Today the teams will have a chance to rehearse in the competion ring.
Since we are not using the loudspeakers its a fascinating game to try to guess what kind of music goes with each program. Some of the competitors rehearse in costume, some don't. The anticipation is thick in the air but everyone is very positive and trying to make sure their dogs have fun :)
First out was the Dutch HTM team,
followed by the Czech Republic HTM team and the Danish HTM team.
The first canine freestyler to take the floor was from the Czech Republic. She was followed by the UK HTM team which includes the Cruft winner Carole Dodson and runner up Kath Hardman.
Different shepherding breeds dominate the scene so far but we have also seen a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriver and a German Spitz.
Practice time for the Swedish Freestyle/HTM team:
The next team to practice was the home team - a k a the Danish Freestyle Team - starting with the Dachshund Addi.
We have seen a great variety of props. What can you do with a huge football, a toreador cape, a firetruck, a castle or a palm tree? We'll see tomorrow!
Time for the Russian Freestyle Team and another rare freestyle breed: a Entlebucher Sennenhund. The team also includes a Labrador Retriver, a Border Collie and a Malinois.
Now the practice for the Freestyle team from Great Britain is in full swing. Based on the costumes/props I'm guessing an action theme :)
The HTM Championships are located in Hall J3, i.e. we got a whole hall for freestyle and heelwork! Apart from the big ring, there is also a smaller practice ring, changing rooms and a big room for the teams to gather in and to keep the dogs in so they can rest a bit. There are spectator seats on two sides of the ring so there is plenty of room for an audience and we hope that you all will come and cheer for your team (and all the other teams)!
The next participant to practice is the two time Nordic Champion: Sini Eriksson from Finland with her Shetland Sheepdog.
Sini is followed by the Austrian competitor Birgit Gragober with her Border Collie 
and then the Russian team.
Next - the Dutch Freestyle team who are followed by the Belgian competitor Linda De Smet and her border collie. Then we got to see the Austrian competitor again and the last team to go was the French Freestyle team where we could find both the competitions first male handler and the biggest prop of the day ;)
At this - the first World HTM Championships - we have dogs and handlers from ten countries! What a great opportunity to watch how the sport have evolved in different countries :) Next time maybe we even can get our first competitor from overseas?
No comments:
Post a Comment