Cambridge’s Rochelle Jager watches as Joss comfortably navigates gate five during the Cambridge Dog Obedience Club’s championship show.
Cambridge Dog Obedience Club’s annual Waitangi weekend championship show produced plenty of excitement and competition despite numbers being down.
The event, held at McKinnon Park next to Cambridge High School on Saturday and Sunday, attracted 100 entries from Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Paeroa, Bay of Plenty and Matamata-Piako.
Usually there would be more than 160 handlers from around the country but secretary Christine Lansdaal said despite handler numbers being down, there were still 180 dogs competing.
And what fun they had if the barking of excitement as they raced around the courses was any indication.
There were 14 different classes over the two days which were each split into three different dog heights. Prize winning dogs received a selection from the CopRice dog food range. Lansdaal said that sponsorship was crucial so the club could run the show.
One of the visitors to the event was Lou “No Knees” Baker from the Huntly Agility Club who competed with her 8-year-old Shetland sheepdog Adonis. She earned her nicknamed after she had both patellas removed and had to learn to walk again.
“I love what I do with Adonis, I just wish I could run like I used to,” she said.
The dogs love it too.
“They all enjoy being together, you should see all the dogs at the end of the show when normally those of us camping let them go and they go off running and having pure fun together. It is amazing! All sizes and breeds and happy, happy dogs,” said Baker.
Cambridge Dog Obedience Club meeting, top: Natalie Joll and Indie (Hamilton), bottom left: Lis Proctor and Finch (Mount Maunganui), right: Joanne Small and River (Hamilton).
The Cambridge club offers domestic dog obedience and agility training classes. Active club members compete with their dogs in both agility and obedience.
Cambridge Dog Obedience Trials, top l-r: Nikki Craddock and Zarsha (Paeroa), Lou Baker and Adonis (Huntly) and Ceri Tarry and Maple (Matamata-Piako); bottom: Christine Lansdaal and Minx (Matamata-Piako).
