League Finals/Open Show Weekend

Brean Leisure Park November 2011

A week ago I was towing the club trailer up the M5 to start another leagues weekend, now it is all over and we are working on next year’s event. Arriving at lunchtime we partook in a little light refreshment and then started to unload the trailer and set the room up for Saturday, this was completed by 4.00pm. Shaving ½ an hour of last years time “what a team”!!

This year we had the karaoke/quiz night on Friday and were not sure how it would work but we need not have worried it seemed to be a huge success all those who attended commented how well it went. The number of people staying Friday night increased by over 50% so it is now going to be a permanent part of the weekend and we look forward to even more people staying next year.

After a very good breakfast in the Tavern on Saturday morning we set about the finishing touches, cleaning and setting out the trophies, setting out the rosettes and mementoes and making sure everything was ready for our guests to arrive. Lunchtime and it was back to our units to change into our finery in time to greet everyone, although I must point out that because a couple of the trophies were late being returned our cup steward Carol Gray had very little time to be ready for the start of proceedings at 3.00pm. Perhaps it would be possible for those involved to arrange for their trophies to be returned a little earlier next year.

Our chairman David Cottrell greeted everyone with a glass of wine or fruit juice then at 3.30pm Sally Lewis introduced the Top Winning Veterans and Colours as they paraded into the ring to great applause collecting their mementoes on the way. After they left the ring Sally introduced the Premier League Dogs as they paraded in and our judge Dianna Spavin was introduced. When Dianna had finished going over the dogs she presented them all with a memento and Sally announced the three top places in reverse order which was again greeted with much applause. Dianna then left the room and Premier League Bitch followed the same format as did Supperleague Dog and Bitch. Dianna’s choice of top spot for the four leagues were Premier Dog, Harvey’s Keirkane Commander At Clannalba JW ShCM and Premier Bitch Jacob’s Mohos Mo Chara At Kazabbie with the dog taking overall winner. Super Dog was Morgan-Evans’ Ch. Vanmore Sound Investment JW and Super Bitch Bishton’s Ch. Jaydania Holly Wood JW with the bitch taking top spot. The competition finished by 6.00pm and after David presented Dianna with a memento of her appointment we all left to get ready for the Dinner/Dance. After the excellent meal served as usual by the efficient Brean staff Sally announced this years trophy winners to be presented by David assisted by Carol, this was followed by the disco with the dance floor well populated most of the time but unfortunately the DJ did play a few requests which emptied the floor very quickly, we will have to educate the DJ for next year, however I have a video taken at 12.55am. showing a very crowded dance floor and still very energetic dancing.

Sunday morning and after another good breakfast we got the room ready for Judi Cottam to judge the Open Show starting at 10.00am. In line with previous years there were a few absentees in the early classes but overall Judi had some well populated classes to make her choices from and her top spots went to BIS;- Battersby & Williams’ Ch. Internos Challenger JW ShCM, RBIS & BOS:- Day & Fry’s Ch. Merrybox Love Affair With Janriche JW and BPIS Dyson’s Samdice Written In The Stars. The judging finished and Judy presented with her memento by 3.00pm. we set about dismantling the ring and packing everything back into the club trailer; this was accomplished in 50minutes, another record! At this point I must say thank you to some non committee members for all their assistance, to Kevin & Leah Wiltshire for their help in both setting up and dismantling the room and including the expert way Leah wielded the vacuum cleaner. To those exhibitors that not only cleaned up after their own dogs but after other peoples dogs as well, we thank you, to those few people that did not clean up after their dogs let me remind you that it is a Kennel Club rule to clean up after your dog and also that it is becoming more and more difficult to find venues that will accept dogs for that reason. So please everyone be it at our Leagues Weekend or anywhere else clean up and show the general public that Dane people are caring and responsible. A few of us went down to the beach to watch Ken & Joan Toohey with their very large kite, it was great to see and Ken tells me that he is going to bring a few more kites with him next year. There was also the opportunity this year to use the new indoor swimming pool so next year like me bring your swimming costumes.

Sunday evening and some of those that stayed on went back to the Tavern for a Country & Western night or attended a party hosted by Dave & Paula Young, I am afraid that I showed my age and after a lovely curry cooked by our hard working guest Alison and a few glasses of Irish nectar I fell asleep and woke at 2.00am. then went to bed.

Monday morning and it was just checking everything was left as it should be, Ann & Steve checked every unit to make sure there were no surprises for the cleaning staff, a lesson we learnt the hard way a few years ago, and I am pleased to report that all was as it should be. Lunchtime and I was heading back down the M5 with the trailer and another Leagues Weekend was over far too quickly. The work does not stop however; Sal is busy collating the points for next year and negotiating with Brean to keep the prices for nest year as low as possible. With Sue and David, Sal is discussing possible judges for neat year and we have our committee meeting coming up where we will address any problems and any ways we might improve the weekend.

I have said thank you to a few people but there are some more I must mention. Having lost our sponsorship from Skinners we are extremely grateful to the late Nellie Ennals, to Shaun & Majella Rippington and to Gary Gough & Terry Gorman with Park Holidays for their donations and support. We must also thank Our Dogs for sending along Bethan Hughes who worked tirelessly throughout the weekend with her camera and the photographs I have seen so far are excellent so please visit her website www.bodrhonyn.com and the clubs www.swgdc.com for the best ones. Lastly but by far not least I must thank all those of you that attended the event, without you there would be no Leagues weekend, I must also thank all of you that attended the Friday night Karaoke/Quiz for making it such a success, We would also like to thank you for your generosity with the catalogue raffle, the bottle raffle and the open show raffle, the money raised helps to pay for the event. One last thank you to all of you that have sent thank you cards and emails it is hard work but it is a labour of love and your appreciation makes it all worthwhile.

Roll on Friday 9^th. November 2012 and we can do it all over again.

Tim Lewis