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Celebrating our 42nd anniversary of
IRISH CANINE PRESS
2016 SHOW GALLERY
Champion of Champions Final
The Fosse Data Ireland Champion of Champions was held in the Green Isle Hotel, Dublin on January 2, hosted by Dublin Dog Show Society. The judge on the night was Brenda Banbury from the UK. Rita McCarry Beattie, secretary of DDSS, was master of ceremonies for the evening, a task which she performs most professionally, and she and her hard working committee ensured that everything ran smoothly for the event. A total of 31 dogs had qualified during the previous year, each winning a Champion Stakes at the all-breed championship shows through 2015. On the night there were just four absentees, thus 27 dogs competed for the title of Champion of Champions 2015. In the end, Brenda Banbury couldn’t resist the style of the Afghan Hound Ch & Int Ch Davashey To Tell The Truth, owned by Lyn Appleby, John Minchin, Jayne Edwards and Mary Mulvaney, who has handled him to all his wins over the last couple of years.
IKC Celtic Winners International
Ann Cuthbert’s Best in Show winner at the IKC Celtic Winners International Championship show was Sally & Sean Burns and Val & Mary Coghlan’s Standard Poodle, Ch Dinastii The Libertine Afterglow, with Reserve BIS awarded to Ross Delmar and Ewa Lunden’s Smooth Fox Terrier, Ch, Swe, Nor, Dk & Int Ch Residentsets Stand-In. The Celtic Winners show, generously sponsored by GAIN PET FOOD, had attracted an entry of 1,520 dogs, enhanced by a further 159 dogs in the Obedience and Agility disciplines, competing for the Celtic Winner’s title for Best Dog and Bitch, the Celtic Junior Winner’s titles, both titles qualifying for Crufts 2017, plus the added bonus of the International CACIB for the eligible winners. The panel of judges was made up of internationally qualified judges from Ireland.
CCC Pup Of The Year
The third and final leg of the ‘Combined Canine Easter Extravaganza’ took place on the afternoon and evening of Easter Monday. The hard working committee was back to transform the ballroom at Moran’s Red Cow Hotel on Dublin’s Southside into the main ring for the Irish Pup of the Year final. The POTY is well recognised as one of the premier events on the Irish canine calendar and from the 32 invited finalists, 26 were present. The proceedings started with preliminary assessment in front of five visiting judges, namely Norwegian Leif Herman Wilberg, Eytan Hendel from Israel, Christian Karcher from Finland, Jason Hoke from the US and Sylvie Desserne from France.
Winner of the Irish Pup of the Year title was Conor Cahill and partner Mary Kilroy’s homebred Akita Roycon Raising Hell, Runner-up was David and Morag Connolly’s Border Collie Nahrof Blurred Lines at Huntly.
Combined Canine Club National
On the second day of the 'Easter Extravaganza' when the winners’ podium at the Combined Canine National Championship show was occupied by two dogs with international connections.  The best in show winner, Lisa Nelson, Leanne Bryant and Bev Morris’ American Cocker Spaniel Am Ch Silhouette Troubling Nasailleen with Mycalleys, recently arrived from the US while RBIS was awarded to Karen Weir’s Russian import Kaninchen Smooth Dachshund Ch Magik Rainbow Gloria under Best In Show judge Paul Lawless.
The show was sponsored by Royal Canin with Mary Davidson and her team representing the generous sponsor in the photo calls.
Combined Canine Club International
The Combined Canine Club has long held its championship show over the Easter holidays. This year it was an international show on Easter Saturday, the national show during the day on Easter Sunday, with the club also hosting the Irish Pup of the Year on Easter Sunday evening.
There was a great entry of 1,721 dogs for the international ‘Easter Classic’ on the Saturday. Best In Show judge Norwegian all breeds judge Leif Herman Wilberg chose the Kerry Blue Terrier bitch Edbrios Exotica, owned and bred by Ed O’Brien, his son Philip (handling) and Philip’s wife Jarka Poulova as BIS, with RBIS awarded to Chris McLean’s Akita Ch, GB & Lux Ch Melodor The Goddess.
Banbridge
Taking centre stage at the Eikon Exhibition Centre for the Banbridge Canine Club’s National Championship show was Heather Timmins and she awarded Best In Show to Mandy Moore’s Leonberger, Ch Leokings Lionheart At Hillhaven, the first such award in Ireland for the breed. Reserve BIS under Heather was David and Morag Connolly’s Border Collie, Sh Ch Tonkory Gold Digger At Huntly. The show was sponsored by Dr Clauder’s with Stewart Carson representing the company in the photographs.
