(Updated 9/4/01)
Border Union show cancels
but others will go ahead as planned! IKC announces 'all Ireland' resumption
by Bernie Lovitt
THE COMMITTEE of the canine section of the Border Union Agricultural Society
has decided to cancel its popular championship show held at the picturesque
Springwood Park, Kelso. The decision was made last week after OUR DOGS went
to press making this the first general championship show in Scotland to fall.
A statement from the society issued last Monday read:-
“After long and detailed discussion, the members of Border Union Dog Show
committee have decided, with great regret, to cancel their Championship Show
on 16-17 June 2001.
“Consideration was given to the interests of our exhibitors, our contractors,
the trade stands and caterers, the town of Kelso and above all, the farmers.
We are honoured to be a section of an old-established and well-respected Agricultural
Society; we are grateful to the Agricultural Society for its original sponsorship
of our show, and for its continuing support. We are in the heart of one of the
finest livestock breeding and rearing areas in the country, the home of many
superb flocks and herds of historic as well as commercial importance.
“We felt that we could not take the risk of promoting an event which might
be the means of introducing Foot & Mouth disease to a area which, at the
time of writing is plague-free. It does not seem as if the daily total of new
cases is beginning to abate yet - in fact, quite the opposite. Along with the
increasing virulence of the outbreak, we had to consider the very tight time
schedule for show preparation: even in a normal year, we do not have a day’s
leeway here and there, far less a week or two, so it was essential to come to
a positive decision before we had gone too far down the road of preparation.
“We are aware that there will be substantial knock-on effects from the
cancellation; those affected include hotels and B&Bs, camp and caravan sites
and hirers, local shops and services, trade stands, specialist contractors,
and, by no means least the exhibitors. These are not insignificant effects,
but we feel that they are well outweighed by the potential damage to agriculture,
damage to agriculture, the industry which is still the foundation of the economy
of South Scotland.
Loyal
“Exhibitors (especially those seeking CCs and JW points) and those who
simply enjoy a good day out at a dog show will inevitably be disappointed. We
express our sincere regret to them, and look forward to their loyal support
continuing in happier circumstances in 2002. This pestilence will pass and there
will be other dog shows.”
Last Thursday week members of the Scottish Kennel Club heard that plans for
the representative May show were well in hand although the decision to proceed
was under constant review.
In an effort to maintain its normal spring show the Working & Pastoral Breeds
Association of Wales hopes to announce a new date soon.
Birmingham National remains optimistic about next week’s show at the NEC
which has attracted 11733 dogs making 12312 entries compared to 13,220 and 15,155
in 2000.
The Irish Kennel Club has indicated a normal resumption of show activities from
May 1st should there be no further outbreaks of Foot & Mouth in Eire. But
exclusions will apply to UK exhibitors as long as the Foot & Mouth Disease
spread continues. It is likely that the postponed IKC St Patrick’s Day
show will go ahead on May 6th & 7th - the Sunday and Monday of the Mayday
Bank Holiday weekend although this has yet to be confirmed. The Irish Kennel
Club press release issued last Tuesday said: “Following a recent meeting
and ongoing negotiations with the Department of Agriculture, all licences issued
by the Irish Kennel Club remain suspended until 30th April 2001.
“As and from 1st May 2001 Dog Shows may resume on an All Ireland basis
ONLY subject to: Department of Agriculture restrictions regarding exhibitors.
Department of Agriculture restrictions regarding venues. Department of Agriculture
procedures regarding Northern Ireland exhibitors. Department of Agriculture
precautionary procedures. All being in place and published to all exhibitors.
“Details of these restrictions and procedures will be sent to all Show
Secretaries within the next two weeks.
“ALL OF THE ABOVE IS SUBJECT TO THERE BEING NO CHANGE IN THE SITUATION
WITH FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN ANY PART OF IRELAND.”
The announcement comes as Irish horses were amongst those runners declared for
the Aintree meeting this weekend.
The general championship shows in July have issued schedules indicating their
plans to go ahead. A top level meeting at the Harewood Estate last week gave
Leeds Championship show a green light to post schedules to last year’s
exhibitors.
In a press release elsewhere in this week’s issue an offer of part use
of a venue comes from Essex Dog Display Team. Their ‘All About Dogs’
event is being staged at The Brentwood Centre Showground, Doddinghurst Road,
Brentwood on Sunday 13th May. The event is being held in an area that the Borough
Council has designated a canine exercise area.
The Essex Dog Display Team and Training Centre has hired the 58 acre site for
the weekend, Roy Dyer, Display Team Director, said that he is very much aware
of the disappointment that ‘doggie’ people and the public are experiencing
because of cancelled events.
