We strongly recommend looking down this page before going to the online booking system and then you can easily refer back to avoid errors.
This guide is mostly concerned with the process of booking events, more details of the events themselves can be found either on our dedicated web page or in the advance planning booklet.
Please note we reserve the right to amend without notice lesser details which may have to change due to availability, rising costs, booking numbers or other factors outside our control. So, please be aware that all finer details may not be absolutely correct in the original hard copy planning booklet but the online versions of everything should always have the most up to date details where there are any differences.
To enable proper planning, everything you intend attending or taking part in or eating requires booking, even when there is no fee. We really need to know numbers in advance and there will be no booking on the day of the events.
Return to the SumUp booking system and book for your event
Club Membership
- Some activities have a twin pricing system with a reduction for club members.
- Whether you live in the UK or not, if you are not already club member you can easily join prior to booking your event, via our web site
- Once you have completed this process you can then book events at the reduced rate as a member, you do not have to wait for your confirmation to come through.
- It will usually work out cheaper to become a member if booking more than one event.
- As a member you will receive our magazines and annual handbook and details of club events as well as the discounts for these activities.
Shows
- To book entries to the shows themselves you are best going to show information page which has links to the online booking for each of our shows.
- Overseas visitors who have entered their dogs at Crufts will already be registered on it, others will need to start afresh. Everyone will be familiar with the type of entry system where you register the details of your dogs once and then enter shows as you please.
- Click here for a brief guide to the UK show system for overseas visitors.
- Everything other than show entries will be bookable via Sumup as outlined below.
- If you are unable to book online a schedule can be requested from our Secretary.
SumUp system
SumUp is very similar to most online shops and thereby should be very straightforward for most people. We have a hard copy form for those not able or comfortable with booking online and this can be downloaded from this web site or is available from our Secretary.
- Although mainly an online shopping system we are also using it as registration system.
- If online scroll down to the section you wish to book from or just work through them in order.
- Home in on your selection by clicking on the option you are looking at.
- Click the drop down arrow if needed to clarify your selection.
- Enter the amount required (use the plus and minus arrows) against each item.
- Click “Buy Now” and the item(s) you have just selected will be added to your basket and you will be taken to your basket. If you click “Add to basket” you will be able to carry on shopping. You can use the normal back arrow or the “Home” or “Products” tabs to go back to the overall options.
- If taken to your basket in error click the “back” button (just above “Checkout”) to continue shopping.
- After filling in details and paying you will be sent a confirmation email.
- We have a hard copy booking form for those not able to book online. This can be downloaded or is available on request from our Secretary.
Emerging Issues
One person reported a problem in completing the system but then found if she removed the “www.” from the address the problem was resolved.
Booking
There are many sections to the booking system whether booking on line via SumUp or using the hard copy form and both may appear daunting at first but it is just a matter of breaking it down into sections and dealing with each in turn, step by step.
Here are some points to assist with completing the process.
- If using the hard copy version you won’t be prompted in the same way so, please make sure you fill in your own details. (Don’t go straight to the bits you are booking and forget this essential step).
- There is no need to complete every booking and pay for everything in one go. If you wish, your bookings can be done in different visits to the system. For example you could book and pay for your onsite camping one time, then revisit another time and book event attendance or meals payments. As long as everything you wish to book is booked before the closing date of 21st of August you can complete your booking in as many visits and payments as you need.
- We are only accepting payment for bookings via SumUp online or by cheque with hard copy form.
- Not everything listed on the system requires payment. For simplicity we are also using SumUp as a registration system for people to book for things that do not require payment because we need to know numbers for general planning and sometimes there are special gifts for taking part in activities and we need to be able to order the correct number and sometimes some specific personal details for these.
- However, the SumUp system cannot quite cope with a zero cost so in effect, if booking online, there is a nominal charge of one penny for some activities, e.g. the carting parades.
- For some bookings there will be other documentation to complete which will be forwarded to you after your booking e.g. the health testing. This may not be sent to you immediately as these will be processed in batches during the booking period.
Section 1 On Site Camping
- On site camping has to be booked through the club’s booking system and cannot be booked directly with the venue.
- There are many pitches available on site but unfortunately no electric hook ups are available to book. There are many camp sites nearby where this will be possible if this is an essential detail which are listed in our planning booklet.
- Please note, no electrical ‘piggy backing’ from one caravan or tent to another will be allowed on this site.
