updated 8th May 2023, to see pictures of the winning cairns, see below
click here (link takes you to CTCV website)
We woke up to a wet and cloudy Melbourne so I was very pleased to have shopped for trousers!
Our car collected us at 0830 and as this was our last night in Melbourne (or so we thought…) we pack up and moved out!
The show was held at the KCC which for my non Australian friends is a purpose built showground. The KCC hosts all manner of dog sports and of course caters for every breed. It is 75 acres of dog facilities!
for more info on the KCC click here
As we drove in we went past the permanently set up outside show area and then dog exercise areas which were securely fenced so your dogs could run free. That might be quite the thing for UK shows to have. I would gladly pay for my dogs to have a session of free running at the end of a show day – they would have such fun! Although, I think the ones at the KCC were free.
We found our way inside the shed. The Australians idea of a shed is an aircraft hanger sized building. A shed to me is a small 6 ft x 8ft wooden structure that I keep my garden tools in. Not a venue the size of a hall at the NEC!
I understand that the structure (the shed) was built by funds all raised by the users of the dog area around it and in the early days it was just a roof with no sides. People purchased bricks to infill the sides and “the shed” was complete. It provided a great venue for the days proceedings. We were set up in one corner of the shed and everyone had their cages and trolleys around the ring, no different to shows in the UK.
Australians have a points system for winning a Champion title, more on that here (scroll down to find the champions setion)
There were certificates to be signed – see the photos below – they are very different to the CC’s awarded back in the UK and are signed in advance, not afterwards. Nor does the judge complete them that is left to the show admin team who also have to work out the points. That’s great for me! I would still be there working out the math!
We had time to look at the tables full of rosettes and prizes for all of today’s winners – see the pictures below, there were rosettes, vet bed, poop scoops, treats and pictures to be won by all the main winners
Each placed dog won a ribbon 1st place is blue, 2nd red and white 3rd. Of course, that different to the UK where red is 1st! I nearly got that wrong several times!
Below is a photo of one of the rosettes that I took out. They were made by Stuart Payne and if anyone wants his details, let me know. I know now that he makes the best rosettes. He has made me another set for when I judge in France later this year.
I wrote a critique for the 1st 3 placed dogs in each class and will work on that over the next few days, hopefully getting it to the CTCV by the weekend.
My Best in Show is pictured below and is owned by Miss J E Wangler. Her name is Ch Kalan Wild Thyme. Her owner told me that she is a Glengettie grand daughter. That won’t mean much to people outside of Cairn Terriers but to those who know, then you know! I won’t go on too much about this bitch here but suffice to say she is beautiful! Thanks to her owner for bringing her under me.
After judging we had time to chat to exhibitors and of course there was the awards ceremony too! Handing out all the prizes to the winners was very enjoyable.
And then it was over. I think I had been invited to judge this show back in 2018, so after 5 years of waiting, planning and changing those plans the event had finally happened. It was great fun, I judged some wonderful Cairns and had a day with like minded people – it was great! Thank you to the Officers and committee, the exhibitors and of course most of all the Cairns.
We left KCC headed for the hotel back at Melbourne airport. Due to poor weather into Sydney, our 8pm Sunday night flight had been cancelled so we booked back in to the Park Hotel at the airport and planned to get up at 5am to catch our 06:30 rearranged flight to Sydney.
We arrived at the airport at 05:15 (The other half and I can get up and get out very quickly! I think it has something to do with him being an ex fireman LOL) As we went through the airport doors a message came through, our 06:30 flight had been cancelled to 15:00!
There were a few choice words spoken and then we resigned ourselves to setting up camp in the airport for the day! Its a good job we had kept this Monday as a free day with no plans! Lots of flights have been cancelled due to extreme weather. Its now 5 to 12 so only a couple of hours to go! Still the dog show critique is half done and the people watching has been great! Now what is for lunch….
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