Bernese Mountain Dog Club Of Ireland
45th Sapphire Anniversary Double Specialty Show
Naas Racecourse
24th & 25th May 2025
The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Ireland held a Double Breed Specialty Show at the Naas Racecourse in County Kildare last weekend to celebrate their Sapphire Anniversary. The days started brightly, but unfortunately the wind and rain came later on in the day, but it could not dampen the spirit of the Bernese enthusiasts who had turned out in big numbers to celebrate our lovely breed.
The Club had organised for two of the World’s leading authorities on the breed to judge, Erikas Piskunovas from Lithuania and Andrea Maret from the home of the breed in Switzerland. On Saturday it was the turn of Erikas and he had drawn a wonderful entry of 56 Berners. Prior to judging we welcomed some Bernese into the ring, who had been rehomed or rescued by the Club during 2024/25, it was wonderful to see these dogs who now have a second chance at happiness and to applaud their new loving owners who are doing great work rebuilding their confidence in the human race. Then we had a great display of Bernese Carting, many thanks to the Murphy Family for putting on such a lovely demonstration. There was rosettes and prize cards for all entrants and the rosettes were designed to resemble the Bernese head.
New Club Mascot “Bernie” accompanied Erikas to the ring and judging began with the Puppy Dog Class and this was won by Valerie Hughes with her Polish import “Luigi Majowy Skarbiec”. Junior Dog Class was won by Eamon and Winnie Giffney’s Australian Import, “Sennen Just a Jag” and he would finish Best Junior in Show. Intermediate Dog Class was won by Marigold Murray’s “Mavrknahkohe Piz Bernina” and the Adult Class was won by Elaine O’Neill’s, “Platinumbear Elroy” and then the Open Dog Class was won by Marie Cahill’s Polish import, “Ivar Majowy Skarbiec”, who would later go on to win the Green Star Dog and Reserve Best in Show. The Champion Dog Class was won by David and Jackie Benson’s “Ch Seamus De Zandvijver at Bernervalley”, who went on to finish the day as Reserve Best Male. The Veteran Dog Class was won by Sally Murphy’s “Ch Maroussia Wish You Were Here at Kinelarty” and he would go on to be Best Veteran in Show.
The female classes started with Baby Puppy and this was won by Diana Bukartaite’s homebred, “Emeraldswiss Beauty N’ the Beast” and she would later be crowned Best Baby Puppy in Show. The Puppy Bitch Class was won by Sally Murphy’s import, “Babuska Von Der Alten Hinterberg at Kinelarty”. Next class was the Junior Bitches and this was won by Tanya Shields-Byrne’s import, “Tulipanos Berni Obvious Obsession”. Intermediate Bitch Class was won by David & Jackie Benson’s homebred, “Bernervally All About Me “ and she would finish the day as Reserve Best Female. The Adult Bitch Class was won by Julie Ann Wright’s imported “High Oaks Still Water Run Deep to Roesilbern” and then came the Open Class with a wonderful entry of 14 and topping this class was Gillian O’Sullivan’s “Platinumbear Victoria’s Secret”. There was another class win for Julie Ann Wright from the UK in Champion Bitch with her Ch Objet D’Art Du Hameau De Baika Avec Roesilbern” and she would go on to win Best Female and Best in Show. The Neuter Class was won by Richard Collins’ “Cannoli Collins” who finished the day as Best Neuter in Show.
Sunday was the turn of Andrea Maret and prior to judging there was another lovely display of carting by the Murphy family and their dogs. The Club then made a presentation to a number of people who have given great dedication to the breed in Ireland over the years, Michael Forte, Michael Leonard, Bernie Ladd, Sally Murphy, Valerie Hughes, Vincent & Dorothy Bermingham and Annemarie O’Neill who does such wonderful work looking after the rehoming of Bernese for the Club.
