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. The Secretary for the seminar and associated activities is Jackie Green who can be contacted on 2011seminarsecretary@bernese.co.uk. Details of how to attend the event will be circulated to all club members in the near future. Other members of the sub committee are Steve Green (chair), Louise Harrington and Tracy Titchmarsh.
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 and working events on Sunday 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 if 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 there are further categories for show dogs, carting dogs, family members etc..
Thursday and Friday events are at the Woodside Hotel and Conference Centre and Saturday and Sunday events at the Kennel Club Building at Stoneleigh Park which are a 10 minute drive away from each other.
The Events In More Detail
Thursday 4.00 p.m.
1] The Berner International Working Group Meeting is a forum for different Breed clubs from around the world to meet and share breed information from their countries. The meeting is open to representatives of the member clubs but, subject to available space, observers are welcome to witness the meeting and hear the news from other countries directly.
BIWG delegates will be contacted separately but if you are a new breed club (wishing to attend for the first time) please notify us at 2011seminar@bernese.co.uk
As we do not know attendance figures at this stage, and therefore how much space for observers, anyone interested in attending just to listen and watch the meeting, will be placed on a reservation list and then notified as space allows (first come first served). This space will be very limited so please book early to give yourself a chance.
There will be small (on the day) charge for observers only to cover refreshments (£4 per person).
Please book before June 30th to guarantee consideration.
2] Following the meeting there will be an Informal Evening Reception which all are welcome to attend. This will be barbeque style food at a cost of £24 per head.
Friday 9.00 a.m.
3] International Bernese Health Seminar. This is a seminar bringing together speakers from the UK and overseas on issues relevant to Bernese Health. The seminar fee is fantastic value for such an event and includes a booklet plus liquid refreshments through the day but lunch is an optional extra.
The speakers are
Dr Jane Dobson Latest developments in Cancer Treatments
SADLY NO LONGER ABLE TO JOIN US Professor Matthew Breen Genetic Progress in the fight against Malignant Histiocytosis and other conditions. We are delighted to announce that Dr Benoit Hedan from the University of Rennes will now be delivering this same subject matter. (See seminar page from the link below)
Dr Lorna Kennedy Is the Major Histiocompatability gene a genetic risk marker for Malignant Histiocytosis in BMD?
Professor Jeff Sampson Latest KC initiatives to produce healthier dogs
Samantha Goldberg Steroid Responsive Meningitis (SRM)
Dr Urs Geissbühler Swiss study into Morbidity in the Bernese Mountain Dog
Professor Berndt Klinghorn Swedish Pet Insurance Survey of Bernese Health
Pat Long Bernergarde and why you should support it.
Steve Green Berner International Working Group
Depending available time there will be a question and answer/discussion session to end the day. Click on the link below for more details of the seminar.
Also included is a seminar booklet in which there will be the usual synopses of the speaker’s presentations and a list of delegates (as usual) but also a summary from other projects around the world involving, or relevant to, Bernese Mountain Dogs. It is also hoped to include summaries of the previous day’s presentations to the BIWG from each countries breed representatives. This booklet will therefore be much more than just a guide to the seminar but a summary of BMD health worldwide.
The cost of the seminar, accompanying booklet and including liquid refreshments all day is stunning value at just £25 per person (club members) and £35 (non members).
If you wish to include a finger buffet lunch the cost is an extra £13 per person.
Please note you will not be able to consume your own food inside the premises.
PLEASE BOOK AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ASSIST OUR PLANNING AND GUARANTEE YOUR PLACE ON THIS IMPORTANT BREED SEMINAR. BOOKINGS WILL BE LIMITED TO WITHIN THE BREED UNTIL JUNE 30TH THEN OPEN TO ALL.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SEMINAR WILL ONLY BE CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH
4] Friday Evening 7.30 p.m. Ruby Jubilee Celebration Meal
A more formal 4 course meal to commemorate 40 years of the club.
