AS MANY as 8,000 dog lovers flocked to the third Essex Dog Day on a sun-soaked Sunday raising more than £50,000 for charity.
Four-legged friends found themselves entered in a series of competitions at Crix, Hatfield Peverel including the best pair of matching dogs, prettiest female, most handsome male and best pedigrees too.
There was even a gun dog scurry where dogs were asked to swim out to retrieve balls thrown into the middle of pond, though several dogs – especially German shepherds – were unwilling to test their swimming skills.
Competition was keen among owners and the hundreds of dogs competing in the show rings, agility, scurries and flyball courses and the lake.
The cup for Best in Show presented by The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre, was won by a rescue dog from Romania called Lucky which also won best rescue dog.
"It's the first time she's won anything" said her owner Rosie Bell from Maldon (pictured centre) "and now she's won twice. We were going to train her and then find her a good home because we thought she's too big for us but then we couldn't bear to part with her"
The organisers behind this year's Essex Dog Day brought in more than £50,000 for the Play and Resource Centre – the Braintree-based charity that provides support to disabled children and their families.
The last two Essex Dog Days combined have raised more than £95,000 for the charity in Great Notley country park.
This year's money brings the total raised over the three years close to £150,000.
The sun-kissed Sunday was a world away from the previous day when the torrential rain threatened to completely flood out the grounds of Crix, the impressive home now owned by Essex businessman Ian Twinley who has hosted the event since it started.
Among the thousands of people attending was Gemma Robinson who had brought Dexter, a two and a half old Cockerpoo.
The 33-year-old from Hatfield Peverel had been once before but this was her first outing with Dexter.
She said: "I'm surprised that there are so many people here, but it has been great. I love my dog.
"He just gives unconditional love."
Lindsay Brewer, 32, and her son Sean, 10, from Colchester, were with their two-year-old Springer Spaniel cross, Jess.
She said: "It's been brilliant. We've both really enjoyed it. And Jess has enjoyed it. She loves diving into the river and retrieving .
"I'm going to start her on gun dog lessons. I think she would be brilliant at it."
Marie Wright was with her two daughters, Becky and Lauren, and her 15-month-old chocolate Labrador – their first dog.
She said: "He's like a toddler. We all love him and we live our lives round him – it means we go on caravan holidays rather than go away without him – but we are seeing parts we might never see."
Lisa Lawler, from Chigwell, brought her two dogs – Brenda a Bulldog and Beryl, a French Basset, as well as Bailey, her friend's Yorkshire Terrier.
She said: "Beryl is a complete snob and Brenda is taking after her."
Sarah Courage, the former High Sheriff of Essex and chairman of PARC fundraising committee said: "We couldn't have asked for a better day. It's been great and all the volunteers have been just marvellous. Everyone has just pulled together.
"Special mention has to go our sponsors and the judges, some of whom have come from quite far away."
Dawn Simmons of PARC Essex said: "We do need this to enable us to keep our doors open to our children; they and their families need us so much and the money will go towards keeping this vital service going."
