From the
Kennel Gazette
 The
European Open Agility Championships this year were held in Liberec, Czech Republic over the
weekend of the 25-26 July 2010. This competition is open to all dogs - Pedigree and
non-pedigree alike - and, although it is called the European Open, it is open to all countries
of the world. This year there were 715 dogs entered from 25 countries including Russia and the
USA. Kennel
Club Agility Team GB European Manager Graham Partridge wrote this
report.
In 2009 the Kennel Club went to the European Open with a team of 17 dogs,
but this year it was increased to 24 dogs and 22 very talented and enthusiastic handlers, all
of whom had to qualify via a rigorous and demanding selection process. Accompanying the team
again this year were a Manager, a coach and team vet who this year
also happened to be one of the selected team. It was also very pleasing this year to have
representatives from all four Home Nations.
The majority of the
team opted to travel on a coach organised by the Kennel Club and it proved to be a long journey
of over 800 miles, but it gave everybody the chance to get to know each other just a bit better
and the dogs coped brilliantly as to them it was just travelling to another show. We travelled
via Euro Tunnel who had very kindly opted to support our team by providing free travel for dogs
together with a substantial discount for team members. If you are thinking of taking your dogs
aboard, then I would definitely recommend the Euro Tunnel as is it very quick and easy with the
added benefit that you can remain with your dogs the whole way.
 We
had travelled to the Czech Republic on the Wednesday and Thursday before the event and on the
Friday we were allocated a practice time. This year it was 8.38am which meant an early start
for all. We were allowed only 20 minutes so it was important that we were well organised. It
was not so much about training but blowing the cobwebs away and acclimatising dogs and handlers
to the conditions and the equipment that we would be using on the competition days.
This event is held
under FCI rules and equipment specifications, which although do not differ greatly from ours do
have a frame tyre and differently spaced weave poles but we had prepared well before arriving
in the Czech Republic with Team practice sessions which had included the different FCI
equipment so these presented no real problems but the contact equipment was rubber coated which
commonly British equipment is not so it was 20 minutes well spent. The British team is well
regarded throughout the world and always attracts an audience and this year it was no different
even whilst practicing.
Following practice
we were required to register, where we had Vet checks, our pet passports inspected and handed
over our Kennel club record books
as it is common in Euro for all results to be entered and certified in their record books.
 On
the Friday evening there was an opening ceremony which starts with a parade of teams each
carrying their national flags. I decided this year to ask the youngest member of the Team 16
year old Ashleigh Butler to lead the GB team onto the field carrying the Union Flag a moment
that hopefully will stay with her for the rest of her life. The team looked resplendent in the
team uniform which World Leisurewear had very kindly supported. Thank you.
Day 1
The competition started in earnest at 7.30am on the Saturday morning in torrential rain,
with the individual competition where each member of the Team competed over an Agility and a
Jumping Round, the top 25 large dogs and the top 15 small and medium dogs from each of these
rounds plus the top placed member of each Country in each of the three height categories
qualified for the Individual Finals which were due to be held in the evening. However, due the
amount of rain, we had had quite a bit of time had been lost and the Large final was postponed
until the Sunday afternoon.
 We
had a very successful day bearing in mind the weather, some very challenging course and
competition from some of the best dogs in the world.
We were very lucky
that the majority of our runs that day were very early as the ground deteriorated throughout
the day but during these qualifying rounds we had two podium finishes with Dave Munnings and
Ag.Ch. Gunran Misteree (Dobby) taking gold in the Individual Qualifying Agility round and Lucy
Osborne taking Silver with Ben Bombastic Mister Fantastic (Ben). They were separated by only
100th of a second. It was a fabulous result against some of the best dogs in the
world.
 Two
others from the large team also qualified for the final by being in the top 50 (In the world)
those being Mark Douglas with Ruby and Leslie Osborne with Fizz. Linda Hutchinson Kizzy
qualified as the top GB member being unlucky in the agility qualifier as she had the fastest
time of anyone at the competition but was unfortunate to be marked on the up of the dogwalk.
The Individual
Finals were well attended and in the Large only 6 out of 76 dogs negotiated this very difficult
and testing course without faults and unfortunately we were not amongst them, 4 of the team
were eliminated and Linda Hutchinson picked up a refusal which then meant by the time she
corrected it she had incurred time faults.
