DANDIE DERBY FUN WEEKEND 4th- 6th June 2021.
UPDATE. 22.05.21
We are all looking forward to finally getting together again with our Dandie friends and
enjoying a gentle weekend of activities in the beautiful Borders. Our huge thanks go to
Abbotsford and their team, The Haining Volunteers and Oxnam Kirk for hosting us.
All activities are optional. Please dip in and out as you like and enjoy yourselves!
Certain items (mainly food, which is also optional) need to be pre-paid as soon as possible.
Please see details towards the end of this information.
All Dandies are encouraged to enter the Derby, even if they haven’t raced before, but all
Dandies (and their owners!) are welcome, whether racing or not.
Unless racing or taking part in the rally, dogs should be kept on leads.
Also, please take time to read the Covid guidance at the end, thank you.
FRIDAY 4TH JUNE THE HAINING, SELKIRK TD7 5LR
2pm. Cheque presentation for the bench donation at the Old Ginger statue.
2.30pm. Walk around The Haining Loch. (Meet on the Loch side of the House).
3pm. Bring a picnic (to the statue) if you’d like to celebrate Old Ginger’s birthday.
Please maintain 2m spacing between ‘bubbles’.
Please note the house is officially closed for repairs but the loos will be open for us!
There is free car parking at The Haining.
Three Hills Coffee Shop in Selkirk will be stocking Old Ginger coffee and Taylors Butchers in
the Market Place will be stocking their Dandie Dinmont sausages, so do pop along on Friday
or Saturday if you’re passing by.
SATURDAY 5th June ABBOTSFORD HOUSE, MELROSE, TD6 9BQ
Although Abbotsford (home of Sir Walter Scott) is a charity, they are kindly allowing Dandies and owners free entry in to the grounds. Scott owned Dandies and named our breed. We are holding the Dandie Derby at Abbotsford as part of the ‘Walter Scott 250’ celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of Scott’s birth.
We are very grateful to Abbotsford for the enormous efforts they have made in allowing our event to proceed under Level 2 covid restrictions.
Abbotsford’s volunteers will tell you where to go. Free car parking. Toilets are available at the Visitor Centre.
10am -12pm optional house tours. Dogs are not allowed inside the house*. see scottsabbotsford.com for house tour prices. Abbotsford will keep some slots open for house tours exclusively for Dandie owners, book beforehand online or on the day.
If you need someone to look after your dog/s during the half hour tour and don’t have anyone to look after them please let us know before the day.
10.00am Enjoy a walk around the estate either on your own or with other Dandie owners. Groups will be setting off from the racetrack on the Meadow. Please maintain 2m spacing.
11am Fun dog rally with Ann Rayner and Liz Magnus on the Meadow – free of charge, dandies and their other four legged friends are also welcome! Owners to wear a mask while their dogs are participating.
12pm onwards. Lunch. Exclusive Lunch in a Box to be collected from the dedicated
marquee on the Meadow, near the racetrack. MUST BE PRE PAID, SEE BELOW.
Lunch in a Box prepared by Ochiltrees Café consisting of:
Your choice of sandwich on white, brown or gluten free bread (white unless specified):
Coronation chicken/ or ham & Dijon mustard mayo/or vegan cheese with sun blushed
tomatoes rocket & pesto (Please specify).
Piece of homemade shortbread.
Packet of ready salted crisps.
Selection of bottled drinks: still or sparkling water or diet coke etc, (please specify).
COST: £5.50pp to be pre-paid to Kenny.
FINAL DEADLINE FOR ORDERS SATURDAY 29TH MAY. SEE PAYMENT DETAILS AT THE END.
Tea and coffee will be available on the day from the marquee where the lunch in a box is to
be collected. Cost £1
Please note! This is an outdoor lunch and there are only limited picnic tables available. You are free to wander the extensive grounds to find a pleasant spot to dine at.
Please bring plenty of layers and maybe a fold up chair and blanket and brolly to be on the safe side. These are also handy for the Derby.
NB: COVID REGS UPDATE: Ochiltrees Café is open to people with a confirmed pre booked
table. People without bookings may be turned away as queues contravene Scottish
government covid guidelines. Therefore we strongly recommend that you buy the £5.50
lunch in a box and join the Dandie folk outside in the Meadow or in the grounds.
12.30pm PHOTOCALL ORGANISED BY ABBOTSFORD HOUSE. SOCIALLY DISTANCED PHOTOGRAPHS. MEET OUTSIDE THE HOUSE
1350 Matt Seattle will play the world perimeter “Old Ginger” jig on Borders Pipe
2pm-4pm THE DERBY – DANDIE RACES ON THE MEADOW £2 per dog, capped to £5 per owner (to cover the event’s costs, please pre-pay).
Races are:
OPEN (hope they will run)
NOVICE (not sure what they will do?)
