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Yarmouth Gorleston and DCS show, only to no gazebos, cages, cordons were planned and
avail. She arranged a two day show in Norfolk local police booked for the event to keep up with
trying hard not to clash with others trying to do the changing social distance laws. Breed clubs
the same, but show organisers were running out were supporting, exhibitors were sponsoring,
of weekends. Other shows were falling by the K9 News were covering along with live updates,
wayside due to the virus and in her own words rosettes ordered, caterers booked, trade stands
was ” holding her breath “. Blackpoool show invited, face masks, plastic screens, stickers,
also changed their dates but after a massive cordon tape ordered. Not to mention 400 dogs
brave effort they realised it was pointless trying were entered within the first day! Fosse Data
to push on. Jacky changed her dates twice as Systems were brilliant keeping updates regular.
Blackpool were changing theirs. Then it was
made immediate to move not only the date but Yet all this to no avail….it had to cancel. The
also the show ground. reason for the cancellation was at the same
time the Yarmouth show was planned local
Jacky and the organisers were running out of TV and papers were running a story of a local
weekends. As other shows were changing their poultry factory having contracted Covid -19.
dates this rippled on through other organisers The number of virus cases was on the increase.
ducking and diving to find weekends free and Norfolk, Norwich, Yarmouth workers were now
venues that were not clashing. Sheringham and being taken to work by minibus. This went
District KA cancelled so Jacky took the venue. viral. Meanwhile show entries kept coming in
She also held back online and postal entires by the 100s, some breeds had 40 entries! The
to cut down refunds if they were needed. Local organisers were holding their breath this whole
authorities were on speed dial to keep track of time, then the call they dreaded came….The
Government changes. Risk assessments went venue could no longer hold responsibility or
ahead and updated daily to keep up with the support the Dog show due do the virus - game
forever changing guidelines. over.
It was urgent, she needed to arrange plans of After lengthly discussion the venue was not
the new grounds, acceptable social distancing, going to change their minds and the show, like
many others in UK, was going to have to cancel.
They had three weeks before the show, far too
late for another venue to be organised.The
disappointment was endless.
Then came the long list of calls to cancel
everyone and the whole thing was over, Jacky
and organisers were left heartbroken. The
thanks they say are to everyone who helped
along with the endless messages of support.
The disappointment is for themselves and the
exhibitors as they tried to get back to some sort
of normality and “do what we all love”. Sadly this
his message is all too frequent these days.
And then there is the dogs themselves. Many
cases of owners not able to get their puppies
and juniors out for the first time to show. Dog
imports who were stuck in Europe with no
training. Import/export dog couriers putting
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / OCTOBER 2020
