Mepal weekend

MEPAL 2008 - MORE PHOTOS TO FOLLOW And so all the strings came together for the 19th Mepal event - too many people to thank for every contribution whether big or small - but the true teamwork of EAWN was the core to this year's successful and enjoyable weekend. So with everything ready by friday night -and the caravans/ tents set up, the French team already here it was just left for the annual NO raindance (so that's what Schooner /Rupert and Greg were up to !!!!). And the weather held up all weekend including bouts of sunshine. Saturday saw the start of water training - 4 groups training new and old, 1st timers and more experienced, good-looking/ugly, and then we trained some dogs as well ! On land was just almost as interesting- for the first time (and after many many questions and e-mails) we had a team from the new charity come and collect blood from the Newfies. This was an all day event involving pretests as well as actual blood collection and they left with a healthy 9 units from the day's hard work (thanks Ian for supervising - it must have been such a chore working with and looking after Jenny, Wendy & Lydia !) The lunchtime talk was also a presentation on the Blood bank. I'm pleased to report that they now have a different perspective on Newfs when near water- not quite the passive giants they expected - thanks Dylan for proving that humping can be a cross-species activity But we can't forget old favourite activities either - Andy and Rosemary doing some fantastic carting training (mainly for beginners), some obedience with a twist and thanks again to Sandra for her patience in running the Good Citizen's tests on both days - and I dare not forget to mention the splendid crafts stall - a stunning mix of handmade items, unusual commercial items and Mepal memorabelia And so to the evening - oh dear - I'll just leave it to the photos + lots of thanks to Andy for his handmade cart to auction and Horsham for their fantastic support in running the barbecue. Sunday saw us awaken groggily but back in the water (nearly on time !!) for more excellent water training sessions alongside carting obedience and GC tests on land. The pace continued with an impromptu EAWN water display at lunch - a 'before' and 'after' display involving multi-dog exercises - some of which was stunning and some of which did not quite go to plan ! (which reminds me - we must fix the valve in the floating banana). The good weather continued into the final stretch of water training followed by a relaxing slap up meal in a local pub where we said our cheerios to the TNS gang for another year. Monday saw visitors , friends and members pack up and leave knackered & newf'd up from another enjoyable weekend.

MEPAL BEGINNINGS In 1989 very few people were working their Newfoundlands in the water, and so on 29th and 30th April 1989 the first Water Training weekend was held at the Mepal Outdoor Centre. The event was advertised in the Newfoundland Club newsletter, in the local papers and on radio. The response was great with many people attending, mostly with their dogs, but some on their own, just to look and see what it was all about. It had been the previous late summer that a few Newfie owners had met together at Mepal by kind permission of Jim McCann, the Centre Manager, who normally never allowed dogs there, and never has since, except for the annual training weekend in May. The main instigators were Elaine and Philip Messer, who had returned from France where they had seen and experienced the Terre-Neuve Sportif Group (TNS) working and were very keen to work their dog in Cambridgeshire close to where they were living. Elaine and Philip liaised with Alain Nouvion and his TNS team, and invited them to come and train as many dogs and owners as would like to attend, which ended up at around 70 Newfies for the weekend. For so many people who attended that first Mepal the experience was overwhelming. Doing anything for the first time is special and the Mepal experience was definitely that. The TNS showed so much; how to train with calmness, patience and encouragement and firm repetition, so that the dog knew what was wanted and then responded. Later in 1989, the East Anglian Working Newfoundland group was formed and has continued to run the annual Mepal weekends. The format has expanded through the years, firstly to include water training and then to include carting, obedience and various other activities. The TNS team have become an integral part of the Mepal weekend and they have continued to teach, encourage, guide and help EAWN. For the first time in 2003 Mepal Training Weekend had to be moved from its home at the Outdoor Centre, as the centre could not accommodate the caravans for the weekend. EAWN were able to secure a new venue at Pentney Lakes by kind permission of the owner where both 2003 and 2004 Mepal Training weekends were held. No matter where the training weekend is held it will always be know as the Mepal Training Weekend. Since 2005 the event has been held At Langtoft Fen near Peterborough by kind permission of the owner.