Meeting the challenge

Handi Agility in France

Well known disabled handler Philippa Armstrong has sent us this information about a new category which is being created in France - the Handi category. It's a great step forward for people with disabilities to be accepted in this sport. But there is a problem.

The handis would be allowed to compete, but separately, sometimes alone in their category. At present, there are about a dozen all around France. They would be allowed to run and to have 'fun' with their dogs as per the CNEAC guidelines to judges and organizers, but they are put out of regular competitions.

For some people with disabilities, it should be quite satisfactory, but for others, not. What interest in competing is there when there is no challenge?

The regulation will classify disabled handlers separately and adjust their SCT (Standard Course Time). Many prefer to compete with the able-bodied, just like everyone else. Of course, they know they will rarely be on the podium but who cares, it's their choice! They will have competed with able-bodied colleagues and have proved themselves. They will show that, in spite of their disability, it is possible. And, if by chance they were on the podium, the cup would be the more beautiful!

There is a petition which both disabled and non-disbled competitors alike can sign to request exemptions for handis while using their devices such as wheelchairs, canes, guides, bell collars to locate the dog to allow them the choice to be classified separately or with everyone else. An English translation is below.

http://www.lapetition.be/en-ligne/l-agility-jumping-canin-face-au-handicap-6750.html

Translation

Disabled Handlers ‘Do It Differently’ in All Weathers

It was quite a start to the 2008 Summer Season!  Strong winds, ice cold temperatures and horizontal rain, but at least we had a show to go to.  Awnings were put up on the Thursday and taken down again very quickly on Friday morning and the term 'mobile home' gained whole new meaning. Philippa Armstrong reports on disabled handlers competition at the Kernow K9 Show

Altogether there were 11 DHA handlers with a total of 25 dogs from all over Southern England as well as Susan Rekveld who came over from Holland - all vying for the Gold and Platinum Best Overall Disabled Handler (BODH) Trophies.

The Platinum Level Trophy was won by Chris Morse with her WSD Freddy with Liz Spreadbury coming 2nd with her BC Tri and Jackie McDevitt 3rd with her WSD Millie. Chris commented, 'I don’t really feel disabled, like a wheelchair user, but I certainly do handle my dogs differently.' For those of you who don’t know Chris, she was one of the first persons I ever saw to successfully work her dogs ahead of her whilst handling at walking pace. Very impressive.

The Gold Level Trophy was won by Marion McIlherene with her Papillon Fizz.  Fizz had two 3rds, a 4th and a 5th over the weekend. I'm telling you, whatever she's taking, I want some! Second was yours truly with my younger WSD Binky and 3rd was Sarah Tailby with her WSD Flame.

It was lovely to see old friends again and meet new, many of whom managed to squeeze into Anne Gill’s awning / garden party on the Friday evening for some of Anne's famous hospitality. I think Susan Rekveld was pleasantly surprised by the standard and number of disabled handlers in the UK and by the way we organise our Association. I, on the other hand, was amazed to find parts of Holland are closer to Dogs In Need than I am in Devon.

Thank you to Kernow K9 for allowing us to hold the BODH Trophies at their Show and to Exeter Disability Centre for sponsoring the lovely Trophies on this occasion.

The next BODH Trophies will be taking place at UKA KATS on 31 May - 1 June 1st in the Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot and at the Thames Championship Agility Show on 7-8 June at Newbury Showground. We look forward to seeing many of you there.

Don’t forget to send us your points for the Annual League. Remember points from all shows count.  

If you are interested in taking part in the League further details and Registration Form are available via our NEW and now regularly updated website.  www.disabledhandlersassociation..com

Disabled Handlers Going for a Record at Kernow K9

Anne Gill has decided to see how many disabled handlers (Association members and non-members) and friends can be squeezed into her Camping space, for a get together and presentation of the DHA 2007 Annual Gold League Shield.  All are welcome. Any nibbles to share will be gratefully received.

Don’t forget the Best Overall Disabled Handler Show Trophies are open to all disabled handlers, competing over the weekend. Simply register at the Secretaries Tent to collect your score card/s.  

DHA Back On-line

They say good things come to those who wait. At last the long awaited new Disabled Handlers Association website is up and running, thanks to Amanda Brophy. Go and have a look on www.disabledhandlersassociation.com. As well as information on the Best Overall Disabled Handlers Trophies and Annual League, there is a members map, some interesting FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and much more.

