Coco's last run for
Agility Team GB...
From the time that Kathryn
Stickney started out in agility in 2012 with her dog Working Cocker Spaniel
Coco, she dreamt of running at Crufts. Then she didn’t even know there was such
as thing as the Agility World Championships (AWC), let alone believe it would be
possible to compete there. It shows that anything is possible with hard work,
dedication and, of course, a little bit of luck! This is the story of their
journey to the 2018 FCI Agility World Championships in Sweden.
Coco and I have
achieved so much since we started in Grade 1. In that time, she has won two
Championship tickets and we have competed at Crufts and Olympia where Coco had a
2nd place in our first year there. While these events are incredible, the FCI
Agility World Championships is unique and unbelievably special.
I went to Italy to
watch in 2015 and got so involved with every run. Even the eliminations are
cheered and applauded as the partnerships show off their skills as they continue
complete the course, a real celebration of world class agility. That's when I
knew I wanted to get Coco there!
Absolutely nothing
can prepare you for your first time competing at the FCI Agiity World
Championships. The atmosphere is electric with every single person in the crowd
willing you on.
The Agiity World
Championships in Kristianstad, Sweden on 4th -7th October was my third
consecutive AWC and definitely the one I felt the most ready for. My preparation
this year has been the most strict and planned of any year I started working on
my fitness and diet in November 2017 ready for the squad process and team
selection.
From June 2018, I
planned and prepped every meal. I did several workouts a week along with hill
running, sprint training and, in the process, lost a stone in weight. All this
increased my energy levels, reaction time, speed and also had a positive impact
on my mental game!
Coco has been
fantastic throughout this year and was possibly the fastest she has ever been
which was not expected considering she is now eight years old. Happily I work
with a great team of people (Nicky Grant ACPAT Physiotherapist & SMART Vet
Wales) to keep her fit, and they have done a brilliant job with her.
 The
competition
Over the four days prior to the show, we were busy with the official vet
checks, measuring and team training on the day before. Team training was our
opportunity to get into the
Kristianstad
arena for the first time and
practice on the official equipment for the event.
As the Small Team
Captain, I also had some extra team responsibilities which included finalising
the running order, planning training sessions for the team and ensuring we
worked together as a team. This year was the first time at AWC for the rest of
my team it was good to be the experienced one but they made it easy for me and
it was a great team to be part of.
Despite only have one
run per day, the event itself can be mentally and physically exhausting. We were
getting up before 5am everyday so we could be at the venue to cheer all the GB
teams on but on the day, by the time the Small Team ran, it was late afternoon.
Thankfully for me, my Small Individual runs were first.
Knowing what's best
for your dog is important. For instance, Coco settles well in her bed so she was
happy in the team room but some dogs were better back at their hotel or resting
in vehicles.
My runs didn’t go quite to plan
The positives are that we had some great bits and she looked so fast out
there. She went up several gears on that surface, but mix that with the cheering
crowd, the fastest courses we have ever run and the adrenaline, it was hard for
me to control her. She can be crazy and she can be wild but that is also what
makes her so damn fast and fun to run. I have to keep connection with her the
whole time or in the blink of an eye she has made her own choice of obstacle.
To leave Sweden with
no clear runs and only eliminations is tough especially after all the work we
put in but that’s agility. Yes, I have been disappointed with how we did this
year, but I am also proud of our achievements to date.The support we get as part
of the team is incredible the coaching team are with us every step of the way
before, during and after the events.
Since then I have
decided that Sweden was to be Coco's last international event. I will miss the
people of Team GB just as much I will miss the competing but hopefully I will be
back one day!
 About
the author...
Kathryn Stickney's love of dog sports started with Flyball when she
got my first dog Harry, a naughty rescue Cockerpoo who is eleven years old now.
Coco, a working
cocker spaniel was my first agility dog and started her love of agility. She now
has Crave who is four and reached Grade 7 this year but recently retired due to
having Intervertebral Disc Disease and finally a 2 year old border collie called
Wiggy who is just starting out in Grade 3.
Agility has taken
over Kathryn's life. She started teaching part-time in 2013 but after two years
it became her full time job and she now runs
KS Training where she teaches classes at
levels and ages. She runs workshops,
camps and guest trainer days and also teaches on training days nationwide.
Kathryn is based in
North Tawton (Devon).
First published 18
November 2018
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