Introducing Karen Sykes and Fly - Heelwork To Music Team Leader

I have 3 dogs, 2 Working Sheepdogs and 1 rescue crossbreed.  Fly, Erin and Midge.  Midge is my one year old working sheepdog and is dancing along nicely to follow in my other dogs’ paw-prints.  Erin is 5 years old and was Reserve Freestyle for Team GB 2013 in Holland.

This is the 3^rd year that Fly has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Open European Championships, which this year is being held in Germany.  The first year I was thrilled when she won the Individual Heelwork to Music Champion title in Denmark and the Team Championship title too.  Last year she had to be withdrawn from the team due to illness but happily she has come bouncing back to compete once again this year.

Fly is a very fast and intense dog who anticipates everything which makes training a real challenge and lots of fun.  Around the home you could not wish for a more loving and well behaved dog, she is a real joy to live with.  Fly has competed at Crufts every year since the very first competition in her speciality of Heelwork to Music.  Our proudest moment in the UK together was winning the Crufts Heelwork to Music competition in 2008. 

I first competed and judged in 2001.  Since then I have continued to compete, judge and teach but never did I imagine back then where this sport would take me.  Thanks to HTM I have travelled the world with my friend Kath Hardman, holding seminars and judging which has resulted in making many great friends through this fabulous sport.

What I love about Heelwork to Music and Freestyle is that it is the only dog sport where you can do exactly what you want to within the rules and let your imagination run free.  You can show-case the individuality of your dog and never have to perform a move that the dog doesn’t like.  Dogs, dancing and music are a magical combination which gives so much joy to many!

I cannot finish my profile without mentioning my constant companion, Allan.  He has been by my side since 1983 encouraging me in everything I have done, looking after our dogs and helping me to achieve things that I never thought possible.  To represent my country is a huge honour and I shall do my very best with Fly.  Whatever the result, I can be sure I will be taking the best dog home to my wonderfully supportive family and friends!

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting this team in anyway by selection or in any other way.  However the Kennel Club of Great Britain has given permission to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a team for Great Britain.

Introducing Helen Dennis and Maia - Heelwork To Music

My name is Helen Dennis and my dog is a working sheepdog called Goddess Spring of Jucando, pet name: Maia. 

I currently have 2 working sheepdogs, Blaise and Maia, and both have competed at HTM.  I first started training HTM in 2007 with Blaise.  We initially weren’t intending to compete and just wanted to do something for fun but of course we did and Blaise reached Advanced in FS and Intermediate in HTM. Following some health problems though, I made the difficult decision to retire him and he is now my husband’s faithful walking companion. 

By the time Blaise retired I was hooked on HTM so I decided that now was the time to concentrate on Maia, my younger dog.  Blaise had been so willing and keen to work but Maia wasn’t - she is not your conventional collie - and she thought she was better suited to being a lapdog, so some work was required!  She has been a challenge but despite everything she has taught me a huge amount along the way. In the summer of last year we not only qualified for Advanced but shortly after we also qualified for the Crufts semi-finals which was an incredible achievement. 

Maia is such a character, very loving, and she loves doing HTM.  I am incredibly lucky to have her, very proud of what we have achieved so far and looking forward to the future.  What an honour to be on the team and to be representing Great Britain!

I would like to wish all my fellow team members, competitors & reserves all the best of luck.

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting this team in anyway by selection or in any other way.  However the Kennel Club of Great Britain has given permission to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a team for Great Britain.

Nala - Nicci Hindson's Freestyle Team Dog

Nala (Hindson) has just had her rabies jab so she can get her passport to go to Germany.

Huge thank you to NEWMAN WATTERS Veterinary Surgery for covering the cost of the vaccine and passport and for supporting Nicci Hindson

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting this team in anyway by selection or in any other way.  However the Kennel Club of Great Britain has given permission to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a team for Great Britain.

Introducing Kath Hardman - HTM Team GBR Manager, Freestyle and HTM Team member

Kath Hardman  

Kath Hardman and her dogs have been successfully competing in Heelwork to Music since 1999.  

Heelwork To Music is a huge part of Kath’s life, she helps with the development of the sport, being a member of The Kennel Club, The KC Judges Working Party and The KC HTM Working Party along with being a founder member and Show Manager of a nationwide KC Registered HTM Club, Canine Freestyle GB which holds two weekend shows each year.

