The Coronation Spring Garden Party 2023
The long awaited return of the Garden Party at the new venue of Hollowell Steam Rally site took place on Sunday 7th May and to continue the Coronation Day celebrations the usual Saturday evening event took the form of a Coronation Street Party complete with food, music and games. All the the Main ring events were renamed in a Royal Fashion starting off for example with Handsomest Prince followed by Prettiest Princess.
The weather was perfect Garden Party weather in that every time we started to worry it was getting a bit too hot the clouds took effect for a whiled allowing things to cool down. After the week of violent gales and torrential rains we were just glad it wasn’t the slightest bit wet or windy and we were very impressed with how dry the ground was after Saturday’s downpour.
Although alot of work had to take place during the run up week we were very happy with the new venue and look forward to more events at this site. Of course we learnt a few things and will improve on these next time but overall everyone seemed happy and a great day was had by all. Any volunteers to help with this set up work, and work after the event, in the future will be very welcome, please talk to Lianne.
We thank everyone of the hundreds that attended and made the day a great success with a lovely relaxed and friendly atmosphere throughout the day. Someone told me it was a perfect Bernese day and you can’t argue with that.
We also have to thank the people that helped us stage the event, your small committee really struggles to produce this massive event with everyone multitasking and taking on multiple responsibilities and work so any help we get from family, friends and visitors is really, really appreciated and indeed essential.
More results, reporting and photos will appear here as they become available but here are a few summary photos of the day. Scroll down for full results from the day where more photos will appear.
Top Working Dog of the Day – Fizz with Sandra Hallam
The Garden Party isn’t really about winning or losing but we encourage the efforts made by our brilliant working Bernese owners who compete in working cart, obedience and agility classes by recognising the best all round working dog of the day. This is not the first time Fizz has won this award, so extra congratulations to perhaps our most famous Bernese at the moment and her owner.
Some General Sunday Shots
Food Central was busy all day
The ‘Bernese for Beginners’ talk was well attended both times and addressed the breed related questions commonly asked by enquirers at our events and others such as Discover Dogs.
Bernershop – busy all day
Decorated Carts – A Right Royal Spectacle celebrating the Coronation week-end
Carting Demonstration – The amazing Lexie & Simon
Judging of Carting Turnout
Always popular Swiss Decorated Carting
Entries was a very busy place for most of the morning
The nerve centre of the week-end was full of chatter and happy sounds
Always good to see the Golden Oldies – the dogs are very welcome too!
Sorry but its in my contract – I have to use that line once every 3 or 4 years !
Obedience Judges worked as a team
Junior Handling 6 to 10 yrs with back up teams
Junior Handling 11-16 years
Rescue and BHI Stand promoting Rescue and Health
Puppy Parade – always great to see the future
Rescue Parade – tissue time as we hear the stories and the new lives these dogs have
Always alot of variety in capability shown on the Agility course but the dogs do love it however good, (or not so good), they are
Biscuit Catching Line Up
Ringmaster Mark – thinks he is in charge!
Judging of ‘Dog the King would most like to take home’
Best Trick entries put the dogs through their paces
Obedience is always worth watching to show their are no excuses, all our dogs should be well behaved.
Some people are just cruel!!!
Debbie and her helpers promoting a good cause
Saturday Evening Coronation Street Party
OK, we didn’t have a real street and it was under cover but it needed to be!
I know Betty is an Entlebucher and not a Bernese but she thinks she is the Queen and in charge!
Definitely not in charge of anything!
Torchlit Carting Parade
Character Assessment & KCGC
As always the club provided Character Assessment opportunities, by the ever reliable Jude Brennan and KC Good Citizen assessment, this year conducted by Jane Reeves.
Kennel Club Good Citizen BRONZE
Julie Wakeland with Hector. BMD
Yvonne Clough with Elsa BMD
Cheryl Sokel with Cleo BMD
Trish Barr with Yogi Australian Shepherd
Sue Small with a Border Collie
ALL PASSED
Character Assessments
Lianne Marsden with Fraggle Excellent
Shandy Bridges with Florin Excellent
Shandy Bridges with Kricket Excellent
Julie McPherson with Wilson Excellent
Margaret Bailey with Tigi May Excellent
Yvonne Clough with Elsa Excellent
Joanne Sutton with DeeDee Pass
Michelle Copeland with Ronnie Pass
MAIN RING
All the novelty classes in the Main Ring, the centrepiece of the Garden Party, were judged by Debbie O’Toole.
