HIBERNIAN '15 BEST IN SHOW
Taking centre ring to judge Best in Show at Hibernian Championship show was Nick Hammond, former Chairman of the IKC General Purposes Committee, selecting for top spot Stephen Minogue’s Japanese Shiba Inu, Jiltrain Jackpott; just a few days short of 15 months old, ‘Jackson’ has had a phenomenal start to his show career, starting with Best Puppy in Show at the IKC International last October, a win which qualified him for the Pup of the Year Final, from which he emerged the winner at the gala evening on Easter Monday. He won his first group at IKC Celtic Winners, going on to BIS 3 and then won the group at Banbridge, just a few weeks after his POTY victory, while across the water, he won Reserve CC at LKA. This win cements his position at the head of Group 5 on the GAIN PETFOODS/Irish Canine Press/Dog World Top Dog Leaderboard, and it was another Top Dog leader, this time the Group 6 front runner, Barry O’Neill’s Basset Hound, Ch, GB & Int Ch Knockogue Arthurs Legacy, who was awarded Reserve Best in Show. Five years old ‘Arthur’ was the Best in Show winner recently at South Tipperary, Reserve BIS at Portadown, BIS 3 at Combined National, BIS 4 at Combined International and was also the group winner at IKC Celtic Winners.

HIBERNIAN '15 BEST IN SHOW
Best In Show judge Nick Hammond selected for top spot Stephen Minogue’s Japanese Shiba Inu, Jiltrain Jackpott, ‘Jackson’. This win cements his position at the head of Group 5 on the GAIN PETFOODS/Irish Canine Press/Dog World Top Dog Leaderboard.

HIBERNIAN '15 BEST IN SHOW
The ten Group winners assembled in the BIS ring for judge Nick Hammond to assess.

HIBERNIAN '15 BEST IN SHOW
BIS judge Nick Hammond hands the Best In Show rosette to Stephen Minogue with 'Jackson';Jiltrain Jackpott.

HIBERNIAN '15 BEST BABY PUPPY IN SHOW
Nick Hammond’s Best Baby Puppy in Show winner’s rosette was awarded to Mick and Cathy Cooper’s 4 months old homebred Shar Pei, Confucian Ruby In The Smoke. RBBPIS under Nick was Patrick & Janine Dooner’s 5 months old Parson Russell Terrier, Green Perry’s Scarlett O’Hara, bred in Finland.

HIBERNIAN '15 CHAMPION STAKES
Heading up the Champion Stakes under Jean Lawless was Tom and Annie Mervyn’s BIS winning German Short Haired Pointer, Sh Ch & GB Sh Ch Karlivar Dusky Rose At Tomanipoint. In second place was Michael Carr’s 3 year old homebred Boxer, Ch Moydrum Head Of The Class.

HIBERNIAN '15 PUPPY STAKES
Officiating over the Puppy Stakes at Hibernian was Jean Lawless, who together with husband Paul and daughter Kelly, own the well-known and successful Revloch Belgian Shepherds, her choice as winner and the ticket to POTY was Craig Bannon and Niamh Carroll’s 6 months old homebred American Akita, Cannonbear Stings Like A Bee, with Ann Taggart’s 8 months old homebred West Highland White Terrier, Cooleys Ms Kylie, taking the runner-up spot.

HIBERNIAN '15 VETERAN STAKES
Topping the veterans in the Veteran Stakes under Jean Lawless was Pamela and Ryan Hunter’s Whippet, Ch, GB & Int Ch Mossbawnhill Its All About Me, with Sally Tonks & Dione Fitzsimons’ Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Ch, GB & Int Ch Shanlimore Maverick, handled by Howard Tonks, in second spot; both these dogs already featuring highly on the 2015 ROYAL CANIN/Irish Canine Press Veteran Leaderboard.

HIBERNIAN '15 BRACE STAKES
Jaana Aasamsoo’s Smooth Haired Dachshund litter brother & sister, Jagervision Farao and Jagervision Fashionisto, collected the red rosette for the Brace stakes from Jean Lawless who gave second to Darren and Elaine Walker’s Alaskan Malamutes, another pair of siblings, Lueldar Midnight Runner Jun Ch and Ch Lueldar Dixie Chick.

HIBERNIAN '15 GROUP 1
Taking centre stage for Group 1 was Ger Cox, whose choice for top spot fell to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Frances Toman’s Ch Whitepoint Stare If You Dare At Manto, 3 year old ‘Cody’. In second spot came Sarah McCusker and Claire O’Prey’s’s Australian Shepherd Dog, Scallywag Stars N Stripes, 2 year old ‘Brody’, handled by Sarah, with a first group placing.

