Agility for all competitors run by competitors
The World Agility Open (WAO) was created by well known international agility
competitors Greg Derrett, Mark Laker and Monica Percival to provide a chance for all
competitors and dogs to compete at the very highest standard, no matter what the dog's breed or
size. The inaugural event on 13-15 May 2011 in the United Kingdom at the Hand Equestrian
Centre. Over 200 competitors from 18 different countries travelled to the event to compete
under judges Andy Hudson of England, Dave Grubel of the USA, and Mia Laamanen of Finland. So
how well did they succeed? Mandy Wallington sent this a post-show report.
The arena looked spectacular with flags from all
18 competing countries suspended from the ceiling. Against this backdrop, nations
competed using top quality equipment including the latest aluminium, rubber coated contacts
from First Contact.
Winners were awarded Bronze, Silver and Gold medals to the music of their National Anthems. For
both competitors and spectators, it stirred feelings of great pride and created a truly top
class, international feeling.
There were also some lovely
personal touches. Competitors and spectators alike could leave comments in a book, and everyone
got to sign a giant England flag.
The Competitors
Competitors from
18 nations competed over three days in Individual Pentathlon, Games and the Agility Biathlon (1
round of Jumping and 1 round of Agility). There was also a Team Pentathlon consisting of two
rounds of Agility, two rounds of Jumping and one round of Speedstakes.
It's not often in the UK that you find yourself cheering on a pug
competing in a world class competition or applauding a corgi standing proudly on a first place
podium. This, along with the vibrant team spirit that was evident in every competitor's
run, is what made the World Agility Open Championships 2011 so memorable.
England were overall Team
Pentathlon winners.
Many teams had brought along a loyal band of
supporters to cheer them on in their own style. Many were dressed in the colours of
their country, most notable orange for the Dutch. One of the most vocal were the Welsh team's supporters, whose
'Oggy Oggy Oggy,
Oi Oi Oi' chant could be heard even in the outside rings.
The most remarkable teams was
arguably the
Australian team. Due to Australian quarantine laws, they were unable to bring their own dogs so
they had to borrow dogs belong to British handlers. Host dogs are not easy to come by. Not all
dogs will run for someone else and it a big ask to lend someone you hardly know your precious
dog.
The
Australian visitors had less than a week to get
used to their new agility partners.
Altogether they only had six days to get acquainted and form a bond with their borrowed dogs
before they had to go into the ring to compete for their country. It must have been intensive!
Simone Tolhurst from Perth, Western Australia
explained that Aussie agility players would have loved to be able to take their own dogs to
these big international events one day. However, the law requires that our dogs be placed into
quarantine for 30 days upon their arrival back into the country, which is not only expensive
but owners are only allowed to visit twice a week for an hour each time. Many owners do not
want to put their dogs through this experience on top of the long travelling time.
The Australian Team was selected from
a series of events in which they ran their own dogs, plus some
borrowed dogs. The final team was a mix of sponsored and self-funded competitors, plus one
ex-pat living in the UK, Sherie Vicary-Carter.
In the end they did pretty
well. In the short time they had with these dogs they had managed to form very close bonds and
some of their runs were amazing! Megan Bell-Jones with George finished 4th overall in the Agility Biathlon 550, Gina
O'Keefe with Tippy
finished 5th overall in the Agility Biathlon 400 and Simone with Noonoo finished 12th in
the Pentathlon 550, managing to avoid elimination in all five rounds, Nearly
all of the AUssie player made the final round of the Pentathlon.
Simone said, 'The Australian team of six intrepid
travellers and one ex-pat Aussie would like to take this opportunity to give our sincere and
heartfelt thanks to all those who so generously offered us their dogs to run, and to all the
fundraisers and the Agility Club of WA for making our dream become a reality.'
The Dogs
The WAO philosophy of enabling all dogs to
compete at world class agility was evident in the individual competitors. Dogs of all shapes
and sizes were evident including:-
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Pug
(Pancho) competing with Laure Metairie from Spain
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Swedish Valhund (Freddy) with Cheryl Harkness
from Northern Ireland
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Hrvatski Ovcar (Kahlen)) with
Danielle Boshouwers from The Netherlands
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Schipperke (Orso
Maggiore) with Alessandro Guiliani from Italy
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Corgi (Win) with Minako Tokuda
all the way from Japan. This partnership eventually won the 300mm height Agility Games
Championship
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Also competing were many crossbreeds and non-pedigreed breeds. Although non-pedigrees
can compete at top-class level in the UK, some international organisations do not allow
non-pedigrees to compete in their official agility tests. The inclusion of these perfectly
able dogs by the WAO allows gifted agility teams with WSDs and JRTs to flourish in the international scene.
