Showsight - November 2021

SHOW CHAIRS NEVER SIT CINDI ASHLEY

BOSLEY CHAIRPERSON RIVER VALLEY CLUSTER

1. What is the name of your show/cluster? Our shows are the River Valley Cluster. Owensboro River City Kennel Club has partnered with Southern Indiana Kennel Club to offer a stellar weekend of four all-breed shows. 2. Where are your shows held? When? Our Cluster is held Week 34 in August of each year, in the newly constructed Owensboro Convention Center on the banks of the Ohio River. The lovely downtown site offers hotels on each side of the convention center. There is free entertainment within walking distance to the show site, multiple pet-friendly res- taurants that will allow for exhibitors to literally park upon arrival and not need to move their vehicles for the entire weekend (if desired). There is also a river walk and plenty of grassy areas. We tout this venue as one of the most desirable in the country!! 3. Can you please provide a brief history of your club? Our club originally held our shows in Lexington, Kentucky, in con- junction with their cluster. Later we joined the Louisville Clus- ter, but felt adamant to bring our shows back to Owensboro, Kentucky, in 2001. We held a two-day event that attracted 650 dogs per day. The event has continued to grow, even though our Owensboro venue has changed multiple times until the recent construction of the Owensboro Convention Center. 4. How are the following aspects accommodated at your show/ cluster: Parking; Grooming; Bathing; Hospitality; Vendors; Public Education? Our current cluster offers air-conditioned grooming and exhibition hall, dog bathing stations, various vendors, on-site lunch facilities, RV parking (some premium spots with Ohio River view), free trolley service to local restaurants, and much more! 5. Does your show/cluster offer the National Owner-Handled Series? Junior Showmanship? 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy? Best Bred-By? Specialties? Supported Entries? We offer Owner-Handled Series and Juniors all four days. In the past, we have also offered Obedience and Rally. 6. How are your show(s)/cluster promoted? TV? Radio? Print Media? Social Media? We promote our shows through live interviews with local newspapers, regional television news- casts, and various press releases. 7. What are some of the challenges that you’ve had to face as show/cluster chair? I have been Show Chair for 19 years and enjoy the planning process and excitement of sharing the fancy with our community. We were unable to hold shows in 2020, but were back up and running with full force for 2021. 8. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, what have you and your club members learned about putting on a dog show? What, if any, are the differences from previous years and how are you planning for the future? We are looking forward to 2022 with an esteemed panel and we’re eager to attract even more entries than in years past.

“WE TOUT THIS VENUE AS ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE IN THE COUNTRY!”

44 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 2021

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