The registrations for the GB Agility Team for the 2009 FMBB World Championships closed 15 September. Two dozen handlers with a total of 28 dogs registered an interest. In the end, two did not get the required qualifying places and two had to withdraw for personal reasons. Mike Bacon, Team Manager expressed the hope that they are all able to take part in future years.

So there were 20 handlers with 24 dogs who tried out for the 16 dog squad that will train throughout the winter. The first selection day was on 12 October and was facilitated and judged by Steve Croxford. The squad will continue with their own training and there are further official selection and training days in November and January to be held, with their kind permission of Rugby DTC, at their training venue, again facilitated and judged by Steve Croxford. The final team of eight will be selected at the end of March 2009 and will travel to the Czech republic for the World Championships in May.

The team is managed by a committee with representative from WBSDS and the BSDA of GB who also sponsor the whole event from selection and training through to the competition.

The successful 16 were, in alphabetical order of their handler's first name, the following:-

Slovenia 2008

I was the Team Manager for the Great Britain Team again this year. It is a great honour to be asked to do it by the WBSDS, BSDA and of course the team. Glenda come as my groom I couldn't do it without her when I am running around looking after the team she makes sure I am looked after. She also helps the competitors who don't have grooms with them. Her only fault is if she sees a puppy she has to go and see it and talk to the owners.

We had been helping at the Severnside show at the North Somerset Agricultural show and when we tried to get away early, it started to rain and all the punters tried to leave early. It was impossible to get out so we went back to the show. A friend told us that a pony we used to own called Poppy was there competing in the Pony Club mounted games, we went over to watch her competing and were very pleased to see she was just as good as when Claire rode her. The traffic cleared and we shot of home dropped the dogs off, and a lightning quick shower and we were off.

We made very good time for a bank holiday and made up the time for leaving late. We were staying Anne Challis mother Min and we had told her we would arrive at 9 and we turned up right on time. We were surprised and delighted to find she had a roast dinner waiting for us. We have stayed with Min before when we were buying Jet of Anne and we love chatting with her and listening to her stories about the many dogs she has had and her adventures with Anne and Louise.

We had to meet at 7am for the start of the two day journey to Slovenia. There were Glenda and Me, two drivers, 8 competitors and their dogs, and 6 grooms and we were loaded and soon underway. After how busy the last few weeks had been it was good to on the coach and relax, I thought I would sleep but I wasn't able to, I'll try sleeping tablets or alcohol next time, I really envied Julie who slept for most of the 8 days. We caught an early shuttle and were quickly across France and Belgium and into Germany. We stopped about every 2.5 hours to change drivers and exercise the dogs. There was hot water tea and coffee and everyone had brought lots of nibbles. We stopped for a longer break at lunchtime fortunately we had some sandwiches left so didn't have to have a burger king. Which was just as well because when we got to out overnight stop at 10pm the only place to eat was a burger king. We gave in and had one but never again. The motel one at Schweinfurt was basic but clean. The beds were a bit hard but I could have slept on a washing line.

We had an early breakfast and were soon on the road again. The scenery on the next stage through Bavaria, Austria and the Alps was amazing every turn led to an even more outstanding vista. We arrived in Grosupjle at about 6pm and little bit of scouting soon found our hotel. A small family run Pension in the town. It was very picturesque with fast running river alongside, the rooms were great very spacious with big soft beds. We all met up for dinner in a conservatory that had been specially laid out for us alongside the main restaurant and bar. Most people in Slovenia speak English but we had some problems ordering food. The individual portions would feed a small family and every dish was a heavy on salt and garlic. The local beer was very nice, cool and crisp, must be the mountain water, Glenda and me had a couple of bottles each and had an early night.

We set of to the competition venue early the next morning. Slovenia is a very beautiful country on the South Eastern (Sunny) side of the Alps. Unfortunately the organisers had to move the venue at the last minute which meant a 1 hr + journey to and from the hotel. We tried out a very scenic route over the mountains but did not see any of the 500 bears in the area.

The new venue was in a very nice setting surrounded by mountains and forest. The agility arena was on on practice pitch next to the main arena, It had been very wet but was drying out quickly. Parking was a bit of a problem but the drivers found somewhere for the coach in the adjacent sports centre, the grooms and competitors took our tents and equipment to the ring while I checked in We set up our base which was in a good position next to the ring and loos and not too far from the loos, and trade stands. There was a bar and refreshment tent at the arena and across the ornamental lake there was a proper bar in a sports centre.

The practice session was underway and we watched a few countries before going off for the Vet check. This was a bit of a surprise as it was run by the Slovenia army, with a couple of local vets, that had a complete clinic set up in a tent with support vehicles. It was all very efficient, but then when you have to check 350 dogs in a morning it has to be.

We got back for our practice session which we had planned in advance and were pleased that it went very well.

The IPO was in the main arena and there was a demonstration in the afternoon that we watched. I went to the team mangers meeting which was very interesting. The new FMBB agility committee had made a good start on standardising the rules but it was clear that the Slovenian judges had their own views.

It was then time for the opening ceremony which was the best organised of all the WC's. The Slovenian Minister of Defence was the guest of Honour and in his welcoming speech he said had owned Malinois and was keen on their use in the services.

We were pleased to be on our way back to the hotel promptly, trying another route through very picturesque villages with rural activities going on every spare bit of land.

We had a meal booked in the hotel and have come up with system to get the meals right. We ordered a main course between 2, with a portion of chips and a side salad and it is just right. Gill and I like the occasional class of red wine and we shared a bottle of the house red which it turns out only comes in 1 litre bottles, strangely it is seems the right amount for the meal.

