Crufts 2016

Lesley and Dewy had a great time at Crufts this year. On Thursday they competed in the Freestyle competition gaining an 7^th place despite Lesley having to do some nimble move adaptations in order to pick up a button which came off her jacket during the Chattanooga Choo Choo routine!

On Friday they competed in the Heelwork To Music Competition gaining the 10^th place.  This is the first time that Dewy has competed at Crufts in both disciplines and Lesley is very proud of the way he coped with all the hustle and bustle of the NEC environment.  At just 4 years old he is doing so well.

The Crufts 2015 Semi Final

CONGRATULATIONS to Lesley and her young dog Dewy for gaining 8th place in the Crufts 2015 Semi Final for Heelwork To Music.

If you want to support her in the Crufts Heelwork To Music Final, they will be competing at 11:35 am on Friday 6th March in the Main Arena.

GOOD LUCK LESLEY AND DEWY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great week for Lesley and Dewy

Quite an impressive haul of rosettes for Dewy!

At Fylde K9 Dancers show on 25th May,  he gained  2nd place in the Heelwork To Music Advanced Crufts Semi Final Qualifier Class and 5th place in the Freestyle Advanced Crufts Semi Final Qualifier Class.

At the same show, on the following day, 26th May, he gained 2nd place in the Advanced Freestyle Class and 8th in the Advanced Heelwork To Music Class.

Then just a few days later at The Bearded Collie Cub (Scottish Branch) Show he continued to show his talents with a 5th in the Heelwork To Music Advanced Crufts Semi Final Qualifier Class  and a 3rd place in the Freestyle Advanced Crufts Semi Final Qualifier Class!

Not bad for a little boy considering that these shows are only  his second and third times in the Advanced classes!!!

Go Dewy!!

Top Lodge at Crufts 2014

The Top Lodge Team had three of the top ten dogs competing in the HTM Finals at Crufts 2014

The competition took place at on the Friday 7th March late morning. Both Karen and Kath took advantage of the empty arena at 7:00am that morning to get the dogs more accustomed with the space, the astro turf floor covering and the general atmosphere.     Karen's Fly and Kath's Amber are both regular finalists and they both looked very excited and happy to be in this special arena.

Kath's youngest dog Denby (Stillmoor Extra Special) was drawn first in the running order

Not an easy draw for his first time in the ring as it is hard to calculate just when entry into the Arena will be due to the other activities running over - or going too quickly! 

But Kath's experience helped him through the routine and of course being first to compete - he was in first place but not for too long!

Kath was very happy with how he coped with the experience - he kept quite good focus on her but was slightly distracted a couple of times by the painted marks on the Astroturf where the agility/flyball equipment was to placed in the following competition.

Denby finally finished in 9th place but with experience now for the next time!!

 Karen was next into the ring with Fly (Iatka Spring Spangle). 

Performing to a Michael Buble number - It Had Better Be Tonight", they thoroughly enjoyed their special time together in the Main Arena.

It's been a tough time for this team recently with Fly having to fight cancer in the summer but she has recovered and Karen was so pleased that she had made it not only through the Crufts Semi Final but also being able to perform once again on that "hallowed turf"! 

 Fly and Karen finished in a very happy 10th place.

The final dog to compete was Kath's Amber (Stillmoor Lady In Red). 

It was good feeling for Kath to be there this year as in 2013 Kath withdrew Amber from the competition due to a bad tummy upset.  So it was with relief that Kath walked out into the Arena with the routine she had prepared in 2013!  

They worked well together until Amber had a slip on the Astroturf - which led to her being a little too vocal!  But they finished the competition in 8th place.

Kath having two dogs in the final was very grateful to the third Top Lodge Member Lesley who helped her with the two dogs backstage during competing and costume changed!

Kes 3rd February 1998 to 13th January 2014

From Karen Sykes:

Kes

Kes was the first dog that I ever had from a pup; all my other dogs had been rescues.  I was pleased to be able to start from scratch to teach my new puppy all I knew.  Little did I know how little I knew!  Kes taught me more than any other dog I have ever known, before or since!  Thanks to Kes we moved through Obedience into Agility, Working Trials, Herding and Heelwork to Music.  We also learnt different methods of training, met lots of new people and forged some really strong friendships.  Kes has taken me to places that I could only previously dream of.

If truth be told, Kes was never an easy dog.  She could be moody, unpredictable and obstinate.  She inspired me to look beyond my boundaries for new things to do and different ways to train.  She was my crossover dog from compulsive training (which makes me shudder when I look back) to clicker training.  We transformed together from a disjointed couple to a real team working with mutual respect and a healthy dollop of humour.

Kes made many Crufts appearances and remained in the British Top Ten Freestyle dogs throughout her competitive life.  Allan and I have received some wonderful tributes to her since her death from people who knew her and from those who only ever saw her on video.  We have now come to realise how much joy she brought to so many people and also just how many people were inspired to take up Freestyle having watched Kes perform.  She was a true ambassador for the sport.

