Newsletter Spring 2006

Firstly, our apologies for the delay in sending this newsletter. So much has happened within the Club since the last issue that the time has simply flown past!

2005 was an exceptional year for Thames DTC. Our obedience show in Ockwells Park in September was a great success, and again we were blessed with good weather.

The back-to-back weekend show we have with the British Association of German Shepherd dogs seems to be a big favourite with many competitors from around the Southeast of England with the number of entrants (and caravans) growing bigger and bigger each year. A big thank you must be given to our show secretary Becky Coleman, Sandra Curry and Teresa Davies, members, family and friends for making it such a great weekend and setting the standards for others to follow.

Although we are still actively looking for a larger hall for the obedience section, we are still attracting, and maintaining a good level of members to the club who wish to continue with their obedience training classes. Last year we ran 6 puppy foundation courses and each course was fully booked. Most of those attending came from recommendations from members, or other people who have taken the course. We also held our second Kennel Club Good Citizen dog scheme awards. We had 13 members passing the Bronze and 8 passing the silver awards. This year we will continue with the programme for our members and hopefully hold the Gold awards later this year.

We have also introduced this year, an assessment night for our members, which is all about giving the handlers encouragement and confidence when entering shows.

Again, we must thank the instructors at obedience for giving up their free time to the club and making the training fun and enjoyable for everyone involved. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Norma Summersby and Margaret Yerby for arranging the obedience Christmas party and games, and thank everyone who attended and helped making it a very enjoyable and memorable evening. Margaret is also progressing well, assisting Teresa in her class with the view of becoming an instructor in the future.

Last year, Thames club founded the “Three Counties Shield” obedience club match which was held at Ockwells Park. The other clubs invited to compete were Cippenham, Hampton, Surrey, Basingstoke, Marlow and Reading Branch of BAGSD’s dog training clubs. Hampton DTC coming out on top on this occasion. The purpose of the match is to help guide new people into the sport. Everybody had a great day and we received a number of encouraging responses from those who attended and hope this might become an annual event.

The Agility section continues to thrive, and major thanks must go to all of our trainers who give up their time to help. Without you, we would not have the success we have, and certainly not the strength of Club that we enjoy. My thanks go to every one of you.

We felt, as a Committee that the time had come to introduce some “new blood” into the Agility section. For the first time in several years we ran a course for beginner handlers and this proved to be a huge success. Several members of the course are now full Club members, and continuing to take great strides in their agility ability, to the point that they are now competing on a regular basis at the Inter Club Winter League. Their points gained in the Nursery Classes have helped, and together with all the places and points gained by our “Senior, more experienced” handlers enabled Thames to win the overall Trophy once again. The competition from the other clubs gets stronger each year, and the points totals get closer, but Thames seems able to rise to the challenge each year, and come up trumps.

In addition to dog training, this has been a superb year for fundraising, and we have raised in excess of £1400. Thanks go to everyone who donated auction items, raffle prizes and bought raffle tickets which made last year such a success for our nominated charities.

Finally, may I wish each and every one of you the very best of luck and all success for the forthcoming year.

At last, our web site is now up and running, for those who have access to a computer the address is www.thamesdtc.co.uk If any members have any suggestions, photos, additional information or related links to other sites, please let Steve Devaney know so he can include them on our site. The password for the member’s pages is 8382 (the equivalent of Thames Dog Training Club on your mobile phone keypad!!)

This is your column! If you or one of your fellow club members has had some success and they want to boast about it, let the editor know! It could be your first clear round at an agility show, winning out of a class or just a generally good result. If you are proud of it, we’ll print it! Some that spring to mind include:

Congratulations to Sandra Curry, Mike Turley, Becky Coleman and Steve Devaney who passed the Kennel Club obedience judging examination, and to Jeff and Ava Holloway, Caroline Braddick and Andy Wells who passed the agility judging examination.

Congratulations to Lucy Clifton with Kip and Andy Wells with Sky for winning out of Starters.

Congratulations to John Cook with Freddie, Sam Thorne with Fudge and Carol Dicker with Xada who all won into senior.

