AGILITY COMMITTEE BUSHFIRE APPEAL
FUNDRAISING JUMPING TRIAL
Le Hammer
The bushfires were still burning on a Tuesday afternoon, when Keith Edwards received a phone call from Dorian Smith asking if we could organise a trial to raise some money for the bushfire appeal? That was all that was needed to kick off a very rapid fire series of events that became one of the most enjoyable trials of all time.
A quick check of dates gave us just 10 days to organise the trial. We needed to strike quickly, while people’s sympathies were still high. We wanted their money!
By the next morning we had the date and venue organised with Dogs NSW who very generously waived all their fees – that meant more funds to go to Victoria. Within 24 hours we had judges, secretaries, managers and the backbone to run the trial, and by the weekend we had prizes, raffle prizes and ticket sellers, stewards, caterers and all the other help. By Monday we already had 100 entries.
On Sunday afternoon, 22nd Feb everyone turned up in high spirits. It was great to see people who brought along dogs that had not seen the trial ring in ages. How long has it been since Warren Millard took Dodger to a trial – and he got a quallie! And there were quite a few first time triallers venturing out for this special occasion, it was nice to meet (through the camera lens) Rupert, Fred, Lucy, Sammy and others I did not get the opportunity to photograph. Entries had been taken all week, up to an hour before the start of the trial. The agility grape vine had been very active – everyone had heard about the trial. In all we had 444 runs for the trial. This was more than expected, but our fantastic stewards kept things moving so we were not home too late.
We have a lot of people to thank.
· Dogs NSW Board of Directors and CEO for their support by allowing us to run this trial at such short notice and for waiving their fees.
· The Agility Committee in particular Keith Edwards as judge, trial manager and organiser, Eddy Smeltzer and Ashley Roach for judging and work on the day, Pat Walsh for organising and looking after the workers, Margaret Taylor for organising and stewarding.
· Manly and District AB Kennel and Training Club for donating food and running the canteen. The lamb burgers were the order of the day.
· Cessnock AB Training Club for their generous donation
· Dorian Smith for her initial idea, for her work as trial secretary and for the donation of commemorative embroidered towels for prizes and for the raffle.
· Chloe Priestly and Logan Scheimer – these young kids must have walked kilometres on the day to sell the over $1,000 of raffle tickets.
· Reg and Sue Dwyer of AES technologies for the donation of a back yard jump from their pet safe range as the major prize in the raffle
· Jane Pleskanczak, Bronwyn Goyen (Lasar lites), Nicole Nasr (Pfizer) Chris Pleskanczak, Tina Woollard, Cheryl Troop, Michelle Johnston (Micmak dog products) and Nicola Read for additions to the trophy table and raffle
· Lisa Henshaw and Jim Hill for his tyre and David Calphy for his jumps which were auctioned on the day.
· Canine fun sports for use of timing gates and the printing photos that were sold for a donation on the day. (See more photos of the day at http://www.caninefunsports.com.au)
What a great way to raise money – having fun with your friends and your dogs. The courses were great. Eddy Szmelter altered the designs of his courses for the small dogs and the large dogs giving the little dogs some nice tight turns and not too much open space. Then the big dogs were given room to open out to full speed, although sometimes the did not have the required deceleration required for a turn. None the less, it was great to see our big dogs stretch out. Ashley Roach’s open course was smooth and flowing, if the handlers got to the right places. The distance handling section was on the run home – fast and furious, and it leant itself to taking lots of great photos as the dogs shot out of the chute tunnel at high speed.
Although the occasion was sad, people felt good because they were helping. There was a real sense of the agility community, everyone was having a good time. I almost felt guilty that I was having a good time, but we are so pleased that we are able to do our bit to help our canine community in Victoria. In all we raised $7,000. Well done to the agility community.
Fenrik Crazy Dymond, a German Shorthaired Pointer handled by Pam Lyons
Greydove Giacinta, a Lagotto Romagnolo handled by C Ashurst
Anzac JD, an associate register owned by Dorian Smith
Brookshire Son O Sedgely ADX JDX GD SPD CDX, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier handled by Kylie Snell
Boston AD JD GD, an associate register handled by Vicky Dean
Jupi Gryffindore Kilt CCD ADX JDX GD SOD PT, a Bearded Collie handled by Jan Taylor
Coco AD JD, an associate register handled by Yvonne Cornelius
Grand Champion Kaitler Night Angel AD JDX SPD GD ET, a German Pinscher handled by Michelle Johansson
All photos taken by Le Hammer
More photos taken on the day can be seen at www.caninefunsports.com.au
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