Redlingfield’s first Fun Village Dog Show on Sunday 9th June was a great success with 140 entries ranging from young pups to venerable old dogs.
The event raised more than £750 for historic St Andrew’s church and Redlingfield’s Doorstep Green was busy well before the 11am start. Over 200 happy dog owners and spectators enjoyed the sunshine and attractions.
People came from all around, with many visiting the small village for the first time. Paws of Parham dog training group provided agility demonstrations in their ring and also let people and their pooches have a go too.
There were cakes, honey, tea, a BBQ, raffle, kiddies colouring stall, a bone stall and a bar – which had to be restocked with soft drinks as the sun shone down. The bar, which was raising funds for the village, took more than £400.
The judges, both vets, were Jim Woodger, from Syleham, and Emma Hewitt, from Redlingfield, who certainly had their work cut out judging the classes.
Kings Farm Boarding Kennels, Cattery & Day Care Facility in nearby Cranley donated 120 rosettes for all those placed. There were prizes for the best rescue, best puppy (under 1 year), best young handler (under 12 years), best veteran (over 10 years), scruffiest, waggiest tail, best bitch & best dog, dog with the best trick and dog the judge would like to take home.
Dog Show organiser and Church committee secretary Alison Smith said: “We all had a brilliant time, everyone had fun and I’m just so pleased with how well the day went. It was great seeing so many lovely dogs and their owners – we plan to do this again next year. It was a real team effort and we want to thank everyone for their help and all the sponsors for their wonderful gifts and donations”.
Many thanks to Skinner's Pet Foods in Stradbroke who donated prizes for class winners and the raffle, Pooch & Pet beauty parlour and pet shop in Stradbroke, who donated a gift voucher, Easton Farm Park who donated day passes, Banham Zoo gave a day pass as a prize for the colouring competition and Myhill’s Pet and Garden in Diss, who gave dog toys for the raffle.
Alison added: “St Andrews Church is a thousand years old and needs a lot of work to repair the floor and walls where water has come in and caused damage. We also want to improve the church so we can use it for community events – with a kitchenette and toilets and more sustainable heating and lighting”
Redlingfield Village meeting secretary Janet Norman-Philips said: “Redlingfield is a wonderful place to live but we are very short on facilities. We have our village Church and our Doorstep Green. No shops or school or village hall, so being able to use the church for events and community groups would be wonderful.”
Results:
Best Bitch: 1, Rowan & Avril; 2, Sasha & Tom; 3, Chilli & Guy.
Best Dog: 1, Elmo & Chantelle; 2, Humpry & Fiona; 3, Teddy & Tracy.
Best Trick: 1, Archie & Helen; 2, Winston & Grace; 3, Skipper & Jo.
Best Rescue: 1, Poppy & Henry/Arthur; 2, Skipper & Jo.
Best Puppy: 1, Bailey & Daisy; 2, Luther & Liz; 3, Teddy & Tracy.
Best Young Handler: 1, Bailey & Daisy; 2, Archie & Tom; 3, Poppy & Henry/Arthur.
Best Veteran (over 10 years): 1, Dusty & Bev; 2, Sasha & Tom; 3, Jasper & Gail.
Waggiest Tail: 1, Teddy & Tracy; 2, Pip & Elaine; 3, Skipper & Jo.
Scruffiest Mutt: 1, George & Daisy; 2, Suzie & Tom; 3, Fuzzy & Leslie.
Dog Judge Would Most Like to take Home: 1, Teddy & Tracy; 2, Elmo & Chantelle; 3, Dusty & Bev.
Click here for a gallery of pictures.