TRAINING
DAY AND GET TOGETHER
HELD AT
STEVE’S HOME IN EAST HOATHLY ON SUNDAY JUNE 5TH 2011
After all the
wonderful weather that we have been having, we could have been forgiven if we
had all left our gazebos, marquees and waterproofs at home when attending the
Training Day, but luckily we are ‘British’ and know how things can change in
minutes – unfortunately this is what happened but it did not dampen the spirits
of the organisers or those who attended!
The day began
at 10am with the usual bacon butties available – still dry weather at that time
– these were very popular once again and warmed up those who arrived nice and
early. Over 60 tickets had been pre-sold
and as they began to arrive and were greeted by our ‘meet and greet’ team each
dog was given a group to be in for the morning..
Steve
welcomed everyone and the ‘training’ started around 11.15am, there was a
Trimming demonstration, Gundog training, Obedience training and Show Ring for
beginners. The groups circulating around to each of these disciplines before
the usual wonderful lunchtime spread was offered to all – by this time the rain
was with us in earnest and most retired
to the various ‘covered’ areas to eat.
Fortified by
this food ‘volunteers’ were then organised by Steve - whose fantastic directional
skills were in evidence – to lift and move the large marquee to cover the ‘show
ring’ – pics for your delectation are on the
website!!
The afternoon
was to be taken up with a fun show judged by Barbara Ordish
of the famous Goldsprings Kennel, who had agreed to
run the rule over the dogs despite having actually retired from judging. However before this could begin there was a
very special announcement from Steve, his Sh Ch Llon Daranfollt (Taran) was 16 years of age and a superb ‘dog friendly’ cake
had been commissioned from Janey Sutherland to celebrate the occasion. Taran thought it was
quite wonderful and proceeded to eat the beginning of his name before anyone
else could get a look in! Each dog thoroughly enjoyed a slice and then the
‘show’ began.
There were
classes for new handlers, those who had never shown a dog, dogs that had never
been shown, dogs much too young to be shown and for puppies of 6-12 months and
then a class for males and one for females.
Barbara sorted the well filled classes out with aplomb and finally made
Sandy White’s Clay the Best Dog, Janey Sutherland’s Nell Best Bitch and Kim
Stone’s Merlot and Gordon Randall’s Saffie won the puppy classes. Finally Barbara awarded Best in Show to Nell and
Best Puppy in Show to Saffie to a great round of
applause, ending a lovely day.
Special
awards were made in the training groups and these were awarded as follows:
Obedience – Saffie,
Connor, Merlot and Nell
Working
– Best Junior
Handler – owner of Ruby (no name recorded):
Most Promising Puppy – Tron:
Novice Handler – Emma Buckwell
Most Promising Adult
Handler – Sarah O’Connor .
A few
attempted the Good Citizens Bronze Award, but these were just youngsters and they
struggled with the one minute stay, none of them quite making the grade on the
day – next year perhaps?
Tea and
cakes were served before everyone left to fight with the traffic as they wended
their weary way home, all happy and the cars full of very tired dogs.
Special
thanks must go to:
Pam Wren (our Catering
Manager Supreme) who organised the super lunch.
Janey
Sutherland who provided the cakes for tea, and the cake for Taran.
Steve Pick
who explained how to show off your dog to the best advantage
Emma Wren
and Julie Revill for the Trimming Demonstration and who clipped dogs’ nails for
a small charge.
Sandie White and Debbie Channon
for the working Training
Pam
Clarke for the obedience training.
The
success of the day also owes much to those who willingly help the club and
amongst those we would like to thank are Steven Warren for providing and
erecting the marguees, We
shouldn’t forget Derrick, Janice Lansley’s partner,
who must be all of 6ft 4ins and was therefore an asset when it came to hanging
the bunting! Finally a big thank you to
Matt, Emma Buckwell’s partner, who attempted to fill
the craters dug by Steve’s dogs in the lawn - some people get all the plum jobs!!!
Grateful
thanks to all the Committee who mostly arrived at 8am to help set up, worked
hard all day and did not leave until around 5pm – a long day but an enjoyable
one for those who attended we hope.