The HTM Team Day

Friday was the day for the opening ceremony and the Heelwork To Music Teams to compete for the World Championship Title. The trophies and rosettes already on display.
Team GB led into the ring by Gina Pink - Team Manager with Bailey, followed by Kath Hardman and Amber and Penny Draper with Secret ..........................

Followed by Carole Dodson and Clifton and Jenny Deakin with Tom.

............................. and Michelle Dodson with Tamar.

Team GB looked great in their uniforms - red jackets (Crazydogs)with the logos of their main Sponsors Rugby DTC, Belgian Shepherd Dog Association, Paws N Music Association and Canine Freestyle GB. Navy trousers, black shoes and white embroidered T Shirts. The dogs each wore a Union Jack Dog Coat! No mistaking the Team were representing Great Britain! The three judges - Karen Sykes, Head Judge - England, Marleen Van Hees - Belgium and Carina Enevoldsen - Denmark. Karen made all the competitors very welcome with her opening speech. The President of the FCI Obedience Commission Mr Johann Kurzbauer followed with an enthusiastic speech opening the Inaugral FCI World HTM Championships

Ready for action - the Heelwork To Music Team now had their work to do. The nerves began not only for the British HTM competitors but all of the Team as they realised that the competition that they had prepared long and hard for was actually starting; from training the dogs, choreographing routines, the massive task of the fundraising and finding sponsors – yes, it really had started!!!!

Gina Pink was the first British competitor; the HTM team had drawn a running order of 8th in the event. Gina and Bailey (Daraydala Piccolo) performed to a funky Black Eye Peas' number.

Their final score was 22.57 which left them just outside the top ten who would go through to the final on Sunday. Kath Hardman with Amber (Stillmoor Lady In Red HTM A Ex, FS I Ex) was second to compete for Great Britain performing to No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer.

Amber was on top form and they gave a lovely performance. They finished the day on the highest score of 28.60 which took them into the Individual Competition to be held Sunday. And the third team member, Carole Dodson with Clifton (Kinaway Dr. Watson) performing to an Escala Compilation. Clifton is a stunning dog to watch and he did not disappoint. Clifton’s breeder, Kathy, was in the audience and she was very proud too; thank you Kathy for your company and support throughout the whole competition. They scored 27.30 which took them into the final to be held Sunday.The Team made a discovery on the FCI HTM blog, that this was updated throughout the competition with the scores so they were finding out the judges scores prior them being announced at the end of the competition! Jenny and David were keeping tally on where the team was, which was rather exciting as HTM TEAM GB were delighted to be placed second with a score of 78.47. Denmark won the Team Competition with a score of 81.14 and The Czech Republic were placed third with a score of 73.03.

Carole and Clifton and Kath and Amber qualified through to the individual HTM finals which were held on the Sunday. This individual final would title the first World Champion in HTM.

The Team's benches covered in Good Luck Cards and the Blue and Silver Rosettes for the HTM Team's second place.

The Team thank everyone for their support and good luck wishes - looks like they worked!

The Practice Day - Thursday

The Team arrived at the venue for the 2010 World dog show early as Jenny had been invited to demo her reserve HTM routine in the main arena.

It was a short walk from the Car Park to the HTM/FS Arena but the Team were pleased they had taken their sturdy trolleys.The Team stuck together like glue for their first venture into the massive venue. Main Sponsor of the event was Eukanuba.Ted had a short break taking in the scene and the atmosphere! On getting there, the team began setting up camp in the HTM teams' area! Cages, cards, bunting and pictures all filled the HTM Team GB area, giving it some colour and throughout the 4 days received many compliments about it! One person saying we have heard about this decorating the area from Crufts!

The Main Arena - all ready for the show to begin..Jenny and Tom in the warm up area.Jenny’s demo went very well and being in the spotlight performing her routine was somewhat of a new thing! Tom did not bat an eyelid and was on true Tom form! The routine even had some coverage on a local Danish TV news programme who were explaining about the World Dog Show and the events taking place there. The team returned to the HTM Hall waiting for the allocated practice times in the HTM competition ring. Each team had a HTM and Freestyle time to practice in the ring. There was also a warm up ring just behind the competition ring which was very useful throughout the whole competition.
The team’s times were used effectively walking through their routines, floor plans and checking movements on the ring’s red carpet.

Whilst the HTM competitors were preparing for the start of the competition there were other events going on in the World Dog Show and some of the team saw the Obedience and Breed showing too. It was amazing to see some breeds that we do not have in this country, or maybe not very often!
Thursday night there was a prearranged Team dinner where some of the competitors had a a chance to dine together, getting to meet other Team members.

"Why I Love Heelwork To Music ................ by Gina Pink

Gina says "I love HTM because every breed of dog can take part

and bring to the sport their own individual chararcters;

it keeps the dogs and me fit!

and it merges my love of dog training

with my love of music very well."

Gina Pink and Daraydala Piccolo HTM I Ex (Bailey)

Gina Pink has been competing in Heelwork To Music since 1997. She is a Member of the Kennel Club; sits on the KC HTM Working Party and represents Heelwork To Music on the KC Activities Sub-Committee; she is also a KC Accredited Trainer in Heelwork To Music and has organised the Heelwork To Music Final competitions at Crufts since 2006. Gina will be judging the HTM Finals, the International and YKC Finals at DFS Crufts this year but in 2007 she won the Crufts HTM class with her working sheepdog, Tapper. Gina takes regular classes in Heelwork To Music in the south-east of England and has also taught the sport in Ireland, Denmark and Canada. Gina was also a trainer on the “Underdog Show” and “Richard and Judy”. She promotes the sport by being a member and Vice-Chairman of the Paws N Music Association for whom she is also their Show Manager for their three annual shows. Gina and her seven dogs have demonstrated regularly at Crufts in the YKC and Dog Activities rings. She has also demonstrated Heelwork To Music on various television shows such as the “Underdog Show”, BBC "Morning News" and "The Apprentice", as well as at numerous charity events across the south-east. Gina will be competing at the Inaugural FCI 2010 Heelwork To Music and Freestyle World Championships in Denmark with Bailey, a German Spitz (Mittel). Bailey was initially fostered by Gina and her husband, Gary, when he was just turning a year old. Within a week, Bailey found his way into Gina’s heart and has lived in the "Pink" household ever since. Bailey is a very loyal and loving dog and is a great ambassador for his breed, promoting not only his good looks but also the working side of the Spitz. His favourite past-times are chasing the collies and Bonio -time! Bailey is currently the only German Spitz to have qualified to work in the Advanced Heelwork To Music class in the United Kingdom.

Gina was extremely excited to have been selected with Bailey to represent Great Britain and was even more honoured to have been selected as TeamGB’s Manager. Gina said “this is all very exciting and a great honour for Bailey and I. We will do our best to make Great Britain proud of us in Denmark”.