Wilton Agility Club Show, 4th October 2009

The following report is from team Manager Mandi Marks.

MBCC Agility Team October 2009

The Midlands Border Collie Club Agility team organised by Mandi Marks, entered the Pedigree Agility Team event at Wilton Agility Club Show on the 4th October 2009.

Two teams were entered back in August when the show closed, however due to one of the dogs now having an injury we were a handler down. This meant that Tom Marks, aged 12, who usually runs in the Junior Team was asked to run with the adults.

Tom has achieved great thing this year with his Dog Stillmoor Vimto on Ice, she has been competing for less than a year and is still only 2 years old. He has however won over 30 top 3 places and won out of both grade one and grade two. All this achievement and even the experience of running at Crufts couldn’t prepare for the pressure of the 4 dog Team Rely with Louise Evans, Katie Rowlands and his mum ! all of which are trainers at Staffs Agility School.

As the time for the run arrived all handlers were feeling nervous, knowing that the dogs had the ability to do well, if only the handlers would get it right!

First to run was Louise Evans with her BC Emma, again a very young Blue Merle bitch, but a very accurate clear, next run was Mandi Marks with her blue merle Pepsi a 5 year old BC, a fast run with excellent contacts but time was wasted with handler error, 3rd to run was Katie Rowlands with her tri BC/WSD Sky another fast run just picking up 5 fault on the A frame and last (his choice I might add) was Tom with Vimto his 2 year old BC. A little difficulty on the baton change, persuading Vimto it was more fun to run the course than to chase after Sky who had just finished but an excellent clear was bagged by Tom.

All the team were beaming as they felt their dogs had performed very well and Tom dropped to the floor with relief that he had given the adults a run for their money and bagged a clear. The result’s were in and the Team came 2nd place, pipped at the post of a place at Crufts by the Derbyshire Team led by Nic Jones on the UK’s top trainers and handlers.

This experience showed all the handlers that the dogs have the ability to achieve a place at Crufts and all came away determined to try for next year.