22.02.2011: Miss Kathleen Bennett (Tregargus)

I learnt this weekend of the passing of another of our breed enthusiasts.
Kathleen Bennett had spent her last years in a nursing home and I do not believe she had family. Her Tregargus cockers were well known on the Cornwall show seen for many years. She was a supporter of the Cornwall Gundog Club and, for a brief period at the beginning of the new century, President of our Club.

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06.03.2011: Report from the AGM held at Culm Valley Sports Centre, Cullompton

Chairman:
The Club has had a very mixed year with both it's events as usual making money but with the increase in costs of attending shows, the championship show, our main source of income, suffered a significant drop in entries and did not make its usual profits. This would mean a dip into the Club's funds during the next two years to support base expenditure of around £800.00p. We will have to be sensible with expenditure, organise further events and call on our members to support us whilst the economy is in this difficult phase.

We have sadly lost three of our senior members this year -George and Joyce Caddy and Kathleen Bennett. However in the same year, on the occasion of our Ch Show, we had the honour of celebrating the 90th birthday of our President, Kathleen Heath -still an active member of the Club

Our Committee and Officers must once again be thanked for the hard work and dedication they have given to the Club and it's events. I would especially like to thank Wendy Cullen for the work she does in organising the catering for exhibitors and judges; also Chris Pearn, who has decided to stand down this year.

I wish you all good luck for the forthcoming year and look forward to seeing you at all our events.

Secretary:
So far as activities are concerned the Club has had a relatively quiet year, with the Open Show in May and Championship Show in November. Both events were not unsuccessful financially, although it has to be said that the entry to the Champion Show was very much reduced, with the consequence that profits were considerably less than expected.

The finances of the Club are very much geared to a two year cycle, with income from the Championship Show relied upon to balance the books and provide a profit to cover the running costs of the Club over that two year period. The consequence of the reduced income from the Ch Show this year means that not only do the accounts show a loss for this year, but an overall loss over the two year period. However, the Club funds are healthy and able to cover the costs, although we would not wish to see this repeated on any kind of regular basis.

Having said that, the events held in the last years have seldom made a loss and this is down to the hard work of the Committee and support of the membership and exhibitors, who are to be commended.

The Club has a good reputation and the exhibitors, and indeed the workers, usually enjoy the friendly atmosphere of our Shows.

I would like to encourage members to let us have any ideas for future activities.

You will all be aware of the Club's website, which is now well established, and updated regularly. Schedules and other information is available for download and members are encouraged to contribute.

I hope we will be able to schedule extra activities during the coming year.

On a sad note, members may be aware that we have recently lost George and Joyce Caddy, who were founder members and Patrons of the Club. Both contributed a great part of their lives to the breed and their knowledge, experience and support will be missed. We have also heard of the passing of Kathleen Bennett of the Tregargus cockers -she was well known in Cornwall and the West Country and, for a brief period in the early part of the century, President of our Club.

Finally, I must thank the Committee and Officers for their hard work and support during the past year and particularly mention Chris Pearn, who has made a good contribution during her time on the Committee but has now decided to stand down.

Thank you all and good luck in the coming year.

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07.05.2011: Results of the Cocker of The Year and Cocker Puppy of The Year competition for the year 2010-2011 can be seen HERE

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09.07.2011: Report and photos from our successful Companion Show held at Calverleigh in aid of St Margaret's Church, Tempeton, Nr Tiverton, can be found HERE