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With Cloghran currently out of commission for our Irish shows, those events that would normally be held at our NSC have had to have innovative committees when it comes to keeping the shows on the road and so it was with the Combined Canine Club committee headed by Secretary Joan and President John J Walsh, their son and Chairman, John R Walsh, and his wife, Mary, Treasurer of the CCC, and Vice Chairman, Tom Wall, when it came to finding a suitable temporary home for their back to back Classic International and National All Breed Ch shows. Their search was rewarded when they sealed the deal for a new racecourse venue, that of Leopardstown, this time, south of Dublin, as opposed to the IKC’s Navan racecourse venue. I think the jury is still out regarding this venue versus the Navan course, certainly if social media is anything to go by. The committee of Lorraine Barrett, and Mark & Julie Caffrey, Cup Steward and former President, Mary Nolan, together with Joint Show Managers, John Mulcahy and Ken Barrett, Chief Steward, Sarah Walsh, were easily identified in their blue blazers, and thus there to answer any queries exhibitors might have had.  Sadly neither Secretary Joan, nor husband, John Walsh, were able to be at the show they had worked so hard to organise, due to illness over the weekend, so we wish them our best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Saturday saw a fairly good weather forecast, though cold, it was dry and there was plenty of space for parking, and two areas for rings, both on tarmac, at the back and front of the stands. A large BIS ring, on the flatter section of the venue, was the centre of the main decisions of the day, mostly done by well qualified judges from abroad, with a few Irish included. It was Rui Oliviera from Portugal who, at the end of the day, was to make the final decision. Rui, a Pointer specialist, and an all breeds FCI judge, officiates all over the world, and has also been a fairly regular visitor to Ireland over the years.

Out of an entry of 1,212 dogs at the Combined Canine International on Easter Saturday, the third International event out of four shows so far this year, Rui Oliviera declared that his Best in Show was the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Ch & GB Ch Erylan Hebe La Fille Jeune, 'Tilly', owned and bred in partnership by Raymond and Gail Foote & Erin McAulay, who handles her.  Both CJW and CW in 2019, she had been sent on from both the breed and group by Tino Pehar, all breeds judge from Croatia. Just looking at her unusual name, 'Hebe' and saw that this four year old really doesn't act her age, and when I checked out her show name, I discovered that in ancient Greek religion and mythology, Hebe (Ancient Greek: Ήβη), was the Goddess of Youth or ‘the prime of life’. She was the daughter of Zeus and his wife, Hera. Hebe was the Cupbearer for the Gods and Goddesses of Mount Olympus, serving their nectar and ambrosia until she married Herakles, with whom she had two children, Alexiares and Anicetus  Hebe was worshipped as the Goddess of Forgiveness or Mercy and it was also believed that she had the ability to restore youth (if only !) This youthful Petit Basset was actually fresh from taking her fourth CC with BOB the previous weekend at the Hound Show in England, and she has 6 BOBs in GB and was group placed at Birmingham National last year when she was top bitch in the breed and also runner-up Top PBGV Overall. On her many visits to Ireland she  has also won 18 Green Stars. Affectionately known as 'Muffin' at home, she is Erin's 'heart dog', and she says she is a goofy dog and a delight to live with.
Best in Show was the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Ch & GB Ch Erylan Hebe La Fille Jeune, 'Tilly', owned and bred in partnership by Raymond and Gail Foote & Erin McAulay, who handles her.
Reserve Best in Show was the Group 2 winner, David and Jackie Benson's Bernese Mountain Dog, Semus De Zandvijver At Bernervalley, handled by David. 'Semus' had earlier won the breed under Co Antrim judge Aidan McKiernan, of the Bushbane English Setters, Goldens and Beagles and who now judges several groups, and the Group under John Wauben from The Netherlands, a Group 1 and 2 specialist who also also judges groups 4, 6 and 10; Semus was bred in Belgium by Rita Declerck, out of the Benson's homebred Ch Bernervalley Yogi Bear, ex Rita's Pluche De Zandvijver. Taking the rosette for Third Best in Show was Damian McDonald's Shetland Sheepdog, homebred blue merle bitch Ch Fearnach Making Mischief, send on from the breed by specialist, Johnny Andersson, of the famous Lundecocks Shetland Sheepdogs from Sweden, and then won the group under Ricky Lochs-Romans, from The Netherlands, one of only five all breeds judges in the country, and the first ever woman to be recognised by the Dutch KC.  Rui Oliviera then called in the multi titled Siberian Husky, Ch HR Nl  Bel Slo INT Ch Kristari's Master Of Victory, who has his Irish Junior crown as well, and also was CJW'16, Amst.W'16, Golden W'17,'19 & CW'18,19, owned and handled by Roma Giedraitiene, taking fourth Best in Show. This boy won the group at IKC Celtic Winners Int in March, with Group second at IKC St Patrick's Int. the following day. and was to go on to more victories next day. He is currently well in the lead on the GAIN Pet Nutrition/Irish Canine Press Top Winners Group 5 Leaderboard.

