Garden Party 2008

Garden Party 2008

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Roade Village Hall, Northants, 11th May

The campsite was as colourful as usual

This year’s event was certainly a “gud ‘un”. The weather was very warm at times (especially on set up day) but for Sunday your committee had had the foresight to order a bit of a breeze as well as some cloud and people were universally sensible heeding all the warnings and our safety officer (disappointingly!?!?) never needed to use her hammer on anyone's car! One very popular feature was the paddling pool which almost always had a dog in it, and sometimes people as well! Having a tap with hosepipe in the middle of the field was a really big bonus. Overall the new venue, just 3-4 minutes from the M1, was extremely well received and I hope we can look forward to many more, and even better, enjoyable and successful events there. The main ring events brought the usual assortment of happy people and dogs in a variety of guises, carting in all its forms as well as the other novelty events. The "baby" puppy parade was well attended and it was a fantastic sight to see so many youngsters all enjoying themselves.

The Rescue and Golden Oldie parades brought the usual tear jerking stories and the rosettes were presented to all those taking part by our own Golden Oldies (in the nicest possible sense) club President Frank and wife Gerry Whitbread. As I admitted to the gathered crowd at the time this was part of a little subterfuge by your committee to get them into the ring as it was surprise presentation time.

As well as flowers from the club there had been a collection around their many Bernese friends to mark the occasion of their Golden Wedding anniversary. The staggering total of well over £500 had been collected and this had enabled a large donation to a local animal rescue centre they support.

This donation had been made secretly on their behalf and an acknowledging framed montage from the centre was presented to Frank and Gerry in the main ring by chief conspirators Glynis Sawyers and Mandy Hearne.

A few tears (from Gerry) and photos later another little deceit by your committee was revealed as a second surprise presentation was made to hard working founder member Lena Robbins to mark her impending birthday. Ever reluctant to step into the limelight Lena recovered her composure and seemed to enjoy receiving the cake with a photo of Puffin, one of her well known pioneering Tarncred dogs, printed on the top

. Toni Rose presents Lena's little surprise

The annual Photo competition to enable members to select the photos which will appear on the club calendar was well subscribed and we'll be able to see the results at the end of the year.

The photos to choose from

One important announcement is that we had an unclaimed raffle prize

So if you have green ticket number 147, please get in touch!

Everyone seemed to agree it was a great day out and feedback so far has all been positive. There really was a lovely relaxed atmosphere all day and yet an awful lot of activity was happening all around the event. Your Committee put an awful lot of work in to stage this event both before and during the day but we would like to thank all the people who help us make it happen so well. All the help putting gear away, clearing up, serving on the shop or helping in the kitchen really is appreciated. Thanks also to all our judges and stewards without whom we would have no event and thanks particularly to Mandy for the excellent organisation of the day despite being on midwife duties for much of the previous day and night. Amazingly the Main ring events stayed remarkably on schedule, maybe something had rubbed off on so many people travelling last year to Switzerland where everything is always on time! The biggest thanks as always have to be to all the people who attended and made it such a lovely day out with their support for the events and contribution to the overall happy, relaxed atmosphere which was really noticeable throughout the whole day.

More reports of the day and results will appear below as they arrive and photos will be posted in random order as they are chosen and processed.

Character Assessment

The club arranged for Character Assessments to be carried on volunteered dogs. We are pleased to report they all passed as excellent. Well done to everyone, but congratulations are especially due to Tara and Timmy from the Fletcher family who were both Rescue dogs which the family have put a lot of thought and effort into.

Some of the successful Character Assessed dogs and people

Lena Chandler - Bernsteph Cartier
Lena Chandler - Bernolyn Danny Boy's Diva
Kim Flaxman - Bernsteph Georgio Armani
Alan Fletcher - Tara
Rebecca Fletcher - Timmy
David Hardy - Kernow Hot Property
Cliff Mills - Halesbern Dutch Master
Carol Davis - Chippis Ebony Ice
Yana Trewin - Welshbern Celtic Craze
Heather Head - Int/Lux/Ir.Ch Carlacot Duuska to Millermead (Finnish Laphund)

Novice Agility

1^st Asti & Bruce Hellingsworth

2^nd Ernie & Lucinda Hughes

3^rd Merlin & Babs Munson

4^th Dolly & Maureen Boutel

5^th Wilma & Emily Green

6^th Maja & Lana Chandler

Agility Competitors after the presentations

The things I have to do for a biscuit!

He's in there somewhere!

Stop fussing and gimme the biscuit!

Beginners Agility

1^st Sophie & Phillippa Green

2^nd Cinders & Elaine Spalding

3^rd Jess & Aileen Bernard

4^th Yogi & Fiona Jones

5^th Amy & Philippa Green

6^thSadie & Jade Hinsbey

Working Cart Advanced

1^st Remy & BruceHellingsworth

2^nd Homer & Tom Murray

3^rd Dolly & Maureen Boutel

4^th Dexter & Lee Palmer

5^th Wood & Brian Boyd

Working Cart Intermediate

1^st Niva & PeteGarrard

2^nd Asti & Bruce Hellingsworth

3^rd Freeshia & Andrew Murray

Carting Competitors after the Awards

Working Cart Beginners

1^st Cinders & Elaine Spalding

2^nd Ernie & Lucinda Hughes

3^rd Tilly & Tim Williams

4^th Sophie & Phillipa Green

5^th Star & Andrew Murray

Future Stars Obedience

1^st Amber with Carol

2^nd Jess & Aileen Barnard

3^rd Ernie & Lucinda Hughes

4^th Remy & Bruce Hellingsworth

Obedience Competitors after their presentations

Have a Go Obedience

1^st Holly & Lynn

2^nd Cinders & Elaine Spalding

3^rd Oscar & Kim

4^th Einer & Elaine

5^th Dexter & Julie

6^th Heidrit & Elaine

Triers Obedience

1^st Amber with Carol Davies

2^nd Holly & Lynn Richardson

3^rd Oscar & Kim

4^th Dolly & Maureen Boutel

5^th Mel & Malcolm

6^th Solo & Belle

The overall winner of the Working Trophy awarded for the best result in Obedience, Agility and Working Cart was Cinders with Elaine Spalding. Well Done Elaine and Congratulations to all the exhibitors for their sportsmanship.

