14 Apr Spring Garden Party and Open Shows Week-end May 2026
BERNESE ON A BANK HOLIDAY!
Information and Booking forms have been, or shortly will be, sent to all paid up members and are also available below for the TWO Open Shows on Saturday 2nd May and Spring Garden Party on Sunday 3rd May at the now regular venue in glorious Northamptonshire countryside. Up to a week’s camping, food, country air, evening events and ‘entertainment’ are all on offer and all club members and interested visitors are welcome, with or without dogs or with any other well behaved 2 and 4 legged family members. Entry to the event and on site parking are free. Booking is not required to attend on the day but camping and evening food must be booked in advance.
So, why not come & join us for Bernese & Bank Holidays on May Day Holiday weekend at Hollowell Steam Rally Field, Northants, NN6 8RB. If you have an interest in Bernese Mountain Dogs then this is the time to come & say hello & see what all the fuss is about. You can camp with us from Wednesday 29th April right through the bank holiday weekend until Tuesday 5th May so why not enjoy a few days of escape from the fraught world we have to live in the rest of the time!
ENTRIES UPDATE: The entries have now closed for the two Open shows and the numbers are as follows
Open Show 1 – Judge Jeni Gambiona – 66 dogs making 77 entries
Open Show 2 – Judge Phil Lovel – 64 dogs making 73 entries
Thank you to all exhibitors, these are amazing entries which we are very pleased with but ……
ALL EXHIBITORS PLEASE NOTE: Judging of Open Show 1 WILL commence promptly at 9.30am
STAYING ON SITE: CAMPING AND FOOD BOOKINGS ARE UNDERWAY – MAKE SURE YOU BOOK IN PLENTY OF TIME, WE ARE NOW LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM CAMPERS ARRIVING!!
Outline of the week-end’s events
Saturday 2nd May – we welcome you to a busy Show day with 2 Club Open shows. Open shows might not be such a big draw as Championship shows but should not be underestimated as relatively relaxed days out and good experience for judges, dogs and competitors alike. There will be dozens of Bernese to see with experienced multi breed judges gaining valuable experience to progress towards awarding CCs.
The usual very popular social evening will take place on Saturday with food on offer and a good time available for all.
Sunday 3rd May is Garden Party Day & all things Bernese will be happening – novelty classes that all can enter, parades for puppies, golden oldies, rescues & We R Family – agility & obedience for all levels as well as carting & First Draft testing. Informative breed talks will also take place during the day for those interested in, or even just starting out in the breed with the chance to ask questions you might have.
Sunday night we are spoiling you again with our Chippy Tea night.
Each night we will have fun, games, maybe bingo?, educational quizzes & even more fun with shouteokkee – it may not be everyone’s cup of tea but hey it’s great fun! Our award winning BernerShop will be open with lots of Bernese goodies & quality food & drink will be available during the day Saturday & Sunday.
So if you are wondering if this is the breed for you – come along & be prepared to fall in love!
Download the flyers and forms for more information and booking, (available here shortly), or for queries contact Lianne Marsden on 07977 686455
BMD Spring GP 26 Flyer final (see below for all details)
Please note these documents are available to download and, not surprisingly, will probably end up in your ‘downloads’ folder!
If you’ve never been before, to give an idea of the tone of the events, here are some links to previous year’s event reports
Saturday evening Pre Garden Party Party May 2024
Please return as this notice will update as required with links and more info.
HEALTH TESTING – Just to clarify as there have been a number of enquiries, which is very encouraging, but blood sampling for health testing WILL NOT be available at this event. As has always been the case, this is planned for the Autumn Garden Party and Championship Show week-end in August. Most of the arrangements are already pencilled in and will be finalised and booking made available, once these Spring events are done and dusted.
DIRECTIONS – Navigation guidance to the venue can be found here (N.B. If this is your first visit do not simply rely on Google maps to ‘Hollowell Steam Rally’ as this may take you nearby but not to the venue itself). Basically the key thing is to get yourself onto Teeton Road between Guilsborough and Hollowell and on the day of the events you will find the signs accessing the show ground with one entrance for visitors and a separate disabled and officials entrance.