Portadown
Best in Show judge at Portadown Canine Club’s 12th All Breed Championship show was Simon Rooney, whose choice for top spot, from an entry of 1,107 dogs, fell to Ralph Dunne’s Clumber Spaniel, Sh Ch Richley Royale Bond, 2 year old ‘Eldridge’. Reserve BIS was the Alaskan Malamute, Ch, Int & Lux Ch  Libertia Reggae Master, 5 year old ‘Marley’ is owned and handled by Scarlett Burnside in partnership with Mark Burnside. The show was sponsored by Dr Clauder’s with Stewart Carson representing the company in the photographs.
Fermoy and South Tipperary shows alternate every year so it was South Tipp who had the Sunday slot this year. The show was sponsored by Dr Clauder’s, represented in the photos by Stewart Carson, and attracted an entry of 1,353 dogs for the judging panel which included a number of those who had offciated the previous day at Fermoy. BIS judge was Carmel Barry-Sheehan, well known for her involvement in Afghan Hounds and Salukis, and making her championship show debut centre-ring. Carmel selected Barry O’Neill’s homebred Basset Hound Ch, GB & Int Ch Knockogue Arthurs Legacy with reserve going to Felicity Thompson’s Whippet Barnesmore Hell’s Belles.
Fermoy International
When the German Shepherd Dog, Ch Feebroithe Canto, bred by Seamus Brophy and partner, Marie Feehily, and owned by Michael Heenan and Theresa McMahon, topped the entry of 1,570 dogs at the Fermoy International All Breed Championship show, he created a piece of breed history as he is the first German Shepherd to take BIS at an International all breed Ch show in Ireland.  'Canto' is pictured here with his co-breeder and handler Seamus Brophy, and Best in Show judge, Noreen Clark, who gave RBIS to Ann Cuthbert and Stephen Minogue’s Borzoi, Ch & Int Ch Donskoi Asmodey, handled by Lynda Cuthbert Matthews. Sponsored by ROYAL CANIN, Fermoy was the first leg of the annual ‘Trip To Tipp’ weekend and held the Ferryhouse Sports Complex, Clonmel.
South Tipperary
Swords
Hibernian
Mike Drennan was the BIS judge at Hibernian’s 40th anniversary Championship Show. His winner was the Toy Poodle Ch Grayco Splash The Cash, owned by Sally Burns, Mary Coghlan and Lesley Howard, and prepared and handled by Sally, fresh from judging BIS the previous week at Newtownards. RBIS went to Maureen and Brian Carroll’s four-year-old Keeshond Ch & Int Ch Lyntova Legend Has It. The show was sponsored by Royal Canin with Mary Davidson representing the company in the photographs, the show attracted an entry of almost 1,200 dogs for the panel comprised of judges from both home and abroad.
Newtownards
Taking centre stage in the best in show ring at Newtownards was Sally Burns. From the ten finalists, Sally’s choice for BIS fell to the three-year-old Kerry Blue Terrier Edbrios Silverado, jointly owned by Sheila and Jim Corbin, Philip O’Brien and his wife Jarka and taken to the top by Philip. Reserve BIS, after winning the group under Alec Douglas, was Colm Beattie’s American Cocker Spaniel Boduf Hope for Branstock, who is still two weeks off his first birthday.
The show was sponsored by Dr Clauder’s, with Stewart Carson representing the company in the photocall, and June’s Pet Bedding, the show attracted an entry of just short of 1,000 dogs, supplemented by the keen participants in the obedience disciplines.
Cork
Topping Cork & District CC’s Championship Show this year under BIS judge, Patricia Lawlor, was Cathy Loughlin’s homebred Irish Setter, Sh Ch Rohanmor Jorja On My Mind; ‘Jorja’, having earlier taken her first Group win, thus joining the many kennelmates in Rohanmor who have taken top honours at shows over the years, was making it a double success for the breed over the ‘Munster Weekend’.  Reserve BIS was the Pomeranian, Sean Carroll and James Newman’s latest star, Belliver Kiss The Stars, at just 11 months old surely following in the footsteps of countless Belliver Champions. The show was sponsored by Royal Canin, represented on the day by Mary Davidson.
