Officials

Alan Britten - Chairman
Alan Britten, a retired incomer from Essex, was appointed the new Chairman at the Annual General Meeting a couple years ago. This followed the departure of Liz White and her husband Rod back down to their roots in the South of England. Alan does not work a dog (but owns a lovely rescue called Misty) and is a great support to his wife June, driving her to dog shows all over the country and acting as a Ring Steward at a great deal of them! Alan is a very experienced steward (we train 'em well up here) and he stewards regularly for our members. He was Pat's Bitch class steward at the 2000 Crufts Obedience Championships and did a similar job for her in the KCJO obedience classes at Crufts 2001. Alan is a very keen and proficient amateur photographer as recipients of his lovely pet portraits will confirm. He and June are also keen caravanners and is more or less responsible for ensuring that Pam and Pat keep on the straight and narrow at caravan weekends.

Jim Bragg - Treasurer
Jim Bragg was appointed Treasurer when Pam Hannah wanted a change. He has totally computerised us and our accounts to the extent that we don't understand any of it at all! Jim doesn't work a dog either since his Collie Bruin was retired but like Alan, is very supportive of his wife Brenda's activities, again driving her to shows. He helps out with instructing at the Club and also judges up to Class 'B', stewards and scribes for anyone who will put up with him. He was one of Pat's Crufts team. Jim was quite involved with the North Western YKC activities especially when daughter Angela was working a dog and is always on hand to help out with the obedience team at Crufts. Another keen caravanner and an expert cleaner of bar-b-q tools!

Pat Wilson - Secretary
Pat has been doing this job for as long as she can remember and is also show secretary for the three obedience shows run by the Club. She has now retired from her office job but does a bit of dog training in her spare time (doesn't know how she ever managed to find time to go to work!). She started obedience training with her first dog a yellow Labrador Retriever "Sandy of Ghyll Head" who worked up to and including Ch. 'C'. Since then she has qualified a GSD for Ticket classes and owned her dog of a lifetime "Ob.Ch. Millbrow Sapphire (Corrie) - a very special little girl. She now has "Millbrow Sheza Gem" - (Esha) who does obedience when she feels like it, "working" 'B', and "Grenaby Reflection" (Ferry) who has just started in Novice. She has been judging, stewarding and scribing at all levels for a long time (!) culminating in that very honoured appointment in the Crufts Obedience Championships in 2000 which needless to say was the thrill of a lifetime. Pat has also judged many times in Northern and Southern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Holland and also in South Africa. She instructs the advanced class at the Club together with a small private class when time permits.

Eddy Bromley - President
Eddy Bromley was originally Chairman of the Club but stood down when he thought his work commitments became too onerous. Eddy is a "silent" member – we only see him occasionally mainly owing to health problems, but he has two Collies "Jo-B" and "Tiggy". Another one of Pat's Crufts team. Eddy has resigned from the committee (somebody else can do the work he says) but because of his long service to the Club we have appointed him President, an honour for which he was very appreciative.

June Britten - Committee Member
June Britten was enlisted onto the committee a couple of years ago. She currently has four dogs, two of which she competes with – "Meanphe Moonlight Mischief" – Tanner – in Class 'B' and "new girl" "Kruizcoli She's All That" in Novice. June also judges Pre-Beginners, Beginners and Novice classes and helps with the training when required.

Georgina Ramsay - Committee Member
Georgina Ramsay is a long standing member of the Club and the committee. She is the thorn in Pat's side, and even calls her dog "Thorn" – Thorny Thwait who works Class 'B'. She has a rescue collie "Bracken" and a new puppy "Moss" and is another of the camping/caravanning fraternity and her travelling companion is Irene Bell who I will refer to later.

Ruth Griffith - Committee Member
Ruth Griffith was appointed a committee member at the last AGM. She has been competing for a relatively short time with "Rainbow Pride" – Jake and is now working Novice and 'A'. She also has a lovely youngster "Lucy" who is yet to enter an obedience ring but they are working at it.

