What Goodwoof Means to Us
Before the very first Goodwoof in May 2022, our journey with it had already begun.
Back in November 2021, Darcy and I were invited to stay at Goodwood Hotel. That period of late 2021 now feels like a whirlwind, so many experiences, so many moments, so many bucket lists quietly being ticked off. It was during that stay that I first suggested hosting an influencer event to help promote what would become the inaugural Goodwoof.
An early birthday celebration for Darcy was planned for the weekend of 21-23 January. We invited some of our Instagram friends, Elmo, Cedric, Archie, Nacho, Mr. Gizmo, Lloyd, Skylar, Freddie, and of course, George. It was meant to be a joyful gathering, the beginning of something special.
But life had other plans.
In late December, we learned that Darcy was ill. And heartbreakingly, she passed away the very weekend her birthday party was meant to take place – 22 January.
In the aftermath, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to attend Goodwoof at all. It felt too soon, too heavy.
Then came an unexpected invitation to enter George into Chien Charmant. Why not?
And so, we went. Reluctantly. The recent scenarios were still fresh in my mind.
What happened next still feels surreal. George didn’t just take part; the little terrier mutt won the top prize at the Chien Charmant on Sunday.
As we stood for a photo in front of The Kennel Club backdrop, something extraordinary happened. After Paz who took the photo showed me the image she had just taken, there we were, perfectly positioned within the large GOODWOOD letters.
Right there, framing us, were the letters “DW.”
Darcy Wong.
I gasped. In that moment, it felt undeniable; she was there with us.
Since then, Goodwoof has become part of our story. Each year, we’ve returned to support, celebrate, and watch it grow into something even more special. We’ve helped host another influencer event the following year, deepened friendships, and created memories that feel stitched into the fabric of the event itself.
And yet, in so many of those moments, there has always been a quiet thought in the background – I wish Darcy were here to share this with us. To walk these grounds with her, to meet our friends, to be part of the joy she helped make possible.
This year, the fifth Goodwoof feels particularly meaningful. The featured “breed” is rescue dogs, the very dogs who lead the parade that opens each day of the event. And somehow, beautifully, it feels like everything has come full circle. George and Lulu was part of that parade.
We’ve grown with Goodwoof.
There have been so many moments along the way:
- toasting many times to friendships at the Taittinger tent
- dancing with the Pritchard Brothers in the Ministry of Hound
- tearful tarot card readings, when the reader told us about Darcy
- winning an auction at Barkitecture
- loving the introduction of Ruby’s Memorial Tree, where we’ve dedicated a ribbon to Darcy every year
- listening to heartfelt stories at the Literary Corner
- being part of the Wild at Heart forum last year, which felt incredibly special
And this year carries an added poignancy. Goodwoof falls on Darcy’s Gotcha Day, 16 May. It was on this day, 14 years ago, that she came into my life and changed it forever.
This year, we decided to stay at the Goodwood Hotel, just as I had with Darcy in November 2021.
A full circle. Fourteen years of love. Five years of memories.
Goodwoof is more than an event to us. It is remembrance. It is a community. It is joy, even after loss.
And somehow, it always brings us back to Darcy.
Thank you, Goodwoof, for being part of our story. Our circle is now complete.