But more important than the competitions were the fun and games she brought to our home life; she leaves us with so many happy memories.  Whenever we had chance to go to the seaside our trip was always enhanced by Kes’ absolute joy from the sand between her pads and the waves up to her knees (never higher than her knees except by accident!)  Kes loved to paddle in streams, rivers and lakes but her absolute favourite was the sea.  Her trips to Anglesey were a real joy for her.

On Saturday 11^th January we trained as usual in the morning; yes, Kes at almost 16 years of age she still insisted on coming to the training hall for a 10 or 15 minute session, sometimes running through her favourite routine ‘Me Ole Bamboo’ and performing her repertoire of tricks.  On the way home it appears that she had a stroke and in spite of our best efforts it became time to say goodbye 48 hours later.

I am so grateful that we had such a long and happy life together; that she was so fit right up until the very last part of her life and that we were able to show her our last act of love by giving her sleep before she lost her dignity.

Kes

A big personality who has left a big hole

3^rd February 1998 to 13^th January 2014

Those who knew her personally will agree… 

She was a hell of a bitch, in more ways than one!

 

Puppy Kes

 

A Handsome OAP

A Fine Public Performance Aged 14

 

A Dip In The Sea

Top Lodge Dancing Dog Promotional Video

Click the picture to watch some past performances from the Top Lodge Dancing Dog Team.  

Check out the website for contact details www.dancingdogs.co.uk
Thanks to Nicci Hindson for making this video.

A Weekend at Moira Canal Festival

Geoff Pursglove, one of the Moira Canal Festival Organisers with the Lord and Lady Mayor

Top Lodge Dancing Dogs were honoured to be invited to demonstrate the KC Sport of Heelwork To Music and Freestyle at the festival  2013.   Entering the well attended ring is Karen with Erin, Fly and Kes.

 Next to be welcomed into the Arena was Lesley with Hamish and Dewy.

And finally Kath was welcomed with her dogs Amber, Denby and Spice - already looking for the popcorn on the floor!! 

To open the entertainment was Karen and Kes - who is now  a remarkable very fit 15 yrs old and still thoroughly enjoying her dancing, training and displays.

Followed by Lesley and Hamish dancing - and singing! - to Capone to the delight of the audience.

Karen and Fly invited children and adults into the Arena to dance like a Top Lodge Dog.  There were many volunteers to come along and take part and the audience were amazed as to how well behaved the children were throughout their time copying Fly's moves.

Each day the trio allowed four adults to work with their dogs - this was a weaving race which the audience chose and cheered for their favourite dog to win.

Amber, Spice, Denby and Hamish took part and the winner was Hamish and the Moira Canal Festival Treasurer!!!

 He proudly wore his 1st place Red Rosette all day.

Spice took on the hill in the arena with gusto and managed to get Kath to keep up with her in Mr Blue Sky skipping up the hill!!!

This year the Festival invited the Civil War re-enactment society Open Rope, with their weaponry display, firepower, and drill displays, to re-enact the battle for the swing bridge.

The canon was fired twice a day - but with good notice so that the Top Lodge Dogs were looked after well!!

Morris Dancing - attending the festival in 2013: Bakanalia Border Morris;   Rattlejag Morris;   Black Pig Border Morris ,  Black Dog Molly 

 The different groups took it in turns to perform in front of the furnace.

  Wow - when they hit sticks - bits fly off!!!   Very entertaining.

 Fabulous costumes!!!   For once the Top Lodge Team were the only ones there in costume!!

 Hawkeye Falconry were also at the festival both days to entertain.

 The battle re-enactment camp with its own "hospital".

 The Moira Furnace Long Boat taking passenger for rides up and down the canal.

 The actual Moira Furnace - the central point of the festival.

 More from the battle re-enactment followers with a Wood Chopper.

And of course more from the Top Lodge Dancing Dog Team - this time young Dewy shows moves to the audience.

Karen with Fly dancing their fabulous Crufts 2012 routine to the music "Singing In The Rain" - luckily the weather was perfect both days.

Lesley and Hamish hit the Arena again with Capone!!  Looks like Hamish is singing along again!

And Karen with Kes wowing the crowds at 15 yrs old - that's Kes who is 15yrs old!!!  "Me Ol Bamboo"

Kath and Spice still working their way around the hill side skipping!!!

And back at base, the leader of Leicestershire County Council popped in to say hello and congratulate the Top Lodge Team on their display.

 And with an extra photo call for Dewy!!!

 The Spitfire "Fly over"!!  so low and very fast.

 Well done to the Top Lodge photographer Allan for capturing these moments!

 And at a slower pace - the old Steam Roller.

 Finishing the day with another weaving race in glorious sunshine.

And yes - Hamish won again!!!!!!!!  Let's hope the others in the team rise to the challenge next time!

The Top Lodge Team would like to thank everyone involved in the Moira Canal Festival for a great weekend.

Hope to see you again another year!