DOG SHOW &
FANCY DRESS
END OF SEASON FUN AND FRIVOLITY Article by Rachel Davis
DOG SHOW
With the help of THE HERSHAM HOUNDS, this year saw the revival of the HPC Dog Show. Organisers were delighted to have over 40 dogs competing in the show and helping to raise money for this worthwhile local animal charity.
The Hersham Hounds are the kennels and sanctuary for the Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare Association. At Hersham Hounds, retired racing greyhounds wait to be adopted into a new home and family. Greyhounds make wonderful pets and adapt well to life outside the racing kennels.
On the day, entries exceeded all expectations and the dog show was chaotic fun, with entries from owners and dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes. Dogs were proudly paraded in the ring competing in five classes:
‘Prettiest Bitch’: won by Emily, a rescue bitch from Battersea Dogs Home. ‘Most Handsome Dog’: won by Toby, a veteran Crufts Champion aged 14 Years. Other titles were given for the ‘Fancy Dress, Best in Show’ and ‘The Dog the Judge would most like to take home’
The Show was great fun and got the final Sunday of the Season off to a great start.
Next THE DONS FLYBALL TEAM gave an exciting demonstration of their sport. Flyball is great fun and allows dogs (and their handlers!) to exercise both their brain and body. Flyball is a team sport and essentially a relay race and short obstacle course. The dogs really enjoy it and, after the demonstration, HPC members were invited to make a donation to the Hersham Hounds Charity and ‘Have a Go‘ with their own dogs which proved an energetic and fun way for dogs and their owners to work up a hearty appetite before lunch!
Thank you to all who helped organise the event, and to all HPC members and friends who took part.
FANCY DRESS Despite the terrible weather, in true theatrical fashion ‘The Show Must Go On’! The final Sunday of the season would not be the same without the annual Fancy Dress Parade and Chukka.
Come rain or shine, for the last twenty years the polo season at Ham has ended with the traditional mounted fancy dress contest. This year a totally eclectic and eccentric 10 a side chukka was played by members in an assortment of outfits for horse and rider chosen to catch the judge’s eye.
Before the start of the chukka the players paraded in front of the clubhouse so the panel could pick out the winners for the ‘best dressed’ competition. Geoffrey Godbold was on hand to interview the participants in his usual entertaining manner.
With great mirth, merriment and disorganised chaos it was difficult to judge, especially with such a high standard of keen entrants amongst the big kids and little kids. The winner of the junior division was Page Chamberlain dressed as a pretty Spanish Senorita making a bold red splash of colour against a rather dark and gloomy grey sky.
The winners of the ‘Big Kids’ were Lucy Dowie with her ‘Keystone Cops’, Debbie Houghton and Katie Letman in full cry, chasing a masked Alex Dowie. A close second were Freddie Ventura and Maria Elena Candilio as the Prince and Princess of Darkness.
Following the chukka with everyone a winner, celebrations continued in the clubhouse for long after polo, for a great 2010 season in London had finally drawn to a close.
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Photos: Davis Family
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