23 September 2016 – Dog World

Perfect showing weather day at Richmond Champ Show set at Loseley Park, Nr Guildford. If the M25 could be taken out of the equation then it would be easy-peasy. Left the house toy day morning with ample time in hand and jollied down until hitting the M25, then came upon a car park in the middle of the motorway, can’t think why! Loseley Park is in a beautiful setting and must admit I do love seeing the quaint residences on the way through the Guildford area.

This show is very spread out, where ever you want to get to, it is a mission to accomplish and yet strangely the size of the under cover grooming areas are limited in space. We arrived respectively early but there were no spaces available and we had to go outside. Luckily the weather was dry until the end of the day but had it not been, then things would have been exceedingly cramped. In/out marquees make showing easy but certainly the Pap ring resembled an assault course, as the handlers manoeuvred their charges via ground that was the flattest, not an easy task. Perhaps we were just unfortunate and our plot was not of the majority but the size of the ring made up for the misgivings and everyone got on with the job in hand.

Plenty variety of trade stands to browse, I think most folk kept to the stands within the proximity of their breed ring as you needed plenty of time to venture across the other side of the show. But business seemed brisk for the trades folk, so they must have been pleased.

Mixture of climates for toy day, we had the lot really. Very warm and if the sun poked it’s head through the clouds, it was slap the sun cream on and yet at times chilly as the wind was brisk all day. Good weather for the dogs as the wind kept the heat of their backs. Later in the day before the groups the heavens opened and water cascaded in curtains from the BIS marquee. But all was okay we were well and truly undercover by this time. The following day on the Saturday it had rained all day even when we arrived for BIS on the Sunday there was a very large puddle of water at the entrance but that the most we saw of water as it stayed sunny all day.

Toy specialist Mr Stephen Bardwell (Stewell) was judging the Paps and arrived promptly ready for the day ahead with the help of his stewards. One of the stewards we all know so well as it was Sam Tydman. It was lovely to see her again as she had also stewarded at Bournemouth. The day went along smoothly with Mr Bardwell getting on with the job in hand with calmness and efficiency. He went over the dogs extremely well and gave everyone a chance to show their dogs in the best possible manner.

The principal winners were as follows; DCC/BOB/ TGP1 Irene & Glenn Robb’s Ch Gleniren Shootin Starmaker Sunshoo. The very well represented Toy Group was judged by Dr Annukka Paloheimo from Finland and we were thrilled to bits as this was Travis’s twelfth TGP1. BCC Alexandra Forth’s Ch Omegaville Make Me A Petitchien, RDCC Joe Magri & Kevin Arrowsmith’s Ch Rozamie Dream Lover, RBCC Pat Beadle’s Bedellus Jazz Time, BP Jenny Wiggins’s Rozamie Monsieur Arthur For Scapafield and BV Karen Maskell’s Kazkell Velvet Dream JW. Congratulations to the class and principal winners of the day.

The Pedigree Paws Unite Charity walk for the Peek-a-Boo Trust has been going all week. As I write Glenn is ready and raring to go to represent the Papillons for his five mile stint tomorrow, along a Preston area canal. Will let you know the total raised for all the breeds participating when the total amount comes through. Thank you so much for those that have sponsored Glenn, every penny raised will help make a difference.

Take care on the roads and enjoy your showing.

IRENE ROBB