DECORATED CART CLASSES Judged by Toni Rose

Decorated Cart Theme of Occasions

1^st Margaret Bailey

2^nd Debbie Morgan & Charlie

3^rd Di Crawshaw & Bryn

4^th Andrew Murphy

If anybody else says "I thought you were going to dressed up" I'll thump 'em, so I will.

Decorated Cart Swiss Theme

1^st Debbie Morgan & Charlie

2^nd Linda Smith & Rio and Mylo

3^rd Mervyn Green & Harvey

4^th Phillippa & Chloe Green & Sophie

5^th Beryl Rounsley & Bailey

6^th Lee Palmer & Dexter

Decorated Carting Turnout

1^st Bruce Hellingsworth & Remy

2^nd Lynn Boyd & Teal

3^rd Mervyn & Chloe Green & Sophie

4^th Andrew Murphy & Freesia

5^th Phillippa Green & Harvey

6^th Sally Murphy & Stan

7^th Lee Palmer & Dexter

Left, Right, Left, Right, Someone's out of step and its not the dogs!

JUNIOR HANDLING AND NOVELTY CLASSES Judged by Nikki Cotton

Thank you for inviting me to judge at the Garden Party. It was a lovely day and thank you for looking after me so well. It was great to see so many happy Bernese.

Junior Handling 8-11 years

1^st Elisha Aderaye & Amy - For Elisha's first time she did very well at showing Amy. Elisha will do well with practice, moved well.

2^nd Hannah Bert & Yent - Did very well for her first time at showing, moved well.

3^rd Lucy Hoibacowski & Alfie

4^th Anna Compagnoni & Humphrey

Junior Handling 12 – 16 years

1^st Emily Green & Yent - A very experienced Junior Handler who couldn't do anything wrong. Showed well and moved well and a beautiful bitch too.

2^nd Josh Hardy & Brandy - Well handled, nearly got it all right. Very close to first. Lovely dog moved well.

3^rd Candida Lamoon & Fitch

4^th Ellie Willey & Ella

5^th Merlin Magnesson & Trixiebelle

Trixiebelle's warming up for the biscuit catching!

Irish Brace

1^st Laura Hearne with Toby & Carley - Bernese + German Shepherd X. Little and large and a cute pair. Caught my eye, the total opposites.

2^nd Jenny Hankins with Carly & Ozzie - Bernese & JR. Another cute pair of opposites, fun to watch!

3^rd Kim Flaxman with George Bonnie

4^th Babs Munson with Merlin & Connie

5^th Glen O’Keefe with Wolf & Bruno

6^th Margaret Bailey with Tilly & Chloe

Dog the Judge Would most like to take Home

1^st Sue Atkin & Freddie - What acute 6 month old male puppy. Freddie cuddled me the most, went upside down to show me his tummy and weed all over me ha ha. Just couldn't resist his charm.

2^nd Julie McPherson & Monty - 7 month old male, lovely kind expression. Very happy and loving puppy too. Very close to first.

3^rd Carol Rideout & Teal’c

4^th Virginia Deradour & Bentle & Moxy

5^th Julie Crowson & Barney

6^th Sally Murphy & Flora

Waggiest Tail

1^st Philippa Green & Harvey - Didn't stop wagging his tail from the minute I started judging.

2^nd Rebecca Fletcher & Timmy - Very close to first and still wagged alot.

3^rd Josh Hardy & Brandy

4^th Fiona Jones & Yogi

5^th Sue Atkin & Freddie

6^th Elisha Adaye & Amy

Most Handsome Dog

1^st Stanley & Teresa Butler - What a handsome dog, masculine head with a kind expression and lovely glossy coat.

2^nd Zebedie & Mark Avery - Another lovely boy with strong masculine features and again a lovely temperament.

3^rd Bentley & Moxy & Virginia Deradour

4^th Duggie & Wendy Murray

5^th Barney & Julie Crowson

6^th Ricki & Ozzie & Jenny Harkin

Prettiest Bitch

1^st Holly & Judy Harris - What a pretty girl, just couldn't resist her. A real lady with lovely temperament.

2^nd Connie (PMD) & Babs Munson - Another sweet girl with kind expression. She really caught my eye.

3^rd Sophie & Mervyn Green

4^th Hattie & Emily Green

5^th Amber & Carol Davies

6^th Cinders & Elaine Spalding

Egg & Spoon

A fun class to do. Well done to Bentley and Virginia for winning the class. You had a good steady walk with Bentley and well done to Sadie and Jackie coming so close in second.

1^st Virginia Deradour & Bentley

2^nd Jackie Hinsbey & Sadie

3^rd Elisha Aderaye & Amy

4^th Jill Campbell & Lili

5^th Mick Mitchell & Sophie

Biscuit Catching