Munster Canine
Diane Stewart-Ritchie’s Irish Setter, multi CC and BIS winning Sh Ch & GB Sh Ch Gwendariff Whippersnapper, annexed Best in Show at Munster Canine, under BIS judge, Donal Neally, repeating his win here last year when he topped the show under Bill McEntee, thus setting the scene for a great 2015, when he won 6 groups, and further BISs at Deise and Bray with RBIS at the IKC Int 2, these to add to BIS 4 at IKC CW.  These wins made him the proud owner of the ‘Irish Kennel Club Dog of the Year 2015’ title.  Reserve BIS was Gillian and Carol Gibson’s Shih Tzu, Ch Virtulvilage Vain, who was Annual Champion last year, had earlier taken her first group win. This show was held at Cork Marts in glorious summer sunshine with Kay Marrett at the helm, as she has been for over five decades.
Taking centre stage to judge Best in Show was Jim Behan, who awarded BIS to the Swedish import Smooth Fox Terrier, Ross Delmar and Ewa Lunden’s Ch, Swe, Nor, DK & Int Ch Residentsets Stand-In. Reserve Best in Show was yet another Swedish import, this time Danielle Ritchie-Smith’s Play A While Before The Rains. The winners are pictured with the judge Jim Behan, Tom Hehir, Chairman of Swords and Mary Davidson who represented show sponsors ROYAL CANIN in the photo calls.
Top Irish Showdog Final
Anita Foley Duggan and 'Flint' aka Ch, GB, Int & Ned Ch Bedarra Cold Paws Warm Heart, are off to Amsterdam In December, where Anita will pilot her husband, Jimmy’s, Siberian Husky, to represent Ireland in the Eukanuba World Challenge. 'Flint' topped the cream of Irish dogs at the IKC finals in the Regency Hotel under respected multi CC Scottish judge, Albert Wight, after winning through the preliminary round under Irish all breeds judge, Michael McCarthy.
Bray
Best In Show judge at Bray was Karen Gilliland, making her debut in the BIS ring at this level though no stranger to the big ring with her involvement with initially Rottweilers, then Swedish Vallhunds, and more recently her Australian Shepherds. From a strong line-up she wasted no time in bringing forward the Kerry Blue Terrier, Harold and Helena Quigg’s Irisblu The Fiddler, for her winner. RBIS went to Frances Toman’s Pembroke Corgi Ch Whitepoint Stare If You Dare At Manto.
Deise
After his recent victory at the Irish Kennel Club Top Showdog Final, that win giving him his ticket to represent Ireland at the Eukanuba World Challenge (originally to be held in Amsterdam, but now scheduled for next year at Crufts), the Siberian Husky Ch, GB, Dutch & Int Ch Bedarra Cold Paws Warm Heart for Leorient, owned by Jimmy Duggan and handled by wife Anita Foley Duggan, again took the limelight with best in show at Deise under Ger Cox. Taking the reserve spot was Paul, Jean and Kelly Lawless’ Groenendael Ch, GB & Dutch Ch Revloch Figo, the current leader on the Gain Petfoods/Irish Canine Press/Dog World Group 1 Leaderboard.
Kilkenny
Taking centre stage at Kilkenny to judge his first championship show best in show was James Newman, well known for his and his uncle Sean Carroll’s Belliver Pomeranians and Denemore Papillons. From the ten group winners assembled, he firstly shortlisted to four finalists - Miniature Schnauzer, Smooth Fox Terrier, Pug and Afghan Hound, one final assessment and then the big rosette and Best In Show 2016 went to Ross Delmar and Ewa Lunden’s Smooth Fox Terrier, Ch, Int & Multi Ch Residensets Stand In, four-year-old ‘Stanley’ on a roll after his BIS win the previous week at Swords. RBIS was another import, Caryn Coogan and Elisabeth Juverud’s Pug Tangetoppen’s Troublemaker; two-year-old ‘Toro’ was bred in Norway.
Monkstown
Dun Laoghaire Monkstown Canine Society’s Best In Show judge was Irish all-breeds judge Beri Beare, a lady of many years’ judging experience both at home and abroad, who had a quality line-up to choose from. For her winner, she chose the Papillon, Sean Carroll and James Newman’s Ch, GB, Ger, Cz & Int Ch Hundebuden’s Juno Pondabudens, handled by James to acclaim from the full ringside of spectators. RBIS was Bill Warke’s Longhaired Dachshund Ch Glasvey Hurricane Run, handled by Gerry McFaul.
