The Kennel Club would like to congratulate Agility Team GB for their performance at the FCI Agility World Championships over the weekend (5th - 8th October 2017).
Held in Liberec in the Czech Republic, the World Championships saw hundreds of handlers and dogs take part, from over 40 countries including Germany, Japan, Russia and South Africa.
With so many top level competitors taking part, Agility Team GB’s performance was highly commendable. Highlights included Martin Reid, who placed 16th overall in the large category with his Border Collie, Spring. This was Martin’s first time competing at the World Championships, so to place 16th out of 145 competitors was a fantastic achievement.
Other highlights included previous gold medallist Natasha Wise with her Border Collie, Dizzie, who placed 18th in the medium category overall and Jess Clarehugh with her Border Collie, Cara, who placed 22nd in the large category overall.
Agility Team GB Manager, Mark Laker said: “The team went out to this year’s World Championships with confidence and ready for the challenge ahead. The team demonstrated improved technical skills on these fast courses. We came home inspired and motivated for next year’s championships.”
Agility Team GB were chosen following this year’s squad selection process, which concluded at the Performance Weekend hosted by Lincoln Agility Enthusiasts at its Open Agility Show in April. Agility Team GB attended the European Open Agility Championships in Italy at the end of July where ‘Team GB Red’ won a silver medal in the large team overall.
Ceri Rundle, CSJ’s founder and sponsor of Agility Team GB, said: “CSJ is extremely proud to once again sponsor Agility Team GB; the whole team have trained extremely hard and it was clear to see their passion and dedication in the ring at the World Championships last weekend. Well done to all the handlers and their dogs for taking part and achieving such great results.”
Agility team GB is kindly sponsored by CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds, the Kennel Club, Gencon, Nottingham Trent University, First Contact, Agility 1st, Vale Referrals, and Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, the Kennel Club's preferred cross-channel partner. The coaching team consisted of Mark Laker (Team Manager), Marc Wingate-Wynne (Team Assistant), Martin Cavill (Technical Coach), Maria Johnston (Team Physiotherapist), Hana McNicholas (Team Vet), Ruth MacGill (Fitness coach/handler), Nicky Grant (Team Physiotherapist – Research Projects), and Gina Sansom (Kennel Club Senior Events Coordinator) who travelled to the Czech Republic with them.
The 2018 FCI Agility World Championships will be held in Sweden from 4th – 7th October.