NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2021
NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2021
After nearly 18 months of online activities the long awaited 2021 Fun Weekend held on 17th and 18th July, at the Drax Sports and Social Club, Selby, North Yorkshire did not disappoint. Drax is a new venue for the Club following many years of holding this event in the southern half of the country and the new venue fulfilled all our needs also giving our more northerly members the chance to attend with a shorter journey.
Around 100 members and friends attended over the two days, with plenty going on to entertain and educate. The weather forecast was for a very hot weekend, and for once this was accurate. Changes were made to the programme, and competition on the Saturday afternoon was abandoned when high temperatures made it unsafe for even our heat loving breed to be out of the shade. In the end, all the planned activities took place, but some for not quite as long as had been planned. Members who had not seen each other for over 12 months took advantage of the shady tree lined areas to sit and chat for an hour or so which was a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon!
We were delighted to welcome several Trade stands for the first time, some of which are run by members. They added enormously to the atmosphere, and we have received very positive feedback both about products purchased on the weekend, and also the chance to sample and see the wares before ordering online in the future.
The results of Saturday’s Activities:
Racing: 1st Onyx Minnikin 2nd Sheldon Walker 3rd Vinnie Plant
Flyball: 1st Bert Cooper 2nd Diesel Jones 3rd Mr D Olbinson
Rally (Judge: Mrs Jane Ferguson):1st Grace Olbinson 2nd Tilda Thurlow 3rd Kita Thurlow 4th Otto Sharpe
Obedience (Judge: Mrs Helen Fletcher): Novice: 1st Tilda Thurlow 2nd Blue Wicker 3rd Ziggy Hart
Open: 1st Tilda Thurlow 2nd Briar Walker 3rd Pixie Walker
Game 1 (Golden Horseshoe Steeplechase): 1st Kaz & Roxy 2nd Darren & Bruce 3rd Paul & Ruby
Game 2 (Manchester Mayhem): 1st Chris & Phoebe 2nd Tom & Belle 3rd Mike & DJ
Fancy Dress (Judge: Ms Ellen Barraclough): 1st Violet & Zircon (Woody and Bullseye) 2nd Paul & Ruby (Batman and Robin) 3rd Ruth & Amber (All dressed up and no place to go).
Later in the afternoon an informative slide show and talk by BMTC member and Vet Sinéad Bennett on Pet First Aid was held in a lovely cool Clubhouse. This was very well attended, and included signs to look for should your pet be in difficulty, also tips on being aware and documenting what is normal for your own dog, such as monitoring your dog’s normal resting breathing rate and heart rate giving an early indication that your pet may be unwell, and also of when things are returning to normal. A lively Q & A session followed. We would like to thank Sinéad for this contribution to the Fun Weekend, and congratulate her on winning Reserve Best Puppy with Clodagh the following day – at her first show!
In the evening we had a sit-down Carvery meal in the Clubhouse for around 70 members, which had to be waitress rather than the planned self-service due to the extended Covid restrictions. Quizzes provided some head scratching and following the meal there was an Auction with all proceeds donated to Friends of Manchester Terriers. We are so grateful to BMTC members who every year generously give items for the Auction, both historical and modern-day items MT related and non-MT related, there really was something for everyone to bid on. The total raised was an amazing £359.
Sunday started early with the KC Good Citizen Tests, postponed from Saturday, with our examiner Debra Adderley kindly re-scheduling her diary so that no dogs had to work in excessive heat. We were delighted that all the candidates passed with flying colours, so Well Done to:
Bronze: Simon Brasher with Emma.
Silver: Lesley Olbinson with Grace, Christy Straughan with Poppy, Judy Thurlow with Tilda.
Finally, with an opportunity for less experienced handlers and their dogs to have some tuition beforehand, the Club Open Show judged by Jane Goodwin (Holtaire) took place. A good entry provided keen competition with the top winners being:
Best In Show – Saxton’s CH Rattustrap Bitter’n Twisted (AI) AnCH
Res Best In Show – Barlow’s Talanors Time For Magic
Best Puppy – Knight’s Talanors Destiny Angel
Best Veteran – Saxton’s CH/Ir CH Rattustrap Imperial Red JW
Both the management at Drax and the flyball team ‘Focus’ who use the venue as their training base made us very welcome and we are indebted to ‘Focus’ for their help and generosity that contributed so much to making the weekend a resounding success.
Club Members have been having success in competitions now that things have started to open up again. Congratulations to Bethany Cawley and Lollie for winning the Veteran Terrier Group at Bath Championship Show and Manchesters Re-United for winning the Hatchford Brook Heat in Obreedience.
The BMTC have been pleased to resume Breed Stand attendance at Country and Game Fairs throughout the country. More are booked for 2021 including Living Heritage at Sandringham, Newbury and Leicester, the Malvern Autumn Show and Discover Dogs at Excel. If you are interested in volunteering to help out on the stand check the website for more details: https://www.british-manchester-terrier-club.co.uk/promoting-the-breed.
We are delighted to announce that that Nicola J Williams BSc (hons), PhD, Professor of Bacterial Zoonotic Disease and Deputy Executive Dean, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool andSinéad Bennett BSc (Hons) BVM&S MRCVS have joined the BMTC Health Committee. Currently Renal Failure is a major concern and the BMTC is actively supporting avenues of research to investigate the cause. Too many young dogs are dying from Renal Failure, and it cannot be stressed too strongly that full disclosure is needed from breeders and owners when a dog is found to be suffering from this disease. It is more important than ever that we are able to look openly with honesty and clarity at all the factors when a young dog becomes ill with this disease, one of which is breeding lines. Sadly, it is not just the UK that has this problem, overseas dogs are equally affected, and we must help each other to find answers. All information given to a Health Committee member will be treated professionally and with the utmost confidentiality. Meaningful research will cost a great deal of money, and through generous donations both of money and tissue samples we have been able to make a strong start. We do have ideas for fundraising events for the future, but finding answers is likely to be a long and expensive struggle and one that affects the Manchester Terrier community as a whole. Updates will be published as they become available.
The KC have granted permission for the BMTC to hold the cancelled 2020 Club Championship show which will be held in conjunction with the 2022 Open show on Saturday 26th February 2022. Unfortunately, Mr Paul Eardley is unable to fulfil his appointment until 2023 due to prior judging appointments. Mr. Mark Walshaw is also unable to fulfil his appointment until 2024. Mr Eardley’s and Mr Walshaw’s appointments will therefore be deferred until 2023 and 2024 respectively, meaning the membership will have the opportunity to nominate a judge for the 2020 and 2022 Club Championship Show appointments and vote at the 2021 AGM.
Finally, some dates for your Diary:
9th October 2021 BMTC Championship Show, Shenstone Village Hall WS14 0LT. Judge: Ms E Saxton (Special Classes Judge: Mrs D Church).
14th November 2021 BMTC 2021 AGM, Shenstone Village Hall WS14 0LT.
26th February 2022 BMTC Open Show, Shenstone Village Hall WS14 0LT. Judge: Miss L Olbinson and 2020 BMTC Championship Show (Judge to be decided at the 2021 AGM).
15th – 17th July 2022 BMTC Fun Weekend Drax Sports and Social Club, N Yorkshire.
15th October 2022 BMTC Ch Show, Shenstone Village Hall WS14 0LT. (Judge to be decided at 2021 AGM)