2009 Alpha Agility Challenge

Near 200 competitors assembled at the recent Easter 'Egg'gility to compete at the first heat of The Alpha Agility Challenge. The top 5 handlers would qualify for the final at Stoneleigh Park Country festival on Sunday, 30 August 2009. The Judge Helen Taylor set a flowing, yet challenging course.

With congratulations to the following winners who have now qualified for the final;

Judge Helen choose to award an Alpha Wildcard to Jayne Petit with the comment, Cracking dog – Shame about the handler!

Each of the qualifiers received Alpha products and the Heat winner, well known Sue Stock from Golden Valley DTC was delighted to receive a magnificent hand made clock as part of her mementoes of a splendid day. Sue was on great form during Easter ‘Egg'gility taking several other places and will be one to watch at the Alpha final at Stoneleigh Park Country Festival on Sunday 30th August 2009.

Next heat of the 2009 Alpha Agility Challenge Final is on Sunday 10 May hosted by Championship show organisers Beacon ADTC.

The Alpha Agility Challenge produced some brilliant performances from both handlers and dogs at the recent Beacon Championship Show. The show attracted some of the top UK handlers and judge Heidi Windheuser set a testing Alpha course.

Congratulations goes to her winner Jan Croydon with Meggie Four Paws who had a cracking clear round and will be one to watch at the final on Sunday, 30August at Stoneleigh Park Country Festival.

Charlie Wyatt must have had the unluckiest run of the day with his dog Lucy Lastic clipping the last pole with a time that would have won the heat. This left Heidi with no questions to whom she should award the Alpha Wildcard.

Jan Croydon with Meggie Four Paws

Claire Smith with Sam I am

Ruth Fox with Amaze Me Grace

Catherine Emery with Supremely Swift

Jackie Smith with Borderstorm Now or Never

Alpha Wildcard - Charlie Wyatt Lucy Lastic

The Alpha Agility Challenge moved to Belvoir Castle Steam Festival for the third heat of this competition. Despite less than favourable weather conditions, handlers made the best of things. Judge Kate Dexter's heat winner was the much in form Frances Poulter and her GSD X Dayta Dayta Day who had already qualified at Easter Egg'gility earlier in the year.

This allowed the 5th qualifying spot to go to our final judge Dave Perry and his Dog Sundae Billy Raffles much to all his connections delight. Graciously Dave then confirmed that he will officiate at The Alpha Agility Challenge Final which will be held at Stoneleigh Park Country Festival on Sunday, 30 August 2009.

Congratulations goes to the following partnerships who have qualified for the Final:

Heat 4 moves westwards to Golden Valley's June Agility weekend where some 400 competitors will continue to seek one of those elusive qualifying places.

Heat 4 of The Alpha Agility Challenge 2009 saw over 400 partnerships try to win one of the qualifying places at June's Golden Valley weekend.

Judge Tim Jones set a challenging course that saw plenty of clear rounds. The eventual winner Emma Greening was in the lead from before 10 o'clock with her dog Tess The Rest. By late afternoon Emma was exhausted, checking the scoreboard but elated when she found she had held onto her winning place.

With such a large entry Alpha increased the qualifying places by 100% so congratulations are due to the following ten partnerships:-

Emma Greening with Tess The Rest
Sian Powell with Midsummer Llangwn Blodyn
David Duke with Tara Boom e Ah
Barbara Cranfield with Cleyside Hanky Panky
Debbie Coles with Kinsters Wood Yew
Georgina Baker Borderstorm Dare to Have Fun
Hannah Banks with Zazz Ma Girl
Christine Hines with Taddymoor Jed
Nicola Mullings with Kamakari Devil Woman
Stuart Doughty with Stillinn Dought

The Alpha Agility Challenge at the halfway stage for 2009 moves on July's Bretford Summer Show.

Bretford's Summer Show was our host for the fifth qualifier of The Alpha Agility Challenge 2009. With the show specifically aimed at Grades 1 – 3 some notable names were in evidence with their new rising stars of Agility. Judge Mike Bordoli chose not to award the Alpha Wildcard today and his Alpha qualifiers were: -

With just a possible 18 more dogs to qualify at the three remaining heats the Earl of Leicester's home, Holkham Hall is our sixth venue.

Heat 6 of the Alpha Agility Challenge was set in the grounds of the fabulous Holkham Hall during the Country Fair. With Graham's exciting and attractive commentary the crowds gathered to watch the highlight of the weekend.

Before the action started, we were pleased to welcome BBC Radio Norfolk presenter Nick Conrad who did a short interview with our Judge Nik Knight and had a little bit of success trying to run a rather uncontrollable dog; Geronimo Bates over some of the jumps!

Congratulations goes to Barry Anslow who rounded of his very successful weekend by winning the sixth heat with his dog Asher with a clear round in a time of 29.45 secs.

