CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 BEST IN SHOW
Well known Norwegian judge Leif Herman Wilberg was the Best In Show judge. His choice was the Kerry Blue Terrier bitch Edbrios Exotica, owned and bred by Ed O’Brien, his son Philip (handling) and Philip’s wife Jarka Poulova, and sent in from group 3 by Bojan Matakovic from Croatia. Very lightly shown in Ireland, ‘Zuzanka’ had earlier won her first green star, her puppy and junior career having been in the Czech Republic where she was BPIS at a terrier specialty and reserve BPIS at Brno international. After winning her Junior Celtic Winner title last March, she was kept out of the ring to mature and came back at Crufts where she won the RCC from post graduate. RBIS went to Israeli Eytan Hendel’s group 5 winner, Chris McLean’s Akita Ch, GB & Lux Ch Melodor The Goddess, regular visitor from Scotland and another with European wins under her belt. Two and a half years old, ‘Andy’ has four CCs and was BIS at the Scottish breed club ch show.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 BEST IN SHOW
Kerry Blue Terrier bitch Edbrios Exotica, owned and bred by Ed O’Brien, his son Philip (handling) and Philip’s wife Jarka Poulova under BIS judge Leif Herman Wilberg.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 BEST IN SHOW
The winning moment... BIS judge Leif Herman Wilberg hands Philip the BIS rosette.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 BEST IN SHOW
Kerry Blue Terrier bitch Edbrios Exotica, owned and bred by Ed O’Brien, his son Philip (handling) and Philip’s wife Jarka Poulova under BIS judge Leif Herman Wilberg. Pictured is Mary Davidson representing the show sponsor, Royal Canin

