National Working & Pastoral Breeds Society

National Working and Pastoral Breeds Championship Show - 11/7/2026

Bernese Mountain Dogs

My thanks to the Committee for their kind invitation to judge at this prestigious show - with special mention for their care and attention to the well being of the exhibitors and their dogs in such difficult climatic circumstances!

I am grateful to the exhibitors who attended and took personal responsibility for their dogs’ welfare. I would have liked to have seen a lot more movement, but tried to limit this to a minimum in the heat. My apologies to anyone who felt that the stewards were over-zealous – I do hope it didn’t spoil your day.

All temperaments were excellent given the circumstances – a credit to you all.

PD (Entries 3, Abs 0)

1st Harwood’s Waldershelf Tintagel Thor. Lovely 11 month old puppy, growing on evenly in all departments. Good size for his age, he has a flat skull with a defined stop, a straight topline and plenty of bone. He is well schooled for a youngster and seemed to enjoy his day – he moved easily around the ring, making a pleasing picture. BP and Best Spec Beg winner.

2nd Bridges’ Kernow Winter Woolly. A 6 month old baby at his first show, but definitely not phased by the occasion! Stood beautifully for his handler and moved steadily around the ring. Everything is a little loose at present, as is to be expected, but it’s all there – adequate bone for his age, straight back and nicely rounded rump.

JD (1,0)

1st Manix and English’s Waldershelf Fine’n Dandy. At 13 months, this dog presents a handsome profile. His head is strong, his stop well defined, he has a strong neck and a good depth of chest. Plenty of bone and overall size is excellent. Although he was a little distracted at first, he moved well enough around the ring to show sound balanced movement.

YD (1,0)

1st Love and Johnson’s Gorsebern Mister Twister. This dog has a lot going for him – he has a well-shaped head, classic markings and plenty of bone. He stands a little straight in stifle but moves well. He was well handled and moved into free stand four square. Despite all his good qualities, his bite will count against him.

PGD (3,2)

1ST Meakin’s Angelrain Dark Prince. At 2 yrs this dog is starting to mature well. He is of a good overall size with plenty of bone. His head is strong with good proportions, his topline is straight and his angles are correct front and rear. This resulted in sound, steady movement both away and back.

LD (5,3)

A very difficult choice between one and two, which could easily reverse another day.

1ST Wort’s Meadowpark What A Dream At Glorybern. A lot to like about this 3yr old dog. His head is correct in proportions with a lovely expression and a kind, dark almond shaped eye. He has excellent bone, a good depth and width of chest and is well muscled. A good rear assembly provides drive in his movement, which he carries out with a level topline. Overall, a very pleasing picture. RDCC.

2nd Griffiths and Orme’s Jaybiem Who Framed Roger. Another super dog, maturing very well. I last judged him as a puppy with all the exuberance of a happy, carefree youngster but he has settled beautifully and his performance today was a credit to his owners. He is not the tallest dog but is well within breed standard, has a good amount of bone and is a lovely cobby shape. His markings are classic with a flat skull, good width of head and a well-developed stop. Up on his toes, he moved out well, both away and back.

OD (4,0)

1ST Manix and English’s Ch Waldershelf Bjorn To Be King JW ShCEx OSW. Excellent size and fabulous bone, this dog has the stature and substance which are often lacking today. Could he do the draft work he was bred for? Yes, he could! Beautiful flat skull, good width of head, dark eye and classic markings. He has a good depth of chest, strong neck and shoulders and is well muscled. His back is straight, possibly a little long, but leading to a nicely rounded rump. He moved soundly and with purpose in this class, but truly excelled in the Group, where he flowed beautifully around the ring and I was very pleased to see him make the cut in a very strong field. Congratulations! DCC, BOB.  

2nd Cooke and Stevens’ Tickbern Yardhand This handsome dog is lighter all round than my first, but excels in movement. He is well balanced with a strong musculature, good angles both front and rear, all of which come together to provide good positive drive around the ring. He is light on his feet, covering the ground effortlessly and holds his topline on the move. His head is masculine and in proportion, with a nice dark eye and good ear set. He is well schooled and a credit to his handler.

