The Final Competition Day

SUNDAY - the day of the Individual HTM and Freestyle World Championship Finals Carol Dodson and Clifton had drawn to be first into the ring where they performed a superb routine to Escala Compilation..

Clifton showing his beautiful Paw Work. They competed well scoring a cumulative total from Friday and Sunday of 54.73 and finished the individual competition in 5th Place.

Kath Hardman and Amber had drawn to run 10th. They performed yet another superb routne to the music No More Tears (Enough is Enough) but would their performance be enough to keep their first place reached in the Team event on Friday? Amber was well focussed on Kath and Kath knew they needed to perform as well or better than Friday to keep the lead. Happily they did just that and finished with a total score of 57.40, winning the First Ever Individual World HTM Championship Title.

Following straight on from the HTM Competition was the Individual Competion where Michelle Dodson was the representative of the Great Britain Team.Tamar looked so happy performing - he seemed to be smiling in parts - maybe he knew this was to be his last competition as Tamar was to be retired directly on his return home. They finished in 7th position with a grand total score of 53.00. Well Done Tamar - and of course Michelle!

The three judges with champagne at the ready, congratulated all the finalists as they were welcomed into the HTM Arena.

Individual HTM World Championship

1st Kath Hardman with Stillmoor Lady In Red W Ch HTM 2010, HTM A Ex, FS I Ex 57.40
2nd Anja Christiansen with Faehunden's Queeny Las 57.10

3rd Vanda Gregorova with All That Brandy Gentle Mate 56.20

A very happy partnership with trophy, rosette and certificates.

Individual World Freestyle Championship

1st Thierry Thomas with Ubac - 57.47
2nd Vanda Gregorova with All That Brandy Gentle Mate - 57.00
3rd Alena Smolikova with Dapper Dame Black Chervers - 56.80

The presentation in the Main Arena - one dog press reported that there were 19,354 dogs entered at this world Dog Show and the only time the National Anthem of Great Britain was played was when Kath Hardman and Amber received their winners' bouquet in the Main Ring.

The proud GB Team Members receiving their bouquets in the Main Ring

The HTM Team World Championships - won by Denmark 81.14

2nd Place Great Britain 78.47 - 3rd Place The Czech Republic 73.03

The two Individual World Champions gather again for one more photo call!Celebrations over, the vet was the team's next port of call. The dogs had to be checked for fitness to travel home, given tick/flea treatment and wormed - then their passports signed and stamped - in all the right places!!! A small marquee had been erected close by to the HTM Hall just for this purpose. There would be a lot of dogs travelling home the next day.

The vet and assistant completing the necessary paperwork to get their pets home. Luckily the Team had been told that they could provide both their own wormers and Flea/tick treatment - so this saved more money - but they still had to pay for a consultation for each dog.

The final morning in Denmark - Jack the very Lucky Team Mascot sits in pride of place with the Team's Trophy.

The Freestyle Team Day

Friday was the Competition Day for all the Freestyle Teams.

Running first in the Team GB Freestyle was Penny Draper and Secret (Delark Gavotte) a Belgian Shepherd.

After a tentative start both Penny and Secret performed some great moves to "The Man In The Iron Mask"

And they finished on 15.50 points.

The second team member for Team GB was Jenny Deakin with Tom (Shepwood Morning Sunrise) a Border Collie.

A fast paced routine to "A Pencil Full Of Lead" they covered the entire ring with a confident routine.

And it's a "High Five" from Tom as they finished with 25.53 placing them 11th - just missing the Individual Competition on Sunday.

And the final member of Team GB Freestyle was Michelle Dodson with Tamar(Kamarda Doctor Foster)

This was a lovely routine which matched both Michelle's and Tamar's style of work.

They completed the round in superb fashion scoring 26.57 and secured themselves a place in the Individual FS Championship Competition to be held Sunday.

Team GB Freestyle - Michelle & Tamar, Jenny & Tom, Carole & Clifton (reserve) and Penny & Secret. The team finished the day in 5th place with a total score of 67.60.

1st Position went to The Czech Republic with 81.64, 2nd to Denmark with 77.60 , 3rd to Russia with 75.40

Michelle Dodson at DFS Crufts 2010

Michelle had a fabulous time at DFS Crufts 2010. She was placed second in the Freestyle Competition on the Thursday in the massive Arena dancing to "Busker Alley". Her routine went really well, with great musical interpretation and she used the huge space well.

Tamar is a very hard working and willing dog but Michelle decided that it was time he was to be retired at Crufts - he had a lovely retirement party at the benches with drink and cake. But this isn't the last time you will see them working together. He will be taking part in the HTM Team GB Cabaret Night on 27th April 2010 and of course his last competition will be when he takes part in the World Championships in June 2010 in Denmark.

They finished Thursday with another performance of the routine in front of an ever increasing audience to close the entertainment before the evening programme.
Then Friday was another busy day for Michelle as she was the Crufts Co-ordinator of stewards and competitiors for the competition. She also joined her mum, Carole in entertaining on the Samsung Stand in Hall 3.
On Saturday she joined forces with Carole to help with the organising of the competitors and stewards for the International Competition - with 13 Countries taking part - this was an enormous task which they carried out to perfection. Well done.

Why I Love Heelwork To Music ............... by Michelle Dodson

I have loved music, dance and dogs all my life so finding a sport which combines all three has been a real find for me. But the greatest thing about HTM is the amazing bond you develop with your dogs as you work, learn and grow together.

MIchelle Dodson and Kamarda Doctor Foster FS A Ex. HTM I Ex (Tamar)

Michelle lives in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire with her parents Carole and Steve and the dogs Tamar (10), Clifton (6) and Devon (1). Michelle became interested in dog sports in her mid-twenties after tagging along to Obedience Shows and HTM training sessions with her mum, Carole. Michelle started out competing in Obedience before turning her hand to Heelwork to Music some four years ago. With a background in dance, HTM was a logical next step. Since then she has been competing in both Advanced Freestyle and Obedience.

Outside the ring and her day job, Michelle is Secretary of the Paws n Music Association, the first and largest Heelwork to Music Association in the UK. She is also one third of the Cotswold Heelwork to Music Demonstration Team, founding member of K9HTM.com and supporting member of the Cotswold Dog Training School.

Michelle is delighted to be able to compete at the World Championships with her Black and White Border Collie, Kamarda Doctor Foster FS A Ex. HTM I Ex., pet name Tamar. Tamar is a ten year old black and white Border Collie and a veteran of the sport. Tamar started out in Breed before deciding he wanted to do something more taxing to do where he could have the ring all to himself! For Tamar the more complicated the routine is, the better.

Having worked in Obedience and Heelwork To Music, Tamar and Michelle came third in the Crufts Freestyle Finals in both 2008 and 2009 and are looking forward to 2010. This will be Tamar’s last (but not least) year in competition having had a highly successful career so they are aiming to go out on a high. Tamar is a wise owl and has learnt hundreds of moves over the years which he will happily pull out of the bag for a piece of cheese!