Tuff Stuff News

The Novice Graduate Agility

Tuff Stuff Final Report 2006

Recently the following in the sports news... Weather superb (for England). Course spread out but well thought out. Spectators more than originally expected but a superb atmosphere. Thought this comment was made by Tiger Woods at Hoylake but I was wrong, This was the Tuff Stuff Final at Wirral Show on Saturday, 15 July 2006.

The weather was just perfect - not a cloud in the sky - and everyone had been moving their chairs to the ringside for well over an hour before the competitors were called into the ring for the briefing by the judge Kathrin Tasker.

Some competitors were pleasantly surprised to find that they had qualified for the final on the day, due to other competitors having already gained a place in the final at some of the other heats. Nerves were apparent with one or two but once on the start line agility took over.

The course was  free flowing but had areas of control with a nice run home at the end. First to run was Marianne Burrows with her BC Alexaarons My New Boots who gained a clear round - even though it had been touch and go all day as to whether he would compete after a slight accident earlier in the day. They were followed by Gary Leece, Katie Melville, Petra Chaffe and Terri Bellingham who all incurred faults. Anne Miller and Mandy Reads took the line next and both had clear rounds. Kate Howard and Emma Rouse were not so lucky, but Jill Oliver with Charlies Angel, who were here last year, managed to get a clear.

Debbie Mangels, who had travelled from Deal in Kent to take her place in the Final, started a spate of clear rounds including Sharon Schick with Saxony Golden Bear, Janice Dawson with her lurcher Buddy Fantastic - what a beautiful dog this was - Jill Dunbar with Ballistic Bertie - there a second time at this event - and Nikki Smith with Little Madam Butterfly. Two more clears followed with Lynn Jamieson and David Nunn.

David Williams with Miss Mental at Myford broke the stream of clears. This pair went out to enjoy themselves with the handler having been so surprised to qualify. Lynn Bayley, who will shortly be moving to France with her pack of rescue dogs, managed to gain ten faults with her big WSD Billy Bob. And then Sue Choux went clear with Sassy.

We were more than half way there now and saw Janet Hudson with her young Weimaraner, Pat Holliday with the Quiz Master and Wirral's own Joanne Bingham with Jamie, all unlucky on this occasion.

Ian Nicholls with Kangarooney also managed the final, with his wife Margaret looking on even though she had been in hospital with a triple bypass only four weeks before. That was the jewel in Wirral's crown that day.

Towards the end we had two superb fast rounds from Jo Richardson and Lindsay Cheshire but unfortunately they both had five faults. The last dog to run was Clare Donnelly's Magneto Sparks who managed to end the competition on a good note and gained a clear round. Altogether there were 18 clears from 47 dogs who ran.

What a time it was for Marianne Burrows who held first place all the way through after running first but was pipped at the post by Debbie Mangles for the winning position.

It was encouraging to see that this event was so well supported by competitors from all over the country. Debbie eagerly phoned her family to let them know of her success. What a journey she had!

Results

Thank you
Many thanks to Wirral for hosting this event again, to Kathrin Tasker for setting such a nice course, to all the competitors for being so supportive to each other and especially  to Tuff Stuff's Nigel and Jacqui McWhinney without whom this event would not be possible.

The first three positions along with rosies and trophies all received a special prize each from Tuff Stuff and all competitors in the final received  commemorative rosettes. We can all look forward to the Wirral Show 2007,

The qualifiers will be as follows:- Derbyshire (Aug 2006), Newton Heath, Otley, Shrewsbury, Dashin' Dogs, Ribble, Nottingham, Barrow-in -Furness and Wirral + ANO. This class will now be combined class for Grades 1, 2, 3 only and will no longer be a special class from 1 January 2007. The first four will qualify and the next four will be reserves.

Novice Graduate Agility Final 2005

The weather was just perfect, not a cloud in the sky. Everyone had been moving their chairs to the ringside for well over an hour before the competitors were called into the ring for the briefing by the judge Nigel Davis.

The course was well spread out and, whilst it  had areas of control, it was free flowing as it should be for this category of dog and the speed section ending with a run home via the weaves. The time for the course was 50 seconds.

Some competitors were pleasantly surprised to find that they had qualified for the final on the day, as other competitors having already qualified in the final at some of the other heats. Nerves were apparent with one or two, but once on the start line agility took over.

The Competition
The first to run was Sarah Coverdale with her BC Royalist Gyp, one of three dogs she had in this final who gained a clear round. She was followed by David Vernalls and his GSD The Welsh Wizard. Then came Barbara Walsh, having recovered from her recent hip replacement, running her GSD Foxfold Adel Schaferhund and showing us all what shear determination can achieve. What a sight it was to see - an excellent clear round!

The youngest competitor of this event was next. Adam Wildman with his dog Mr Bluberry is becoming quite a star. Unfortunately this time the piar had five faults, but watch this space for next year.

