Denby and Midge qualify for Crufts Semi Finals

The Top Lodge Trio were actively competing at the second qualifying competition of the year - Canine Freestyle GB - the club that they formed in 2013 with a large National Membership.

Trophies and Rosettes all ready for the two days.

It was a very busy day for all three as organising the competition meant plenty of work to be done from early in the morning each day and with an AGM following the competition on Saturday.   However, they all did well.

Freestyle:   Kath and Denby (with a toe tapping dance to Top Hat Medley) were placed first in one half of the split semi final Freestyle class

with Karen and Midge (with a very emotional performance to Bridge Over Troubled Water) placed first in the other class. 

Lesley with Dewy placed 3rd with their super routine to Chattanooga Choo Choo!

The scores were then combined from both halves of the Crufts 2017 Freestyle Semi Final and Kath with Denby and Karen with Midge gained their qualifiers for the competition which will be held in January 2017.

Heelwork To Music:  Once again Kath with Denby (to Live and Let Die) were placed well by gaining 2nd place in their half

The scores of the split large class were again combined and Kath remained in 2nd place giving Denby his second qualifying place of the day, this time in Heelwork To Music.

Lesley and Dewy working to What Have You Got by Jimmy Nail and Sting were placed 3rd in their half of the split class.

Lesley and Tedi had two great training rounds - he is progressing well!

Denby and Kath try Obedience

Kath and Denby started training Obedience last year for several reasons and have competed at these shows just four times, gaining three seventh places but at Rugby Dog Training Club they managed to a First Place in Novice under judge Roy Page.

Kath was delighted with Denby's attitude to work in a very busy environment.

Judge's Report   
1st 98½ pts. Mrs. Kathryn Hardman and her 5 year old Border Collie STILLMOOR EXTRA SPECIAL. I find it difficult to believe that Kath and Denby are still in Novice and can only put it down to the fact that they share themselves between Obedience and HTM . This was a really lovely round in a competitive Novice class where many of the dogs will have no problem progressing through the classes this season. Stylish, attentive and accurate heelwork both on and off the lead. Totally committed recall and retrieve. It gave me much pleasure to judge this team and to award them their first win in Novice. Congratulations on a well deserved win - I shall watch your progress with interest. ¼ HoL; 1¼ HF

Double Success For Lesley and Dewy

January is the first month in the HTM Competition year - and it was truly successful for Lesley and Dewy.

They were placed 9th in the Crufts Semi Final Qualifier for Heelwork To Music - with the top ten placed going through to perform in the final at Crufts in March.  A great position to finish in with plenty of potential to place higher!

And in the Crufts Semi Final Qualifier for Freestyle  they were placed 7th which this time meant they perform in the Freestyle Final at Crufts with again a chance to improve on this place!!!   GOOD LUCK LESLEY AND DEWY!!!!

Kath and Amber also competed in the Crufts Semi Final Qualifier for Heelwork To Music, After a very tough year with Amber sustaining two burst ear drums early in 2015, Kath knew her hearing would be impaired, and the KC Building with metal roof, busy chatter and lots of amplifiers could be overwhelming but she performed so well and reached a creditable 13th place sadly missing out on a final performance at Crufts.

Kath and Denby also competed in the  Crufts Semi Final Qualifier for Heelwork To Music however, Denby's confidence wasn't at its best and Kath withdrew from competition completing the routine to gain more experience for this sensitive dog and her.

Kath and Amber went on to be placed 3rd in the Advanced Freestyle Competition at the end of the day when sadly all the photographers had left the building!

Karen and Midge had a successful competition too as they were placed 3rd in Intermediate Freestyle.

Denby succeeds in Advanced Freestyle

Canine Freestyle GB held the 9th Crufts 2016 Semi Final Qualifier in September 2015 with entries exceeding the allowed 25 per class so the Advanced Classes were split into two parts.

With his new routine to a Top Hat and Tails Medley, Denby and Kath were placed 2nd in the second part of Advanced Freestyle.  The scores were then merged for the two parts to find the highest scoring team who haven't yet qualified and Denby just missed qualifying by 0.06 points! There will be another year!!!

