BERNADETTE STONEHAM

I have owned and bred Ibizan hounds for 35 years and have produced several well-known hounds, these include My first Bitch Ch Divels Nana purchased in 1974 she became the first bitch to be shortlisted in a championship show group in 1975 and took the first CC on offer at Crufts with BOB in 1977, the same day my Pharaoh Hound bitch Ch Divels Badja won her third CC and title. Nana went on to produce three UK Champions and one Nordic Champion, of which, one Ch Paran Prima Donna is still the bitch breed record holder with 22 CCs. This bitch was the first Ibizan to win the overall champion stakes heat at City Of Birmingham in 1981 and a championship group. Paran is the only breeding to win three groups in all so far.

I have not been a prolific breeder but still managed to produce 19 champions, giving me Top Breeder 18 times. Memorably these include the well known Ch Paran Ziggy top brood bitch from 2001-2008. This bitch produced the record breaking litter of six champions one of which is the current breed record holder CH Paran Chasing Shadows to Charnealis with 27 CCs to date. I currently co-own the 2008 Top Puppy in the breed.

We are the only kennel to represent the breed in the breeder stakes final at Crufts in 2004 having won the qualifier earlier in the season.

I first awarded CCs in Pharaoh Hounds in 1984 and in Ibizans in 1996 and have judged both breeds at Crufts.

I have also been part of the education of judges in the UK contributing not only to Ibizan Hound seminars but also sitting on the Kennel Clubs assessing panel for the Pharaoh Hound and speaking at a Pharaoh Hound Club judges seminar.

Bernadette Stoneham