Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Wales

Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Wales

Championship Show - 16th August 2025

Judges Report

Firstly, my grateful thanks to both the Committee of the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Wales for their kind invite to judge at their prestigious show, and to the exhibitors for their entries. There were some excellent exhibits and it was a pleasure and a privilege to see you all. Many congratulations to those receiving top honours, and commiserations to those that may have just missed out – some of the decisions were very close indeed – and a special mention for the veterans who were present. It’s always a great honour to see our oldies, and something as a breed we should continue to recognise and celebrate.

Class 1 – Baby Puppy Dog (0 Entries)

Class 2 – Baby Puppy Bitch (2 entries, 0 absent)

Two lovely baby puppies in this class, and the winner was selected on the basis of being slightly more rounded and accomplished in the ring and more co-ordinated on the move.1st Baldwin & Hartley’s Valleriita Bijou De La Source (imp). Lovely shape and outline, with good angulation and construction. Feminine, well proportioned head, good eye, well defined forequarters and level topline. Nicely angulated rear. Still a little loose in movement, but surprisingly good for such a youngster. Sympathetically handled and showed well. 2nd Meakin’s Angelrain Everlasting Love. Another strong contender, of slightly longer appearance at the moment, but well-constructed with a good head, strong chest and front, and well proportioned rear. Can move well, but took a little time to settle owing to her natural puppy exuberance.

Class 3 – Veteran Dog (2 entries, 1 absent)

1st Cotton’s Ch. Kernow Billy No Mates at Jukesbern. I’ve already said - but it’s worth repeating – always an honour to see our veterans in the ring, especially when they’re in such fine fettle as this example. This 7 ½ yr old dog, in profuse coat, solidly made, has a lovely head, a fine outline and underneath that coat is well constructed and in excellent condition. He moved around the ring with drive, an even and powerful gait like a dog half his age! Delighted to award him Best Veteran in Show

Class 4 – Minor Puppy Dog (0 entries)

Class 5 – Puppy Dog (1 entry, 0 absent)

1st Love and Johnson’s Gorsebern Mister Twister. Of substantial size for a 9mth old, he presents very well, with good substance, a nice head, but which will no doubt develop further, and strongly bodied. At the moment, his movement when viewed from the front is a little loose and uneven in tempo, (not unusual for young dog, especially given his size) but he moved with enthusiasm and drive, with a good reach and stride length.

Class 6 – Junior Dog (3 entries, 1 absent)

1st Cotton’s Etterbern Buz Vega At Jukesbern. 16th month old, good size with level topline and looks good in profile. Good head and expression with dark almond eye and good shape of skull, if yet not fully developed. That he’s still developing was evident in his movement when viewed from the front, as it was not yet quite free, but he moved with good drive, and in profile covered the ground with ease. 2nd Meakin & Meakin’s Angelrain Dark Prince. Another pleasing young dog, with a good head, if slightly longer in the foreface, but of good size and construction. Moved well, impression of overall balance slightly marred by his tail carriage, but taking this aside, he has a good stride and cadence.

Class 7 – Yearling Dog (3 entries, 0 absent)

1st Griffiths and Orme’s Jaybiem who Framed Roger. At 22mths, he’s clearly not going to be the biggest dog in the ring but crucially, he is within breed standard. I like his shape and cobbiness (I’m inclined to think that the 9/10 ratio in our breed is being stretched a little) and his overall shape and construction. He’s well developed, solidly made and showed well, attentive to his handler. Generally a good mover, he can appear a little wide at the front, but not at the detriment of his reach and drive. 2nd Reid and Given’s Fortonpark Senator at Mytrue. Another pleasing exhibit and a very close run thing. Beautiful head and expression, well bodied and of solid construction. When standing, can present with a dipping topline, but this was better on the move, so it may well be a passing phase of his growth. 3rd Ellis’s Kernow Sealion at Fitzford. Good size young dog with a pleasing head and expression, strong and well angulated forequarters. Good substance, although can appear a little straight at the rear. Moved well with a steady loping gait.

Class 8 – Novice Dog (0 entries)

Class 9 – Graduate Dog (3 entries, 1 absent)

1st Ellis’s Kernow Sealion at Fitzford. See Above. 2nd Bennett’s Norburylou Karias Star. Good exhibit with a strong head and good conformation. Good depth of chest and well angulated. What detracts from the overall picture at the moment is his tail, which whilst just long enough was out of coat and just took the edge off what was otherwise an attractive picture, especially on the move. In other respects, he is a strong, well developed young dog who has potential.

Class 10 – Post Graduate Dog (2 entries, 0 absent)

1st Long’s Prinss Vom Durrbachler Wald For Glamrock. Good sized and well developed male, with a good head, medium length of neck. Well-constructed fore chest, strongly bodied. Perhaps a tad straight on his hind angulation when viewed standing, but this improved markedly on the move, and in profile he had a good stride and moved around the ring with verve.

