Dandie Dinmont Terriers in the UK

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Caledonian DDTC AGM Open Show 2007

Thursday, 26 April 2007

A Steward should always keep cool, calm and collected and assist exhibitors who may not be so happy!

We had a lovely Open Show in Moffat - in fact it was a very busy show which made it very interesting! This was the day of our Annual General Meeting followed by our Educational Event - this year it was a Kennel Club Certificated Stewarding Seminar which was taken by Freda Marshall of Darlington fame.

Always full of humour, Freda talked us through various scenarios, pointing out problems that might happen and how we should deal with them. Not only generously providing the attendees with comprehensive notes of duties before, during and after judging, Freda also gave us some useful tips - for example having one of those clear plastic suit covers on the steward's table on a windy, damp day, pinned down with drawing pins, and putting the rosettes and paperwork underneath it can save the usual paperchase retrieving windblown bits of paper.

The Steward should do everything they can to keep the judge from being distracted from their prime role of judging...

Freda had lots of tips for new Stewards, stressing the level of professionalism that has to be attained and ending up by saying that Darlington Dog Show would be delighted for volunteer Stewards to contact her for the Championship Show later this year.

Then it was off for a quick soup and sandwich lunch and a mad Committee dash to the Town Hall a few doors away to set up the show and greet the exhibitors who were already arriving.

Remember that the accuracy of a Steward's work is essential

Alan Norcross, an experienced Terrier Man, was our Judge and it was good to see his entry of 31 dogs with only 6 absent on the day. This is the smallest of our three annual shows and Keith Derry had worked hard as usual to 'encourage' entries.

Alan found his Best in Show, Best Dog and Best Puppy in Shonillian Dandilly Digby, a homebred 10 month old mustard youngster owned by Maureen Morrice. Ch Banburg Alfresco is the sire, Shonillian Dandilly Milly the dam.

Best in Show Maureen Morrice's Shonillian Dandilly Digby

A very proud moment for Maureen and also for Celia Danks who couldn't attend but who has worked with Maureen for many years. Best Bitch was Wendy Weatherstone and Jack Heywood's Shalulleke Blueprint for Borderstone, a young pepper by Needwood Twice Nightly out of Ch Schalulleke Lizzy Weaver.

Reserve Best dog was Perry's Ch Pogleswood Pole Position and Reserve Best Bitch was Derry's Saredon Rainstorm. You already know the Best Puppy!

Below, please find a selection of fairly random shots from the Show. Please bear with your Webmaster for a few days - they will all have captions soon. [testing new system right now!]

Yes - it was a very good day!