SWORDS '16 BEST IN SHOW
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.

SWORDS '16 BEST IN SHOW
Smooth Fox Terrier, Ross Delmar and Ewa Lunden’s Ch, Swe, Nor, DK & Int Ch Residentsets Stand-In pictured with BIS judge Jim Behan.

SWORDS '16 BEST IN SHOW
BIS judge Jim Behan assesses the final 10 group winners.

SWORDS '16 BEST BABY PUPPY IN SHOW
Jim Behan judged Best Baby Puppy in Show where his winner was Terry Griffin, daughter Ashleigh and granddaughter Rebecca’s 5 months old Chow, Kwaitang Khol Kat At Szechwan. Reserve BBPIS was Sandra McDonagh’s 4 months old Shetland Sheepdog, Karyshanty Champayne.

SWORDS '16 PUPPY STAKES
Taking charge of the stakes classes at Swords was John O’Hanlon with his first task to select the POTY qualifier from the Puppy Stakes; taking top spot under John was Una Rigney and Jessica McGurk’s Kerry Blue Terrier, Arigna First Lady, handled by Una. Runner-up was Bob and Caroline Browne’s American Akita, Modelvill You Can’t Deny It, 7 months old ‘Mich’ handled by son, Bobby.

SWORDS '16 CHAMPION STAKES
Heading up the Champion Stakes at Swords under John O’Hanlon was Tom and Annie Mervyn’s German Shorthaired Pointer, Sh Ch Tomanipoint Celtic Knight. Runner-up was Paul Scanlon and Ashling Connolly’s Miniature Schnauzer, Ch Nujax Johnny Cash.

SWORDS '16 CHAMPION STAKES
Winning the Champion Stakes at Swords under John O’Hanlon was Tom and Annie Mervyn’s German Shorthaired Pointer, Sh Ch Tomanipoint Celtic Knight.

SWORDS '16 VETERAN STAKES
Winning the Veteran Stakes under John O’Hanlon was Sally Tonks and Dione Fitzsimons’ Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Ch, GB & Int Ch Shanlimore Maverick, 10 year old ‘Darcy’ putting more points on the ROYAL CANIN/Irish Canine Press Veteran Leaderboard in a bid to retain his crown from last year; in second place was Tim, Marion and Ian Finney’s Wire Haired Kaninchen, Ch & Int Ch Nice One From Vitoraz To Guilliagh.

SWORDS '16 BRACE STAKES
Barbara Hurley’s Whippets, Alafrique Captain Conan and Barnesmore Flashman, were the Brace Stakes winners under John O’Hanlon with Jaana Aadamsoo’s Smooth Haired Dachshunds, Ch Jagervision Farao and Jagervision Fashionista, in second place.

SWORDS '16 GROUP 1
Claire Anne Ahern was in charge of Group 1, finding her winner in the Old English Sheepdog, Ch & Int Ch Bellablue Bewitched By Scallywag, owned by Joe Dempsey, and handled and prepared by his wife, Pia. In second spot was Emilio Castillo and Patrick Fortune’s Shetland Sheepdog, Edglonian Blue Fortune.

SWORDS '16 GROUP 2
Marja Talvitie from Finland ran the rule over the Group 2 dogs and her winner was the Newfoundland, Paddy Galvin and Gordon Coutts’ GB Ch Kenamu Break The Mould Merrybear; bred in Ireland by Stephen Kinsella. Runner-up was Andrea Stubbs and Mossy Lenihan’s Rottweiler, Ch & GB Ch Cotarrin Fright Night.

SWORDS '16 GROUP 3
Ring centre for Group 3, was Terrier specialist, Cornelia Bergundthal, from Switzerland and she sent on to eventual BIS the Smooth Fox Terrier, Ross Delmar and Ewa Lunden’s Ch, Swe, Nor, DK & Int Ch Residentsets Stand-In, with Harold and Helena Quigg’s Kerry Blue, Irisblu The Fiddler, second placed.

