KC Festival Starters Cup

Judge Keith Brooks had set a reasonably challenging course for Grades 1 and 2, befitting the occasion. The route around the twenty obstacles would include two rear crosses and an inviting pipe tunnel under the A-frame. Commentary to introduce the dogs and handlers and to accompanying them around the course was supplied by Dave Ray.

The faces of the handlers, as they gathered in the tunnel watching the course was being built, were showing a mixture of emotions – smiles and nervous laughter, tension and obvious camaraderie.

Small dogs
The Small dogs ran first starting with Val White and her two year old white Toy Poodle, Pippin (Majorna Icy Crystal). Val rehomed Pippin at seven months. They started well but picked up 10 faults and lost a lot of time on the dog walk when Pippin took a dislike to the up contact, finishing in 96.01 seconds.

Next to go was Collette Smith with her five year old Bichon Frisee, Mia (Chrislan Carmen Miranda). This was a nice round but the pair lost time and picked up 5 faults for a refusal at jump 5, going into the lead in 48.36 seconds.

Third to go was Louise Macfarlane from Jersey with her first agility dog, three year old West Highland White Terrier Maisie (My Dreamer Believer). They collected 5 faults on the A-frame and lost time across the dog walk before a fast run in to home in 49.72, putting them into second place.

The scene was set for the final competitor, young Daniel Croxford, to try to get the first clear round as he entered the ring with his first agility dog, Shetland Sheepdog Bailey (Obay Truly Daniels Dream). Daniel put in a very polished and confident performance. There were no nerves showing here. His superb clear round in a very fast 36.67 seconds was more than enough to claim victory, much to the delight of his vociferous band of supporters.

Medium Dogs
Next it was the turn of the Medium dogs. Starting the class off was Abigail Doxford and her four year old black and white English Springer Spaniel, Daisy (Dippy Daisy). Daisy failed as a gundog as she is frightened of bangs! This pair put in a good, flowing run but Daisy's enthusiasm at the bottom of the dog walk picked up 5 faults for a missed contact. Their time of 36.26 seconds set the standard and was not to be beaten.

Second to go was Johanna Allanach from Denmark with her three year old Shetland Sheepdog, Obay Singular Sensation. A missed weave entry cost them 5 faults and a misunderstanding in front of jump 8 cost them more time. Their run for home was fast and they still managed a creditable 39.12 seconds and second place.

The last to go at this height was Michelle Patient from Essex with her three year old black Working Cocker Alfie (Omara Oak). This pair started doing agility in November 2006. They looked to be going clear but picked up 5 faults three jumps from the end, when Michelle pulled Alfie just past the wing and finished in third place in 39.4 seconds.

Large Dogs
This proved to be a really competitive class with six out of the eight dogs getting clear rounds.

First to go was Karen Colls with her black and white working sheepdog Snoop (Sir Snoop AW). They have been doing agility for three and a half years, have just won into Grade 3 and Snoop won Grade 2 in the Agility Club's Dog of the Year awards last year. Snoop gave Karen a bit of a scare when she pulled him round just in time for the dog walk but the rest of the round went according to plan and their time of 34.45 seconds put the pressure on for the others.

Second into the ring was Rob Maxted and his three and a half year old, red merle working sheepdog, Bailey (Ment Tu Be). Sixteen year old Rob is at college and enjoys playing rugby almost as much as agility. This was another good run with no mistakes and a time of 35.15 seconds.

Enter Tracey Day with her six year old black and white Border Collie, Woodie (Bluella Woodman). Tracey rehomed Woodie when he was two years old and he is her third agility dog. Tracey's experienced handling steered Woodie round the course in quick time. There was only one scary moment at the tricky cross behind at jump 8 when Woodie put in a twist but it was far enough away from the jump not to be a problem. Tracey must have some grey hairs from that one! They raced around the rest of the course in a stunning time of 33.62 seconds, going into the lead and pushing Karen Colls into second place.

Stepping up to the start line next was Naomi Busk and her eight year old black and white working sheepdog, Louie (Skip To My Lou). Naomi rescued Louie from Battersea Dogs Home. He has recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both elbows. Naomi had made the difficult decision that this was to be Louie's last run before retiring to Anysize classes. Naomi was very nervous about coming to Crufts but you wouldn't have known it as she negotiated the course with ease, giving Louie every chance to get to the finish clear, in a time of 38.39 seconds. Best wishes to Louie in his retirement. What a way to finish.

