Opportunities to learn both north and south
by Averil Cawthera-Purdy
19 Jun 2008 11:14
I MUST START with an apology. A couple of weeks back I happily waxed lyrical about the work done over the years to promote adult handling by Coventry Ladies CA and said how much I had enjoyed judging the handling classes at its recent show.
Oh dear, what a pickle I do manage to get myself into from time to time. While Coventry Ladies I correctly praised for championing the cause of adult handling and while I also thoroughly enjoyed my judging at the show I wrote about, I was totally off the plot in that the society whose show I was writing about was in fact Coventry and District Kennel Association.
All I can say is that I am very sorry for the mix-up. However, I am impressed by Coventry and District KA in that it not only schedules a full range of handling classes, all of which are qualifiers for further competition, but it also takes care to appoint experienced handling specialists – at its next show it will have ex junior Felicity Freer as the judge. So look out for the schedules if you exhibit in the West Midlands.
Last week I started a round-up of a number of training opportunities that have come to my notice over the past few weeks. Here are a couple of training classes one in the north and one in the south that cater for junior handling training.
First, in Yorkshire, Huddersfield and District CA has recently started a new series of ringcraft training classes.
Anyone can attend and most importantly there will be junior handling training on some Wednesdays at 7pm followed by the Match Night from 8.30. If these classes are well supported the intention is to hold them more frequently along with training days/weekends. For further details contact the association via rozimbabriards@hotmail.co.uk.
Force to be reckoned with
Again my memory goes back to the years when Alice and Tony Scanlon built the Yorkshire juniors into a force to be reckoned with nationally. It would be brilliant if Huddersfield’s small acorn could grow giving juniors in my home county another chance to thrive.
Jenny Bloomfield sent a message through the DW website. She had read an article written a couple of months back when I mentioned the lack of available training that is so often the case for handling.
Jenny wants to let us know that Sussex juniors are very welcome at Haywards Heath and DCS’s training nights. Thes are held at the Queens Hall, High Street, Cuckfield, W Sussex RH17 5EL. Most importantly there is specialist junior handling training on the first Monday of the month from 7.30 till 8pm, with opportunities to practise on other Mondays, and a match with a handling class on the last Monday of each month. The trainer is Jenny Thornton.
Adult handlers are also welcome and there is space at the moment for new members and so the society would welcome some more handlers for Jenny to help develop and improve their skills.
For further details of this class contact either Petra Gallagher on 01293 885834 or Gill Stewart-Brown 01273 890051.
If you know of other classes or training opportunities for juniors and adults alike just drop me a line or email and I can make sure that they are given a mention. There are certainly juniors out there who are looking for classes to help them.