On the podium at
SOAWC 2024...
 Jason Smawfield-Huby's journey to
the inaugural Senior Open
Agility World Championships (SOAWC) began back in April 2024 with the try-outs
at Dog Sports Derby. The atmosphere was friendly but the competition deadly
serious. Not sure if he'd had quite done enough to qualify for the team, he
waited in nervous anticipation for the next few weeks. Then the message came
that his dog Hope, his Poodle X, had been chosen as one of the four team
members in the Over 55 category while his other dog Khloe (Lillyn's Copper Eclipse) had been
asked to be the Reserve. Once the initial euphoria had settled down, Jason set
about to working the travel arrangements out, accommodation and so much more and,
as importantly, his training plan for the next few months. Time was going to be
precious.
Fast forward to 15th July. Time to set sail on the North Sea Ferries for our
trip to Belgium. Hope, Khloe and I travelled with Jayne Wilkinson, a club mate
and one of my teammates from the Over 65 category. It was with much
intrepidation that we boarded the ferry knowing we hadn't booked our dogs'
kennels onboard correctly, meaning that we wouldn't disembark until 8.30am the
following day. After a lot of smiles and explanations, we
managed to obtain a 'pet friendly' cabin, now feeling much more relaxed about the
whole trip. Had our luck changed?
 At the end of our short
journey in Belgium, we settled into a fabulous lakeside lodge with fantastic dog
walks and an even better restaurant. Unfortunately, the laws over there forbid
you to walk dogs off lead though, in retrospect, it was probably a good thing
due to the exceptional heat.
Wednesday came around very quickly and it was time to travel to Sentower Park
for our first pre-competition team meeting and acclimatisation at the venue. Up until
then, none of
what was happening had seemed real but walking into that stadium for the first
time and seeing that vast venue reality hit. This was real.
The whole place was so enthralling.
Time to fly the flag
Thursday was the day
standing in the searing heat waiting for the vet checks to be carried out and
for team training to begin.
We each had two minutes in
the ring to practice whatever we wanted and strictly no treats as a reward in the
ring. With this in mind, I kept our session really brief - 1 x dog walk, 1 x seesaw, a
jump through the tyre which is set at a higher height than the Smalls jump at
Kennel Club shows, a single set of weaves and a couple of jumps. Hope knocked a
pole.
A little later the vet checks
began, checking the
dogs were fit to compete. Unfortunately, Hope didn't take to kindly to a strange
vet prodding and poking her. The all clear was given, and we were now ready for
the competitions to start.
Thursday evening was the time for the
opening ceremonies. First came the Junior teams representing countries from all over
the world. There were introductions and finally the Senior teams paraded in from 30
different countries. Altogether, there were 1147 dogs registered to attend the
joint event with 551 competing in the Seniors and 473 in the Juniors. The atmosphere
was electric. The support was fantastic.
And so the competition begins
There were four rings which rotated between senior and junior
classes. Overall, the judges took no prisoners and, whilst I have not attended
any other international events, I saw no soft options for the older or the
younger competitors. The Senior courses were between 182 and 219 metres and
included 22 obstacles so everything was much closer together than you see in the
UK and involved a lot more handling but at speed.
 Our first team run
on Friday was a Jumping on a course set by Jose Vandy. It was 185 metres long
so, that at first, it didn't seem too serious. Then the course plans came through.
Wow!
So many obstacles so close together. So many
handling options. This was completely different to what we see in Great Britain.
Course walking was split into four groups. It was everyone for themselves in the
ring. Head down and start walking. I already knew where the obstacles where from
studying the plan and watching the white dogs. I walked the course once to check
all the positions and then again to confirm my choices of handling. I then stood
back and went through it in my head a couple more times. Then some quick walks
now without thinking and the eight minutes course walking time was over. Could I
get around that course? I was uncertain about a couple of places but I was
prepared as I could be.
I watched a few runs and saw different
handling techniques and many differently trained skills to those we use. All too
soon it was time to get Hope ready. Warm up preps done for us both and there I stood in
the holding area getting more and more nervous by the second. I told myself to
stay relaxed do my normal routine. Don't alter anything. Don't run the course
any differently to how you walked it.
Hope was shuffling on the start line. Be confident, get in position and
then we were off. 33.88 seconds later it was over. We were clear. What a feeling! What a
rush! I just couldn't believe it. I wasn't interested in anything else now
except praising Hope.
The team support was
amazing, and atmosphere was
phenomenal. Two clears, 1 x five faults and an elimination put us in the Silver
Medal position for the teams. Fantastic!
 Super Saturday
Saturday brought two more runs
- the
Individual Jumping and Team Agility. It was another very early start. Up at
5:30am to be at the arena for course walking at 6:30am.
The level of the competition I had
witnessed the day before was incredible.
First the Individual Jumping course,
set by Aneta Obrusnikova - another 182m course, full of handling options,
off-line traps and all at speed.
Course walked. Two options at the open-faced
weaves, blind after the tunnel rear cross behind Hope to the far side of the
weaves was the fast option but much more of a challenge. To stand a chance, I
needed to take this more difficult option. It paid off: another medal - Bronze
this time.
The Team Agility was
scheduled for later in the day, and our runs came
just as the thunderstorm hit. Pacing up and down the corridor waiting, our run
was second to last as the running orders were the reverse of the finishing
positions in the Jumping round.