This is her report.
Thank you to the committee for asking me to judge the fun classes at the Coronation Garden Party. I enjoyed my day, made even more entertaining by the excellent commentary from, and banter with, my very able Steward for the day Mark Avery. The last time we were in the ring together I was showing my boy and he was doing the judging to award CC’s. All more relaxed today, however, there was some fierce competition for prettiest princess with 22 entries and a trick to entertain the King, where all the tricks were awesome. There were also several very promising Junior handlers on show. It was lovely to have so many entries across the classes, albeit making my job harder.
Class 1 – Handsome Prince
1] Louis & Kelly
Very handsome boy, strong, masculine head & expression.
2] Indie & Sherry
Another lovely boy, kind expression.
3] Joe & Karen
4] Bear & Tabitha
Class 2 – Prettiest Princess
1] Karry & Kaci
Very pretty girl with striking colours, happy and alert.
2] Rosa & Linda
Pretty girl, well-marked, with a kind, sensitive and intelligent expression.
3] Bramble & Jess
4] Izzy & Pip
5] Cleo & Cheryl
Class 4 – The Monarch Eye
1] Lacota & Lesley
Nice, expressive dark brown eyes, and kind expression.
2] Dolly & Lynn
Kind friendly eyes and nice expression.
3]Carrie & Sheryl
4] Armani & Sue
5] Izzy & Jess
Class 5 -Dog with the best Royal smile
1] Anya & Sarah
Huge smile, happy girl
2] Boodles & Steve
Happy, smiley girl.
3] Peggy Sue & Judy
4] Hilda & Alice
5] Lacota & Lesley
Class 6 -The Royal Tail Wave – waggiest tail
1] Dudley & Lauren
His tail never stopped wagging.
2] Dustin & Lee
Another very waggy tail, close call with first.
3] Llewy & Kelly
4] Letty & Nahla & Lauren
5] Shandy & Sheryl
Class 7 – The Dog King Charles would like to take home
1] Huxley & Chris
Nice, good-sized boy, masculine head, dark almond shaped eye, compact body with good bone, smoothly rounded rump and enough angulation.
2] Rama & Sofia
Feminine girl, nice expression, adequate bone, correctly rounded rump and good angulation.
3] Kobi & John
4] Rosa & Linda
5] Dudley & Andrea
Class 8 – Dog most like its owner
1] Letty & Somia/Jenna
2] Peggy Sue & Malcolm
3] Cookie & Kayleigh
4] Loki & Jen
5] Darcey & Lee
A close call for 1st & 2nd place for this one, both humans excelled in their efforts to demonstrate the likeness with their 4-legged friend .
Class 10 Junior Courtiers 6-10 years
1] Liberty with Alice & Nina
Nice Weimaraner bitch, great, dual handling effort.
Class 11 Junior Courtiers 11-16 years
1] Rama & Sophia
Nice type with good proportions and movement. Promising handler.
2] Izzy & Jess
Good proportions and angulation, preferred movement of 1) today. Another good handler.
3] Lettie & Nala
4] Bramble & Jack
Class 12 Crowning glory (dog or human) – best crown of the day
1] Reggie & Leah family
Great family effort, with lots of lovely crowns.
2] Cleo & Marie
Another great crown
3] Lettie & Samia
Class 14 Imperial coat – A coat fit for a Monarch
1] Cleo & Marie
Lovely condition jet black coat, soft and silky, with a deep shine.
2] Guchi & Sue
Another lovely coat in great condition.
3] Holly & Ann
4] Freya & Danielle
5] Annie & Lesley
Class 15 Best brace – Heir & Spare!
1] Luna & Libby with Marie
Very well matched, traditional brace.
2] Jo & Peggy Sue with Judy
A great heir & spare pair
3] Lally & Lakota with Terry
4] Loki & Rama with Sophia
Class 16 A trick to entertain the King
1] Annie & Lesley
Great trick, superbly demonstrated.
2] Letty & Samia
A close call with 1) and another very good trick.
3] Bear & Sam
4] Peggy Sue & Judy
5] Rama & Sophia
All tricks were top notch and worthy of entertaining the King, a very competitive contest.
Class 17 Best Royal Paw shake or cuddle!
