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.

Tuesday 11th November The Journey Begins!

The Team - all prepared and ready for their long journeys to Stuttgart.

The first vehicle to start the journey was Rob and Lucy with Teasel and Skiffle - leaving Spider to have a great holiday with Lucy's parents in Cambridgeshire.

Skiffle and Teasel having a good play in the Dog Area provided at Eurotunnel. Thank you to Eurotunnel from TEAM GBR for sponsoring us on this journey.

Lucy, Rob and dogs managed a very short visit to Cologne on their way to Stuttgart.

Those travelling in the Top Lodge bus were the next group to set off deciding on a night drive with the three drivers Kath, David and Helen taking the driving in 2 hour shifts. Together with Karen, Allan (who would be a supporter from home), Nicci, Lesley and Roger, they met in the Training Hall at Lesley’s at 19:30 - and after fully loading the bus and roof rack they had a fish and chip supper before setting off at 21:00 on their way to Folkestone and the Eurotunnel.

The Top Lodge Bus with flags on show!!

This vehicle carried seven people and a precious cargo of 8 dogs :
Nala, Spice, Amber, Denby, Maia, Hamish, Dewy and Tedi.

Please note the the Kennel Club did not support Team GBR, however, full permission was given to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a Team.

The Final Team Training Session

The final Team Training Session.   Good fun had by all in the last preparations.  

Denby and Kath work their way around the excess props!!!

Goodness - Lesley and Helen ready to swat flies?

A great session with good food and good company.  Good Luck cards and gifts sorted, final travel and accommodation preparations done.  
Yes - the Team is ready and would like to thank everyone for their support and generosity in making this trip possible.

Please note the the Kennel Club is not supporting Team GBR, however, full permission was given to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a Team.

GREAT RESULTS at Canine Freestyle GB Competition

Helen and Maia were thrilled to win the Advanced Heelwork at Tomlinson's. Despite slipping over during the routine Maia quickly regained her compose and carried on!

Lesley Neville (Freestyle Team Leader) and Dewy
had a very successful weekend at the CFGB Show. 

On Saturday they came 3rd in the Advanced Heelwork To Music class which also gave them a Cruft’s Semi Final Qualifier place (Subject to confirmation at this point in time of course) and on Sunday, Lesley tried out her new  routine in the Advanced Freestyle Class and not only was she delighted to complete the whole routine.

The judges liked it too giving them 5th place which also gave them a Cruft’s Semi Final Qualifier place.

Karen (HTM Team Leader) and her young dog Midge had a wonderful time. 

This was their first Kennel Club Competition and they were thrilled to take 1st place.

At 17 months old and with 2 wins under her belt, the future is looking bright for Midge's dancing career.

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, 
the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain.

The Entries have been Accepted and Confirmed

Open European Heelwork to Music Championships

14^th to 16^th November 2014

Stuttgart, Germany.

Louth and District are pleased to announce the Entries have now been accepted by the OEC Organisers.    

The selected members of the Team  from Great Britain who will be competing in Germany are as follows:

Heelwork to Music Team  (In alphabetical order)
HTM Team Leader Karen Sykes

Handler	Dog’s KC name	Breed	Pet name
Lucy Creek	Harriot Skiffle King	Border Collie	Skiffle
Helen Dennis	Goddess Spring Of Jucando	WSD	Maia
Kath Hardman	Stillmoor Lady In Red	Border Collie	Amber
Kath Hardman	Stillmoor Extra Special	Border Collie	Denby
Reserve Nicci Hindson	Ravestar Scarlet Dancer	WSD	Nala

Freestyle Team  (In alphabetical order)
FS Team Leader Lesley Neville

Handler	Dog’s KC name	Breed	Pet name
Lucy Creek	Dialynne Making Waves	Beagle	Teasel
Kath Hardman	September Spice	Crossbreed	Spice
Nicci Hindson	Ravestar Scarlet Dancer	WSD	Nala
Christina Oxtoby	Legacy’s Eze Ezekiel	Border Collie	Eze
1st  Reserve Lucy Creek	Harriot Skiffle King	Border Collie	Skiffle
2nd Reserve Lesley Neville	Brambledale Blue Dewy	Bearded Collie	Dewy

Team Manager at the event Kath Hardman

Good Luck to them all.

Apologies as Christina couldn't make the Team Practice and not featured on the photos.

(Taken by Allan Brown)

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, 
the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain

The Team at Strictly Canine

Some of the team competed or trained at the Strictly Canine HTM Competition held at Arena UK Allington.  Team supporter Allan Brown took these photos.

Dewy and Lesley gained a 5th place in the Advanced Heelwork To Music class, very good for a young dog who has only just worked his way up to the Advanced classes.

In the Advanced Freestyle Class Dewy pulled out all the stops and flew through the air to gain 2nd place.   Watch out for flying Beardies!"

Helen and Maia gained a third place at the competition.  

Maia kicked her feet out around the large arena having the time of her life! 

Kath and her youngest dog Denby were entered in the HTM Class but just took advantage of the huge ring for working out a floor plan of their new routine in preparation for the OEC!

A good game of tuggy set the right atmosphere too - more play than work!!   Kath other two team dogs (Amber and Spice) had good fun the following day in the same ring during a Training Show.

 Nicci Hindson was very busy running the show but made time to do two nice training rounds with Nala.

 Lots of reward for the new sections of her heelwork to build her confidence

 With some proofing work on parts of her freestyle where she was starting to anticipate.

Nicci was very pleased with how she worked.

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, 
the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain.

Change to the Team Squad

Due to Lesley's recent successes and showing of growing strength in competition with Dewy, Kath has withdrawn Denby from the position of second reserve and this will now be Lesley Neville and Dewy.

The final decisions about the team will take place just prior to the entries being made.

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain.

Good Results for the Team competing this weekend

A large competition this weekend saw the team competing with great results.

Saturday was Freestyle Day with Lucy Creek with Teasel and Skiffle winning 1st and 3rd places in a very strong Advanced Freestyle Class. And Lesley Neville "Acting Team Co-Ordinator" being placed 4th with Dewy.

Sunday was Heelwork To Music Day with Kath Hardman and Denby winning 1st Place in the Advanced HTM class of 24.    Karen Sykes and Fly were placed 3rd and Helen Dennis with Maia placed 5th. 

Great team results!

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.