Organisers Philippa Armstrong and Anne Gill, hope to keep this website regularly updated, so send in your points regularly throughout the year along with any other information you would like to see on there.

The Disabled Handlers Association was formed in August 2005 by Philippa Armstrong and Anne Gill, to support fellow disabled dog agility handlers. The Association offers Best Overall Disabled Handler Trophies - open to all - at various major shows and as well a Disabled Handlers Annual League, open to DHA members. Only 3% of disabled people are wheelchair users.  Impairments can be visible, hidden, physical, sensory, psychological and/or learning.

Calling all Disabled Handlers with a Sense of Adventure

There has been a good response to call for entry to the 2008 International Mix & Breed Championship Agility Show (IMCA) in Northern Italy, but so far the disabled handlers have been very quiet. 

The Para Agility World Championships (PAWC) competition is to be held in Voghera (close to Milan) on 28-31 August. It is a wonderful opportunity to show off your handling skills and a chance in a lifetime to represent your county in an International Match, meet new people and just enjoy the occasion. The atmosphere of the event is like the friendliest local show you have been to and then a bit more. It is a relaxed holiday with your dog with an emphasis on the relaxed. Three runs in four days is almost horizontal!

In the past, teams from various European countries have participated including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal,  Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom as well as Mexico, Japan, South Africa and United States.

Video of para-agility in Voghera in December 2007

If you are interested in learning more, please get in touch by emailing Richard at perdixcott@uwclub.net.

Source: Richard Partridge  (14/01/08)

Disabled Handlers Association Annual League 2007
Results

The Leagues for 2007 are now closed.  We had 18 handlers with 32 dogs competing for the trophies and rosettes in the leagues this year.  This year we have had 7 new members joining us taking our total membership to 32.  8 members with 10 of their dogs have achieved a number of other successes.

Congratulations to the following members on their placings.

Gold League

Platinum League

Winning into:

KC Grade 3

• Babs Bryce with her X Shady
•  Neville Todd with his Cocker Spaniel Remmie

UKA Novice

• Marion McIlerene with her Papillon Fizz
• Philippa Armstrong with WSD’s Zippy and Binky

UKA Senior

• Babs Bryce with her X Shady
• Rita Alderson with her WSD Millie
• Carol Roderick with her X Rilla

 KC Grade 6

• Margaret Long with her Cocker Spaniel Millie
• Vanessa Layton with her Miniature Poodles Archie and Giselle

UKA Championship

• Margaret Long with her Cocker Spaniel Millie

DHA Platinum Level

• Babs Bryce
• Carol Roderick
• Rita Alderson

We wish all of our handlers a happy, healthy and successful 2008.

For further information or to register with the Disabled Handlers Association contact: Anne Gill at email annegill48@otmail.com or ring tel. 01252 661 442

Best Overall Disabled Handler Trophies at Dogs in Need 2007

The DHA trophies were presented to:-

• Gold - Marion McIlherene with her Papillion Fizz
• Platinum - Vanessa Leyton with her Miniature Poodle Giselle

And there was not a Collie, or indeed a large dog, in sight!

Marion and Fizz were also in action in the K9 Cages Small Classic Combined 1-2 Final on Thursday.

The Trophies were presented at a pleasant social gathering on the Saturday evening where we ate cake, drank bubbly and talked all things agility, including pooling our technical expertise on just how we do do it differently.  It was nice to see Neville Todd at the Show and look forward to seeing him back in action again next year.

The running surface at the Suffolk Showground was good and held up well over the week. As mobility impaired handlers know, this can make all the difference between a good and a bad run and/or show.

Anne GIll said, 'We feel the holding of this Trophy marks the start of a new phase for the Disabled Handlers Association, after a quiet period due to the fact that both Philippa and I had a 'bad patch' at the same time. This is often the way with disabled people.'

We are pleased to report Anne is now buzzing with energy post-operatively and we will keep you informed of DHA developments.

The DHA organisers would like to thank James WellBeloved for sponsoring the Trophies and Dogs In Need Agility Society for allowing us to hold this event for the third year.

Disabled Handlers Shine at DIN

The Disabled Handlers Association will be awarding Best Overall Disabled Handler Trophies at Dogs In Need again this year. There will be a Gold level Trophy and rosettes for disabled handlers in G1-4 and a Platinum level Trophy and rosettes for disabled handlers in G5-7. Score cards will be available at the Secretary's office.  