VD/B (3,2)

1ST Bridges’ Ch Kernow Troublue. It’s always a pleasure and privilege to judge veterans in this breed. At eight and a half years old this lovely dog gave of his best today, despite the heat. He has a beautiful head and his dark eyes and Bernese smile give him a gorgeous expression. He has fabulous bone and great depth of chest and body with a profuse coat. His movement was steady and true and I think he enjoyed his outing today! A fitting tribute to his owner.

SBD/B (2,0)

1ST Harwood’s Waldershelf Tintagel Thor See PD.

2ND Purdy and Simpson’s Waldershelf Drama Queen. At 11 months old, this pretty girl is growing well – her head has yet to develop, but she is of a good size and has adequate bone and substance for her age. Her back is straight, although she is a tad long in body and her angles are good front and rear. She is very well schooled and attentive to her handler.

PB (5,1)

1ST Copeland’s Kernow Prize At Maxjabar. What a stunning puppy! At just 6 months, you would think she had been showing all her life! Lovely head and expression, nice dark eye and discernible stop. Body is cobby and well proportioned with plenty of bone and straight legs. Angles, particularly at the rear, are pronounced and give rise to sound steady movement. One to watch.

2nd Bridges’ Kernow Booty. Litter sister to winner, this girl has a lovely temperament, stood well for examination and moved steady and true around the ring. Slightly smaller than her sister at this stage, but with plenty of time to catch up, she also has lovely rear angulation, straight legs with sufficient bone for her size.

3rd Purdy and Simpson’s Waldershelf Drama Queen

Res Sutton’s Never Ending Story

JB (2,1) 

1ST Cooke and Stevens’ Tulipanos Berni Quintina Quinta At Tickbern. At 15 months old, this attractive girl is progressing well. She was presented in lovely jacket, well groomed with a rich dark tan. Her structure is sound with good angulation and a straight back which led to a lovely outline on the move – a trademark of this kennel.

YB (2,0)

1ST King, Green and Dedman’s Arvella Captivating Callie. A feminine girl, with a dark eye and lovely expression. Well made throughout, correct shoulder placement, firm level topline into rounded rump and good rear angulation. Gave a good account of herself on the move, covering the ground well.

2nd Oakaby’s Tickbern Only One Carina At Iscabern. 18mth old girl of sound construction and good outline. Pleasing head with good eye, ear placement and attentive to owner. Appeared a little out of coat today, but she moved out well, with sound gait.

PGB (1,0)

1ST Meakin’s Bellatrix Do Monte Dos Ursos (Imp Prt). This exhibit has a classic Bernese head and expression, with a flat skull and dark almond shaped eye. Her general construction is good with a straight back and good angles all round. A lovely rich tan completes the picture. Movement was steady and true.

LB (3,1)

1ST Bailey and Williams’ Seanri Hello Again At Timarabai. With an appealing head and expression, narrow markings, dark almond shaped eye and rich tan, this girl paints an attractive profile. Her front legs are straight and true and she has a good depth of body, a level topline and won this class with her movement, reaching out well at the front and driving from the rear.

2nd Evans’ Etterbern Made In Essex For Evansly. Another pretty female, pleasing head shape, well defined stop, slight furrow and dark eye. Nicely balanced body throughout with plenty of bone, she has good angulation front and rear. This manifests itself in an easy flow of movement around the ring.

OB (7,3)

1ST Bridges’ Ch Oonelladream A Stolen Kiss At Kernow. I first judged this gorgeous girl when she was a junior and very nearly awarded her top honours then, so I was delighted to see that she has fulfilled her promise! She has a solid conformation - a beautiful strong head, flat skull with narrower white markings, a dark eye and such a kindly expression. A strong neck flows into a sloping shoulder and a great depth of chest, her back is straight under a profuse coat and her legs are sturdy with plenty of bone. A compact, efficient mover, she embodies all the traditional virtues of size and substance of Bernese from years ago and is certainly fit to do the job she was bred for! BCC.

2ND English and Green’s Sp Ch Devael Shame To Fame At Waldershelf (Sp Imp) Another super exhibit, taller in stature than winner but still with many great qualities. A very striking head of good proportions, lovely rich tan with a dark eye and classic white markings. She is well muscled, has plenty of bone throughout and stands on a straight front and is of sound construction. A little more exuberant on the move than the winner. RBCC

Julie Wakeland

(Bramikdel)