| Zippy: A Frame, Tyre, Jumping | Binky: Weaves and Jumping | |||
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| Photos by:- Alistair Davies | Jayphotos | Starshotz | ||
TIMELINE
- ADDITIONAL
SKILLS - MY BIG ISSUE
- BIOP - CONTACT
timeline
| 2008
The
girls made an excellent start to 2008 with 2 top ten places,
Zippy 3rd and Binky 9th,
in the same Large Grade 3
Jumping class (an Open Class of 162 dogs) at the Kernow K9 Easter
Show. Both girls are now
eligible to enter the prestigious KC Novice Cup at the KC International
Agility Festival
in August. Binky and I also came 2nd
in the Disabled Handlers Association Gold Level ‘Best Overall
Disabled Handlers Trophy, contested over the Kernow K9 weekend. Video 14th/153 in Large Grade 3 Agility Pt1 at Tunbridge Wells 10.5.08 I’ve recently made a short video for the BBC Video Nation Project, click here to view |
| 2007 Was our most successful year yet. Zippy had 5 wins, a 2nd and a 3rd and was a Finalist in the Staverton UKA Beginners’ Steeplechase Challenge. Binky joined the team and had her 1st clear round in August, her 1st win in September and her 2nd win in December, by a staggering 6 seconds! 70% of their clear rounds were in the top 10% in their class and both girls graduated into the UKA Novice Performance programme. |
| 2006 Having spent 12 months developing a new, long distance handling method, by July 2006 Zippy was regularly back in the top 10% in her class. Novice Jumping Pt 3, KC International Festival 13.8.06, 16th out of 178 dogs. She also won the 1st James WellBeloved and Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Tails of Achievement Award (pictured), a Herald Express and Gemini FM Community Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship and made a Film Short for the Life Channel. |  |
| photo by Carol Ann Johnson |
| 2005
In
May 2005, whilst using
my wheelchair, Zippy and I uniquely won out of Starters (now Grade 2) at Dartmoor Agility Show and in July were Finalists in the Agility Club Starters Challenge. Video Pairs at Supa dog Agility Show in June (my half). I organised the 1st ‘Best Overall Disabled Handler’ Trophy at Supa dog Show and in August co-founded the Disabled Handlers Association. Zippy and I were Starter of the Month in Junes’ Agility Eye. |
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| disabledhandlersassociation |
| 2004 In July 2004 Zippy had her 1st win and won out of KC Elementary (now Grade 1) at Donyatt Show (pictured), one month after getting her first ever clear round. That summer I made a BBC Countryfile Video Diary Video |  |
additional skills
| In addition to agility I train my dogs to do things like empting the washing machine, closing the front door (both demonstrated in the Countryfile Video Diary), high fives (see above), take a bow … and many more. Zippy, ever patient on photo shoots, when asked ‘could you do that one more time please?’, obligingly does. |
My big issue
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Having shoehorned my dogs and wheelchair into my ancient car and travelled all over the country for many years, I am increasingly worried about how many more miles the car has in it. Ineligible for Sports Funding If I could work out how to get hold of a suitable van to convert for the Shows then who knows what we could achieve, plus I would never have to worry again about whether or not the loos are accessible. |
| cartoon by David Shenton 0208 985 9824 www.davidshenton.com First published in Devon Link Winter 2004 |
Biop
| I live in South Devon with my 3 dogs, a single parent I brought up 2 children, practiced as a Landscape Architect, worked in the Voluntary Sector and ran my own Consultancy. I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 34 years. |
Contact
| For more information, advice or to enquire about training: | or telephone 01803 867074 | |