11 Aug 2026 Club Champ Show & Autumn Garden Party Week-end
The weeks seem to be flying by and plans and preparation are well in hand for our bumper Bernese Autumn week-end event following the successful and now familiar formula at the Hollowell Steam Rally venue in Northamptonshire (click for directions)
There are two Main Components
1] Our 2026 Championship Show
The Club’s annual Championship Show, this year with a nod towards our Emerald 55th Anniversary, judged by Richard Hallam, will be on Saturday 29th of August and entries have started to come in
Our show is kindly sponsored by Yorkshire’s Finest Pet Food, offering food prizes for all main winners
.
In these difficult times we are very grateful for this generous sponsorship.
After our appeal for help we are very pleased to announce that we have found Obedience judges for the Limited Obedience Show held alongside the Champ Show in the form of Carol Mortimer, who we are extremely grateful to.
This is the information packed front cover but to see the full schedule or enter either show go to the show’s page at Fosse Data by clicking on this link. Please note that, as the schedule indicates, there will be no extension of the entry closing date so please make sure to get your entries in on time.
As well as both shows there is the JHA (Junior Handling Association) competition during the lunch, judged on this occasion by Club President Steve Green. Also during the lunch break, whilst the Judge is away dining, there is the Champions Parade where all Champions are invited to parade in the main ring whilst a brief resume of their wins is read out. The Club Rescue & Rehoming and Health stands will be available for any queries and the Club’s Bernershop will be offering a brilliant range of Bernese and Club memorabilia and clothing on both days.
2025 Champions Parade
Any queries not covered in the schedule or on this web site should be initially addressed to the Show Secretary Karen Bird
2] The Autumn Garden Party (AGP)
OK we know strictly speaking it is probably just a little bit too early to properly qualify as ‘Autumn’ but, reflecting it’s origins, The Autumn Garden Party, will be held the next day on Sunday 30th with all the usual features which gradually do change and evolve from year to year although it is difficult to fit new things in without removing a favourite activity. In summary the features will typically include
- chances to watch and try carting with your dog,
- carting demo and how to get started in carting,
- the most popular highlight of the day – the carting decorated themed class,
- puppy, Veteran and Rescue parades,
- take part in light hearted fun and games with your dog
- chances to compete your Bernese or other breed, in agility and obedience,
- undertake Good Citizen testing with your dogs, (and hopefully Character Assessment)
- informative talks for enquirers for beginners in the breed and the chance to ask questions and learn,
- this combines with the chance to see many Bernese having a day out as family dogs and talk to their owners
- meet and learn about Therapy Dogs,
- fresh food and drinks are available at great prices thanks to a lot of volunteer helpers
- plus much, much more
Our Garden Party is kindly sponsored by Antinol Joint Care Pro who provide vouchers for class winners
Again, in these difficult times we are very grateful for this generous sponsorship.
Essential Week-end Attendance Documents
More details of the Garden Party and the camping and food booking forms are being sent to all paid up members (late July) and are also available here.
Click on the appropriate link to download the:
This gives overall details of the events happening on the Sunday and how to take part in some of them that require advance booking.
UPDATES: Please note that some versions of this flyer sent out to members have a couple of corrections to make them accurate. Firstly, the Autumn Garden Party date. It is definitely being held, as stated here, on Sunday 30th August.
There is also a correction and an update to the contact details for booking Character Assessments and Good Citizen. So to be clear
If you wish to book for RKC Good Citizens please contact Debbie Buck 07720 345464 or email debbie.buck@bernese.co,uk
If you wish to book for Character Assessment please contact Karen Bird 07778 384507 or email secretary@bernese.co,uk
Both of these activities require places to be booked in advance and more details can be found on the Main Garden Party info flyer
Saturday evening food booking form
NB: It is impossible to be absolutely certain for everyone’s system, but clicking on the second link will normally cause the file you clicked on to be downloaded to your device where you can normally access it, for viewing or printing, in your downloads folder.
However, the overall week-end is about much more than simply the two events above.
Whilst the two days above are the basis of the week-end and many people do attend both days, there is much more to the overall event. Many people make a short Bernese break by camping on site and are a part of the on site community spirit that prevails and forms a supportive base for the main events take place on.
General Info All friendly dogs, not just Bernese, are welcome to attend either event day but if you are thinking of coming as an owner of a family friend and not especially interested in showing then Sunday is the best day for you where you will have a great day out with your dog. This applies to both Bernese owners or local dog owners noticing that something dog related is ‘going off on the field’. Whilst a small number of the events have to be Bernese centric, most dogs will be able to join in with most of the Fun events that take place at the Sunday Garden Party and there are Obedience and Agility classes for other breeds as well.
Saturday Evening Between the two events there will be the very popular Saturday evening social with food and who-knows-what fun, games and music with much jollity, the perfect setup for the fun day to follow. Food and attendance must be booked in advance though.
Camping for up to a week is available for tents, caravans and motor homes, with limited electric hook ups, so book early although charging for appliances will be available on site. Many people choose to camp and enjoy the week so why not come and be a part of a happy community or even help as part of the set up team during the preceding week where a happy relaxed squad turn the empty field into a brilliant home for our event in a busy few days. Again, camping must be booked in advance.
Along with more detailed information of the Saturday evening and Sunday events the details of how to book camping and Saturday evening food are available here, and publicised on our Social Media and in our current magazine mailing where hard copy forms and details are being sent to all members.
Health Testing For owners of all attending dogs, of all breeds, there is the opportunity on Saturday and Sunday to undertake a blood test to determine their immunity levels from the DHP vaccination which can be used to eliminate unnecessary and potentially harmful vaccinations. Whilst there may be a few vacancies available on the day it is essential to book and pay in advance for this to make sure of a test, as we have to buy the kits in advance and can only perform one test per kit – we’ll buy and bring what we know we need and when they are gone they are gone. Titre testing using Vaccicheck kits is performed on site by our attending vet alongside the breed’s predictive cancer test for breeding dogs but these tests can be booked separately or together.
Blood testing for the probability of developing HS also needs to be booked in advance to ensure a slot and some paperwork and details are required for this test. The club’s Code of Ethics, and the RKC’s Breed Health and Conservation Plan (BHCP), for the Bernese recommends this test for all animals being considered for breeding and this opportunity provided by the club offers a reduced price, no vet or shipping cost and much convenience and effort saving for owners.
More essential details and how to book and pay both tests can be found via this link
RKC Good Citizens assessment is also available (for any dog), but must be booked in advance as is Character Assessment by an independent assessor.
Overall, as well as great days out, the week-end is a great place for anyone wanting to know more about our marvellous Bernese breed and meet serious, (and some not so serious!), owners and breeders as well as see the dogs taking on all kinds of tasks but also you can see lots of Bernese just having a day out with their families.
We will again be joined by the Great Swiss Mountain Dog club who will be holding their Open show alongside our events.
If you haven’t been to any of these events before and wonder what you could be in for, you can view previous Garden Party and Championship Show photos on our Club’s Smugmug photo platform
We hope to see you there, and don’t worry ………… the weeks will fly by!