Co-sponsors of the 2023 Winning Out Certificates


If there are no dogs in Heaven,
then I want to go where they went...
Will Rogers

Agility is the ultimate partnership between dog and handler. It's a pastime that can become an addiction. It takes time and devotion and the bond between dog and handler is great. For many of us, our lives revolve around our dogs and their loss can be devastating, and saddens us all. Take a minute to reflect and celebrate the lives of the dogs and people who have left us. Until we meet again...

For anyone having to cope with loss, agility competitor and pet bereavement counsellor Emma-Jane LaRoche writes about this sad and difficult time and how to deal with it. See her article on Bereavement

If you would like your friends to know about your loss your beloved friend and agility dog - whether it be a Crufts winner or family pet - send your tribute along with a picture of your friend to Agilitynet

 2023 Riko

 
Astra Riko
24th February 2011 - 2nd April 2023

Today I can write without tears blurring my eye. Riko (aka ReRe or Ginger Nuts) was my first Collie. He was a very special boy to me.

 I was very spoilt with him. He very gently introduced me to 'the maddness of collie owners.' In the beginning,  thought well this is a piece of P*ss. It’s easy. What are these folks going on about. Little did I know he was Mr Chilled. Not much bothered him except puppies. He hated puppies. He loved people. That is probably an understatement. Anyone who came to my house ended up wearing him  especially Pauline and Lisa. He would do anything to get to you, although he couldn't quite work out the swing chair.

He was brilliant at sheep work and he was really good at Agility for the short time he did it. His weaves were even quicker than my other dogs.

Then he had that horrible back injury when he popped a disc. He was only four years old at the time, and that was the end of his agility career. He had major surgery which back then cost more than 5000 quid. A this point, money didn't come into it. He was my boy and was having that surgery even if I had to do a bank job.

This is when his laid back approach to life really kicked in. He was crated in a puppy pen for 22 hours of the day and only let out to wee and five minutes exercise to start with. I followed the surgeons rules up to the full stops! He was such a good boy. He recovered but was never the same. While he had a few struggles but overall he was so happy.

Whenever he met someone, he pulled out all the charm. You couldn't help but love him.

I loved him with every bone in my body. He was a huge presence in the house, and I miss him so very much. I wish he was here now, with his head on my leg whilst I show you all how gawgeous he was.

Sweet dreams my Ginger Nut. I loved you on this earth, and I will love you just as much over that there Rainbow Bridge.

We will meet again soon... that I am sure.

Shellie Smith


   
Karva-A

Karva-A, my beautiful Golden Retriever, went to sleep for the last time just a few days before his 15th birthday.

He was the happiest of dogs and sired some lovely puppies including Kookie who is here with me now.

Thanks to everyone who trained him, ran him in competitions. judged him and awarded his all his many rosettes and trophies. And to everyone who patted, stroked and admired him, thank you.

Karva-A wagged his tail all his life and he was still wagging it at the very end.

Forever loved, never forgotten.

Ann Smith


 2022

Myndoc Minstrel for Craygill AW/G RL6 P-Beg Ex (aka Scott)
18th March 2005 – 1st August 2022

Scott was my constant shadow for 17 years.  He has gone to join his particular, tiny, companion Glen (Ag.Ch. Japaro Cool Jazz at Craygill AWD RL6 P-Beg Ex). 

He was my first G7 dog and he gained two Reserve Agility Tickets. He was regularly successful at Crufts with his much loved agility team and  placed in his Crufts Singles final. He also, reached the top of Rally and enjoyed obedience.

Most of all, Scott was a family dog, never happier than when he had everyone around.

He leaves a big hole in our lives, but so many wonderful memories.

Jean Tuck


Oakley
2009 - 2022

Our gorgeous, handsome Oakley passed away on 30th July, aged 13 years 3 months.

He lived for agility.

We miss Oakley so much, but we were so pleased to have him for our 60th wedding anniversary
on 7th July 2022.

We are absolutely heart-broken.

Diana & Tony Daniels


Mystic Music Box
aka Mad Bag
2009 - 2022

On 10th February, we said our last goodbye to my beautiful, crazy Holly dog. My house and walks will never be the same again.

We all miss you so much. You are free to run and meet up with Fudge and Tilly now.

You will always be with me.

Bee Palmer


Poppet the Rocket
2004 -2022

RIP my wonderful, happy, funny and comical little girl, loved by hundreds.

Poppet and I were members of the Senior Agility League for many years, and she became one of the first little dogs to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Agility was great fun for both of us. On many occasions, Poppet entertained the audience with her slow, slow, slow first half and then quick, quick, quick to the end with all clapping her. Her last agility one in June 2021 which was a clear round at age 17 and the second of her five trick award at Dig It Dogs.


2021


Hula
27th March 2007 to 27th July 2021

It's with mixed emotions that I'm saying farewell to my best buddy for the past 14 years. Hula achieved so much in her agility career, qualifying for many finals. Her last was winning the Adams Veterans Final.

She was an amazing girl, full of drive and enthusiasm. She always gave her very best for me.

Hula was a loving pet with a huge personality that will be missed.

She's now at peace and I'm sure sharing many funny stories with my other amazing GWPs.

Rest in peace Huhu. You'll be missed by all, especially Josh.

Always thinking of you.

Chris Allen



Bryning Vanquish
'Tico'
9th November 2009 - 8th July 2019

Five months ago, Tico's physiotherapist noticed his lymph nodes were enlarged. Tests confirmed Lymphoma. It's not something you can cure - only treat and Lymphoma is terminal.

