Dunbar’s Fun Dog Show was a great success with 48 canine entrants and approximately 200 people in attendance on a gloriously warm and sunny evening at Winterfield Park. The event organisers, Friends of Winterfield, had a display stand in the show tent and were on hand to discuss plans and ideas for the park. Tom Anderson provided vintage photographs of Winterfield in its heyday which provided a good talking point for many of the show’s visitors; both young and old. Guide Dogs for the Blind were represented and offered information on their work with volunteer puppy walkers. Dog Watch gave away freebies and advice on their current anti dog-fouling campaign. Dunbar In Bloom and the Lochend Woodland Trust were also represented. Catering for hungry visitors were The Garden Path Cafe and ice creams were sold from Sunny Sundaes bicycle. Prizes for the show were donated by Mrs Maureen Blair and The Westport Petshop, Dunbar.
The evening began with a display of dog agility provided by K9 Adventures and some very fit volunteers who put their dogs through their paces over jumps and through tunnels. All the dog classes were well attended with a full class of 20 dogs in the adult dog show class. The final class for “Best in Show” saw the top three dogs from each class in the ring for a final showing. “Best in Show” was won by senior (aged 8+) Sierra, seen with her keeper Rosalind Srivastava (fifth from the left, beside the show Judge, retired vet, Pam Meldrum MRCVS). Just as the competitors left the ring, the heavens released a torrential rain shower and the show tent filled with people as the rain hammered down on the canvas overhead. It made a spectacular end to a superbly entertaining evening.
I think, given the surprising support we received, that we’ll consider repeating the event next year. Winterfield and Dunbar’s Public Park has proven to be a great venue for community events. It’s obvious how well loved the parks are from the people we talked to.