Despite being in hospital waiting to have her gall bladder removed, Anne Gill has every intention of joining us at the Show. Philippa Armstrong said, 'I¹m sure many of you will join with me in wishing her every success for her forthcoming op, a speedy recovery and the warmest of wishes to see her again soon. Many thanks to DINAS for permission to hold these Trophies.  We look forward to seeing you there.'

Please do pass this information on the anyone who does not have access to the net.

DHA Results

The Disabled Handlers Association held the first Best Overall Disabled Handler Trophy for 2007 at UKA Scrambles in March. I¹d like to thank our host Scrambles for allowing us to hold this competition for a second time and to James WellBeloved for sponsoring the trophies and rosettes.

Congratulations to the winner Philippa Armstrong with Ziggy. After seven months off, don¹t we wish we all could come back to competing in this way. Second was Rita Alderton with Millie while third was Carol Roderick with Rilla.

We would like to welcome our three new members.

We were due to hold a social to present the Annual League Shields for 2006 but as the weather was so appalling, cold, wet and windy, that everyone went home to get warm and recharge for the next day. We are toying with the idea of rescheduling the event for later in the year when (hopefully) will be kinder.  If anyone has any preference as to when and were please, contact Anne Gill on tel. 01252-661 442 or annegill48@hotmail.com.

For those of you who are not sure the Gold League winners are:-

1. Vanessa Leyton with her Miniature Poodle Giselle
2. Margaret Long with her Cocker Spaniel Millie
3. Carol Roderick with her crossbreed Rilla

The Platinum League winners are:-

1. Sue White with her BC Mr Mercury
2. Angie Lucas with her BC Boz

Due the the change in the grading system and our increase in membership, a quarter of our members will be battling it out for the the Platinum Shield this year and providing inspiration to us lesser mortals in the baby classes. (08/04/07)

Party at the DHA Awards

The Disabled Handlers Association will be holding a Get Together on the evening of 24 March at Anne Gill's caravan, Newbury Showground, were we will be presenting the 2006 League Awards and, no doubt, partaking of the odd tipple like to thank UKA Scrambles for hosting the Overall Disabled Handler Trophies again at this Show. So why not come along and make a weekend of it. We look forward to seeing you there.

For more information contact either Philippa and Anne on philippa.armstrong@linesone.net or annegill48@hotmail.com respectively.

Results of the First DHA Annual League

The Disabled Handlers Association is pleased to announce the winners of their first annual league of 2006 as follows:

Gold Level

• 1st - Vanessa Leyton with her Poodle Giselle
• 2nd - Margaret Long with her Cocker Spaniel Millie
• 3rd - Carol Roderick with her Crossbreed Rilla

Platinum Level

• 1st - Sue White with her Border Collie Mr Mercury
• 2nd - Angie Lucas with her Border Collie Boz

Congratulations to the winners and to all disabled handlers for their many and various successes in 2006.  It has been a pleasure and an uplifting experience to communicate with and meet many of you at the shows.  And let us not forget the dogs, who make it possible for handlers of all ages and abilities to compete together at shows, how fantastic are they.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us in our first year, especially UKA Scrambles, Supa Dogs and the KC International Festival for hosting and DIN for allowing us to hold, Best Overall Disabled Handler Trophies.

Liz Spreadbury with Tri and Sue White with Bug,
winners of the Best Overall, Gold and Platinum, Disabled Handler Trophies at the KC International Festival 2006

In the first year of the League, membership has tripled and has gone from offering two BODH Trophies in 2005 to four in 2006. In 2007, the organisers will continue to award trophies at two levels, Gold for handlers Grades 1-4 and Platinum for handlers Grades 5-7, which will be 25% of the members.

Further news of the 2007 events will follow shortly, including a proposed combined presentation and Fun Day and the first BODH Trophy in the North of England. The website, after a few initial teething problems in 2006, will be regularly updated. Plans are to develop both the website and the Association in response to feedback.

Philippa said, 'Anne and I would like to wish all disabled handlers heartfelt seasons greetings and much success in 2007. We look forward to seeing many of you at the Shows.'