Munster Ag
Taking centre stage to judge best in show at the revitalised Munster Agricultural Championship Show was one of Ireland’s globetrotting all-breed judges, Michael Forte, and the honour of taking the top award at Munster Ag went to the Smooth Fox Terrier, Ross Delmar and Ewa Lunden’s Ch, Sw, Norw, Dan & Int Ch Residensets Stand-In, ‘Stanley’ taking his third BIS award this year after similar success at Swords and Kilkenny. Reserve BIS was Roma Giedraitiene’s Siberian Husky Kristari’s Wild Charm.
Sligo
Seamus Dunne, well known for his involvement in the Dachshund world, was Best In Show judge at Sligo and from the ten group winners his choice for BIS fell to Harold and Helena Quigg’s Kerry Blue Terrier Irisblu The Fiddler.
ILKA
By tradition, the best in show judge at ILKA is a lady, usually making her debut in the big ring, and this year was no exception, the honour falling to Mary Mulvaney. From the ten group winners, her choice for BIS was the Basset Hound, Barry O’Neill’s Ch, GB & Int Ch Knockogue Arthurs Legacy, six-year-old homebred ‘Arthur’ was taking his ninth all-breed BIS of his career and his second this year. Reserve BIS was Scarlett and Mark Burnside’s Alaskan Malamute Ch, Lux & Int Ch Libertia Reggae Master, another six-year-old dog who has been to the forefront for a number of years.
Killarney
Visiting Finnish judge Saija Juutilainen had the honour of judging Best In Show, awarding the top spot to Carla Bollard O’Callaghan’s Afghan Hound Ch, GB & Int Ch Ashahni Amir; just turned eight years of age, ‘Caleb’ has had a long and successful career.
Taking RBIS under Saija was the Siberian Husky, Jimmy Duggan’s Leorient Flying Solo, handled by wife Anita, two-year-old ‘Colby’ off to a flyer on Circuit week as he had taken his crowning green star at Navan group 5 show on the Saturday, going on to BIS at the group show.
Clonmel
Judging Best In Show at Clonmel was Paul Scanlon. From the ten group winners sent through by the international panel of judges, his choice for BIS fell to the Smooth Fox Terrier, Ross Delmar and Ewa Lunden’s Multi/Int Ch Residensets Stand-In, four-year-old ‘Stanley’ taking his fourth BIS award this year.
RBIS was Gerry and Pauline Clarke’s Irish Wolfhound Ch Lady Rose of Shantamon, four-year-old homebred ‘Lady’ the latest in a long line of top winners from this kennel.
Tralee
The Circuit finale was in Castleisland, the home of Tralee Ch Show and here the BIS judge was Harry O’Donoghue of the famous Blackdale Wire Fox Terrier Kennels. He gave the final circuit accolade to the Newfoundland, Chapman’s GB Ch Merrybear D’Artagnan, owned by Lyn and Terry Chapman and handled by co breeder Paddy Galvin. Reserve BIS was the Papillon, Sean Carroll and James Newman’s  Ch, GB, Cz & Ger Ch Hundebuden's Juno Pondabudens, handled by Sean. Long-time sponsor, Pet Master, was represented as ever by Mervyn Webb.
Limerick
The third show of the Circuit saw all exhibitors head for the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare for the Limerick Ch Show, where BIS judge elect was Kurt Nilsson from Sweden. His winner was Kate Harbinson’s Saluki, Ch Ulmarra Moet And Chandon With Actolia, handled by Junior Handler, Sarah Cushley, while his RBIS was the Lakeland Terrier, Ch Brookside Aristocrat, owned by Tina and Catherine Broaders, and handled by Catherine, also a Junior Handler. Happy Dog again sponsored on a glorious sunny day, represented here by Jackie Stubbs.
Coleraine
Tom and Annie Mervyn’s German Short Haired Pointer, homebred Sh Ch Tomanipoint Celtic Knight, topped the entry at Coleraine’s 2nd All Breed Championship show at the NSC at Cloghran, under BIS judge Martin O’Donoghue. Reserve BIS went to Sean Carroll and James Newman’s Papillon ‘Juno’, the multi titled Ch, GB, Ger, Cz & Int Ch Hundenbuden’s Juno Pondabudens, handled by Sean.
Cloghran
Stephen Kennedy handled his and wife Carol’s  Weimaraner, Sh Ch Zilverein Straight No Chazer, to Best in Show at Cloghran under Dermot Timmins, whose choice for Reserve BIS was Karen Weir’s Dachshund, the Smooth Kaninchen Neths Ch Zimerbude Yantarnaya Kapelka.
