THE
WORLD of dogs has its shows, its finals, its competitions
... now it truly has its own Oscars. We had it all last Saturday
night, the lights, the music, the celebs, the emotion and
underpinning the whole night, the dogs and the genuine feeling
for dogs shown by the whole audience.
Last year we all thought the launching of the Golden Bone
awards was brave, yet the organisers pulled it off with an
excellent night that met with universal approval. The writers
at the time said, how could it be bettered. Well, anyone who
was at the Radisson Hotel at Manchester Airport on Saturday
night will bear witness to the fact that it was!
Mrs
Wendy Bassant, Nancy Bassant of OUR DOGS
with fellow guests Claire Greenwood and Sue Elliott.
Taking
the text from the well produced Souvenir programme, the organisers
(The Pet Role Trust and Our Dogs together with the Susie Mathis
organisation) had wanted from the outset to raise the profile
of dogs in the media. There are too many examples of the media
at large taking the opportunity to look at the negative aspects
of dogs and dog ownership, here was the perfect forum to help
to redress the balance.
Helen
Fox of the Kennel Club pictured with Ben and Paula Reynolds-
Frost
of Luton C A which was among the final three in the best open
show catagory
...
and that’s exactly what happened as the show world met
working dogs, pet dogs met TV celebrities, Kennel Club people
mixed with Open Show organisers and exhibitors and the media
took hundreds of photos and yards of footage as one fantastic
award followed another. Some heartwarming stories had tears
in the eyes of not only the nominees, but also many members
of the audience.
The awards were again superbly lined by Kevin Horkin and Vince
Hogan whilst a massive video screen projected nominees names,
winners sponsors, logos and more. The Kennel Clubs Charitable
Trust started the night off well receiving a donation of £1000
from the pet Role Trust as Dave Cavill and Kevin Horkin presented
a ‘big’ cheque to Trustee Mike Stockman.
Sporting
his bow-tie like the rest was the famous labrador Endal
pictured here with Thomas Hogan and Mr Nick Farrugia of the
Kennel Club.
Big
thanks were given to everyone who had worked so hard to make
the night such a big success including the key supporters
Intervet and Purina Pro Plan, the Our Dogs backroom staff
and everyone who had nominated, voted, and especially those
who had bought a ticket and come on the night.
A full report of all the action will appear in next weeks
issue, but it must be said right from the outset that there
is no other event which recognised such a breadth of achievement
across the complete spectrum of dog ownership ... pedigree
and cross breed alike. It is remarkable that such a professional
and prestigious night like this has virtually ‘arrived’
on the dog scene almost overnight.
Keeping in with the law and increased security at the Radisson
Hotel is Nicola Collins
of OUR DOGS, OUR DOGS Diector Mrs Angela Cavill and Mr Kevin
Horkin -
Media Director of OUR DOGS and founder of The Pet Role Trust.
In
the light of the Kennel Clubs April think tank meeting on
how to develop dogs and dog shows for the future and to raise
awareness in dog ownership, then the National Golden Bone
Awards night deserves every accolade it gets and equally deserves
the support both of dog people and the trade next year.
Surely this event is on the fringe of being very, very big!
Mr
Dave Killilea, Mrs Marion Spavin and Dr Wayne Welch from Barbados
Mr
Ian Hardman of Bolton Town show (centre) joins in the fun
in the hotel foyer
as the Kennel Club mascot ‘Casey’ poses with dinner
guests for the camera.
Luncheon
vouchers? - that will do nicely!!!! Cynthia Payne and Chris
McArdle of OUR DOGS.
Susan
and George Reynolds chairman of Darlington Football Club,
with Troy Titus-Adams, Cynthia Payne, Kevin Horkin and Captain
Karl Cambridge
Claire
Parry-Baggott of Purina, Phil Taylor collects his food pack,
Amand Beasley and Vince Hogan Managing Director of OUR DOGS.
 |
PRINCIPAL
SUPPORTER
MAJOR SUPPORTER
|