Friday is the start of the competition so we leave early and try slightly different route, again very scenic but not any quicker.

It is a bit of rush but we are in time and the individual runs are done over a couple of interesting courses, the ring is well over the minimum FCI requirement and the jumping takes up a quarter of it and the Agility all of it, and there is s distinct lack of pull through’s, flicks, serpentines, etc. And there is another new development. We had noticed a different type of surface on the contact equipment it is some sort of rubber and looks a bit like cork, it provides a really good running surface and some of the opposition dogs are doing amazing running contacts.

The best 10 dogs in each heat will go through to the final discounting any already qualified. In the first heat Jumping 1 the 10^th dogs to qualify has a time of 30.69 and Diane is not far behind at 31.27 but is 15^th Louise if the next best at 34.21 but is 35^th.In the next heat agility 2 the last dog to qualify is 11^th with a time of 36.43 our best is Julie with a time of 38.70 this is an indication of how close it will be at this level of competition, has best dog is none of our individual dogs manage to qualify on the first day.

We also have a problem in the team jumping 2 dogs get eliminated which will make it very difficult for the team to do well overall. The days competition has been run very efficiently which has made the team managers job a lot easier than in previous years. We return to the hotel and now have a good routine working for us, where we order our evening meal and it is ready for us when we have exercised the dogs showered and changed, so we can relax a bit more.

We set off on Saturday hoping for a better performance. The courses are very different again and it is being noticed that the contact marking is a bit inconsistent, a clue is the eastern European competitor next to us shouting “the judge is blind” in clear English we hope that it is not thought anyone from the GB team is responsible, there is an additional contact judge for the dog walk but still some of the fast running contacts are incorrectly faulted while in other areas missed contacts are not being faulted. I don’t think our team is affected as we tend to stop our dogs on the contacts, if this is to continue then electronic monitoring will be a must. Our dogs are continuing to struggle Sian’s dog Chico is unwell and has to withdraw and to stand any chance of being fast enough to get in the top 10 our dogs have to take chances and pay the price in faults.

In Jumping 2 the dogs down to 14^th have qualified and the 14^th dog has a time of 30.53 Gill’s time is 30.80 and incredibly is 19^th. In agility 2 the qualifying dogs go down to 13^th and the 13^th dogs time is 41.23 Gill has a time of 42.39 and is 21^st.

Only the best of our dogs overall will go through the only Gill’s Check and Sue’s Gimli are in contention as the only dogs not to have any eliminations. In the end it is Check who goes through by a 0.25 sec margin.

The agility team final is interesting again the contacts are being marked very precisely and the later teams to run notice this are very careful to hold the dogs. We are unable to make a big gain and can only climb from 14^th to 13^th place.

I have been intrigued by the ring party who seem to be mainly attractive young ladies and learn they are all agility enthusiasts from all over Slovenia who have given up a day or two to help. I was particularly impressed that Silvia Trejkman 3 times world champion and much in demand as a guest instructor is pole picking and shifting equipment with the rest of the team.

Sunday is another sunny and dry day with just hints of rain coming, ideal for the finals.

We arrived back at the venue to find all the countries flags and bunting have been moved around the tents, it is a small thing but leads to much amusement adds to friendly atmosphere between the rival countries that has been prevalent through the whole event.

Gill and Check do an excellent jumping round and we are all delighted, things do not go so well in the agility Check unfortunately just clips the pole on the first fence and with the design of these jumps you cannot get away with the slightest brush, this ruined Gills concentration and they get eliminated on a very tricky handling combination.

We have another problem Dave’s dog Rusty is very ill and is seeing the vet regularly we are very worried both for Rusty and that it is the same thing that Chico had an we could be faced with the problem of all the dogs getting it.

The final presentations and parade are again very well run, indeed we have been very impressed with the way the Slovenian team have managed the whole event they are efficient, on time and at the same time friendly and cheerful, it is also a great help that English is used as a common language throughout rather than the language of the host country as in previous years.

We say out goodbyes and return to the hotel a bit downcast but not completely demoralised. The dogs have worked well overall, and after all we are taking on the best in world on their terms. Much has been learnt particularly from the Belgian team who qualified all 8 dogs for the individual finals, and won the team and individual finals.

FCI agility is moving in one direction and KC in another and the difference is more noticeable each year. Talking to our new American friends competing at the FMBB for the first time it is very different there, which leads us to wonder what is the future for international agility.

Rusty seems to be recovering although there have been a few scares which have caused us to contact the vet and arrange for possible emergency assistance.

We have a very enjoyable and relaxed final meal in the hotel. It is normally closed on Sundays evenings but they stayed open especially for us. In spite of some language difficulties they have been very helpful throughout.

We set off very early on Monday morning Rusty seems to be a lot better to our great relief and gratitude to the vet. Thankfully none of the other dogs have been affected. The return journey through the Alps was just as fantastic and we are very pleased to find it is a public holiday in Germany and there are no lorries on the road so we make very good time to our stopover in Cologne. The motel one has just been refurbished and the new rooms are very smart an comfortable. Not so good is that most restaurants are closed for the holiday fortunately it is short walk to a McDonalds for those who want and there is a Greek restaurant next door. The staff and most of the customers speak good English and we enjoy the best meal of the 8 days. There is probably a lot of salt and garlic in it but after Slovenia we couldn’t tell.

It is a short journey to the Euro shuttle and back to Kent and we get home early Tuesday evening 8 days after we left.

