A CHARITY dog show at the Countryman Inn has raised £120, to be shared between the pub’s defibrillator fund and the North Cornwall Open Award Centre Duke of Edinburgh’s group.

The show was organised by Pat Orridge, from North Petherwin, volunteer area co-ordinator for the centre.

The centre’s aims are to make the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award more accessible to young people in North Cornwall, for example, those who cannot complete the award through school due to being home schooled, or those who have additional needs.

Pat also wanted some of the money raised to go towards the Countryman pub’s fundraising for its own public access defibrillator.

Pat has already helped fundraise towards two defibrillators for North Petherwin parish, after her husband sadly died of a heart attack last Easter. Although Pat said a defibrillator would not have helped her husband, Mick, his death made her aware that there were no public access defibrillators nearby.

Pat had heard about North Petherwyn WI’s efforts to purchase two defibrillators and handed over the donations following Mick’s funeral. Pat’s son-in-law then secured fund matching from the National Grid, and with that there were enough funds for the two defibrillators. One is in the phone box in the village, the second has just been installed at Clubworthy.

After Mick’s death, staff at the Countryman Inn also decided to start fundraising in the hopes of having a defibrillator located at the pub.

The pub’s fundraising was boosted by the dog show on August 4, following a similar successful event last year.

Pat said: “Although there were not as many dogs and owners as last year, with the hot weather on the day it meant we were finished earlier and we were not out in the main heat of the day. Andrew Simpson from Webbers estate agents kindly organised a ‘guess the price of the house’ competition and prize but also lent us their gazebo, which was a real benefit to provide some much needed shade.

“I really needed something to get involved with when I lost my husband suddenly last year but I never expected the defibrillator fundraising and the DofE to take off like this. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award North Cornwall Open Award Centre committee/volunteers are all friends and local to North Petherwin, together they have enabled our first group to soon be taking on their Bronze expedition. We are also lucky to have been contacted via social media by Graham Verall, a local DofE expedition assessor who has helped with support and advice whilst we are all on a very steep learning curve!

“I am very grateful to Launceston Rotary Shop who donated funds to allow us to purchase some of our group expedition kit. One of our group is now a volunteer in their shop. Dunheved and Tintagel Freemasons have provided individual youngsters with personal kit, which is costly but necessary for the expeditions.

“They have also helped towards our campsite expenses for the Assessed Expedition in October. A very generous offer from Marianne and Alan Birchall of Chelsfield Farm Holiday Lodges Campsite, means we have a lovely location for our practice expedition in September, and Cerenety Eco Campsite, Lynstone Lane, Bude have welcomed us to their campsite with an equally generous offer for our assessed expedition in October.”

Pat said dog show judge Martin Allison ‘did a fantastic job again this year, with humour on his part’, and there were also laughs thanks to Christopher Cooke with his robot dog in the ‘Most Like Your Owner’ class. Rosettes for the dog show were kindly sponsored by Orla McGinn of Glebe Veterinary Surgery as last year.

Vets4Pets donated two free pet check up vouchers for Champion and Reserve Champion, Pets at Home a huge box of dog treats for all entrants and Beaumont Court Care Home a £10 cash prize also for the Champion.

Pat added: “I really appreciate the support that everyone I approach or who comes forward on their own shows to us. I never cease to be amazed at their willingness to help and it gives some of our local youngsters an opportunity they might not have had. We will be joined by mums from The Wild Young Parents Project soon and they are bringing their children on expedition, well done to them for taking up my challenge and we cannot wait to get started.

“Tresillian Gwennap, who lives in Petherwin Gate, will be knocking on doors in the local area to help The Countryman Inn continue their fundraising. He has just starting out on his Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze award with his school, and when my friend, his mum Sarah, and I were discussing various options for him, he decided as his volunteer section he could work with me to aid their efforts at reaching their target.

“By planning his own local campaign for this and using information and publicity materials from the Community Heartbeat Trust, who have just installed our second defibrillator in Clubworthy, he will be part of public access defibrillator number three in the parish.”