The fifth pair to go was Tony Parmiter and his four year old Belgian Shepherd (Groen.), Poppy (Ebontide Obsessions). You couldn't fault Tony for effort, but they were slowed down by a refusal and finished in 37.95 seconds.

Sixth to go was Sophie Moore and her five year old black and white WSD Twiggy (Totally Twiggy), whom she rescued from Battersea at 16 months old. This was a smoothly handled, quick round and but for 5 faults for a missed contact on the dog walk these two would have taken second place with their time of 33.78 seconds.

The penultimate duo to enter the ring was Karen Holley and her four year old black and white WSD Kez (Kalamity Kez). Kez is Karen's first dog and they have been doing agility for two years. This was another great round, handled very competently. Karen has been working very hard on reinforcing Kez's contacts recently – and he did a beauty on the dog walk! Karen was late in releasing him and they must have lost a second or two, finishing in 35.86 seconds.

Last to go was Simone (Tig) Stephenson and her Teurv (BSD), Monica (Domburg Dangerous Affair). Many people will remember their stunning performance to take first place in the final of the KC Festival qualifier at only Monica's second show – and Crufts was their fifth! Tig decided to handle the trickiest part of the course slightly differently and did some great turns with a big dog. But I think her choice of going to the right of the see saw on the way to the pipe tunnel, while safe - remember the tunnel entrance was next to the A-frame - may have cost her the title as it left her well behind Monica for the jump after the tunnel. They finished in a time of 34.17 seconds to take second place.

Place	Handler	Dog	Time Faults
1	Daniel Croxford	Obay Truly Daniel's Dream	36.67
2	Louise Macfarlane	My Dreamer Believer	49.72 (5)
3	Collette Smith	Chrislan Carmen Miranda	48.36 (5)
4	Valerie White	Majorna Icy Crystal	96.01 (10)

Place	Handler	Dog	Time Faults
1	Abigail Doxford	Dippy Daisy	36.26 5
2	Johanna Allanach	Obay Singular Sensation	39.12 5
3	Michelle Patient	Omara Oak	39.40 5

Place	Handler	Dog	Time Faults
1	Tracey Day	Bluella Woodman	33.62
2	Simone Stephenson	Domburg Dangerous Affair	34.17
3	Karen Colls	Sir Snoop AW	34.48
4	Rob Maxted	Ment Tu Be	35.15
5	Karen Holley	Kalamity Kez	35.86
6	Naomi Busk	Skip to My Lou	38.39
7	Sophie Moore	Totally Twiggy	33.78 (5)
8	Tony Parmiter	Ebontide Obsessions	37.95 (5)

Best Starter – Tracey Day
Tracey lives in Cambridgeshire and began life (well, when she was old enough) as a show jumper. She saw agility at Crufts on the television and was inspired to take up the sport, starting with her Labrador X six years ago. Then came her first collie.

Four years ago she rehomed Border Collie Woodie when he was two years old. She describes him as 'the love of my life.' Woodie was still with his breeder but had failed as a show dog because he barked too much. Tracey says he still likes to bark all the time. She said that she could hear him barking on his bench when she was walking the course in the Arena – and actually barks less while he is working!

Tracey trained Woodie for two years and he won into Grade 2 in 2006. Shortly afterwards, he injured his leg which forced Tracey to give him a year off. When he came back to competition, he was enjoying himself so much that he was taking his own courses. Tracey had just got him right at the time of the KC Festival. They train with Bob Sharpe, Jayne Widdess and Wendy Clay. Tracey has just started her own club with a group of beginners where they have taught a Great Dane to weave in just four weeks.

Tracey says she was very nervous before Crufts but the camaraderie was great and she would definitely do it again even though, she admitted that she must have lost half a stone!

About the author...
Chris Garrett lives in Berkshire with her partner, Gordon and their four dogs – rescue collie Rufus (10 years), rescue collie/lurcher Robbie (7 years), Manchester Terrier Inka (2.5 years) and Border Collie Lace (20 months). She has always shared her life with dogs and loopy rescue Rufus was responsible for a steep learning curve in dog training.

Chris began doing agility with Robbie six years ago. Inka – also successful in breed showing - made her debut last season and Lace will start competing at Easter.

KC Festival Starters Cup

Another first for Crufts