On the form shown in
the Agility qualifier we had the potential to sweep the board and on another day we would but
hopefully everyone will take the positives out of the experience, look back and be extremely
proud of themselves and their dogs
In the Small
competition Dawn Weaver and Puzzle qualified for the final and after a stunning run finished
just off the podium with a very creditable 5th place showing that experience at
competing at International level helps enormously. This dog does exceptionally well considering
that it is one of the smaller dogs in this height category.
In the Medium Alan
Gardner and Jude qualified for the final by right in the top 30 with Amanda Hampson and (Turbo)
Rogue as the top GB Medium after a very tight battle with Laura Richardson and Mia.
Unfortunately neither got round the course but gave a good account of themselves.
Competing in these
Finals could well be a dictionary definition for the word pressure and every one of our team
performed extremely well in the face of the very best in the world and on another day we could
easily have had podium finishes in each height category.
 Day
2
Sunday was again an early start for the Team event. This was divided into two height categories
- Large and a Combined Medium/Small Team.
Each member of each
team ran Agility and a Jumping round and points were awarded on where you finished. The points
accrued by each team member were added together and the team with the most points won.
 Again
we had some fantastic performances and the decision this year to enter mixed Small/Medium Teams
instead of separate Small and Medium teams turned up trumps as we took a Team Bronze Medal, the
Team Amanda Hampson with her Nova Scotia Duck
Tolling Retriever Minx (Winfren Vulpecula Kayla), Cheryl Harkness with her Cocker Spaniel
Beanie (Swift Lass), Joanne Tristram with her Crossbreed Ellie (Ag.Ch. Ellie De Lyston) and
Dawn Weaver with her Papillon Puzzle (Ag.Ch. Tonring Just A Puzzle) gained their third place
from a total of 89 teams. It was all the more special as those of you who travel abroad to
compete know that the Small and Medium categories in Europe are exceptionally strong. It was a
very proud moment for the whole team as they took to the podium to receive their medals.
Sunday evening saw
the closing and prize giving ceremony and the handing over of the European Open flag to next
year's host Austria. For this ceremony, the Team was lead onto the field by Cheryl Harkness
from Northern Ireland.
The Sunday evening
finished with a team meal where each member was presented with a certificate by the Kennel Club
pertaining to the fact that together with their dog they had represented Great Britain and the
Kennel Club at the 2010 European Open. I have to say that each one of them did it to the best
of their ability, with great distinction, pride and tremendous team spirit, and I thank each
one of them for their support and cooperation which made my job so easy and pleasurable.
 Thank
you
The cost of travelling to and staying in Europe with a dog is considerable and, there fore,
we are grateful for the continued support of The Kennel Club who makes a considerable
contribution in money and resources to both the International Teams which is unparalleled in
Europe by other Kennel clubs.
I am also very
grateful to the Agility for Britain committee and their supporters who ran two agility shows
and raised in the region of £7000 for the World and European Teams. We are also grateful for
the continued support of
Euro Tunnel who
offered discounted travel for the Team and free transport for the dogs through the Channel
Tunnel. Further sponsorship was kindly provided by World Leisurewear, who supplied team
uniforms.
Despite the
invaluable contributions of our supporters team members still had to find funds to complete
this trip and the Kennel Club would welcome any additional offers of help.
In addition there
are a few other people who must be thanked:-
-
Liz and Alan
Pollock of Premier Show Jumps for allowing use of their premises as a meeting point and
storage for our vehicles
-
Debbie Deuchar and
Holly Davison from the KC for all their hard work in organising and administering
-
Rachel Mowbray as
Team vet for her voluntary work in looking after the Team and Pet Passport issues
-
Lastly to the
travelling supporters and grooms for all their support and encouragement
 I
would like to also thank everyone who sent good wishes and messages of support. I appreciated
it and I know the team did as well.
My special thanks
must go to Dave Jolly, Coach and Assistant Team Manager, for the fantastic job he has done not
only in preparing the team for International Competition and the time that entails but for his
help and support for me as Team Manager.
All in all it was a
trip to be remembered for its roller coaster of emotions in the successes and disappointments,
but more so, one to be remembered for the hard work, team spirit, mutual support and fun that
we as Agility Team GB all had. We went as a team and we returned as a team but we returned a
lot closer with more friends and far richer for the experience.
To watch some of the rounds go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y28XqshfCtM
Photos: Borderky.cz and others
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