Cairn Fun Day 2011
|
Let us watch
this together |
Roll Up! Roll
Up! To the greatest show on Earth |
In the shade |
2011 brought changes to the running of the Fun Day
and I just hate changes for they never seem to be for the better but when enforced,
then one has to work around them and keep one's fingers crossed that the new
would be as good as the old.
For the past eight Fun Days
sterling work has been given generously by Carol Confue, her daughter, Sharon
and Bill Cammish in providing hot food for those attending the event. The same
can be said of Anne Weaver and her daughter, Claire, who spent each Fun Day
supplying the light refreshments of tea/coffee/ drinks/cakes/biscuits and
ice-cream, to all. Finally but not least, Mike, who virtually on his own,
erected and dismantled the gazebos and helped out wherever he was needed. Each
having decided that after eight years, it was time to take a well deserved rest
from their tasks. We are truly grateful for all their worthwhile work done over
the past years and we send a well-deserved big 'thank-you' to each of them.
|
Erection Of The Gazebo |
Early morning arrivals |
Organising the Grand Draw Stall |
Fortunately, the family Saich found
additional members who volunteered to help out on the Day and Linda decided she
and Karen would provide and serve the light refreshments, this they did
successfully. Hot food was provided by outside contractors, found from
searching websites, who sold pig roast and other savoury meats. The food was
excellent and the pricing very favourable and so it was decided to invite them
to provide the same service in 2012.
One thing didn't change, thank
goodness, and that was the weather. Some dark clouds did appear and swiftly
went on their way, leaving us to enjoy another fine day. A little hot but not
too bad for the dogs and those which needed it did have a couple of kiddies
paddling pools to cool down in. Unfortunately an ice-cream van, which should
have been in attendance on site never
appeared, much to the disappointment of many of those present.
|
All facilities on hand |
General view in the morning |
A place for the shade |
Throughout most of the day, the
South Wales & West of England CTC gave grooming demonstrations and advice
to those bringing their shaggy Cairns to them - only trust they will put the
given advice to good use by practicing on the dogs at home.
Naturally, the Wacky Races
dominated the mornings' events, simply from the excitement created by the dogs
eagerness and wish to chase the lure and the desire of their owners for their
dog to do well. This year, for the first time, an electrical winding gear was
in operation and saved someone from using their energy to wind in it, by hand.
We may have been using new helpers
but they were providing some 'old-fashioned' ideas in both raising money and
entertainment by such novelties of guessing number of the Contents in Jars;
Hurling the Wellington and Sticking the Tail on a Cairn. There were good odds
of 1 in 5 to be gained for winning a prize on the Tombola Stall, where all the
prizes were worthy of winning and Marilyn Hawkins had no difficulty in getting
people to ' have a go', as most were returning winners eager for another win.
|
New gazebo, kindly donated by Milly
Jennings, hosting New Games |
Checking their tombola ticket |
It’s a winning Ticket! |
Tickets for the Grand Draw for the
£100 first prize and a Raffle were to be found on the stall run by Carol Confue.
Chris Roberts brought the Cairn Terrier Relief stall and from speaking with
her, she was extremely pleased with the result of the day's sales.
Wendy Laker found some periods of
inactivity whilst running the Agility Course but the enjoyment gained by those
who had their dog tackle the course, more than made up for the lack in numbers
of those taking part. Most participating dogs are new to the sport and it's
nice to have someone in charge who is used to training dogs and is very
considerate in helping them through and over the varying obstacles to be found
on the course.
|
Making a choice |
Sun or shade |
Gussing game by who – Owner or dog |
It was pleasing to be able to welcome
Sonia White and Sue Dolan, after several years absence, back to the table
taking the entries for the Novelty Classes. It is a job that, at the busy
times, can be found to be a little overpowering and so it's wise to have steady
people, who will not panic when the pressure builds up, taking the entries and
the money.
Our new MC, Sharon Confue, made a
grand opening for that bad, bad, pirate, Pugwash; telling the spectators of his
evil deeds and of how he had been brought (dragged) before the Council of
Pirates, which had been generous and given him a fair trial. The verdict of the
Council found him to be guilty on all the charges and condemned him to walk the
plank and suffer a punishment by water. This was a popular result to the rest
of the pirate fraternity and they rushed to get the best positions from which
to witness the event in which Pugwash got well and truly soaked.
|
The
Final Jump |
Sharon
shouting for attention! |
Winner
loses all |
Loved the choice of the judges, Carol
Confue and Louise Peers, for the winner of the Adult Fancy Dress event. A lady
fully dressed - with cloak, mortar board and a strong cane - as a Head Mistress
together with her star pupil, a boy Cairn, who was immaculately dressed in his
full school uniform complete with the compulsory school tie.
The judges having the freedom to
choose their placing in the classes without being influenced in anyway by
others, found their Best in Show not to be a Cairn but a sheepdog.
The Fun Day was designed to be that
and all classes are novelty classes, not ones for the serious exhibitor as can
be found at KC recognised shows. We do allow all breeds of dogs to enter the
classes as some Cairn owners also have dogs of other breeds or even
crossbreeds. I did receive one complaint over the judges choice and could only
tell it as it is - entries are made for the judges' opinion and it is for them
to place the dogs as they think fitting.
|
The school mistress |
Many hands make a short coat |
BIS with his reward |
Though at
this time due to not knowing the sums raised by the Grand Draw or from the
Light Refreshments - this must have been good for Linda shot off to France
after the show and has not returned to my knowledge - it is not possible to
tell the total sum which will be donated to the Cairn Terrier Relief Fund but
it will be published when known.
Once again, my thanks go to all
the helpers on the day; to those who made donations or sponsored Pugwash; to
those who attended on the day with their dogs; and especially to Milly Jennings
for the gift of a large gazebo. All are part and parcel of the Fun Day and the
ones who make the day to be the success that it has become. Next year will be
the tenth anniversary, so will have to attempt to make it something special but
for this I will have need, again, for your help and assistance - and that
wretched pirate Pugwash will have to put in some performance worthy of such an
occasion.
Graham
Peers
|
A Cartwheel
and daughter captures it |
It’s
great! You should be here |
A quiet 5
minutes |
|
A good number of Cairns on show |
An eye for the
food |
I can now look
my best – It’s ended |
|
The 10th CAIRN
TERRIER FUN DAY is being held on SATURDAY,
23rd JUNE 2012 at The Jubilee Hall, Lewknor, Oxfordshire |
.
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