Therefore the display team has very generously offered free space to any club/society
that is in need of a venue. By careful planning of the showground, space being
made available would be ample for up to 20 agility, obedience or show rings,
plus a large area for car parking.
There would be no objection if two club’s applied and wished to work alongside
each other. The showground, which is just two miles from junction 28 of the
M25, would be available for ring preparations from Thursday 10th May.
Any club applying must have adequate Public Liability Insurance. Roy Dyer on
01277-226624 has details.
APRIL 7 - NATIONAL TERRIER - STAFFORD
THE SHOW has been postponed due to the current Foot & Mouth crisis. The
Show will now be held on Sunday August 12th. Mrs Monica Shuttleworth comments:
“Our Officers and Committee would like to thank all Exhibitors who entered
our Championship show which was scheduled to take place on Saturday 7 April,
also for their understanding whilst we are in the process of re-organising the
show for Sunday August 12th.
“New schedules will be with you shortly, accompanied by a letter giving
various options to meet with your requirements.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Kennel Club for their
tremendous help and guidance throughout this difficult period.”
APRIL 12-14 - BIRMINGHAM DOG SHOW SOCIETY
NEC, BIRMINGHAM
Chairman, Eric Smethurst said last Monday: “Unless the NEC is placed within
an exclusion zone it is planned that the National Dog Show, Birmingham will
go ahead on the agreed dates, following consultation with our veterinary advisors”.
APRIL 14 HOUND ASSOC. OF SCOTLAND -
EDINBURGH
SHOW CANCELLED.
APRIL 21 - WORKING BREEDS & PASTORAL ASSOC. OF WALES -
BUILTH WELLS
THE SHOW has been postponed until later in the year. An announcement is expected
after Easter.
APRIL 27 - WELKS - MALVERN
SHOW CANCELLED.
MAY 19-20 - SKC - EDINBURGH
THE SCOTTISH Kennel Club has announced that it intends to go ahead with the
May Championship Show as planned. This also applies to the Open Agility Test
and Competitions as well as the Top Dog Event.
A special meeting of the Finance and Administration Committee was called to
discuss the implications of the Foot & Mouth Disease outbreak and the change
of date for Crufts. The decision took account of the fact that the date of the
show is over two months away and the arrangements with the Royal Highland Agricultural
Society for the lease of Ingliston remain unchanged.
The view is taken that exhibitors may welcome the opportunity of this. Representative
show to give their dogs an outing immediately prior to Crufts. It is appreciated,
however, that some owners may have been holding back from entering in view of
the present uncertainty and, with this in mind, the closing date for entries
has been extended to Tuesday 17th April (postmarked).
Scottish shows licensed by the Kennel Club which decide to cancel are asked
to inform the SKC offices as soon as possible.
MAY 25-28 - (RE-SCHEDULED DATE) - CRUFTS
NEC, BIRMINGHAM
JUNE 1-3 - SOUTHERN COUNTIES - CRAWLEY
The Association intends to go ahead with its Championship Show unless forbidden
to do so my MAFF. Anyone who has entered but unfortunately finds themselves
within 3 miles of an outbreak should refrain from attending and under those
circumstances the exhibitor’s entry fees will be refunded.
A downloadable schedule and entry form can be found at: http://www.southerncountiesdogshow.co.uk.
Full details of location, judging times and any other special arrangements will
be sent out with passes.
Salukis will be judged by Nicola Quadling and Giant Schnauzers by Len Anness.
Schedules will be available at Birmingham National.
JUNE 7-10 (RE-SCHEDULED DATE) BATH CANINE SOCIETY - BATH
The closing date for entries is now 24th April. Commenting on the change of
show dates Gillian Waring said: “I would like to sincerely thank all the
judges and exhibitors for standing by us at such a difficult time”.
JUNE 11-14 - THREE COUNTIES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY - MALVERN
ORGANISERS ARE promising would-be exhibitors a full refund on entry fees should
the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease take its toll on the event.
The Three Counties Agricultural Society is urging dog-owners to submit entry
forms for the Three Counties Championship Dog Show (11 - 14 June), before the
1 May deadline, safe in the knowledge that they will be reimbursed if the show
does not go ahead as planned.
The society is currently acting on advice from the Ministry of Agriculture Food
and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Environmental Health Officer, and all animal events
scheduled to take place at its Malvern Showground home in March have been either
cancelled or postponed.
The situation is constantly under review.
Dog Show Secretary, Anne Bathurst commented: “Last year’s Show attracted
more than 8000 dogs from all over the country, and although entries for 2001
are beginning to come in, people are naturally concerned about the impact of
foot and mouth, particularly in the light of the decision to postpone Crufts.
