Month: May 2025

OPEN SHOW SUNDAY 4th MAY 2025

Another great show is over, and my last job is to thank everyone involved in making Chesvale’s show so successful.

Anyone that organises a show knows how much work goes into preparing the venue ready for the day. However, there is a huge amount of work that goes on beforehand, and that work starts before this year’s show finishes. It was fabulous that I managed to invite all our judges for May 2026 and filled all the positions but one. For anyone that wavered, I simply showed them the lunch and afternoon cakes and cream teas, and they agreed! Just proves the better the titbit the better the response.

I cannot thank all our members (over 30 of them!) individually, but the rings were set up in record time and they did a great job lead by Jim Nokes. However, I must mention Clare Williams, our Show Secretary, without whom the show could not operate. The rest of our members know how grateful I am for their help and support. Also, thanks to Jo Dyas who kindly let me use her mobility scooter to try to stop me from walking about, as apparently, I am no spring chicken!!!! (her words not mine!)

The team 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. I know the judges are very grateful for the help in putting up their tents. 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.

We had two training rings, one manned by Laura Wiley and the second a self-help or ‘bring a friend’ ring. Sheila Rodger was in control of the list of people waiting to have a go as well as taking the money. They worked so hard all-day helping people practice and raised a fabulous £170.00. I know everyone appreciates the opportunity to train in a show environment under an experienced handler, so many thanks go to the team for their time and support. The tombola made £136.10 making a total of £306.10. Chesvale will make this combined total up to £350.00 to be donated to The Brain Cancer Charity.

Chesvale’s catering is well known for being fantastic, Gail Nokes, Pauline Finn, Lynne Weston, Julie Green and Julia Yerrell put on an amazing buffet lunch, and the desserts were superb. Jo Dyas, Sally Partridge and assorted helpers took over for the afternoon tea and beautiful home-made cakes and cream teas, with some of the judges taking cake for their journey home!

It was a great relief that Julie Green took over being photographer at the show as my bones by the end of the two days have normally given up by the time the presentations start! Thank you, Julie! She took some fabulous photos which are already up on ObedienceUK facebook page for you to enjoy.

Thank you to all the judges and stewards who gave up their time, some travelling quite a distance to support us and some those who have already volunteered to do it all again! Finally, to all the competitors who attended – we hope you had an enjoyable day and thank you for all the lovely comments and expressions of thanks for putting on a show. A little thanks goes a long way.

Our next show is on Sunday 24th August, pre-beginner, beginner and novice only, so look out for the schedule which will be available shortly. Also put next year’s May show date in your diary, Sunday 3rd May 2026.

CAROL SPENCER

Show Manager

Another year passed and another show completed. After doing all the usual post show clearing and admin, Jacki Snook and myself would like to thank several people that without them the show would not be happening.

First off both jacki and myself would like to thank everyone for their kind comments about the show and their understanding following our tragic circumstances which definitely made this show a lot harder both emotionally and physically. As many of you know we are a very small club and with one fewer of us we debated whether to run the show or not. Im sure my dad looked down upon us with pride that we were able to pull of a successful show and I’m sure he pulled some strings upstairs too with the weather as our past few shows have been complete washouts. Although we had a technical hiccup on the Sunday which would have benefited from his electrical skills, I think he just wanted to get involved in some way and have a say on the day.

First of all, we would like to thank all the judges and stewards who gave up their day to help at our show. Without them the show would not happen so your help is always greatly appreciated.

Next to Bryan Luckock for his admin help and chief stewarding skills.

We would like to give special thanks to Julie Shepherd, Neil and Rosie, (friends who are in no way associated with the club but give up their time to help). Between them all they helped set up the show on Sunday, and then car park, scent decoy and pack up the show as well as various tasks throughout the day. We would also like to thank Anthony’s partner Emma who has no association with dog work except through us and purely helped out with another pair of hands throughout the weekend. Their help is vital and greatly appreciated to ensure the show can run. Again without this help the show just wouldn’t happen.

We would also like to thank a few club members who came to help with various tasks throughout the Monday such as decoys and packing up so thanks to Lorrinda, John, Elaine and Tina. We had no committee members who came to help nor did we have any club officials so you can see we made the best we could have with the little help we had.

Thanks to petneeds for their presence and sponsor of the show trophy’s.

Finally thanks to those who have volunteered already to judge next year. If anyone else would be able to help next year it would be appreciated.

We also have some lost property which will be at the secretary tent at Loughborough show.

As usual there may be names forgotten to thank particularly after such a busy event and for those who have been forgotten by name, thank you very much for your hard work.

Anthony Snook