HIBERNIAN '15 GROUP 2
Carol Mulcahy judged Group 2 where her winner was Paul Scanlon and Ashling Connolly’s Miniature Schnauzer, Ch Nujax Johnny Cash, handled today by Ashling. In second place was Adele Kerrisk’s Shar Pei, Ch, Int & Lux Ch Chuanfa Compact At Qing Iverna, his second runner-up slot this year.

HIBERNIAN '15 GROUP 3
Terrier specialist John Canty judged the terriers in Group 3, awarding top spot to Inge Flamang’s West Highland White Terrier, Magic Matisse Vom Maerchengarten, handled today by Sinead Taggart. Runner-up was Ross Delmar and Ewe Lunden’s Smooth Fox Terrier, Multi Ch Residentsets Stand-in, handled on this occasion by Cathy Delmar.

HIBERNIAN '15 GROUP 4
Heading up the Dachshunds in Group 4 under breed specialist Gary McAlpine was Karen Weir’s 2 year old Russian import Miniature Smooth Kaninchen, Magik Rainbow Gloria, her third group this year. Runner-up was Martin McDonnell’s Miniature Long, Ch Smartdac Supernatural.

HIBERNIAN '15 GROUP 5
New Irish All Breeds judge, Michael Leonard, judged Group 5, sending through the eventual BIS winner, Stephen Minogue’s Japanese Shiba Inu, Jiltrain Jackpott, with second place going to Jimmy Duggan’s Siberian Husky, Ch, GB & Int Ch Bedarra Cold Paws Warm Heart For Leorient handled as always by wife Anita.

HIBERNIAN '15 GROUP 6
Topping Group 6 under Henry Stanley was the Hibernian RBIS winner, Barry O’Neill’s Basset Hound, Ch, GB & Int Ch Kockogue Arthurs Legacy, with second place awarded to Roy & Lesley Blevins’ Basset Fauve De Bretagne, Blevwils Garcon, 15 months old ‘Dukey’, gaining his title today.

HIBERNIAN '15 GROUP 7
Heading up Group 7 under Kenny Stevenson was Tom and Annie Mervyn’s 13 months old German Short Haired Pointer, Tomanipoint Schumacher, a first group win. Taking second place was Gail Sterritt’s 15 months old homebred Irish Setter, Riversett Revolution, a first group placing for him.

HIBERNIAN '15 GROUP 8
Ralph Dunne’s Clumber Spaniel, Richley Royale Bond, who went on to BIS 3, was Portuguese judge Rui Oliveira’s choice to win Group 8, with second place awarded to Lisa Graham’s 2 year old homebred Cocker Spaniel, Stilgoa Carling Black Label.

HIBERNIAN '15 GROUP 9
Heather Cox’s Group 9 winner was Tony Moran’s Tibetan Spaniel, GB Ch Sommerlyst’s Rigpa Atisha, a first group win for ‘Iggy’. In second place was Carty & Akkad’s 20 months old Havanese, Ch Georgie Girl By Labayamesa, handled by Olivia Carty to a first group placing.

HIBERNIAN '15 GROUP 10
Topping Group 10 under Henry Stanley was Jim Fletcher and breeder Vivian Coulter’s Whippet, Collooney Swings Both Ways, who later finished BIS 4. In second spot was Carla Bollard O’Callaghan’s Afghan Hound, Ch, GB & Int Ch Ashahni Amir.

HIBERNIAN '15
Overview of the main ring at Hibernian.

HIBERNIAN '15 JUDGES PRESENTATION
Hibernian Chairman, Gordon Cuthbert and his sister, Show Secretary Lynda Cuthbert Matthews presented this year’s BIS judge, Nick Hammond (centre) with a memento of his appointment.

HIBERNIAN '15
Vinney’s new toy
Hibernian Vice Chairman, Vincent O’Brien, took great delight in driving the judges back to the hotel in his latest ‘Toy’, a classy Mercedes, complete with Presidential flag on the bonnet.

HIBERNIAN '15
60th Cake
There were many parties ringside at Hibernian, but one with a special celebration cake was for the joint 60th Birthdays of John Minchin and Lyn Appleby, well known in Afghan circles who have been enjoying great success in the showring recently. Of course there is no party without a cake, and theirs was just a sample of some of the innovative styles of confectionery on offer!