At Winter League Matches, Peter Edney with Millie and Luke Finlay-Maxwell both won Starters classes, congratulations to you both and to all the other members who gained places at the Winter League Matches. Luke and Dillon also had a 1^st and a 2^nd place at a UKA Starters show.

From the ed.. Please don’t feel offended if your good result is not listed, I can’t remember them all!!

You may not realise that all those places and clear rounds achieved at agility shows throughout the year can result in a club trophy! There are nine trophies awarded at the AGM so make sure you let Graham Tappin know whenever you achieve a place or a clear round. These details can either be emailed to grahamtappin@yahoo.co.uk or submitted via a form available from Graham or Ava Holloway.

We have introduced this year an assessment night for the obedience section, which is all about giving the handlers encouragement and confidence when entering shows. On the first assessment night, the winner of the beginner class was Heather Hasler with Finley, and the winner in the advance class was Marie Stalker with Bethan. Congratulations to them both, and many thanks to our President, Pam for judging the first one.

Diploma Nights over the last year have been very well supported, although more help is always needed on the night. To add some spice and a twist in the tail, we have added a “Champions” class at the very end, where the winners of the Nursery, Novice, Intermediate and Senior classes run off to be the Champions on the night. It gives the newer handlers a taste of pressure competition and our more advanced handlers’ absolute pressure at not being beaten by one of the lower class winners! If you have any other ideas or suggestions for Diploma Night please pass them to the Diploma Night Co-Ordinator Sally Edney.

FIRST	Carolyn	Copper
SECOND	Julie	Lulu
THIRD	Toni	Dixie
HIGHEST UNPLACED SMALL/MEDIUM	Russell	Chester

FIRST	Peter	Millie
SECOND	Jan	Des
THIRD	Alison	Becky
HIGHEST UNPLACED SMALL/MEDIUM	Teresa	Barbie

FIRST	Jim	Jazz
SECOND	Veronica	Zac
THIRD	Carol	Bo
HIGHEST UNPLACED SMALL/MEDIUM	Daniel	Darcy

FIRST	Daniel	Ada
SECOND	Virginia	Oz
THIRD	John	Feddie

CHAMPION

FIRST	Daniel	Ada
SECOND	Peter	Millie
THIRD	Jim	Jazz
FORTH	Carolyn	Copper

FIRST	Julie	Lulu
SECOND	Margaret	Mickey
THIRD	Carolyn	Copper
HIGHEST UNPLACED SMALL/MEDIUM	Russell	Chester

FIRST	Carolyn	Mo
SECOND	Sheila	Taz
THIRD	Alison	Becky
HIGHEST UNPLACED SMALL/MEDIUM	Jan	Des

FIRST	Daniel	Darcy
SECOND	Dave	Mirk
THIRD	Carol	Bo
HIGHEST UNPLACED SMALL/MEDIUM	Luke	Barney

Each issue we will interview a club member, and what a better way to start than with the Chairman, Andrew Dicker! Watch out, who knows who it will be next time!!

I first joined Thames shortly after first meeting Carol about 7 years ago. My canine interests at that time were solely in Obedience, and my original opinion at that time about the sport of Agility was that it was for those who couldn't do Obedience!! How wrong could I have been!! Having watched a few classes, and "borrowed" a few dogs to run, I became a convert, and my mind was changed!! It was a lot harder than it looked! My Working Sheepdog (WSD), Jed and I enrolled on the beginner’s course and we were off!

I have had dogs as far back as I can remember! My earliest recollection of our dogs was two German Shepherd Dog’s (GSD’s) called Mitzy and Prince. We had them with us in Nairobi, Kenya where I grew up. Because of where we lived, they were primarily trained as police dogs, and it was there that my love of training dogs started. I used to watch the classes avidly and in between classes used to "practice" doing send-aways to the bottom of our garden where the local school children used to walk. I don't think the natives in that area ever recovered!!

When we moved to Botswana we had, again for security, 15 GSDs!! Sadly we had to leave all but two behind when we came to the UK.

Eventually moving to the UK in the mid/late 70's we inherited a couple of cocker spaniels called Ben and Petra. My love affair with Obedience started shortly after that when I had my very own Cocker called Paddy and started Obedience classes with him at Winchester City DTC.

