Open European Championships 2014: Maia

Sunday, 16 November 2014

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.

Saturday, 15 November 2014

Friday 14th November - Practice Day

Another early start - the Practice sessions had been notified to all the participating countries and Great Britain was in poll position starting at 08:15 until 09:15.

Nicci and Nala

This would be the Team's times for all their competitors so a rota was worked out to make the ring available for each team player and Karen with finger on the stop watch!

Lucy and Skiffle

Christina and Eze

Kath and Amber

Spice - Practising alone!!!

Thank you Dagmar Blariaux for these Practice Session Photos.

The hour was nearly over, but there was a little overrun time
when all the handlers could all go into the ring

After the Great Britain practice session all the other countries would be visiting the venue for their allocated hour - the practice sessions would not finish till 18:45!

The Team made their way back to the hotel where they had arranged to meet in the Bar to exchange Good Luck cards and presents.
Unfortunately - the bar was not open - but the foyer was available!

A unusual "selfie" by David Hardman who took all these photos - Thank you!

So many Good Luck wishes from all the Team's supporters. THANK YOU!

And Attila one of the five judges, dropped by to say Good Luck too!

It would soon be time to return to the OEC Venue - but some of the Team decided there was time for a safe walk to an area of the woods where they had been lost the day before!!