The Evesham Lurcher & Exemption Show

The Showring!

Rosettes from Evesham

I had been looking forward to going to this show for some weeks. The schedule was one of the best I have seen, I was meeting people I have only met on here, and the longish, slightly daunting trip for worn out me, and my worn out vehicle was to a pretty part of England I have never been.

Well as often happens, the reality didn't live up to the expectations. That is not to say we didn't have a good; in fact a great day, because we did. It was well worth going, it was just that as the people I was meeting were maybe expecting someone special, and only got ordinary me, the show was just another nice show. Worn out me and my van survived the uneventful journey. Barney got a 1/3rd in Best Condition, which meant we didn't go home empty handed unlike a lot of the dogs, as the Judge picked his favorite dogs for most of the places, resulting in a few dogs going home with mountains of prizes and rosettes. There is nothing wrong with this, just that it happens sometimes. The Cumulous clouds that gather in this part of the country, provided a day of sunshine and showers, not the torrential downpour they reportedly had the previous day.

We got a 1/3 in SIT/STAND/DOWN, a little novelty class that I found really appealing. I think the judge was expecting dogs of the usual pet dog standard, but got a ringfull of dogs, most trained to a high standard. She pulled a few of us out to try to reduce the numbers, but to be honest she had a tough job. The winner was a rather hyper dog, with a fast response, but anyone of 10 could have won. I think the nice thing about this is just how so many more people are attending proper training classes with their dogs. A few years ago, Barneys round in the Beginners Obedience we did the other week would nearly always have been a winning one, but now the standard is a lot higher.

The low point of the show was the fact I missed the Best Gentleman Handler class. This came about, not by my lack of attention as usual, but because noise from a busy road drowned the tannoy at the top end of the field. The skill classes were held in the ring the pedigree dogs had their show, and I was at the adjoining ring for the novelty classes. This was a shame because I like competing in the skill classes; if you win it is because of your efforts, not just because someone likes, or dislikes your dog. Also it is a chance to show off Barney's posy walk. He has 'presence' in the showring, and did not get a chance to show himself, as we were never asked to parade in the ring at all. A bit like going to a car show with a posh car, and leaving it under a cover in the carpark.

The high point was the day itself. It was another nice day out, with friendly people, in pretty surroundings, with nothing going wrong. After an uneventful journey, I arrived near the venue coming off the motorway. I then suffered what can only be brain fade, as I forgot the simple directions I had been given, choosing instead a route signposted to a different show. The well made, pretty signs for the dog show were in the long grass, and had suffered from the overnight rain, the important one falling over. There was another arrow to a show opposite, going in a different direction. After following these signs for a few miles I realised my mistake, so asked for directions and did an about turn. I came back a slightly circular route, requiring a small part of the motorway. I turned to the direction I thought was correct, only to see the sign for the trip home. After a few seconds swearing, and a racing heart I saw another sign for the exit I wanted. What a relief, I had visions of having to go halfway home to turn back. This time there was no mistake, and we arrived at the venue after it had opened, as we would have been too early, and having seen some pretty countryside we would have missed.

Originally dog shows were to find the best example of a breed, to use as breeding stock. It is reasonable to assume others had a show for fundraising, and as such a good time was had by all, shows just for the fun of it were organized. With the prime objective being to make money, fundraising shows are usually slightly less enjoyable, as are exemption shows, as they are a practice for the pedigree people, however this show was the most enjoyable show of it's type I have attended.