Midge Competes Successfully

Good news from one of the youngest members of the Top Lodge Team.

Midge competed on May 3rd for the first time at the Intermediate level in Heelwork to Music where she took second place.

Karen is also very happy with the 3rd place rosette that Midge earned competing for the second time in Novice Freestyle.

A tired Midge posing by her rosettes and prizes from her successful weekend.

Judging at the FCI World Dog Show Finland

Lesley and Kath were both honoured and delighted to be invited to judge the Heelwork To Music and Freestyle Championships at the World Dog Show held in Helsinki.

The competition was held over two days -
 HTM on the Wednesday and Freestyle on the Thursday

The Arena where the routines would be performed

Everything is almost ready

The timetable for the competition and personalised Rosettes for each judge.

Lesley preparing her paperwork for the Team HTM Championship competition.

A lovely touch - each judge had their own flower arrangement in their National Flag Colours.  Sweden - Frida Binette!

Denmark - Helle Larssen

Great Britain - Lesley Neville and Kath Hardman

And the Host Country Finland - Henna Meriharju and Laura Jalli (Head Judge)

 Super Rosettes

 

And wonderful trophies

For winners and those placed

Lovely display of awards

The opening ceremony - all teams in alphabetical order.

And after the competition it was award time for the Teams in HTM. 

First Russia, Second Sweden and Third Denmark 

A happy winning team Russia

THe HTM Individual Championship. 

And the judges had time to offer their congratulations

The Freestyle Team Championship
First Russia, Second Finland and Third Sweden

A very happy Team Russia

And the Freestyle Individual Championship

What a super time - Kath and Lesley were given these superb Vanity Cases as a memento of the occasion.

  Thank you to the organisers and competitors for making this a wonderful Championship.

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!

The Essex Dog Day

The Essex Dog Day - raising funds for PARC - the first time Top Lodge had performed at this show.

Plenty of attractions in the Main Ring for the visitors.

 David Seamark Sheepdog Demonstration

 Karen and her new puppy Midge had a family gathering with her siblings and relatives.

Fly's brother came along with uncle, aunty and many more - it was a "Border Collie Fest"!!

 And puppy Midge met other puppies - it was a very busy day for her!

 The birds of prey were a wonderful sight.

 Jemima Parry Jones gave a wonderful display with her many birds.

 And of course Top Lodge Dancing Dogs were busy with two performances in the Main Arena.

 Young Midge again featured strongly showing how she is learning Heel Work.

 A very happy puppy.

  Denby also showed some Heelwork positions.

And he completed his first demonstration routine!!   He did all the moves but not necessarily in the order that Kath had planned!

 Denby does like to jump and makes it look so easy!

 It was a début for Dewy too, Lesley's young dog.

They both enjoyed their freestyle routine to "The Night They Invented Champagne".

Thank you to the PARC Chair, Sarah Courage, and all the PARC Committee for inviting the Top Lodge Dancing Dog Team to entertain at this super event.