The Harden Showground freshly mowed earlier this week. Photo: Cris Whitney on Twin Towns Canine Carnival Fb Page.

The Harden Showground is home to one of the finest venue in the area for kennel clubs to gather and compete in Dog Championship Shows. 

With many events and plans for last year disrupted due to Covid-19 restrictions in place, the Harden-Murrumburrah Kennel Club is excited to play host to a total of eight shows across Saturday, Sunday and next Monday. 

This begins on Saturday with the West of the Divide Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of NSW Championship Show then the Cootamundra All Breeds Kennel Club Championships Show as well as their Open Show.

For the Cootamundra show there will be a total of seven groups and these include Toy Group, Terrier Group, Gundog Group, Hound Group, Working Dog Group, Utility Group and Non-Sporting Group. 

For the latter there is a very rare breed entered in the group, a Karelian Bear Dog. 

On Sunday will be the West of the Divide Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of NSW Championship Show and then an AM Championship Show for the Cootamundra All Breeds Kennel Club.

AM Shows are expected to kick-off from 8am.

Sunday PM will feature the South West Slopes All Breeds Kennel Club Championship Show with a total of 547 dogs entered. 

Another Championship Show by the SWS Club will take place again on Monday. 

Then making an appearance for the first time in the area is a speciality pug show by The Country NSW Pug Dog Club Championship Show.

This weekend’s event also kicks off the start of the Show season for the Harden area and more than 500 dogs have been registered to parade and compete in each show.

Harden-Murrumburrah Kennel Club President Melinda Sterrett said it will be great to have the first proper show in the area this weekend, after the year 2020 was.

“The grounds are lovely at the moment. Cris Whitney and myself have been doing a lot of work down at the grounds including mowing lawns and various other work,” Ms Sterrett said. 

“Shows like these were supposedly planned for last year before Covid impeded it and that was the end of it. It’s great that we can all get out again and have our Shows.”

The Showgrounds mowed on Tuesday. Photo: Cris Whitney on Twin Towns Canine Carnival Fb Page.

In other news, the HM Kennel Club recently secured some funds to put up permanent shelters to be utilised at the rings, in the coming weeks.

Previously, portable gazebos had to be used.

Covid restrictions similar to a few number of Shows occurring late last year will remain and this includes social distancing, hand sanitising and checking-in. 

Gazebos will be put in place for similar household relations to be gathered together. 

Anyone wishing to attend the Shows can do so by visiting the Showground office on the day and putting down their details. 

“We like to see more people come down and find out about pedigree dogs and just enjoy the commencement of dog shows in the area again,” Melinda said. 

Melinda Sterrett is also the President of the Cootamundra All Breeds Kennel Club, South West Slopes All Breeds Kennel Club and Temora All Breeds Kennel Club. 

Christopher Tan