To join the Disabled Handlers Association or for more information, email Philippa Armstrong at philippa.armstrong@lineone.net / or ring tel.  01803-867074 or email Anne Gill at  annegill48@hotmail.com or ring tel.  01252-661442.

www.disabledhandlersassociation.co.uk

Win a Portable DVD Player at Dogs In Need

Dogs Gold, in conjunction with the Disabled Handlers Association, are pleased to be offering disabled handlers the opportunity to win a 7² screen, portable DVD Player or a Minicam digital camera at Dogs In Need Agility Show. In addition to the usual splendid Trophies and Rosettes, the first placed Gold and Platinum Best Overall Disabled Handlers will receive a portable DVD player or Minicam digital camera, the second and third placed handlers will receive Leads with flashing LED lights on them.

The DVD Players could be used to play back and analyse ringside your last run or keep your family and friends entertained.  So if you¹re a disabled handler and would like the the opportunity to win one of these prizes don¹t forget to pick up your score card from the secretary at the show. The Best Overall Disabled Handlers Trophies held  at Supa Dogs 2006 were a great success, with numbers were three times that of our first year and disabled handlers competing in the Advanced, Medium and Novice Finals.

For further information about the Disabled Handlers Association contact Philippa Armstrong on tel. 01803-867074  or visit www.disabledhandlersassociation.co.uk

New Web Site for DHA

The Disabled Handlers Association are pleased to announce the launch of their website: www.disabledhandlersassociation.co.uk

The website contains information about the association including the annual league, specific show trophies, members profiles, some frequently asked questions, training tips and links to other agility websites.  

Philippa Armstrong said, 'We trust the site will be both useful and interesting and wish all disabled handlers a successful season.'

All About Dogs or All about Alternative Dog Handlers!

Brentwood All About Dogs is a fascinating weekend. If you can tear yourself away from your main dog interest for one single day and see and hear about what other dog enthusiasts do, it’s the place to go. Crufts doesn’t have the Bernese Mountain Dog club showing off their fine regalia in their carting training.  You wouldn’t see or be able to have a go against trained racing whippets. You wouldn’t be able to have a go at the ultimate agility challenge course, with the longest tunnel in the world! And I can’t think of anywhere where you would see a Chihuahua being transported in its own pram!

The Alternative Handlers demonstration
On the Sunday, a representative group of The Alternative Handlers (TAH) lined up to start the Sunday Main Arena programme off with a demonstration of Agility. As you may know, we are mainly agility handlers who all have some form of additional difficulty to overcome when it comes to doing the thing we love best. That includes heart by-pass, artificial joint replacements, arthritis, that sort of thing -

There were six of us: Rowena, Sheila, Rita, Neville, Marion and me (Angela.) Some of us ran two dogs. Soraya Porter was very generous and came to be our commentator. We put up an agility Helter Skelter, a simple course to remember at short notice which was good for all of our levels of ability, human and canine!

I can remember that the morning had started damp and overcast, so the public were a little thin on the ground. However, those who watched, seemed appreciative of our efforts and certainly all our dogs enjoyed the spiral trip! Afterwards, we stopped to chat to a lady and her son who were very impressed. They would like to be able to do something with their own dog, and the son used a wheelchair. But it’s the same problem – wheelchairs often can’t cope with the ground of a riding school, and people with mobility problems also have trouble with uneven ground to train on. We had a little chat and gave some suggestions of things to do with their dog to have a little fun.

On the whole, everyone enjoyed it. We appreciate the additional support we get from people like Steve and Richard, checking the equipment is ready, chasing the organisers, and from Soraya who panted over from running her dogs to speak for us, making it fun for those just watching. We were really grateful to meet and have a new face by way of  Rita, joining our names for demonstrations. The Alternative Handlers is not just about competition. We are interested in demonstrating and showing how people can enjoy teaching their dogs despite a disability.

A simple example of raising disability awareness was that fact that the parking attendant at the show initially asked me to move from my position as they were trying to hold them for more disabled people.  I didn’t have to move my vehicle after I explained what I was doing that day, but many people still think a disability is limited to something visually obvious. We know that agility is more than just being able to run fast. It is the partnership between handler and dog that makes the sport, and that ability is not limited to those who have full fitness.

The Alternative Handlers did well at UKA and at Brentwood in general. There were first, seconds, thirds and fourth places galore at the agility show. Sheila and Richard’s dog Murphy won the Saturday Frisbee competition, DD got placed in a Novice HTM class and Boz won a class for first time in four years! We hope to be continuing this lucky streak at EMDAC soon.

