FUN DAY, COMPANION SHOW and MATCH

Saturday 24 September 2011 - Devizes, Wiltshire

Kindly hosted by John & Christine Bodman and sponsored by Royal Canin

SNC Chair Hedd Richards presenting Christine and John Bodman with a thank-you bouquet

The Devizes fun day was a great experience and a date which will definitely be in our calendar for next year. Pete and I arrived with Riddick and Honey around mid afternoon on the Friday and were greeted by the owners Chris Bodman and her husband John. What a lovely couple, they could not do enough to make us welcome and to ensure that this event is a success every year.

The sun was shining as we set up our caravan in this very large and apparently Newfie escape proof field (to be tested later, no doubt!). The rest of Friday was spent getting to know everyone, humans partaking in a drink or two and Newfies running happily around the field (which was Newfie proof!)

Honey and Riddick had a good time

Saturday emerged as a lovely day, we could not have asked for better weather. Stalls were being erected and food was plentiful, burgers, sausages, homemade cakes and our food tester Sampson, Cheryl and Phil Payne’s dog made sure the food was fit for human consumption – it was a good job he didn’t enter the sausage catching competition because I don’t think Honey would have come third and as for Riddick, he was still trying to understand why food was being thrown at him!

The fun day was well supported not just by the Newfie group but also the German Shepherd club and locals so there was a variety of dogs and the judge, Paul Dodd, did not have it easy assessing all the different pedigrees to come up with winners for each category but he obviously took his job very seriously, as when it came to choosing the dog he would most like to take home, he had to be stopped from loading the gorgeous black poodle into the back of his car!

In the evening a barbeque had been arranged in the pub, which was just a few minutes walk from the field and dog friendly. We decided to have our own barbeque in the field as Sampson was not up to the walk but heard some very good reports on the spread as people returned to join us relaxing under the starry canopy of night, what a lovely end to a glorious day.

Carole Veness     

"I am very grateful to the SNC Committee for the invitation to judge this fun event and for the support and encouragement they give to novice judges. The Companion Show show was tremendously well supported and I had a busy day with lots of dogs representing many different breeds. Thanks to Hedd Richards for stewarding and keeping everything well organised.

There were some quality dogs present and I was very pleased with my final line up of winners. Best in Show went to an imported Flat Coated Retriever who was just 19 months old and won the AV Sporting class. He was in lean, hard-muscled working condition and it was no surprise to learn that he does indeed work for his living - a dog 'fit for function' and proving it by performing that function in real life. He moved with great style and that eye-catching tail action typical of his breed.

The Retriever was run close by the five year old German Shepherd Dog to whom I award the Reserve Best In Show. This is a dog in his prime with classic shepherd looks and lines and rich markings. He and his handler made the most of the huge ring we had to show off the dogs tireless flowing movement with no loss of topline even at a very fast trot.

Best Puppy in Show was a 7 months old fawn Bullmastiff bitch. I really liked her head, not overly wrinkled, and expression enhanced by the correct markings. Strong and well boned with a straight front and topline she was still feminine and moved with the desired action and excellent balance for her age.

Reserve Best Puppy in Show was a nicely marked 10 month old White & Black Newfoundland with minimal ticking. A pretty head with the desired blaze and a breed-typical gentle expression, carried on a well boned but not excessively heavy frame so she was light on her feet and moved well.

After the pedigree classes we had nine novelty classes which were great fun. I must give a special mention to the Best Rescue Dog or Bitch class with nine special dogs assembled, not all Newfoundlands. They were introduced to the crowd by their owners who told some upsetting stories of heartless neglect and cruelty which had brought them to be rescued. Despite their unfortunate histories these dogs displayed wonderful temperaments and it was heart-warming to know that they are now loved and cared for. Every one of their new owners commented how much they feel rewarded by the love and devotion shown by these dogs. The creditable work done by SNC Welfare was praised by several owners and the whole day was devoted to raising funds for that difficult and much needed ongoing work.

A more detailed report and critiques should appear in the next issue of Newf Newfs. Thank you to everyone who entered and allowed me the privilege of going over your dogs. It was a wonderful experience and I thoroughly enjoyed my day."

Paul Dodd