Saturday 15th November - Heelwork To Music Day

The Championship opened at 08:15am so unfortunately the team once again had to be up really early to reach the venue in good time. Each handler had a specific time in the warm up ring - then a specified time for their routine - this was organisation at its very best!  Stewards were collecting handlers for their warm up time and informing them when to set off for the actual competition ring - a choice of stairs or lift and the route was cleared by marshals.  Perfect!

Good Luck wishes  from the other competitors!

There were 15  Countries entered - with 43 entries from Italy, Japan, Denmark, Russia, Sweden, The Czech Republic, Belgium, Great Britain, Switzerland, France, The Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia, Finland and Germany.  The draws had been made about 3 weeks prior to the competition - drawing countries first and then a random draw of each handler per country. This worked really well as the Team GBR received their running orders as follows:
09:32   Number   8  Lucy and Skiffle
11:32   Number 19  Kath and Denby
13:24   Number 30  Kath and Amber
14:44   Number 40  Helen and Maia  
This gave time for each competitor to be supported and cheered on by fellow team mates!

Lucy and Skiffle

Super - fun routine!   Very well executed! Their score gave them 3rd Place!!

Denby ready for the start of his music

And the end pose!!

Kath with Amber

Concentration needed!!!  And finished in 7th Place

Helen and Maia - setting a good pace

Great footwork!  And finishing in 16th place

The HTM Team GBR worked really well and their combined scores gave them a well deserved 2nd place in the Team Championship!   WELL DONE HTM TEAM GBR!

The HTM Team GBR - Lucy Creek, Kath Hardman and Helen Dennis
led by Team Captain Karen Sykes - entered the Arena

 

All the HTM Teams were invited back into the Arena for the announcement of the Top Ten Finalists for the Individual Championship.  They would have to repeat their routines and the new score would be added to the earlier score for their final placings.

Nicci and Nala
HTM Team Reserves were given the opportunity to perform
their super routine and entertained the audience during the break

They worked really well giving a great performance

The Individual Final with Lucy and Skiffle first in for HTM Team GBR

Another great performance!

Followed later by Kath with Amber

Kath was pleased how well Amber worked for a second time.

The Judges : Katharina Henf (Germany) Nóra Karlyik (Hungary)
 Esther Niemeijer (The Netherlands) Heather Smith (Scotland) Attila Szukalek (England)

Kath with Amber finished in 9th Place

Lucy and Skiffle finished in 4th Place!!!

A very proud HTM TEAM GBR 

The HTM Team Trophy

The end of HTM Day with a parade around the ring.

HTM Team Winners Russia - HTM Team GBR Second Place and Belgium Third Place. 

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.

Helen and Maia at Ynys Mon, Anglesey

Helen and Maia took the opportunity and trained instead of competing at Anglesey Show to work on a section of the routine that had been changed slightly.  

Thank you to Allan Brown for the lovely photos 

This was more of a test for Helen to get her feet right, rather than for Maia to do the work! Helen said that co-ordinating her mouth, arms and feet has been challenging at times!!

Thank you to Ynys Mon Dog Training Club, Anglesey  for letting us raise funds for the Team.

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.

Introducing Karen Sykes - HTM Team Leader

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 making many great friends through the 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 doesn’t suit your dog.  Dogs, dancing and music are a magical combination which gives so much joy to many!

I have 3 dogs, Fly, Erin and Midge.  Midge is my one year old working sheepdog and is dancing along nicely taking 2 first places at her first 2 shows.  Erin is my 5 years old rescue cross breed and was Reserve Freestyle for Team GB 2013 in Holland.  Fly, my 13 year old working sheepdog won Crufts HTM in 2008 and the HTM Individual Open European Championships in Denmark in 2011.  This year Fly was selected to represent Great Britain for the 3^rd year running but sadly has had to be withdrawn due to ill health.