Cost £30 per person
5] Saturday 9.00 p.m. Championship BMD Breed Show with Limited Obedience
This is our annual club show and usually attracts an entry second only to Crufts in the UK of up to 200 dogs. Our judges this year are Breed Specialist Jan Herngren from Sweden judging Dogs and Sandra Gatward judging Bitches. All UK BMDs or those registered in any FCI country are eligible to enter but the show is run to UK Kennel Club rules. Details of how to bring your dog into Britain can be found via the club’s website. Show entry details will be in the schedule and available online. (see below). The Show is opened by a parade of Bernese carters in Swiss costume.
Our show system is very different to most countries but this usually makes it interesting to visitors who are used to the FCI structure. For example all the show judging will take place in one ring so it is easy to see all the dogs
The Obedience Show, alongside the Championship show, is also fully licensed by the Kennel Club and open to all BMDs and again details can be found via the web site or in the schedule.
6] Saturday 6.30 p.m. Bernknees Up Party
This is the annual after show chance to relax and have a laugh. There is an excellent buffet provided as well as music , dancing and entertainment. Held in the Kennel Club building the price includes an excellent buffet but you need to bring your own alcoholic drinks. (Time may be changed via announcement at the show) Cost £9 per person.
7] Sunday approx 9.30 a.m. Working Day, Fun Day and Bernese Super Match
Working Day - This is a chance to take part in working events with your Bernese or sit and watch others work with their dogs. There will be friendly competitions for Working Carts, Agility, Obedience as well as tuition if you wish to try out Carting or Agility for the first time. If you wish to try your dog in a cart, for example, this will be a chance for you to borrow a cart and receive some training. At the end of the day there is an overall Top Working dog award who can gain points in all disciplines. There will also be dog training and advice sessions with the chance to ask a Professional Dog Trainer about your dog. Other opportunities include Character Assessment and KC Good Citizen testing.
Fun Day – The programme is not yet completed but is basically a chance to have some fun with your Bernese, there will be decorated carts in Swiss and other styles, games such as biscuit catching or waggiest tail as well as a Puppy parade and the ever popular Veteran and Rescue Parades where you get the chance to hear some moving stories of our Bernese friends.
Bernese Super Match – Held with Kennel Club permission this is a friendly show based knock out competition for this Special year only. Open to all dogs including Champions and overseas dogs with (ATC number). Exactly how it is scheduled into the day depends upon the size of entry but the final rounds will be in the main ring and there are excellent prizes and stunning rosettes on offer. Match Entry fee is just £5 per dog
We hope you agree there are lots of fascinating things to see and do. In all this is a Bernese family day out with something for every Bernese Mountain Dog person whatever their interest in the breed. You can join in with your dog or just enjoy watching other people working their dog or just having fun.
All Bernese Mountain Dog supporters are welcome to come and join in with their dogs who, as long as they are registered with the Kennel Club in their country, can almost certainly enter the show on Saturday. Sunday is not an official show so any dogs can join in the fun. 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 is only 20 minutes drive away. 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. There is a code released with the official pack (see info leaflet below) entitling people to a special discount room rate for the week-end.
The leaflet with full details was available at Crufts 2011 and will be sent to all members or can be obtained from the link below. More details of the seminar can be found at the links below as well or from the following persons.
All Thursday and Friday arrangements queries to Jackie Green at 2011seminarsecretary@bernese.co.uk
Saturday Event Queries to Karen Bird at secretary@bernese.co.uk
Sunday’s Events Queries to Lianne Marsden at membership@bernese.co.uk
General Queries to Steve Green at 2011seminar@bernese.co.uk
Seminar and Hotel Details Page
BIWG Meeting
Weekend info leaflet (as sent to members)
Seminar and other Events Entry Form
Seminar and evening events - paying on line
Page for overseas visitors
2011 Handbook page
Images from previous events
Alternative Accommodation
Week-end Update page
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