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 BEST BABY PUPPY IN SHOW
Best Baby Puppy In Show saw Bojan Matakovic from Croatia choose for the big rosette the Akita, Craig Bannon and Niamh Carroll’s Stecals Rowdy Rousey, bred in England by Carol and Faye Bevis by GB Ch Ruthdales State Of The Art ex GB Ch Dykebar Revenge Is Sweet at Stecal, new bloodlines for the successful Cannonbar kennel, which has now amassed five or six BBPIS awards at international shows. Runner-up was the Boston Terrier, Paula Hamilton’s Takaira Texan Town.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 BEST PUPPY IN SHOW
BIS judge, Leif Herman Wilberg was ring centre and he declared the Coton de Tulear Clanlee Chief Of The Clan at Buoncasa his winner. Bred by Peter Summersgill and Bernie Doherty, seven-month-old ‘Archie’ was at his second show, and was handled by Daphne Louise Watson, who owns him in partnership with Peter. Reserve was the Bouvier des Flandres, Clare Burnett’s Mon Cher Mustang Sally.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 JUNIOR STAKES
Fionnuala Malone of the Glenfitor Kerry Blues was judging the stakes classes and her junior stakes winner, from an entry of 55 dogs, was the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Melanie Corcoran’s Molru Alright Dave, with the runner-up place to Brenda and Joe Doyle’s Shetland Sheepdog Sevenoaks Penny Heaven. Mary Davidson represented sponsor Royal Canin.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 BEST VETERAN IN SHOW
Dusan Paunovic from Serbia judged best veteran in show from all the best veterans in breed declared. After pre-judging, all the veterans came into the main ring where a short list was made, and from these Dusan chose the Australian Shepherd Ch, Am Gr Ch, GB & Lux Ch Bayshores Stonehaven Cat Burglar, owned by Neil Allan, Robert Harlow and Tracy Douglas who handles him. ‘Prowler’, now eight, was BIS at the CCC national last year, and was G3 the previous week at IKC CW. Ciara Byrne handled her Golden Retriever Sh Ch Zenevieva Gaelic Dream for Whistler, also eight, to take the runner-up spot.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 CHAMPION STAKES
Topping the champion stakes under Fionnuala Malone from an entry of 44 dogs, all trying to qualify for the Champion of Champions final next January, was the Dobermann GB Ch Jojavik Poison Ivy, owned by Vicky Ingram and her Mum Jackie, and handled by Josh Henderson. ‘Diva’ had earlier won her Irish crown, and was top GB Dobe in ’15, with 20 CCs under her belt. Runner-up was the Siberian Husky, the well known Ch, GB & Int Ch Bedarra Cold Paws Warm Heart for Leorient, ‘Flint’ owned by Jimmy Duggan and as ever handled by wife Anita Foley Duggan. He was top group 5 on the Gain Petfoods/Irish Canine Press/Dog World Leaderboard last year.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 BRACE STAKES
Darren and Elaine Walker’s Malamute littermates Ch Lueldar Dixie Chick and Lueldar Midnight Runner, had further success in brace stakes competition, winning under Fionnuala Malone; this duo have been collecting rosettes here since they were two unruly puppies. Second spot went to the Parson Russell Terriers, Finnish import Maanmainion Double Shot over Kylini and Kylini Mona Lisa, owned by Kay Rimmer.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 GROUP 1
Judging group 1 was Dusan Paunovic from Serbia, and from the herding breeds he selected for his winner Colm and Rose Hastings’ Old English Sheepdog Ch, GB & Am Ch Lambluvs Sultry Secret, ‘Vicky’ en route to BIS3. Second was Morag and David Connolly’s Border Collie Huntly Gotcha at Hello.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 GROUP 2
Group 2 was judged by Uschi Eisner from Austria who gave the red rosette to Seamus Sweeney and Lisa Magee’s Bullmastiff Ch Bullmeridith Captain Rowlo of Tarbhore; ‘Gus’ the group winner from the previous weekend at IKC Celtic Winners, following on from his success in 2015 when he won four groups and BIS at Tralee and IKC International (Day 1). Andrea Stubbs and Mossy Lenihan’s Rottweiler Ch & GB Ch Cotarinn Fright Night, handled as usual by Jackie Stubbs, was second; ‘Tyson’ was BIS at Irish Ladies KA last year.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 GROUP 3
Boran Matakovic from Croatia was ring centre for the terriers of group 3 and sent on the eventual BIS winning Kerry Blue, Philip and Ed O’Brien and Jarka Poulova’s Edbrios Exotica. Second was Ewa Lunden and Ross Delmar’s Smooth Fox Terrier Ch, Sw, Norw, Dan & Int Ch Residensets Stand-In, no stranger to top group spots, handled as usual by Ross with whom he lives. ‘Stanley’ was last year’s top terrier on the Gain Petfoods/Irish Canine Press/Dog World Leaderboard and was BIS at Monkstown; he started this year by taking the group and RBIS the previous weekend at IKC CW.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 GROUP 4
Sylvie Desserne, popular French judge, was making a return trip to judge in Ireland and she was in charge of the Dachshunds of group 4, her winner being the Smooth Kaninchen Karen Weir’s Ch Magik Rainbow Gloria, who finished BIS4, and her runner-up was Martin McDonnell’s Miniature Longhaired Smartdac Rising Phoenix, a young lady just starting on her career having taken the breed from junior at just 16 months.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 GROUP 5
Taking the honours in group 5 under Israeli judge Eytan Hendel was Chris McLean’s Akita Ch, GB & Lux Ch Melodor The Goddess, on her way to taking RBIS, with Jimmy Duggan’s Siberian Husky Ch, GB & Int Ch Bedarra Cold Paws Warm Heart for Leorient, second earlier in the champion stakes, runner-up.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 GROUP 6
Sylvie Desserne was busy again for group 6, her winner being Emma Dunlop’s young Beagle Ch Davricard Honour at Mustafar; ‘Maisie’ was taking her first group win though she was G3 the previous weekend at IKC CW. Runner-up was the Basset Hound, Barry O’Neill’s big winning Ch, GB & Int Ch Knockogue Arthurs Legacy, whose reputation goes before him, top all breeds on the Gain Petfoods/Irish Canine Press/Dog World leaderboard last year.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 GROUP 7
Leif Herman Wilberg had been scheduled to judge group 7, but as he was now judging BIS in place of Yvonne Nagler, John J Walsh, president of Combined Canine Club, stood in and found for his winner the Irish Setter, Cathy Loughlin’s Sh Ch Rohanmor It’s All About Alfie, taking a first group placing of the year and adding to the long list of groups won by this successful Setter kennel. John’s second rosette went to Catherine Kelly’s Hungarian Vizsla Sh Ch, Mn, Serb & Lux Ch Risley Poetry In Motion, piloted by Scarlett Burnside; ‘Nadal’ has four groups at home, plus one in Luxemburg.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 GROUP 8
Ned Burke, popular show manager of Tralee ch show, was judging group 8 and his winner was the Welsh Springer Spaniel, Catherine Halpin’s Sh Ch Moonlone Travelling Man; ‘Taffy’ was winning the fifth group of his career. Runner-up was the Stewart and Byrne partnership’s Golden Retriever Sh Ch Zenevieva Mister Bojangles for Whistler, group winner last year at Coleraine and handled by Ciara Byrne.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 GROUP 9
Jason Hoke from the US found his group 9 winner in Gordon Gault and Henry Stanley’s Pekingese Ch Pekehuis Midnight Magic, group winner last year at Bull Breeds and G2 at IKC international 2, with Caryn Coogan handling her Pug Tangetoppen’s Troublemaker to second spot and a first group placing.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16 GROUP 10
Kitty Sjong’s group 10 winner was the Afghan Hound, Lyn Appleby, John Minchin, Jane Edwards and Mary Mulvaney’s Ch Davashey To Tell The Truth, Champion of Champions 2015, G3 last weekend when he also won the champion stakes; BIS at Bangor last year with group wins and placings made him second top hound ’15, handled as ever by Mary. Kate Harbinson’s Saluki Ch Ulmarra Moet And Chandon with Actolia was second, handled by Sarah Cushley, a first group placing.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16
The Judges table at Combined Canine Club International

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16
The three......

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16
A troupe of dancers entertained in the main ring just before the groups began.

CCC INTERNATIONAL '16