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The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Ireland’s Championship Show at Drogheda 6/9/09

I was delighted to be asked to judge this prestigious championship show and was made most welcome by the Committee, the exhibitors and the dogs. The setting was beautiful, on the lawns of a wonderful old country house, now a Hotel and Country Club. The show was well organised, with a friendly atmosphere and the day was only marred by a little Irish drizzle in the later classes.

Class 1. Baby Puppy Dog (Not Assessed - under 6 months) (1/0)
1st O’Flynn’s Moonshine Gerry Rocket. Baby puppy, rather overawed by the whole occasion, but allowed me to run my hands over him and have a cuddle! Good, chunky bone and size. Well marked. In full thick puppy coat. Trotted around the ring hesitantly, but soundly.

Class 2. Veteran Dog ( No entries)

Class 3. Minor Puppy Dog (No entries)

Class 4. Puppy Dog (2/0)
1st Gurney’s Monalou My name is Bond. 9 month old dog of medium size. Growing on well with excellent bone and enough substance for age. Masculine head developing, good bite and stop, tight lipped and kind eye. Broad, white markings on head, but generally well marked. Correct slope to shoulder and length of neck. Strong straight legs, well angulated at the back. Short, round feet. Firm back and well set tail. Presented in excellent condition. Moved with drive and enthusiasm. Friendly, confident young dog. Graded Very promising. Best Puppy in Show.
2nd Murphy’s Kinelarty Ben Boy. 12 month old dog of medium size. Another good sized puppy in the same mould. Well boned and enough substance. Strong legs and short hocks. Good angulation, fore and aft. Strong, level back and well set tail. Appeared a little anxious, but stood to be gone over. Coat a little stark. Moved soundly and steadily. Graded Promising.

Class 5. Junior Dog (4/2)
1st Murphy’s Kinelarty Ben Lyting the Way. 14 month old dog of above medium size. Still at the leggy stage, which gives the impression of being unbalanced. Good size with strong boned legs, firm back and nice turn of stifle. Masculine head, dark eye, well set ears. Flat skull and good development of foreface. Well marked and making a strong, masculine picture. Can stand just a little wide at front. Of an exuberant nature, but friendly and cooperative. Moved out soundly and with drive. Graded Excellent.
2nd Corbett’s Carraigbern High Hopes. 15 month old dog, similar to the winner, but better proportioned at this stage, with the length of leg to body. Not quite as strong in profile, but growing on well. Again, well boned, strong head, well defined stop and correct ear placement. Kind expression. Good body length and carried tail correctly. Well marked, but would prefer a deeper tan. Moved strongly and soundly. Graded Excellent

Class 6. Intermediate Dog (1/0)
1st Barnes’ Bernemcourt Il Colosso. 18 month old dog. Very strong and masculine. When standing has a pleasing shape with a compact body and good tail carriage. Masculine head developing with sufficient breadth and depth of muzzle. Shoulders reasonably long and sloping with legs straight from all sides. Firm back. Well marked with super deep tan. In excellent coat. Well coordinated on the move, striding out well and following through behind. Graded Excellent

Class 7. Open Dog (11/4)
1st Kennedy’s Carraigbern Duke of Wellington. 3 ½ year old dog of above medium size, who is an excellent typy dog, but nearly threw it away by continually pacing. Eventually moved correctly and his type and substance had to win him first place. His owner must break this habit, if he is to go further. Beautiful strong bone, deep chest, firm back and lovely rounded rump gives him a very attractive profile. Well marked. Maturing well, classic head with a kind expression. Broad front and well ribbed. Moved out soundly and steadily when he got it together. Graded Excellent.
2nd Tull’s Stagestruck at Brogholme JD. 4 year old dog of medium size, who has improved a hundred fold from when I first saw him as a youngster. Grand bone, strong front, firm level back. True working dog with strength and substance. Deep rib and well angulated all round. Perhaps he could be shade bigger. Stood foursquare and sensibly to be shown. Quite flashy but not over-marked. Very thick groomed coat, but his white was far from sparkling! Friendly temperament. Moved strongly and briskly. Graded Excellent. 3rd McMullan’s Bernemcourt Innuendo.

