Stockbury Dog Club

Walks Completed During 2009

Hucking(7th Jun)

Hucking(9th Aug)

Kings Wood (12th Jul)

Capstone Country Park (13th Sep)

Reculver (25th Oct)

HUCKING

Sunday 7th June 2009

Following a very wet start to the day, the rain kindly cleared away just in time for the thirty nine walkers with their thirty five dogs to meet in the car park outside the Hook and Hatchet pub.  It was good to see a lot of the newer members of the club along with some old faces, even the sick and injured couldn’t stay away!

At 10.30 Ann and Terry led the way and before long all the dogs were off lead, as usual, remarkably well behaved.  It was good to see such a wide variety of dogs from Bedlington terriers to Basset hound and Great Dane, and of course the usual selection of German Shepherds, labs, Border collies and so on.  On reaching the bottom of the hill, we all stopped for a break whilst the display team practised their routine to prepare for the display at the Lord Whisky Animal Sanctuary next Saturday.  The team did remarkably well considering the sudden switch for the dogs from play to work, and also the added distraction left behind by the sheep, which was prolific and very tasty for most dogs!!  After a well deserved round of applause, we all set off again up the hill and into a field of sheep where the dogs found themselves back on leads until through another gate to more freedom.  The group spread out and stretched off into the distance, occasionally stopping for a rest and a drink whilst waiting for the stragglers (and sick and injured!) to catch up.

Despite the very heavy rain the ground was surprisingly dry with only a few small puddles which were better for drinking from than rolling in.  The route had been well planned to avoid the muddiest places!  By 12.15 we found ourselves back at the Hook and Hatchet.  By this time, the sun was shining so a few drinks in the beer garden were well deserved for around twenty walkers and their dogs.  This was the first walk for the club this year, the last being in December, and more have been arranged in July and August.

Many thanks to Ann and Terry for making all the arrangements and selecting the route, and thanks to all the walkers who turned up in spite of the earlier wet weather.

Webmaster note: Thanks to Terry (Payne) for the photos and Su (Good) for the report.

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KINGS WOOD

Sunday 12th July 2009

Following another wet start to the day, the weather kindly improved in time for our meeting at 10.15 in the car park at Kings Wood, Challock.  It was a slightly smaller group than usual with 18 dogs and 21 walkers, but it was good to see a few members coming along for their first club walk.  Mick and Norman stayed behind in Stockbury to run the training classes for the puppies and some others unable to come along to the walk.

We set off soon after 10.30 through a wooded path near to a picnic area where the dogs stayed on leads.  The path opened out into a wide track so the dogs were let off to run around.  The muddy puddles were numerous, to the delight of the dogs, although not all the owners were so pleased !!
Being the first visit to Challock for most of us, a few wrong turns were taken, but nobody minded the backtracking, as Anne skilfully got us back on track having spotted a stick on the ground she recognised from earlier!! The woods have a number of sculptures in various places, one of which was “The Ring”; which was a high sided circular ditch filled with water.Most of the dogs relished the chance to cool off by launching themselves in for a swim.  Eventually we headed off up a winding woodland path which led us back to the car park by about 12.30, where the dogs enjoyed a drink of “clean” water!

Once again a big thank you to Anne and Terry for organising the walk and keeping us more or less on the right path!

Webmaster note: Thanks to Su (Good) for the report and Mark for the photos.

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HUCKING

Sunday 9th August 2009

Once again the Stockbury dog club had chosen an excellent day for their August club walk.  The sun shone down on us as we arrived in the car park of the Hook and Hatchet at Hucking.  Despite some members being away on holiday and others with puppies choosing to go to training there was still an excellent turn out with 29 dogs and 35 humans and 40-50 cattle (more about them later!!)

At 10.30 we set off down the lane and were soon through the gates and into the open field at the top. Once we were all gathered with the dogs laying down quietly, they were all released together which is always a lovely sight, even more so for the first time walkers. We continued across the field with all dogs off lead ,very well behaved and the only shouts to be heard were cries from the owners as their dogs found something smelly to roll in!

After about half an hour we arrived at a gated field where dogs were put on leads as there were grazing cattle in the far corner of the field. The more of us who entered the field, the more inquisitive the cattle became, eventually deciding to join us on our walk.  As we quickened our pace, those walkers at the rear were cut off from the rest of the group making a hasty retreat back the way they came, as the cattle picked up speed alarmingly in our direction.  Terry returned with the rear party, whilst the rest of the group just managed to exit the field as the cattle arrived at the gate. The cattle stared at the dogs, and the dogs stared at the cattle and not a single dog barked.  Thanks to a strong mobile phone signal we arranged to meet the rear party further along the route.

When two parties once again became one, we followed a shady woodland path past some rather muddy puddles, which were cleverly avoided by most, arriving back at the pub just in time for opening. A cool drink was enjoyed by dogs and owners following another lovely walk.

Thanks to all members who attended and a special thanks again to Anne and Terry for organising and selecting a wonderful shady route.

Webmaster note: Thanks to Su for the report and Terry for the photos.
 

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CAPSTONE COUNTRY PARK

Sunday 13th September 2009

We met at the earlier time of 9.45, setting off at 10 am, keeping a couple of walkers on their toes as they paced to catch up with the group!  The day was overcast but pleasantly warm for walking which obviously encouraged a good attendance with 31 dogs and around 36 walkers.
Mick and Norman once again stayed behind in Stockbury to run classes as usual.

The walk began with dogs on leads as we climbed the steep narrow path from the car park. We all stopped at the top for a rest and a drink whilst waiting for all of the group to catch up. Once into the open fields at the top of the hill the dogs were let off and depending on the make, model and age of the dog they charged / trotted off to do their thing.
All dogs were exceptionally well behaved, with no incidents at all.  On a few occasions we were joined by other walkers and dogs for a short distance whose dogs joined in remarkably well with our pack.

We arrived back at the café at around 11.30 following a pleasantly uneventful walk (nothing lost, no fights, no cows!). 

Thanks again to Ann and Terry for organising and finding the way!

Webmaster note: Thanks to Su for the report and Terry for the photos.
 

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RECULVER

Sunday 25th October 2009