Pride of the Valleys...
When
the Builth Wells venue was commandeered as a Covid test and vaccination centre
by the Welsh government, the larger Breed and Obedience shows were cancelled as
half the site became unavailable, thus leaving Agility a clear run at a three
day show. Alongside the Championship classes and the Welsh Handler of the Year
competition, there were heats for the Agility Club Starters Challenge and The
Agility Challenge as well as classes supported by Better Bones and PowAir.
The Welsh
Kennel Club Championship & Open Agility Shows took place at
the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells
on 20th - 22nd August
2021.
As ever,
the Welsh Kennel Club wishes to record its thanks to everyone involved in the
summer show and congratulates all the winners at the summer show.
Whilst we are as ever
very grateful to judges and scrimes, we must make especial mention, in what for
many is not the easiest of times, of the team behind the scenes who made this
event work. We are not going to mention anyone by name but you know who you are.
Championship Judge's Reports
Stephanie Bst & Cara Cousins |
Martin Reid & Euan Paterson |
Championship
Agility for Intermediate & Large Dogs
Saturday, 21 August
Judge: Hannah Grantham
After such a hard 2020
with no shows, I'd removed the Welsh Kennel Club Championship Show from my
calendar when it was announced the breed show had been cancelled. I was amazed
when Graham got in contact to say that the show was going ahead. It was a
total honour to be asked to judge.
With no Large breed
show, the set up was slightly different to previous years, but that didn't
detract from how good the show was.
This was my second Large
Champ appointment and my very first Intermediate one. Having worked hard on
improving my agility course design skills over numerous lockdowns, I wanted to
showcase my skills at setting exciting, fast, fun, yet challenging courses.
It took me months and
many scrapped designs to finally settle on the three courses I set on the day.
My aim was to make them were fast and challenging where handlers had to think
fast and move fast. I wanted to test the independence of the dog, whilst giving
handling options and allowing the dogs to flow and open up. When people got it
right, it was pure perfection. I certainly made the most of my front row seat.
Rain in the morning
didn't stop play. Happily by the Agility round, it had dried up with sun shining
for the Final.
The Jumping round was
won by Charlotte Harding and Maia in Intermediate and Walter Dingemanse and Dice
in Large. Both were amazing runs. The course ran exactly how I'd envisioned it,
testing quite a bit of obstacle discrimination, independence and the speed of
the dog. The Long Jump after the weaves proved problematic for the intermediate
dogs, and the weave entry caught a few out as did jump number 17 as an off
course obstacle.
he Agility round, which
was my favourite course of the three, was won by Lee Gibson and Star in
intermediate and Euan Paterson and Crazee in Large. With foot perfect runs, it
was so exciting to watch. Lots gained refusal faults at number 6. There were
some weave entry issues and then there were the unfortunate Eliminations at the
push round for 15 where handlers had to trust their dog to complete the weaves
and move.
Onto the final with 15
handlers and dogs going through to each height final. I wanted a fast, exciting
final and I think my course didn't' disappoint. Full speed ahead was needed, I
wanted all finalists to push and go for the win. My heart was racing with each
run, and every handler and dog gave it their all, and should be very proud.
Number 8 took numerous
pairings out of the running with unfortunate eliminations, and faults were
gained on the seesaw exit, There wasn't any clears in Intermediate until
Stephanie Best and Fate stepped on the start line, and I was beginning to worry
I'd set a harder course than I thought. I needn't have worried at all, Stephanie
and Fate were amazing, running the course in a fantastic 32.975 seconds, laying
the challenge down and no one else could match them. Cara Cousins and Chase in
their first ever Champ final tried with a super clear run in a time of 35.027,
they just couldn't match Stephanie and Fate's time.
Therefore, Stephanie
Best and Fate took the Intermediate CC and Cara Cousins with Chase took the RCC.
That's girl power, ladies.
Larges up next. Again
the send to the wall at number 8 caused issues, and so did the seesaw exit. The
weaves also took a few out. I remember Dan Shaw and Boffin's run. It's was
amazing, but sadly the jump before the weaves was missed and resulted in an
elimination, as Boffin took the weaves instead. The gasps from the crowd and my
reaction said it all. Unlucky Dan. It was an amazing nearly.
Martin Reid had two dogs
in the final, Snooze and Spring, both gaining beautiful fast clears. Martin was
in the CC and RCC position with Snooze in 33.211 secs and Spring in 33.933 secs
right up until the last competitor Euan Paterson with Crazee who ran a
foot perfect round which was awesome to watch and judge, taking the top position
in 31.478 secs.
Therefore, the Large CC
was won be Euan Paterson and Crazee while Martin Reid with Snooze took the RCC.
Well done to all the
Welsh KC Large and Intermediate Champ competitors. It was a pleasure to judge
you all. There were so many emotions from total amazement and excitement,
through to dismay when things didn't go as planned. Each and everyone of you
rewarded the dog no matter what, and you should be extremely proud.
See you in the ring
soon.
Jo Gleed & Aemillia Nicholson |
Katrina Hands & Lauren Langman |
Championship
Agility for Small & Medium Dogs
Sunday, 22 August
Judge: Heidi Vague
It was an honour to be
asked to judge the Small and Medium Championship classes at the Welsh KC.
Uniquely this year, as another show was cancelled, these classes were held on a
different day to the Large and Intermediate Championship classes so there was no
need to share courses with Hannah Grantham who was judging them.
Luckily, I had a nice
dry day for my classes and the ground was still in good condition, so no course
alteration was needed.