PUPPY (under 1 year old)
VETERAN (over 7 years old)
These are fun races with heats and a grand final, there will be a small novelty prize for the winners. Owners are to wear a mask at either end of the track when the dogs are racing. Please let Kenny know the name of your dog/s and the races you are entering asap, the final deadline is Tuesday 1st June. If you are not sure which race to enter we will help you! Remember to bring your dogs’ favourite treats to encourage them during the races, sausages and chicken are very popular. All Dandies are welcome to race!
Also on the day we will have dog and Dandie themed craft stalls, an ice cream cart and music sets from the Riddle Fiddle band. Please visit the craft stalls next to the racetrack. Please feel free to bring a raffle prize to the Derby stall. We will be selling raffle tickets. The raffle will be drawn at approx. 3pm when we have a break during the races.
SATURDAY EVENING 6.30PM FOR 7PM START
BBQ AT SELKIRK RUGBY CLUB TD7 5AX £23pp and £10 for children (price includes contribution to cover the venue hire fee). Please pre pay, but pre-orders are not required. Please specify ahead if you require a vegetarian or vegan option. The BBQ is outside, if the weather is bad we will be able to go inside with our dogs. Selection of BBQ meats: Other options: Border beef sausages, Small selection of fish, Scotch beef burgers, Veggie choice to follow. Italian style pork burger, Stobbs traditional pork loin, Fresh chicken breast, Chicken skewers, all accompanied by their own selection of marinades. Accompaniments: Crunch home-made coleslaw, Mixed green salad with baby tomatoes & cucumber Vegetable chargrilled skewers, Baked potato wrapped in foil, Selection of condiments.
SUNDAY 6th JUNE 10.45am MEET AT OXNAM KIRK, JEDBURGH, TD8 6RD (35 minutes drive from Selkirk). Please wear a mask.
11am JAMES DAVIDSON MEMORIAL SERVICE CONDUCTED OUTSIDE BY MINISTER MARION DODD James Davidson was one of the early Dandie breeders. Speeches from Kenny Allan, Simon Rishton, Doug Davidson (Doug tbc). The Minister will sing the Lay of the Dandie Dinmont. (Nb. no-one else will sing.)
Depart before midday for Kelso (20 minutes drive). Due to current circumstances we will be unable to have refreshments inside the Kirk.
SUNDAY 6th JUNE LUNCH – MEET AT EDNAM HOUSE HOTEL, KELSO, TD5 7HT Lunch will be outside, but in the event of bad weather we can use the large function room and the dogs can come in with us.
12.20pm meet in the grounds to the rear of the hotel.
12.30pm Talk by Kenny Allan and recorded talk by historian Dr Vivienne Dunstan on her ancestor and great-great-great-great grandfather, the early Dandie breeder Francis Somner who lived in Kelso. 1pm.
Lunch 2 courses £13.95, 3 courses £16.95, or soup (v) & a sandwich £10.50. To be pre-paid. Starters: Homemade Soup (v) with a cheese scone, Haslet, sage & apple relish, with a potato scone, Twice Baked Cheese Souffle (v) with pear, pickled walnut salad, Smoked salmon with capers, gherkins and watercress. Main courses: Local roast beef (medium rare) with roasted potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, Braised shoulder of lamb with mashed potato, vegetables and gravy, Roast chicken with mashed potato, vegetables and gravy, Fillet of halibut with broad beans, leeks, heritage tomatoes and risotto, Black bean jambalaya (v) with watercress salad. Desserts: Sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream, Pineapple and raspberry frozen parfait with ginger biscuits, Warm pancakes with apple and ginger jam, vanilla ice cream, Blue cheese and oatcakes. Or a soup (v) and a sandwich combo. Sandwich choice: Egg mayonnaise, Roast Beef & Horseradish, Ham & mustard, Smoked salmon & cucumber.
2pm SHORT WALKING TOUR OF KELSO Starting from Ednam House Hotel and taking in sites connected to seed merchant Francis Somner and renowned Dandie man Archie Steel, these two Kelso men are amongst the earliest recorded Dandie breeders. We will also hear about Sir Walter Scott’s strong childhood connections to Kelso, and how these were intertwined with his later life. The walk wraps up the Dandie Derby weekend. Thank you for coming.
PLEASE READ PRE-PAYMENT INFORMATION & COVID GUIDANDE
PRE-PAYMENT ITEMS Please pre-pay now to assist with admin. Lunch in a Box can be paid later when we have final confirmation of the price. Abbotsford Lunch in a Box (£5.50pp tbc), Dandie Derby (£2 per dog, max £5 per owner) , Saturday evening BBQ at Selkirk Rugby Club (£23pp) Sunday lunch Ednam House Hotel: 2 courses £13.95 pp, 3 courses £16.95 pp, soup and a sandwich £10.50pp
Please pay by Paypal to: shonakenny@hotmail.com (please make payments ‘personal’ not ‘business’ so the full monies are received).
or by BACS BACS A/C Kenneth Allan & Shona Allan
Sort Code 07 02 46
Acc No 38009691
We hope it’s a great weekend and that everyone will enjoy spending time with fellow Dandie owners and their dogs after such a long time. Please read the following Covid guidance.