Well done to the following partnerships who have also qualified for the Alpha Agility Challenge Final at Stoneleigh Park on the 29 August.

The Alpha Wild Card was awarded to Cindy Payne with her dog Dizzy Heights . Nik said “ they were a fantastic partnership and were unlucky to miss out.

The penultimate heat of this years challenge took place on the English banks of the river Wye in glorious Herefordshire sunshine. Judge Pete Hughes’s course again tested some of the rising stars of Agility with Welsh connections much in evidence.

With less than 3.5 seconds separating the five qualifiers of particular note must be Beacons' 16-year-old Jack Greenwood with Red Rex. Just 0.52 seconds behind our eventual winner, he held onto 3rd place in the face of some stiff opposition. Together with Bretford's 14-year-old Martin Reid, an Easter qualifier, both lads will be ones to watch at The Alpha Agility Final on Sunday, 30 August 2009.

The Alpha wildcard went across the border to Phillipa Coggins with Midsummer Eve.

The final heat of this year’s Alpha Agility Challenge well and truly crosses the border into Wales at the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Show.

The eighth and final qualifier of the Alpha Agility Challenge 2009 was held about as far west as ground allows during the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Show. With the Welsh Agility Handler of the Year attracting entries from all over Wales and the opportunity for a few days R&R in unspoilt Welsh countryside for those further afield, judge Marilyn Wiseham had a good batch of the rising stars of agility in the ring, applauded by the public, several rows deep.

Consistently on form, Taddymoor Jed, handled by Christine Hines, won their second heat and became a Grade 4 dog at the same time. As they had already qualified for the Final at the Stoneleigh Park Country Festival, another handler took their place.

Of particular note was Marilyn's Alpha Wildcard winner - Paws Off The Table Mable handled by Kevin Towell. Rolling the penultimate pole in what would have been the winning time almost kept him from qualifying for the final but but they found favour with the judge as dog's name was almost a family saying in the young Marilyn's household. Her mother was a Mabel, too. They're certainly ones to watch at the Alpha final on Sunday, 30 August 2009.

Thanks to all the Rising Stars of Agility for taking part in the 2009 competition and good luck to all at the final.

The 2010 Alpha Agility Challenge starts at The Small Animal Show Sunday 11 October 2009 on the East of England Showground.

With invitations far and wide, the rising stars of agility gathered on Sunday, 30 August at Stoneleigh Park Country Festival to find the winner of The 2009 Alpha Agility Challenge.

Judge Dave Perry, who it transpired has judged every major final in Agility at least once save The Highland Final, officiated throughout the day. The competitors were able to try their hand at Steeplechase and Touch & Go classes in preparation for the afternoon final.

For some partnerships, it was the first time they had qualified for an Agility final and the nerves certainly impaired performance. With a challenging course, as one might expect for a final, the draw mattered with the earlier runners highlighting the parts not all could reach.

Congratulations to all the finalists and commiserations, particularly to Barbara, drawn 29, and Hannah, drawn 34, who showed eventual winner Sian, drawn 45, the way to go. Dave’s eventual winners of The Alpha Agility Challenge were:-

Place	Handler/Dog	Faults	Time
1	Sian Powell with Midsummer Llangwn Blodyn	C	32.11 secs
2	Sue Stock with Lucy Longsocks	C	33.30 secs
3	Kate Wheeler with Would He Be Clear	C	35.11 secs
4	Martin Reid with Marts Magical Moss	C	35.40 secs
5	Susan Carroll with Brillo of Cocksford	C	35.99 secs
6	Jacky Motts with Hexagon Sense	C	38.80secs
7	Hannah Banks with Zazz Ma Girl	5	30.99 secs
8	Barbara Cranfield with Cleyside Hanky Panky	5	31.63 secs
9	David Duke with Tara Boom De Ah	5	33.53 secs
10	Jackie Smith with Borderstorm Now or Never	5	33.98 secs

Tea and cakes followed at the end of what we hope was an enjoyable day for all the Rising Stars Of Agility at The 2009 Alpha Agility Challenge. Check out the photos on http://www.photoboxgallery.com/alphaagility.

Special thanks to our officials lead by Judge Dave Perry, Scrime Kate Dexter, Score Jane Armitage, Check in Lyn Bye, Competitor Escort Steve Tubb and Stuart's Explorer Scouts. Final thanks must go to Alpha Feeds for support of this new Agility competition. Alpha's commitment to agility continues and arrangements are already in place to find more up and coming handlers for The Alpha Agility Challenge 2010.

1st for performance

The Alpha Agility Challenge 2009

The Alpha Agility Challenge is a new competition designed for Large dogs Grades 1-3. There will be eight qualifiers around the country at which five dogs will qualify for the prestigious final at the Stoneleigh Park Country Festival, Warwickshire on 30 August 2009.