Report on the 2007 Reunion

Our Annual Reunion Dog Show was held on Saturday 15th September 2007 at Bury View Farm & Camping Site, Corston Fields, Nr Bath. Several campers stayed the whole weekend with tents, motorhomes and caravans and the van selling refreshments, which included breakfast for the campers and early arrivals, was a huge hit. The same lovely venue and caterers have already been booked for next year.
 
We want to say a big thank you to you all for being responsible with your dogs and keeping the venue clean and tidy. Sallie, the site owner, said “Jim and I were very pleased with the respect and consideration that you all showed to us and our site. Lots of people have asked us if you are going to do it again, those that didn`t come this year, really should do next time”. This was something to be proud of as there were somewhere in the region of 200 dogs present and almost all of them were rescue dogs. 
 
The weather was absolutely brilliant, if anything too hot, and everything went reasonably well with only a few minor hiccups. First all the photos for the Photographic competition were judged, which was a mammoth task. Thank you to our Irish judges Fiona Squibb (ISPCA inspector) and Janice Moran who spent much of the day in tears (of joy) seeing the dogs that they had personally rescued looking so well and happy. Also thanks to Canine Health Concern members, Christine Wyn Thomas (Dogs on Holiday) and Maxine Julius (film producer) for, once again, giving your time to us so willingly when neither of you are really “into” our breed and for both being happy to help us whenever we need it.
 
The obedience started at 10am, judged by Heather Harley, Pippa Bentham, Sharon Arnold and Pearl Bray and continued throughout  the day. Thank you all for so willingly helping our very nervous competitors to feel at ease and to enjoy their day so much. The rings were all supplied for us again this year by Anne and Alan so a big thank you to them both. Thank you to Alan, who had to miss part of an important match, in order to deliver the ropes etc to us in good time for setting them up and thank you to Anne, who had to make a huge effort to get to the Reunion this year because of Alastair’s poor health. We hope he will be well again very soon.
 
Throughout the morning we also had the talks in the Think Tank by Sarah Cullen……….Canine Nutrition,  Pippa Bentham…….Canine Massage, Marney Wells………First Aid & Aloe Vera for your dog, Pea Horsley………Animal Communication and Lynne Jones………Flower essences.  Thank you to you all for giving your time and being so willing to share your knowledge with everyone.
 
The first Novelty Classes took place at 11am judged by Liz D’Arcy & Denise Cribb. Thank you both for your time and for your friendliness to all our competitors.
 
This was followed by the very popular talk on Clicker Training (with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier) by Marney Wells in the Main Ring. Everyone very much enjoyed this and, for sure, will have learned a great deal.
 
Then the very emotional, but brilliant, Parade of our Rescue Dogs took place. It was wonderful to see so many of our dogs, some who had been through horrendous ordeals, looking healthy and very, very happy. Thank you all for helping to make the day so special.
 
Very much behind schedule came the remainder of the Novelty Classes judged by Angela Callow (Cassatess golden retrievers). Thank you, Angela for your patience, friendliness to competitors and for taking the time to judge at our little show.
 
Finally Best in Show and Reserve Best in show were judged by PAT ARNOLD (Amberland golden retrievers) from IRR only dogs in best condition, IRR only bitches in best condition, dogs/bitches in best condition aged 5yrs and under, dogs / bitches in best condition over 5yrs, veteran dogs/bitches (aged 7yrs to 10yrs) and veteran dogs/bitches aged 10yrs and over. A huge thank you to Pat, a top Championship show judge and golden retriever breed specialist for giving your valuable time to us.
 
There wasn’t a dry eye in the place when our very own Mr Wonderful, the everso special rescued golden retriever, STEVIE, owned and adored by Alison Phipps, went Best in Show with Guy, the Veteran flatcoat, owned by Jan Worsley,  being the Reserve Best in Show.
 
