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Past


With the intention of buying a Greenlanddog to accompany him on hikes in the mountains, Karsten ended up with a Siberian Husky pup from one of the first litters born in Norway. Rusky, 3 months oldIn 1965 he came across an advertisement of Helge Ingstad in a local newspaper, reading: "Siberian Husky pups for sale from Leonhard Seppala's famous lines". Although Karsten had
_never heard of Siberian Huskies nor of Leonhard Seppala at the time, he had read every book by Helge Ingstad, Norway's well known archeologist, explorer and writer. Ingstad was the first breeder of Siberians in Norway and bred many litters out of Rip (Taj x Bryar's Sepp) and Bryar's Sindy. Out
of one of these litters Karsten acquired the female Rusky and one year later her full sister Laika.
In 1969, Laika was bred to the first Anadyr dog imported in Norway; Alaskan's Tannik of Anadyr. From this combination came Peik who would become the foundation for the kennel. Even today the names of Rip and Bryar's Sindy can be found in the background of the dogs at Vargevass.

To prove Siberians could still perform in harness and as a way of selecting the future stock of the kennel, the dogs were started in competitions. In the beginningKarsten's team in the '80's
--of the ' 70's only pulka and skijoring style races were --held which were dominated by birddogs. Karsten ---_helped to organize the first sleddogstyle race in ------_1972 and has been competing ever since. The first _twenty years mainly in sprint and mid-distance races _and from the middle of the ' 90's in long distance. _The last -sprint race he put on his name was the European Championship of 1994 in Andermatt, (Switzerland). In later years, the focus was on Alpirod in 1995, Pirena in 1997, 1998 (1st) and 1999 and Femundløpet from 2000 and onward. Best placing was in 2001 when Karsten and the team ended 3rd, forcing double Iditarod winner Robert Sørlie into 4. place.

A wide genepool has always been considered important at Vargevass and many dogs from various lineage were acquired over the years, such as Kreevanka's Narajak (Anadyr), Natomah's Ruff-N-Reddy (WWL), Vostok-, Unik- and Talitta of Kolyma (Anadyr), Arctic Trail's Fang, Yeso Pac's el Diablo (New England), Ash of Markovo (Seppala) and Finnemarka's Hippu (New England lines). These dogs have contributed to establish a sound line of working Siberians, appreciated by many breed fanciers, be it as working dogs or companions.
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What's in a kennelname?

Vargevass derives its name from the old Norwegian words 'Varg', meaning wolf. Vass is the genetive ending of lake.
In effect, Vargevass means
'lake of the wolves'.
_______________________

FCI Judge

Besides sled dog driver and breeder is Karsten also an FCI acknowledged judge for the 4 polar dog breeds.

Since his assignment in 1994, he has judged Breed Specialty shows in various countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Holland and France.
______________________

Articles featuring Karsten
Huskybladet, NSHK - 2000
Hundekjøring, fra tur til.. 2000
Sib Husky Club of GB - 2002
SH gåvan från Tjukotka - 2003
Mushing Magazine - 2005
Polarhunden, SPHK - 2005
Husky Klub Deutschl. - 2006
Some results of the past:

1971 - Club champion Tromsö nordic
1972 - Winner first Scand.nomestyle race
1973 - Winner Fjälldraget
1975 - Norwegian champion
1976 - Nordic champion Nome style
1976 - Norwegian champion
1978 - Nordic champion Nome style
1978 - Norwegian champion
1979 - Nordic champion Nome style
1979 - Norwegian champion
1981 . Winner Jotunheimlöpet Open
1982 - Winner Jotunheimlöpet Open
1984 - Winner Jotunheimlöpet Open
1985 - Nordic champion Nome style
1985 - Norwegian champion
1986 - Winner Jotunheimlöpet Open
1986 - Nordic champion Nome style
1986 - Norwegian champion
1987 - Winner Jotunheimlöpet Open
1988 - Winner Jotunheimlöpet Open
1990 - Winner Jotunheimlöpet Open
1992 - Winner Jotunheimlöpet Open
1994 - European champ. purebred Open
1997 - Pirena stage race 3. pl
1998 - Winner Pirena stage race
2000 - Femund500 15. pl (best pb)
2001 - Femund500 -.3. pl (best pb)
2002 - Femund500 11. pl (best pb)
2003 - Femund500 dnf
2003 - Winner Polar Distans
2004 - Femund500 16. pl (best pb)
2004 - Winner Polar Distans
2005 - Femund500.12. pl (best pb)
2005 - Winner Polar Distans
2006 - Femund600 dnf
---.--- - Finnmarkslöpet1000 - 13. pl best pb
2007 - Femund600 10. pl (best pb out of 5)
-------- - Winner Polar Distans
2008 - Bronze medal WSA champ. 8-d sprint
-------- - Winner Polar Distans 160 km.

* Jotunheimlöpet: Norway's most popular mid
_-_distance race in the 1980's

Femundlöpet: Europe's most popular long distance sled dog race at present, with 100 starting teams on average.