In March 2008 at CRUFTS, Kath with her Crossbreed Spice won both THE FREESTYLE FINAL and went on to represent England in THE INTERNATIONAL FREESTYLE FINAL which they also won.

In October 2010, at the Inaugural FCI World Championships held in Denmark at the World Show, Kath and her Border Collie Amber (Stillmoor Lady In Red) were proud to be selected as part of HTM Team GB, which were placed second in the championship and delighted that Amber and her were the highest scoring individuals gaining the FCI Individual HTM World Champion title.

Following this, in October 2011 and on September 2013, Kath was again selected with Spice and Amber to represent Great Britain at the Open European Championships in both Freestyle and Heelwork to Music.   In 2012 Spice was the highest placed Freestyle dog in Team GB and Amber the highest placed HTM dog in Team GB.

And now Kath is proud to have been chosen for the 4^th time with three dogs selected for the team! Amber and her youngest dog Denby in the Heelwork To Music Team. Spice in the Freestyle Team. The competition is a long way off hence why the team has chosen extra reserves as back up.

Kath is proud of her both her achievements and her wonderful dogs and really hopes that her Mum and Dad are looking down on her with pride!

Good Luck from Kath to all fellow Team mates and competitors!

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting this team in anyway by selection or in any other way.  However the Kennel Club of Great Britain has given permission to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a team for Great Britain.

Introducing Lesley Neville - Freestyle Team Leader

Hello, my name is Lesley Neville and I am the Freestyle Team Leader for the Team representing Great Britain this year and I have Dewy who is second reserve for the Freestyle Team.

It will seem quite strange to be at the European Championships this year and not be working a dog, but that will give me lots of time to “look after” the Freestyle Team!   I know what it feels like to compete in the Open European Championships as in 2011 competed in the OEC’s in Denmark with my Bearded Collie Angus as a member of the team representing Great Britain.  Our team was very successful, winning the Team Heelwork to Music Trophy and having the Individual HTM winner as a member of our team too!

Angus and I competed in both the Heelwork and the Freestyle divisions gaining an individual 5^th place in Heelwork and 4^th place in Freestyle

In 2013, I competed at the OEC’s in Holland with my Bearded Collie, Hamish, as sadly Angus was no longer with us by then and this year I chose to put forward my youngest Beardie, Dewy, for the team.  I was a little concerned that although he is very talented, he is inexperienced, but fortunately we had the choice of a good selection of strong and experienced dogs to choose from so he is taking his place as one of the reserve dogs for the team.

Maybe next year?

I think we have a great team, a very strong team, a very talented team and even though I will not be dancing with them in the ring, I will be dancing with them in my heart.

Good Luck Team!!!!

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting this team in anyway by selection or in any other way.  However the Kennel Club of Great Britain has given permission to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a team for Great Britain.

Second Training Session!

Not all the Team could make it to the first Training Session but Karen and Kath made sure that Helen didn't miss out and met with her early Sunday morning to bring her up to speed on everyone's routines and music choices from the day before.

Helen made sure  that those training today were well fed by supplying bacon and egg butties!!  

 And of course a good cup of tea to start the day!!

 Helen and Miai going through their steps in their Heelwork To Music routine

And a finish pose was chosen.

Another great session getting ready for the Championships!

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting this team in anyway by selection or in any other way.  However the Kennel Club of Great Britain has given permission to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a team for Great Britain.

First Team Training Session

First Team Training Session - with great ideas shared on music, choreography and costume!!

Happy Spice leads the way - so fast the camera only just caught her!

Lucy getting some physical instruction from Karen in hand/arm placement for her dance routine with Teasel.

Time for a drink and so much cake to choose from - Lavender Liqueur cake and Blueberry Muffin cake made by Lucy  (Yum yum!!!) plus chocolate cake, chocolate biscuits, nibbles and snacks from the other team members.   Yes looking forward to the next training session!!

So let's talk technique and have a brain storming session!!

A great day full of superb ideas and progress towards the great team event!!

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting this team in anyway by selection or in any other way.  However the Kennel Club of Great Britain has given permission to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a team for Great Britain.