Although very disappointed not to be competing, I am delighted to be travelling to Germany in the role of Heelwork to Music Team Leader.  I am very keen to fully support the British Team.  With my wealth of experience in competing internationally I feel well qualified to help the entire Team produce their best, both in training and at the Open European Championships

Finally many thanks go my constant companion, Allan.  He has been by my side since 1983 encouraging me and supporting me in everything I have done, looking after our dogs when I have been travelling and helping me to achieve things that I would never have thought possible.  Thanks Allan!

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.

A Busy Weekend at UK HTM and Top Lodge Training Show

Helen and Maia have had a busy weekend.

On Saturday was the UK HTM National finals where Maia won the Champion class.

Thank you to UK HTM for letting the Team raise funds at this show -  it is really appreciated.

Then came the Top Lodge Training Show where they tested out new elements to their routine. A fabulous and fun weekend!

Well done Helen and Maia!!!!

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.

Thank you to Sleaford Fun Day

TEAM GBR Members Nicci and Nala attended Sleaford Fun Dog Show organised by Emma Yardley and Emma Reynolds. They very kindly donated all proceeds from the HTM Display and Trick Ring towards Team GBR funds. 

They raised a total of £80 from people and their dogs entering Fun Show classes such as best trick and best sausage catcher and also by demoing alongside Lucy Heath and allowing people to use the ring to practice their routines for a donation.

Thank you to Emma, Emma and Lucy - your support is greatly appreciated by all Team GBR.

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

More Great Results for The Team this Weekend

Another Crufts Semi Final Qualifying Competition this weekend with more great results for Team GBR.

In the Crufts Semi Qualifier Heelwork To Music Competition, 

Helen Dennis with Maia was the Winner today 

with hopefully a Qualifier to be confirmed 
once the results are received by the Crufts Manager.

In the Crufts Semi Qualifier Freestyle Competition, 

Lucy Creek with Skiffle was the Winner and 

Photo by Allan Brown

Christina Oxtoby with Eze was Second.   Again, hopefully both Qualified but to be confirmed once the results are received by the Crufts Manager.

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.

CSJ - Major Sponsors of the Team

Delighted to Sponsor

the Heelwork to Music Team GBR 2014

Message from CSJ:
At CSJ, we're very excited to be sponsoring the Heelwork to Music Team GBR selected to represent Great Britain, in the Heelwork to Music Open European Championships to be held in Stuttgart, Germany in November 2014. A highly skilled group of 7 handlers with 10 very talented dogs, we can’t wait to see the performances that will showcase the best of Heelwork To Music in Great Britain.

Within the team, there are 3 Crufts winners, a World Champion and a European Champion. Plus several of the dogs were part of a Gold medal winning team at the European Championships in 2012, as well as an exciting selection of young, up and coming dogs that have already been very successful at the top level of competition in this country. All of the team members competed in the HTM and Freestyle Finals at Crufts 2014.

Look out for the big bright CSJ logo on the jackets that the team members will wear (hopefully you won’t be able to miss them!). We think they look stunning. That’s all for now - but you’ll be hearing more from us! And massive good luck to the 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.

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.

Bank Holiday Monday - fundraiser for Nicci

On 5th may, Nala and Nicci were invited to perform at Navenby Village's Mayday Fete. A good crowd gathered to watch. They started their demo with a fast paced routine to Cara Emerald's "That Man", showcasing all of Nala's favourite tricks. Nicci then did a short demonstration of how to teach a few basic moves as there was a companion dog show at the event and so hopefully a few of the crowd will now be inspired to have a go with their dogs. 

They finished with a performance of their Matilda routine - made slightly more challenging as there was a maypole in the centre of the ring that they had to work around! 

The announcer told the audience about Nicci's trip to Germany- and they passed a donation pot around the crowd- with Nala performing special 'requests' for those that donated. 

The village raised a total of £33 towards Nicci's trip. Thank you to the residents of Navenby.

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.