Class 11 – Limit Dog (10 entries, 1 absent)

1st Cahill’s Ivar Majowy Skarbiec Mature, good sized male shown in fine condition. Well presented by handler, he creates a very pleasing profile, with a good head and expression, good reach of neck and solid forequarters. Strong musculature and powerful hindquarters which inevitably led to sound movement, with an easy, far-reaching gate. Built fit for the purpose he was bred for. 2nd Wort & Wort’s Meadowpark What a Dream at Glorybern (JW) Another fine exhibit in a really strong class. Well proportioned male, with good conformation and substance. Good head and expression, and well constructed body. Moved well, with perhaps not quite the same composure as 1st. 3rd Gurney’s Monalou What Ho Jeeves. Another solidly made male that looks like he could do a job of work. I liked his bone and substance, and he has good conformation and moved out well.

Class 12 – Open Dog (4 entries, 0 absent)

1st Baldwin’s Fortonpark Tonyone. Well presented and well proportioned from any angle, he makes for a fine example of the breed. Nothing overexaggerated, he has a kindly head and expression, and everything in balance. Not the largest dog here today, but with plenty of substance to match his frame, well bodied with good musculature, and angles fore and aft make for a correct outline and conformation. He moved with an easy and free flowing gait that gave the impression that he could easily do this all day long with an economy and efficiency of movement. I understand from conversations afterwards that he had 10 RCC’s prior to this and this is his first substantive CC. I’m sure there will be more, as there’s a lot to like here – and I did (like him a lot!) Delighted to award Dog CC and RBIS. 2nd Cotton’s Ch. Shirdees Greatest Showman at Jukesbern. High quality dog with a lovely head, admirable structure, bone and substance. He presents very well indeed and has good conformation leading to sound and powerful movement. Dog RCC 3rd Love and Johnson’s Gorsebern Mister Twister. Good solid example of the breed with good angles, strong fore chest, well ribbed and well muscled rear-quarters. Perhaps slightly less coherent on the move, but nevertheless strode out well.

Class 13 – Champion Dog (3 entries, 0 absent)

1st Atherton & Atherton’s Ch. Velentinn Vom Durrbachler Wald. A close call between two worthy champions. This 5yr old presents very well, and was in tune with his handler. Good shape and conformation, with a pleasing head and expression. Well constructed with good angulation, good topline which he held on the move, striding along with a steady, even gait. 2nd Anufrowicz’s Hr Ch Gr Ch Pl Multi Thunder Taro Bohemijos Zibute Ew’25 C.i.b-j . Fine example of the breed, and on the day the places could have easily been reversed. He has a lovely head, with dark eye and broad skull, well bodied with good angulation and level topline. Slightly ponderous today on the move but has a true movement and stride.

Class 14 – Veteran Bitch (3 entries, 1 absent)

1st Oakaby’s Iscabern Daffadowndilly. I’ve already alluded to how much I enjoy seeing and interacting with our veterans, and these two exhibits were no exception. This sprightly 8½ yr old carries her years very well. Presented in good condition, she showed herself off with aplomb, and is a credit to her owners and handlers. She has a feminine head and expression, nice reach of neck, good topline and correct conformation. Moved freely around the ring. 2nd Baldwin’s Tjofseinas I Vana Tallin. Celebrating her 8th birthday only last week, here is another quality exhibit who both presents – and moves – like a much younger dog. Looking in fine fettle, with a pleasing head, good neck into level topline. Strong chest and well coupled loin into well angulated rear, she moved out with verve.

Class 15 – Minor Puppy Bitch (4 entries, 1 absent)

1st Wright and Kirks’ Roesilbern Fors Fortuna. 8mth old bitch, showing good promise. Of good size and nice angles and conformation, good depth of chest, only her head belies her tender age and needs to further develop (she looks a little long and narrow in the muzzle, but this will change), but otherwise she already has much to commend her. Attentive to her handler, she showed herself off very well and moved with surprising cohesion for one so young. BPiB 2nd Oakaby’s Tickbern Only One Carina At Iscabern . At just shy of 8mths, a little less substance than 1st, but another well constructed youngster. A little fidgety today, but this is always forgivable in a puppy – I’d much rather see a bit a character than an over-schooled automaton – but once settled she moved very well.