SPRING GARDEN PARTY INFORMATION
Sunday May 3rd
There will be lots of activities throughout the day including 2 decorated carting classes:-
Swiss Theme, & Best Carting Turnout as well as the Carting Fancy Dress–
the theme this time is “The Adam’s Family”.
Party games for all including the ever popular Markies & spoon race. There will be biscuit catching & musical sits, (Fab Rosettes for “Overall Champion Biscuit Catcher” &
Champion Fastest Musical Sits,) so start practicing now!
Novelty classes such as the Prettiest Bitch, Most Handsome Dog & the Best Bad Hair Day!
Shed a tear or two & be proud at our fabulous Bernese parades for the Golden Oldies – 7 years and over, as well as the Rescue Parade for all Bernese Rescue dogs.
You can melt at the sight of the puppies in the puppy parade & we are also repeating the hugely popular “We R Family” parade – where we see litter siblings & closely related dogs all getting to know each other and having fun.
For those of you who like to work your dogs, there will be obedience & agility classes & also a chance to show off the working roots of the Bernese in the working cart classes.
The BernerShop will be there for you to spend all your pennies with a wonderful range of Bernese gifts, clothes & books etc.
Camping available on site – see separate leaflet
or contact Lianne Marsden for more details 07977 686455 or email lianne.marsden@bernese.co.uk
Breed information talks for people new to our breed or anyone wishing to add a Bernese to their family – what to look for, what to ask, what to avoid – all the questions you have answered by experienced Bernese owners.
Except where otherwise stated, entry fee is £5.00 per dog – you can enter any number of classes
Main Ring Programme of events
Novelty classes ( 2 – 16) will be judged by Owen Copeland
The events in the Main ring will be judged and run in the following order (but will be interrupted by the (approximately) timed events listed below.) Listen to announcements for any changes.
10.00 a.m.
Class 1 – Decorated Carts based on a Swiss Theme
Judged by Michelle Barsby
Class 2 Most Handsome Dog
Class 3 Prettiest bitch.
Class 4 Dog with the most appealing eyes.
Approx 11.00am Puppy Parade.
Class 5 Best Smile
Class 6 Waggiest Tail
Class 7 Cutest Dog
Class 8 Dog most like it’s owner
Approx 12 noon – Rescue Parade
For any rescued or rehomed BMD’s —please fill in information form & bring to the ring. Entry is free & all parading dogs receive a rosette
CARTING DEMO- from First Draft to Advanced Carter – what’s it all about? Chris, Di & their team will be demonstrating over the lunch period to show you how to turn your Bernese beginner into an advanced carter
FUN AND GAMES
Knock out heats for
Biscuit catching – Markie and spoon race – Fastest Sitter and more!
Approx 1.00pm— Golden Oldies Parade
for all Bernese aged 7 years and over.
Please fill in information form and bring to the ring.
Entry is free and all parading dogs receive a rosette.
Class 9 – Decorated Carts—Fancy Dress –“The Adam’s Family”.
Class 10 Junior Handling 6-10 years
Class 11 Junior Handling 11-16 years
Class 12 Best Bad Hair Day (dog or human!)
Class 13 Best Condition
Class 14 Best Brace or Trio (of dogs!)
Class 15 Best Trick
Class 16 Best Hello – Paw shake or cuddle!
Approx 3.00pm—“We R Family” Parade
for litter mates and/or dogs closely related introduced in kennel groups
Presentation of awards for Obedience, Agility, First Draft & CartingRing 2 10.00 start
RING TWO 10.00 a.m. Start
Obedience – Judge: TBC
OBEDIENCE – Have a go for Bernese. – Dogs not to have won more than 2 x 1st or 2nd places at any BMDC of GB obedience competitions. Heel on lead, Recall on lead, Sit 30 seconds, Down 1 minute both on lead.
OBEDIENCE -Trier’s – Bernese that have not had 4 or more 1st or 2nd in ANY BMDC of GB obedience competition. Heel on lead, Heel free, Recall off lead, sit 1 minute, down 1minute.