Saying goodbye is never easy. In my life, I've had many dogs and I've always wanted them to live forever.

I was going to be living with a time bomb. Would it be weeks, months or perhaps a year? How much time would I have to prepare for the inevitable?

As far as Tico was concerned, there was nothing amiss. When I looked at him, I saw a dog that was immensely powerful and approached life at 100 miles an hour... a canine rocket. Combining this with his single-mindedness and collie craziness and you had one hell of an amazing dog. He looked fit and healthy. The diagnosis was so unfair.

So I chose to make Tico's remaining time on Earth as much fun as possible. Every day would count. I would make sure he had no regrets, that we shared as much as we possibly could and that we said to each other everything we wanted to say.

The bucket list was born
He has had an ice cream cone. He has had his portrait taken and he has swum in the sea. He has revisited his favourite walks. He has competed in an Agility class and he has qualified for the Freestyle Crufts Semi-Finals 2020. He has caught, killed and eaten a rat, a black bird, a pigeon and a squirrel. He has had a go at rally training, tried his luck at some obedience exercises and learned a few new freestyle moves. He has stayed in his favourite hotel, made himself at home in a sea side holiday cottage and had a caravan escape to Cornwall. We have had fun!

During our time together, Tico and I have done many things that I never thought possible, but we hadn't done it all. I have learned that no matter how much time you have to prepare to loose your pet, it is never enough. Your heart shatters and the pain is simply unbearable. Your inside is knotted and the tears just keep rolling down your cheeks. My blue boy with the big ears and huge tongue put up a brave fight but he was never going to win.

Tico, I will never stop loving you.

Mary Ann Nester



Atompol Griff Sevi
19th July 2012 – 16th June 2019

My life and my home are so quiet without you in it.

You were one in a million.

My Little Sevi Sausagemeat, with a big heart and a big personality to go with it.

Run free little man with Jaeger and Ski.

Cathy Benfield

Photo by Simon Peachey at Wise Camp 2018

Izzy Gone But Not Forgotten
Whizzy Izzy at Willowmoon AW/G
12/7/07 – 22/5/18

It still feels like yesterday, the pain hasn't gone away.
I still miss you like crazy, I wanted you to stay.

 The hurt is still there. It just won't go away,
I think about you constantly, every single day.

 It was always you and Daisy,  no matter where I went,
You were always there, right by my side, at agility events

It's been a year already, I haven't counted days.
You left us so suddenly that sunny day in May.

Our walks are now so different without you taking charge,
But the memory of life with you will be forever in my heart.

Shirley Elkins



Today we said goodbye to Didi, one of our beloved poodle family.

Run free Didibop x

Ru, Nikki and Megan Baker

                     
Whizzy Izzy at Willowmoon AW/G
'Izzy'
12/7/07 – 22/5/18

 Taken suddenly and very unexpectedly while playing in the garden on 22nd May 2018.

My love for blue merle collies began when I purchased Izzy from a farmer for £80.

The only blue merle in the litter, fluffy with semi blue eyes - just wanting to be taken home.
She was a little darling from day one and was definitely a mummy's girl. She came everywhere with me.

As an agility dog she was quite consistent and won up to Grade 5.
She qualified for Crufts YKC with my daughter Naomi, and they did really well on the day coming 5th.

She had an obsession with watching flies, even when there weren't any. She knew it. I knew it. It's called OCD.

Rest in peace Izzy. watch and chase them flies all day long.

Forever in my heart.

Shirley Elkins



Learn To Fly
'Bella'
1/5/2004 - 29/7/2018

For those who saw Bella in her prime, she was something very, very special.

Trained and handled expertly by my sister Amanda Ellerton - also occasionally by her husband Ray Ellerton - she scaled the heights by winning at Crufts and Olympia and gaining many, many Grade 7 wins against the Collies. In the twilight of her career, I ran her successfully in AnySize regularly winning despite the tremendous drag factor of me running her! 

She remains the fastest dog we'll ever own.

Bella was a real matriarch but tolerated the young and foolish, too.

She went over the rainbow bridge at Derbyshire Agility show late Saturday night / early Sunday morning (July 28th) which is rather fitting for the supreme competitor she was.

Love you, Bella. You were a total one off.

Dom Cotton



Andsal Young Rascal

Woody

Woody went to Rainbow Bridge on Easter Monday after a short illness. 

He was eight years old and had only being doing agility for a couple of years. He loved it although he wasn't very good, one 9th place rosette.

We spent Easter at Norfolk Easter Show, where he spent the weekend in the caravan which he loved and he got to chase his tennis ball.  

Louise Furniss



Witchdancer Magic Moonbeam

Sapphire

Gay Tunnicliffe would like her friends at Agilitynet to know that following a short and unexpected illness she has lost Sapphire, her tricoloured Rough Collie. It was so quick that it has been a great upset for Gay and all who knew her.

Sapphire loved her agility and won out of Grade 1, ending  in Grade 3. She would often sing/talk to us especially when queuing to enter the ring or whilst doing her weaves at agility.  She absolutely loved cheese and would go mad for it, especially in the caravan when we were camping at agility shows. 

Gay bred Sapphire so is very special. 

 Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge where our much loved pets go when they die. At the Rainbow Bridge, there are beautiful meadows and grassy hills where they can run and play together. There's always plenty of their favourite food to eat, fresh spring water for them to drink, and every day is filled with sunshine. All the pets that had been ill or old are now restored to health and youth. Those that had been hurt or maimed are now whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. 

The pets we loved are happy and content except for one small thing. Each one misses someone very special who was left behind.

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