The Top Lodge Dancing Dog Team were invited to entertain during the lunch break at the huge annual gathering of Retired Greyhounds at Nottingham Race Course for a Greyhound and Companion Dog Show and Family Fun Day.
The weather was superb for late September and the crowds were arriving well before opening time.
Lots of Trade Stands selling toys, dog food, dog wear including some superb ornate greyhound collars - which really do look very nice around their slender necks.
The Horse Racing Parade Ring was used for the different categories to be judged and was the area where Top Lodge would be dancing.
This is one of the Top Lodge supporters - he pops along with his Barn Owl to see them whenever they are in Nottinghamshire. He used to breed owls - now just keeps this one as his pet.
A line up of the "Black Bitch Class"
Lesley with Hamish and Karen with Kes and Midge and Kath with Amber ready for the lunchtime dancing.
Top Lodge parade around the Parade Ring!!
Kath with Amber had new partners for the duet! As Fly is recovering from surgery, Lesley stepped in with Hamish as they performed HTM to "I Was Born To Love You" by Freddie Mercury.
Looking good in step with each other.
Well Done Lesley and Hamish - they learnt the routine in just one week.
Next in the ring was Karen with Erin - her Irish rescue. Erin is the dog most like a greyhound in the Top Lodge "Pack" and the audience was particularly impressed with how well she worked and danced with Karen.
Lots of smiles from the audience - they were probably wondering if a greyhound could possibly do as well as Erin. (There were some huge greyhounds at this gathering - one was visibly 2 inches higher than the average height and weighed in at 45k - not a dog to teach to jump onto anyone's back!)
Denby took to the grass next with Kath to "dance" freestyle to "You Give A Little Love" from Bugsy Malone"
Yes, looking at those eyes - definitely a sheep dog!!!
Denby loves his jumps!
After Denby had finished, Lesley took over the ring with young Dewy to perform his freestyle routine to "The Night They Invented Champagne"
Well Done Dewy - his second Public Appearance and loving every minute.
And another first for the team - Spice had to stand in (well actually Stand, Sit, Roll, Beg, Crawl, Jump etc etc) for Fly on the "Beat The Dog" with children invited into the ring.
She did really well with great directions from Karen and cues from Kath!!
A lovely little beg from Spice who used the time with the children as her warm up for the final routine.
Spice and Kath finished the Top Lodge display with their old favourite "Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines".
The ground was so lush it made for hard work for such a fast routine!
But they reached the finish without needing oxygen.
The first of the "Novelty Fun Classes" was Fancy Dress for Dog and Handler.
The Lion Trainer with the lion and lioness. "Super-dog" and his pack!
Bo-Peep with her Sheep.
The Surgeon Greyhound with Nurse.
The Winner - Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatters Tea Party.
Harry Potter - dog!!
Thank you to the Retired Greyhound Gathering 2013 for inviting the Top Lodge Dancing Dog Team to entertain you. It was certainly a very good venue and the team received great feedback from many of the audience.
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