Pink Ribbon 20 miles 2016

For the second year running,  Kath entered the Pink Ribbon 20 mile walk with fellow "dog Dancer" Nicci.  This year the walk set off in dry weather from Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.

After a 10 minute Aerobic Class - they were warmed up and ready to start with their canine walkers Amber, Denby and Nala.

At 9:00am the whistle blew for the start of the walk.  An hour later the 10 mile walkers would set off and another hour later the 5 mile walkers would leave the start line.

Amber Denby and Kath on their way!

The crowd of 20 mile walkers on their way through the grounds of Chatsworth starting with a steep incline to the Hunting Lodge and Emperor Lake, walking through Beeley Wood and some areas which are normally not available to the public.

Down into Beeley where they met with David their route supporter.

From Beeley across the fields and into Calton Lees - still within the grounds of the Chatsworth Estate.

And then a long trek to the Bakewell Agricultural Showground where the sun was shining brightly!

From the Showground the route took them through Bakewell and up another steep inline to Hassop and then to Bakewell Station. From the Station - yet another hill - this time 5 miles of uphill walking to Edensor and back towards the start!!   They finished at 5:00pm.

Checking in at the finish and they were given meal vouchers.  Throughout the walk refreshments were provided - water, fresh fruit, crisps, energy bars.

Done for another year!!!
Nice video here - spot me, Amber, Denby, David and Nicci

Thank you to everyone who supported Nicci and Kath who raised so far this year £989.00

Kath Judges at Local Dog Show

Kath was honoured to be invited to judge at a local Horse Show, but luckily for the competitors it was the Dog Show part of the event that Kath would be judging!

The weather was overcast most of the day, but thank goodness it was dry!!

Quite a number of people attending the Horse Show had brought along their canine partners to enter the novelty classes.  This is the winner of the Fancy Dress competition which had some very novel entries such as the pug in a cereal box "Cereal Killer" and Jasper, the Border Collie in a child's skeleton suit!

Winner of the Waggiest Tail was "Walter" with his owner Ian.

Winner of the dog the judge would like to take home was this sweet miniature schnauzer "Pixie" with her owner Daisy.

Several entries in the Best Trick Class -  .....

giving a paw with lots of encouragement.

Best Veteran - all dogs were over 11 yrs of age and in great condition.

Best Groomed Prize went to Pug "Flo" with her owner Max.   

The Best Rescue Class - all winners with some tearful stories of their past!

Best pair went to this super brace of Spaniels.

The Agility and games class.

Walter - he was entered in every class!!   Any ideas of what he is a cross of?

And in the Pony Class - this little pony had been coloured for the fancy dress class.

Thanks for asking Kath to judge (and thanks to David for stewarding) and thank you for the super donation towards the Pink Ribbon Walk for Breast Cancer Research.

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!!!

New Training Hall Floor

It is 10 years since the training hall was built and it was decided that the floor was now feeling a little more than springy - so a new floor was to be laid by the Top Lodge Team

 Whoops - it was time to replace some of the floor and lay a new floor on top.

 Roger and Lesley made a start looking for any damage the night before.

 More damage!!   Too much dancing on this part of the floor!

 And then the team came to work the next day.

 All the carpet tiles needed lifting and stacking - new floor panels brought in, screwed down .....

 and then the tiles had to be relaid!

 Time for lunch!

 The final corner of floor is screwed in place.

 Nearly all done - last piece to be cut to fit!

 Perfect!!!

Well if its OK for Spice - then its perfect for the rest of the team!!