Bamford & Norden October 2022

Denehurst Park Dog Show!
Once again, the sun shone for the
second annual Denehurst Park Dog
Show, held on Sunday 21st August.
Angela Collinge, owner of Amber Pets
and Lois Barton from The Friends of
Denehurst Park organised the new
schedule for this year’s show.
Together, they contacted local businesses
to sponsor the classes who also donated
prizes to the first placed winners in each
class. In return for their sponsorship, the
sponsors had their business name printed
on the rosette tails for their Class.
The show was staffed by the Friends of
Denehurst Park committee members and
local volunteers. Richard Smith, a wellknown
local photographer, agreed to come
along and photograph entrants and their
pets, these mementoes proved extremely
popular with last year’s entrants.
It was an early start for the valiant band of
volunteers who prepared the show ground
and built the gazebos in readiness for the
visitors and their pets to arrive. A new and
eagerly anticipated attraction this year, was
the Rammy Valley Gun Dog displays. Tony
Bryant gave demonstrations throughout
the day showing just how highly trained
his dogs are and offering help and advice
on how to transfer skills from the gundog
world into useful skills for pet owners.
In fact, many visitors were so impressed
by the displays that they have said they
intend to contact Tony in the near future to
organise training sessions with him.
The main ring was busy all day with
entrants hoping to be awarded one of the
wonderful prizes that had been donated by
local businesses.
The various Classes entertained the visitors
with a constant stream of dogs of all breeds
and sizes, some more willing than others to
participate.
As well as the competition in the main
ring, a Bale Scurry had been set up where
owners had to encourage their pets to run
to the other end of the course, collect a toy
and return it to their owner, and all against
the clock. Peals of laughter could be heard
across the park as owners called, shouted,
and cajoled their pets to little avail in some
cases. The three fastest dogs of the day
won prizes and we’re definitely planning to
run this activity again next year.
Once again, our volunteers were out in force
and did a splendid job, turning their hands
to anything from announcing Classes and
Stewarding, to keeping the canine water
bowls brimming with fresh, cold water.
Many thanks to all of them, we couldn’t have
delivered the day without you.
The consensus of opinion from all who
attended is that the day was a resounding
success, the atmosphere was so friendly
and happy as families sat on the grass
around the display rings eating picnics and
pizzas, provided by Benjamin’s Italian as
they chatted and watched the shows.
Thank you to all who took part,
whether as a volunteer, a sponsor,
by donating prizes or as a visitor, but
especially to our four-legged friends
who really made the day.
We hope to see you all again at
the next Denehurst Park Dog Show
which will be held on Sunday,
20th August 2023.
Photos kindly supplied by local photographer Richard Smith
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