We have had a lot of discussion on the return journey about what needs to be done to continue to compete and be more successful in the FMBB. We are very excited and enthusiastic about the future for BSD’s in agility.

A special thanks must go to the event vet who treated Sian Harvey’s Chico and Dave Leach’s Rusty when they were ill. We were all very worried and he went out of his way to help.

The competitors would like to thank the sponsoring societies Belgian Shepherd Dog Association of Great Britain and the Working Belgian Shepherd Dog Society and Steve Croxford for facilitating selection, Trainers Andy and Helen Brown, David Munnings, Jo Frazier, Nancy Hudson, and Tuff Stuff for their sponsorship.

And of course the FMBB for putting on the event each year, and the Slovenian organisers for an extremely well run event.

BSD World Championships 2007

The biggest group ever travelled to Le Touquet in France for the FMBB Belgian Shepherd Dog 2007 World Championships, 9 competitors and their dogs, 8 grooms and 3 supporters made the relatively short coach journey of 3 hours. Further supporters joined us at the weekend and were pleased that Dave Ray and Alan from Premier called in.

Le Touquet was a good location being a beautiful holiday resort for Parisians and as it was the beginning of the season there was room for the influx of BSD enthusiasts. In addition to agility there were obedience, showing, herding and character tests, also the world championships in Mondio ring and RCI which are similar to Working Trials PD.

The venue was a huge equestrian complex but unfortunately the part we used was not a suitable standard for a world championship event for any of the disciplines.

The area allocated for agility was a rough wet paddock. Combined with heavy rain, strong winds and high tides (yes) it had to be abandoned on Saturday morning and the whole event moved by an army of agility competitors to a nearby rugby pitch. This provided a much better surface but was a bit removed from the main event.

With added problems of wobbly flat jump cups, very light poles and the continental practice of not staking down equipment we knew it was going to be a difficult test.

The standard of the opposition has always been very high. Many of the competitors also represent their countries at the FCI all breeds world championships with BSD’s and other breeds. This year we noticed that the standard right across the board was extremely high. Counties that have not done so well in the past have applied themselves to training programs and raised their standard considerably.

Our squad contained some handlers and dogs new to this level of competition, but the whole squad gave it a good shot, kept trying throughout the weekend and most importantly kept a positive attitude and supported each other through some very trying conditions and situations,

Andy Brown and Skye, Dianne Griffin and Inka, Julie Saunders and Razzle qualified through to the finals.

David Leach and Rusty, Andy Brown and Skye Anne Challis and Timber and Diane Griffin and Inka represented in the team.

Unfortunately in spite of having the fastest time overall a few faults kept the team out of the placing and in was pretty much the same story in the individual classes.

There is no place for the steady clear in this level of competition, it is flat out or bust.

Most importantly we have a growing group of people competing with BSDs who now have experience of this level of competition and the drive to carry on working towards raising our standards and winning the individual and team titles again.

Full details of the event and the results can be found at http://chienplus.com/fmbb2007

The team

David Leach	Bonvivant Kalisto
Andy Brown	Heidron Chasing Stormy Skye
Anne Challis	Louandi Creole
Diane Griffin	Heidron Inka's Chasing Luck

The individual competitors

Steve Burton	Delark Lucky Chase
Gill Raddings	Minka Morgan Check
Lisa Jordan	Sableblack Red Arrow
Yvonne Horner	Sabrefield Born Two the Kop
Julie Saunders	Minka Lexey QT

The organising societies Belgian Shepherd Dog Association of Great Britain and the Working Belgian Shepherd Dog Society would like to thank Steve Croxford for facilitating selection, Trainers Helen Brown, Jo Frazer, David Munnings.

Tuff Stuff for their sponsorship. Also the FMBB for putting on the event each year, and the French organisers for an unforgettable experience.

Hungary 2006

The FMBB Belgian Shepherd Dog Agility World Championships were held in Hungary 4^th –7^th May. 2006

The GB Team were

Andy Brown with Heidron Chasing Stormy Skye (Sky) a Groenedael defending last year’s individual and team title.

Brenda Hollis with Baudwin Cappamore (Bailey) a Tervueren also in last years Winning team,

Anne Challis with Louandi Bronzed Teak (Copper) a Tervueren

Louise Challis with Louandi Creole (Timber) a Tervueren

Also in the squad and competing as individuals are

Julie Saunders with Minka Lexey Q.T. (Razzle) a Tervueren

Also Travelling with the Squad were Mike Bacon going as Team Manager and Helen Brown who is the team trainer.

The team met up on Monday evening 1^st May at Lincoln Kennels just of the M25 at Brands Hatch and transferred onto the coach. Travelling through the night dawn saw us crossing the Moselle valley in Germany 1000ft above the river it was the start of a day in which we saw stunning scenery right across Germany. Even stopping every couple of hours to exercise the dogs and rest the drivers we made good time and arrived in Bavaria where we were to have a long stopover.

The place we chose was a luxurious services between Rosenhiem and Herrensee. This is a very beautiful area at the foot of the Alps. We gave the dogs a long walk in the forest, had a meal and shower. We then cut the team cake and had a couple of beers on the terrace as we watched the sun set over the Alps.

We set off early the next morning again travelling through stunning countryside. We were a bit apprehensive about travelling through Austria and crossing the Austrian and Hungarian borders as we had been incorrectly told there we additional controls on dogs there. The reassurances from Defra and the Austrian ministry were quite correct though and we passed through without any problems at all.