Class 8. Champion Dog (3/1)
1st Embleton’s Ch/Int/GB Ch. Bernemcourt Sirocco Sh.CM. 3 ½ year old dog of medium size. Very sound and strong on the move, but runs far too fast for a draught dog. Whatever would happen to the milk churns in a cart? Pleasantly surprised to feel that he has more substance, strength and depth than is observed from the ringside. Lots to like about him, but wish he was a little bigger and a touch more masculine. Flat skull, sufficient breadth and depth of muzzle. Ears medium size and set well. Muscular neck runs into a broad chest, allowing the elbows to be correctly positioned. Excellent body proportions of 9-10. Able to stand foursquare. Strong loin and good hind angulation. Well marked, but would like deeper tan. Self confident and good natured. Graded Excellent. Green Star; Best Dog & Reserve Best in Show.
2nd Benson’s Ch. Kinelarty Midnight Star Gaze at Bernervalley. Almost 4 years old, of above medium size. Still to reach full maturity, he needs to drop in body so that his profile is more balanced, which I know will come. Has many attributes of a fine working dog, with strength, substance and type. Good bone, strong straight legs, level top line and well angulated all round. Tail carried a little high but not significantly so. Loved his deep tan with correct markings. Moved out well with reach in front and enough drive from the rear. Sensible temperament. Graded Excellent. Reserve Green Star.

Class 9. Baby Puppy Bitch (Not assessed – under 6 months) (3/0)
1st Embleton’s Bernbienamie First Kiss avec Bernemcourt. 5 month old sweetie, quite mature for age and in lovely shiny condition. Nice bone and profile. Stood to be gone over and moved gently around the ring.
2nd O’Flynn’s Moonshine Grouse. These two baby girls were litter mates and very similar in appearance. Much younger and in full fluffy baby coat. Again rather overawed by the occasion, but trotted around the ring eventually.
3rd O’Flynn’s Moonshine Nellie

Class 10. Veteran Bitch (5/1)
1st Gurney’s GB.Ch. Monalou Nellie Pledge JW. 8 ½ year old bitch of above medium size. From the moment she came into the ring, she looked the part and I feel she gets better as she gets older. Such a lovely type, with a strong, compact body. Excellent bone, breadth of chest and balanced through out. To me, a perfect draught dog. Long slope of shoulder and well rounded stifle, giving a smooth and easy gait when moving. Not the drive of former years, but in her 9th year, she still moves steadily and correctly. A head to die for, strong but feminine, deep stop, full developed muzzle, kindest of dark eyes and well set ears. Her whitening eyebrows made an endearing picture of a veteran bitch of excellent maturity and quality. Loved her profile of a still level top line, correct tail set and desired rounded rump. Graded Excellent. Green Star; Best Bitch; Best Veteran & Best in Show
2nd Kelly’s Ch. Annealdon Glacial Girl. 9 ½ year old bitch of upper medium size. Another lovely typy girl with excellent proportions and as sound as a bell on the move. Lovely bone, straight legs, good length of back and super tail carriage. Very well balanced and a very shapely girl. Gentle, humble temperament. Graded excellent.
3rd Carbury’s Monalou Moonbeam. Must be mentioned. 12 ½ year old bitch of medium size and in wonderful order. Moved with such drive and soundness, it gladdened the heart. A great credit to her devoted owner. Graded Excellent.
4th Walsh’s Siansela Forever Young. 9 year old bitch, so enjoying her day out.

I felt that the spectators needed to applaud these four very special veteran girls.

