Lesley, Dewy and Tedi success

At the Strictly Canine HTM Competition on the last weekend in June, Lesley had a very busy and successful day.

 Lesley and Tedi placed second in his first Novice HTM Competition.

Then competing in his first Novice Freestyle Competition - Lesley and Tedi won the class! 

Not to be overshadowed by his younger brother - Dewy then won the Advanced Freestyle Competition! 

And to finish off Lesley's super results, she was placed second with Dewy in the Advanced HTM Competition.

What a great result!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Thank you Strictly for the photographs.

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!

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.

Lesley on Holiday

Fylde K9 Dancers was to be the next show for Lesley and the boys but sadly the old knee injury which she had operated on in December decided to flare up making it too painful to walk, yet alone dance, so, no show for the boys but instead a week in Yorkshire in the caravan was had instead.

With the help of lots of pain killers and a stick Lesley and Roger and the boys explored parts of Wharfdale.  Lesley grew up in neighbouring Nidderdale so some old haunts were visited – with some surprising results!

In Kettlewell there was the annual Scarecrow festival

Little Bo Peep found her sheep!

The villagers really make a super effort, first prize went to “The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe” but every house had made a contribution.

The Tour De France which went through the Dales was remembered too!

Not to be left out, Settle held their  “Flower Pot People” festival the same week!

 Oh no, not the Daleks!

 Miss Muffet and her spider!

 Here be Dragons!

 Ah! A more friendly rabbit!

Watch out Sid – they grow them big in Yorkshire!

But not to worry, everyone arrived back at the caravan in one piece and ready for a lovely walk up on t’ moors!

 A lovely holiday

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!!

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.