Travelling through the Hungarian countryside we couldn’t help but notice the contrast with Bavaria and Austria. Most buildings were tiny and ramshackle with every scrap of land being used productively. In the towns there were lots of signs of development and progress.

We arrived in Szekesfehsvar mid afternoon on Wednesday and made our way to the venue as there was an opportunity to train at the local dog club opposite the competition stadium.

This was couple of acres of land with a large if basic club house. Practice for the IPO, Obedience and Agility were well underway. The agility equipment was mostly home made and a bit rustic so we just give the dogs a simple workout and set off to find the hotel.

The hotel was a real delight only 2 star but open, bright and absolutely spotless. It was in the centre of the town but less than 15 minutes drive to the stadium. Throughout our stay the staff could not do enough to help. We settled the dogs in and took a stroll around the town. We found a restaurant that offered such good quality and value we eat there 3 out of our 4 nights there.

We have an early start the next day as our practice is scheduled for 7.00 am. The sessions are usually very strictly controlled but gaps in the organisation are starting to show. The equipment does not arrive from Germany until 8, there are not enough people to unload it, and there is no course plan. Helen quickly improvises a training course while we assemble the equipment. We have 2 people on the course at a time for half an hour and the organisers seem surprised when we finish, the teams that were scheduled to follow us are not.

We had missed our allocated vet check time but manage to fit it in. Anne has noticed that Timber has an infected toe and asked the vet to check it he says it is not serious and does not need treatment. Bailey is also out of sorts but ok to compete.

We return to the Hotel for breakfast and then sit in the courtyard and chill with the dogs.

The dogs are exercised in a local park before we return for the opening ceremony. Over 300 Belgian Shepherd Dogs parade around the stadium with lots of patriotic music and flag waving.

This is followed by a Team Managers meeting. There are problems because the competition is run under FCI rules but not everything is covered so the organisers can improvise and really do not have the experience of this type of event. It is sorted out for this year as it has been in previous years and now the FMBB has appointed an agility committee form the competing countries to ensure it runs more smoothly in the future.

Friday sees the first day of competition. The courses are interesting. On paper they would seem to be a stiff intermediate or senior course but the distances between obstacles is a minimum of 5 metres and often more which allows the dogs to build real speed, and the judges have cleverly placed obstacles slightly out of line or in the way.

Andy and Skye come second in the first jumping class and are fortunate to qualify for the individual final. The others come very close to qualifying Louise and Timber particularly are just a second and couple of places outside qualifying but Timbers toe has got worse and he is taken to the local vet. He can still compete but is prescribed anti-inflammatory painkillers and anti-biotics. At the end of the first day with Timber and Bailey both not 100 percent the team are lying in 13^th place.

On Saturday the courses are even more technical, Bailey seems to be getting back to usual form and qualifies for the final with a very workmanlike jumping round, Anne and Copper are outstanding and qualify in the Agility, Timber is obviously feeling a lot better and again Louise is very unfortunate just missing qualifying. Julie and Razzle have also been very unfortunate not to qualify and have delighted the crowd with their style. They are a team to watch for the furure.

By the time we get to the team final on Saturday afternoon there is a really positive interaction between the teams with lots exchange of complements for handling and dogs and also advice both serious and joking. Thankfully English is the common language.

It is shame that the team finals are on Friday and Saturday not Saturday and Sunday as in previous years. Our dogs and handlers are improving all the time as they settle in and get used to the FCI courses. The team agility final is very demanding but even so we manage to gain 3 places to finish 10^th overall.

There is a real buzz on Sunday for the individual finals. It starts an hour later at 8 am and there is a good crowd of spectators. The jumping course is extremely tricky and it has been raining making the ground very slippery. A lot of handlers loose their footing and the dogs are having problems with turns and clearing jumps. The late runs have the advantage as the ground dries out with a lot of the early people not doing as well they are capable of.

At the end of the jumping round only Andy is in contention for the GB team he is lying in second place with 0.56sec time fault. The pair in the lead was blisteringly fast with the only a 0.41 sec timefault.

In the agility final dogs run in the reverse order of their jumping final placings. The top six are the only real contenders and by the time it gets to Andy if he goes clear he will get second place. He does a superbly well judged run. Not over handling or pushing to hard and allowing Skye to use his natural ability to turn and take the best line.

The cheers from the crowd as he goes clear are amazing and there are more than a few tears in the GB camp. It has not been easy to get here and it is now all worthwhile. Andy and Skye have least second place.

We pull ourselves together to watch the last competitor she is a natural athlete with an extremely fast malinois, they can only work one way and attack the course from the start, they are three quarters of the way around and up on the time when they miss the A frame contact.

We are sorry that a great run has gone wrong but so pleased that Andy has successfully defended his individual title.

The Belgian team choose this time to open the champagne to celebrate their well deserved team victory and very sportingly bring a class over to toast Andy’s success.

There is some time to watch IPO and Mondioring finals before the presentation and closing ceremony which is late and in a downpour that cannot dampen our spirits. Helen and Andy swap tracksuit tops with Austrian and Belgian competitors, are ours more waterproof.

The rapport between the teams continues as we make our farewells and we talk to people like we see them at shows every weekend not once a year.

As we drive of into the dusk we reflect on an amazing few days

“The organisation of the event could be better, why did we have to start at 7.30 am and finish at 6pm for just over 300 runs, some countries just do not have the experience of running a “big show” the FMBB have now recognised this and are doing something about it.

You could not fault the Hungarian organisers on the effort they put in and how helpful they all were.