Angela Bragg - Committee Member
Angela Bragg, daughter of Jim and Brenda (see 'trainers') Bragg is more interested in Heelwork to Music. She competes with "retired" obedience dog "King of Clubs" (Acer) – and she was also a keen KCJO obedience handler with dad's "Bruin" and mum's "BeeJay" until she got too old! Bruin qualified for Crufts on a number of occasions, gaining a gold, silver and bronze medal in the Team events there.

Sharon Dunstan - Committee Member
Sharon Dunstan is one of the Club's most successful handlers. She started attending Wigton as a teenager with "Nell" who was a Pet Plan finalist, bred a litter from her to produce "Cally" who became 'C' only and currently works "Piprian Fancy Flair" making her into an Obedience Champion during 2003. She also qualified her dad's "Hilbra Jack of Diamonds" for Ticket class but time does not permit continuing with him. She has another Piprian dog "Ross" who is now 'C' only and is a great ambassador for the Club. She was also one of Pat's Crufts ring party.

Gary Hodkinson - Committee Member
Gary's first dog "Jess" (Shardas Dream) was very much a dual purpose dog – winning out of Beginners in obedience and being a very capable agility dog. Gary now has "Paddy" (Jetsam's Nik Nak Paddy Wak) who is now working "Senior", or Grade 6 in agility since Newton Heath 2005 show. We are working on the obedience competition side of Paddy! After a moment of madness Gary bought a Red Tri to train - Nell (Tallace's Jumping Bean) which he hopes will keep him busy for a few more years!! For his sins, Gary is also responsible for the maintenance of this site (when time allows) as well as competing at shows is one of Wigton's trainers.

Jackie Reid - Training Staff
Jackie Reid competes mostly in agility with her "Brownies" "Harry Humbug" – Harry and Midge – Jacaloo's Midget Gem. She also does Heelwork to Music with Harry and if that wasn't enough, has a horse, another two dogs and the odd cat to keep her entertained and her husband Pete to look after. Jackie also has a youngster "Hazel" who is doing well in agility. Plenty of experience there for doggie activities. She instructs the Puppy Foundation class with Gary Hodkinson. She also runs agility and heelwork to music classes. She was another of the Crufts ring party.

Dennis Benson - Training Staff
Dennis Benson instructs the beginners, following their initial intake class. He has wide experience of German Shepherds and Collies, has judged up to "C", stewarded and competed until recently when his knees said "No more!" He is Chief Stay Steward at our open shows and tries (but fails) to keep us all in order.

Pam Hannah - Training Staff
Pam Hannah has recently taken to instructing as and when she is available (busy at home) as a change from being Treasurer. She is a retired school teacher so is able to shout loudly. Pam currently owns "Colliewood Catch My Soul" – Joss the Hoss who is now working 'C' only. Her first dog "Cumstock Border Dandy" – Bracken - took her to Ticket class and to the Inter-Regional Team competition at Crufts and is a hard act to follow! Pam was Pat's Chef de Keep at Crufts – in other words she did all the work.

Fay Toase - Training Staff
Fay Toase takes one of the Beginners classes. She has experience with Rottweilers (she currently owns Rottie puppy "Zen") and Jack Russells and starts her pupils off with the Good Citizens class. She is not really interested in obedience, but just likes a well behaved dog.

Irene Bell - Training Staff
Irene Bell is a very keen Club member and has two dogs – "Whitecorries Meg" – Meg, and "Eriskay Bounty" (another of those Brownies) A great party animal is Irene – but then, who isn't at Wigton? She is a superb steward, having done up to and including 'B' and has 'C' in her sights!

Brenda Bragg - Training Staff
Brenda Bragg, wife of Jim. Brenda competes in Novice with "Kruizcoli Pole Position" - Rubin. Her 'B' and 'C' dog "Acer" has been sidelined to do heelwork to music with daughter Angela. She also runs the weekly raffle at the Club, occasionally helps with training and can be persuaded (with one arm up her back) to judge up to and including Novice. She is one of Jackie Reid's permanent kitchen staff at the show and can always be seen in her club apron. She is the 'Greatest' of all party animals.