RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK WELFARE TRUST AUTUMN NEWS

PEGGY WILSON 2   WEATHER 0
Twice this year, the weather has tried to stop the redoubtable Peggy Wilson from raising money for the RRWT. It chose the wrong person, for twice it has failed.

In August, the heavens opened early on the morning of her first Car Boot Sale and in October there was a tropical downpour on the day of her annual Autumn Companion Dog Show, which reduced the number of dogs attending from over 100 to about 40.   Nevertheless, between them, the two events raised over £600. Our thanks and congratulations go to Peggy and to everyone who braved the elements and helped on the two days. We salute you all.

RECORD BREAKING RIDGEBACK RENDEZVOUS
The 100 plus people who came to the first Ridgeback Rendezvous enjoyed a delightful venue, thanks to Peta Babcock, lovely weather and an exciting variety of things to do on a sunny day out in the company of like minded people and, of course, their dogs. Congratulations are due to Hilary Maddox who, with her band of helpers, organised the day and our thanks go to everyone who contributed in any way towards the record breaking profit of a little over £1500. It was certainly a day to remember.

NEW RRWT TRUSTEES
The RRWT is delighted to welcome three new Trustees, Mick O’Reardon, Ellen and Richard Watts, who were all elected at the Trustees’ meeting in September.   They each bring with them individual skills and enthusiasm which will be invaluable to the Trust’s work and their appointment will also bring about a significant lowering of our average age!

RRWT 2009 CALENDARS
RRWT  2009 Calendars, the only calendars sold in the UK in aid of Ridgeback welfare, are now on sale at £7.75 each including post & packing (UK excluding Channel Islands – all other destinations £8.75). Please send your cheque to Peter Jones, Lower Cottage, Greete, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 3BX.

CHIEVELEY RALLY

July 2008 showed you just can’t keep a determined Ridgeback owner down.  
The day of the RRWT Chieveley Rally (and the British Grand Prix and Men’s Finals at Wimbledon) dawned WET but, despite that, 75 people and their Ridgebacks (real and honorary) shoehorned themselves into Chieveley Village Hall to enjoy an outdoor event indoors. And enjoy themselves they certainly did, with everyone determined to have a good time.  
The barbeque had to be cooked in the kitchen (thanks, Barrie and Carol) and most of the energetic outdoor activities had to be replaced with more sedate indoor ones, but no-one seemed to mind a bit.

For the record, Boots was the Dog with the Waggiest Tail, Katie had the Greyest Muzzle and Most Appealing Eyes and the judge, Scilla Jones, wanted to take Zimbi home with her.   Bella won the Bikkie Catching Competition and became the first to be awarded the new Ziggy Trophy for the year, given to the Trust by June and Trevor Smith in memory of their old Ziggy, star of many a Rally.

It was a day of outstanding generosity – we had a mass of gifts for the raffle, a basket of assorted wines and a hand made dog bed between them raised over £250 towards a record total of just over £1000 and at the end of the day a packet of crisps (OK it was quite a big one) was sold for £5!

RIDGEBACK JAMBOREE

Three weeks later, the weather problem was rather different as the first Ridgeback Jamboree got under way on what must have been the hottest day of the year so far. The new day of fun, in a field kindly loaned by the Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary, started with a treasure hunt, closely followed by the Lounge Dog Competition in a purpose built outdoor “lounge”.   Entrants scored points for successfully meeting a series of challenges including ignoring a sandwich for the duration of the test, sitting and ignoring a rabbit running across the room, waiting while the handler left the room for 10 seconds and speaking on command.

A super, warm weather lunch was put on by Barrie and Carol before we embarked on the T-shirt and Sausage Race. This involved putting on a T-shirt whilst holding on to your dog, weaving through a series of buckets containing sausages (if you think it’s easy, you try it!) putting the T-shirt on your dog and returning through the buckets to the start.

By this time, the scorching heat began to take its toll and many retreated to the shade of the hedge, rather than continue with the planned programme of puissance, lure coursing, hunt the custard tart etc.   But all agreed it had been a great day out and departed late in the afternoon, looking forward to next year’s Jamboree.   Thanks go to Trevor Smith, his team of helpers and everyone who came.

THE NEW RRWT WEBSITE

Take a look at our brand new website, which has been re-designed and brought up to date by Web Designer Susan Clayborough (www.spellmakerdesign.no). She has done a wonderful job to create an easily navigated and appealing site with enchanting photographs. From now on it will be kept fully up to date as a living website, with news as it breaks, including of course up to date information on Ridgebacks looking for a home.   In the two weeks since it was launched, it has had no fewer than 510 hits and has already helped to re-home two dogs.   To take a look, go to www.rhodesianridgebackwelfaretrust.com.

Peter Jones
9^th August, 2008