|
| |
 |
|
 |
YKC Team 2009
Sally Edwards (aged 24), running Fizz (BC - Aculsia Full of Fizz) ~
Captain
Tom Marks (aged nearly 12), running Vimto (BC - Stillmoor Vimto On Ice)
Jessica Cooke (aged 12), running Misty (BC - Rolo White Sox)
Amber Tunicliffe (nearly 13), running Blakey (Schnauzer - Canteba Black
Boy Inde Ring)
Amellia Nicholson (8), running Eddi (BC - Edith Wesel Spellcaster)
Becky Marks (6 in July), running Pepsi (BC - Stillmoor Pepsi On Ice) ~
Reserve (when she's six)
For full details of our Team follow the this link to
Midlands Border Collie Club
www.midlandsbordercollieclub.com/agility.htm
|
The Kennel Club's YKC website
has lots of doggie items especially for the under 24's. Why not leave a
message on their Blog or follow YKC on Twitter, view video blogs on their
Flickr page or videos on the YouTube section
Click above or go to
www.ykc.org.uk |
Young Kennel Club Agility Team
Young members of the Midlands Border Collie Club had their first
entry in the Young Kennel Club Agility Team event on the 3rd of May 2009
at Shrewsbury Agility Show.
The group of youngsters who have all been training hard to come together
for this team event, were all quite nervous as the event drew nearer.
Proudly wearing their new club t-shirts kindly donated by the club
committee, they met to walk the course and discuss their tactics. Here is
a brief story of how the runs went:
Tom Marks, aged 12, ran first with his border collie, Stillmoor Vimto on
Ice (known as Vimto). Tom's dog has only been competing for a few months
as she is not yet 2 years old, she has been known to stop and sniff. Tom
crossed the line with confidence and his determination to keep his dog's
nose off the ground certainly paid off. Vimto worked well and with a
steady clear set the pace for the rest of the team.
Next to run was the youngest team member Millie Nicholson aged just 8 with
her WSD, Edith Wesel Spellcaster known as Eddi. Eddi has been a tricky dog
to train and still a young dog herself, she can be very head strong.
Millie has never been seen to work her dog so well. The crowd of
supporters could not breathe as she completed the weaves still clear,
steady see-saw still clear. A-frame perfect! Just the dog-walk and two
jumps to go, the crowd in silence as Millie controlled this headstrong
collie with nothing but her tiny little voice and YES another clear!!
Third to run was the most senior handler of the team Sally Edwards, with
the youngest dog of the team Aculsia Full of Fizz (Fizz). Fizz is normally
a very well controlled and accurate dog, but with 2 clears from her team
members and having had an elimination in a morning class, Sally was
feeling the pressure! However as cool as a cucumber and with contacts to
die for Sally and Fizz bagged the third clear for the day.
Fourth to run was Jessica Cooke, aged 12, with the most experienced dog, a
grade 5 border collie Rolo White Sox, known to her friends as Misty. The
crowd didn't breathe as Jessica attacked the course with a confidence many
adult agility handlers only wish they had! The other team members just
relieved they had finished, everyone was rooting for Jess. A fast round
and clear to the dog-walk Jess stretched her running legs to beat Misty to
the dog-walk contact and make sure they were clear, however Misty had
other ideas and with Jess in position, Misty did what dogs do best and
ignored her handler and jumped the contact, a fast round from Jess with
just 5 faults on the dog-walk contact.
All eyes now lay on Amber Tunicliffe, aged 13, with her dog Canteba Black
Boy Inde Ring or Blakey. As the only team member left to run, poor Amber
was feeling the pressure! Blakey is a lovely little dog and he loves his
agility but he can be seen to switch his off switch occasionally. As Amber
set off we could all see the nerves in her face, but with accurate
handling and some lovely consistent contacts, Amber pulled another clear
out of the bag.
The crowd was overjoyed, and all team members were very pleased with their
team. Then came the wait for the results!
The team gathered with their supporters to wait out-side the secretary's
tent. Would they be in the places? Would there be rosettes for everyone?
As they had not taken part in this event before they had no idea what the
competition or the prizes would be like?
Then came the announcement "and into the trophies at 3rd place Midlands
Border Collie Club" and what lovely trophies they all got.
Congratulations kids that's really shown us adults how to do it!
By Mandi Marks - Staffs Agility School - 2009 |
|
