2008 NATIONAL AGILITY AND JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Proving that third place in 2006, and victory at the 2007 Nationals was no fluke, the Tasmanian Agility and Jumping Team came third in the Teams Event at the 2008 National Agility and Jumping Championships held in Melbourne in August.

The state team consisted of: Maryjean Hope – BC, Mollie; Kris Gjorgjiev – Sheltie, Foxy; Martin Waddingham – GSPs, Danny and Floyd, Amanda Peck – Whippet, Flynn, and Barbara Duke – BC, Kirra – emergency, and was the strongest ever to represent Tasmania. 

The 2008 Nationals in Melbourne was the largest, performance based, dog sport event ever held in Australia, with approximately 4000 individual entries over three days.   

The State Team Event is a two part competition run over Masters Agility and Jumping courses, with the best four runs from each team counting.  The Tasmanian Team performed consistently throughout the event, running with the two pronged, pre-planned tactics of trying not to receive any major faults over the two runs, and attempting to disrupt all the other states with the loudest cheer squad!  Deserving of their victory, South Australia won the event from NSW and Tasmania.      

Tasmanians also performed admirably in the individual events, with many dogs achieving qualifying scores and obtaining titles.  Highlights this year included Kris Gjorgjiev and his Sheltie – Foxy qualifying for the Masters Agility final (the first Tasmanian team ever to qualify at Masters level), and Kendal Payne’s GSP Lucy, and Amanda Peck’s Smithfield  Jas both achieving passes in the Excellent Agility final. 

The Vic Nationals were extremely well run, and provided us with a great opportunity to catch up with competitors from around Australia, and to see the standard required to compete at a national level.  The finals highlighted the quality, speed and accuracy of the top dogs and handlers, and we extend our congratulations to all the individual National Champions. 

Most of the large Tasmanian contingent competed at Hastings in a lead up double trial on the Saturday and Sunday before the Nationals.  The Saturday was extremely successful, with the Tassie competitors almost ‘outstaying our welcome’ at the evening presentations.  For all the results form both the Nationals and Hastings trials check out the Agility Tasmania website www.agilitytasmania.com.    

The team would like to extend their thanks to the TCA Inc. for their sponsorship of the entry of the Tasmanian Team, to the Hobart Canine Obedience Club Inc. for their support with uniform costs, and the Ulverstone Kennel Club their generous donation.   

Tasmanian Agility & Jumping – Raising the Bar!

 

Pete Hofto

---

• The team to represent Tasmania at the Nationals in August has been finalized.
  From Left:

  Mr. Kristian Gjorgjiev	Shelmanna Cavalier CD ADM JDM ADO JDO SPD GD SD ET (Sheltie)
  Miss Amanda Peck	Whipridge Pure Silk CD JDM ADX ET SPD JDO GD SD (Whippet)
  Mr. Martin Waddingham	Ch. Moruada New York Cowboy UD ADM JDM ADO (GSP)
  Mr. Martin Waddingham	Ch. Heiderst Piper Boy UD ADM JDM ADO ET (GSP)
  Dr. Maryjean Hope	Sarasota Solemnia CDX ADM3 JDM3 ADO2 JDO2 SPD SD GD TD ET (BC)
  Miss Barbara Duke	Khayoz Sweet Soul Music JDO HIT ET ADX JDX SPD TD GD (BC) (Reserve)

---

Nominations are invited for the TCA Inc. Agility Team to the Agility Nationals in August 2008 in Victoria. The criteria for the selection of the team are:

• Applicants must be a member of the TCA Inc. and reside in Tasmania. Dogs must be registered with the TCA Inc.

• all applications to be received by 30 June 2008.

• Results for the period of 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 to count.

• The best 5 runs in Masters Agility and Masters Jumping to be submitted.

• If the applicant is not competing at Masters Level, Open or Excellent results may be submitted.

• The TCA Inc. Council has the final decision.