QUALITY AGILITY EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURED IN THE UK 

Another year of agility passes us by with ten First Contact grade 1 & 2 Agility qualifiers, held across the country.

The 2007 First Contact Agility Final took place on the evening of Sunday August 26th at the Dog Vegas show at the Winterton Showground, Scunthorpe. Some lovely glass trophies and a voucher for £100.00 of agility equipment was the prize on offer. It was a glorious evening, perfect weather and perfect ground conditions for the competition. The crowd was gathering as the judge Katheryn Tasker was setting a suitably challenging agility course for the 31 competitors.

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

First to go was Nicky Smallman with her Working Sheepdog, Ibberton Bright Star with a fast round in a time of 32.65 but with an unfortunate 5 faults. The next to go was Jessica Glandfield with Deonbach Anwar Wallis who set the standard with a lovely clear round in a time of 33.64. The next two dogs had 10 faults and 5 faults respectively. Fifth to run was Angela Fiddimore with Bobly Bob. This 3 year old dog put in a faultless clear in a time of 33.31 to take the lead. Angela was to hold onto that lead until Sarah Lloyd, running 10th crossed the finish line with Santa’s Little Helper in a time of 32.17! We had several more good clear rounds after that, but no-one could beat the time until running 21st Donna Cordon Stacey stepped up to the line with Waggerland Whombatt. This pair were one of the favourites to win and they didn’t disappoint with a blistering round in a time of 28.57!! Unfortunately they picked up 5 faults on the way allowing Sarah to hold onto the lead a little bit longer. Next to go was Nikki Collins with Hotshot Harlequin. This pair have really been on form this weekend collecting numerous placings – could their luck hold out again? They managed to produce a text book round in a time of 31.35 to put them in the lead. This round proved to be unbeatable as they went on to win! – An impressive start to her career as this is her first agility dog. Well done!

Out of the 31 dogs that ran, there were 15 clears, 10 with 5 faults, 4 with 10 faults, 2 with 20 faults and no eliminations!

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

It was lovely to be able to watch a variety of breeds competing in a final, we had breeds ranging from weineramers to German Shepherd crosses to German Shorthaired pointers. Also a large number of the dogs were rescued or rehomed and seemed to be enjoying every minute of their new lives together.

Congratulations to Nikki and Harley on winning the final and collecting numerous rosettes and trophies over the three days.

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, Lotta Bowers for commentating and thank you to Dog Vegas for hosting the final.

David Bew and Hazel Higgins.

First Contact Agility.

1st Nikki Collins Hotshot Harlequin C 31.35

2nd Sarah Lloyd Santa’s Little Helper C 32.17

3rd Nicky Smallman Ibberton Bright Star C 32.65

4th Rebecca Waite Bailey Boo C 32.81

5th Angela Fiddimore Bobly Bob C 33.31

6th Jenny Barr The Blanket Kid C 33.32

7th Jessica Glandfield Deonbach Anwar Wallis C 33.64

8th Tina McAdam Wallace The Whizz C 35.12

9th Michelle Philips Halesrush Sweet Charity C 35.36

10th Keith Leggate Shepers Frosty Lady C 35.70