1st Sam Clarke and Indysols Miss Money Penny. Clear in 33.53
2nd Andy Platt and Twinkle Tank. Clear in 37.68
3rd Sarah Fawdrey and My Jack of All Trades. Clear in 38.73
4th Steve Ashby-Daniels and Cheeky Kajika. Clear in 39.05
5th Ann Appleton and After Forever. Clear in 40.31
6th Eve Parmiter and Jetaime Elegance du Futur. Clear in 41.29

First up was Hannah Vaughan with her WSD Fagus Red Hot Toddy. A lovely round – shame about that dropped pole – setting the pace at 37.57. Anita Jones, Alison Williamson, and Bobbie Boax both had a run by at 6 – I think the handlers were moving away a little too soon to get to the A-Frame, towards which the dogs were being drawn anyway.

Sandra Merrett’s very fast collie could be a contender once she gets it under control but they, and Natasha Lawlor with Make Daddy Proud also fell victim to what had now firmly become the bogey jump, number 6. John Horton’s dog, Gracie, mixed things up a bit and went from the dog walk over the back of 6 and it wasn’t until runner number 11, Eve Parmiter with her super Groenendael Jess, that we got our first clear round in 41.29.

That dratted A-frame got in the way again for Kimberley Hammond with Crash Bang Benny. Their round was going so well and then came the call of the contacts and, after 17, up Benny went, for an elimination. Jean Luckett with her Toller Saffie left the A-frame but then took the back of 17 instead of 8, and there was another elimination for Rachel Chatfield.

Our next clear round, however, was worth waiting for. Unsurprisingly now in G7, Sam Clarke’s Indysols Miss Money Penny (Tizzy – or Princess!) stormed round clear in an amazing time of 33.53 and into the lead by 8 seconds.

Now here’s something you don’t see every day... a collie crossed with a Malamute! Steve Ashby-Daniels, whose other interests are, apparently “being a good husband and doing what I’m told!” took the start line with Kajika, who is just 2 years old. Despite a couple of understandably nervous moment, Steve and Kajika went clear in 39.05 and into second place.

Although not clear, Christine Wright’s black Lab Sally showed lots of promise for the future. I make special mention because it’s always good to see an “other breed” showing high drive for our sport.

Next up, to just a bit of noise from “the Monday Nighters”, was Andy Platt and Twinkle Tank (Meg), a WSD x Aussie. The noise got somewhat louder when Andy and Meg went clear in a time of 37.68, putting them into second place.

Shame about the missed dogwalk for nippy Deefer Loofer, run by Jayne Morgan, and another lovely dog, Bryning Summer Breeze, showing lots of potential but picking up 5 for going under a jump.

Our next clear was from Ann Appleton with After Forever (Ozzie), a WSD, in 40.31.

Yet another impressive partnership was Alison Caldwell Nichols and Fin, a BC. They’ve only been competing for 18 months and already showing a lot of promise. Unfortunately knocking the first pole meant they were out of the running for prizes, but their of 35.87 was extremely respectable.

Clearly fatigued after spending too much time playing rugby, tossing the caber, and cheese rolling (which are, according to her husband, her other hobbies and interests), Helen Stone and Lady Tigsworth, a Staffie x, took the wrong course and were duly notified that they had done so by the groans coming from the crowd.

The last clear in Large came from Sarah Fawdrey with My Jack of All Trades, in 38.73. Well done!

MEDIUM DOGS

1st Paul Bell and Dialynne Bourbon. Clear in 40.55
2nd Amanda Applegate and Murphy of Rosemary Lane. Clear in 43.53
3rd Kim Taylor and Southmanor Tornado. Clear in 46.66
4th Teresa Beams and Bright Buzzie Lizzie. Clear in 47.52
5th Samantha Tarbuck and Bekesbourne Moonlight. Clear in 48.87

Straight in with a clear round in 47.52 was Teresa Beams and Bright Buzzie Lizzie (Lucy) a JRT. Unfortunately next up, Peter Walker with crossbreed Kalli Fornya, had a refusal at 17, and Elizabeth Hoad’s Lola, a Staffie, was just plain naughty!

Next clear round came from Amanda Applegate and working gundog Flynn, the Cocker Spaniel. A fast little chap, he went into the lead in 43.53. A stalwart of our Starters Challenge Finals over the years has been Kim Taylor, although this was to be his last competition. He and Gunner left with their heads held high, clear in 46.66.

Another cracking little spaniel is Samantha Foreman’s Jade Green (Meg), which was going so well until she missed the weave entry, and yet another was Denny Buckley’s Penzi in a Frenzi. Not clear but again, showing potential.

Denny says that Penzi has also helped her lose a lot of weight and given her a brilliant social life, and she’d like to t hank Val and Anita for making the journey from Jersey, where they all live, to support her.

The crowd-pleaser of the event was Paul Bell’s Beagle, Dialynne Bourbon (Chester) who got to the top of the A-Frame and let out a howl that would have chilled the blood of foxes for miles around! Even with that hiatus, Chester’s round was fantastic and clear in 40.55, putting him into the lead.

A steady clear in 48.87 from Samantha Tarbuck and Bracken, an English Springer Spaniel, completed the Medium section.

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SMALL DOGS

1st Sian Townsend and Little Barney Rebel. Clear in 39.18
2nd Elaine Brennan and Sirrah Sweet Pea. Clear in 40.35
3rd Nikki Sammon and Capricious Rapscallion. Clear in 42.84
4th Sue Hodkinson and Hurstfield the Silva Charma. Clear in 43.97
5th Gaby Wheelhouse and Flora the Explorer. Clear in 44.7

A very cute and speedy Miniature Schnauzer, run by Vikki Quaglia, was first up. Unfortunately Fizzy didn’t manage to do the weave correctly the first time so racked up some faults. Brenda Oggelsby’s Tilly, a Toy Poodle, took its own line, and then Gaby Wheelhouse and Flora The Explorer, Jack Russell, gave us our first clear in this category, in 44.77.

I am a sucker for hairy mutts, so fell instantly in love with Nikki Sammon’s Capricious Rapscallion (Rascal), a Bichon x Jack Russell (although that wouldn’t have been my first guess, my a long shot!). To put a cherry on it, Rascal went clear in 42.84 and into the lead.

Another clear came from Leasanne Mitchell with her JRT cross and balloon lover, Saffron Serby (Cerberus) in 47.99.

Sian Townsend who, apparently, owns half a horse (I hope it’s the bit you can sit on, Sian!) stormed the course with her Sheltie cross Little Barney Rebel (Rebel), clear in 39.18 and into the lead. After a very impressive running dogwalk, Hazel Russell-Davis’ Schnauzer Freddie left the building and although he returned, he inevitably gained time faults.

There was a super run from Sue Hodkinson with Star, her Swedish Vallhund – always great to see these little dogs on the circuit – clear in 43.97, and another clear from Elaine Brennan with Callie the Cocker Spaniel in 40.35. A hat-trick of clears was completed by Argentine Tango enthusiast Nicola Smith and her CKCS, Bailey, in 44.90.

Faults and a couple of eliminations followed and our next clear was from Kris Bolton and Lulu, a crossbreed, in 51.23. Groan of the event was in sympathy for penultimate competitor Nigel Corry-Thomas who had waited all this time and then took the wrong course, missing out 8. Bad luck, Nigel. And then our final competitor Jackie Young, gave us our last clear round with her Bichon Chelsea, in 47.42.

Well done to you all.