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.
With twelve rings we were fortunate that we only had to find 2 stewards and I would like to thank Maggie Moran and Chris Skelly for giving up the opportunity to work their dogs to fill these positions. I had to find 6 people who could do sums and colouring in for the scoreboards and Chesvale members and friends of the club stepped in to cover these jobs, even though some had never done it before and then doing decoy steward duties!
We were incredibly lucky to have two sponsors for the show this year. JR Pet Product generously supplied prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in each class. YuMove sponsored our beautiful rosettes, prize cards for all twelve classes and donated product subscription for the first three places in each class. So, an enormous thank you to JR Pet Products and YuMove for their support and generous donation, this makes an enormous difference to the show.
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 the money. They worked so hard all-day helping people practice and raised £135.40. Laura also managed to get a 5th place in B in between helping everyone! 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 was run by our Vice-President, Maggie Petit and made a fantastic £135.00. This means that £271.00 will be going to the British Heart Foundation.
Chesvale catering is well known for being fantastic, but Gail Nokes, Pauline Finn, Lynne Weston, Julie Green and Stephanie Mayne went to a new level with super decorations in the club colours of blue, gold and white balloons which were weighted with silver covered dumbbells! The food did not disappoint, and the desserts were superb. Jo Dyas and Sally Partridge took over for the afternoon tea and beautiful home-made cakes with a centrepiece special 70th Anniversary celebration cake made by Julie Green. Many of the judges also took away cake for their journey home! Our new competitor caterers (Debs) were great, it was their first dog show and will be back again next year, great food at reasonable prices.
I cannot thank all our members individually in this post as there were over 30 of them! 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.
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 27th 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 5th May 2024.
CAROL SPENCER
Show Manager