Working dogs

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Winners all – CSJ Agility Open – Day 4

From Virginia Harry and the CSJ Agility Open Team

After watching you all perform over the last four days I can absolutely confirm that you all deserve your Win On Spot… You were all fabulous to watch, your phenomenal handling and training skills – it was an honour. Especial congrats, of course, to Steven Richardson, #sponsoredbycsj, for winning the 500 category. Happy now, Steve???

From left to right – Jo Tristram and Brite, Steve Richardson and Digit, David Wright, Ashleigh Butler and Sully, and Sarah McLean with Milo (holding her puppy, Ember).

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Well done to you all! The top three in the CSJ National Final in the 400 height were:

  • 1st Samantha Towe and Franky
  • 2nd Becci Chant and Jaffa
  • 3rd Abigail Doxford and Wiggy

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Well done to these three competitors who have all been a total joy to watch this weekend. Such skills! The top three in the CSJ National Final in the 600 height were:

  • 1st Ola Kordas and Dessa
  • 2nd Anthony Clarke and Ava
  • 3rd Joanne Tristram and Brite

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Steve Seale gets it together when it counts! Huge congrats to Steven Richardson and Digit and Karen Marriott and the national treasure that is Puzzle. The top three in the CSJ National Final in the 500 height were:

  • 1st Steve Seale and Flec
  • 2nd Steven Richardson and Digit
  • 3rd Karen Marriott and Puzzle

64565844_856162244752256_6747327762987483136_nAnd not forgetting the ‘Smalls’, known here as the ‘300s’. Fantastic effort, ladies. Lucy Osborne-Norton – running well! Roz Quail, on form as per last year. Amazing. And Sarah Mclean – I think I’ve said it all on other posts… props, lady. You and your dogs are awesome. The top three in the CSJ National Final in the 300 height were:

  • 1st Lucy Osborne and Fling
  • 2nd Sarah McLean and Milo
  • 3rd Roz Quail and Tula

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The WAO 2020 super win on spots for England, Scotland and Wales have been published. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in the Netherlands in May 2020.

https://theagilityopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Try-out-2019-FINAL.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3ldeE2P_7-U2RKC2f1hAGq0FOf3js-e_-gKJcEpbxCiT6hGejA5tLSJq8

The winners of the future prospects award have been announced. Congratulations to them all.

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Championship Final Results
600 (Course Time: 45 seconds)

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View the results online

Superb photography throughout the event by Simon Peachey, can be viewed on The CSJ Agility Open Facebook page

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CSJ Agility Open – Day 3

Report from Virginia Harry and The CSJ Agility Open Team

We are up and running on day 3 with the CSJ Agility Nationals round 2 judged by Judy Wills

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I’d just like to say what an incredible achievement it is for any dog and handler team to have had clear rounds consistently across the Pent (4 classes so far) so massive well dones to everyone who has achieved that, especially Steven Richardson, in pole position in the 500 height category with Digit.

The Pentathlon after four round results have now been published

Here are Steve’s runs from last night’s Steeplechase Final. He finished 3rd with Digit and 5th with Future. All the results are here

Nice work from Steven Richardson and Digit this morning, coming 2nd in the CSJ Championship Agility in the 500 height, perfectly placed for the Finals tomorrow. Congrats to Stephanie Best and Fate for a super winning run.

This morning’s course plans. I’m really looking forward to the CSJ Nationals agility course… it’s going to be a fast one.

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This afternoon’s course. Good luck to everyone from all at CSJ.

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Gamblers is one of those classes that you have to understand to enjoy spectating, in my opinion. The Gamble on this one is very difficult and so far, 16 dogs in, only Cameron Bunce has made the Gamble so far, although that still only puts him in second place, because current leader, Harriet Harding and Izzy, notched up more points on the course, even though they didn’t get the gamble. Making sense yet? 😂 Maybe these runs from Steve and Digit, Steve and Future, and Hayley and Pixel might help!

Well done chaps! Especially Steven Richardson and Digit (pictured left, next to lovely judge Judy Wills)… all the pressure on going last and you did us proud with your 3rd place… nano seconds in it!

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This amazing run from Hayley and Atom put them into 2nd place in 600 Gamblers. Hardly any dogs are getting the gamble so this is a remarkable achievement. Huge well done to Gemma Haycock and Jukebox for the win at this height.

In the 500 height, a well deserved win for Dalton Meredith and Munchy – that was some running, Dalt! Steve and Digit were 2nd.

300 was won by Katrina Hands and Sizzle, with Rachel Ward and Nimbus runners-up. At the time of writing, 400 is being won by Helen Swan and Cloud, with Steven Richardson and Poppy in 2nd place.

Games Awards

The Biathlon Agility and Biathlon Overall results have been published here

Steeplechase final 600

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Steeplechase Final 500

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Steeplechase Final 400

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Steeplechase 300 Final

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Photos from The CSJ Agility Open by Simon Peachey can be seen on the CSJ Agility Open Facebook page

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CSJ Agility Open – Day 2

From Virginia Harry & the CSJ Agility Open Team

And the action starts again…

This afternoon’s CSJ Agility Open course plans. Notice the very tricky weave entries in both classes. In fact, the entry looks easier on paper in the Pent Jumping 2. In fact, the dogs have to make quite an adjustment after the tunnel to get in the correct weave. Of course, some are making it look very easy.