All about Dogs is about THE dog owner.
Not about the agility dog, the obedience dog, the working trial dog. It’s about the dog owner who has never aspired to these things, or has a favourite breed that would never do any of these things. It's about the family having a chance to join in with doggy activities we take for granted.

I was parked next to a public admission gate, and I saw more variety of breeds than I have seen going to a dog show in ages. Great Danes, Rottweilers, Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, Huskies, Staffs, Daschunds, Spinones, Bassets, Min Pins, tiny Yorkies, Goldies, Labs. Families often had more than one breed in tow. I watched children happily holding the lead of their wonderful pet, and getting totally delighted with each new sight of a bewildered puppy. One puppy stands out for me:  a mum had a little girl, and four dogs:  two Lhasas, one Weiminerar, and  a Bulldog puppy dressed in a pink harness. This puppy sat down every few steps, and the mum had the patience of a saint coping with all the different needs. I didn’t see her lose her temper once with any of the dogs or her daughter. It was the cutest puppy I saw all weekend.

Most people were having a hard time hanging on to their dog as it dragged them through the car park. I sincerely hope that those I saw still using check chains, or hardly able to hold their dog on a normal collar, got some ideas from the dog training stands about how to make life easier for both.

All About Dogs is the venue where you can take your obedience dog, and have a go at gundog scurry. Take your agility dog and try racing against whippets. Bring along your oversized pet and walk around an enormous field with have a go classes everywhere. You can watch the police and Services dogs go through their paces; comparing their obedience level to yours. A word to the wise. If your dog is noise shy, avoid Sundays as they do their criminal work then and you can hear the gunshots all over the showground.

Rowena and Steve Beall keep a mailing list of any people wanting to be in touch about The Alternative Handlers and maybe get involved in whatever capacity they can. At the moment, we would be interested in hiring a venue for some agility meetings, capable of supporting anyone using wheelchairs or with other mobility problems, such as an artificial ground perhaps or a well-kept paddock. Those with a disability often make light of the difficulties they face in training their dog, but as part of the support to offer, TAH would like to find a suitable venue specifically to meet the special needs of our type of handlers. If anyone has some helpful information, or if anyone else would be interested in putting  their name down for any future demonstrations in whatever part of the country, perhaps they can get in touch.

For more information, email Rowena.

Angela Lucas

Marion & Amy Do It Again!

The Disabled Handlers Association awarded their first Best Overall Disabled Handler Trophy of 2006 at UKA Scrambles in April. Despite the weathers best efforts to deter us, handlers were keen to contest the trophy. The Trophy was awarded to the top disabled handler of the weekend, plus rosettes and dogs gold gift packs awarded to third place.

The Gold Trophy was won by Marion McIlherene with Amy, gaining 3 x 2nds and a third placing over the course of the show. Second was Margaret Long with Milli and third was Liz Spreadbury with Wizz, who between then also had a fist full of high placings. Indeed many handlers came away with points toward the disabled handlers annual league, admirably demonstrating disabled handlers skills.

Marion not only completed her set of Best Overall Disabled Handler placings - she previously came second at Supa dog and third at Dogs In Need in 2005- she also graduated into UKA Novice classes. Not a bad weekends works for someone who only recently had both hips replaced!  And I understand she¹s just started training two of her other dogs again, so look out for them in the future too.

Over the weekend the bonds between fellow disabled handlers strengthened, and we would like to welcome the new members who joined the association. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors Dogs Gold along with UKAgility and Scrambles for hosting the Trophy at this event.  

The Disabled Handlers Association is offering further trophies this year at:-

We look forward to meeting disabled handler friends old and new, to compete for both the Gold and Platinum level Trophies.

New Gold Sponsor for Best Overall Handler Trophy

The Disabled Handlers Association is pleased to announce that dogs gold will be sponsoring the 2006 Best Overall Disabled Handler Trophies.

Philippa Armstrong said, ''We would like to take this opportunity to thank Dogs Gold for their support.'

The first of these trophies will be contested at the UK Agility Scrambles Show, Newbury Showground, 8-9th April. In addition to the trophies, we are also running a league.