Kevin Bowers went next, followed by Julie Threlfall who went clear. Then Andrew Wilson took to the start line, having just come along for this final from Cleveland and bringing his family to cheer him on. A great applause greeted him at the end of his clear round. He beamed from ear to ear.

Another competitor to take the pressure was Wirral’s own Ian Nicholls with Kanga Rooney. Ian had nearly thrown in the towel. He has always named his dogs after Everton footballers, but is still distraught that Rooney has been sold to Man United! Nevertheless, even after working hard all day, he was able to take his place in the event and was cheered on his way round even though he was eliminated.

Last year Ian Jackson did the fastest round in the final but had faults. This year he spent all day judging in the heat. Running 40^th, he pipped Dawn Long who had been in the lead. Sara Coverdale came third and Alison Harris running 47^th took fourth place.

We had a variety of dogs, not all Border Collies or WSDs. All the handlers seemed to enjoy the free flowing course set by the judge. We even had the best breed of dog in the final according to Janet Hudson, but they were all stars on the day! All in all it was a very pleasant event, with the spectators taking a supportive and active part in the final, even doing the waves beforehand.

The final placings were as follows:-

The Winners

Thank you
Many thanks to Wirral for hosting this event, to Nigel Davis for setting such a nice course, to  all the competitors for being so supportive to each other  and especially  to Tuff Stuff’s Nigel and Jacqui McWhinney without whom this event would not be possible.

We can all look forward to the Wirral Show 2006. The qualifiers will be as follows:-

Novice Graduate Agility Final 2004

The TuffStuff Novice Graduate Agility Final was held on Saturday, 17 July 2004 at the Wirral Agility Show. The day started as several during recent weeks with heavy showers but just after lunch the sun came out and stayed for the rest of the weekend. Pauline Baltes continues...

The very first Novice Graduate Agility Final, sponsored by Nige and Jacqui McWhinney of Tuff Stuff was hosted by Wirral A & ABDTC. The final took place early evening and so many people brought their chairs to sit around the ringside to watch this event, being judged by Emma Davis.

The course was, as you would expect for these Novice dogs, flowing but containing controlled areas with a fleeting finish.

The first to run with her latest pack addition was Andrea Weldrend and Andrays Border Lass, who is not yet two years old. They were  followed by another Yorkshire lass Wendy Longbotton with Sweet Mollie WSD. Then came Yvonne Goode with Backstreet Black Bess. Storming in came Ian Jackson with Taliswood Temptation in a time of 25.88 seconds - the fastest of the day, but accruing five faults along the way.

Sixth came Allan Dowling with his newest addition Dark Columbia Hot Patootie, another two year old (31.02). Yvonne Croxford and Mottley Maddie Meister travelled up from Rugby just to take part in this event, but unfortunately it was not Maddie's day.

Then it was the turn of whippet X Tiger Millie and Paula Bartlett (36.15) followed by George Conway with Let's Stay Together and Jennifer Clinton with Toddy Clinton. From Cumbria came Sarah Bell with My Best Buddy who did a splendid round but gained 5R. They were followed by a nervous Jean Davidson and Take a chance at Ansutha and then Michael Pass with September Starlight. From Wirral came Luke Windsor and Karach Ruby.

Angela Christie took her nine year old 'youngster' Guinness GSD (Vertical Limit) round the course and then Janet Watson followed with Memphis Blue Belle. We then had another contender from Wirral. Stephen Hughes and his Malinois, Bonvivant C'est Moi Sabrefield raised a few cheers from the crowd with a time of 32.36 seconds. Next came Lyn Hussey with Carrey Share (38.38) followed by Liz Dowker with her rescued Pyrenean Sheepdog Tod Dot Kanine (33.37)

Amanda Wilson then took centre stage with her dog Canen Meg Under Cover with a time of 30.32 seconds, the fastest clear so far - and Meg is only two years old. Next came another High Peak member, Mike Hallam with his son's dog Fizzin 'n' Wizzin.

Getting near to the end now and everyone was in party spirit. Mandy Melville-Love, who had won out of Starters earlier this year with Hint of Blue, went clear in 32.93 seconds. Jean Tuck was next with her Smooth Collie, Dark Motif from Mistoff. What an achievement for this breed!

Finally up stepped Ken Baker with T T Ace. The event ended with Steve Nelson with Momerry Diddly Squat, another pair who only travelled for the Final.

Whilst the scores were being checked, the finalists circled the course and were applauded by the bystanders.

The presentation then took place with the working party, judge Emma  Davis and sponsors Jacqui and Nige who said, 'We both enjoyed it very much, probably helped by the fact that the weather stayed nice for once and we knew a fair few of the competitors. We’d also like to thank all those people who journeyed to Wirral to run in the Final only. Some of them had quite a journey and it was much appreciated.'

All finalists received a commemorative rosette and a lead from Tuff Stuff.

Many thanks were expressed to all.

Results

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