Pride Of The Peaks

[Pastiche]

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Just got back in the house and thought I'd report on my experience today.

Wet, wet, wet and, oh yea, wet.

A cracking little show with one exception, but I'll get back to that.

Thoroughly enjoyed it today even if the weather wasn't the best. The showing was busier than any show I've ever been to with some beautiful looking soggy dogs and soggier owners. Isn't it strange how we put our dogs back into the cars and cages and then stand in the rain and wind whilst our dogs are warm and dry??????

And so to the racing. Now I'm not one to call organisers and I'm sure that a lot of people put a lot of time and effort into it, however, arrived at 8 oclock after a long drive, booked in ready for the 9 oclock on the dot start. Nearly half 9 when they finally started with the unders and it soon became very obvious that it could deteriorate into chaos. The start line was defined by 1 bollard and the actual start seemed to be from wherever he fist dog stood. The lady trying to control the start area was constantly harranged by people trying to find out what was going on and this just seemed to add to the confusion. After over 1 1/2hrs the overs racing finally started and that was, as usual, game over for me and my hound.

The racing itself was it's usual great spectacle but with mutterings of discontent spreading through the competitors, and complaints that the coursing the evening before was of similar organisation I have to ask myself if I will deprive myself of sleep next year.

Congratulations to all winners ) but a thumbs down, from me, to the officials I'm afraid

 

[discobandit]

"I have to ask myself if I will deprive myself of sleep next year."

A new team will always have teething problems. This was my first visit to this show that had always had rave reviews.

I will definately be going again regardless.

You are definately right about the "wet" bit though. I think the local brew the night before numbed me against most of it (w00t)

 

[lurecha]

I am interested to know how long racing normally goes on for ??? because all the events I have been to (not many compared to the 'professional' lurcher racers lol!), from highly profitable business ventures such as lurcherworld or the midland to small 'fun and friendly' shows such as this seem to go on for the same amount of time. In fact the only difference i have noted is the 'fun and friendly' part which pride of the peaks definately had. I think it is very important that our 'sport' is open to newcomers and doesnt become a closed community with limited gene pool, small well run local shows do just that and the team involved in this one should be very proud of themselves for being so helpful and approachable to amatures such as me (w00t)

9:30 - 12:00 for sighthound, puppy, under, over and terrier races is not a bad do imo considering the amount of dogs there to run, not entirely sure of the exact number but the din at the start line indicated a decent turnout!

The coursing on Sat evening was excellent, and obviously alot of effort from the organisers was required. A minor hiccup with a loose dog or 2 which was very quickly sorted by the organisers :thumbsup:

My partner and I had a really good time and as i always say, a show is what you make it. A really good day out and next year we will be bringing our clan along too. One of the shows we will add to our calendar from now on.

One thing that may be a good idea for next time is to have parking close to the start line for the 'professionals' who turn up with a lead on each finger as some of the ladies and gents were struggling to hold their packs back from the lure! This would in turn free up the startline :thumbsup:

 

[sinderman]

i was there on the sunday had a great morning racing parked my van at the back of the start line was a lot better for my dog will go again next year

roger

 

[bones1380]

I was there on saturday for the coursing and sunday for the straight racing.

The coursing was one of the best course's i've seen(not just straight racing with some kinks). However the organisation left some to be desired( before anyone says anything NO i couldn't of done better)

The straight racing was similar, a lovely long run so the bigger dogs could at least get upto speed.

Most were very friendly and open to chat to anyone, I did notice one "gentleman" with a large white and brown dog approach a group of people, and when one of their dogs went for his he started swearing and threatening to kick her dog if she didn't take it away.

Definate potential, just a bit more organisation for the organisers...

 

[Pastiche]

"highly profitable business ventures such as lurcherworld"

I doubt any of the racing/ showing is highly profitable. Game Fairs, yes. But the people that organised the racing for this, Lurcherworld (Living Heritage) and the Midland event don't get a cut of the entrance fee to the Fair.

