TLRT Publicity - Dog Show and Fun Day at Brockhampton, Gloucestershire
2008 is the 20th Anniversary of The Labrador Rescue Trust and to mark the anniversary, Area E (Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, West Berkshire and North Hampshire) laid on a Fun Day & Dog Show in Gloucestershire for the first time.On the day itself we had an early start at 8.30 when we went along to the field to set up for the day's event. By mid morning all the tents and marquees were in place and we lit the barbecue for bacon butties for all the helpers on site. By 11.45 people started to arrive for the 12.00 start and things began happening. We had so many entries for the dog show classes that we couldn't start judging until 1.00pm in order to give the stewards time to list the entries and take the money.
The Dog Show was a great success with in the region of 30 entries in each of the 12 classes. All the classes were novelty classes, from 'Waggiest Tail' to 'Dog the Judge would like to take home'. We had two classes for our own Rescue Dogs, the Best Labrador Rescue Trust Bitch class was won by Mrs Margaret Pearce and her rescue dog Millie and the Best Labrador Rescue Trust Dog class was won by Mrs Janet Jones and her rescue dog Bertie, coincidentally both Bertie and Millie came into rescue as strays and I am proud to say that I re-homed both of them!
After the conclusion of the Dog Show we invited all of the Labrador Rescue Trust dogs into the ring for a group photograph and there were 29 TLRT dogs present on the day, a wonderful turn out.
There were various stalls, from our own Labrador Rescue Merchandise, a Plant stall, a cake stall, raffle, tombola, bar (selling Labrador Rescue 20th Anniversary Organic Beer), barbecue, gun dog scurry, games (including 'splat the rat', water and wine, paddling pool game, amongst others), face painting, microchipping and behavioural clinic and Emma Boyne set up her stall with cushions, bags and various other interesting items. Emma has even designed a bag for the Trust with a unique 'Labrador Rescue' design on it with a percentage of the profit going to the Trust. (If anyone is interested, please contact Belinda who can put you in touch with Emma).
To conclude the afternoon's activities we held sausage races and egg throwing, which caused much hilarity and was enjoyed by both humans and dogs alike.
I must take this opportunity to thank all the people without whom the event would not have been possible, and I apologise in advance if the forthcoming list is rather long.
Messrs. T. & E. Bailey who allowed us to use their field to hold the event.
Paul & Dan at Honeybourne Vets in Cheltenham
Peter Jefferies Butcher
Kim Bailey Racing
Robin Hughes - supplier of haylage, hay and straw
Jon, Anne & James at Cotswold Windows
Nick Partridge - Farrier
Chris & David Hillier of PDH Heating & Plumbing
Philip Pugh of Fine & Country Homes
Trigger (Derek) & Sue Gunn
Nigel & Jean at The Kilkenny Inn
Neil at Elite Wealth Management Ltd.
Pakeman, Catto & Carter of Cirencester
Charles Arkell of Humberts
Anthony at Cotswold Granite & Marble
Spirax Sarco Engineering plc
all of whom kindly sponsored the event.
Rex Hudson, Esq., M,Sc., who judged the dog show.
Bill, Emma, Edward, George and Dan Lanfear
Dave Allen
Richard & Janet Jones
My son James and his girlfriend Liz
My daughter Victoria and her boyfriend Ben
Piggy and her boyfriend Sam
Beth
Hattie
My sister Heather
My Mother Juliet
Susan Offen
Susan Platford
Joy Barrett
Lilian Hopton
Clare Maclean
Jenny Woolliams
Nicola Dangerfield
and anyone else that I may have forgotten to mention.
All of whom helped with the setting up, running and dismantling of the event.
A final note of thanks to all the people who came along and supported us on the day, spending lots of money and hopefully enjoying a very nice afternoon in the Cotswolds, with lots of laughter, lots of dogs and children and beautiful weather.
It is hoped that when the final figures come out that we managed to raise something in the region of £2,000, which is really fantastic and makes all the hard work worthwhile.
I keep being asked if I am going to do it again next year. Well, you will just have to watch this space??
Belinda Filmer
Joint Regional Co-ordinator
The Labrador Rescue Trust