Hungary is an intriguing country full of surprises and contrasts, everyone was so friendly and helpful.

The standard was astounding, people were confident using obstacle discrimination techniques at speed, even Andy double individual and team world champion says he will have to work very hard to keep up.

Just training and competing on UK courses is not enough, FCI courses are so different that to be successful they must be trained for as well.

There are more countries and competitors taking part each year, if we are to hold our position we must continue to improve our training and organisation.”

We arrive early Monday afternoon at out return stopover in Verdunne, we are having problems finding somewhere to park and stop outside the magistrates court where a policeman escorting a prisoner holds up the traffic for us and backs us into a space along the courthouse where he tells us we will be ok as the offices are closed on Mondays.

We walk the dogs along the river and through the town buying cakes in a patisserie, we eat them in the park with many jokes about having a French tart in the park. In the evening we treat ourselves to a meal and a small celebration in a restaurant opposite the courthouse.

Gypsy woman are waiting outside the courthouse and selling lily of the valley to passers by. The prisoner we had seen earlier is brought out to talk them, they cause a disturbance and he is off like a hare. The police are after him like, well quite a bit slower, and then run back to get their cars, there is a lot of comical coming and going and we hope the policeman who was so helpful to us is not in any trouble.

We press on in the very early hours of the morning and are back at Brands Hatch and on our way before lunch.

Each year the BSD WC have been a very special and unique experience in their own right, this years was no exception and was definitely the best yet.

Next year the competition is not too far away in France. If you want the experience of a lifetime and have a BSD doing agility get FCI training and try to qualify for the squad.

Or alternatively consider going as a supporter for an extremely enjoyable holiday.

The squad would like to thank all the support they have received from both the Belgian Shepherd and Agility communities, particularly for Michelle Griffiths, Souldern Agility Club and all those involved in running Spring at Shuttleworth, without the contribution from the show proceeds it would not have been possible.

I would like the thank the team for inviting me to be their manager it is a great honour. Mike

Germany

Spain

The journey to Spain

Monday - England. After many changes due to the relocation of the event and hosts we are finally set to go. Myself, my wife Glenda, Sue and Tom Cuddon, and Alan and Lydia Smith, with dogs Jack, Charcoal and Jazz, are to go Tuesday morning in one minibus. Ian Watts is a witness in a court case Tuesday morning so is leaving as soon as possible after with Anne and Louise Challis, Niki Keeler and Linda Evans with dogs Blitz, Copper, River, Cruise and Razzle.

I am to book and pay for the Euro tunnel so that I get free travel insurance from my bank. I have checked and the booking office have said that there will be no problems this time of year if we turn up and pay at the terminal. But on the news it says there are storms in the channel and ferries have been cancelled. Alarm bells ring I try to call the booking office, permanently engaged. I check on-line and find all peak time trains are full. The earliest places are after 2 pm Tuesday afternoon. I call Sue to give her the bad news and discover the mini bus has been delivered 12 hours early. I check again there are places available on trains at 1.30 am, 3.30 and 5.30. We go for it. A hasty packing and we are off to Sues. Tom and Allan have taken the back seats out of bus and fitted cages. We pack and set off with Sue driving.

We just miss the 3.30. Oh well we can have give the dogs a good run and have leisurely cup of tea, there are not many people at the terminal on frosty Tuesday morning at 4 am. I can see why.

Tuesday - France We catch the 5.30. It is very efficient this is definitely the way to travel with dogs to the continent. It is my turn to drive. No problems getting off the train and driving on the right. Everyone else is half sleeping half dead. I look forward to sunrise over Flanders. Its very dreary miles of flat fields stretch out into the mist and rain. I am getting tired and just about to get someone to take over when the fuel warning light comes on just as we pass a service station. The next one is forty km. That keeps me awake but we just make it and enjoy a nice French breakfast before setting off again.

The rest of the day is a blur of driving, napping and watching the countryside gradually improve as we journey south. The French motorways are very good. There are no delays, and there are frequent stopping places where we can exercise the dogs, and good value services.

After 12 hours we stop at Valance. We find a Formula 1 hotel, cheap and well cheap. A room costs 30 euros for each couple, including dogs and a breakfast. There is what look likes a couple acres of waste ground across the road. We give the dogs a run there and they waft up the scents of herbs, mint, thyme, sage and bay,.

We go out to local restaurant. A basic meal of pate, chicken and chips, are superb and good value, the desert is bit of shock we thought it was cheesecake but is goats cheese soufflé quite strong and bitter, but not too bad with loads of sugar on it. Back to the hotel and sleep like a log.

Wednesday – The Camargue

A nice breakfast and walk in the herb garden come waste ground. Texts inform us the other mini bus has passed us in the night. They were going to stop and write rude words on our bus but couldn’t find us.

We discovered over last nights meal that we would all like to visit the Camargue and as we want to give the dogs a really good run an hours extra driving seem worth it.

Alan drives us through Avignon past the famous bridge and down to the med. The Camargue is everything we had expected, white horses, black bulls, pink flamingos, thousands of acres of wild marshland and we pass places for water sports, and quad biking etc. I would definitely holiday there sometime.

The dogs thoroughly enjoy a good run on the beach and a paddle in the med, despite a brisk wind and a rough sea.