Carlow
Clinching his second Best in Show award in three All Breed Champ Shows, Carlow saw Tom and Annie Mervyn’s homebred German Short Haired Pointer, Sh Ch Tomanipoint Celtic Knight, top the entry under BIS judge Liz Wogan, who gave Reserve BIS to Ross Delmar and Ewa Lunden’s Smooth Fox Terrier, Ch, Swe, Nor, DK &  Int Ch Residentsets Stand-In. Happy Dog sponsored, represented by Jackie & Andrea Stubbs.
Bangor
Topping the entry at Bangor Championship Show under Moira Grant Cook, was the previous week’s Reserve BIS winning Papillon, to Sean Carroll and James Newman’s Papillon, the multi titled Ch, GB, Ger, Cz &  Int Ch Hundenbuden’s Juno Pondabudens handled by Sean. Reserve BIS under Moira was the Irish Setter, Christine McLarnon’s Gwendariff Nuts Aboutu Glenavna handled by Christine. Mary Davidson represent Sponsor, Royal Canin.
IKC International Day 2
Taking centre stage in the Best in Show ring at IKC International Day 2 was Irish All Breeds judge, Cathy Delmar. Bringing the international weekend to a conclusion, Cathy’s choice for Best in Show fell to Felicity Thompson’s Whippet, Ch Barnesmore Wizard King, a real family affair as 2 year old ‘Jason’, bred by auntie Margaret Martin, was handled to victory by mum Lucinda Thompson, bringing further success to this well-known kennel. Reserve Best in Show under Cathy Delmar was the Irish Setter, Cathy Loughlin’s Sh Ch Rohanmor It's All About Alfie, the group winner at Combined International at Easter and today taking his ninth group placing of the year. The show was sponsored by GAIN PETFOODS.
IKC International Day 1
Taking centre stage to judge Best in Show at the IKC International Day 1 was Stephen Minogue. From the ten winners sent through by the international group judges, Stephen awarded the winner’s rosette to the Bulldog, Mark Graham’s Gongar King Henry Bulls, 20 months old ‘Henry’ on a roll having recently topped the breed at Bull Breeds a few weeks earlier. Reserve Best in Show under Stephen Minogue was the Kerry Blue Terrier, all the way from St Petersburg, Larisa and Nikolay Ageev’s Multi Ch Edbrios United Colours, 5 year old ‘Prince’, bred in Ireland by Philip and Ed O’Brien and Jarka Poulova, was returning home to take his Irish title to add to his titles gained in a further 10 countries. The show was sponsored by GAIN PETFOODS.
Bull Breeds
Taking a bow centre stage for his first Best in Show appointment was Kevin Maye, whose choice for top spot went to the Afghan, Lynn Appleby, John Minchin, Jayne Edwards and Mary Mulvaney’s Ch & Int Ch Davashey To Tell The Truth, handled by Mary to his first BIS win this year, a year which started when he won the Champion of Champions contest back in January and saw him, before today, with 6 previous group wins and BIS 3 at both Munster Canine and Kilkenny. Reserve Best in Show under Kevin was the Toy Poodle, Sally Burns, Mary Coghlan and Lesley Howard’s Ch Grayco Splash The Cash, 3 year old ‘Geoffrey’ the BIS winner at Hibernian in May and today taking his third group of the year. The show was sponsored by PETMASTER.
Dublin DSS
Dublin Dog Show Society’s event on 27th December, the last show of the season, was a triumph for the English Springer Spaniel, Ed Casey & Cam Cavallo’s GB Sh Ch & Australian Supreme Ch Sandicam The Look of Love, when he took BIS on his first trip to Ireland. Since his arrival to England from Australia in August, already with 10 all breed BIS and a multitude of other top wins behind him, ‘Noah’ clinched his GB title in double quick time, also taking BIS at South Wales. His win at DDSS was under Gundog specialist Angela Hancock, seen here with the host club’s Chairman, Barry Keely, Jackie Stubbs of sponsor, Happy Dog, and Ross Delmar with his and breeder Ewa Lunden’s Smooth Fox Terrier, Ch, Swe, Nor, Dan, Nordic  & Int Ch Residentsets Stand-In, who was Reserve BIS and is Ireland’s IKC Dog of the Year 2016, courtesy of his BIS and RBIS wins during the year.
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