But Well Done Denby who hadn't competed in Freestyle for nearly 2 years! !!!   And in October at the Westglen Competition he competed in Advanced Freestyle and again was placed 2nd missing the Winners place by 0.05 points!!!!!!!   So close!!!

A great show for Kath's Dogs

Kath took her dogs Spice, Amber and Denby to socialise at a local Dog Show in Long Eaton, Notts.

Not only did they socialise but they came away with many prizes and Rosettes!
Obedience  -  Top Dogs  - Winner Denby!
Obedience -  Hopefuls - Winner Denby!
Breed - AV Pastural - 4th place Denby!
Novelty - Best Match Pair - Winners Amber and Denby!
Best Vintage (10 years or over) Winner Spice!!!   4th Place Amber!
Overall Best In Show - 5th Place   "Amber and Denby" 

Spice wasn't keen on being hidden behind the food ;-)

Bonsall Carnival

A super Summer's Day in Bonsall, Derbyshire where Top Lodge Dancing Dogs entertained the huge crowd from the village and surrounding areas.

After a very rainy Friday, the team had doubts about the weather, however, the forecast was good and it stayed bright and sunny all day.

Lovely to see families enjoying the day and sitting out on the grass.

The Floats arrived into the arena, led by the one carrying the Carnival Queen for 2015

The very colourful Alice In Wonderland float - whoops someone should have proof read the banners!!

The Team assembled ready to be introduced

Lesley with Tedi, Dewy and Hamish

Kath with Spice, Denby and Amber

and Karen with Midge and Fly.

First to "dance" was Kath with Spice, now the oldest performing member of the group to Michael Jackson's "Rockin' Robin".   

This is when everyone appreciates the dry ground!!  What a very happy audience.

Well done Spice!!   Enjoying every minute of her time in the arena.

Following on was Karen and her youngster Midge.   This was Midge's first public performance and she did do well.

"Dancing" to 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' by Queen, they were obviously enjoying every minute.

The audience were captivated, No one wanting to leave their front row viewing point.

Now it was time for audience participation - four volunteers to work with four of the Team's dogs.  This lady chose to work with Hamish and she soon worked out how to get him weaving at top speed.

This young lady, Laura, chose to work with Spice, luckily Spice has been weaving a number of years so she taught Laura very well!

Midge was chosen by this lady, Emma - the two of them very elegantly moving!

And finally Amber was chosen by Richard.  Amber doesn't mess around - if Richard wasn't moving his legs - then she would just barge through!!

And the Winner of the Red Rosette - HAMISH!!!!   He has certainly won more weave races than any other dog on this team!

In second place was SPICE!!!   Her handler very proud to receive the blue rosette.

Third to cross the finish line was MIDGE - she is learning so well - she will soon be moving up the places in this race!

And in 4th place was AMBER - actually her handler coped very well on the first stretch but unfortunately, he couldn't get back into the rhythm after an about turn and he ran with Amber over the finish line forgetting that Amber should have been weaving through his legs! But he was happy with his 4th rosette and did a lap of honour!

To close the performances, it was the turn of Lesley with Dewy "dancing" to 'Puttin' On The Ritz'.

Once again, thanks to the good weather the ground was dry and safe for jumps and kept the handler's costumes in good order!

Well done Dewy making it through a super routine to the final pose.

There were one or two familiar faces in the audience!  Annette Lowe, fellow Heelwork To Music Competitor, had been invited by the Carnival Committee to judge the Dog Show taking part directly after Top Lodge finished their performance time.

And Joy Lowe also came to the Carnival to watch the proceedings!!

Three Classes for Annette to judge - Waggiest Tail, Best Behaved and Best Trick!

The Best Behaved class had a run off for second place between these brothers, very nice 15 week old Spaniels

And a super little Jack Russell performing his Best Trick!

A natural on hind legs - this little Chihuahua.

And this one year old Boxer performs a Roll Over - helped carefully by his owner.

Thank you Bonsall Carnival Organisers and Committee for inviting Top Lodge Dancing Dogs to entertain at the Bonsall Carnival 2015.