Disabled Handlers League 2006
The league, open to any dog agility handler who considers them self disabled and feels this impacts substantially on their training and handling of their dog/s, will have two levels:-

1. GOLD:  For all handlers never to have won out of Novice classes (KC classification)
2. PLATINUM: For handlers who have won out of Novice classes (KC classification)

Points gained in all classes at all shows, excepting Finals and Invitation Events will be eligible. The points table will run from 1 January to 31 December 2006.  Trophies will be presented in February 2007.

For further information and registration details, contact Anne Gill at 63 Fairfax Road, Farnborough, Hants GU14 8JR or ring tel. 01252 661 442. Email annegill48@hotmail.com 

Another Organisation for Disabled Handlers Launched

The Alternative Handlers (TAH) Display at Discover Dogs 2005
by Angela Lucas

A little while ago, Rowena Beall sent out a message aimed at agility handlers who might not be in the full fitness of health to begin a specialist group. Subsequently she was asked to arrange a team to demonstrate at Discover Dogs in November at Earl’s Court London. What excitement!

So there we all were last Saturday, 12 November - all wearing our Discover Dogs polo shirts -  meeting up for the first time.  There had been a little discussion via email about a suitable name. The final answer came as The Alternative Handlers, and I will go into the whys later. So TAH (The Alternative Handlers) had their first meeting and public debut in one day!

Personally I’m glad it was Discover Dogs.
Not having attended the show before, the show struck me as a scaled down and relaxed Crufts. The emphasis was on allowing the public to meet many different and rare breeds. Together with displays, I felt it was aimed at making people think ''yeah, I can do that.'

The main ring had a lot of agility  for Saturday, and there was a different programme for Sunday. The Saturday programme also had demonstrations of Heelwork to Music by two of the best in the field, Mary Ray and Richard Curtis. 

Despite the large agility content, there were lots of different themes. Mini/Midi agility, rescued dog agility, mini agility knockout (which proved to be very popular!) and, of course, our own rounds.

Graham Partridge was our judge and I’m sure he must have stood there not knowing what to expect as we started. The course had been planned for us and we were allowed a few minutes to walk around it. It was the first time for many of us to run on an artificial surface, and it was a strange feeling as we felt we were walking on sponges! As it turned out, the dogs all looked extremely comfortable running on it and even the more excitable ones sobered up enough to keep their footing. Our dogs aren’t daft!

Now the purpose of our slot was to demonstrate that agility includes everyone and it does not mean you have to be super fit - legs to the armpits - or be able to run like the wind to join in. In actual fact, my impression was that we demonstrated the control of our dogs not only close up, but at a distance.  We showed an 'alternative' approach to agility handling that hopefully the audience could relate to, and feel that they could go home and try with their own dogs.

The Team
We came from all over the country. We ran Minis, Midi and Standard dogs. And we all have different difficulties including arthritis, heart disease and breathing difficulties. Some were recovering from serious operations or treatments. Some needed an additional aid like a stick or crutch. One of us Christina, showed the audience that wheelchair or not, you can teach your dog agility. She ran her GSD Oscar round the whole course and they had only been training since the summer.

All in all, our slot went well. Our supporters, planted in the audience, said they got great responses from the people around them. We also learnt a few lessons. One was to make sure that, in future, we briefed organisers about our access needs. Another was to ask for just a couple of chairs for those who cannot stand for long periods.

Now the fact is that we don’t look upon ourselves as having disabilities and I’m sure I speak for most of us when I say we only use 'that' word for want of a better one. However, as the person who lives with a particular disadvantage lifelong, we each take responsibility to take precautions or extra care at events. This may be in the form of special shoe wear, extra meds or someone who can administer back up. Some of the handlers have a hidden illness which cannot be seen. They look healthy on the outside but may be having to cope with a life threatening illness every day. A day like at Discover Dogs helps us to support each other

What we hadn’t realised was it would be organised as a competition, and we were running for placings. Linda came first and second with her dogs Toby and Chip, closely followed by Helen, Neville, Fran and Sue. There were crystal trophies for first and second places, and we all were given large commemorative rosettes  by Maurice Cooke.

Afterwards Rowena said, 'It was a big gamble for the kennel club and the alternative handlers as to how well we all could run and how the audience would respond to it. It was well received and the arena was full up hardly a empty seat left.'

Overall the day went very well, and there was a positive feel as we finished. It was a good day out and we look forward to another chance to get together.

