Three central Victorian kennel clubs have combined for a successful three-day dog event that saw canines compete in six championship shows.
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The Bendigo, Eaglehawk and Castlemaine kennel clubs welcomed more than 700 different breeds and 4100 entries to the event at the Bendigo Showground's regional events complex.
Secretary of the Bendigo and Eaglehawk kennel clubs and treasurer of the Castlemaine and District Kennel Club Helen Leech said exhibitors and judges had travelled interstate for the event.
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"Exhibitors are here from South Australia, the ACT and NSW while judges have come from NSW and Tasmania and, of course, Victoria," she said. "It has been absolutely successful weekend.
"It's been a massive weekend and we had great reports, the weather has been fantastic and the venue is brilliant. This facility is the best indoor dog show facility in Australia.
"I think the committee need to recharge their batteries, there's a lot of paperwork involved in running these shows. But people tell me the same thing - that it has been a brilliant week of showing.
"Everyone wants us to do the same next year but six championship shows in a row is a lot of work. It's up to Dogs Victoria to see if they will allow it (to continue as an annual event)."
The weekend also saw dog owner and committee member Carol Hobday given life membership to the Bendigo and Eaglehawk kennel clubs.
Ms Hobday, who is a kelpie breeder, is on the committee of Bendigo, Eaglehawk and Castlemaine kennel clubs.
"We've had next to no dog shows for two full years aside from a few scattered between. But none in Bendigo," she said.
"People and dogs have been so restricted. It's been a hard two eyars but this (life membership) is overwhelming. I'm thrilled to pieces. It's lovely."
Castlemaine dog owner Wendy Talintyre said her standard poodle Reilly had been at home taking care of his coat while waiting for dog shows to restart.
"Over last two years, he has had more than half of that off," she said. "We have just been sitting at home waiting for the next show to happen. We're a bit excited that it is actually all happening again."
Reilly won runner-up in group on Sunday morning as part of the Castlemaine dog show.
The event was the first dog show in regional Victoria since January and the first in central Victoria since Castlemaine's show in 2019.
"We had nothing last year. We haven't had a show since Castlemaine had one in 2019," Ms Leech said. "Bendigo and Eaglehawk were set for August but were cancelled with two weeks to go because of the COVID situation.
"Then we decided since the clubs have mostly the same committee members, we could bring the three clubs together on Castelmaine's weekend and (host it) in Bendigo."
"It's been enormous boost for (accommodation) and goodness knows what else people have spent their money on."
Ms Leech said as well as the competition, people were eager to socialise with other dog owners again.
"This is a hobby for people. Yes, it's a serious hobby but it is a hobby," she said. "A lot of people, all they do is go to shows every weekend, meet up with friends, show their dogs and go home.
"We didn't know what to expect because we had only just started back with shows."
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