ABOUT ME
Anne Mette Mikkelsen
Mons Slettens veg 21
N-5265 YTRE ARNA
NORWAY
Mob.+47 920 22 386
My name is Anne Mette Mikkelsen, and I am the owner of kennel Ballygran in Bergen, the beautiful town of the west coast of Norway.
My first dog was a Bichon Frisé, I bought him wena i was only 14 years old, in 1988. That was the only dog my mother would allow med to have, living at home. For me I did not care, I finally got my own dog!
The same year I got to know the owners of the Mc'Kenzie kennel. They had some lovely Irish Wolfhounds and Giant Schnauzers. I started traveling with them to shows and was a kennel help there for many years. The highlight of the year was off cause when we traveled to the IW Specialty show.
I soon wanted to get my own Irish wolfhound, but my dream was not fulfilled until 1995 when I bought "Theo" (N S Ch Malleus Maleficarum O'Marksbay) from Knut Olav Wille, the O'Markbay kennel. Since then it has been Irish Wolfhounds, and many of them.
In 1997 I met my mentor, Mr. Anthony Killykeen-Doyle, "Tony" who owned the famous Killykeen kennel. We became friends immediately, and he often said I was the daughter he never had. He opened his home for me and introduced me to his big IW family all over the world.
I feel so honored to have been mentored by some great breeders such as Tony and also John and Kathleen Kelly at kennel Nutstown. They all welcomed med into their homes, and I have learned so much from them, just living there, walking the hounds together, talking about everything form feeding, rearing, exercise, pedigrees, the IW standard etc. They all allowed me to come every year and stay with them as long as I wanted. I loved my "working holydays" as Tony called them, and I learned so much about the Irish wolfhound from those masters!
My kennel name Ballygran comes from a town called Ballygran in Ireland, it was also the name of my first Champion. Her name was N Ch Mc'Kenzie's Ballygran. It is also the name of an old famous IW kennel who was known for their large beautiful hounds.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to start with great IW lines, and my foundation lines comes from Killykeen, Nutstown, Mc'Kenzie and Rovaleco's. A great mixture of Irish and Norwegian lines.
In 2011 I got my first whippet, after looking for the perfect one and wanting one for over 10 years. Her name was "Bliss" (For Pleasure von der Oelmühle). And in 2013 the first Ballygran whippet litter was born, from this litter I kept two bitches.
I have been showing dogs since 1989. I have been breeding many champions, winning Best IW breeder of the year in Norway, Best IW in Norway, Best studdog and studbitch and winning many BIS placements and also IW Specialties BIS winners. I love showing dogs and judging dogs.
In whippets my biggest win was with N Ch Ballygran's Barnsley. At the Norwegian Kennel Club Show in Sandefjord with over 100 whippets, winning Best male and BOS under breed specialist and Ikon Mr. Bo Bengtson.
In 2017 I got my FCI approved license to judge. I feel so fortunate to be able to travel and meet all these lovely hounds that I have such a deep passion for.