What's Going On
The Club organises fun events throughout the year for members to get together, many are to raise funds for new and/or replacement equipment. Some of these events are even an opportunity to get together, without our dogs, dress in other than 'dog clothes' and enjoy a social evening.
2008
~ WINTER TALK
Bea has made a provisional arrangement for a vet to come and give a talk to the Club about caring for our dogs and also to cover some topical issues. He will answer questions but needs your questions in advance of the evening. Please speak to Bea for full details of this event, and you will need to write your questions clearly on a sheet of paper, together with your name, for her to pass them on to the speaker.
~ QUIZ NIGHT : Saturday 29th November
The Charville Community Hall has been booked for the evening for a general knowledge Quiz Night. Simply, ask Bea for full and further information.
~ HAYES FETE
Due to be held on Sunday 7 September, our dog agility demonstrations had to be cancelled due to the very wet conditions and heavy rain that very morning. This cancellation was regretted as the event had been greatly enjoyed last year. (See below for a brief report on the 2007 event.)
~ THE HAVERING SHOW, ROMFORD, ESSEX : Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August
Mad About Mutts gave two, 30 minute dog agility demonstrations at the annual Havering Show, held in Harrow Lodge Park, Romford, Essex over the Bank Holiday weekend of Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August. This was a new booking for the Club and was well supported by members. We were between the Stallions of Distinctions, and the mini-powerhouses of shetland pony chariot racing!
~ innocent VILLAGE FETE : Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August
Mad About Mutts were booked again to give the dog agility demonstrations at the innocent Village Fete 2008. Held in Regents Park over the weekend of Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August, the Club by popular request this year put on three demonstrations on both the Saturday and the Sunday.
We are a much looked-out-for attraction, spectators remembering us from last year, and the crowds really love to see our dogs enjoying themselves, their continuously waging tails (our dogs, not the crowd), and their barking as they run the course and talk to us at the same time! We, once again, followed the duck herding demonstration which was quite a challenge for our collies and scent hounds! Our dogs ranged in size from German Shepherd to Pomeranian, and in ability from Rosette winners to first-timers-in-front-of-a-crowd. It was quite exciting to be recognised when walking outside the performance arena, but of course the handlers were not the famous ones but our dogs, so loved by the crowds that they were often called-out to by name. It is a very friendly event and great fun to be a part of. (See below for a brief report on the 2007 event.)
~ NICK RIDLEY, Animal Photographer : Tuesday 10 June
Bea arranged for Nick to come back to the Club's field for another photo opportunity.
Bea makes appointments throughout the day for members, and friends, to come along and have an action photo or portrait (or both) of you and your dog taken by Nick. An entry fee to this event is payable, £2 for non-members and £1 for Club Members.
At these events, you are able to chose your photograph then and there, buy it direct from Nick and, depending on the size you chose, take it home with you. Nick can also produce big prints, prints on canvas, and put photographs on mugs, on screens, on umbrellas, bags, T-shirts, etc., but special orders are sent by post after the event. (See below for a brief report on the 2007 event.)
~ DOGS TRUST, HAREFIELD : Sunday 8 June
Through Bea's volunteer work for the Dogs Trust at their West London Centre, in Harefield, Mad About Mutts was invited to take part in their annual Open Day giving dog agility demonstrations. It was a very hot Summer's day, one of the few this year, and as a result the crowds arrived in Harefield for a grand day out, at the re-homing centre. The unexpected numbers made it hard for the Centre to cope, but the dog agility demonstrations went ahead with many bowls of water being provided for our dogs afterwards.
~ UXBRIDGE GAZETTE : February
John Hugill from the Gazette visited the Club in February, with Toby Vandevelde, their Senior Photographer, who took pictures of some of the Club members and their dogs going through their paces at the Club's field. A number of Tony's photographs appear on this website.
John's article appeared in Wednesday 20 February's edition of the Gazette : "Meet the dog whisperer of Hayes".
2007
~ CHRISTMAS DISCO
Sponsored by Bea Curtis, Jess and Ben proudly presented the Mad About Mutts Dog Agility Club Christmas Disco; held on Saturday 24 November 2007 at the Charville Community Hall.
Doors opened at 7.15pm, there was a cash bar and a raffle, and the ticket price included a disco from 7.30pm 'til late, a Fish'n'Chip Supper, and, for that one night only, Emily's Cabaret.
With the proceeds from the Hayes Fete cake stall and this disco, Bea has bought two sets of low, closely spaced jumps, suitable for puppy agility but aimed at teaching dogs to know where their paws are, and also three sets of light-weight, low jumps which are used close together. Both of these pieces of equipment will be used in class to help dogs strengthen their leg muscles.
~ THE FIRST HAYES END RECREATION GROUND FETE
Held at the recreation ground along West Drayton Road on Sunday 16 September 2007, this was a low-key and local affair but an enthusiastically organised event and Bea ran two dog agility demonstration spots.
Bea had asked Club members to make cakes for a Mad About Mutts Cake Stall, which was hugely successful, raising almost £120 towards new equipment.
Club promotion leaflets were also available and 10 new people joined-up for Starter Lessons and Puppy Classes.
~ NICK RIDLEY, PHOTOGRAPHER
In July 2007, Bea arranged for the UK's Leading Dog Photographer, Nick Ridley, to come to the Club's field and take action photos of Club members' dogs. Many of these can still be viewed on his website: www.nickridley.com
Nick managed to photograph over 40 dogs in sessions Bea had organised and ran throughout the day. It was a successful, happy and rewarding day, exhausting for Bea and Nick, but everyone had at least one super photo of their dog in action to take home with them.
~ AS SEEN ON GMTV : "go betty" ~
It was with great excitement that early on the bright sun-shiny morning of Friday 3 August 2007, Bea Curtis and Club members Ray and Emily, together with their FIVE dogs (Jessie, Ben, Benji, Murphy and Tia), all headed off to London's South Bank to film a slot for GMTV.
Bea was to run the four dog agility spots at the innocent Village Fete over the two days following this broadcast, and was filmed telling Keith 'Cheggers' Chegwin all about man's best friend, and live on GMTV Cheggers had a go taking Jessie, Bea's senior dog who competes at championship level, round the course the Club had set up. Cheggers didn't do very well apparently, and his forfeit was to eat a dog biscuit.
~ THE innocent VILLAGE FETE
On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 August 2007, twenty one members of the Club, plus all their dogs, arrived at London's Regents Park to become the first ever Mad About Mutts Dog Agility Demonstration Team!
Mad About Mutts' morning spots were right after the Duck Herding, before the Maypole Dancers, and they appeared again between a Cheerleaders' Display and a Gymnastic Demonstration in the afternoons. The dogs were wonderful; it was a very hot weekend, the fete was very popular so very crowded and noisy but still the team's dogs listened to their handlers and ran the course. Bea changed the course between the morning and afternoon spots, ensuring the very supportive and enthusiastic spectators had a new show to see.
Bea says a big Thank You to all who took part, helped out and simply came along to support the Club on the day, and especially to Carol Breuer for being our ringside commentator.
There are many photographs of Club members' dogs in action on the innocent website.