Irish Canine Press

Topping the entry of 1,580 dogs under Jerry Dalyat the Combined Easter Classic International, was the Papillon, Sean Carroll and James Newman’s Multi Ch Expana’s Sea Dragon Conqueror, earlier the BIS winner at the Irish Kennel Club St Patricks Day Int, and Reserve BIS at Portadown National, . ‘Howard’ had come through both the breed and Group 9 under Russian judge, Ekaterina Senashenko, pictured here with the winner, BIS judge Jerry Daly, Caiomhe Lyons, representing the weekend’s generous sponsors, Royal Canin, and Tom Mervyn, with his and wife, Annie’s GSP, Ch Tomanipoint Celtic Knight, who was Reserve BIS, following on from his BIS wins at the IKC Celtic Winners Int and Portadown.

COMBINED CC INTERNATIONAL
Best In Show: Sean Carroll and James Newman’s Papillon, Multi Ch Expana’s Sea Dragon Conqueror
RBIS: Tom & Annie Mervyn's, GSP, Ch Tomanipoint Celtic Knight
COMBINED CC NATIONAL
Best In Show: David and Jackie Benson’s Bernese Mountain Dog, Ch Mapleridge The Dark Knight at Bernervalley
RBIS: Sean Carroll and James Newman’s Papillon, Multi Ch Expana’s Sea Dragon Conqueror
COMBINED CC POTY
Combined Canine Club/Royal Canin Pup of the Year: Mandy Moore’s Leonberger, Lempileijonan Aito Suomileijona at Hillhaven
COMBINED CC POTY
Combined Canine Club/Royal Canin Pup of the Year: Mandy Moore’s Leonberger, Lempileijonan Aito Suomileijona at Hillhaven

The second day of the Combined Easter weekend saw the international panel of judges overseeing 1,421 dogs at the CCC National Ch event; Best in Show judge here was Margaret O’Sullivan, whose winner was the Bernese Mountain Dog, Ch Mapleridge The Dark Knight at Bernervalley, owned by David and Jackie Benson, and handled by David, a first BIS following G 2nd at IKC CW. RBIS was the previous day’s Best in Show winner, Sean Carroll and James Newman’s Papillon, Multi Ch Papillon, Expana’s Sea Dragon Conqueror, handled by Sean and Caiomhe Lyons again represented the weekend’s sponsor, Royal Canin.

Recognised widely as the highlight of the canine year in Ireland, the Combined Canine Club/Royal Canin Pup of the Year final and formal dinner dance was held on Easter Monday at Moran’s Red Cow Hotel in Dublin. A selection of the International visiting judges officiated, with the finale overseen by American, Dottie Collier, who gave the accolade to the young Finnish bred Leonberger owned and handled by Mandy Moore, Lempileijonan Aito Suomileijona at Hillhaven, who at just 19 months old is awaiting confirmation of his Irish crown, is a multi RCC winner and was the group 2 winner at Portadown. In the photograph with Mandy and Otso are L-R: Judge Ekaterina Senashenko, Finals judge Dottie Collier, John J Walsh (CCC President), Annukka Paloheimo, Joan Walsh (CCC Secretary), Judge, Thomas H Bradley The Third, Mary Davidson, Breeder & Professional Business Manager Ireland of sponsors, Royal Canin, and judge Denis Kuzelj.

Dottie Collier pictured relaxing after the finals with her choice for the POTY 2016 title, the Leonberger ‘Otso’, and proud owner Mandy Moore, who handled Lempileijonan Aito Suomileijona at Hillhaven, to win the crown.