The BIWG Meeting
21st September 2022
The BIWG Meeting was the opening event of our whole Golden Jubilee taking place on Wednesday afternoon. Whilst a few people who had booked did not appear there were around 35 people present from 17 different countries with 11 presentations to the meeting of updates from different clubs from the 16 official delegates attending.
The meeting room awaits
Sadly neither the BIWG President, Martha Cehrs from Switzerland, nor BIWG Secretary, Pat Long from the USA, were able to be present so Steve Green stood in to chair the meeting and Birgitte Damsgaard from Denmark kindly took notes for a meeting report.
A full meeting report will be available from here and on the BIWG web site.
Some of the BIWG meeting attendees
Links to Other Specific Event/Activity Reports
Most of these will be updated more as reports and more photos become available and fresh links will appear as other event reports are available.
The International Health Symposium
Berner Bar Evening including Veterans Parade
(Friday) Championship Show (Jens & Lisbet Ramsing) & Limited Obedience Show – Show Judges’ Reports and Obedience report plus photos now available
British Fete Night (Friday) – Jubilee Toast, Auction, Torchlit Carting, Champions Parade
Golden Jubilee Championship Show (Helen Davenport Willis) & Junior Handling – some photos now available
50th Anniversary Championship Show (Steve Green) – some photos and show results now available
Swiss Breeds Event, Fun Dog Show, Good Citizens & Character Assessment (Saturday)
The International Judges Meeting
Golden Jubilee event photography page – incl link to full online galleries and details of how you can obtain copies of the official photographs
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FOR GENERAL BACKGROUND BELOW IS THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIWG POSTED PRIOR TO THE EVENT
The BIWG is the Berner International Working Group who meet every few years to compare and collate BMD health information from different countries. Clubs in every country are invited to send representation and present the breed’s position within their country/club and the issues raised are discussed between the group and comparisons made between countries.
THE BMDC of GB is proud to be hosting the BIWG for the second time, only the second club, after the KBS (Swiss BMD Club), to do this more than once and looks forward to welcoming the members of the BIWG to our special week.
The last BIWG meeting in the UK in 2011
The meeting is hosted by the different countries and clubs in turn and usually arranged around a major event such as the main show of the year or, as in our case this year, as part of a special celebration including shows and other activities. The meeting is chaired by the President of the BIWG, currently Martha Cehrs, formerly President of the KBS, the Swiss BMD club. The Secretary is Pat Long from the USA who has been active in many BMD health supporting activities for many years.
BIWG Delegates in the Netherlands in 2018
BIWG after the meeting in France in 2017
The 2013 BIWG meeting in Switzerland in 2013
Interested persons are welcome to observe and listen to the BIWG meeting. Most people genuinely interested in the breed’s health will enjoy listening to reports from Bernese clubs and communities around the world and listening to the ensuing discussions which not only cover health but the variations in set up and regulations in each country.
This year’s meeting is the first activity of our Golden Jubilee celebration days on Wednesday 21st September and will be held at 4.00 p.m. in the main hall of our venue at Forest Oak Farm. We have it scheduled until 7.00 p.m. when our ‘Fish and Chip Supper’ is scheduled but there is nothing to stop discussion continuing through our meal time if needed.
In order to attend our meeting, either as a delegate or an observer, you need to book on our booking system (Link below) so we can plan the meeting layout. There is no charge for this, (well actually a nominal ‘1 penny’ due to the system), but you have to indicate whether booking as a delegate or a spectator.
More Information
If you’d like to know more about the BIWG and its history and see more photos you can look at this article originally written by myself for the 2021 BMDC of GB Golden Jubilee handbook
The BIWG – History and Purpose
and visit the
We know times are difficult for some people but we hope a decent number of BIWG members and observer will be able to join us in September where an interesting time will be enjoyed by all.
Steve Green
BMDC of GB President & UK BIWG Representative