The Sponsor a Dog (S.A.D) Tent was very popular, with people meeting their sponsor dogs and new people coming forward to sponsor dogs. Thank you to Kaz and Jackie for all their work with this, both at the show and through out the year. Thanks also to Ron and Luke and all the owners of the sponsor dogs who happily allowed their dogs to meet their adoring public, with all dogs behaving impeccably so thankyou Alison, Amy, Brenda, Denise, Jan, Julie, Kaz, Lynne, Regina, Steve & Tracey. It was such a pity that Sally and Jimmy and Lorna with Zena couldn’t make it too.
 
The Photo Comp tent was also a big hit with all the wonderful photos on view. Many thanks to Belinda and Terry who organised it all and who are also responsible for much of the merchandise (S.A.D and personal calendars etc) that we have to offer. Huge thankyous to you both for everything.
 
The tannoy was constructed for us by Nick.  His wife, Ali, cut a very special Country and Western type CD, just for us, which is still available to buy, so big thank yous to them both.
 
Wendy, with daughter in law, Renata, was selling her produce (cards, bookmarks, prints etc etc) and has worked tirelessly throughout the whole year twisting the arms of companies to donate prizes to us. Most of the lovely Photo Comp prizes are the direct result of her endeavours.
 
Thanks to Julie and family for doing the cake stall, organising a tombola and also doing Guess the Name of the Teddy. Also many thanks to Julia, a lady I met a few weeks before in  a shop and got chatting to, like you do.  She ran our White elephant stall all morning before Regina took on the afternoon stint.
 
A very big thank you to Maggie & Ray for totally organising the raffle, where top prize was a day trip for up to 9 people on a P & O ferry and also for taking on the hugely difficult job of taking entries for the first part of the day until Gill and Lindsay, Shelley and Kay could take over from you. Many thanks to all of you for stepping in so ably at the very last minute as a favour to Lynne. You were little stars.
 
Thanks to Jean who was in charge of all handing out the ring cards for the Parade of Rescues and Entries in Advance and to Margaret, who manage to rehome all the teddies from the Teddy Bear’s Picnic stall. Lynne, of course, lovingly collected every single teddy and was my number 2 girl in organizing the whole show from day one. Thank you soooo much.
 
Thank you to Denise and Phil for running the Bottle Stall for us and for sharing the wonderful Pudsey with all his fans at the S.A.D. tent.
 
Thank you to Frances (eBay Seller: frances3585 – Fabric, Pet Supplies items on eBay.co.uk) for raffling the most wonderful hand made doggy quilt. The lucky winner was our own dear Regina who was over the moon with it. Your beds were wonderful and must have taken hours and hours of work to produce.
 
Thank you to Sandra for manning the CHC stall and sharing your knowledge of the health problems caused by over-vaccination with anyone who showed an interest.
 
Also a big thank you to Pea Horsley for using your healing and animal communication skills as and when needed. Also to Dawn Minall for also using your healing skills and flower essences and to Sue and Ralph for bringing all your wonderful crystals etc for sale. Also to Caroline for bringing all your lovely flowers all the way from Devon to help support us. 
 
Many people doubled up on jobs taking turns at doing all sorts of things including taking money at the gate so thankyou Maxine, Pam, Val and Andy. Andy also ably ran the Fun & Games with help from Tony & Luke whilst Pam was able to use her healing skills and Maxine was one of our judges.
 
A big thank you, of course, to Lorraine for organizing all the lovely 1st prize goody bags for the competiton winners, the beautiful hand painted bowls for the top prize winners and many of the other prizes as well. Also for cleverly finding the green shamrock bunting and little bits and pieces that helped to make it all extra special. Also, with Jan, thank you for running the microchipping stall and for running around where needed whenever Lynne and I (Pauline) were already spoken for.
 
All in all it was a brilliant day and was all over far too quickly. My biggest regret was not being able to speak personally to everyone and to meet all the lovely dogs individually and spend some time with each and every one of them.
 
Finally a mega huge thankyou to Sandie without whom none of this would have ever happened. With IRR dogs alone, hundreds owe their lives to you and this is not to mention all the other rescues who you help whenever needed. You must have got through dozens of boxes of tissues throughout the day but all your tears were of sheer joy. We all owe you a huge debt of gratitude and be sure we all love you to bits.