Celebrations for Lisburn and District Dog Training Club
by JULIE ANN SPENCE
| Andrea Gilpin and her two dogs Otis and Ruby and Michael McCartney with his dog Lazer. |
LISBURN and District Dog Training Club have plenty to celebrate, having once again 'cleaned up' in the NI Dog Clubs' Annual Agility Awards.
The Awards are presented at the end of each agility season and are awarded to individuals winning the most points at Kennel Club competitions within Northern Ireland throughout the year within each category.
This year all four large dog awards went to Andrea Gilpin and her two dogs Otis and Ruby. This is the first time one individual has won all four trophies in the same year.
Five year old Otis won 3 of the trophies: Grade 1-7 Agility Large Dog of the Year, Grade 6&7 Agility Large Dog of the Year, Glen-Craig Trophy for Overall Agility and Jumping Large Dog of the Year.
Andrea's second dog, three-year-old Ruby won Grade 1-7 Jumping Large Dog of the year and was Reserve Overall Agility and Jumping Large Dog of the Year.
Michael McCartney, Club Chairman, took second place in the Jumping Large Dog of the Year category wan his 6-year-old dog, Lazer. He has been delighted with his dog's performance this year both North and South of the border. In Dublin he won the Allied Irish Bank Jumping Dog of the Year Trophy. Michael and his two Dogs Lazer and Ace, have also qualified for the Balmoral Show competition this year, carrying on with tradition Michael has qualified his dogs for this prestigious event since the competition began.
Mervyn Fleming also had much to celebrate when his dog Morse scooped second place in Grade 1-7 Large Agility Dog of the Year. He was especially pleased as Morse retired from competition this year.
These awards bring to a close another very successful year for Lisburn and District Dog Training Club and see the club look forward to an equally successful 2009.
Ulster Star
/2009