“We hope that the disease will soon be under control, and that we can look
forward to another successful event. In the meantime, we want to encourage dog-owners
to submit their entry forms as normal, and assure them that they will not be
out of pocket if the worst should happen”.
JUNE 16-17 - BORDER UNION AS - KELSO
SHOW CANCELLED. After long and detailed discussion, the members of Border Union
Dog Show Committee have decided, with great regret, to cancel their Championship
Show on 16/17 June 2001.
Consideration was given to the interests of our exhibitors, our contractors,
the trade stands and caterers, the town of Kelso and above all, the farmers.
We are honoured to be a section of an old-established and well-respected Agricultural
Society; we are grateful to the Agricultural Society for its original sponsorship
of our Show, and for its continuing support. We are in the heart of one of the
finest livestock breeding and rearing areas in the country, the home of many
superb flocks and herds of historic as well as commercial importance. We felt
that we could not take the risk of promoting an event which might be the means
of introducing foot-and-mouth disease to an area which, at the time of writing,
is plague-free. It does not seem as if the daily total of new cases is beginning
to abate yet - in fact, quite the opposite. Along with the increasing virulence
of the outbreak, we had to consider the very tight time schedule for Show preparation:
even in a normal year, we do not have a day’s leeway here and there, far
less a week or two, so it was essential to come to a positive decision before
we had gone too far down the road of preparation.
We are aware that there will be substantial knock-on effects from the cancellation;
those affected include hotels and B&Bs, camp and caravan sites and hirers,
local shops and services, trade stands, specialist contractors, damage to agriculture,
the industry which is still the foundation of the economy of South Scotland.
Exhibitors (especially those seeking CCs and JW points) and those who simply
enjoy a good day out at a dog show will inevitably be disappointed. We express
our sincere regret to them, and look forward to their loyal support continuing
in happier circumstances in 2002. This pestilence will pass and there will be
other dog shows.
JUNE 22-24 - BLACKPOOL CS - WESTBY, BLACKPOOL
AT A recent meeting the Committee of Blackpool & DCS decided to proceed
with their Championship Show at the end of June.
The Committee have taken advice from all quarters and discussed the whole situation
in great detail. The ultimate
decision to proceed with caution is obviously subject to the progress of the
Foot & Mouth situation and any developments either way. Should the show
be able to take place, as we all hope, every precaution will be taken in terms
of disinfectant etc.
Further announcements will be made in due course but for now all last year’s
exhibitors have been sent schedules from our printers, Canine Information Directory.
Because of the delay due to the Foot & Mouth problem, the Committee have
decided that it would be expedient for all exhibitors to send entries direct
to Canine Information Directory marked ‘Blackpool entries’. Their
full address and contact details are as follows: Mike & Joy Robins, CID
Blackpool Entries, George House, 60 Nithsdale Avenue, Market Harborough, Leicester,
LE16 9PE.
Tel/Fax: 01858-433404.
JUNE 29-30 JULY 1 - WINDSOR DOG SHOW SOCIETY
PLANS ARE in hand for the show to be held as usual in Home Park, Windsor. We
understand schedules for the show will be available shortly.
JULY 5-8 - SWKA, CHEPSTOW
THE SECRETARY, Isobel Dyke said: “At the moment we are still going ahead
with the show. Schedules will be posted to last year’s exhibitor at the
end of the week”.
JULY 11-13 - PAIGNTON & DISTRICT FANCIERS’ ASSOC, EXETER
THE SECRETARY Ann Hodsoll said: “The show will be going ahead at the moment,
but should we have to cancel in the future, all entry fees will be returned.
Schedules to last year’s exhibitors have already been posted”.
JULY 17-19 - EAST OF ENGLAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, PETERBOROUGH
THE SECRETARY, Pearl Crocker said: “At this time we have every intention
of running the show in July. The schedules have already been posted to last
year’s exhibitors, but should anyone need a schedule please contact me
on 01733 234451 asking for the Dog Show Office.
The closing date for entries has been extended to Wednesday 30th May”.
JULY 21ST - NATIONAL WORKING & PASTORAL BREEDS CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW, MALVERN
NO DECISION has as yet been made. Secretary Ann Arch said: “We are keeping
the matter under constant review, and liaising with the venue.
“No schedules have as yet been printed, and we thank Kitchener Printers
for agreeing to work to extremely tight time constraints should we be able to
go ahead. A decision will be made after May 16th, so please don’t call
for information, as we can’t give answers at present!”
JULY 28-30 - LEEDS CITY & DCA, HAREWOOD HOUSE
THE SECRETARY, Liz Stannard said: “Leeds are definitely going ahead with
the show as Harewood House opened to the public last weekend. They have taken
all livestock off the ground so there is no chance of Foot & Mouth being
brought into the ground. Schedules are already starting to go out”.