Midlands and Northern Rhodesian Ridgeback Club
Ridgeback Rescue
Ridgeback Rescue
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The
Funday on the 1st of August was expected to be a little reserved this year
as we are in a recession and money is tight and right up until the final
week applications were very low. However on the run up to the big day the
weather picked up and the applications came flooding in.
At the usual venue of Hendwick Hall, the home of John and Cheryl Mackfall It had taken three days to get everything ready for our guests to arrive; the Lawns needed cutting and hedges trimming before we could even think about erecting the marquee and tents, thanks to Derek and Cheryl for their hard work getting everything ready and looking extra special. The food needed buying and gathering the cutlery and plates is a job on its own, but as usual Cheryl and Brenda did it again. On the day the sun shone and everything was in place and the helpers all arrived on time and we were set for a fantastic event in aid of Rhodesian Ridgeback rescue.
On
the day we all started very early with some help from friends Geoff, Phyllis
and Gillian and Jackie in the kitchen, with Cyril keeping all the food going
to the marquee on time and Marion on the Tea and coffee, with Jean and Madge
on the gate.
At about ten o'clock the guests started to arrive from all over the country and as far away as Cheshire, Nottingham, Cumbria, Northumberland, Staffordshire and Leicestershire. The car park soon began to fill and this year we had moved it to nearer to the entrance so that any flooding would not hinder our guest’s escape, which reminded us of 2007 where we learnt a valuable lesson.
The
Tombola was managed by Keith and the raffle was competently run by Julie
Robinson and "Guess the weight" was managed by Ron and Vera Swales who all
took an amazing amount of money for the good cause. The games started about
11 o'clock with Ann Gates and Alex Schofield who had set up the rings and
events the night before and made a very professional job of the whole event.
John Taylor and Ian Schofield helped manage the rings for the games and
John’s wife Margaret took the photos on the day.
The games included "Supermarket challenge" and "Agility for fun", "Doggie dribbling and Best trick" and many more. Alex and Ann also held some children's games without their dogs which are always a great success. Lunch time was at one thirty when everyone stopped to enjoy the great buffet spread that had been prepared fresh in the house kitchen, which in its self is a major task feeding 180 guests in a very short timescale.
Janice Ellis held the clubs Rescue table and sold various donated items raising much needed cash and a bric-a-brac stall was run by Val Graham and Liz. We held the regular rescue parade where rescue dogs and their well trained handlers paraded around the ring and each had the opportunity to have the dogs stories read out to the audience, some of which were very sad and brought tears everyone’s eyes. Presents were handed to each of the rescue dogs and were kindly donated and presented by Jamie Dyson.
As
in past years the one event that is always well attended is the Dog Scurry,
where each enthusiastic dog gets the chance to run as fast or slow as they
can to meet their owners about 100 yards away at the opposite end of the
straight course.
At four o'clock the heavens opened and it rained, but luckily enough this year all the games had ended and everyone was already making their way home, so it did not spoil the day.
This year ended by breaking all records not only by the numbers attending the event, which was 180, but also by the record amount of money raised for our very worthy cause which totalled £1636.13.
It was a wonderful day which could not have been held without those people mentioned above and everyone who came on the day or sent donations or gave prizes to this worthy cause. Between us all we can now rescue and re-home many Ridgebacks that have suffered or are in circumstances that need our help. With a special thanks to Jamie and Rebecca Dyson who came in at the last minute to sponsor our event and donated prizes and gifts and made the day extra special.
A big thank you to you all and we hope to see you all again in 2011.
(All photo’s courtesy of Margaret Taylor To order copies of any of the
photo’s go to
www.metphotography.co.uk/gallery_380058.html )
Acknowledgments
Donations were kindly given by:
Smile and a Song Trio.
Mr and Mrs J Purvis
Mr and Mrs Geldart.
Mrs B Webster.
Mr and Mrs Barclay.
Mr and Mrs M Hill.
M Vowles and S Fearon.
Mrs Vopicka.
Mrs J Dodsworth.
Mr and Mrs B Davis.
Mr C Hill.
Mr and Mrs A Barker.
Mrs J Robinson.
Mr and Mrs A Thompson.
Mr and Mrs P Jackson.
Mrs Angela Thompson.
Miss Gill Lawless.
Mr and Mrs R Swales.
Mr and Mrs I Stephenson.
Pedigree.
Royal Canin.