Newfoundland Extravaganza 2016

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The Northern Newfoundland Club’s Extravaganza weekend at Billing Aquadrome, near Northampton was a brilliant weekend, well attended by Newfie people and large crowds of the general public and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

On Saturday and Sunday the NNC Rother Valley Working Group entertained the large crowds at the lake side with fun packed Newfoundland water demonstrations set to Music. The weather was stormy on Saturday but fortunately Rother finished their hugely entertaining water demonstration showing Newfoundlands in their natural element before the thunder, lightning and torrential rain began.

Lots of the public watched the amazing display and a special draw was the chance for children (suitably clad in life jackets) to be towed by a newfie in a boat.

We all enjoyed the sun on Sunday once more for the water activities. Vinnie Whiting did a superb job as compere, telling the public about the breed and introducing the individual dogs and members taking part in the display. The dogs looked amazing in their brightly coloured life jackets and certainly did the breed proud, showing the special life saving skills for which the breed is renowned. The water demonstration was a masterclass showing how Newfoundlands and their handlers work together as a team in the water, and many Newfoundland owners who had never seen water work were totally amazed by the skill involved. Show people were also staggered by the abilities of both dogs and handlers - as one said "I have never been so proud to own a Newfoundland as I am today." We saw dogs working together, towing multiple people and rescuing “drowning” volunteers. It was especially impressive to watch very young children working with the dogs in the water. We owe a huge vote of thanks to everyone who supported the event especially the Grangewater Group from Essex , led by Amanda Arnold and Karen Wells, whose rally/obedience ring was a great success with lots of dogs having a go, some more than once to see if they could improve ! Grangewater are not a NNC group so we were especially delighted by their support. Thanks also to another helper, Greg Roffe from the East Anglian Working Newfoundlands.

The whole event was masterminded and organised by two NNC Main Committee members, Stella Baxter and Rose Evans, and Vinnie Whiting from the NNC Working Sub Committee and the Rother Group. Marquees, trade stands, rosettes, prizes, caravan accommodation, car park passes, setting up the show ring , the grooming seminar tent, booking lunches, a disco and barbecue for Saturday night, a rally ring, and lake preparation were all sorted in advance by these Three Musketeers supported by the NNC working members and Main Committee. On Saturday we enjoyed a Grooming Seminar where the Club Chairman Mr John Lloyd shared his grooming skills . He worked on a black bitch and a Landseer male, and it was fascinating to watch the different approaches to grooming a black and a Landseer. There were lots of questions and discussion.

The NNC Companion Show in aid of RNLI and NNC Welfare was really well supported , with lots of owners and different breeds ( rottweilers, spaniels and dachshunds). The JHA Class was well supported. The judge Lee Jackson, helped by his able steward Liz Shears, gave Best in Show to the Landseer dog Carlos Cancrimo. Reserve Best in Show was Bearcove Sea Storm at Bownbears. Best Puppy in Show was Excalibur’s Lady of the Lake Newfoundland hills.

Lots of other activities took place during the weekend . We were pleased to welcome three veterinary experts to talk to us about key health issues which affect Newfoundlands. Naomi Andrews spoke on Behaviour and Socialisation, Rachel James on Cardiology and Dutch Professor Hazewinkle on Elbow dysplasia. It was a privilege to listen to their findings and concerns and advice for breeders.

The Hogroast and barbecue on Saturday night was a great success. A special celebration was held for 4 members’ 60th birthdays and 2 members’ 50th birthdays. Champagne and cake were followed by a disco live band which apparantly only dispersed in the early hours of Sunday morning because people needed to get up to start again on events early on Sunday.

Also a note of thanks to all the volunteers who manned the Welfare, novelties stalls and barbecue team who worked so hard over the 2 days.

The Extravaganza was a huge success and the NNC wish to thank everyone (members and non members) for their support, hard work, generosity and massive commitment. An event like this can only happen when people work together for the good of the breed - we are proud that so many of you gave up your time and energies to make this possible.

You are very special people!

Finally, a huge thank you to Paul Dodd for his wonderful photography. It is so great to see amazing photos after the event and to be able to share them in the Newfletter . This year we even got a spread in Our Dogs courtesy of Paul’s new appointment as a photographer for the paper.

Credits: Thanks to Jill Barker, Honorary Secretary for the report of the weekend & Paul Dodd for all the wonderful photographs.