Sunday 16th November - Freestyle Day

Another early start for the Team - thankfully the Hotel Restaurant started serving at 06:30! A hasty breakfast eaten and the Team were off on their short journey to the OEC Venue for the Freestyle Championships.

The Venue - photo Lucy Creek

There were 14 countries competing in this Championship as follows: Germany, Belgium, Russia, Switzerland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Italy, Sweden and Austria. with 49 competitors.
Again everyone had been notified of their running orders down to the time to be ready for the Warm Up Ring to the time to make their way to the Arena Entrance to the performance time. This helped immensely with having 4 dogs competing in the event (plus two demonstrations to be done by GBR dogs) and as the draw had been made in country order first - there was plenty of time for each member of the team to support and help prepare the next GBR Competitor.
The draw received was as follows:
10:15   Number 12  Lucy and Teasel
11:59   Number 25  Kath and Spice
13:58   Number 37  Nicci and Nala
15:26   Number 48  Christina and Eze.   Unfortunately Eze scuffed a pad sometime Friday and the Team all hoped that it would be good to compete, but Christina realised it was not healed enough and made the tough decision to withdraw from competition which meant the reserves for Freestyle, Lucy and Skiffle would compete in their place.
Lucy was to have taken part in a demo during the lunch break so the organisers were immediately notified Saturday evening of the change in Team for Great Britain.

This is Peter - he was asked to video a flavour 
of the competition for one of Team GBR Sponsors CSJ.

First to compete for Team GBR - Lucy with Teasel

Teasel jumping as high as possible!

Kath with Spice

Spice so keen to run fast!!!!!!!!!! Finishing in 26th place.

The State Vet - Photo by Helen Dennis

Straight after Spice had competed, the State Vet arrived to administer the worming tablets for each dog travelling back to Great Britain the following day.  Microchips scanned and checked against each Pet Passport, worming tablet given and the necessary notes with stamps made into the correct page!  Phew - all done and ready to enter GB any time on Monday from 13:00.  Sorted!

Nicci with Nala

Ah - don't cry - all going well ;-) Finishing in 16th place.

Lucy with Skiffle this time!  

Special lighting effects added to the drama!!
Finishing in 25th place

A chance for the Team to watch the final routines.
 It was certainly busy!

Lesley with Dewy

 Demo time after the competition.

The FS Team - placed 8th

The Judges - Freestyle Day

Lucy with a hiding Teasel!

A happy Nicci and Nala - 16th place

Smiling Lucy with Skiffle in 25th place

Kath with Spice in 26th place

The Individual FS Winner Sandra Roth from Germany

The Team Winners - RUSSIA

Sadly, the Championships for 2014 were over - the competition was a great success for the organisers and was certainly a success with all the handlers. 
Well Done to Carmen Schmidt  and all the Team of helpers and stewards.  You all made the Championship a very happy affair for all attending.

Team GBR had competed well, enjoyed their experience, had been proud and honoured to be there and now looked forward to their evening meal with fellow team members and the journey home on Monday.

Wednesday 12th November - The Journey Continues!!

Wednesday - and Lucy and Rob with Teasel and Skiffle arrived at Stuttgart ready to welcome their follow team members who would be arriving later that day.

Supporter Penny Hudson had already arrived at the hotel too mixing her visit to the OEC with a business trip the following week

Meanwhile - the Team Members travelling in the "bus" arrived at Eurotunnel ready for the Duty Free Shopping!!!  This is all they could find - the shop was closed - perhaps that was to be expected at 01:30 when they arrived a little early for the 03:27 tunnel crossing!!!

But time soon passed as they amused themselves!!!

Nice to see all leaving on time!!!
In the meantime Christina and Team GBR supporter Lorraine were just leaving home - they would be catching a train around 09:00.
After the long drive, the bus arrived at the hotel.

Super hotel with a very fast check in and soon the Team were relaxing in their rooms ready to meet for their evening meal.

The Team

The Team held a Training Day for all team members to meet, 

chat and train with their competing dogs.   

A great time was had with everyone giving each other help and support throughout the day. 

Thanks to Team Supporter Allan Brown for the photos.

The Full Team with supporters

 Team Management!!

Kath Hardman HTM Team GBR Manager,  Team Co-Ordinator UK - Carol Mortimer and 

Freestyle Team Leader Lesley Neville and Karen Sykes HTM Team Leader

 The Heelwork To Music Team

 The Freestyle Team

 Lucy Creek with Skiffle - HTM Team and Freestyle Team Reserve
 and Teasel - Freestyle Team

 Helen Dennis with Maia - HTM Team 

 Kath Hardman with Spice Freestyle Team,
Denby and Amber HTM Team

 Nicci Hindson with Nala - Freestyle Team and HTM Team Reserve

 

 Christina Oxtoby with Eze - Freestyle Team

 Karen Sykes with Fly - HTM Team

Team Supporters
Allan Brown, Dylan Smith, Carol Mortimer,
Lesley Neville (now FS Team Leader), David Hardman and Rob Creek

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.