Yet another very wet year of agility passes us by. It doesn't feel like a year has gone b since the last First Contact Grade 1 & 2 Agility Final.

As in 2008 the First Contact Agility Final took place at the Dog Vegas show in August at the Winterton Showground, Scunthorpe.

The prizes on offer - Some lovely glass trophies and a voucher for £100.00 of agility equipment, rosettes to 10th place, and a rosette for all the unplaced finialists.

We were blessed with a glorious evening, perfect weather and perfect ground conditions for the competition. The crowd gathered to watch the evenings entertainment as the judge Kevin Bowers was setting a suitably challenging agility course for the 24 competitors.

The start of the final

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 Emma Quincy with Bushy Boy Of Bards with a fast clear round in a time of 29.65, the pace had been set. The next to go was Caroline Rain with Pickled Pepper who set the new standard with a lovely clear round in a time of 27.21, an amazing two an a half seconds faster. Was this going to be the winning round?The next two dogs had 10 faults in 34.16 and 26.87 respectively, but proving that the time could be beaten.

Fifth to run was Cindy Osbourne with Fizzy Tizzy, just picking p 5 faults, as did Boomerang Fudge. Angela Richardson and Nifty Noodle put in a faultless clear round in a time of 27.77 to eventually take the third place trophy. After a couple of 5 fault rounds and a few steadier clears, it was time for Jayne Petitt, drawn 15th with Wiccaways Dancing Brave who produced a blistering clear round in a time of 26.71 which proved to be good enough to take the winning place.

Only one other combination managed to beat the time, but unfortunately picking up 5 faults along the way and that was Sue Walters with rystal Dream.

Out of the 24 dogs that ran, there were 8 clears, 9 with 5 faults, 2 with 10 faults, 1 with 15 faults and 4 eliminations!

Raising standards

The 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 whippets to German Shepherd dogs 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 Jayne and Wiccaweys Dancing Brave on winning the final and collecting numerous rosettes and trophies over the four 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, Kevin Bowers for judging the final, Lotta Bowers for commentating and thank you to Dog Vegas for hosting the final. We look forward to another successful competition next year

Finishing times 

1st Jayne Pettitt Wiccaweys Dancing Brave C 26.71
2nd Caroline Rain Pickled Pepper C 27.21
3rd Angela Richardson Richo's Nifty Noodle C 27.77
4th Charlotte Hughes Gimme Five Levi C 29.30
5th Emma Quincy Bushy Boy Of Bards C 29.65
6th Kenny Waddle Canen Kim C 31.23
7th Anne Armstrong Talieivy Alie Of Beckshire C 31.49
8th Pat Pickard Ice Mead Atlantis Mist C 37.81
9th Sue Walkters Crystal Dream 5 25.32
10th Sharon Footitt Little Bezler 5 27.98