SWORDS '16 GROUP 4
The Dachshunds of Group 4 were judged by Petter Steen from Norway, and his winner was the Smooth Haired Kaninchen, Karen Weir’s Ch Magik Rainbow Gloria, en route to BIS 4, with Gerry McFaul’s Long Haired, Zaracrest Paris Hilton at Dachville, taking the 2nd place rosette.

SWORDS '16 GROUP 5
Heidi Kirschbichler from Austria judged Group 5 where her winner was the American Akita, Roycon Raising Hell, crowned Pup of the Year ’15 at Easter, owned and bred by Connor Cahill and Mary Kilroy. Taking runner-up was the Alaskan Malamute, Scarlett and Dad, Mark Burnside’s Ch, Int & Lux Ch Libertia Reggae Master, ‘Marley’ handled by Scarlett and bred by Mum, Peri.

SWORDS '16 GROUP 6
Vilmos Kardog from Hungary judged Group 6, his winner being the Rhodesian Ridgeback, Eddie and Gail Patterson’s homebred Ch, GB & Int Ch Rocksham Kimweri, ‘Paddy’ on his way to BIS 3, with, in second place the Dalmatian, Ch Kiki Dee The Astonishing at Lornlee, owned by the Bermingham family, and handled by Mum, Martina.

SWORDS '16 GROUP 7
Ring centre for Group 7 was Frank Whyte and he chose for his winner Tom and Annie Mervyn’s top winning German Shorthaired Pointer, Sh Ch Tomanipoint Celtic Knight; ‘Rory’, today’s Champion Stakes winner. Runner up was Alison Morton’s Hungarian Vizsla, GB Sh Ch, Nl, Bel & Lux Ch Karaszy’s Calypso.

SWORDS '16 GROUP 8
Topping Group 8 under Axel Komorowski, from Germany, was the Golden Retriever, Emma, Bette and Frank Archibald’s Abinvale Levanto. Helen and Caroline McKinley’s Welsh Springer Spaniel, Ch Haltonian Cymbaline, took the second spot.

SWORDS '16 GROUP 9
Group 9 saw Vilmos Kardos back in charge and from this large group, his winner was Sean and Sally Burns and Mary & Val Coghlan’s Standard Poodle, Ch Dinastii The Libertine Afterglow. Runner up was Tara Bagnall’s Bichon Frise, Glenclor Voulez Vous, ‘Lola’ handled by Cliona Beattie.

SWORDS '16 GROUP 10
Marja Talvitie judged group 10 where her winner was the eventual Reserve Best in Show winning Whippet, Danielle Ritchie-Smith’s Swedish import, Pay A While Before The Rains, handled by her Mum, Dawn Smith, with second place going to the Irish Wolfhound, Ivan Gargan’s Ferseithean of Skerryhill.

SWORDS '16 JUNIOR HANDLING
15 - 17
The final class of the junior handling stakes, the 15-17 years class, saw Emer Wright give the rosette to Catherine Broaders, handling her Bedlington Terrier. Amanda Sammon presented the winner’s plaque, given to all the classes.

SWORDS '16 JUNIOR HANDLING
13 - 14
Topping the 13-14 years class under Emer Wright was Sarah Cushley, handling a Saluki, which she has also had great success with in the show ring. Amanda Sammon represents the Swords committee.

SWORDS '16 JUNIOR HANDLING
10 12 & Best Overall
Emer Wright's winner in the ten-12 years class was Ronan McLaughlin, handling a Cocker Spaniel, and they are seen here with Swords committee member, Amanda Sammon.

SWORDS '16
Swords chairman, Tom Hehir, makes a presentation on behalf of the club to Stakes judge, John O’Hanlon.

SWORDS '16
The Swords committee and judges line up for a photo call prior to judging at Swords & District’s championship show.

SWORDS '16
Pictured relaxing at the secretary’s office were Show Secretary, Philip Behan, committee member Paula Behan and Swords P.R.O. Pat Hehir.

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Royal Canin Stand

SWORDS '16
Royal Canin Stand

SWORDS '16
Royal Canin Stand

SWORDS '16
Show sponsors Royal Canin’s On The Road unit proved very popular with exhibitors at Swords, especially when televising the Ireland v Belgium match!