Kath Hardman and Amber from Team GB

Read the Derby Telegraph's article about Kath Hardman from HTM Team GB. Click here!

Photo: Allan Brown

Welcome Russia!

The Russian entries are in!

The Russian Freestyle team:
Galina Chogovadze with Border Collie Moja Nadezhda Rolly Royce.
Tatyana Gette-Kishinevskaya with Entlebuher Zennenhund Korolevstvo Gornih Psov Karamel.
Olga Kuzina with Labrador Retriever Tutta Larson.
And as reserve:
Polina Il’ina with Malinois Flint.

Galina Chogovadze with Border Collie Moja Nadezhda Rolly Royce


Olga Kuzina with Labrador Retriever Tutta Larson

Representing Russia in Heelwork To Music:
Polina Il’ina with Malinois Shteffi.

Polina Il’ina with Malinois Flint (Freestyle reserve)


Polina Il’ina with Malinois Shteffi (representing Russia in HTM) on the agility course.

Best Of Luck to the Russian Team.
We are looking forward to see you dance in Denmark!

Opening Ceremony

There will be an Opening Ceremony on Friday at noon before the HTM judging commences and we hope all teams - both HTM and Freestyle - will join us to make it a memorable and festive start to the very first World Championship.

We encourage all teams to bring a flag, which can be carried in front of your team and a CD with your national anthem, which can be played when you are presented in the ring.

Question Regarding Barking

Q: Will the judges mark a routine down if the dog is barking?

A:
The rules state:

"Other things that will reduce points:
If the dog barks continuously or for the greater part of the routine. If the barking disturbs the presentation of the routine."

It will be the judges' decision when they consider it to be continuously or for the greater part of the routine and how much they will deduct.

The Swedish Championship

The results of the Swedish Freestyle Championship are in and it will be interesting to see how they will influence the Swedish Kennel Club's choice when they select their WC Team.

Top 10 at the Swedish Championship:

1. Agnes Mohlin with Border Collie Pelle (placed 8th at the Nordic Championship 2009).
2. Lilja Fredrikson with Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Ret. Duck Dog's Suzie (placed 8th at the Nordic Championship 2008).
3. Frida Binette with Border Collie Somollis Poppy (placed 10th at Crufts 2010).
4. Margareta Löfgren with Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Ret. Working Beauty's Excellent Energy.
5. Linda Laikre with DK/S Gårdhund Youhais Holly från Hannas (placed 9th at the Nordic Championship 2009 and 7th in 2008).
6. Lina Pettersson with Hungarian Pumi Arbetsmyrans Amazing Ai (Individual Silver at the Nordic Championship 2009).
7. Li Stenberg with Australian Kelpie Roscanaille's Real Star (placed 7th at the Nordic Championship in November 2009).
8. Renata Johansson with Australian Cattledog Hejastugans Häxa.
9. Yvonne Öster with Border Collie Borderminds Miss Valentine.
10. Karolina Niczko with Tervueren Breakpoint's King of Frida.

Photo: The Swedish Team for the Nordic Championship 2009
Photographer: Yvonne Öster

The Belgian HTM Team

According to the rules each country can be represented by 3 HTM dogs and 3 Freestyle dogs. The Belgian Kennel Club has chosen only to enter one freestyle dog, therefore we have accepted entries from an independent HTM team.

Simonne Lauwers with Laekenois (BSD) “Houdini of Dazzling Ruby”
Houdini is my own bred Laekenois and that is why we have a very strong bond . Both “Dini” and his mother Dazzle are competing succesfull in freestyle only, since there is no HTM competitions in Belgium.
I’m very happy that I’m offered the chance to perform in HTM at the World Championship. It also gives me the opportunity to promote the rarest Belgian Shephard variety - the Laekenois .
As you can see on the picture we always have a lot of fun together .
I wish all the competitors of the World championship a lot of luck and aspecially a lot of fun.

Arlette Cloes with Laekenois (BSD) "Ginger van de Duvetorre"
It was love at first sight when I saw Ginger, she was just 6 weeks old. However I really wasn't looking for a puppy, I already had 3 dogs at home. Over the next couple of days I couldn't stop thinking about her so I rang her breeder and said I would have her. A week later she came home to join our family. She is now three and competes in Obedience and Agilty events. She still has a lot to learn. She is young and still lacks confidence at times. It will be a challenge to prepare our routine over the next two and a half months, among other things she will have to learn more heelwork positions. Luckily she enjoys her work and always does her best to please me.
Just think, a team of Belgian Shepherds, all Lakenoises.
It must surely be a first on an International event.

Arlette Cloes with Laekenois (BSD) "Zingara"
Zingara and I have been together for 10 wonderful years.
She was born at home and I decided to keep her because of her independent and somewhat dominant charecter. When she was 5 months old I started clicker training with her, we did obedience and agility. When she was 5 years old we discovered Dog Dancing and it soon became our passion. Zingara is not always the easiest of dogs to work with and at times we have had our problems, but it has all been worth it and she and I have become a real team.
For me the chance to take part at these first World Chamionships is a dream come true.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful time and enjoys themselves whatever the outcome.

We wish the Belgian Laekenois the Best of Luck

and look forward to see you in Denmark!

Questions Regarding Use of Ring and Schedule

We have received a couple of questions regarding use of ring and schedule.

Q: I have seen that the ring size has now been announced to be 15x25 metres, can you tell me if the judges will take notice if you use the entire ring or not?? In my country "big" dogs have to use about 75% of the available space.

A: There is much more to 'making good use of the ring' than just covering a set procentage of the ring. The judges will notice how you use the available space - if you move in more directions, if you always move in straight lines or use for example diagonals or circles too and if you always move around the same way (e.g. always clockwise or always anti-clockwise) or have more variation. There is no set procentage mentioned in the rules.

Q: I have also noticed that it's possible to practice in the ring Thursday but we may arrive too late for that? Does the HTM competition start Friday and Freestyle Saturday? How many will qualify for Sunday?

A: You can book practice time in the ring on Thursday afternoon by sending an e-mail to Hanne Madsen (The Danish Kennel Club) at hama@dansk-kennel-klub.dk. You can ask for a time as late as possible. Otherwise there will be a warm up ring with the same kind of surface and in the same hall as the competition ring. You can use that all 3 days without booking time in advance.

Programme:

Friday the 25th of June 2010:

Team competitions in Heelwork to Music and qualifiers for the Individual Final.

All competitors perform their routines and are judged. The results count towards the team competition. At the same time the results are qualifying for the Individual Final.

Saturday the 26th of June 2010:

Team competitions in Freestyle and qualifiers for the Individual Final.

All competitors perform their routines and are judged. The results count towards the team competition. At the same time the results are qualifying for the Individual Final.

Sunday the 27th of June 2010:

Individual HTM Final and Individual Freestyle Final.

The ten teams that have acquired the highest score in each of the disciplines qualify for the Individual Finals (10 Heelwork to Music and 10 Freestyle).

These answers have been confirmed by the Head Judge.