Eastern Ontario Labrador Breeders Association

Back to Back Specialty Shows
Saturday September 14, 2019 and Sunday September 15, 2019

2019 Specialty Show Chair’s Report

2019 Shows are a wrap!!!

It was absolutely wonderful to see everyone out at our shows. The entry was fantastic and we are seeing more faces which is wonderful. Even more wonderful is the quality of the dogs we’re seeing. As many of you know, I do show a fair bit stateside and am happy to say that Canadians’ breeding programs are right up there with our U.S. colleague Breeders’. A big congratulations to all the winners, both from America and Canada. Just a really lovely array of dogs of all colours; it was an eye candy buffet!

First and foremost, thank you to all the exhibitors. I know how selective we sometimes have to be in our travelling and entry budgets, and we’re thankful you chose to enter our shows. I hope you enjoyed them and will be back. Again, a hearty thanks to all of our sponsors, both class sponsors and corporate sponsors alike. With your donations, our silent auction table and the draw for the showlead were a huge success. Thanks to all who generously bid and bought tickets, congrats to all who won in the bidding and to Julie Ellis who won the showlead, slipped it on Kiera’s neck and went in for Specials and it became her lucky lead, and she won Best of Opposite with her beautiful girl.

Congratulations to ALL the winners and all those in the ribbons, on both days.

The weather was a bit of a challenge, we went from brutal hot weather last year to a much cooler weekend, Saturday was a challenge due to the extreme winds, which made ribbons and paperwork blow off, we all ran for many silent auction sheets that even Scotch brand tape couldn’t always hold down on the tables. Thankfully the last minute booking for the lunchroom paid off as there’s no way we could have set the lunch outside on Saturday. It caused a few logistical issues, getting folks to and from the room and kept me away from some of the show Saturday morning as I was in the building, but thankfully my DIL Erin was able to come and help finish setting it up and to watch the room until the lunch break. Sunday, (naturally the barebones day) dawned just lovely and was the picture perfect Fall morning for a specialty. Just the kind we’d hoped for when moving to a Fall specialty. We did see some rain right about time for Best of Breed, but the dogs didn’t seem to mind and there wasn’t much wind, luckily.

I continued to receive extremely positive feedback about the venue and its convenience, ease of parking and set up for exhibitors and its facilities as well as central location.

I cannot thank John Sharp of Royal Canin enough for his unending support. They provided the wonderful ringside tent and the excellent food prizing throughout the show. We truly appreciate their support and look forward to keeping them as a major part of our winning team.

Thank you to all who kindly contributed snacks and cookies, etc, they made the show even yummier.

To the workers who helped set up and take down, Carol and Peter Brech, John Sharp, Chantelle Bennet and Harold deGroot, my sincere gratitude. To Jennifer Anderson, our ribbon chair extraordinaire (and Treasurer) and to Dawn van Nostrand, Trophy Chair (and Secretary), for taking the class sponsorships and for all the wonderful prizes, Sharon Harris for looking after the silent auction, thank you for your contributions.

Ring Steward Carol Brech kept everyone in their place and kept the show going smoothly, with the help of Peter Brech, who in addition to standing as our Show Superintendent, also helped to pass the ribbons and prizes to Carol and to hold the entire show down so everything didn’t blow away to Kansas. Like last year, they were a big help to me in terms of loading and unloading the vehicles of show supplies. Harold deGroot is the very best errand manager and both days transported the lunch over when I said “when” and picked up the sandwich trays, etc. It really takes a team to put on a successful show and I am so fortunate to have a great team. Thanks also go to Show Secretary Pat Hunt.

And last but not least, our wonderful judges. I have received many very positive comments on how enjoyable folks found showing to Sweeps judge Charlotte Ryan and both specialty judges, Pierry McLean and Jackie Mischou. The entry drawn, both days, is a testament to the respect folks in the Labrador community have for them and that was a definite asset to our shows. I truly enjoyed our weekend and our Saturday evening dinner and visit. The judges went above and beyond in their flexibility and generosity regarding travel arrangements and made it so easy for me. EOLBA long time friend and supporter Fil Craver kindly volunteered his time and picked Jackie up in Syracuse and brought her to Napanee and then returned her on Sunday. Without all of these examples of help and teamwork, we could not put on these shows and we are truly grateful to you all

Hope to see you again next year!

Linda Wyatt-deGroot

President & Show Chair, EOLBA