Burgh Beautiful

 Working towards a
 Greener, Brighter Linlithgow

Fun Dog Show - 6th May 2006
Sheila Ashby

The Burgh Beautiful 'Family Fun Day Dog Show' at Linlithgow Palace Peel on Saturday hailed a 'great success'

Burgh Beautiful's campaign to enhance the environment of Linlithgow got a major boost on Saturday (May 6th) when its first ever Family Fun Day Dog Show at the Peel raised over £500.

Show organiser Sheila Ashby said:

 " The response to the show was amazing we had about 200 entries into the nine fun dog classes. The judging was very difficult with so many excellent entries but it was marvellous to see so many happy dogs and their handlers having a great time". 

Billed as 'definitely not Crufts', the dog show featured contests such as;

  • 'Best Junior Handler' - which was won by Jennifer Clelland with Blackjack
  • 'Best Biscuit Catcher' and 'Best Six Legs' (four canine, two human)
  • 'Best Black Bitch' in Linlithgow whichwas won by Bramble, a Labrador, handler Hannah Johnston.
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In the run up to the Dog Show, Burgh Beautiful organised a poster competition among primary schools to promote 'The Happy and Healthy Dog Guide'.  'Again we had a really remarkable number of entries for this', said Sheila Ashby.  'No fewer than 434 children submitted posters and it was very difficult indeed for the judges to pick winners because they were all so good'. The prizes for the poster competition were presented by Fiona Hyslop, the Lothians MSP, and Alan Hodge, The Community Police Officer for Linlithgow.

There were some big attractions that included a parade by the Greyhound Awareness League and an impressive display of obedience, agility and responsiveness by dogs belonging to members of the Crieff Dog Club. One of the most popular features was 'Hug a Husky' and more than 20 huskies were there, thanks to the Snow Peak Siberian Husky Team.

The show also featured special entertainment for children such as face painting, merry-go-round rides and a bouncy castle. More than 20 Air Cadets helped set up the show on the Peel and organised the various stalls, which attracted a lot of interest, around the Cross that ran in conjunction with the dog show.

Burgh Beautiful also organised a successful plant stall. 'We are very grateful to Historic Scotland for allowing us to hold the show on the Peel', said Joyce Paterson, chair of the Burgh Beautiful Steering Group 'and we also greatly appreciate the support of those who sponsored the show - Bubbles Bathrooms, West Port Veterinary Clinic, Healthy Hounds, Linlithgow Pet Shop, Mackie & Brechin Veterinary Clinic, Wags & Whiskers and Tesco Stores Limited.

The Family Fun Day Dog Show was so successful that we have already had requests to make it an annual event and we will certainly consider this.

Burgh Beautiful promotes community based activities that encourages civic pride and this event certainly proved there is 'Civic Pride in Linlithgow' due to the lack of litter evident at the end of the day.

Burgh Beautiful is entering Linlithgow in the Beautiful Scotland in Bloom competition this year for the first time.  'The money raised by our dog show will be a big help in paying for our ambitious programme of planting and other enhancements', said Joyce Paterson.

Prizewinners:

The Dog Class Winners Were:

Best Pup: 1st Keira, Jamie McLean, 2nd Lucie, Alison Pattinger, 3rd Delli,Janet Stirling, 4th Mcassy, Natalie Johnson.

Best Rescue:1st Brodie ,Emma Burke, 2nd Hayley, Kristen Lambert, 3rd Mollie, Claire Molaity, 4th Libby, Peter Cochcroft

Waggiest Tail: 1st Oscar, David and Tom Jamieson, 2nd Mollie, Lynsey Fellis 3rd Travis, John Macartney, 4th Black Jack, Jennifer Clelland.

Best 6 Legs: 1st Glen, Laurie Grant, 2nd Tara, Claire Steyert 3rd, Paris Raymond Henderson, 4th Bramble, Adam Cruickshank.

Golden Oldie: 1st Buchan, Mary Sydeserff, 2nd Bonnie and Lady, Jackie & Alan McNab, 3rd Ella, Christine Watt, 4th Heidi, Ken Wilmot.

Best Biscuit Catcher: 1st Jet, Derval Hire, 2nd Cassie, Sara Broch, 3rd Tara, Lorna Davis, 4th Molly, Annie Lawrie.

Best Junior Handler: 1st Blackjack, Jennifer Clelland, 2nd Jack, Nicole Daly, 3rd Lola, Liam Coutts, 4th Libby, Peter Cochroft.

Best Black Bitch: 1st Bramble, Hannah Johnston, 2nd Bracken, Fiona Lawson, 3rd Charlie, Lewis Staines, 4th Yoyo, C Addy.

Happy & Healthy Dog: 1st Meg, Jill McNair, 2nd Hamish, Siobhan Herd, 3rd Libby, Martin Cockcroft, 4th Oscar, Christie Jamieson.

Poster competition winners:

Stuart Brown, Sophie Hollingsworth, James Stephen, Emma McNair, Amy Smith, Jennifer Cleland, Lewis Small & Rhonwen Smith, Natalie Ward, Matthew (St. Joseph's), Alistair Wilson, Cameron McAndrew.

Burgh Beautiful would like to thank our following sponsors: Bubbles Bathrooms for our rosettes and Poster competition prizes, West Port Veterinary Clinic, Healthy Hounds, Linlithgow Pet Shop, Mackie & Brechin Veterinary Clinic and Wags & Whiskers for our wonderful prizes and Tesco Stores Limited for our refreshments. As event organiser I would also like to lots of people but especially the following: Nicholas Leonard for his excellent commentating, Ewan and Bridget for bringing their Huskies & their Samoyeds friends, Brian from the Crieff Dog Display Team for their wonderful display, Carol MacLeod and Esther for the GALS parades, our judges: Graham Cameron, Sheilagh Kirk, Monica Lobacs and Lara Ceglia and our Steward, Sonia. Also thanks go to the Air Cadets for all their help and Historic Scotland for the Peel.

  

Anyone with an interest in getting involved in 'Burgh Beautiful' can get in touch by e-mailing burgh-beautiful@lct.org.uk