A TRADITION spanning 140 years will end in 2020 with the Mount City and District Kennel Club cancelling its October Dogfest.
Hosted by the club since 1879 and typically held in conjunction with the Mount Gambier Spring Show, the championship event is the club’s second casualty to the COVID-19 pandemic following the cancellation of its Easter weekend competition.
Attracting around 1000 visitors each year, the cancellation of this year’s spring show championship ends the club’s 140-year event streak.
With up to half of the competitors travelling from interstate each year the event committee made the decision last month to cancel the 2020 event due to risks associated with COVID-19.
Kennel club president Kerry McKay said the complex operating environment posed by the pandemic was also a factor in calling off the event.
“We have lost two shows now which means we are in a tough financial position as our bills have not stopped,” Ms McKay said.
“We are hoping the club will be able to stay afloat until next year and we are hoping that we can hold events next year.”
Ms McKay said the committee would need to decide by November this year if it was to host any shows in early 2021 to use 8000 airfare credit points accrued when booking now-cancelled flights for judges for the 2020 events.
Club secretary Lyn Harris-Walker labelled the event cancellation disappointing and said the club was unable to access much-needed funding streams due to being classified as a hobby rather than a sport or recreational activity.
“This means we do much of our own fundraising and get some sponsors, but most of the sponsors are all in the same boat as us,” Ms Harris-Walker said.
“Many businesses have been crushed by COVID-19 so we are now just seeing how everything goes because if we cannot get the funding it will be a battle.”
Despite the setback, the club remains committed to striving for a successful 2021 season in hopes it can bounce back from the virus’ economic impact.