At that point, my heart and soul were
totally into it. I knew Hope was a good dog but would she really be fast enough against all
of those Shelties?
With all course walking had been done, it was
time to go. There was a minimum of room behind the start jump with two marshals standing nearby.
Hope needed to wait for me to get into position. She did and then was off like a
rocket. She did a fantastic dog walk, and we managed a blind to control the next
jump, superb seesaw and straight off into the weaves. It was another clear round
- absolutely unbelievable. Hope had put herself into another Silver Medal
position. Her enthusiasm was incredible. This little lady was on fire.
Teammate John Clayton ran for his life and put in an excellent clear. We
now just needed one more. Unfortunately it was not to be, though not for the lack
of trying. We came as a team. We competed as a team, and we finished as
the best of friends. The support and camaraderie was something I had never come
across before and will always cherish. The whole trip was worth it for just that.
Saturday night brought the first presentation ceremony, and
the atmosphere and noise were incredible. It was my first time ever at an
international event, and I was so proud and happy to be on the podium.
 Such
a special occasion
Sunday was the final day of competition with only one run left in the
Agility Individual round for me.
Once again we were at the arena before 7am. Our course was
set by Marleen Haeneefstingels - a cool 219m. Talk about traps and handling
options. It was just incredible.
Our eight minute course walking
slot was at 10.24am. I studied the
course plan, looked at different lines from the edge of the ring and watched the
two white dogs - both of which had been fantastic all weekend - struggle to get around.
I walked the course as normal, following all my normal routines, but I have never
felt so focused in my life. As I walked, I planned the course for my fast route.
It was risky but what was the point of running safe?
Was I nervous? Yes.
Could I
do get round it? If I could get Hope over jump 4 - and not go into the tunnel and
then control the turn off the dog walk - yes, I believed I could.
Then the wait.
106 dogs running, and I was 104th.
I watched for awhile and then went to my van to collect myself and control my
nerves the best as I could. I had everything to run for and nothing to lose as I
had already exceeded my expectations.
 Two hours later we were queuing waiting
for our run. I was just focused in the moment. Don't watch other people. Just do
your own thing. Deep breath.
I remember Bernadette
Olsson Bay, our Small Team Manager, giving me the countdown to my turn and then
we were off. It was the first wrap around start of the competition for us and we went for
it. Blind after the slice on jump 3 - the line was so much better. Push round
onto the dog walk and run for my life to control the turn off the dog walk and
avoid the trap jump straight on another push to reach the long jump. Hold back
and let Hope find the weaves herself - just like I tell everyone at training. I
need to ensure she lets the seesaw ground before I release her one jump to go
and it was over. We did it - a clear round on the hardest course I had ever run.
Hope was absolutely paw perfect. Straight to the contraband to get her reward.
Two dogs left to run.
And then arms and hugs were coming from everywhere.
I suddenly noticed the noise
and, above it all, I heard John shouting and waving like mad.
We did it. We had won Silver in the Agility. What a feeling! Once again the noise from
the Great Britain Senior team was incredible. Hope had done it.
The emotions then hit. Hugs and
jubilations came from all directions. What a team of wonderful, genuine people
to be with. Those moments will stay with me for the rest of my life.
 The rest of the day was a blur as we prepared ourselves for
the closing ceremony and final presentations. It was such a special
occasion. Seniors and Juniors walked into
together, supporting each other and cheering each other.
On the rostrum again twice, but the final time, to run there with Hope by my
side and all my teammates old and young running behind me and cheering as I climbed
up onto the first-place rostrum that was so special.
Hope (Cotton Candy
Sunshine) was the first SOAWC Over 55 Agility Champion.
Her accomplishments were
amazing.
-
Bronze in Individual Jumping
-
Silver in Individual agility
-
Silver in Team Jumping round
-
Silver in Team Agility round
-
Gold in combined individual rounds
Then they played the
National Anthem and we all sang our hearts out. The image of Alan Bray in the
group in front of me, supporting and encouraging me will always make me smile.
SOAWC should have a
bright future. It was well supported and well attended, and it has already been
booked for Portugal next year in conjunction with JOAWC 2025.
Many people made this possible but, without the hard work
and determination of Jackie Gardner and her team. this would not have been
possible. The support and friendship from all the team members is something I
shall
treasure forever. The words of wisdom from Alan Bray and Alan Wildman will
never be forgotten. The friendship of John Clayton and Jayne Wilkinson is
something special. The whole team played its own part. We have had
unbridled success way beyond all our expectations. The smiles and the joy which
this event created were just incredible.
And thank you to my
personal sponsor Operation K9 Hydrotherapy in Beverley.
Photo credit at
SOAWC: Paws on the Floor
 About
the author...
Born in July 1964 in Hull, Jason Smawfield-Huby started his career as a draughtsman. He built up and ran a
service company for over 30 years as well as being a director of a national
network and treasurer to the industry's trade association.
He started agility in May 2015 with his
first dog Ruby. In September 2020, he sold his business to concentrate on
agility. He now teaches agility at Wagtails and has just been offered his first
ever guest training appointment at the Weslo Agility Academy in Scotland.
He has three G7 Small dogs, all having
finishes in the top four in Championship classes as well as a Grade 5 poodle.
He qualified as a KC judge in 2022 and
absolutely loves judging and does and will travel all over the UK to
appointments.
First published 13th August 2024
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