Class 16 – puppy Bitch (1 entry, 0 absent)

1st Wright and Kirks’ Roesilbern Fors Fortuna. (see Previous Class_)

Class 17 – Junior Bitch (4 entries, 1 absent)

1st Peacocke’s Husheen Lower Sabi 15mth old bitch. Good overall impression of a young bitch developing well. Good sound front construction, perhaps a little lacking in rear angulation at the moment, but well bodied with a level topline, which she held on the move. Head developing nicely, with a little way to go, but a kind, feminine expression. Moved very well with a rhythmical cadence. 2nd Evan’s Etterbern Made in Essex for Evansly. Another well proportioned young bitch who showed very well. Nice head and expression, good conformation. Although she moved well, her front when viewed head on isn’t quite there yet, although there’s time for it to improve as she matures and muscles up. 3rd Marshall’s Bernannan Whos That Girl. 17mth old of exuberant character and was clearly enjoying her day. With a good head and expression, well laid shoulders and a level topline and rear angulation although she looks tucked up in the loin at present, not unusual for a youngster. She’s quite tall and it looks like she’s going through that gangly stage like teenagers often do! She’ll doubtlessly fill her ample frame, and grow her full coat, and when she does it’ll be a different story but today she just looks ‘unfinished’

Class 18 – Yearling Bitch (1 entry, 0 absent)

1st Marshall’s Bernannan Whos That Girl

Class 19 – Novice Bitch (1 entry, 0 absent)

1st Peacocke’s Husheen Lower Sabi 15mth old bitch

Class 20 – Graduate Bitch (3 entries, 2 absent)

1st Wright & Kirk’s High Oaks Still Water Run Deep to Rosilbern (imp). There’s a lot to like here. Standing, she presents good conformation, deep chest, well angulated front, good length of body and nicely rounded croup in to good hindquarters. Good head and expression with rich tan and darker face with narrow, but correct, blaze. This sound construction inevitably led to sound movement, with a solid, even gait with reach and drive.

Class 21 – Post Graduate Bitch (1 entry, 0 absent)

1st Norris’ Lord of Berners Villanelle (imp). Solidly made bitch with a good structure and conformation. Well bodied and with good musculature, allied to her good head, with nice stop, dark aye and pleasing expression, she presents very well. She has sufficient, if not overly generous bone, and moved out with drive and gusto.

Class 22 – Limit Bitch (7 entries, 3 absent)

1st Bridges’ Oonelladream A Stolen Kiss at Kernow. I, like many other judges, have in my head an image of what I consider within the breed standard to be the ‘model’ Bernese. This exhibit gets very close indeed to mine. Lovely head and expression, complimented by her darker markings. Strong forequarters, deep chest, closely coupled loin and shapely rear making for a bitch that is true to type and, moreover, could do the job she was bred for. Her true and solid conformation resulted, unsurprisingly, in a true and even gait as she strode effortlessly around the ring. Pleased to award Bitch CC and BoB. Her 3rd CC today and a worthy Champion. 2nd Gurney’s Monalou Devil Woman. Good shape and outline, nice head with correct eye and expression. Of sturdy construction with good angulation, depth of chest and well-defined hindquarters. Level top line held on the move and she moved out with good drive. 3rd Rossall’s Stormberne Go Classical. Strong exhibit, with a good shape and structure. Although she moved well, it wasn’t quite with the freedom and fluency of 2nd.

Class 23 – Open Bitch (6 entries, 2 absent)

1st Green, Green & English’s Waldershelf Queens Inglish. Quality exhibit with good head, nice reach of neck, strongly muscled shoulders, level topline and well-rounded croup. Good angulation all around. Well-handled and well-schooled, she gave a very good account of herself in the ring, moving with good reach and drive. 2nd Bridges Kernow Florin. I’ve judged her before a couple of years ago and she has matured well. Then, I commented on her compact conformation, and this hasn’t changed but she has furnished herself with a profuse coat which can make her look a little too thickly set, although underneath all that coat is a well defined body with strong musculature. Moved out with good pace and drive. 3rd Baldwin’s Ch. Fortonpark Chase That Dream. Another strong exhibit in a quality filled class, she has an excellent outline and silhouette, with a well angulated body, strong neck, deep chest leading to a well proportioned rear. Moved powerfully.

Class 24 – Champion Bitch (4 entries, 0 absent)

What a pleasure to judge a class with such depth of quality 1st Baldwin’s Ch. Fortonpark Valentallina. I saw her as a puppy and like what I saw and she has developed into a very worthy champion. Sturdy, workmanlike bitch (and that’s very much a compliment) who is a fine example of breed type. Good frame, plenty of substance, well angulated and strongly built, she looks both capable of doing a day’s work, but retains her femininity and striking looks. Moved with finesse, striding out very well indeed. RCC 2nd Griffiths and Orme’s Ch. Jaybiem Iris I was with Utwo. Strong contender, with a very typical outline, lovely head, good neck into well proportioned and well angulated body. Attentive to handler and moved strongly. 3rd Wright & Kirk’s Ch. UK Rom Int Ch Objet D’Art Du Hameau De Baïka Avec Roesilbern JW (imp) She was in great condition, and moreover, great form today, showing very well and moving with drive and purpose. Lovely, typical head, nice neck into level topline. Strong front assembly, slightly longer in the loin and well angulated, well constructed hind quarters.

Mark Wakeland

Bramikdel