AGILITY

Jane has been doing agility for over 7 years and reached Grade 7 with her working cocker spaniel Zola. Zola wasnt the easiest dog to train, going off to scent for food was her aim, but perseverance, determination and good teachers have helped Jane and Zola achieve great success. Jane has also achieved Gold status in the Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme in 2016. Janes older dog is a show cocker spaniel Leo, and has dabbled in a range of dog activities. Jane loves teaching both her dogs new tricks. Jane now wants to use her experience to help others achieve their dreams. Jane has recently added a newcomer to her family - Cinnamon, a working cocker spaniel. Jane says she is very excited to be teaching her the groundworks and bascis of agility. Jane enrolled on the Agility1st "Trainer" Course in 2016 and has now passed her theory and practical assessment so is now a qualified Agility1st Trainer. Jane says she is thoroughly enjoying learning how to teach and seeing handlers and dogs progress through the classes at the club.She has learnt new ways of teaching whilst completing the Agility1st Course and will enjoy putting them into practice.

Jane has now retired Zola from agility but she still enjoys doing a bit of mantrailing and lots of trick training.

4 years later and still teaching at the club. I am really enjoying helping dogs and their owners learn new skills, improve existing skills and seeing them put them into practice at training and shows. It is very rewarding and satisfying . My young dog Cinnamon is almost 5yrs old and I am loving teaching her new skills too. We have been working hard at skills that she isn't confident at and our hard work has got us to grade 6 this season. Looking forward to seeing what next year brings us!

Di's background is in horses but decided to "have a go" at agility when she stopped eventing and she was quickly hooked! She started her agility career in 2000 with Scruff her Patterdale Terrier, who despite not being the fastest set of paws, was consistent enough to go to Grade 6 and gain a Silver Agility Warrant. Scruff is now retired and Di is currently training her dog Meli (a young Working Cocker) and starting foundation work with Pip (a rescue Springer). She currently teaches the foundation class and loves seeing dogs and handlers learn and enjoy agility. Di enrolled on the Agility1st "Trainer" Course in 2016 and has now passed her theory and practical assessment so is now a qualified Agility1st Trainer.

Mirella started doing agility purely for fun in 2013 with her 3 year old Dalmation Morgan and found that working as a team made their bond even stronger. She got the bug and started competing in 2016 at Grade 1 and progressed to Grade 3 in her first year of competing. She and Morgan also achieved Gold in the KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme. Mirella now runs her Dalmations Kirby and Gibson.  She got Kirby 2014 and is currently Grade 6. She also trained Kirby to Silver Level KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme.   In 2018 along come Gibson and so far he has passed his Bronze Level KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme and Grade 1 IMDT.  Gibson will start to compete in agility in 2020 and will start in Grade 2.

Mirella has found it so rewarding to train her dogs in both obedience and agility and says both her, Kirby and Gibson have learnt so much together - it is so much fun working with your best friends. Some days it goes to plan, others is doesn't, but her training is always fun for both of them.

In 2018 Mirella started her Agility1st Trainers Course which is a KCAI scheme.  In January 2020 she passed her practical exam and is now a KCAI Accredited Agility1st Trainer.   She is looking foward to helping others and watching both handlers and dogs growing together.  Mirella says "Every day is a fun day with the boys"

A Graduate in Canine Behaviour Training from Bishop Burton College.

Roger has been a dog owner and trainer for many years and, as a member of SOATC, has taught puppy and pet dog classes as well as competition obedience and agility at the club. He was also a lecturer at Bishop Burton College teaching Canine Behaviour Training to Foundation Degree level.

He has competed and judged in obedience competitions and he has competed in agility for over 20 years with four of his dogs.

With his dog Jingo, Roger represented Agility Team GB in the European Open Championships in Belgium and also represented England in the World Agility Open championships in Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

Jingo and Roger won two Agility Championship Certificates and they competed in the Olympia Finals and Crufts Finals on many occasions

Roger is currently competing at Grade 7 level with his 5 year old Sheltie x Collie, Keltie.

Roger’s philosophy for agility training is that the dog should regard it as playing games with it's owner. The games are conducted according to the handler’s rules and they have a purpose aimed at agility competitions, but really it is the owner and dog just playing games and having fun together.

Wendy started with a love of dogs from an early age.   At 17 she began her dog obedience career with SOATC.

She owned and competed with GSD’s At this time, the club got its first agility equipment, (nothing like the equipment we have now!)

Wendy ‘had a go’ at agility but decided it would never take off and much preferred obedience!!

Fast forward 30 years… Wendy got a mini labradoodle and got into flyball and agility with Lunar, who took her to G7. She has also spent many years fostering and rehoming dogs. She is keen to share her agility knowledge so everyone can enjoy the world of agility.

Carol started her journey with SOATC originally in obedience, achieving Silver in the KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme. She also joined in the flyball, but it was when she was invited to try agility in 2016 with Maple (her 3 year old Cockerpoo) that she found her passion.

Carol started competing in 2017 and Maple took her from a Grade 1 handler to a Grade 7 handler in 2019, also achieving a Gold Agility Warrant.  Carols second dog, Fig, a 4 year old cockapoo, is currently competing at Grade 5 with a Silver Agility Warrant.

Carol says both dogs are completely different to run and that is what makes agility so exciting. There are different challenges with each dog, but every run is just the best fun.

Carol jointly takes the Foundation Level 1 class and says teaching the foundations is so important and rewarding as it is where all the understanding and fun begins. She enjoys seeing people and their dogs making progress on their own agility journey together. Carols moto for agility is to just have fun and enjoy every minute with your dog.

• Always bring small, tasty treats and a favourite toy.
• Always keep your dog on a lead unless the instructor says otherwise.
• Be aware of other dogs and owners, respect their distance for safety's sake.
• Always clean up after your dog – bin provided near the gates.
• It is wise to arrive early to exercise and toilet your dog before class. Try not to feed your dog a meal before training.
• No bitches in season please – but do attend class yourself if you can!
• Dress for the weather - most training will take place outdoors.
• Reward based methods only – NO Harsh handing, no full check chains or physical punishment etc. allowed.
• Parking available - please ensure access for all other cars in both classes - and access to the field must be available at all times for emergency services if required.
• As our trainers are volunteers, they may change for each class dependent on availability.