Finnmarkslöpet: Europe's longest sled dog race in the utmost north of Norway.

Polar Distans: Sweden's longest sleddograce

 

Present

More than 30 years have past since the first litter in 1969 and Vargevass Siberians can be found all over Europe nowadays. Femund 2002, Houston and Amigo in lead It is one of very few strains left
_in Scandinavia without the questionable 'Zero' line in _the background. The kennel has been reduced _considerably in 2002 - making top competition more _of a challenge with less animals to choose from -, _but workability and performance remain the _breedinggoal and to test this quality, the dogs are _running mid- and longdistances.

_At present, Femundlöpet and Polar Distans are the _main goals. Femundlöpet is Scandinavia's most _popular long distance race with 100 teams _participating on average. This race is open to all _sleddogs. There are two classes, with the 12 dog _class running over a distance of 620 km. It is held _the first weekend of February in central Norway.

On a much smaller scale but from a purebred point of view not less interesting race is Polar Distans. This 300 km. race in south west Sweden is organized by the Svenska Polarhundklubben and usually attended by all the four sleddogs breeds; Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds and Greenlanders. Karsten participated for the first time in 2003 and took first place in a field of 10 teams from various countries. In 2004, 2005 and 2007 he repeated this performance, this time with resp. 13 teams, 12 teams and 6 teams participating.

In 2006, Karsten and the team completed Finnmarkslöpet. Europe's longest sled dog race of 1000 km. in the very north of Norway. At age 67, he is the oldest competitor to have finished the race. The Vargevass team was the only Siberian Husky team and ended on 13. place in a field of 23 teams. It was the second all Siberian Husky team to complete the 1000 km. race at the time.

In 2007, the team finished in 10th. place in the 600 km. Femundlöpet, winning over more than 20 mixed bred teams and being the best purebred team out of 5.

As concerned for breeding; to add some 'new blood' to the strain, a litter has been bred from Iditarod veteran Alaskan's Ping-Ping of Anadyr with Tellervo av Vargevass in December 2002. The males Sujoz, Putin and Grubian have made it to the main team since the 2004/2005 season.

It is obvious that happy dogs make the best sleddogs. Well being of the dogs is considered the base for a good team. Therefore, the entire pack of 25 dogs is let loose for several hours a day in the 15.000 m2 play yard where they can roam around and play together under supervision of the human packleader.

Kennel News 2008/2009

15 June
Robert av Vargevass has become father of 8 puppies. Dam: Snilla av Vargevass owned by kennel Vikerkollen of Norway.

12 June
Nathan av Vargevass has become father of 7 puppies. Dam: Vikerkollen MS Befana

12 & 13 June
Nathan av Vargevass has bred Milli owned by Steinar Bergheim

12 June
Putin av Vargevass became father of 3 female pups Dam: Lulu av Vargevass of Liv Grönås

28 May
Dante bred Lyra av Vargevass owned by kennel Narmenak

22 May
Robert av Vargevass bred Kinoo of kennel Lowlandssleddogs

13 May
Nathan av Vargevass bred Nymånens Sol of fam. Sandin


8 May
Isa av Vargevass got 5 pups by Nathan av Vargevass (4m, 1 f).

30 April
Ulva av Vargevass got 7 pups by Barney av Vargevass(5m, 2f)

27 April
Certina av V. got 7 pups (5 m. and 2 f.) by Nordvikens Glimmer.
Kennel News continued

25 April
Gunnhild av Vargevass won BOB and is Swedish Show Champion. Congratulations to her owner Ylwa!

21 April
Nathan av Vargevass has become father of 4 pups at Kennel Ulvhild

14 April
It's 40 years ago since Peik was born at the kennel.

13 April
Exxon av Vargevass moved to Keijo Korpela of Norway.


10/11 January
First race of the season. SPHK NN Club Championship 1. place Mid Distance Unlimited class

16 November
First trip by sled

27 October
Dante became father of 4 pups at kennel Carillo, Norway

23 October
Nathan
became father of 6 pups at the kennel of Karin Hedman.

10 October
Robert has become father of
5 pups at kennel Vintervisa.

7 October
Nathan has become father of
7 pups at kennel Vintervisa.

13 September
Robert av Vargevas won BIS at the Swedish Siberian Husky Specialty. See the Journal

 
Keeping the kennel limited,
so all the dogs fit into the car.
Future

Plans for the future are to keep the kennel limited to 25 dogs with occassionally breeding and participation in middle- and long distance races.
8-9 August 2009
Seminar to celebrate 40 years of kennel Vargevass.

6 September 2009
Judging assignment at the Dutch Siberian Husky Club. 40th Anniversary clubmatch.

12 September 2009
Judging assignment at the Swedish Siberian Husky Club.

Occassionally breeding



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www.vargevass.com, created May 2002, revised May 2007 © Eveline Koch, webmaster@vargevass.com