OBEDIENCE – Future stars Open to ALL BERNESE. Heel free (normal & slow pace), “A” Recall, retrieve any article, sit 1 minute, down 2minutes.
OBEDIENCE – Open. For all Non BMD and abilities. Heel free (normal & slow pace), “A” recall, Retrieve any article, sit 1 min, down 2 mins.
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Agility Ring
Judge – Ray Burke
Please do not use the agility equipment without supervision
During the morning there will be the opportunity to practice.
Timed runs will be 1.00pm – 3.30pm
AGILITY-BEGINNERS – BMD ONLY – dog must not have won more than 2 x 1st or 2nd places at any BMDC of GB club event
AGILITY ALL BREEDS – not BMD For any breed and ability
AGILITY-NOVICE – BMD ONLY – Open to all.
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Working Cart Ring.
9.30am prompt– Judges: Chris Handley, Di Crawshaw & Elaine Spalding
Dogs may enter ONE class only.
9.30am -11.30am CARTING – BEGINNERS
12 noon -1.00pm CARTING – INTERMEDIATE
1.30pm – 2.30pm CARTING – ADVANCED
3.30pm – 4.00pm CARTING – MEDALS ADVANCED
Anytime CARTING – VETERAN
CARTING COURSE WILL CLOSE AT 4.00pm PROMPT
Working cart entrants must register with the steward. All dogs must start at the beginners class & only proceed to the Intermediate class when they have achieved 90% of available marks at 3 Bernese carting competitions & have been awarded the beginners carting certificate. Dogs that have previously been awarded the Beginners or Intermediate carting certificates may compete in Intermediate or Advanced classes as appropriate. Those with 3 or more passes at Advanced level will still compete in the Advanced class. A list of all previous scores & a table showing which class each dog is eligible for will be available in the carting ring.
Please try to adhere to the above times for the carting classes.
Carting First Draft as well as First Draft Practice will be available to complete on Saturday & Sunday of the weekend
There’s Even More
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THE KENNEL CLUB GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME – BRONZE AWARD
Between 10.30pm-3pm
ENTRY is £5.00 per dog
all entries must register by 12.30pm to be allocated a time slot
For details, please contact Debbie Buck 07720 345464 or email debbie
Please make sure you have any equipment needed with you.
Details of what is required can be found on the Kennel Club website
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CHARACTER ASSESSMENTS
The cost per dog is £10.00
THE CLUB’S CODE OF ETHICS RECOMMENDS MEMBERS HAVE THEIR BREEDING DOGS ASSESSED
Why not take the opportunity and have it done today? Certificates and rosettes are awarded to all who pass & your dog’s name will appear in the next club publication as proof of the result.
To pass “EXCELLENT” your dog must achieve an excellent in all tests; to achieve a “PASS” grade your dog must not fail in any exercise. The tests are not designed to frighten your dog but merely to show how he/she copes with normal everyday situations such as crowds of people, coping with traffic, being close to other dogs or if he/she encounters something unusual such as a shopping trolley passing by or a sudden noise.
A maximum of 10 dogs can be assessed on the day therefore it is necessary to book in advance by contacting Debbie Buck on 07720 345464- by 28th April please
Bitches in season cannot take part.
Dogs must be over 12 months of age on the day. If not fully subscribed by Bernese, other breeds may be assessed but priority WILL be given to Bernese, if fully subscribed please ask to be placed on the reserve list
ALL DOGS ENTERED MUST REGISTER AT THE TABLE NO LATER THAN 10.30am PROMPT IN ORDER TO BOOK A TIME SLOT.
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Also available on site ……
Rescue and Health Stand
The Club’s Rescue and ReHoming service will be present to answer any queries and talk to you if you think you’d like to help either with practical help or donations of decent items to raffle or auction.
There will also be a Bernese Health presence to answer any Bernese Health Queries you might have about the breed or any of the health tests.
Both these worthy activities will be open to any donations be it offers of time and practical help with Rescue dogs or donations of decent Bernese (or other) items to raffle or auction to raise funds for both activities.
The Bernese information talk will take place adjacent to these stalls, look for notices or listen for announcements of the times.