Mick
Byrne with his rescue dog Molly from the Republic the Ireland is an example of one such partnership.
Molly
came into Mick's life in 2006 as a tiny stray puppy. Little did he know that just a few years
later they would be representing their country at the WAO. When his son-in-law Daniel found
Molly, Mick and his wife Bernadette were reluctant to keep her as we both were middle-aged and
had no experience with dogs let alone a puppy. But when nobody came forward to claim her and
they found that they had fallen in love with her so they decided to keep her.
As she grew into
adolescence, they looked for something to keep her mentally stimulated and started agility
training at Dublin Dog Training, run by John Ward. Molly loved it. However, she also loved the other dogs, the fields and all her
surroundings - sometimes she would stay with Mick but other times she would jump over one fence and
then away.
It was hard going, but they stuck to it and in 2010 started winning competitions. At
the WAO trials in 2010, Mick never expected to get chosen to represent the Republic of Ireland.
He said, 'Words cannot
express what an honour it is to represent your country. Molly and I came 7th in the
Individual Pentathlon. It's hard to believe that a little puppy that was found in the bushes
would come so far in such a short time. I cannot imagine our lives without her now. She is part
of our family and the agility is a big bonus. I have met lovely people throughout my journey
and hope to meet many more!'
The
Show organisation
The overriding feeling about the 2011 WAO was how smoothly the competition ran. Classes ran
on time, equipment was just where it was needed, and the only queues evident were for the
lovely home-made food in the cafeteria. But did the event really
run smoothly or was it more like a swan - beautifully serene above water, whilst paddling like mad beneath?
I asked
Iris Richards, Competitor and Spectator Support Manager, what things were like behind the scenes.
With 18 years of experience, she thought the arena looked brilliant with all the country flags
on display. She praised her team of nine ladies who manned - or should I say 'womanned' the
door throughout the event, warmly welcoming spectators. They also helped at the check in when
the teams came for practice on the Thursday before the show.
Iris said, 'It
was a privilege to be asked to undertake a 'behind the scenes role once again. Everyone's hard
work and our effort was rewarded by seeing the competitors enjoy themselves.'
Agility
folk really do seem to have the knack for queuing. This was evident at the gala buffet when an
expectant queue formed for the dessert but then who wouldn't queue for Malteser chocolate
pudding?
Speaking of lines, between
each event a row of officials, carrying a stream of flag bunting, literally swept competitors
off the course when the course walking time was over. This may sound a little draconian, but it
was done with such good natured grace that no competitor could take offence especially when the
rope-carriers are all dancing away to the Scissor Sisters. This did make me smile.
To conclude,
I would like to say that Greg, Mark and Monica should all be extremely proud of the event as
they most definitely achieved their ambition of bringing a high quality agility competitions of
this level to this country so it could be enjoyed by so many. It was a huge achievement.'
Next year the show moves to Belgium.
About the author...
Mandy Wallington
has been surrounded by dogs ever since she was old enough to hold onto a lead. She has owned
and handled many different breeds over the years from Pugs and Terriers to Alsatians and
Neapolitan Mastiffs.
As a teenager,
Mandy competed in obedience. Then she started agility five years ago, initially as
rehabilitation for a maltreated young rescue collie. Now she does it because she finds it just
as therapeutic for her!
Mandy currently
has five dogs - an eclectic mix of gundogs, lurchers, the collie, and sometimes foster dogs
that come and go - all of whom are shared with her two teenaged daughters.
Mandy's working life
is split between teaching Biology and running a small, dog-friendly café with her eldest
daughter. Her spare time is filled with canines, whether hers or someone elses. Over the years
they have nestled into all the vacant spots in her soul, and she says that now she would feel
incomplete without them.
Photos: Mandy Wallington
First published 30 June 2011
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