Thank you
The people organising the main arena and their team were great.  We had people like John Gilbert and Dave Ray keeping us in line as we waited. Thanks to the arena team who worked like well oiled machines all day and were so helpful and polite. 

Thank you to Maurice Cooke, Director of Agility. Obedience and Events, who extended the invite to us and also to Catherine Choules Events Manager the Kennel Club for arranging all agility at Discover Dogs for The Alternative Handlers.

Special thanks go to Steve Beall and to Sue White for her help on the Saturday, making sure that we were in the right place at the right time. Without them, I could never have done it.

The full team was:-

• Cathy Brown with Scooby (Lab X Springer) from Wiltshire

• Fran Griffin with Tallulah (Red Setter) from Milton Keynes

• Angela Lucas with Boz (Border Collie) from East Sussex,

• Sue White with Mercury (Border Collie) and Bug (JR X) from Middlesex

• Helen with Chaos (Golden Retriever) from Devon

• Christina Candey with Oscar (GSD) from Surrey

• Linda Boyce with Toby & Chip (Border Collies) from East Sussex

• Marion Macherene with Amy (BSD) from Surrey

• Neville Todd with Remy (Cocker Spaniel) from Essex

• Sheila Partridge with Smokey (Papillion) from East Sussex

• Kate Philpot with Kali (Spaniel X) from Hampshire

• Rowena Beall with Louie (Shih Tzu) from West Sussex

Launch of the Disabled Handlers Association

The Disabled Handlers Association will be launched in conjunction with the second trophy for the Best Overall Disabled Handler at Dogs In Need 2005.

The Association will be open to anyone who considers themselves a 'disabled handler' and is intended to encourage diversity, inclusion and the achievements of disabled handlers in open competition by developing a series of initiatives including a Disabled Handlers League, awards and web site.

For the trophy, score cards will be available from the Secretary's Tent at DINA. It will be the handlers responsibility to ensure placings, clear rounds etc. from each class are entered onto the card. These will be totalled on Saturday and the award, first, second and third place rosettes will be presented on Saturday evening as soon as results are calculated.

The Best Overall Disabled Handlers Trophy

Handlers worked at their own natural level, from Elementary through to Advanced and the trophy was awarded to the handler who accumulated the most points over the week. Structuring the award this way meant there was no need to worry about whether particular mobility aids were more or less was advantageous or judge the effects of lung capacity, having a sensory impairment or cancer, for example.

The winner, a delighted Janet Moore (pictured above) from Cornwall with her JRT, Popsy Wopsy Doodle Chop said, 'Thank you very much.  What a beautiful trophy and rosette.  It¹s wonderful that people with a disability can enjoy, compete and be recognised in a sport that can keep you fit, (well fitter), as well as enjoying the social aspects'  Second was Marion McIlherene with her Groenendael, Amy and third was Neville Toad with his Cocker Spaniel, Remmie.

Philippa Armstrong added, 'Thank you to Linda Croxford for hosting the event and for organising the excellent trophies and rosettes and to American wheelchair manufacturers for their sponsorship. I look forward to the next competition.'

So when is a disabled handler a disabled handler?  
Following the lead of the disabled peoples movement, when a disabled handler says they are. It¹s one of those things you just 'know¹ better than anyone else when you are, and to constantly have to seek third party affirmation is wearing. Concerns about fraud in this instance were limited. In agility's close knit community there would be little kudos to be gained from falsely pot hunting a disabled handlers trophy.

As always ringside networking is a major part of agility shows. For disabled handlers it was a chance to meet others with similar experiences. Discussions far from being about our individual aches and pains, were about how to get the best out of their dogs and how to improve our handling (especially, given the results, those with Border Collies). Okay okay... that¹s not strictly true. After a couple of bottles of wine there might have been the odd discussion about aches and pains, but there was also much talk about life, the universe and sink plungers but more about that another time!

Whilst at the show the handlers also met Relinde Peschier from the Para-Agility World Cup (PAWC) organising committee. She is keen to encourage British handlers to compete at the PAWC. So if anyone is interested in taking part in a Para-Agility demonstration match in the UK later this year and/or next year, please contact Rowena Beall on rowena@kentroad.eclipse.co.uk  or tel. 01903-717535

Click here to read more about Agility in a Parallel Universe

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