The A1 K9 UK Challenge 2006

 

After many weeks of planning and indeed a few sleepless nights, the A1 K9 UK Challenge 2006 took place as planned on the 30 th of

September 2006.

 

For a few days beforehand there was certainly more than a slim chance that the weather was not going to be in our favor, however, the

met office actually got it right for a change and the bad weather held off.

 

We were extremely fortunate to have a superb selection of highly dedicated and professional dog and handler teams who turned up from

all parts of the country to support the event which appeared to go very smoothly.

I’ m told it was enjoyed as much by the spectators as by the competitors themselves, which in the current media climate with all the bad

press surrounding biting dogs no bad thing.

 

 

Out of the sixteen competitors there were two who were forced to withdraw one of which whose dog had gone lame , the other whose dog

was suffering from sickness.

 

This left fourteen competitors and a good mix of dogs seven Malinois, six German Shepherds and one Rottweiler. Of the handlers, there

were four from the Police, six from the Security Industry and four from a dog training clubs, so all in all a very good mix .

 

The A1 K9 UK Challenge 2006 turned out to be a great success, both in testing the skills and abilities of all the dogs and handlers involved,

highlighting where maybe extra training will be needed for next year and also to show professionally trained dogs in a good light to large

numbers of the general public who turned up to support the event.

 

This event was also organised to help raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and although I do not have exact figures that this

stage I can safely say that it raised in excess of two thousand five hundred pounds for this extremely worthy cause.

 

 

The competition was broken up into three segments obedience , agility and protection work. The obedience segment carried a maximum of

100 marks, the agility 150 marks and the protection work 150 marks so the overall maximum achievable would be 400.

Prizes were awarded for the maximum scoring team in each discipline and also for first second and third place overall.

 

 

Category Winners

 

Mark Adams from Heath working dogs and his German Shepherd dog “ Tyson” scored 93 points winning

the obedience cup.

 

Mick Tustain from Wandsworth Parks Police and his Malinois dog “Ike” scored 148 points winning the

agility cup.

 

Mick Tustain from Wandsworth Parks Police and his Malinois dog “Ike” scored 146 points winning the

protection work cup.

 

 

 

 

First place

Overall Competition Winners

 

Mick Tustain from Wandsworth Parks Police and his Malinois dog “Ike”,

scoring an overall 382.5 points.

What can I say other than well done and well deserved!! - Yet another almost faultless outing for this

amazing partnership!

Second place

 

Mr Peter Branch from Caesar Security and his German Shepherd bitch “Meg”,

scoring an overall 371.5 points.

Superb effort and definately the best dressed man of the day!  Well Done!!!!!

Third place

 

Mr Ron Stanley from Heath working dogs and his German Shepherd dog “Duke” scoring an overall

350.5 points.

Ron has just celebrated his 76th bithday What an achievement to take 3rd place against this sort of

opposition!!!!!

 

The competition was judged by Sergeant Jim Gall of South Wales Police and Mr. John Humphris from John Humphris Ltd.

The competition stewards were P.C. Steve Atkinson from South Wales Police and our own Kath Evans.

Our thanks to both the judges and the stewards.

 

I would like to sincerely thank all of the competitors, spectators, co sponsors and many of my friends for helping to make this such a

successful day .

 

I would like to acknowledge all of my staff at A1 K9 who put their hearts and souls into helping prepare for the event to ensure that it went

to plan on the day and a special thank you to my helpers who took bite after bite from some pretty formidable dogs.

 

I do hope that all who attended enjoyed it as much as Gaynor and I and hopefully we can improve still further and guarantee an even

better day in 2007, for The A1 K9 UK Challenge 2007!!

 

Charles Wall

Competitors that took part

Handlers Name Occupation Employer/Club etc. Dogs Name Breed Age of Dog Obedience Agility Protection Total Position           Years Marks Marks Marks Marks Overall Mr Dave Powell Police Dog Handler South Wales Police Guy Malinois 5 71.5 129 134 334.5 6th Mr Jim Szmidt Ex Army Dog Handler Heath Working Dogs Simba GSD 2.5 88.5 137 102 327.5 7th Mr Mark Adams Ex HM Prison Dog Handler Heath Working Dogs Tyson GSD 3 93 135 96 324 9th Mr Mick Tustain Police Dog Handler Wandsworth Parks Police Ike Malinois 4 88.5 148 146 382.5 1st Mr Ron Stanley Ex RAF Police Dog Handler Heath Working Dogs Duke GSD 4 91.5 136 123 350.5 3rd Mr John Davidson Security Dog Handler Protek K9 Dennis Malinois 1.5 77.5 132 140 349.5 4th Mr Peter Zemek Security Dog Handler Top Dog Security Arfo Malinois 5 87 114 124 325 8th Mr Victor Braba Security Dog Handler Top Dog Security Aida GSD 3 89.5 120 132 341.5 5th Miss S Vetter Dog Trainer Paw Print Dog Training Don el Alameins Malinois 4 82.5 138 27 247.5 12th Mr Peter Branch Security Dog Handler Caesar Security Meg GSD 4 84.5 147 140 371.5 2nd Mr Kevin Hughes Police Dog Handler South Wales Police Flint GSD 4 71 127 119 317 10th Mr Paul Kranze Police Dog Handler South Wales Police Cody Malinois 5 52 106 104 262 11th Mr Andrew Colley Security Dog Handler K9 Security Kai Rottweiler 3 73 80 92 245 13th Mr Kenny Davidson Security Dog Handler Protek K9 Mickey Malinois 2 69.5 87 43 199.5 14th