2011 International Event

In our Ruby Jubilee year the club will be proud to host the 8th International Bernese Health Symposium as part of our Championship Show week-end at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire from Thursday 22nd of September through to Sunday 25th September.

A sub-committee has been formed to organise the International aspects of this event and is starting to put together the details of the symposium and associated meeting of the Berner International Working Group. Details will be released as they become confirmed and a section of this web site will be dedicated to informing people both in the UK and overseas about this event so please revisit as once underway this area should develop.

Invitations were given out to every club represented at the previous event in Italy in September 2009 and have been sent to BMD breed clubs all over the world.

Anyone attending will be able to show their Bernese Mountain Dog at our Championship Show or take part in the fun events but those travelling from overseas will need to take heed of the PET travel scheme and conform to its requirements. Many people from around the world show their dogs in the UK nowadays, most noticeably at Crufts, and it is relatively simple to bring your dog into the UK but you need to be organised the first time you do it and this takes a minimum of 7 months starting from scratch. More details about the UK and showing your dog here and links to essential information can be found on this site from the  overseas visitors link below.

The club is looking at numerous ways to make the year special, one of these is to try and have a bumper size year book, please look at the 2011 handbook page (link below) for more details of this and how you could be a part of it, whatever you do, or don't do, with your Bernese.  The handbook goes all over the world to Bernese owners and is a great showcase and permanent record for all kinds of Bernese. This year, contributions are particularly welcome from overseas kennels or clubs and their are further categories for show dogs, carting dogs, family members etc..

The programme for the whole event looks like this

Thursday Afternoon

Bi-Annual Meeting of the B-IWG (Berner International Working Group) Representatives from all BMD clubs from all countries are invited to this meeting and many already attend. Individuals may attend as observers, (subject to space and prior arrangement). 

Thursday Evening

    Informal Reception for our overseas guests 

Friday

    International BMD Health Seminar – we will have an array of speakers with presentations concerned with our breed’s health issues and a chance to discuss them.

 Friday Evening

    Ruby Jubilee Formal Dinner – Dinner to celebrate 40 years of the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain.

Saturday

    Championship Show and Limited Obedience Show – our annual show with British CCs for dog and bitch. We have a British and a European judge and the show will be to Kennel Club rules, (exactly the same as  at Crufts). It is accompanied by a fully licensed Obedience show with 5 classes. The show will open with a parade of Swiss decorated carts. Subject to a little Kennel Club paperwork overseas dogs will be able to enter the show, just the same as they do at Crufts, and entry will be available on line.

Saturday Evening

    Bern-knees Up - our usual party event with food, music, dancing, quiz, auction and other entertainment.

 Sunday

    A Big Relaxed Day with many activities running all day –

    Working Day - There will be working competitions for Obedience, Agility and a Working Cart course all with classes for different levels. All dogs will be welcome to join in (subject to certain checks in some cases).

    Companion Show – This is a lower level KC licensed show with entries taken on the day. Open to all breeds but of course dominated by Bernese. The monies raised are donated to charity.

    Novelty events – There will be several novelty classes as well with decorated carts in fancy dress being one of the highlights.

 All Bernese Mountain Dog supporters are welcome to come and join in with their dogs who, as long as they are registered with an approved Kennel Club, can enter the show or other events. Thousands of people from overseas travel with their dogs without problems to the UK every year nowadays so it is a common activity.

 Also on this web site you can see reports of previous year’s events so you can get an idea of the type of week-end you would be coming to. To see a sample of images from our more recent events click on the link below.

 We know times are financially difficult for many people but we hope to see a good many visitors to our celebration for a memorable Bernese week-end.

 The location is right in the heart of England, close to historic tourist sites such as Stratford upon Avon and Warwick Castle and our second city of Birmingham. The area is well served by motorways and Birmingham International Airport. We have rooms reserved at a hotel and conference centre where the Thursday and Friday activities will take place just a few kilometres from the show and week-end events.

       Page for overseas visitors    2011 Handbook Preliminary page  Images from previous events     Return to Contents page     Return to Events Page