Marah Bolden, 1941-2000, Nam Ten Kennel

Nam Ten, Marah’s kennel name, came from her father’s first hunting dog, a Weimaraner named Namkha Tendruck, Tibetan for Mighty Hunter.  Successful in breeding and showing Lhasa Apsos, she acquired her first ESS in 1962, as a smaller hunting companion for her father.   Sired by an English import, she was a fine hunting buddy as well as becoming CH. Nollswood Miss Muffet, CD and Marah’s ESS foundation bitch.

Her first ESS litter produced 3 champions  CH. NamTen Foam Flower CD, WDX,  CH. Nam Ten Forget Me Not CD (amateur-handled to Winners Bitch at the 1972 National Specialty and recipient of a Dog World Award for her CD), and her own  CH. Nam Ten Falcon CD (Sire of the owner-handled BOS 1971 National).

Long before the advent of the AKC hunt test program, Marah was committed to maintaining the hunting ability in the ESS that went to conformation shows.  She provided the use of her fields and pond for practices as well as WESSA’s first Working Dog tests and was instrumental in developing this aspect of WESSA efforts.

Maintaining breed character (including traditional function as hunter and companion) and health was paramount in her breeding decisions.  After 30 years in the breed, Marah co-imported the English bitch Calvdale Capriati (Lili), who produced the 3rd ESS to earn the ESSFTA Versatility award.  Thereafter she imported Navale Evening Shade, CD (Reynolds), who quickly became a special favorite.   She enjoyed having him, as well as two bitches of her breeding, featured on the ESS Budweiser stein.

Marah was multifaceted and had a deep commitment to the beliefs she held. She enjoyed judging for 4-H - everything from cake decorating to cats.  She was always willing to be a source of information and education on ESS.  She bred championship goats, grew wonderful  flowers, and baked blue ribbon-winning pies.

We hope to continue Marah’s legacy of good health, temperament, and natural abilities from among some of these dogs of her breeding/co-breeding:
     Namten Family Colours
          Namten Fashion Colours
               Namten Flying Colours
                    Hillcrest Namtn KoCrk Cable, WD
                         Hillcrest Namtn KoCrk JR
                              Hillcrest Namtn Kocrk Willow, JH
                                   CH Hillcrest Namtn KoCrk Canvas
                                        KoCreek Namtn Hlcrst Margaret
 CH Hillcrest Namtn KoCr Colours, WDX, CDX, NA, NAJ, TDX, MH
                                        KoCreek Namtn Hlcrst Reprise
                                      Namten Hillcrest Hlsk Lyric
                                  Namten Just A Gnatty Girl
                             Namten Guthrie
                        Hilcrst Namtn KoCr ‘E’s Jolly
                   Kocr Nmtn Hlcrst ‘E’s Jovial, CD, NA
        Namten Firefall KoCRK Alden, WDX, CDX, JH, NA

We will miss Marah’s sense of humor, her sharp wit, creativeness, energy, kindness, - and great cooking.