We started with the
Jumping round which was a fast course requiring some independence skills. I was
very impressed with the speed of the Small and Medium dogs who really made their
handlers run!
Well done to Lauren
Langman and Jo Gleed for winning the Jumping classes with their superfast
spaniels.
Next up was the Agility
round which was more technical. A lot of dogs missed the down on the dogwalk as
the handlers were getting into position for the weave entry. Again, some great
skills were shown on this course, and I enjoyed watching the different handling
choices. Well done here to Katrina Hands and Hayley Telling with their
Shelties.
Moving onto the final. I
loved this course, starting with some handling and gradually opening up to a
really fast finish. It was a pleasure to judge each and every one of the
finalists who all put in 110% into their runs.
We had a couple of
'chocolate breaks' to allow handlers with more than one dog running very close
to each other, the chance to catch their breath. All this added to the
anticipation of the runs.
A massive well done to
Lauren Langman and Blink who won the Small ticket with Katrina Hands and Sizzle
just a whisker behind them for the Reserve. Also congratulations to Jo Gleed
with Topic on getting the Medium ticket at what was their first G7 show and
Aemillia Nicholson with Willow on getting a very worthy Reserve.
I'd like to say a big
thank you to my ring party for all their help and support on what was a very
enjoyable day.
2021
Championship Agility Winners
Small Dogs
-
Lauren Langman with
Ag.Ch. Samsir Blinkin Brilliant at Devongem (Blink)
-
Katrina Hands with
Set the Pace of Summergarden (Sizzle )
Medium Dogs
-
Jo Gleed with
Devongem Firing It Up (Topic )
-
Aemillia Nicholson
with Little Miss Woo Woo (Willow)
Intermediate Dogs
-
Stephanie Best with
Dare to Dream It Must Be Fate (Fate)
-
Cara Cousins with
Chances Turn (Chase)
Large Dogs
-
Euan Paterson with
Ag.Ch. Devongem Quick Time (Crazee )
-
Martin Reid with
Lilhaze Secret Pleasure (Snooze)
Aimee Kerton
Welsh Handler of
the Year 2021
2021 saw the
resurrection of the Welsh Handler of the Year competition at the Welsh Kennel
Club Agility Show at Builth Wells.
The class welcomed all
G1-7 dogs - Large, Intermediate, Medium and Small with the stipulation that the
handler/owner had been resident in Wales since 1st January 2021 or was born in
Wales. Dogs must run in both a Jumping and an Agility class with faults
and times to be added together. The dog with least faults and the fastest
combined times wins. All sizes and abilities compete together and the overall
winner takes all.
With the Jumping class
first, judged by Katie MacDonald, Barrie James and Ru stormed to a win with a
run of 31.194 seconds. There were less than three seconds separating the top
places which also included Dane Smillie, Gareth Curnell, Aimee and Chris Kerton
and Rosie Cavill and James Davies, both with two dogs each. All was ready
for the next day’s Agility round and the Welsh Handler of The Year celebrations.
WHOTY Jumping
-
Barrie James with Rubeedoo (Mendipstar Rumour Has It) -31.194 secs (C)
-
Aimee
Kerton with Kefira (Basilea Little Lionheart) -31.592 secs (C)
-
Andrew Priestley with Firefly (Bizzyberry Firefly) - 31.749 secs (C)
-
Chris
Kerton with The Mop (Moppity Mc Mopface) - 32.403 secs (C)
-
Dani
Smillie with Blue (Brigadier Blue) - 32.609 secs (C)
-
Ann
Harmes with Fairy (Basileas Believe In Fairies) - 32.753 secs (C)
-
James
Davies with Tommy (Super Duper Tommy Trooper)- 33.879 secs (C)
-
Rosie
Cavill with Boo (Bobe of The Sportyheroes)- 33.884 secs (C)
-
Rosie Cavill with Dare (Ag.Ch.Daimonic Dare Devil)
- 34.361 secs (C)
-
James
Davies with Sky (Hello Red Sky)- 34.455 secs (C)
Welshman Nick Loizos
took on the judging challenge of the Agility round with those in contention
conscious that a good score was needed to be in with a chance.
The best of this day,
time-wise was in 30.510 secs with a clear round, achieved by Stuart Harmes and
Bam Bam who the previous day had got 10 faults so fell out of contention this
year.
WHOTY Agility
-
Stuart
Harmes with Bam Bam (Darleyfalls Bam Bam) -
30.510 secs (C)
-
Aemillia Nicholson with Psycho (Psychedelic Daydream) - 32.641 secs (C)
-
Harriett Hunt with Grace (Mad Eye Loony) -34.516 secs (C)
-
Aimee
Kerton with Kefira (Basilea Little Lionheart) - 34.697 secs (C)
-
Andrew Priestley with Peggy (Ragamuffin Rollercoaster) - 34.911 secs (C)
-
Emma
Morgan with Frankie (Franklins Fabulous Find) - 35.435 secs (C)
-
Sian
Barron with Lily (Lazerta's Miley of Basilea) - 36.618 secs (C)
-
Sophie Hillier with Nyla (Naughty But Nyla) - 36.982 secs (C)
-
Rosie Cavill with Dare (Ag.h. Daimonic Dare Devil) -
37.376 secs (C)
-
Susan Kallenberg with Rupert (Mister Rupert Bear) -
37.427 secs (C)
Rosie Cavill with Dare
achieved a double clear in 71.737 secs with the Welsh Handler of The Year
awarded in 2021 to Aimee Kerton with Kerifa in a winning time of 66.289 secs.
First published
10th September 2021
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