GOLDEN RETRIEVER FROM WEST YORKSHIRE CROWNED GOOD CITIZEN PRE-BEGINNER OBEDIENCE STAKES WINNER AT CRUFTS 2024

Ruby, a five-year-old Golden Retriever from Wakefield, and her owner Sandra Jones, triumphed at Crufts by winning the Good Citizen Pre-Beginner Obedience Stakes Competition on Saturday 9 March.

Ruby (Gaelleda Krystal Dream Girl) beat 30 other talented dogs to be crowned the winner of the 2024 Good Citizen Pre-Beginner Stakes competition at the world’s greatest dog show, with the final overseen by highly experienced judge, Dr Janel Fone.

Speaking after their win, delighted Sandra said: “We’ve had such an amazing time at Crufts. What an experience! I’m so proud of how Ruby has handled the noise and crowds…as well as my nerves!”

The Good Citizen Dog Training scheme (GCDTS) competition was first held in 2005 to encourage owners of dogs who have passed their GCDTS Bronze Award to take part in obedience competitions as a potential gateway into dog exhibition. The exercises included in the test are a combination of current GCDTS exercises and the Pre-Beginner Obedience test. Building on the basic training skills learnt through the Good Citizen Dog Training scheme, this stakes class helps to bridge the gap between basic training and entering a competition. Dogs must have obtained their Good Citizen Bronze Award prior to the closing date of the show.

Dogs competing in the final had to qualify at one of the 30 heats held across the country last year with the winner from each heat qualifying for the final.

Sue Garner, Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme Working Party Chairman, added: “Ruby and Sandra demonstrated a very strong bond in the ring, performing a first-class round and showcasing the skills they have learnt through the Good Citizen Dog Training scheme.

“The standard of competitors was very high and the pair should be proud of their achievement. The Pre-Beginner Stakes are a great way for dogs and owners to enter the obedience world and I wish them luck in the future.”

To find out more about the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme visit the website gcds.org.uk

Show Secretary’s write up for Elm Park weekend

What a good weekend with brilliant weather for Elm Park’s last show at Orsett. We have a lovely new venue for next year at an equestrian centre in Rettendon, just off the A130.

Firstly the thank yous. To all our judges and stewards for giving up their day. Hope you all enjoyed your judging. Thanks to Richard Kebble for being our Chief Steward, to all the Elm Park helpers, who did a great job in setting up the rings, helping to organise the marquee, manning the gate and keeping the judges refreshed and all the other 101 jobs that needed to be done throughout the weekend. And all hands on deck to take it all down again. A big thank you to all.

Congratulations to our ticket winners, Trish Jones with Ob Ch Longwaves Cloudy Sky who did the double to win both days, Kath Russell and Ob Ch Sarkam Explicit Image for Ruskath winning the girl ticket on Saturday and Sue Monk with Ob Ch Ruskath Knockout Image for winning the girl ticket on Sunday. Well done to all the winners of the other classes and to anyone who got a rosette at the weekend.

Hope evereyone had a lovely weekend and had a safe journey home.

See you all around the shows.

Julie Appleton

Show secretary’s report – North West Kent DTC Champ & Open Shows

Another year is over! As always there are stresses and strains pulling a double weekend together and as Show Secretary I am only too aware that its impossible to get everything 100% but we are fortunate at the club to have a team that knows how to pull together and get the job done from start to finish. I can’t do names as they could fill the page but you each know your worth to the club and to me.

Special thanks to the camping team of Linda Plows, Gaynor Taylor, Vanda Fitter, Teresa Paterson, Sean & Myra McCarthy and those that did a stint on the entry gate.

Our venue is not the best but we hopefully plan it out to make the best of what is available and I think that the rugby club upped their game somewhat with the catering this year!

To add to our stress levels we had a visit from the KC Field Officer, the first time for many years but I am pleased to say that we passed with flying colours, in part thanks to our CS Sandra Cobbold, is there a better CS in this game? I doubt it. Thanks so much Sandra, you keep us all calm and help the days to go so smoothly.

Thank you to all of our judging teams, we did have some changes to the original schedule but replacements were well received but special thanks to Vince Winyard who I pressed ganged in to stewarding for Jan Cor when Lesley Taylor had to take her poorly dog to the emergency vet, I hope that Cole is ok now. Also to our ticket judges, Anne Northfield & Shirley Clowes who were down to judge before Covid shut everything down. I am sorry that it rained so much as I expect your original date was fine and dry! Congratulations to our CC winners, Suzy Tooley & Brill & Karen Harrison & Evie on gaining your passports to Crufts.

Congratulations to all the class winners and I am pleased that you all seemed to like our new rosettes which are made by Legacy Rosettes with the trophies donated by Pet Needs. The CC winners almost missed out on their ‘prize’ of champagne as we had a visit from two women who have been living in the woods around the grounds, they sneaked in to our storage room and made off with the bottles. Thanks to Shelley, who went out to source replacements.

Karen Smith and friends ran the training ring and made a magnificent £140. 30 over the two days, this was handed over GSD Elite Rescue who had a good weekend with their tombola and other bits.

Only one moan, Katrina Arnold & Carol Stewart both picked up fresh poos, Carol from right outside the club house entrance – seriously, did these owners really not know? Thank you both.

See you all, hopefully, next year.

Eileen Restell

Show report – Somerset Obedience Society

Another year over at SOS Shows.