DANDIE DERBY WEEKEND 4th- 6th JUNE 2021. COVID GUIDANCE. PLEASE READ. Restrictions due to covid are in compliance with Scottish Government regulations. There is a limit on daily numbers allowed into Abbotsford so in order to guarantee your entry YOU MUST PRE-BOOK. Confirm your attendance on dandiederby@hotmail.com Please be mindful of others at all times, this is the first public ‘event’ for most of us since restrictions lifted. Masks must be worn by the owners of dogs at either end of the racetrack whilst their dogs are racing (this is not obligatory for spectators). Also whilst participating in the rally. Masks are required at Oxnam Kirk graveyard. Medically exempt people do not need to wear masks. You are asked to take responsibility for ensuring that you keep to 2m social distancing, mask wearing and hand sanitising guidelines. If you choose to mix more closely with friends outside of your ‘bubble’ this is at your own risk but you must not endanger others.
TRACK AND TRACE IMPORTANT: To ensure maximum safety at the Dandie Derby weekend please send your Track and Trace information – name, mobile number and the particular events you are attending, (ie Friday The Haining, Saturday Abbotsford, Saturday evening BBQ Selkirk Rugby Club, Sunday morning Oxnam Kirk, Sunday lunch Ednam House) to dandiederby@hotmail.com no later than Tuesday 1st June. Each individual attending has to supply this information.
Track and Trace information will be passed on to the relevant venues before the events, they will retain the information for a 21 day retention period then destroy it. Dandie Derby will also destroy the Track and Track information after a 21 day retention period. If you find you are unexpectedly able to attend an event and haven’t supplied your Track and Trace information beforehand it is your responsibility to supply your details on the day to Kenny or Shona Allan or Karen Atkinson in a written format. We will be wearing black and white rosettes for easy identification. Thank you. If you supply us with your Track and Trace information but then find you are unable to attend, please notify us so we can inform the relevant venue/s and ask them to take your name/s off the list.
SOCIAL DISTANCING, MASKS AND THE REST On each day we are obliged to give a verbal covid ‘briefing’ to remind everyone of the Covid regulations. Fyi, the covid briefing at Abbotsford will be held alongside the race track at 10.00am (before the walk). If you miss it please ensure you have made yourself aware of the guidance in these notes beforehand. Our events are planned to be outdoors and there is plenty of space at all locations for everyone to be able to maintain social distancing, please remain vigilant!
You are asked to be considerate towards others. Please be responsible and maintain physical social distancing, stay 2m apart outdoors and indoors and keep to your ‘bubbles’. Masks are required indoors but are not mandatory outdoors apart from at Oxnam Kirk and for owners of dogs at either end of the racetrack when they are racing at Abbotsford, also when participating in the Rally. However, please feel free to wear a mask outdoors if you feel more comfortable that way. Please space out sensibly remembering the 2m rule at all times, whether standing or sitting. There will not be markers on the ground at any* of the events.
Oxnam Kirk may use markers on gravestones in which case please stand by a marker.
Sanitiser stations will be provided at Abbotsford, Selkirk Rugby Club and Ednam House
Hotel, but please also keep your own personal sanitiser handy at all times and sanitise
hands regularly. Also, wash hands thoroughly when you have the opportunity.
There will be a one way system around the craft stalls at Abbotsford. Abbotsford volunteers will be on hand and helping with the one way system and will be wearing high vis jackets.
Kenny and Shona Allen, Karen Atkinson, Karen Horsley and Linda Small will be wearing black
and white rosettes.
For the Derby please bring your own fold out chairs/blankets to sit on as there is only
limited picnic table seating available to one side of the race track. You can space out either
side of the race track and there is also an incline on the other side of the pavement which is
available for you to stand or sit on.
The races will be announced on a loud hailer.
If you want to encourage your dog (or others) during the races please wear your mask.
Clapping is encouraged rather than cheering, although owners whose dogs are racing need
to encourage their dogs to run by calling them (but these owners must wear masks).
If we have to move indoors due to bad weather (Selkirk Rugby Club, Ednam House Hotel),
maintaining 2m social distancing outside of our ‘bubbles’ will be very important, so please
behave responsibly in this eventuality and we will also aim to have as much natural
ventilation as possible.
Apologies for all the rules and regs which are beyond our control, but obviously it is in
everyone’s best interests to be better safe than sorry.
IF YOU ARE FEELING ILL, DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS OR
AWAITING TEST RESULTS PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND!
Please remember to follow us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/818395364882358
Due to Covid regulations you will need to register with us and Abbotsford will have a limit on people who can enter. To avoid disappointment register with us on dandiederby@hotmail.com