- A battery charger will be available on site for leisure batteries to be charged as well as mains sockets for phone and other charging options.
- Please make sure you book each required night separately as they are listed individually for flexibility.
- The standard pitches will be 10 metres square and this has to be complied with. For larger set ups it may be necessary for vehicles to be parked on the car park instead of adjacent to the camping.
Section 2 Registration, Evening Events & Assessments
This will be the main section for most people attending the week of our event.
- The Golden Ticket registration is not essential but will deliver a souvenir bag with unique Golden Jubilee contents.
- The evening events include the food and the specific entertainment offered for each night. A vegan and a gluten free option is available but the make up of this will be influenced by demand.
- The KC Good Citizens, Bronze level, and the Character Assessments will be carried out alongside the events on Saturday in the same way as they take place at our Garden Party but can only be booked in advance.
- Please note we are unable to offer Silver level as originally intended and announced due to KC regulations not allowing this at events with shows.
Section 3 Carting & Parades
- There is no (real) charge for any of the carting events but booking is essential so we can plan and prepare the special gifts for taking part. So, if you are a carter and would like to be a part of the carting events you need to complete all the relevant sections 3a (i – iv) in advance.
- Your details will be passed to the carting event facilitators who will be in touch in due course.
- As mentioned elsewhere the system cannot deal with a zero fee so 1 penny (£0.01p) will be charged by the system for each parade booked.
- The Veteran and Champion Parades will be a part of evening events and have a small entry fee to go towards the rosette and any gifts for those taking part will receive.
Section 4a Meetings and Symposium
Please Note: Dogs at the BIWG Meeting, Health Symposium and Judges Meeting
Ideally we would ask that dogs are not brought to the these events if arrangements can be made elsewhere. That said, we appreciate this may cause difficulties for some attendees therefore we would allow a minimum number of well behaved dogs in the room. Even with exceptional circumstances, this would be limited to one dog per person. Please note, the owners of any dogs which are deemed by the organisers to distract the seminar in any way will be asked to remove them immediately, and without question. The owner would be welcome to place the dog elsewhere before returning, however if ultimately if the owner is unable to return to the meeting, the ticket to the event will not be refunded.
4a (i) The BIWG (Berner International Working Group) Meeting
- For our first event of the programme we are pleased to host the latest meeting of the BIWG and welcome the members from all over the Bernese world.
- This meeting for nominated representatives of breed clubs and breed related organisations from all over the world.
- With the consent of the President of the BIWG, Mrs Martha Cehrs from Switzerland, visitors are welcome to attend in a spectator capacity only. You will be seated separately to the meeting delegates.
- Whatever your status in order to plan the meeting you need to book a place in advance, on the SumUp system even though there is no fee for this.
- If you are an official delegate to the BIWG, representing a club or a country, please book a place as a “delegate”.
- If you are planning to attend as a spectator please book a place as a “spectator”.
- As mentioned elsewhere the system cannot deal with a zero fee so 1 penny (£0.01p) will be charged by the system for each place booked.
- Please note that the start time of the BIWG meeting is now 16.00 hrs (4 p.m.) and not as originally announced.
4a (ii) The International BMD Health Symposium
- An important part of the whole event.
- Last time the Brits in the audience were in the minority compared to the overseas visitors so we hope that will change this time.
- Typically these events have been priced 2 or 3 times higher than this but by being able to subsidise the price we hope to encourage a good attendance.
- Please note that the cost is £40 for members and £70 for non-members which are lower than those originally published.
- Cost includes all day refreshements and lunch as well as a booklet to accompany the symposium.
4a (iii) The International BMD Judges Meeting
- Third such meeting but the first time in the UK
- The initiative is very much driven by the much respected Bernese breeder and judge Satu Yla-Mononen from Finland who will be a joint host of the event.
- It is open to any established or developing judge of Bernese Mountain Dogs from any country.
- It will be a mixture of presentation, updates and discussion.
- The cost of £25, includes ongoing refreshments and a light lunch at the end of the meeting.
Section 4b Health Tests
SH (‘Histio’ )and DM Testing
- Thanks to the ongoing generosity of Dr Rich Irvine giving time and effort to take the samples and a subsidy applied to each item by the BHI from the health fund we are again able to offer reduced price health testing.
- The options for SH testing have been changed by Antagene who supply it and there are two options for BMD owners to consider.
- The original ‘stand alone’ SH test only has now been reinstated and Antagene now offer this for 120€ (Euros) plus your vet’s fee plus postage.