Class 11. Minor Puppy Bitch (1/1)

Class 12. Puppy Bitch (2/2)

Class 13. Junior Bitch (3/1)
1st Hughes’ Carraigbern Alpine Princess. 15 month old bitch of medium size. Loved her from the start. She has size, substance and a very typical look with correct markings. Quite mature for her age, she is confident and good-natured. Strong classic head with a flat skull, good stop and kind feminine expression. Good markings. Well put together with medium length of neck, broad chest and firm, straight legs. Body proportions are balanced with a level top line and strength in rear. Moved out actively and soundly. Graded Excellent.
2nd Dunne’s Heidi van’t Pachthof. 13month old bitch of medium size. Still rather bottom high at this stage, but growing on well. Very feminine, well marked, but could do with a little more bone. Attractive feminine head, firm neck, rounded rib and good length of body. Correct tail set. Moved with good reach at the front and firm follow through at the back. Sensible temperament. Graded Excellent.

Class 14 Intermediate Bitch (2/0)
1st Gurney’s Monalou Little Swiss Miss. 22 month old bitch of medium size. Beautifully presented lovely young bitch of excellent type and substance. Ultra feminine, sweetest of heads, good stop, dark eye, tight lipped and firm muzzle. Excellent top line. Moved with precision. One to watch for the future. Graded Excellent.
2nd Dunne’s Lixi Lily of the Valley. 16 month old bitch of medium size. Another in a similar mould, shapely, strong and a lovely mover. Very feminine head. Good proportions, strong body and straight sturdy legs. Firm top line. Moved well with purpose. Friendly temperament. Graded Excellent.

Class 15. Open Bitch ( 9/4)
1st Hanlon’s Woodend Rambler at Lyjon. 2 ½ year old bitch of medium size. How this young lady has come on, I didn’t recognise her! Instantly attracts the eye as she stands freely, mostly foursquare and gives the impression of enjoying herself to the full. So feminine and correctly proportioned with enough substance, excellent markings and beautifully presented. Well handled to get the best out of her, she showed herself to advantage. Lovely head, dark eye, desired stop and strong, straight muzzle. Muscular neck, good slope of shoulder and firm straight legs. Level top line, but carries tail a little high. Moved out with purpose. Graded Excellent.
2nd Palmer’s Monalou Fabulous Fae at Anlado. Almost 3 years old, a bitch of medium size. Always loved this one for her shapely body, lovely substance and classic lines. Broadly marked on the head does give the impression of an over-large head, but on examination this is not so. Strong flat skull, with a good stop and firm muzzle. Well marked elsewhere, but would like deeper tan. Solid and well boned, she stood sensibly today and showed herself to advantage. Moved correctly. This is a bitch who should attain her championship status. Graded Excellent.
3rd Gibson’s Markeila Ruby Rich of Marchmont.

Class 16. Champion Bitch (3/1)
1st Murphy’s Ch. Kinelarty Star of County Down. Almost 4 years old, a bitch of medium size. One of the best movers, be careful not to go too fast. Sound and purposeful, strong and driving. Carries her head just a little low on the move, but does not detract from her good overall shape. Good bone, plenty of substance, well proportioned, balanced and angulated all round. Excellent upper arm, deep brisket, rounded rib cage, strong loin and correct tail set. Strong pasterns at the front and well let down short hocks at the rear. Able to stand foursquare. Well marked with deep pigment. Easy and friendly temperament. Graded Excellent. Reserve Green Star.
2nd Hughes’ Ch/Int/GB Ch. Carraigbern Miss Alice. 4 ½ year old bitch of above medium size. Unfortunate to meet up with the winner today, it was so close up between these two bitches and the most difficult decision of the day. Both quite different in some ways and similar in others. Loved her substance and strength with a calm, sensible temperament. Nicely marked, but would prefer deeper tan. Another very well balanced bitch with excellent proportions of 9-10. Bold, feminine head, lovely expression, strength of foreface, tight lipped, correct bite and well set ears. Good strength in body, straight legs, rounded cat-like feet, strong pasterns, well let down hocks at the rear. Just a little lazy at the back, turning her feet out. Today, just did not move with the drive of the winner, nevertheless a sound and easy mover. Graded Excellent.

Class 17. Brace (2/0)
1st Murphy’s Kinelarty duo.
2nd O’Flynn’s Moonshine duo.

Class 18. Team (2/1)
1st Murphy’s Kinelarty trio.

Judge: Heather M. Head (Millermead)