1] Letty & Samia
2] Peggy Sue & Judy
3] Annie & Lesley
4] Armani & Sue
Lots of great paw shakes and cuddles!
Debbie O’Toole (Judge)
We were very grateful to Carol Dunhill as a short notice stand in judge for the decorated cart classes which are a real highlight of the week-end for many people.
CLASS 3 DECORATED CARDS – SWISS THEME
1st Helga with Pauline Bullock
2nd Rosie with Elaine Spalding
3rd Riley with Chris Handley
4th Barnaby with Michelle Copeland
5th Mia with Belle Owen
CLASS 9 DECORATED CARDS – FANCY DRESS CLASS “A RIGHT ROYAL SPECTACLE”
No places were awarded in this class and everyone received a first rosette
CLASS 14 BEST CARTING TURNOUT
(Judged on cleanliness and appearance of dog, cart, harness and handler (no decoration)
1st Helga with Pauline Bullock
2nd Mia with Belle Owen
FUN & GAMES
MUSICAL SITS
1st Ruby with Nicole Curzon
2nd Fendi with Sue Small
3rd Joe with Karen Hayward
4th Loki with Jen Skingle
5th Bramble with Jess Love
MARKIE, CROWN & SPOON RACE
1st Cleo with Marie Dennis
2nd Rama with Sophia Gatland
3rd Lettie with Nala Dixon
4th Darcey with Grace Murphy
BISCUIT CATCHING
1st Loki with Sofia Gatland
2nd Luna with Marie Dennis
3rd Rama with Bear Gatland
4th Liberty with Marie Dennis
5th Lacota with Lesley Draper
WORKING CART RING
The working cart ring is where our breed can show what it was meant to do and the dogs are put through their paces at a various levels. Our Working Cart group are in charge of proceedings and we thank them for supporting our event.
In addition there was a demonstration of how to get started in carting with your Bernese in the Main Ring and their is expertise and equipment available all through the week-end for anyone wanting to have a go for the first time. Most Bernese take to it quite naturally and most of the rest just need a little careful help to quickly become happy carters. There is no excuse for anyone who even thinks they might want to give it a try not to having a go with their dog, so, if you have never carted with your dog, why not give it a go next time.
BEGINNERS
1st Arthur with Richard Hallam
2nd Rodney with Chris Handley
3rd Arthur with Tom ???
4th Barnaby with Michelle Copeland
5th Helga with Pauline Bullock
INTERMEDIATE
1st Lexie with Simon Gould
2nd Carrick with Di Crawshaw
3rd Mia with Belle Owen
ADVANCED
1st Fiz with Sandra Hallam
MEDALS ADVANCED
1st Pluna with Keith Brown
2nd Rose with Elaine Spalding
AGILITY
BEGINNERS
1st Anya with Sarah McTighe at 48.62 (clear)
2nd Elsa with Yvonne Clough at 55.06 (clear)
3rd Merryn with Bruce Hollingsworth at 1m 10 (5 fault)
4th Cleo with Marie Dennis at 1m 12s (15 fault)
5th Arthur with Richard Hallam 1m 46 (5 fault)
NOVICE
1st Fiz with Sandra Hallam at 42.54 (clear)
2nd Trio with Keith Brown 2m 7 (5 fault)
3rd Phina with Keith Brown 1m 50s (10 fault)
NON BERNESE AGILITY
1st Rayna with Bruce Hollingsworth at 59.46 (clear)
2nd Libby with Marie Dennis at 1m 3 (clear)
3rd Delta with Sue Brown at 1m 24 (clear)
OBEDIENCE
TRIERS
1st Boodles with Sue Small
2nd Mia with Belle Owen
3rd Armani with Sue Small
4th Peggy Sue Judy Harris
5th Indi with Sherry
FUTURE STARS
1st Annie with Lesley Messih
2nd Boodles with Sue Small
3rd (after a close run off) Elsa with Yvonne Clough
4th Fiz with Sandra Hallam
5th Phina with Keith Brown
HAVE A GO
1st Peggy Sue with Judy Harris
2nd Lex with Terry Doper
3rd Letty with Jenna Dixon
4th Arthur with Richard Hallam
OPEN
1st Delta with Sue Brown
2nd Gucci with Sue Small
3rd Jive with Sue Brown
4th Fendi with Sue Small