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HEELWORK TO MUSIC |
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Canine
Freestyle GB show October 9 & 10 2004 October 9 Show There were some really super routines and the judges must have had a hard time marking these ingenious routines. High lights for me were: My good friend Helen Murphy winning Starters HTM with Rafe - they were worthy winners, I know the routine backwards and as soon as Rafe set off I knew it was going to be a good routine. Starters Freestyle: wow what a class - my favourite was Mo Aegerter and her Yorkie cross - they performed two routines. What a superb little dog this is - she never missed a move. Trained to perfection. The puppy love routine was simply the best. I think they were placed third in this class so now are rightfully out of Starters. Novice HTM: I really liked the heelwork from Hannah Crooks’ young pointer X Tripp. Lynn Crooks’ Rune performed the best I have seen her. This dog’s routines are becoming more poised. The other routines were equally good but the class winner by miles was Corrine Campagna from Belgium with her Jack Russell. They performed a very poignant routine to ‘Send in the Clowns’. This is a highly trained dog with a very skilled handler. There were two Novice HTM classes and the second one had some equally good routines. I liked Lynn Crooks’ routine with Pol - this dog has a fantastic heelwork position and for me it was a great routine. Pauline Hewson and her BSD gave us a super Country & Western routine and Pauline is a great mover. I do not have a list of the marks but I think this class was won by Carol Dodson whose dog’s heelwork is a dream. Novice Freestyle: was hotly contested. Oh my goodness, Corrine Campagna shocked us all - well no, she did not shock - she excited most of the men with her performance to ‘Hail Holy Queen’. I suggest you buy the video and check that one out folks. The routine that stood out in both the novices for me and the routine that for me was a show winner was Hannah Crooks working her collie cross to 'Its a Hard Knock Life'. Some very clever choreography here which is everything in Freestyle. A well trained dog superbly handled. Bet Hannah didn't think she would be winning a class using a mop. Intermediate HTM: an excellent class with some fantastic routines and good handlers - everyone in the class was worthy of winning out. The winner was Leslie Brocklehurst and her young boy - he is a fantastic dog who will continue to wow us all for a long time. Intermediate Freestyle: I really loved Pat Richards - 'She'll be Coming Round the Mountain' - it got us all singing as we all knew the words.
Advanced HTM: sadly Kath Hardman had to withdraw from the class - Ginny slipped on the floor and Kath did not want to exacerbate a previous injury. I was lucky enough to win this class - I am so proud of my red and white boy - he has done so very well this year. We were hard chased though by Paula Ackary and her fantastic BC. Paula's dogs are so thoroughly trained, they put us all to shame. She has perfected some fantastic Heelwork moves and we were all happy to see her back in the swing. Her first HTM show for over a year, she has been sorely missed. Advanced Freestyle: this class is always a closely fought class with all the routines being highly polished and extremely accurate. Karen Sykes has two dogs in this class and two very different dogs - she has perfected theses two routines so much so that I never tire of watching them. Lesley Neville also has two dogs in this class and her ‘My Fair Lady’ routine is suave and sophisticated; Lesley is an excellent handler who managed to make everything look so easy. Pat Richards - another great handler in this class, again manages to pick fantastic music - I love her routines they are always extremely entertaining and accurate. I must stress these are only my opinions I was not a judge and have given this synopsis as a spectator. The running of the classes went like clockwork, with 95 entries you would think it would be have been a stressful time trying to fit us all in but no - everything was relaxed. David Hardmans was an excellent scorer and time keeper. A thoroughly entertaining professionally run show, which makes up I am sure for the fiasco that was run a few weeks earlier in Exeter. Naturally I think the commentator was the best. (For those who weren’t there, it was of course Ann herself) October 10: the Fun Day What a great day that was - we all laughed , we all worked, we all enjoyed ourselves. I saw some really good routines that would have done well at the open show on the Saturday - and these were from people who had never entered a show before. A group of handlers from Kidderminster put in some fantastic routines - with nice keen dogs performing good moves and above all good heelwork. This group did themselves proud.
There were several men entered and hopefully word is now getting round that this is NOT a woman's sport but one in which all can enter and enjoy themselves. Carol Mortimer - what a woman - she is a powerhouse of activity - not happy to put together a huge group routine to ‘The Red Baron’, dogs and wheel barrows yes one to see on the video. She also managed the YKC team demo - here we saw some lovely dogs well handled. What was great about the fun day was the number of different breeds represented; my favourites being the beautiful Westie, the pink poodle, the well trained Beagle and the stunning Leonburger, Bernese and Bouvier.
Barry Bray and I had a laugh with ‘Mambo Italiano’; yes Barry got to wiggle his bum again! Everyone enjoyed this and thought we must have practiced hard for it. No, honest, no practice just lots of ad lib and wiggly bums! We had ‘Bob the Builder’ performed by a beautiful 3 year old girl and Carol Mortimer - little Louise handled Zak really well. Mary Moffat and Rooskie showed everyone that he can stay in the ring and complete a routine - he even completed two, to rousing applause from the audience. Rooskie is a charming dog and Mary is a stoical persistent handler. She must be congratulated. The lucky dip class was a great laugh - handlers did not mind my heckling and singing along (badly) on the microphone. Lynn Crooks’ face was a delight - she shocked herself with her mamboing skills. Joan Taylor wowed the audience with her marching skills. Jacqui
Clarke with the Harper Valley PTA The best routine of the day was the Alan, Roger and David trio performing ad hoc to their partners' routines with their dogs; again one to buy the video for. The video of the weekend’s events is available form the Lincolnshire lions - AKA Carol Mortimer and Alan Eves. Pictures of the Saturday show will be up on the Action Shots web site, where they can be ordered.
Photos courtesy of Lynn Crooks & Ann DeRizzio
No material on this website may be copied or published elsewhere without permission. (c) Heelwork To Music 2002-2004
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