It’s one of my life’s ambitions to horse ride in the Camargue but I keep quiet because it’s not the point of our journey. But on the way we see loads of horses saddled up and ready to go. Someone says I wonder if we could have a ride. We pull into a ranch. No one there speaks English and their French isn’t GCSE. The next ride is not for 2 hours when the “chef” gets back. We can’t wait we have to get off to Spain. It’s too difficult to explain Glenda and me are capable riders. Disappointed we start to leave. The owner runs after us. He will do a special ride. 2 teenage girls are to take us. We are all going even Tom and Allen who have never ridden before. We are all sorted onto horses not the best sorts it has to be said, but they know their job. The two girls are riding very nice horses and they can ride. The older girl in the lead is smoking and texting on her mobile. The younger one canters back and forth along the line keeping things moving. After about an hour it looks like we are heading back to the ranch, but we swing out into the marsh. The girls indicate to keep our feet up and suddenly we wading with water up to our saddles. I am just thinking this must be a safe route, when my horse stumbles in a pothole, we recover and press on but I then remember I have all our money, passports, camera and phone in my jacket pocket. We carry on wading for 20 minutes and then turn for home. The “chef” canters up on a superb horse she is obviously very pleased to see is all back safely. Everyone is delighted with our interlude but we must press on.

We drive out of France between the sea and the Pyrenees, fantastic scenery on either side. In a services just pass the border we meet a lorry driver from Milan who a dog trainer and owns Malinois.

We arrive at the campsite in the early evening and find the rest of team still awake even Ian who has driven the whole way. They are on an exhausted high. We swap stories and have a drink.

Unfortunately the camp restaurant and bar is closed as it is the end of season. We drive on to the nearest big town on the coast, over the mountains, Lydia announces she is scared of heights as we negotiate hairpin bends and can look down and see the lights of the houses 200ft below. We find a supermarket and stock up just as they close. For some reason the security guard follows us everywhere. We find a pizza parlour, buy supper and drive back over the mountains.

The competition

Thursday – practice day

We have a late start next morning and relax for the day practice starts at 4 pm.

The campsite is fairly quiet we have 4 log cabins basic but comfortable, as it’s the end of season there are quite a few repairs needed but nothing too serious. The site is in a pine forest with a good walk for the dogs. We set off to the practice at about 2.30 through a tunnel under the mountains. The Spanish Belgian Shepherd Dog association has been let down at the last minute by the original venue and a local agility club has stepped in and offered their club venue. It is based at rescue kennels there is some waste ground we could use to exercise the dogs that turned out to be a composting and recycling depot. They had a nice little clubhouse, and 2 permanent, fenced and floodlight arenas. The surface is a bit of a surprise it is packed earth with a gravel and sand surface. One of the local agility enthusiasts explained it meant they could train all year round as it drained very quickly.

We have our practice session. Each team is allocated 3 minutes per dog but the whole team is allowed in the arena at the same time. We organise ourselves into groups. There is a low table that looks like it would be difficult at speed so I practice it a few times. Generally the equipment is very well made but the weaving poles are very flimsy and that surface is going to take some getting use to.

We finish up our training, get some refreshments and watch the opposition. They all look very good and the dogs are superb. One of the Spanish team looks like a professional athlete, the Dutch and Belgian teams are fast and very positive, the Swiss are very well organised and in particular the 2 young girls in their team are impressive handlers very quiet and confident only giving commands when they are really needed. Initially my money was on them for favourites in the individual competition. But in the end it’s a handler from Japan who stood out. Like us his dog is having some problems getting used to the surface, but watching him and his dog is a lesson in dog handling.

We have to hang about for the briefing, so we watch some of the local club members training. We are very impressed particularly with some of the different breeds specially the mini’s.

The briefing starts and it has to be translated into English, and then the other languages. There is some discussion about the rules and the table is taken out as there is not an accurate way of timing it.

We drive back under the mountains. It was now late no one wanted to cook or eat out so we decided on another pizza and drove over the mountains and back to get it.

Friday - first competition

Individual Agility 1

The first classes are on the Friday morning and the organisers want to press on and get finished early. We start with Agility quite a tough course, with long fast stretches leading to into traps. I am last to run. Our dogs are struggling with the conditions its quite hot by our standards and the surface is taking its toll. Alan and Jazz manage a reasonable 5 faults in 36.55 and Louise and River 20 faults in a good time 34.40 but everyone else is eliminated. The other handlers are really going for it so I push Jack as hard as I can. We manage to get round in a reasonable 37.42 but have picked up 15 faults, a frame and dog walk contacts, and on of the wide turns must have been marked as a run past .

Individual Jumping 1

On to the jumping we had hoped this would be a chance to do better but the course is really tough. Particularly around the weaves the dog has to come out of the canvas tunnel and run past a jump to get the weave entrance, If you take the dog wide there is a jump straight on

from the tunnel to be avoided. I am running late again and our team are doing a bit better Anne and Copper have done a very good run clear in 34.71, Sue and Charcoal round clear in 40.02 just .02 time faults. Niki and Cruise 10 faults in 37.53, Louise and River 10 in 38.77, and Alan and Jazz 10 in 40.58.

I don’t get off to good start. The judge whistles to start but there is someone on the course the judge says something but I don’t know if it is to play on or stop or to the person on the course. Jack isn’t concerned he is off anyway so I tag along and manage to recover a bit and even get the difficult weave entry but disaster strikes at the weave exit. I pull back too soon to get past the wrong tunnel entrance and pull Jack out of the poles. I try to put him back but its hopeless he doesn’t understand as is getting stressed. I take him back to the start of the weaves and do them on the left to get his confidence back and get eliminated on the wrong tunnel entrance.

