Yes, it’s hard to believe, but it’s been a year since the last one, so this weekend we drove up to Nottingham for the third annual RGT Great Greyhound Gathering.
I wrote about the Great Greyhound Gathering last year. It’s held on the Nottingham racecourse, which provides plenty of parking, and even a ready made show ring in the form of the paddock, complete with white rails and everything. Looks quite spiffy.
There’s a parade of Pets As Therapy greyhounds coming out of the ring -they make great therapy dogs! I was a little bit sad watching them, though, because if only The Princess were still with me, she’d have been in there proudly strutting her stuff, too.
Oh well. Maybe Sid will be able to join in next year if he passes his assessment.
Anyway. Since the Gathering is all about the Retired Greyhound Trust’s work in re-homing ex-racing greyhounds, many of the stands belong to the various RGT branches which sell various greyhound goodies, each with their own spin on the extras. One had ‘Great Greyhound Gathering’ tee shirts. Kama’s Cave (RGT East Anglia) had hand-made martingale collars in beautiful jacquard fabrics, and collar tassels to match.
Yet another had greyhound shaped shortbread cookies. Sadly, mine didn’t survive the ride home. Poor greyhound cookies. I opened up the bags and fitted them back together for the photo, but there were broken legs, broken back … and they both had broken necks.  Still tasted good, though!
The trade stands all had real, live, greyhounds, too, but this one went further - their greyhounds were enthroned on a display unit! A matching set of black and whites.
And see that man walking on, stage left? He was off to the show ring with a couple of trophies, by the look of it.
Perhaps they were for the Fancy Dress competition?
St George seems to have caught an extremely funny-looking dragon. That’s got to be a winner, right?
Or maybe they were for this class – ‘Best Black Bitch’!
But apart from the RGT, there were lots of independent vendors, too, like this one.
Dog O’Nine Tails makes beautiful bags, as well as collars, tassels, cushion covers etc. I ordered a shoulder bag and I can’t wait for it to be ready!
And this is Forest, the pampered pooch who gave his name to Forest Fleece Dog Coats.
That’s one of the coats hanging up at the back there – looks a tad too big for Forest himself, doesn’t it? But what does he care? He has his comfy chair, brought especially for him, which he occupied for 90% of the day, leaving it only to amble over to the water bowl and take a drink, or wander out back and pee. It’s a dog’s life – just ask Forest! If you click on the link, you can see him modelling a coat more his size.
And everyone was taking great care of their beloved dogs. There were water bowls everywhere, cushy beds all over the grass, and people had found creative ways to provide shade, like this cool tent someone’s human servants had kindly brought along
And this pretty sunshade umbrella -
What I want to know is, how did they know he would take the yellow rosette?
Now, I know you’re asking where the photos of Sid are, but don’t you think you’ve had enough to plough through today? Come back again in a little while, and I’ll do a special ‘Sid and his friends’ post for you. How about that?
I can tell you he had fun though. I mean, all those hundreds of bottoms to sniff?  All those hands wanting to pet him? Of course he did!
It looks like you both had fun. I’ll look forward to seeing the Sid and friends post.
Ruth Hull Chatlien´s last blog ..Newport
What patience St. George’s dragon seems to have! If I were one of these elegant greyhounds, and my owner had tried to get me into such an undignified get-up, I believe I would have been sorely tempted to eat something reeking of onion and garlic and breathe “fire” all over St. George!
ethelmaepotter´s last blog ..Time for a Celebration
A great day, Jay. Love seeing all the hounds being so pampered…so many in one spot! The photo of Forest made me smile…the hounds can make any thing look comfortable. He looked pretty happy snoozing away in the chair. Also very cute in the coats on the website too. Do you have raffles there as well to raise money for the Royal GH Trust? Very nice!
It was a lovely day wasn’t it? And made really special when we met up with you and the very beautiful Sid!
I must try to update Hippie’s blog with her pictures…. maybe tonight…
kate´s last blog ..One girl and her dog
Bloody brilliant. Looks like as much fun as our RSPCA Million Paws walk. Love that first shot, all those expectant faces! I’m very envious that you and Kate met up! Looks like a bucket of fun. Love the doggie in his own deck chair too!
Baino´s last blog ..Mt Tomah and How to Snipe Your Dicky Knee
Great photos and the cookies look really good, despite the broken bits.
Mara´s last blog ..In short…
Looks like a wonderful day out for all. Poor cookies! The only thing you can do with a broken cookie is eat and enjoy it. So it has not lost it’s life for nothing
And that’s EXACTLY what I was going to ask…where are all the photos of Sid??? I’ll check back but in the meantime, looks like everyone had a great time…wish I had been there!
Sandi
sandi mcbride´s last blog ..Help, I’m being held hostage in Facebook and don’t have the coins to escape!
I bet it was a wonderful day too! Thank goodness we don’t all go around greeting each other the way dogs do
babs – beetle´s last blog ..Why won’t they TALK to me?
Greyhound cookies?! CANNIBALISM!
feefifoto´s last blog ..Try Just One Bite. I Promise You’ll Like It. Come On — Just One Bite.
They are all so cute!! Can’t wait to see pictures of Mr. Sid!
Heather P.´s last blog ..Update & News
Ruth – He’ll be along in a day or two!
Ethelmaepotter – I tend to agree. I never have entered my dogs in a fancy dress because I don’t think they’d like it. But many dogs don’t seem to mind at all! And I do put coats on mine, after all .. so what’s the difference? I don’t know. LOL!
Sistertex – Forest was cute, wasn’t he? Such a pretty, and sweet, boy! Yes, there were raffles! Any way they can make money, they’ll do it!
Kate – It was great to meet you! Shame you weren’t staying longer, we could have had a coffee or something. Oh well. Next time.
Baino – It was lovely to meet up with Kate! Even if I didn’t recognise her at first. I dunno .. people go around changing their hair and stuff and wearing shades .. LOL!
Mara – Thanks! Yes, they were!
Carolina – Absolutely … although it might surprise you to know that there is still one cookie uneaten. Its days are numbered!
Sandi – There will be pictures of Sid. Probably not tomorrow, because that’s ABC Wednesday, but soon.
Babs – Haha! Yes! Although I suppose if we did, it would seem normal to us!
Heather P – Thanks – Sid will be along shortly!
what a lovely time- no such happeneing here.. Greyhound cookies never seen- and the guy in the chair too fun..sandy
sandy´s last blog ..Heads or Tails- Book
Ah Jay I didn’t have time to prewarn you about the haircut – it was a snap decision – and my glasses go dark in the sunshine!
Kate´s last blog ..One girl and her dog
What a fab day out we all had and a great shot of the Tuxedo wall hangings at the Red Gazebos
Jay – Thanks for popping on over to my blog. Some of these photos did make me giggle – St George and the Dragon has to be the best. Love those greyhounds!
Sandy – No greyhound gathering in Florida? That’s a shame.
Kate – I felt like a complete idiot not recognising you, and then I thought, not ONLY did you change your hair, but when I met you I was full of interesting drugs! LOL!
Val – Great day, I agree – and those wall hangings were wonderful! My walls are all busy with greyhound portraits and Johnny Depp, or I might have been tempted!
Colleen – The dragon is great, isn’t he? Thanks!