, but those three were special. Ali Koops and her lead dog Forstal Meshka had a relationship that was pure magic, not only a great worker, but a fantastic ambassador for the breed in the show ring. Another favourite of mine was Forstals Kooshak, even today I can remember her flowing round the ring, a fantastic stamp of a Siberian Husky, that truly filled the eye, and another good worker in harness, as was another piebald bitch I really admired, and that was the Luxmoore's Forstals Annyka. The following dogs all became Champions, Gadzheek, Meshka, Kooshak and Annyka.

Over the years, rigs have got lighter, some as light as 35lbs, and many big teams now train with quads. The top Siberian teams are a little faster, and although entries at some raliies only slightly exceed the enties we had then, there are a fair few exceptions, the main one being Aviemore, where entries now top two hundred. Overall things haven’t really changed that much in the last twenty years. However there are now more clubs organising many more rallies, some allow breeds not registerd as pure bred sled dogs, and with the introduction of the pet passport, it has become possible for British sled dog teams to compete in other countries, some with great success, without dogs having to serve six months in quarantine on their return home. But what worries me a lot these days, is the lack of knowledge a lot of owners have. They aquire a lot of dogs in a very short time, and are out on the trail with badly trained teams before they have aquired the knowledge to train them correctly. Many never seem to aquire that knowledge, and are seen at rallies shouting and screaming at their dogs out on the course. Many run teams with aggressive dogs, who lunge out to attack other teams, and some simply have such little control of their team that they hinder others out on the course. We have seen "mushers" push their rig up the backside of wheel dogs, dragging teams round turns, because there dogs haven't learnt their commands, and running down hills with slack lines, often ending up level and even infront of their dogs. Ian and I have seen all this time and time again and it makes me so angry. Learning to run sled dogs correctly needs to be learnt from GOOD mushers who are a joy to watch out on the trail, and who of course also display good sportsmanship.

All the Championship shows now have CC’s on offer, bringing the total at present (2006)to thirty sets.Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if that’s a good thing. By Febuary 2006, I think there were 128 Champions made up in the breed. The top producing kennels were--. Forstals who have bred 21 champions, a fantastic achievement, with our kennel Zoox/Zateizzi, breeding 13, Rajarani 10 and one Irish champion. Skivolk and Acecas 7 each, and Azgard 5. We still have more or less the same Annual Top awards. The SHCGB awarded separate awards for Top Dog and Top Bitch annually in 1979. Again the main winners since then have been once again the Leich family, and in recent years in partnership with Ali and Brian, dogs owned by them have won these awards an incredible 15 times since 1979. We have won 10, Simon & Shiela Luxmoore 5, Kieth McCallum 5, and the Greenland’s 4.

I hope this article invokes fond memories for some of you—I for one have lots of great memories of those “pioneering days” when we all seemed to enjoy ourselves!! Its a shame its all changed.

We didn't have the bad sportsmanship that is often seen at shows these days, some folk go out of their way to ruin the day for others. The noise on the benches is just terrible, with many leaving their dogs alone all day except when in the ring. They seem not to care that their dogs are screaming all day, many in distress. It seems our breed has a terrible reputation on the benches these days, and other breeds dread being benched near us, and I can't blame them!. Those owners who think it is acceptable to let their dogs scream their heads off, with some trying to leap over the partitions of their bench, scaring other dogs, should be ashamed of themselves!! As for how nasty some folk can be to and about others who have beaten them in the ring, well it just plain bad manners. Why they behave like this I dont know, after all it's only a dog show. Treat others as you would like them to treat you, good manners cost nothing! As for some of the rallies we have been to watch, well Ian and I have felt sorrow and anger at the way some folk behave, there is just no need for it.