Kristull Omniscense
April 12, 1996 – May 31, 2010
Breeder: Francie Stull, kennel Kristull, USA
Foundation bitch in Sweden: Susann Stjernborg, kennel Starcastle Hound’s, Sweden
Kristull Omniscense, known as Omni, had a profound and long-lasting impact on Silken Windhound breeding, both nationally and internationally. Through her offspring, she laid the foundation for several significant
Omni with Francie Stull and an Arab named Stacotta, at Kristull Ranch
lines that have since spread across large parts of Europe as well as ensuring continued influence in the United States.
As of December 2025, there are 15 generations of descendants down from Omni.
Offspring and Lines
A daughter, Starcastle Hounds Åska, known as Åska-Luna, was exported to the United States and bred there. In the studbook she is registered as Starcastle Hounds Aska, as the Swedish letter Å was not used at the time of registration. Her offspring did not continue in breeding, and this line is considered a dead end.
Starcastle Hound’s Åska
SLO Ch Starcastle Hound’s Silver Lining
The son Slo Ch Starcastle Hound’s Silver Lining was first exported to Germany and later to Slovenia and from there to Switzerland. Through his offspring, his line can be traced for at least nine generations, spread across large parts of Europe.
Slo Ch Starcastle Hound’s Silver Lining was the first Silken Windhound in the world to earn a conformation championship title from an official kennel club.
Daughters Remaining in Sweden and Used in Breeding
SuSVK Jr V-03 Starcastle Hounds Sunrise
SuSVK Jr V-03 Starcastle Hounds Sunrise (“Hoppsan”)
Hoppsan produced two litters in Sweden with a total of three puppies, two of which continued in Swedish breeding.
Through these offspring, Hoppsan’s line has had continued impact:
SBIS SSWK Jr W-08, W-09, W-12 Starcastle Hounds Hejsan
had offspring used in Swedish breeding, with the line continuing through the son Starcastle Hounds Pathfinder, who in turn has produced two litters with a total of ten puppies.
SBIS SSWK Jr W-08, W-09, W-12 Starcastle Hounds Hejsan
SBIS SSWK Jr W-08, W-12, Vet W-18 Starcastle Hounds Morning Mist (“Viper”)
produced three Swedish-bred litters with a total of ten puppies, two sons of which continued in breeding. Through Morning Mist, Hoppsan’s line can be followed for at least four generations, found in both Europe and the United States.
SBIS SSWK Jr W-08, W-12, Vet W-18 Starcastle Hounds Morning Mist
Starcastle Hounds Firelizard (“Lizzie”)
Omnis daughter Lizzie was the first Silken Windhound to be born in Europe.
Firelizard produced one litter of six puppies in Sweden.
Starcastle Hound’s Firelizard
Starcastle Hound’s Firefly
The daughter Starcastle Hounds Firefly (“Fira”)
was exported to England and produced six puppies there, five of which continued in breeding. Through Firefly, a total of at least thirteen generations can be documented as of December 2025, spread across Europe and the United States.
Starcastle Hounds Fire in the Dark (“Nellie”)
Lizzies daughter Fire in the Dark produced two litters in Sweden with a total of thirteen puppies at Kennel Jagnes.
Starcastle Hound’s Fire In The Dark
Jagnes A Dark Highness
The bitch Jagnes
A Dark Highness (“Nessy”), who remained in Sweden, became the foundation bitch for kennel Leicro’s within the Silken Windhound breed and produced five puppies that continued in Swedish breeding. In total, at least eight generations can be traced from Fire in the Dark.
The male Jagnes Black Cleithe was exported to the Netherlands and continued in breeding in Germany, where he produced six puppies, and in England, where he produced an additional litter of five puppies. From Black Cleithe, at least six generations can be documented, found in Europe and the US.
Jagnes Black Cleithe
Lizzies daughter Starcastle Hounds Fire Alarm (“Alice”)
Fire Alarm produced one litter of four puppies in Sweden.
The son Starcastle Hounds Warning (“Foxy”)
was exported to England and produced nine puppies there.
One of his daughters,Starborough Serenade, continued in breeding and produced one litter of five puppies, two of which continued.
Foxy, Starcastle Hound’s Warning, father of Fleur, Starborough Serenade, mother of Hallie, Starborough Seichan
Starborough Seichan (“Hallie”),
daughter of Starborough Serenade, was later imported to Sweden and bred at kennel Starcastle Hound’s. Seichan produced two Swedish litters with a total of eleven puppies, four of which continued in breeding (three in Sweden and one in Norway). From Seichan, at least five generations can be documented. In total, at least eight generations can be traced from Fire Alarm as of December 2025
Summary
Through her granddaughter Starcastle Hounds Firefly, Kristull Omniscense’s genetic legacy can be traced for at least fifteen generations as of December 2025. The foundation bitch Kristull Omniscense laid the groundwork for an extensive international breeding program, with long-term and verifiable impact on the Silken Windhound breed.
Kristull Omniscense was a historical key individual in the establishment of the Silken Windhound breed in Europe. She was one of the first two Silken Windhound bitches imported to Europe in 1998. The girls remained in Europe for six months in order to comply with the import regulations in force at the time, making it possible to subsequently import them into Sweden without quarantine requirements.
Omni produced her first litter on March 22, 2001. This was the first Silken Windhound litter born in Europe.
Omni – the backup dog
What is perhaps most remarkable is that Omni came here as the “backup dog.”
It was Nuna – Kristull Annunciata – who was the star. Nuna was meant to set type and to stand at the centre of the new Swedish and European breeding programme.
Omni came along because she was cute and had many good qualities (what a front!), despite still looking like an early, more prototypical Silken Windhound. Her dam belonged to the Founders, that is, dogs used during the formative phase of the breed before the Silken Windhound was fully defined. These dogs fell within what was at the time often described as lurcher type, and were referred to in different contexts as Longhaired Whippet (LHW), Silken Windsprite, or Windsprite. It was a period when the boundaries between these closely related types were still fluid.
Above all, Omni had a wonderful temperament: extremely social, very affectionate, loving everyone and charming everyone she met.
Sadly, Nuna died at three years of age, before ever being bred, and was thus lost entirely. She was also the sole offspring of her sire York, a line that likely ended with Nuna. She was furthermore one of the coated daughters of Bengala, Kridoni’s Bengala, a Whippet from Peru with American lines, imported to the USA, who was used in the early development of the breed.
And still, it was the little, plain, insignificant Omni who came to take that place – and who laid the foundation of the breed in Europe.
Author’s note
What makes Omni’s story particularly striking is that she was never intended to play this role. She came to Europe alongside Nuna, who was expected to become the cornerstone of the new breeding programme. Omni’s presence was secondary — she was the backup dog.
Kristull Annunciata “Nuna”
When Nuna was lost far too young, the original plans vanished with her. And yet, it was Omni — unassuming, unremarkable on first glance — who remained, who was bred, and whose descendants spread across Europe and beyond. In hindsight, her impact is unmistakable.
Kristull Omniscense “Omni”
Sometimes it is not the dog chosen to define a breed that ultimately does so, but the one that simply endures.
by the pen
Susann Stjernborg
Silken Windhounds since 1998
