Saturday 12 July 2008

Every year I write a report on the show that has just taken place and every year I write that it was the best show yet! And it always is!This show was also our biggest and a gamble as far the the WDTC were concerned as being our 40th anniversary we wanted to try to celebrate all areas of dog training that the club has been involved with over the years it has been running, even though some areas are no longer being participated in.

Back in the sixties, at the beginning it was predominatly a competitive obedience club with leagues and regular competions with other local clubs such as Wycombe DTC. Ringcraft was then added followed by pet obedience when that became popular in the mid seventies. Sometime ago the competitive obedience side was dropped and 5 years ago WDTC became Kennel Club listed and started to promote the Good Citizens scheme.

The year the weather was not as kind as it had been in previous years and we did have a couple of heavy showers, but we dog people are hardy folk and it takes more than a rain shower to put us off our stride! A swift move around in the marquee and on went the judging for the final pedigree classes, and those obedience people are tough! They carried on through the rain.

I want to extend my grateful thanks to every body who came and helped on the day, either judging, stewarding or halping with carparking or the administration. The follwing are some of those people:
Polly King - my instruction partner who puts up with me every week and has been a rock throughout the whole organisation process.
The Brownlee Family - Chris, Hazel & Sophie for their unstinting support and assistance on the day.
John Steele - who gave up his entire saturday and worked tirelessly at everything and was still smiling at the end.
Jane Ferguson - the ultimate professional who, despite living in Woking, has managed to support the club for the last few years and turns up every year on the day of the show and just pitches in.
Becky & Jem Price who have long been involved with the club.

I must also thank the judges and stewards, some of whom had traveled many miles to get to us:
Stephanie Presdee (Pedigree) and husband Phill and daughter Joselyn
Jane Heritage (Novelty)
Jane Hedges (Obedience)
Tanya Behrens (KC GCDS)
Morag Sutherland (RallyO) and stewards Dave and Amy

I must also mention club members who gave up their time to help:
Lesley & Michele on the club stand
Jeanie - obedience steward and puppy Charlie who was such a good boy
BoB & Billy for the car park patrols
Sue - hope you feel better soon Sue
Heather and husband Alistair - Heather for gamely setting up the Rally O course and Alistair for pitching in

As I must draw my report to a close I must also thank everybody who came and entered the show. I hope you all had a great day. Please leave us a message in the guest book and if you have any comments please tell us as we always take them on board and try to accomadate them were possible.

Photos will be loaded up here shortly - as soon as I have edited any with me in out!! If there are any you would like copies of please send me an email and I will try to arrange them. There will be a small charge to cover the cost of printing and postage.

Take care, enjoy your dogs and see you again next year

Ana
Chair WDTC