The Easter festivities weekend was sponsored by Jo Cairns and Dave James’ Rabart Canine, highlighting their Chris Christensen grooming range, and sponsoring for the first time, and sponsors over several years, Royal Canin, represented as ever by Mary Davidson, who was busy over the two days handing out generous product vouchers to all the main winners. The sponsors were represented in the photographs over the weekend by Dave James and Jo Cairns, for Rabart Canine,  and Mary Davidson and Nicola Campbell, for Royal Canin.
Full report soon…

PHOTOS::  Caroline Reynolds RMD Images & Patrick Fortune, Irish Canine Press
When Easter Sunday dawned, not quite as brightly as the day before, there were still 1,147 show dogs and their owners, plus thirty two obedience enthusiasts, headed for Leopardstown Racecourse for a repeat performance of the day before. Of course there were some absentees, but this is always the case at shows and some who had not perhaps had the success they thought the might have the day before, decided not to make the return trip, and also with the high cost of fuel at the moment, people are being a bit more canny than they used to as well,  which has unfortunately seen a fall in entries so far this year, with the exception of Mid West. Being back to back, the exhibitors were now familiar with the new venue, and where to go to park and set up, so less hassle at the start of the day. No International CACIBs on offer today, just our own precious Green Stars with folk looking for the required seven in order to put Ch in front of their dogs' names, and with the International panel of judges on duty again today, along with a few home growns, judging started promptly and went through apace to see the finale around mid afternoon, allowing people to get on the road home in good time to perhaps even enjoy a family Easter meal.

Tino Pehar from Croatia was judge elect for Best in Show here at the National, and he made dreams come true for Cathrina Dunne and her Shetland Sheepdog bitch, Longrange Caílin Dubh, or aptly named 'black girl' in Irish. This black tri girl, who is just two and a half now, like many in her age group, totally missed their puppy and Junior classes at shows due to almost two years of Covid lockdowns, but as some of the GB shows opened up before Ireland, Katy made up for those lost times when Cathrina made a few cross channel trips last summer, with great success. Paignton in early August saw her travel with Katy and her kennelmate, Japaro I Have A Dream of Longrange, with the latter winning the Bitch CC and Katy making her first 'strike', taking the Reserve CC behind her, this a nice family double under judge Jeff Luscott. Just a couple of weeks later, another ferry crossing, this time under breed judge, Rosanna Smith who decided that Katy should have the CC and BOB, from Post Graduate bitch no less, then Barrie Croft made her day with third in a strong Pastoral Group. When things improved and we were able to have shows in Ireland, Longrange Caílin Dubh, took her first group placing with a fourth spot at St Patrick's International, heading next to Roscommon for the Mid West CC Ch Show where she topped Group 1 under Swede Benny Blidh Von Schedvin, before finishing BIS 3 under Brian Moran. So it was, as Cathrina said, 'a dream come true' when she handled Katy, in full, gleaming, black coat, to top the rest and win her first all breeds Best in Show.
Reserve Best in Show under Tino, was Cathy Collins-Neill and Erin and Oliver Robertson's Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, GB Ch Soletrader Pat On The Back,  'Pat' also having considerable success since he came to live with Cathy in Co Antrim. With five CCs and group spots in GB, his first group placing here in Ireland was a second at the IKC Celtic Winners International in March, and he followed up the next day at the IKC St Patrick's International one step further, winning Group 6 under Tom Hehir. Yet another Group for 'Pat' at Mid West, this time under Tony Moran, which finished with a Reserve BIS placing under Brian Moran, so he is certainly keeping his paw well in on the GAIN/ICP Top Winners Leaderboard.

Tino also liked the look of Roma Giedraitiene's Siberian Husky, Ch Hr Nl Bel Slo Int Ch Kristari's Master Of Victory Jun Ch, who was CJW in 2016, Amst Winner in '16, Golden Winner in '17 & '19 and at home Celtic Winner in both '18 & '19. Now back in the ring after that two year break, this almost six years old dog, bred in America at Sharon Osharow's famous Kristari kennels, was Group 5 winner at Celtic Winners and Group second at St Patrick's Int. So today was another nice page to add to his career CV with Best in Show third.
BIS four was the winner of Group 9, the Maltese, Ch Ray Wonder Of Love Jun Ch,  owned by Jason McMorrow and Fergal Martin,  Celtic Winner and An Ch in '19, who has enjoyed group success so far this year with Group second at St Patrick's and he was the Group winner at Mid West under Jari Partanen from Finland, this all following his CC & BOB at Crufts in March, where he was shortlisted in the group.

Once again sponsors Rabart Canine were represented in the photographs by Dave James and Jo Cairns, with Mary Davidson and Nicola Campbell, there for Royal Canin.
A special presentation too went to this little Shetland Sheepdog, The Fiona Hurley Memorial Trophy for BIS, donated by Ger and Laura Cox of the Coxgal Bull Terriers in Limerick, in memory of Fiona, a lovely, courageous girl who touched the hearts of so many of the people she came into contact with, in dogs, in theatre and her career in RTE, who tragically lost her long battle against illness back in March ‘21 when the world was locked down; and it was fitting, and touching, that the presentation was made by Fiona’s Mother and best friend, Evelyn Hurley, IKC Vice President.
Full report soon…

PHOTOS::  Caroline Reynolds RMD Images & Patrick Fortune, Irish Canine Press
Full report soon…
PHOTOS::  Caroline Reynolds RMD Images & Patrick Fortune
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