I must firstly thank Kay Allen and her great team for letting us piggy back their fabulous shows at SWCOG, without them l really doubt that SOS could manage. Thank you all for your help,.

It all came about after joking with Kay several years ago and that was it.

Thank you Jason Bath & Claire Bath for all of your valuable help in getting the shows up and running, much appreciated. Also Carl & Diane Thorne, Sue Aldridge, Michelle Verrill Lynne Webster, Di Fairfield, Sue Walker for turning out and offering her services for free (brushed the cobwebs off and stewarded one day, scoreboarder the other, plus help with other jobs) My other son Matthew, who’s help was very much appreciated, a grand job done.

To anyone & everyone that helped in any way, shape or form, a great big thank you. Judges, Stewards, Scoreboarders, setters up & takers down and anyone in between ~ thank you.

Hope to see you all again next year, and if anyone can offer their services for setting up, taking down or an odd job somewhere, it’ll be gratefully received.

Hope that l haven’t missed anyone out, if so, my apologies and thank you too 😉

Happy dogs, happy shows everyone 🐾

Carol Bath

Show secretary’s report – Billingshurst DTC

SHOW REPORT 24.06.23

So after all the preparation another show has gone by in a flash. The weather was very hot but most people were being sensible and keeping their dogs, and themselves, cool. Aided and abetted by a number of enthusiastic campers the rings were put up on Friday and, thanks to Brian Reed and his team, the campers were parked. Julie Enright did a marvelous job ticking everyone in and also manned (Womanned?) the gate on Saturday and Sunday. Julie you are an absolute gem.

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Show secretary’s report – Newbury & District DTS

Newbury & District Dog Training Society Open Obedience Show 11th June 2023

A great big thank you to all who helped, came, judged, stewarded, car parked and all the thousand and one things necessary to keep a show on the road. You were all amazing. Special thanks must go to Basingstoke Club who shared not only their equipment but time energy and good humour for the whole weekend. Thank you, David Moxon, for chief stewarding. To Carol Clack and Doreen Davies (who unfortunately didn’t make the day due to illness) with me, as the Show Committee, put in many hours of effort. Jane Martin who agreed to be my stand in judge etc in case of emergency, fortunately not required in that capacity but, was there helping everywhere and taking down rings and tents at the end of the day.

THANK YOU THERE WOULD BE NO SHOW WITHOUT YOU.

Now getting down to sort out the leftovers etc.

Angela Einon – Show Secretary

NATIONAL OBEDIENCE CLASS FINALS

The organisers of NOCF have deliberated long and hard , involving much discussion and consideration of all factors and have regrettably come to the decision that we will not be running any more NOCF events.

Firstly, on a personal note, I wish to extend my deep thanks to Dave Banks for his unstinting help and support right from the initial idea and to Rhia and Paula for helping me to turn my strange idea into a successful reality.

The help and work behind the scenes was immeasurable and was given unconditionally in an effort to benefit everyone in Obedience.

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Show secretary’s report – Loughborough

I would like to thank everyone involved in our show from helping to set up, to judging and stewarding, scent decoys and taking down again which meant we had a good successful show.

Thank you competitors for not keeping judges hanging about, most of them saying they were not kept waiting. Even the Kennel Club visitor went away happy. So thank you to Tony, Delia, Jill, Jacki and Cheryl club members and Cheryl’s son Brett and husband also called Brett who helped pack away Sunday evening also Lyn and Mick Tozer who came to help set up.

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Show manager’s report – Wirral ATS

Wirral shows 13/14 May 2023

Well, where do I begin?

Well, the weather was good apart from a couple of hours on Sunday. It was sunny and not windy as well! The show ran smoothly, with no hiccups, give or take a couple of judges and stewards…Thank you to those who stepped in at the last minute to judge and steward. I hope everyone officiating enjoyed their day.

This was the first time in years that all of us (both club members and family) were not totally tired at the end of the weekend. This was because quite a few people, both judges and competitors, listened to our plea and helped us set up from roping up the rings, taking tables out to clearing the rings and bringing rings in at the end of the two days competition. This made a considerable difference. Thank you so much for doing this for us. (Booking you all again next year!) Also, thank you for leaving the field in such good condition.

Congratulations to our Ticket Winners, Shirley Clowes, and Kathy Russell. Good luck at Crufts 2024.

Next year due to the availability of the venue, we will be moving to the bank holiday weekend at the end of May 2024, and subject to K.C. Approval the CC Classes will be held on Sunday 26th May 2024

Once again, thank you all for a great weekend.

Cheers

Nicki

Show Secretary

Wirral ATS.

Show manager’s report – Chesvale

OPEN SHOW SUNDAY 7th MAY 2023

The Chesvale Committee were adamant in making this show special as it is the Clubs 70th Anniversary. Therefore, everyone on arrival were presented with a pen and our judges and stewards were given gifts to mark how special this year is for the club. It was interesting that a few of the competitors were still using their pens from our 60th anniversary!

The Team arrived on Saturday afternoon in pouring rain, armed with grass blowers and mowers to ensure all the rings were clear of any lose grass clippings, setting up the rings and club house. They all turned up early on Sunday morning to assist with ‘tent erection’ and generally working like little beavers all day to make such a wonderful day for everyone. Not only our members but also husbands mucked in with whatever needed doing and then staying to clear away at the end of the day. How lucky we were with the weather on show day, slightly misty in the morning but beautiful sunshine appeared later.

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