|
The
South-West’s finest compete for Top Dog
POLICE
DOGS and their handlers from across the South-West and Wales
are converging on Portishead next month to compete for the title
of top dog.
Avon and Somerset Police are hosting this year’s South
West and Wales region Police Dog Trials on March 9 and 10 at
police headquarters in Valley Road, Portishead - and the public
can come and watch.
Around 20 dogs and their handlers from nine different forces
will be competing over two days in a variety of exercises and
challenges. Places at the national finals in Nottinghamshire
in April are up for grabs for the winners.
Dogs and their handlers will face challenges which will test
all the skills they use on a daily basis as part of their police
work.
Exercises taking place at police headquarters which spectators
can watch include:
• Obedience work - getting the dog to obey commands.
• Agility work - including jumping and climbing.
• Criminal work - testing the dog’s courage when faced
with a gun attack or an aggressive offender.
Exercises taking place at other locations include:
• Long tracking exercise - the dog follows a trail laid
by a person two hours previously. Along the way it must discover
evidence left by the person.
• Searching exercise - the dog searches an area of woodland
looking for evidence which has been hidden, and the two people
who hid it.
The head of the force’s mounted and dog section, said:
“We are delighted to be hosting this year’s regional
trials which are always very competitive and very exciting to
watch.
“We hope local people will come along, enjoy the contest
and cheer on the two competitors from Avon & Somerset.”
The competition will run from 10am to 4pm on both Saturday,
March 9 and Sunday, March 10, Entry is free and parking is available.
Competitors from Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire,
Wiltshire, Avon and Somerset and Gwent police forces are all
taking part. They will be joined by dogs and handlers from three
east Midlands forces - Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and
Leicestershire - who will be competing as guests.
The winners will be chosen by independent judges from the Surrey,
Durham and the Metropolitan police forces. Prizes will be awarded
for each discipline.
Representing Avon and Somerset will be PC Andrew Lloyd and his
dog Frank from Keynsham, and PC Peter Moseley and his dog Ivan
from Taunton.
Andrew is a veteran of the event having won the last three regional
final in a row as well as winning the national trials. However,
he achieved this success with his former police dog Eric, and
this year will be police dog Frank’s first trials.
For Peter and police dog Ivan, this year will also be their
first event.
“Last year’s trials were cancelled due to Foot and
Mouth concerns so everyone is really looking forward to the
weekend in March,” said Insp McIver.
For further information please contact Media Relations Officer
Will Marsh in the Corporate Communications office on 01275-816350.
|
