Well we have had some scorchers in the past but I think that the weekend exceeded anything that we have had before but somehow we got through it without a hitch.
Our thank yous will be like the Oscars as there are so many people that we just can’t do without, from set up to break down and the days in between.
During the week of the show we discovered that we had less room available for campers due to the rugby club having recently being upgraded to a higher league which meant that no vehicles were allowed on the second pitch.
Without Teresa Patterson, Gaynor Taylor, Linda Plows, Thelma Alexander, Malcolm Hanlon & Sean McCarthy we could never have managed to organise everyone so massive thanks to them all and hopefully you will do it again next year – Teresa told me that everyone had complied with their orders with good grace – other than the man who drove over the pitch to exit because he felt the ‘rules’ did not apply to him, nor would he stop when Teresa tried to flag him down, we have your registration number, we will work out who you are and will refuse entries next year – that ‘rule’ was in force to ensure that we keep this venue.
We thank all our competitors for coping with the parking situation, it seems complicated on paper but with our team of parkers at both sides everyone was safely gathered in without giving anyone grief, I did suggest that Serena’s husband wear his full battle dress and gun – lol
We had our own boy band – bromance going on there – lol, Stuart Calway, Jason Hibberd, Roy Williams, Peter Gregory, all commandeered from club, only 2 compete but all 4 are now expert at putting up the rings and having you there at the close of play to shift, load, unload and stack in the container is priceless-I hope that you enjoyed yours beers guys.
Thanks as per usual to our CSS Rod White – every year he requests cool conditions, but we only get them with rain! Only one bit of bother for you and I am glad that we did manage to muster up stay stewards for you once everyone knew where you were in your outpost ? Shame on those that were asked but couldn’t give a valid reason why they could/would not do at least one set when Georgie went round with the book in the morning, thank you to those that did help.
CS Sandra Cobbold, with you on board our ship sails smoothly, thank you so much and same place next year please.
Thank you to our judges & stewards, this year was a little testing as we lost a couple as soon as the schedule was issued, don’t ask ☹ Then we had the accident prone ladies – 3 who are hopefully on the mend. And one who had no transport! So huge thank you to those judges who agreed to step in and save the days. It is sad that this year we were without two stalwarts of shows in the SE, Barry Fitter & John Rogers, both poorly but hopefully better health is on its way to you both, I can’t remember a time when you were not at one of our shows. We missed you.
Well done to our ticket winners, both travelling from afar to take the prize: Guus Scholten & Dominique Guenther – good luck at Crufts. Thank you to Pat Burford, I hope that you enjoyed your first ticket appointment and to Jenny Gould for taking over from John Taylor who sadly had to withdraw from judging.
Our own team, from admin to poo sack collector, you all worked tirelessly from Friday to Sunday but we all had some laughs, no tears – hooray – and so we were rewarded with a sack load of rosettes between us including 5 first places – interesting that and note worthy to those who think that putting something back to shows interferes with winning – it doesn’t, that’s a fact.
We are grateful to the rugby club for allowing us to hold the show, they have recently been upgraded in their league hence the number 2 pitch not allowing vehicles on it. I am pleased to say that catering was much improved this year and received no grumbles about this.
Thank you Kirsty Stuart for manning the training ring for a while on Sunday, I think that it was way to hot for many customers this year. Jenny Harknet’s Charity fun class raised £90 for African Wild Dogs, again and our tombola raised £185 which we have shared with German Shepherd Elite Rescue and The Border Collie Spot.
We hope to see many of you again: 27th & 28th July 2019
Eileen Restell