There is some very impressive handling in this class particularly the winning dog from Belgian. The British team is a bit despondent as we realise we have a tough job to do.

Friday the practice

We have met a Scotsman who has lived in Spain for 20 years called Ian Davies. He is an Agility enthusiast who teaches English to Spanish businessmen and is translating for the competition. He very kindly invites us to visit his Agility club and have a practice.

It is at a farm about 40 minutes drive away. It has 3 sets of equipment out permanently in a fenced off area. They have training sessions but the members pay a monthly fee and get a key so they can train when it suits them. They also have a clubhouse with a fridge full of cold drinks 60c and you help yourself as long as you crush your cans after.

I have a cold beer and do a little training, have another cold beer and do a little training, have another cold beer, have another cold beer …

We talk dogs and train until the Spanish team start to turn up, we would like to stay and watch but as their first words are goodbye we take the hint and leave no offence taken or given we hope.

Ian Davies has told us of a few places we can find somewhere to eat on the way back, but another disaster. It is the start of a bank holiday weekend and we get caught up in grid locked traffic.

I am so glad I have had too many beers to drive and Alan has volunteered. We give up trying to find anywhere to eat and just head back to camp.

Saturday first team competition

Individual Agility 2

We start today with the individual Agility class. It is a course that flows well but with some tricky handling points and a difficult turn into the weaves. Louise advises me to steady down and stop pushing so hard. Jack misses 1 contact and we get a 5 for refusal because of an untidy weave entrance plus 4 time faults but it worked better and Jack seems to be getting on better with the surface.

Team GB are doing better Louise and River are clear in 38.79 and they have qualified for the final. Ian with Blitz is clear in 44.30 only 2.3 time faults, Niki and Cruise have 5 in 37.98, Alan Jazz 5 in 39.98, and Anne and Copper 5 in 40.85.

Team Agility

We move on to team agility and the course is unbelievable. In particular straight after the A frame there is a tunnel entrance to go past to get to the correct tunnel entrance which is a foot away from a jump not to be done. Jack gets the contacts thanks to the previous days training but I make the fatal mistake of looking towards the wrong tunnel entrance. Eliminated. How many times have I told people not to do that. I am kicking myself and hope I am not passing my annoyance on to Jack.. Unfortunately Ian and Blitz, and Niki and Cruise are also eliminated. Only Alan and Jazz have got round and they have 10 faults. Over half the dogs in this class are eliminated. We are not sure if this is any sort of consolation.

Individual Jumping 2

The jumping class is the last chance to qualify. The top 7 in each class or the best 40 dogs overall go through. If we have a good run and we might just scrape in. We have a late running order. The course is flowing but needs careful handling. Towards the end there is a long run then an angle to a big spread straight onto a tunnel that you do not do but have to turn to a wall, few of the dogs are getting it right, if they clear the spread they go into tunnel and if they are turned off the tunnel they knock the spread, or miss the wall. 60 per cent of the dogs are eliminated. The crowd applaud any dog that gets it right. I think we can do it. Jack jumps big and rarely has a pole down but I dare not say anything. The rest of the course goes well, we get to the long run and I send Jack wide and cut through to the tunnel, reverse turn in front of the spread but with plenty of landing space, Jack flies it, complete the turn and we are on line for the wall and finish. The crowd are cheering. This feels good. We have come seventh and qualified for the final.

Saturday night we go to the Gala dinner. Straight down to business we tuck in to good food and plenty of wine. The atmosphere is very jovial. The Swiss team are the first to leave to rowdy applause. We avoid that by leaving last.

Sunday Finals

It is getting exciting. There has been a storm in the night and it’s a bit cooler than the last few days but it soon starts to brighten up.

Individual Finals

Three of us have got through to the finals. Me and Jack, Louise and River and Alan and Jazz.

Individual Agility

Another flowing course with some traps particularly the line of jumps from the A frame to finish, the line is angled and there are jumps either side that have to be avoided.

I am the first to go. The whole team are very supportive Anne has walked the course with me, Louise and Alan. Niki helps me run through my commands, Ian makes sure I get through to the collecting ring. I am going for a steady clear so do a recall start. This tells Jack we are going for control not speed, the course runs very well I am enjoying it, Jack gets all the contacts and we are exactly right for the tricky finish. We finish to loud applause this feels great, lots of praise for Jack.

We retire to watch the other dogs. The course is even more difficult than I thought many dogs are having faults and getting eliminated including Jazz. River misses the A frame contact but gets the difficult finish for a good round with only 5 faults. At the end of class Jack and me are lying eighth. This is now the most tense I have been in 20 years of Agility. I check to see how it is affecting Jack. Not to worry he is asleep in the sun.

Team Jumping

Next is the team jumping and the course suits us a bit better. Niki and Cruise do one of the fastest rounds at 31.70 but pick up 5 faults. Unfortunately Alan and Jazz are eliminated but one score is dropped so if the next 2 go clear all is not lost. I keep Jack steady for a decent clear in 35.81 and its down to Ian and Blitz as anchor. Ian keeps his nerve and works hard they go clear in 36.36. There is a mix up with the scoring but in the end we finish 7^th Overall.

Individual Jumping

This a very good course, it flows but there are lots of places where the handling and control have to be exactly right. Particularly the weave entry is at right angles coming back to the first jump. The dogs run in the reverse order of their placing in the agility. Alan and Jazz are eliminated everyone is very disappointed for them. Louise and River are going well when disaster strikes. Rivers lead is still on the start line. It is just behind the first jump which must be avoided while getting the tight weave entry. It is too much too ask and River goes to the lead.