- We again offer this test for the reduced price of £80 all in.
- Despite the price increase this is the same price as we offered previously.
- There is now a new test described as a “Dog Genetic Check-up, grouping together SH, the two DMs, VWD1 and 3 morphological traits: curly hair, polydactyly, shedding” So, not only will you get the ‘Histio’ result but both the DM results that apply to Bernese, (SOD1A and SOD1B), a von Willebrands disease test result plus a comment on three standard canine genes that indicate your dog’s propensity to have, or pass on, a curly coat, have, or pass on, extra rear toes and dew claws and whether or not he or she is likely to excessively shed hair or pass this trait on to any offspring.
- The real value of much of this is ‘debatable’ to say the least BUT if you are wanting to take ‘Histio’ AND DM tests with your Bernese this is a good value test for that reason alone.
- Antagene offer this test for 168€ (lab fee alone) but we are able to offer it at our event for £132 all in.
- Your test results will be subsequently emailed only to you and the vet that took them, in this case Dr Irvine who of course maintains professional confidentiality. No part of the club, not the BHI nor the Health CoOrdinator receives any record of your results unless you subsequently decide to share them in whatever way you choose..
- As part of our subsequent communications you will be asked which day you prefer for your test and we hope to accommodate everyone’s preferences but we will have to manage demand.
- Please note these prices and options may not be as given in the schedules which had to go to press before Antagene made the options clear. The options given here supersede anything in the show schedules.
Section 4b Titre Testing
Vaccination Antibody testing
- For the first time we are also offering DHP vaccine antibody titre testing provided by Holly Attwood BSc Hons, RVN, using the Vaccicheck system.
- This process is used by many owners to check the immunity levels of their dog against the 3 common diseases vaccinated for namely Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvo Virus. If immunity levels are good there is no need to vaccinate.
- The fee for this at our event is £40 and results wil be given out at the event in hard copy or emailed afterwards.
- Most vets charge much more for this facility so we are very happy to provide this for the Bernese community attending our event. Holly has been providing this service for several years now and is very experienced and highly regarded by many dog breeders and owners.
- Even if taking the Antagene test and Titre testing it is expected to not have to shave any dogs and only take a single blood sample from each and divide it up at source.
- It is perfectly possible to book the Titre testing without booking the genetic test and vice versa.
Championship Shows
- Three Championship Shows in 2 days with CCs offered as part of this event
- One has Limited Obedience classes
- Junior Handling included
- Online Entry available to all three
- Click here for more information and links to entry
Specifically for Overseas Visitors
We are hoping to see overseas visitors at our Special event and initial interest appears promising. We have produced a page on our web site to give some information to assist non UK exhibitors at our UK shows. Click here to visit this page
The BMDC of GB will be happy to help anyone visiting our event, please visit our web site or email our secretary or the organising committee
Other UK & Ireland Shows
Anyone seeking to make a holiday ‘road trip’ between dog shows either side of the event may wish to know that there are other UK shows in the weeks before and even the day after our events where CCs are on offer for Bernese Mountain Dogs. All these shows are Crufts qualifiers.
These are
Saturday 10th September – Richmond Dog Show Society – Loseley Park, South Lodge Entrance, New Pond Road, Compton, Nr.Guildford, Surrey, GU3 1HY. (Enter at www.highampress.co.uk)
Saturday 17th September – Darlington Dog Show Society – Ripon Racecourse, Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 1UG (Enter at www.highampress.co.uk)
Sunday 25th September – Belfast Dog Show Society – Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Sprucefield, Halftown Road, Lisburn, BT27 5RF N.B. Attending this show after ours would mean a prompt getaway and an overnight ferry to Northern Ireland (Enter at Fosse Data)
Sunday 2nd October – Scottish Kennel Club – Royal Highland Showground Ingliston, Edinburgh EH28 8NB (Enter at www.highampress.co.uk)
Saturday 8th October South Wales Kennel Association – Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3SY(Enter South Wales at Fosse Data)
ALSO
The Republic of Ireland/Eire (FCI system)
Friday 30th September – BMDC of Ireland – Navan Racecourse, Proudstown Rd, Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland (Enter at www.dogshowentry.ie)
Saturday 1st October/Sunday 2nd October – Irish Kennel Club Centenary Double (2 days) Show – (probably) Navan Racecourse, Proudstown Rd, Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland (More details when available on ikc.ie)