One of Britain’s most respected gundog judges has announced his retirement. Mr Bernard Child of the famous Kirkabbey Kennels has taken the decision to retire from all judging writes Peter Broadbent.

Bernard started his involvement in pedigree dogs in 1948 with English Setters with his late partner Neville Perkins and Neville’s mother. He later became involved with Pointers, Irish Setters, E.S.S., Scotties, Poodles, and Airedales. He first awarded challenge certificates at National Gundog, their first ever championship show, when he judged Pointers for them at Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate. He went on to judge the breed at Crufts in 1996 and english Setters in 1999.

Other breeds invited his talents and to award CCs, these were G.S.P., Irish Setters, Irish Red and White Setters and Large Munsterlanders. He was also a gundog group judge and did this group at Driffield last year.

Bernard is to remain as president of The Pointer Club, president of Pudsey and District Ringcraft Club and is to remain a committee member of Leeds city c a championship, shown as he has been since 1957. He is also Leeds city c a Social Secretary and has organised the successful pre-show dinner there since 1978. He is in his 52nd year as a member of Yorkshire Gundog.

I am sure all his friends and associates throughout the world of dogs will wish him a happy and healthy retirement from his place in the centre of the ring.