I had always been a "one man/one dog" sort of person 'till I met Carol. Also, living in London at that time, in a 2 bedroom flat, there was only room for one dog! Since marrying Carol, my pack has grown considerably!

I personally have three and a half dogs! Jed, my first WSD and the one who took me to Crufts in obedience. Everything I had learned with the GSD’s and Cockers had to be thrown out of the window!! How different Border Collie’s (BC’S) and WSD’s are to train. In obedience, Jed took me from Beginners to Open C in one season!!

When I retired Jed from Agility, and did less obedience with him, I decided to get myself a Shanowl!!! After nearly two years of waiting I got Tag. He is (I believe) a legend in the making.

After several years of trying to get Jed and Carol's bitch Xada to mate, finally at the end of last year Xada had a litter, and I kept the first born boy, JayJay (Jed Junior!)

Finally, the half!! - I "rescued" Barney, the Cairn Terrorist!..... and after teaching him agility, he now works brilliantly for everyone else, except me!!!

I have had a very varied career - I started off playing soldiers after school, and then became a teacher, teaching sums at a prep school in Haslemere.

I then taught at another prep school in Swanage before leaving and joining my Dad's profession in Barclays. I stayed with Barclays in Regent St., London for just over 5 years. After leaving Barclays I had a string of jobs lasting from a few months to a couple of years! I was an insurance salesman, bar staff, chef, and eventually settled back in London working for K Line, a Japanese shipping line where I became European Fleet Manager. Politics intervened and my boss and I left and joined the Freight forwarding business as an on-the-road sales "executive"!

Finally leaving that due to the economic climate of shipping being a disaster zone, I took redundancy and set up my own dog training school in Wimbledon.

The final chapter in my CV is setting up our own business. When I moved from London to Reading to marry Carol I sold my flat and had considerable equity to play with. We already had our own pet training school, and so we decided to start Aquadoggies, basically a swimming pool for dogs. Our first week we had 8 dogs, my parents and their 4 dogs came for two swims!! Now we have between 100-150 dogs per week swimming with a waiting list!

In the Summer - No!!, but in the winter months I help coach Rugby on a Sunday morning at Reading RFC. Obviously with my sylphlike figure, I coach the forwards!! Both Carol and I are in the very privileged position of running a successful business, by doing something we love. I believe we get paid for doing our hobbies!!

My goals differ with each dog I have - with Jed, it was to become an Obedience Ticket handler - When we reached that goal, I had no more goals WITH HIM. Tag, however is different. He is already better at Obedience than Jed was at that age, and infinitely better than Jed at Agility. I would love to be the first Dual Champion with Tag - Agility and Obedience. JayJay - who knows!!!

At the end of the day, whether I achieve anything with any of my dogs, it doesn't matter to me. A long, happy and healthy life is all I ask for, if they are brilliant in the process, then WHAT a bonus!!

SEPTEMBER Committee meeting this month, any correspondence to Ava by 1st September

NOVEMBER Committee meeting this month, any correspondence to Ava by 1st November

If you have any thing for sale that you would like to advertise in the next issue due at end of June, adverts can be placed for in return for a donation to the Charity Fund. Please let the editor have details by 31^st May.

THAMES CHARITIES FOR 2006

S.E.B.E.V. - The SEBEV team is available 24 hours a day to search for missing persons. The team mainly covers Berkshire, having a close relationship with Thames Valley Police and responding to their requests. The team also assists other SAR teams in neighbouring counties, and likewise other teams will assist SEBEV, in large or prolonged searches. The team has it’s own fully equipped Incident Control Vehicle, plus all equipment necessary for rescue and First Aid purposes.

Hearing Dogs for the Deaf - Hearing dogs change lives. They alert their deaf owners to sounds we take for granted, providing greater independence, confidence and security. Most are selected from rescue centres or donated as unwanted pets.

Assistance Dogs for The Disabled - Our dogs are trained in practical tasks such as opening and closing doors, helping a person undress, even taking the laundry out of the washing machine.

