Singing from the same hymn
sheet...
 The
first Clear Q's Agility Camp took place on 1-4 July 2013 and finished in the Cheltenham
sunshine. And what a glorious four days it was! Greg Derrett, Ant Clarke, Shaun Hunt and Jo
Tristram hatched the idea of a four day, residential camp over a year ago. Their goal was to
create an enjoyable environment where people would receive consistent, high quality training
from a group of instructors with a proven national and international track record with multiple
dogs. Jo Tristram reports...
We
felt it was important that our camp had four trainers currently competing at the top of our
sport, all teaching the same methods, with a camp structured in a way that allowed a clear
progression of understanding and training over the four days.
With 40 people
attending, we spent time discussing our grouping and felt splitting by handler experience of
the way we teach rather than size or grade helped to make the groups a comfortable yet
challenging level for all. The excitement started to build as soon as I emailed out the group
allocations a week before and built up to everyone’s arrival on the Sunday night.
 When
we went around the site visiting all the campers and caravans and delivering the camp clothing
and welcome packs, everyone was buzzing for the welcome brief at 8am the next morning.
The camp schedule
was split in to two sections.
Day 1 and Day 2
saw each of the four groups working with each trainer who was focusing on a specific handling
manoeuvre.
Day 3 and Day 4
took the knowledge learnt in the first part of the camp and then tested it by combining the
handling skills, teaching decision making with the handling options and also going back to
foundation skills to address any of the training issues we had uncovered.
Whilst lots of work
was done, handlers remained in their groups the entire week and it was nice to hear the
cheering when achievements were made around the camp at different times. A real camaraderie had
developed between not just existing friends but those who had arrived on their own not knowing
anyone or from abroad!
The learning
continued in the early evening with lectures on:-
The days always
ended for those that still had energy left with a nice cold drink at the bar as we had also
been blessed with lovely warm weather!
The four days flew
past and, in our final question and answer sessions on the last day of camp, the first question
thrown at us was ‘please can you do this again?' So it seems we will! not just in the already
planned August but next year, too. Exact dates will be released soon, but there will definitely
be more Clear Q's Camps in the future. Keep your eyes peeled on Agilitynet Facebook and other
agility press for news.
While the August camp is fully booked
for handling spots, we can still offer spectator places. For more information or to register
foe one of next year's camps, please email
joannetristram@hotmail.com
Lastly I must thank
our sponsors who were great and so generous, specifically Doggy Jumps by Poly Jumps, Muddy Paws
On-line Shop, Burns Pet Nutrition, Clean Run, PetRehab and Tace Allen- Hunt.
First published 9 July 2013
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