For Sunday, as well as wonderful Sapphire Rosettes, there was also beautifully designed slates for each class winner, sponsored by Southview Veterinary. Andrea started with Baby Puppy Dog and the winner was “Curragraigue Odilia” owned by Sarah Kennan. Puppy Dog was won by Valerie Hughes and “Luigi Majowy Skarbiec” and once again he would finish the day as Best Puppy in Show. The Junior Dog Class was won again by Eamon & Winnie Giffney’s “Sennen Just A Jag” and likewise the Intermediate Class was won by Marigold Murray’s “Mavrknahkohe Piz Bernina”. The Adult Dog Class was won by Sinead Finnan’s “Mapleridge Royal Prince” and then the Open Dog Class was won by Marie Cahill’s “Ivar Majowy Skarbiec” following on from his success on Saturday. The Champion Dog Class was once again won by David & Jackie Benson’s “Ch Seamus De Zandvijver at Bernervalley” who went on to repeat his Reserve Best Male success. Veteran male was won by Sally Murphy’s “Ch Maroussia Wish You Were Here at Kinelarty” and he would go on to top an excellent entry of over 50 dogs and win Best in Show, a great success for a Veteran in our breed.
The females started on Day 2 with Baby Puppy and the winner was Carol Mangan’s “Carraigbern Unconditional Love”, who went on to win Best Baby Puppy in Show. Puppy Bitch Class was won by Sally Murphy’s “Belleek Von Der Alten Hinterberg at Kinelarty”. The Junior Bitch Class was won by Carla McCabe’s Ukrainian import “Marta Alexberns”, who finished the day as Best Junior in Show. Adult Bitch Class was won by Julie Ann Wright’s “High Oaks Still Waters Run Deep to Roesilbern” and she would later finish as Reserve Best Female. Another big Open Bitch Class was won again by Gillian O’Sullivan’s “Platinumbear Victoria’s Secret” and then it was the turn of the Champion Females and another win for Julie Ann Wright’s “Ch Objet D’Art Du Hameau De Baika Avec Roesilbern” , who went on to beat her kennel mate for Best Female and finished up Reserve Best In Show, continuing her great success at the Irish Specialties.
Many thanks to all who supported our shows, to those who generously sponsored Rosettes and Classes and Slates, to those who entered their lovely dogs or brought along their rescued dogs for us all to see. To those who gave a display of carting, to the committee for their enthusiasm, to the doyens of the Cub who accepted our awards. Now planning starts for 2026……
The Club had organised for two of the World’s leading authorities on the breed to judge, Erikas Piskunovas from Lithuania and Andrea Maret from the home of the breed in Switzerland. On Saturday it was the turn of Erikas and he had drawn a wonderful entry of 56 Berners. Prior to judging we welcomed some Bernese into the ring, who had been rehomed or rescued by the Club during 2024/25, it was wonderful to see these dogs who now have a second chance at happiness and to applaud their new loving owners who are doing great work rebuilding their confidence in the human race. Then we had a great display of Bernese Carting, many thanks to the Murphy Family for putting on such a lovely demonstration. There was rosettes and prize cards for all entrants and the rosettes were designed to resemble the Bernese head.
New Club Mascot “Bernie” accompanied Erikas to the ring and judging began with the Puppy Dog Class and this was won by Valerie Hughes with her Polish import “Luigi Majowy Skarbiec”. Junior Dog Class was won by Eamon and Winnie Giffney’s Australian Import, “Sennen Just a Jag” and he would finish Best Junior in Show. Intermediate Dog Class was won by Marigold Murray’s “Mavrknahkohe Piz Bernina” and the Adult Class was won by Elaine O’Neill’s, “Platinumbear Elroy” and then the Open Dog Class was won by Marie Cahill’s Polish import, “Ivar Majowy Skarbiec”, who would later go on to win the Green Star Dog and Reserve Best in Show. The Champion Dog Class was won by David and Jackie Benson’s “Ch Seamus De Zandvijver at Bernervalley”, who went on to finish the day as Reserve Best Male. The Veteran Dog Class was won by Sally Murphy’s “Ch Maroussia Wish You Were Here at Kinelarty” and he would go on to be Best Veteran in Show.
