Agility Dog Association of Australia Ltd

From the ADAA Chair ... Grand Prix 2007 Report

28 September to 1 October

View the Results

First and foremost, I would like to reiterate my thanks to Alison Muddle (ably assisted by Marion Allen) who did an absolutely phenomenal job of working with the GP Sub-Committee and putting the Grand Prix together. Thanks and congratulations also to all of the Judges, Scribes Scorekeepers, Marshalls AND all of the Competitors who took time out to help create an inspiring Grand Prix, an event that continues to grow and develop each year. Of course there were enough events to satisfy even the hardiest Agility addict but the weekend also had all of the elements to make it a great weekend – spectator appeal, social events, camaraderie, good food and music, dancing, crowd participation and hoots of fun (how are those budgie smugglers??).

Thank you to the Grand Prix Sub-Committee who did a huge amount of work to make the event such a success:

• Alison Muddle (SunCoast FunDogs)
• Marion Allen (Pine Agility Dog Sports Club)
• Tandy Allen (Pine Agility Dog Sports Club)
• Heidi Bradshaw (SunCoast FunDogs & PADS)
• Allison Britton (SunCoast FunDogs)
• Kerry Lovell (Agility Dog Club of Queensland)
• Lyndal Nichols (SunCoast FunDogs)

There were many others who contributed significantly to the event. The entry processing, running orders, catalogue and associated paperwork was undertaken by Cathy Slot using the Competition Database written by Jo Harvey (PICSI). Equipment was transported to the Grand Prix by Loyd Barker and Natalie Kirkwood. Sue Selby undertook the amenities clean up before and during the time that everyone was at the facility plus undertook liaison with local businesses prior to the weekend. Paul (Doidy) Durante and Tammy Watts took an immense number of fabulous photos (they can be viewed at www.pbase.com/doidy and www.pbase.com/dasweep). Again there was a fabulous prize table for the Grand Prix with customised clocks and timber frames examples of some of the major prizes. Finally, special thanks to Peter and Karen de Wit for doing an exceptional job judging from start to finish over the three days, supplemented by our local judges who shared the responsibilities in Ring Three. I know Peter and Karen enjoyed their time at the Grand Prix and thanks to Karen Manton for making available her holiday house for them to have a rest prior to their return to New Zealand.

The Chairman’s welcome included presentation of this year’s Medallions earned by handlers during the year, which included two Gold Medallions. It was great to see that nearly every member who earned a medallion was in attendance at the Grand Prix.

Of course no ADAA competition can be held without volunteers. For the Grand Prix a number of members traveled to the event for the sole purpose of helping out for the weekend. Thanks to: Tandy Allen, Shannon Clarke, Kay Crook, Robin Cunningham, Sharon Dungey, Paul Durante (photos), Kim Longwill, Vern Muddle, Meredith Nichols, Karen Noud, Kerry Reynolds, Cathy Slot, Elizabeth Sykes and Robyn Yould. Just like ADAA, the Uralla Showground Trust also operates on a purely volunteer basis. They give up, not only their whole weekend to provide food and facilities to our members, but also in the weeks before. Damian Noud led a small group of handlers/workers who set out and put together the rings and equipment. Then there were the many members who, in addition to participating with their own dog, helped throughout the weekend. Some prominent ones who come to mind are Allison Britton, Natalie Kirkwood, Robert Ogg, Sharyn Palmer, Michelle Weston and also to Bill Lawson because I know he helped out a number of times when I was looking for assistance. Thanks to you all.

Whilst the Grand Prix is held on a break even basis, the cost of putting together an event like this is substantial so we are really grateful to the event sponsors, because without them the prize table offered could not be as nearly as full as it is. In particular I would like to thank Leanne Wegner and Paul Tesch through Brisbane Pet Motel. They sponsored all of the Nutro Choice dog food given away at the event (not to mention the sponsorship they also provide to local Brisbane clubs).

Sunday night’s dinner theme of True Blue saw some very different interpretations of the theme ranging from blue (and I mean blue) with the Smurfs (alias SunCoast FunDogs) and even a visit from a few Bondi “hunks” who had made their way to central NSW. A jukebox provided entertainment for the evening as many members relaxed and socialised for a few hours.

Sunday night saw prizes for the available 46 Challenges presented. Congratulations to:

Results for individual events are also available for viewing as PDF documents:

Cathy Slot
ADAA Chair

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