August Bank Holidays can often be pretty dire. Usually it rains… this year was definitely going to be different.

Faccombe’s lovely Pub, the Jack Russell, was having a summer hog roast and BBQ from 3.00 pm. There were to be bands and singers performing from their patio. In the adjacent field was a mobile cocktail bar, an ice cream van, a bouncy castle and even face painting for the kids.

With Chairman Ken Rolfe at the helm, Kintbury’s committee had devised a whole series of “fun” challenges suitable for humans of every age and their dogs of any variety. We would start Kintbury dog frivolities at 11.00 with participants expected from all directions. The pub goers, with their own dogs, would be made very welcome after they’d had their delicious pub lunches. A wonderful, combined event.

So far, this summer had been very hot. We definitely needed to plan shade so it was organised that our cars could be parked under trees. There was a shady tented area for the admin staff, and plenty of drinking water for the dogs. Each challenge had been roped off and there were tables, chairs and signs for everything. Big tick.

A considerable amount of setting up had been done in advance. Some committee members and other volunteers from Faccombe had been extremely busy. Those giant bales don’t lift themselves.. thank you Bobby!

To participate, small tickets were sold @£1 each on the day. Treasurer Mark Piotrowski had the cash tin and card reader. People could buy as many tickets as they wished, handing one over for each challenge that they chose to have a go at. And they had a fantastic choice! There was the ever popular, straightforward scurry. Seen dummy thrown, dog sent out and back over bale jumps and against the clock. Jo Prater had the stop watch on this one. Nearby there was a sausage and spoon race – exactly like an egg and spoon but if you dropped the sausage your dog might eat it… game over! Next to that was a super obstacle race that involved going under / through a tunnel.

Proving very popular was the coconut shy but the “coconuts” were items that had different values. Human was to knock down a coconut with a dummy then send the dog… who might pick and choose what to bring back (or run off with). Some dogs helped themselves to a different prize straight off the shelf.

In the far corner of the field was a challenge to see how far a human could throw a dummy. Wow – there were some mighty throws! Andrew Robinson looked unbeatable… not sure if he was.

My favourite challenge was a test of steadiness. The handler had to sit on a chair under a raised platform that had a bucket of water balanced upon it. Their dog had to sit a little way in front of them, remaining 100% stationary in that defined area. Then the handler threw half a dozen tennis balls past the dog’s nose. If the dog moved, it tripped a wire (string) which tipped the bucket… emptying it’s contents over the handler’s head. Several people were thoroughly doused. Youngsters, in particular, loved this one. For the more sensitive souls, and ladies with perfect hair, we allowed the bucket to be empty.

Skinners kindly sponsored this event and provided food and treats for dogs taking part.

On sale were dummies, whistles and lanyards and last, but not least, there was a raffle where first prize was a meal for two in the Pub. Overall the day was brilliant. Smiles and wagging sterns everywhere. Thank you to everyone that attended.

Well done Kintbury Team Terrific!!