The female classes started with Baby Puppy and this was won by Diana Bukartaite’s homebred, “Emeraldswiss Beauty N’ the Beast” and she would later be crowned Best Baby Puppy in Show. The Puppy Bitch Class was won by Sally Murphy’s import, “Babuska Von Der Alten Hinterberg at Kinelarty”. Next class was the Junior Bitches and this was won by Tanya Shields-Byrne’s import, “Tulipanos Berni Obvious Obsession”. Intermediate Bitch Class was won by David & Jackie Benson’s homebred, “Bernervally All About Me “ and she would finish the day as Reserve Best Female. The Adult Bitch Class was won by Julie Ann Wright’s imported “High Oaks Still Water Run Deep to Roesilbern” and then came the Open Class with a wonderful entry of 14 and topping this class was Gillian O’Sullivan’s “Platinumbear Victoria’s Secret”. There was another class win for Julie Ann Wright from the UK in Champion Bitch with her Ch Objet D’Art Du Hameau De Baika Avec Roesilbern” and she would go on to win Best Female and Best in Show. The Neuter Class was won by Richard Collins’ “Cannoli Collins” who finished the day as Best Neuter in Show.
Sunday was the turn of Andrea Maret and prior to judging there was another lovely display of carting by the Murphy family and their dogs. The Club then made a presentation to a number of people who have given great dedication to the breed in Ireland over the years, Michael Forte, Michael Leonard, Bernie Ladd, Sally Murphy, Valerie Hughes, Vincent & Dorothy Bermingham and Annemarie O’Neill who does such wonderful work looking after the rehoming of Bernese for the Club.
For Sunday, as well as wonderful Sapphire Rosettes, there was also beautifully designed slates for each class winner, sponsored by Southview Veterinary. Andrea started with Baby Puppy Dog and the winner was “Curragraigue Odilia” owned by Sarah Kennan. Puppy Dog was won by Valerie Hughes and “Luigi Majowy Skarbiec” and once again he would finish the day as Best Puppy in Show. The Junior Dog Class was won again by Eamon & Winnie Giffney’s “Sennen Just A Jag” and likewise the Intermediate Class was won by Marigold Murray’s “Mavrknahkohe Piz Bernina”. The Adult Dog Class was won by Sinead Finnan’s “Mapleridge Royal Prince” and then the Open Dog Class was won by Marie Cahill’s “Ivar Majowy Skarbiec” following on from his success on Saturday. The Champion Dog Class was once again won by David & Jackie Benson’s “Ch Seamus De Zandvijver at Bernervalley” who went on to repeat his Reserve Best Male success. Veteran male was won by Sally Murphy’s “Ch Maroussia Wish You Were Here at Kinelarty” and he would go on to top an excellent entry of over 50 dogs and win Best in Show, a great success for a Veteran in our breed.
The females started on Day 2 with Baby Puppy and the winner was Carol Mangan’s “Carraigbern Unconditional Love”, who went on to win Best Baby Puppy in Show. Puppy Bitch Class was won by Sally Murphy’s “Belleek Von Der Alten Hinterberg at Kinelarty”. The Junior Bitch Class was won by Carla McCabe’s Ukrainian import “Marta Alexberns”, who finished the day as Best Junior in Show. Adult Bitch Class was won by Julie Ann Wright’s “High Oaks Still Waters Run Deep to Roesilbern” and she would later finish as Reserve Best Female. Another big Open Bitch Class was won again by Gillian O’Sullivan’s “Platinumbear Victoria’s Secret” and then it was the turn of the Champion Females and another win for Julie Ann Wright’s “Ch Objet D’Art Du Hameau De Baika Avec Roesilbern” , who went on to beat her kennel mate for Best Female and finished up Reserve Best In Show, continuing her great success at the Irish Specialties.
Many thanks to all who supported our shows, to those who generously sponsored Rosettes and Classes and Slates, to those who entered their lovely dogs or brought along their rescued dogs for us all to see. To those who gave a display of carting, to the committee for their enthusiasm, to the doyens of the Cub who accepted our awards. Now planning starts for 2026……
BMDCI Breed Specialty Championship Show
Saturday 24th May 2025
A special thankyou to club member Radka Preislerova of
Radka Preisler Photography
who kindly gifted these beautiful images
Saturday 24th May 2025
A special thankyou to club member Radka Preislerova of
Radka Preisler Photography
who kindly gifted these beautiful images
A special thankyou to Franka & Eric Gaspic of
Visions Photography
who kindly gifted these beautiful images
Visions Photography
who kindly gifted these beautiful images
BMDCI Sapphire Anniversary Show
Sunday 25th May 2025
A special thankyou to Franka & Eric Gaspic of
Visions Photography
who kindly gifted these beautiful images
Visions Photography
who kindly gifted these beautiful images