The Club is always in search of raffle prizes or any new ideas or suggestions that can help us raise money to for the above charities.

Please pass raffle prizes or suggestions on to one of the committee members below.

Trophy Awarded for Member & Dog

Ben Rescue Dog that has done best at Agility James Cook & Jaz

Wilson Most Points at Agility Diploma Nights Jan Merrill & Des

Robbie Standard Dog making the most progress John Cook & Freddie

Shadow Squad Most points in Elementary Peter Edney & Millie

Calico Most points in Starters Lucy Clifton & Kip

Kerry Rambler Most points in Novice Dave Jolly & Mirk

Monksmead Most points in Senior Dave Jolly & Bess

Junior Most points in Junior Not Awarded

Tuppence Most points in Intermediate Mini Veronica Brown & Darcy

Dougie Most points in Starter Mini Not Awadrded

Veteran Most points gained by Veteran dog Not Awarded

Poppy Mini making most progress Carol Dicker & Bo

Clear Round Most clear rounds Robert Tappin

Winter League Most success for full member at Winter League Dave Jolly & Mirk

OBEDIENCE

Artie Memorial Most improved Beginner Dog Jane o’Mahoney & Finbarr

Sheba Memorial Most improved Beginner Bitch Fay Hasler & Freya

Kaliture Most points at Open Obedience Sandra Curry & Chad

Shanowl Most Progress in last class at obedience Jan Ladous & Alfie

Exemption Most points at an exemption show Margaret Yerby & Jasper

Baxter Highest placed member at Thames show Beginner Virginia Harry & Oz

Phyllis Rolls Most Points in Open Show Class A Teresa Davies

Maureen Jackson Most points in Novice open obedience and Below Andrew Dicker & Tag

Blackie Highest placed member at Thames Pre-Beginner Dave Jolly & Mirk

Max Rescue dog that has done the best at Obedience Dave Henderson & Jake

Suffolk Most points in B test at an open show Peter Lubie & Dryfte

Waveney Most points in C test at an open show S Sandra Curry & Chad

AGILITY OR OBEDIENCE

Moonlit	Tenacity (perseverance)	Elaine Skilton & Barney
Sareetah Vitality	Perseverance with a challenging dog	Robert Tappin & Scoobie
Guide Dog	For hard work & progress	Barbara Close & Travis
Stuka	Most enthusiastic new member	Gemma Walker

POSITION

NAME & CONTACT

JOBS

Chairman

Andrew Dicker

01189-884193

07768424535

Andrew@aquadoggies.com

Web site co-ordinator

Clothing

Vice Chairman

Stephen Devaney

steve.devaney@btinternet.com

Head of Obedience

New Hall Co-ordinator

Web Site co-coordinator

Treasurer

Elaine Skilton

elaine@skilton1952.fsnet.co.uk

Membership list

Secretary

Ava Holloway

a.holoway@ntlworld.com

Agility Show Secretary

Agility Classes co-ordinator

Committee Member

Carol Dicker

carol@aquadoggies.com

Head of Agility

Agility Instructor co-ordinator

Committee Member

Sandra Curry

sandra.curry1@btinternet.com

Obedience co-ordinator

Social

Committee Member

Jeff Holloway

a.holoway@ntlworld.com

Agility Equipment repair

Committee Member

Sally Edney

Sally.Edney@btinternet.com

Newsletter Editor

Co-ordinator Agility Diploma

Committee Member

Becky Coleman

Rebecca.coleman2@ntlworld.com

Obedience Show Secretary

Social

Committee Member

Teresa Davies

meldavies@tiscali.co.uk

Charity Fund raising

Committee Member

Graham Tappin

grahamtappin@yahoo.co.uk

Agility Points

Are you happy receiving your newsletter through the post, or would you prefer to receive it a few days earlier by e mail? Please email the editor at sally.edney@btinternet.com with the subject title ’Thames Newsletter’ if you would prefer to receive your newsletter by e mail.

Do you have anything you would like included in the newsletter? If so, please either e mail the editor at sally.Edney@btinternet.com or send it to: Sally Edney, 20 Charlecote Close, Farnborough, Hants, GU14 7EG