Ian gets me to the collecting ring Niki gives me my instructions. Jack is starting to realise something big is happening I try to keep him calm. If we go clear we can do no worse than eighth. If we are eliminated …. its just not worth going for it. I leave Jack for a recall start. It steadies him just enough and I can get to the best handling points, I let him run wide not trying any tight turns and it runs well, we get to the weaves and I do a dummy reverse turn and bring him in for a good entry for the weave and then we are off again, a nasty left turn with pull off the tunnel, 2 jumps sharp right through the box avoid the other end of the tunnel, long over the long jump, wide left to the wall, pull left off the other tunnel, 4 jumps in a straight line, 20 metres to the finish, come on boy, we are home clear, its all over now, just 1.6 time faults that will do. There is so much applause, words cannot express how I feel,

I watch the last 6 dogs they are all very, very good, Especially Ikumi Yamaguchi and Oro who do an amazing round to take the championship title.

We relax until the presentation and closing ceremony, The parade of teams and presentations are very moving. All the teams line up and as the teams and individuals go up to the dais they run by with their dogs and slap the outstretched hands of all the competitors. There are rousing cheers and applause the winning team from Switzerland and for the hosts Spain who came a close second but most of all for Ikumi the sole representative from Japan who is a very popular and worthy individual winner.

We thank our hosts and say our goodbyes, Our new friend Ian and his charming wife Carmen have invited us to a meal in a restaurant in their home town. Apparently his agility club go there after a competition and we can see why, 3 hours of excellent food, wine and good company and it is extremely good value for money. We drag ourselves away and back to the campsite. It is Halloween and some Spanish youngsters come round for trick or treat. It might be because of Niki in her dressing gown or the more likely it is the 8 Belgian shepherd dogs that don’t like being woken up but the youngsters leave.

I have a couple of bottles Spanish red wine to finish up and Alan says he will help with them when he finishes his beer. Five hours later Alan still hasn’t finished his beer even with Tom helping and the wine has just about gone.

The journey home

Ian’s bus leave early and we set of a couple of hours later. We have a good routine of taking it in turn to drive and exercising the dogs when we change over. We make very good time.

All goes well until we get to Calais. The Spanish vet has made mistakes with the tick and flea documentation messing up the old system with the requirements of the new passport and made errors between the kennel club registration names and the pet names. The French official is very helpful but has to go by the rules, we have a serious sense of humour failure, it is looking that at best we have to wait for a French vet in the morning and we may have to have the dogs retreated and wait 24hours. Alan calls Ian it seems similar mistakes were made on their documents but they got through with no problems. The French official calls DEFRA. If we can get the Spanish vet to correct the documents and fax them through we can go through. It is 2 am in the morning.

I try to call the vet but the reply is an answer phone with a contact number in Spanish. I hang up and get a pen and paper and call back. I get straight through to her. She corrects the documents and faxes them through. We are allowed to proceed but have missed the 3.30 so there is plenty of time to exercise the dogs and have a continental breakfast and do some shopping in the 24/7 terminal.

We are now exhausted Alan heroically drives us to Sue’s where we change vehicles.

Tom and Alan very kindly offer to put the seats back in the mini bus and we make our departure. Glenda, Jack and me get home at 8.30. nearly 24 hours after leaving Badolona.

Claire has done a good job of running the farm on her own, there are no disasters and the other dogs are moderately pleased to see us back. We rest.

Would I do it again?

You bet I would. It was exhausting but it was the most exciting thing I have done in 20 years of agility. After all this time I still learnt so much. From both the other GB team members and the international handlers. The local agility enthusiasts were very hospitable and all the competitors were very friendly. Even if I am not selected I will go as a spectator to the BSD WC again and I also plan to go the agility world championships as a spectator and hopefully one day as a competitor.

FCI v KC rules (my opinion)

It has to be said that the two types of agility are quite different. I think that the FCI handlers would have even more problems with our courses than we had with theirs.

That said the FCI have it right. The longer distances between equipment and lower jump heights mean that the courses run better but they are still just as technical. It is far more fun for dogs and handlers and more entertaining for spectators. Most importantly it is safer for the dogs. International competition will be the major factor in progressing our wonderful sport and we must have the same rules. I am converted from a UK diehard to a new rules supporter.

International competition.

The BSD Agility WC is an excellent competition and I hope the FMBB continue to run it.

However it would be great to have an open international competition for BSD’s so that we are not restricted to 8 dogs per country.

Thanks

There are so many people to thank (no agent or manager though) but particularly Glenda for putting up with me, Claire for running the farm, Val for babysitting Sara for 10 days, Severnside for their support, Andy and Helen for the training, Sue and Tom for their hospitality and travel organising, to Linda for the emotional support and keeping things in perspective, to Louise for the grooming tips and getting me to calm down and work Jack normally, to Anne for her course coaching and handling advice,to Niki for getting me focused and remembering my proper commands, to Alan and Lydia for their friendship and the last night party, but most of all thanks to Ian without him spotting the opportunity, taking the initiative and working so hard, none of it would have been possible.

And Jack

he wants so little and gives so much, a great ambassador for his breed.

The competition

BSD World Champ Team First Selection

Wednesday – The Camargue

The competition

Thursday – practice day

Individual Jumping 1

Friday the practice

Saturday first team competition

Individual Agility 2

Individual Jumping 2

Sunday Finals

Individual Finals

Team Jumping

Individual Jumping

The journey home

Would I do it again?

Thanks