QUALITY AGILITY EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURED IN THE UK 

Yet another very wet year of agility passes us by. It doesn't feel like a year has passed us by since we agreed to sponsor the first Grade 3, 4 & 5 Large Agility qualifier.

The final was held as the Dog Vegas show on 23rd August 2008 at Winterton Agricultrual Showground, Scunthorpe.

There was a real buzz in the air as there were money prizes on offer to 5th place-some lovely glass trophies, a voucher for future Dog Vegas shows, placing rosettes and a rosette for every unplaced, attending finialist.

We were blessed with a glorious evening and perfect ground conditions for the competition. The crowd gathered to watch the evenings entertainment as the judge, Liz Muton was setting a suitably challenging agility course for the 37 competitiors.

With the course set, the running orders drawn, the wine flowing and Lotta Bowers on the microphone, it was time to start the final.

First to go was Dave Hutchinson with Nobite Poetic Licence, with a fast time of 32.27, but unfortunately picking up 15 faullts en-route. The next three to run, all got eliminated. Pat Brown, running 5th, set the pace with a super, fast clear round in a time of 29.072 - an amazing three seconds faster than Dave's round! Was this going to be the winning round? We then had a couple of eliminations, then three clear rounds all just over 32 seconds. Jo Richardson was next to go with Nedlo and Behold, running 12th with an excellent clear round in a time of 29.752 to eventually finish fourth. Seventeenth to run was Jacqui Tarn with Morgans Halloween Kracker, this was a pair to watch. It was obvious that Jacqui meant business from the start; with a faultless clear round in a time of 29.232, she didn't disappoint us. I think by this time, Pat Brown must have bitten off all of her nails. She didn't have to wait much longer though as Louise Rain ran a clear round in a time of 32.341, it was the turn of Will Rolfe with Nedlo Black Magic who had a blistering round in a time of 28.862 to take the lead. Would this be good enough to take the ?100.00 cash and the first place trophy?

After several more eliminations, clear rounds and a few with faults, it was clear that nobody could touch Will's time.

Out of the 37 dogs that ran, there were 14 clears, 6 with 5 faults, 2 with 10 faults, 2 with 15 faults, 1 with 20 faults and 12 eliminations!

This final proved to be a very exciting competition to watch, every partenership was worthy of being there, showing us that the standard of our handlers and dogs is getting higher each year. Grade 7 people - watch your backs!

It is very rewarding for us to be able to put something back into agility, it makes all of the hard work worth while when you see how much these dogs enjoy their job, especially as a lot of the dogs were rescued or rehomed. It is great to see the pride on the owners faces of what they have achieved with their 'unwanted' pets.

Congratulations to Will and Nedlo Black Magic on winning the first Dog Vegas final. Well done and thank you to all the competitors who provided us with a thrilling and entertaining final, to the clubs that hosted the qualifiers, and the judges and ring parties throughout the year, Liz Mutton for judging the final, Lotta Bowers for commentating and thank you to the Dog Vegas organisers for hosting the final. We look forward to another succesful year competing.

1st Will Rolfe Nedlo Black Magic C 28.862
2nd Pat Brown Nedlo Sheez a Diva C 29.072
3rd Jacqui Tarn Morgans Halloween Kracker C 29.232
4th Jo Richardson Nedlo and Beyond C 29.752
5th Georgina Baker Crazy Crumble C 30.902
6th Linda Cook Astra Grace C 31.012
7th Louise Rain Borderstorm Baby Dare C 31.651
8th Allison Harris Ziggi In The Middle C 32.011
9th Emma Duckworth Edax Globus C 32.311
10th Louise Rain Stars Storm Warning C 32.341