Doggy delight at Helmsdale in first show since 2019

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The sun came out in Helmsdale on Saturday, July 29, and so did the dogs – 42 of them!, writes Sarah Kerr

Helmsdale Village Hub, part of Connecting Communities, held its first Helmsdale Dog Show since 2019 with over 100 people from Wick to Invergordon taking part.

Competitors went up against each other in categories including Best Pedigree, Best Rescue, Best Veteran and Best in Show.

Judges were Samantha Stark and Tez Reany from Home Pet Care & Dog Training, Tain, who had a tough job also deciding which dog had the most appealing eyes and waggiest tail.

Best in Show this year went to Magnus the Dogue de Bordeaux who travelled from Wick with his owner Kimberley Spiers and family. Coming a close second was Bandit the Husky/German Shepherd who was accompanied by his owner Morag MacPherson from Helmsdale.

During the event dog trainer Sarah Smith from Tain gave an amazing ‘Strictly Come Barking’ demonstration to show how it is possible to successfully train dogs. Dogs also had their recall times put to the test during the show.

A range of stall holders attended to sell their locally produced goods in the community centre hall and Dinner To Your Door staff were on hand to serve soup, sweet and hot drinks.

Wendy Simmonds, project lead for the Helmsdale Village Hub, said: "It’s been the most popular dog show we’ve organised to date and raised over £1,000 which is so important for the hub at this time when costs of everything have risen so much both for us and our members.

"We are so grateful to everyone who came along on the day and to everyone else who gave support, including Easter Ross Vets for their sponsorship and Helmsdale Games Committee and the rowing club for allowing us to use their equipment.

"Hopefully the dog show can now return to being an annual event for us."

WINNERS

Best Pedigree

1st: Freya the German Shepherd

2nd: Gracie the Springer Spaniel, owner David Baines from Brora

3rd: Magnus the Dogue de Bordeaux, owner Kimberley Spiers from Wick

Best Cross Breed

1st: Hamish the cross, owner Tina Baines from Brora

2nd: Endal the Springador, owner Tani Richardson from Invergordon

3rd: Bertie the Cairnland, owner Sally Read from Brora

Best Small Dog

1st: Piper the Border Collie, owner Sharon Murray

2nd: Spotie the Kintradwell Foss, owner Gillian Stephenson from Helmsdale

3rd: Bonnie the Cocker Spaniel, owner Kirsty Bogue from Helmsdale

Best Large Dog

1st: Magnus the Dogue de Bordeaux, owner Kimberley Spiers from Wick

2nd: Schnola the Giant Schnauzer, owner Caroline Gilchrist from Dornoch

3rd: Otto the Bearded Collie x German Shepherd, owner Ben Jones from Helmsdale

Best Veteran

1st: Bandit the Husky x German Shepherd, owner Morag MacPherson from Helmsdale

2nd: Adi the Romanian Crossbreed, owner Angela Henderson form Dunbeath

Joint 3rd: Max the Labrador, owner Jackie Ferguson from Helmsdale / Tag the Border Collie, owner Augusta Hutt from Dunbeath

Best Rescue

1st: Holly the Jug, owner Jackie Ferguson from Helmsdale

2nd: Schnola the Giant Schnauzer, owner Caroline Gilchrist from Dornoch

3rd: Bandit the Husky x German Shepherd, owner Morag MacPherson from Helmsdale

Best in Show

Winner: Magnus the Dogue de Bordeaux, owner Kimberley Spiers from Wick

Runner up: Bandit the Husky x German Shepherd, owner Morag MacPherson from Helmsdale

Most Appealing Eyes

1st: Bandit the Husky x German Shepherd, owner Morag MacPherson from Helmsdale

2nd: Jessie the Lurcher, owner Stefan Jeufl from Brora

3rd: Freya the German Shepherd

Waggiest Tail

1st: Gracie the Springer Spaniel, owner David Baines from Brora

2nd: Archie the Cairn Terrier, owner Robin Macleod from Helmsdale

3rd: Endal the Springador, owner Tani Richardson from Invergordon

Best Biscuit Catcher

1st: Kobe the Pug, owner Jordan from Dunbeath

2nd: Skye the Border Collie, owner Karen Meikle from Brora

3rd: Shylo, owner Melanie Ross from Helmsdale

Best 6 Legs

1st: Poppy the Cocker Spaniel, owner Emily Wells from Alness

2nd: Spotle the Kintradwell Foss, owner Gillian Stephenson from Helmsdale

3rd: Skye the Border Collie, owner Karen Meikle from Brora

Dog Judge Would Most Life to Take Home

1st: Bracken the Labrador, owner Donna Sutherland from Latheronwheel

2nd: Freya the German Shepherd

3rd: Magnus the Dogue de Bordeaux, owner Kimberley Spiers from Wick

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