It's not about the money, who can complain about a couple of quid to enter. It's the organisation that I wasn't impressed with. I wasn't aware that it was a "New Team" (discobandit) but I still feel that the lady on the start line was left to try and sort out all the races, answer questions and deal with any problems with little or no help from the other organisers.

 

[NIP]

"highly profitable business ventures such as lurcherworld"I doubt any of the racing/ showing is highly profitable. Game Fairs, yes. But the people that organised the racing for this, Lurcherworld (Living Heritage) and the Midland event don't get a cut of the entrance fee to the Fair.

It's not about the money, who can complain about a couple of quid to enter. It's the organisation that I wasn't impressed with. I wasn't aware that it was a "New Team" (discobandit) but I still feel that the lady on the start line was left to try and sort out all the races, answer questions and deal with any problems with little or no help from the other organisers.

As one of the Organisers I think some facts need to be stated. The few people that run 'Pride of the Peaks' are ALL also on the Hartington Sports Committee, so as well as organising this huge Lurcher & Terrier Championship we also have an active role in all the other sections of the sports. Until this year we ran all the racing events for the Lurchers & Terriers but it was decided that we should request help from others to ease the stress this time, so an Ad was put out on this website to see if anyone was interested in doing so. We had a response from a newly formed group called 'Moonlight Lurcher Event Team' (see website) who kindly offered to come and run all our Racing events. With which they did, and in my opinion did a very good job for their first outing, The Coursing on the Saturday was one of the best courses I've seen for a while, plenty of bends and long enough to test the best dog's stamina, and again on the Sunday a good, long straight track with a distance you don't get very often. They also returned ALL the money taken to put towards the Sports Committees various charity's. So I'd say if you want to keep these events alive for the benefit of yourselves, your dog's and others then what is needed is full SUPPORT. A huge thankyou to the team and to you all who came and supported us in the awful weather and we hope to see you again next year! Full results and Photos soon. :thumbsup:

 

[grasscutters]

Went to the peaks got there early saturday afternoon booked my dog in for the coursing.What a fantastic course

also a fantastic turn out.My dog got knocked out, so i stayed and watched there was one dog that caught my eye and

god it could course it was a fawn bitch very powerful with a very small lass. After a few runs if there was betting going on i would of had my money on her.What a fantastic dog i even heard people asking the young lass, when she was going to breed her as they wanted a pup.I want ONE (w00t) .The next day yet another great turn out more dogs than i have ever seen at a show.Whata track it must of been 270yrds or more .It had even been topped out the same as the coursing had. The way it was run was great to 2 out of each heat to then make a 4 dog final.Ive got togive them all credit as in the unders I counted at least 8 heats the same for the overs and they managed to get them all done by 12 pm. So well doneto all especailly the 2 lure drivers they were fantastic :thumbsup: keeping that lure right under them dogs noses.For your first event it went verywell and i will defo becoming to more events that you do in the future :thumbsup: .Well done to all

winners in the racing and showing :thumbsup:

Bert )

 

[pocket rocket]

Went to the peaks got there early saturday afternoon booked my dog in for the coursing.What a fantastic coursealso a fantastic turn out.My dog got knocked out, so i stayed and watched there was one dog that caught my eye and

god it could course it was a fawn bitch very powerful with a very small lass. After a few runs if there was betting going on i would of had my money on her.What a fantastic dog i even heard people asking the young lass, when she was going to breed her as they wanted a pup.I want ONE (w00t) .The next day yet another great turn out more dogs than i have ever seen at a show.Whata track it must of been 270yrds or more .It had even been topped out the same as the coursing had. The way it was run was great to 2 out of each heat to then make a 4 dog final.Ive got togive them all credit as in the unders I counted at least 8 heats the same for the overs and they managed to get them all done by 12 pm. So well doneto all especailly the 2 lure drivers they were fantastic :thumbsup: keeping that lure right under them dogs noses.For your first event it went verywell and i will defo becoming to more events that you do in the future :thumbsup: .Well done to all

winners in the racing and showing :thumbsup:

Bert )

thanks every much for your comment about our lara. she went on to win the coursing (w00t) our son was over the moon with her as she is his dog and she has done us all proud

sarah and paul (w00t) :teehee: (w00t)