nieuws - 11/03/2007 Crufts Obedience World Cup Competition - Verenigd Koninkrijk
door Robert HarrisThe Netherlands team proved to be a formible team in the Obedience World Cup competition at the Crufts Dog Show, besting the teams from ten other countries. They won the first two places in the individual scores and won first place at the team level. Second place at the team level went to the team from the Channel Islands.
Mia Bosschaart and Mamamia's Tyke (Working Sheepdog) had the best individual score in the competition. Her team mate Guus Scholter and Colliewood Velazquez Giovanni (Working Sheepdog) came in second. Combined with a good showing by Daniele de Jonge and Mikey (Border Collie), they secured first place for the team.
Third place in the individual standings was won by Michael McCartney from Northern Ireland and his Border Collie Anndale Awisp in a close match. Only 0.3 point separated them from second place.
Donalda Guy and her Working Sheepdog Iatka One Step Ahead Biba placed fourth. Combined with consistent work by the rest of the team, this team from the Channel Islands placed second.
The remaining teams were Scotland and England (tied for third), followed by Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Belgium, United States, Switzerland, and France.
The judge this year was Pat Krause, an obedience judge from the United States. She was supported by an efficient ring party that included an AKC obedience field representative, the director of agility for the AKC, a member of the US World Cup team last year, and the US representative in the agility competition at this year's Crufts.
The order of the exercises was heelwork, retrieve over the hurdle, directed retrieve, sendaway and recall, and recall and distant control. After all the dogs had completed these exercises, they came back one at a time for scentwork (nine cloths, one decoy, one with handler's scent). The final exercise was a two-minute sit stay with the handlers out of sight.
The competition opened with a colorful parade of all the exhibitors. In some instances, the teams were lead by young people or team managers in costumes indicative of their country. The photographs of the parade are in the respective groups.
