Welcome to Switherland & Montravia, We are situated in the UK close to the small town of Newark On Trent, Nottinghamshire where we run small boarding kennels.
As well as breeding & showing dogs we are both International judges and award challenge certificates in various breeds. (See Judging)
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Phil’s first love is the Basset Hound, acquiring his first show dog with his then-wife Jo, Purchased from Jean and Martin Elliott Jones of the Cwmdale Kennel, a tri male born in 1979 called Cwmdale Kanine. Phil’s early success came when he purchased a dog and 2 bitches from Brian & Pat Wedgwood’s Karipat Kennel in 1986. Karipat Wildair of Switherland who became a Champion, and his litter sister Karipat Penelope of Switherland, who really became the Switherland’s foundation bitch. |
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| Champion Karipat Wildair From Switherland DOB 22.02 1986 | ||
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The second bitch was Karipat Sweetbriyne of Switherland (Polly) was also born in 1986 Polly became the first Champion in the Switherland Kennel |
Since 1999 when Phil & Marita got together, Marita has been very influential in the Switherland Kennel with the breeding program, rearing of puppies and handling in the ring.
To-date The Switherland Kennel has won over 350 Challenge Certificates and bred or owned a total of 49 UK champion Basset Hounds. As well as producing Switherland Champions in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Guatemala, South Africa, Russia, Belarus, Luxemburg, Lithuania and Malta.
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The Switherland Kennel has had the honour of been awarded top breeder (UK) in Basset Hounds for 25 of the last 26 years and Switherland have been prominent in Top Stud Dog and Top Brood Bitch competitions over the last 30 years at home and abroad. As well as winning groups and Best in Shows at General Championship shows. |
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Phil became involved with the Midland Branch of the Basset Hound Club as a committee member in 1982 and went on to hold the position of Treasurer and then Secretary a position he held until 1991. Phil then went on to be elected onto the main Basset Hound Club holding the position of Show manager for the club up until 2002 when Phil’s work commitments took over and he had to stand down. |
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Phil has been actively involved with the health of the breed. Taking on the role of Health Co-Ordinator for the 8 Basset Hound Clubs in the UK up until 2013.
Possible the most famous and well known Switherland Basset Hound is Champion Switherland Blue Jeans whose profile you will see when you go into the Basset Gallery.
Phil’s second breed is the Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit). Phil had the Honor of being the Chairman of The Basset Griffon Vendeen Club, a position he held for 3 years, standing down in 2007. Phil & Marita have bred or owned a total of 10 UK champions in this breed. Possible the most famous being Champion Willowbrae As You Like It (Amos) who was bred by Judith Robin Smith, Amos was the male breed record holder for winning the most challenge certificates in the breed. His last outing was Crufts 2008 where he won the CC and Best of Breed for the second time in the breed the previous being 2004.
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Marita grew up in the world of dogs her parents Peter and Pauline Gibbs founded the Montravia Kennel in the late 1950s. Marita soon got involved with the dogs and at the age of 7 years was handling at championship shows for her parents with some success. Marita won her first CC at 11 years of age. At the age of 13years with her parents committed to judging appointments Marita prepared and showed 3 Toy Poodles at British Toy Poodle Club open show winning with all 3 and going on to win Best in Show. |
This led to Marita’s first appointment to judge at that same show a year later when 14 years old. That same year Marita judged Afghans Hounds for the first time. At around the same time, whilst still, at school, Marita handled The Afghan Hound, Bolero to Best in Show at 12 Open Shows.
Marita was approved by the Kennel Club to judge Poodles and Afghans with CC’s at championship Shows when aged just 21.
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Later on, Marita took over the handling in the Montravia kennel, Leading to the most outstanding success for the Kennel this included Best In Show at Crufts with Afghan Hound, Montravia Kaskarak Hitari in 1983, and again in 1985 Best In Show Crufts with the Standard Poodle Ch. Montravia Tommy Gunn. It is rare to achieve Success in more than one breed, But the Montravia Kennel has bred #1 of its breed for the year in Afghan Hounds, Bichon Frise, Toy Poodles, Miniature Poodles and most of all Standard Poodles some 18 times. Montravia dogs have now won some 500 CC’s. |
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Since Phil & Marita have been together Marita handled the Bichon Frise Ch Roxara He Drives You Wild to Top Dog all Breeds 1999 in the UK & Winning the Toy Group at Crufts in the same year and again in 2000.
Marita has played a big part in the Switherland Basset Hounds & Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens since they have been together and holds a seperate interest in the SWITHERLAND affix.