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Two more clears for young Steve! This time in the CSJ Championship Jumping Round 1. Currently lying in 3rd with Digit and 6th with Future, whose round is posted below.


So… in the Biathlon there’s a jumping and an agility round and the scores from the two are added together. A very unlucky pole from Digit put them in 8th place, with 6 clears above them, so all is not lost if they excel in the agility – and others don’t, of course! Here’s their run. Future crashed a jump and Steven Richardson wisely retired her.

Some very nice distance work from Hayley Laches and Atom…


Tonight’s Steeplechase Final course plan.

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The courses here at The CSJ Agility Open demand top level skills from dog and handler (@!**!#) difficult, in other words!) but of course there are always handlers who make you wonder what all the fuss was about. One such handler is Sarah Millwood (I hope you don’t mind my posting, Sarah!) with her dog Phaze. And as you can see, I had a bird’s eye view of her run. So many dogs are going from the weaves into the tunnel – it’s very close – so props to anyone who didn’t get eliminated there!


Rather annoying refusal for Steve and Digit in an otherwise flawless Pentathlon Jumping 2.

Photos of today’s action are available on the CSJ AgilityOpen Facebook page

 

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Congratulations Jessie. Celebrating 15 years of our CSJ online shop

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Meet Jessie, one of five rescue dogs, who have been fed on Adult Champ! Poppets! and Billy No Mates! throughout their adopted lives.

Jessie is ten-ish, a rescue from an amazing centre called Last Chance in Edenbridge, Kent. Her owner believes the food and herbs have been instrumental in keeping her so fit and puppy-ish. She’s never been ill (touch wood) and once a week, Jessie accompanies her owner to help with  volunteers’ maintenance work in the woods around Hastings.

Jessie’s owner is one of our original CSJ online shoppers, who has bought CSJ food, treats, herbs and supplements from our online shop for the last 15 years.

Thank you!

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CSJ Agility Open – Day 1

Pentathlon Agility 1 

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Today’s course plans

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First round CSJ Agility Open and Hayley Laches and Atom nail a 3rd place in the 600 height! What a great start.

Steven Richardson and Digit win their height in the Steeplechase 1 class!

Sarah Hamblin and Princess Karma were the first to run in the CSJ Agility Open’s first class, Pentathlon Agility 1.

Snooker… Here’s Steven Richardson and Future having a go and finishing in 11th place.

Taming Canines Dog-Sports Team

A ‘tail’ of two halves, the one in which Atom leaves his ears at obstacle 3 and gets them back at 8! Fantastic second half. The second half of this run is amazing…. Hayley doesn’t break out of a walk!

Two fabulous runs from Steven Richardson is in the Pentathlon Jumping 1, putting him 2nd with Digit, so far, and 3rd with Future. This superb run puts them in 1st place in Pent Agility 1 – for now! Also a nice run from Future…. that’s a very tricky weave entry!

Steeplechase Results

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Pentathlon Agility 1 results

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See you tomorrow for Day 2

Superb photos here from Simon Peachey on the CSJ Agility Open Facebook page.

Pentathlon photos

More Pentathlon Agility

Gamblers photos

Mobile Uploads

Remember, you can watch all the action on 4 Legged Flix YouTube channel.

 

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Coming from a unique position…

By Mark Laker

agilityp

 

Social media is a great way to keep up with positive news stories and topics of interest.

Although I rarely get involved in Facebook debates, I consider them to be a huge drain on my time for little or no reward and mostly trivia.

However, I recently commented on a post regarding a proposed rule change on the number of obstacles used in agility courses. I commented because I am privileged to be in a position where I see the sport from an International level right down to local club level. So I added my thoughts and left it for the decision makers to progress.

But, the conversations in the thread of the topic played on my mind, something about this didn’t sit well for me. It wasn’t a controversial thread or one of those pointless posts people put for the sake of stirring-up others. No there was something more deep-rooted about this. Then I realised…the conversation was focused on the topic the originator intended, but the issue’s raised weren’t all about the proposed number of obstacles, they were about the one thing that makes agility unique from many other sports…

Men, women, boys, and girls of all ages and capabilities competing against each other. Increasing the number of obstacles would increase the challenge for some, while for others it may just push agility from a fun hobby to something physically out of reach; a view I sympathise with.

Maybe agility has evolved to the point where we need to take a serious look and decide if we’re still happy with our unique position. Should we remain a sport which everyone competes against each other, or do we start looking at switching some of the focus on to the human athlete, with classes for young, senior, males, females as most other sports do?

Are we able to perceive this as a way to progress agility as a fun sport for all. 

 

Mark Laker

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Update on Lucy Mathews and Ezra’s 2018/2019 season

LMWe had our last race of the season this weekend just gone, which we finished first on both days, with fastest female times!

Me and Ezra have had a very successful season. Our results this season have been:

  • 2nd in the BSSF National Championships
  • 8th ranking in the World
  • 2nd in the Canicross Midlands series

A total of 5 weekend wins and 5 weekend second places!

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Now the season has finished we are hard into training ready to go to Belgium to the world championships in October. We are also aiming to improve out National Championship ranking as it was very close this season, we only missed out by seconds to first place!

I just wanted to thank you for all your support and commitment in supplying me and the team! It wouldn’t be possible to achieve what we do without your support and for that I am very grateful!

Lucy Matthews