Old dogs with new tricks roll back years at fayre

VETERAN dogs shone at this year’s dog show at Remenham Fayre.

More than 100 owners and their dogs attended the event, which took place outside the parish hall last Sunday.

Before the show took place, residents enjoyed a myriad of stalls on the grass, which sold bric-a-brac items including vinyls, teddy bears and DVDs.

Henley Literary Festival set up a gazebo which sold books by authors at this year’s event for £2.

Other attractions included traditional fair games such as a coconut shy, splat the rat and bean bag toss.

Children could take part in crown making, using glue, felt-tip pens and sequins or get their face painted.

Burgers and hot dogs were sold and a total of £2,000 was raised for the ongoing maintenance of the parish hall.

Dogs could take part in three categories, including fabulous fellow, loveliest lady and best trick. While on a leash controlled by their owners, the dogs paraded within a circle of hay bales, while onlookers watched and cheered on.

Nine dogs took part in the most fabulous fellas contest, including a 13-year-old dachshund called Jasper and three black Labradors.

Gizmo, a 14-year-old Pomeranian owned by Lindsey, won the most fabulous fella category.

Eloise Pascoe, four, from Henley, is neighbours with Gizmo, whom she and her sisters Gabi, seven and Apolline, nine, have adopted as their own. “I am really proud of Gizmo,” she said. “We met him a few months ago and our neighbour, Alan, invites us to a lot of parties where we play with him.”

Bessie, a nine-year-old mini Schnauzer cross poodle, won the loveliest lady category. Georgina Lewis, 81, from Hambleden, said she takes good care of her. She said: “She has turned out to be the best thing that’s ever happened. She’s my baby and is well looked after.”

Ms Lewis said she didn’t expect her to win. She said: “We went to church in Hambleden in the morning, as my granddaughter is getting married there, and when we left, Bessie was saying goodbye to everyone.

“She had her head on their laps and one person said ‘I bet she wins’, and I told them to stop being silly but she is such a good girl and I am so proud of her.”

During the best trick category, a corgi called Luna sang happy birthday while others jumped through their human companions’ arms.

Boni, a one-and-a-half-year-old Parson Russell Terrier from Reading Road in Henley, won in the best trick category.

Her owners Theo Davies-Lewis, 27, and Gabrielle Woodward, 27, were walking in Remenham when they realised there was a dog show on and entered at the last minute.

Boni performed by walking on Gabrielle’s feet in the centre of hay bales, which were set up in a circle.

Residents also took part in a mini horticultural show where they could be judged in four categories, fruit and vegetables, floral design, baking and cooking and arts and crafts.

Kelly Cleaver, 33, a housekeeper, won a cup for her fruit and vegetables category.

Madeline Duffy won for her floral design, Ann Burley won for her baking and cooking and Mya Binney won in the arts and crafts category.

The afternoon finished with a tug-of-war contest with children and adults on either side.

Bill Ronald, chairman of Remenham Parish Council, said: “Remenham Fayre is a highlight of the annual calendar in the parish. It brings young and old together for lots of fun with a few competitive activities thrown in.

“The dog show is always a highlight because there are a few wayward dogs that don’t do as they’re supposed to do. As cliché as it is, everyone is a winner at Remenham Fayre.”