Babbington Hall CMC Show - Nottingham

The Showring!

Rosettes from Babbington Hall

Organizing a show is a daunting experience, but a rewarding one. It involves lots of hard work, something that is missed by people who only attend as competitors. I have organized 3 in the past, with a great deal of help from my friends in the CMC club. I'm pleased to say they were successful, and now I find I enjoy and appreciate shows a lot more, and am inclined to be a little more tolerant of any difficulties that occur.

This show was the last CMC show I will attend before SCAMPS in 2 weeks. It was held about 45 miles away, in the general direction of the EGLS we attended. I know most of the way, only needing to navigate the last few miles. I had prepared a route, had looked at the map, and familiarized myself with this last portion; however I found a glitch in the plan, as my mental image was far removed from the real thing, and I forgot to take the map. I got lost. Not too far I'll grant you, but despite retracing my steps I couldn't find the right road. I stopped and asked an old gent walking a dog. He had never heard of the place, despite only living a few miles away. I tried a different route, seeing a sign for a road number I was trying to find. Asking again I was given some better directions, this person having heard of the place. I was also asked by his old mother to admire his new car. In the UK the number plates have new lettering and this was one of the first on the road. I hope I didn't offend her as I've no real interest. I admire someone who has looked after and used a car for 20 years far more than someone who has bought a new one...but that's another story.

Following his directions to the next small town I stopped to ask at a petrol station. Now I know I'm in Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire and once again proved this must be one of the friendliest places on Earth. The young lady cashier couldn't have been more helpful, knowing of Babbington Hall and was going to draw a map, when the old gent she was serving said if I followed him, he would lead me to the roundabout from which it was signposted.

With grateful thanks, including silent ones I was soon on the right road, and arrived to a friendly welcome from all. A short while earlier I had even contemplated not finding it, and going home or spending the day somewhere else. Apparently the signs had been put up the previous evening, and most had been ripped down. On returning home I found out some people had actually not found the venue and had gone home, although why they didn't ask for directions is beyond me.

This venue was another dog sanctuary, and they make the most perfect place to hold a dog show. Very similar to the EGLS, this was a rural setting in a secluded place, in a field without the usual cow-pats offered by other countryside venues. By their very nature of often working voluntarily to help these poor unfortunate dogs, the staff are the friendliest, nicest people you would wish to meet. If only these people populated the world, however today our world was.

After some friendly introduction to our host for the day, and greetings to people we know, the show started; slightly before time catching me unprepared, which saw me dashing (well what replaces my dashing nowadays) back to the van for grooming brush and clip for the competitors number card. I groomed him in the ring, noticing only 5 dogs in his SCAMPS heat, instead of the 20 or so we have come to expect. We were awarded with 1/3rd, his first place in a SCAMPS heat. When I got him several people led me to believe we were going to win lots of these. Even today when I left the ring a woman said Barney should have won, as he was the best dog in there....still 2 from last is better isn't it.

There were only 5 classes for us to enter, SCAMPS, 2 show and 2 novelty classes, with the novelty classes being open to pedigrees as well, as this was a Crossbreed and Mongrel Club show. We were not placed in any of the show classes, let alone a win, so no Best In Show today, but I filled the interval between classes by taking part in the fastest recall and retrieve, and the Good Dog Test. The fastest recall was ok, but he didn't really get out of second gear, let alone into top. I did the retrieve for a bit of fun. He sat, galloped down and grabbed the training dummie I took for the retrieve article, but then stopped half way back, coming slowly and stopping infuriatingly about 6 inches from the line. I think our time of several minutes was too slow for even last place :)

Now the Good Dog Test. The one I had taken the other week was a little test, which gained you a certificate if you reached the required standard. This one was a competition, although I didn't know that at the time. The aim is to see how obedient your dog is in the natural state - when you are out for a walk in the park. You must carry a poo bag, which you are asked to present at some stage. There is a gate in the ring, a little piece of equipment. You have to walk through it as if you are entering a park or garden. Your dog must wait to let you through, and follow you through when told without pulling you about. Walking round the short course, marked by canes, you are asked to stop on occasion; to answer a simple question about dog welfare; to examine teeth, ears, eyes and feet. During this time your dog must stand, or sit, or lie quietly while you carry out your conversation. You have a simple test where you have to leave your dog. Today they had arranged a bag of shopping which was spilled onto the ground. You had to leave your dog in the down, and retrieve the shopping, dropped by the imaginary old lady. Lastly they had arranged some distractions on the ground; we had to walk through 2 short lines of toys and food on the ground, keeping your dog with you without towing it along, or stopping it with the lead. And that was it. Leaving the ring I was disappointed, as I had not known it was a competition, and thought I had done something wrong. Liz, our friend, CMC chairman and Barney's Godmother was judging it, but I knew Judges preference would do us no favours here, quite the reverse in fact. She has always made sure there is no favouritism, one reason the club is so successful.

I had found some locals with dogs attending, and spent a pleasant time chatting about all sorts, including our beloved dogs. The show was not dragging, but there was quite a wait for our next class, Most Appealing Eyes. I went into the ring of almost 30 dogs and the judge walked round with a hamburger shaped squeaky toy. My new acquaintances said Barney looked at her as if to say 'what an earth is she doing'. Whether this was a puzzled, or condescending, or demeaning, or judgmental, or resigned, or disdainful expression, I'll never know. However it must have been the right one because she gave us first place.

We were in the last class which as always is the dog the judge most likes. As usual nearly all the dogs were entered, and also a quick decision was made, as everyone has their favourites, and no one wants to waste time at the end of a show.

Standing at the ringside I was called over, and surprised to receive first place in the Good Dog Test, shortly afterwards winning fastest recall for Lurchers. The latter was a rather hollow victory though, as only 2 had taken part, however it may be said the Good Dog Test was an obedience test, if a simple one, and so he has now won obedience. We had been asked to walk around as if on a walk in the park, and that is exactly what we did. For once I had listened to the judge, and followed instructions, which resulted in our first place.

So we came home from what has to be the most enjoyable show we have been to this year. Why was that: The most wins; yes, but we've had higher places as we've had 2 show wins and a reserve best in show: The nicest venue; yes, because it was a rural setting with a mown grass area, in a field with no cow pats; and no noisy road as at EGLS: The nicest weather; probably, hot sun subdued by high cloud, but warm enough for summer clothes: The friendliest people; as good as any.

A perfect day? No but good enough to come close.