THE WESTERN Staffordshire Bull Terrier Society is planning to hold a Stafford
Pentathlon on September 30th 3001. There will be six exercises which will
cover the disciplines of obedience, agility and working trials with the competitor
choosing which five exercises they wish to work. Hopefully, there will be
ten or twelve Staffords having a go!
There will be prizes to fourth place in each exercise and a trophy for the
Stafford Pentathlon winner, i.e. the Stafford who has been most successful
in five exercises. If there is a competitor who only feels that their Stafford
can do four of the exercises, they can still have the chance to be placed
in those but to gain the title “Stafford Pentathlete 2001’ five
exercises must be attempted.
The exercises will be:
1. Search Square. Four articles to be placed in an area 20 paces x 20 paces.
Five minutes will be allowed for the dog to recover the articles. Each square
to be on a clean piece of ground and all gods to have similar articles, as
in a working trial.
2. Heelwork. On and off lead worked as for obedience class ‘A’.
Extra commands an be used but will be penalised.
3. Jumping Course. Standard rules over a timed course. Jumps will be fifteen
inches.
4. Sendaway. 75 paces to a marker with the dog to be controlled at the sendaway
point until recalled on judge’s commands.
5. Scent Test. Test on cloths, owner to use own cloth.
6. Retrieve a dumb-bell.
The judges are;
Search,
Retrieve and Sendaway, Ruth Cahill;
Heelwork,
Scent and Jumping, Kaye Faiers.
The
Pentathlon will take place at John and Jacqui Barron’s South Western
Canine Activity Centre, East Priory, Reeds Drive, Woolavington which is just
off the M5 at Junction 23.
Sandy Wadhams of Genesis Pet Food has kindly agreed to sponsor the event and
Wendy Clewley is donating a trophy and rosette for the winner. Rosettes for
each exercise have been paid for by Sandra Stredwick, Ruth Cahill, Accolade
Leathercraft, Paws in Water (Hydrotherapy for Dogs) and Posh Pets grooming
parlour who have also donated toys for the winners! We do have some wonderful
support.
Further details of this first ever Pentathlon and how to enter will be available
nearer to the date but now is the time to start training if you want an opportunity
to really show how clever your Stafford is!
Hopefully, there will also be a three way match between Stafford handling
classes in the Western’s area. This would mean that Staffords and their
owners can have a good day out whatever their choice of competition. Also,
it will give Stafford owners who concentrate on breed showing a chance to
see Staffords competing in different disciplines. It may even inspire them
to have a go at training for something else!
If you are interested please let Marney Wells know at the following address:
East Cottage, Horton, Devizes, Wilts, SN10 3NB, Tel: 01380-860779.
