Run by disabled handlers for disabled handlers

Best Overall Disabled Handler (BODH) Trophies 2008

In 2008 the Disabled Handlers Association is offering Best Overall Disabled Handler (BODH) trophies at three shows including:=

• Kernow K9 Easter Open Agility Show - 21=23 March  at Royal Cornwall Showground. Sponsored by Exeter Disability Centre Ltd

• Thames DTC Championship &  Open Agility Show (tbc) - 7-8 June at Newbury Showground, Newbury

• Dogs In Need Charity Week  - 12-17 August at Suffolk Showground, Ipswich

The trophies will be awarded to the disabled handlers who accumulate the most points over the course of the shows.

How to enter
The Best Overall Disabled Handler Trophies are open to all disabled handlers. At each show there are two trophies:

• Gold for disabled handlers who have not won out of KC Grade 4 or UKA Novice

• Platinum for disabled handlers who have won out KC Grade 4 or UKA Novice.  

Rosettes will also be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in both levels. A points card will be issued for each dog and handler combination upon registration at the show. It will be the handlers responsibility to ensure the placings, clear rounds etc. from each class are entered onto the card(s). These will then be totalled at the end of the show for the top Handlers to be awarded their trophies and rosettes.

Our thanks to
All the shows for kindly allowing the Association to hold the BODH Trophies at their shows and to Exeter Disability Centre for sponsoring the Trophy at Kernow K9. We look forward to meeting fellow competitors old and new throughout the coming season and wish everyone a successful year.

Results for Gold & Platinum Handlers

The results of the League thus far are below. Congratulations to everyone.

Gold League Points
For all handlers who have not won out of Novice classes (KC classification)

Platinum League Point
For handlers who have won out of Novice Classes (KC classification)

Win a Portable DVD Player at Dogs In Need

Dogs Gold, in conjunction with the Disabled Handlers Association, are pleased to be offering disabled handlers the opportunity to win a 7² screen, portable DVD Player or a Minicam digital camera at Dogs In Need Agility Show. In addition to the usual splendid Trophies and Rosettes, the first placed Gold and Platinum Best Overall Disabled Handlers will receive a portable DVD player or Minicam digital camera, the second and third placed handlers will receive Leads with flashing LED lights on them.

The DVD Players could be used to play back and analyse ringside your last run or keep your family and friends entertained.  So if you¹re a disabled handler and would like the the opportunity to win one of these prizes don¹t forget to pick up your score card from the secretary at the show. The Best Overall Disabled Handlers Trophies held  at Supa dogs 2006 were a great success, with numbers were three times that of our first year and disabled handlers competing in the Advanced, Medium and Novice Finals.

For further information about the Disabled Handlers Association contact Philippa Armstrong on tel. 01803-867074  or visit www.disabledhandlersassociation.co.uk

New Web Site for DHA

The Disabled Handlers Association are pleased to announce the launch of their website: www.disabledhandlersassociation.co.uk

The website contains information about the association including the annual league, specific show trophies, members profiles, some frequently asked questions, training tips and links to other agility websites.  

Philippa Armstrong said, 'We trust the site will be both useful and interesting and wish all disabled handlers a successful season.'

Marion & Amy Do It Again!

The Disabled Handlers Association awarded their first Best Overall Disabled Handler Trophy of 2006 at UKA Scrambles in April. Despite the weathers best efforts to deter us, handlers were keen to contest the trophy. The Trophy was awarded to the top disabled handler of the weekend, plus rosettes and dogs gold gift packs awarded to third place.

The Gold Trophy was won by Marion McIlherene with Amy, gaining 3 x 2nds and a third placing over the course of the show. Second was Margaret Long with Milli and third was Liz Spreadbury with Wizz, who between then also had a fist full of high placings. Indeed many handlers came away with points toward the disabled handlers annual league, admirably demonstrating disabled handlers skills.

Marion not only completed her set of Best Overall Disabled Handler placings - she previously came second at Supa dog and third at Dogs In Need in 2005- she also graduated into UKA Novice classes. Not a bad weekends works for someone who only recently had both hips replaced!  And I understand she¹s just started training two of her other dogs again, so look out for them in the future too.

Over the weekend the bonds between fellow disabled handlers strengthened, and we would like to welcome the new members who joined the association. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors Dogs Gold along with UKAgility and Scrambles for hosting the Trophy at this event.  

The Disabled Handlers Association is offering further trophies this year at:-

We look forward to meeting disabled handler friends old and new, to compete for both the Gold and Platinum level Trophies.

New Gold Sponsor for Best Overall Handler Trophy

The Disabled Handlers Association is pleased to announce that dogs gold will be sponsoring the 2006 Best Overall Disabled Handler Trophies.

Philippa Armstrong said, ''We would like to take this opportunity to thank Dogs Gold for their support.'

The first of these trophies will be contested at the UK Agility Scrambles Show, Newbury Showground, 8-9th April. In addition to the trophies, we are also running a league.

Disabled Handlers League 2006
The league, open to any dog agility handler who considers them self disabled and feels this impacts substantially on their training and handling of their dog/s, will have two levels:-

1. GOLD:  For all handlers never to have won out of Novice classes (KC classification)
2. PLATINUM: For handlers who have won out of Novice classes (KC classification)

Points gained in all classes at all shows, excepting Finals and Invitation Events will be eligible. The points table will run from 1 January to 31 December 2006.  Trophies will be presented in February 2007.

For further information and registration details, contact Anne Gill at 63 Fairfax Road, Farnborough, Hants GU14 8JR or ring tel. 01252 661 442. Email annegill48@hotmail.com 

Launch of the Disabled Handlers Association

The Disabled Handlers Association will be launched in conjunction with the second trophy for the Best Overall Disabled Handler at Dogs In Need 2005.

The Association will be open to anyone who considers themselves a 'disabled handler' and is intended to encourage diversity, inclusion and the achievements of disabled handlers in open competition by developing a series of initiatives including a Disabled Handlers League, awards and web site.

For the trophy, score cards will be available from the Secretary's Tent at DINA. It will be the handlers responsibility to ensure placings, clear rounds etc. from each class are entered onto the card. These will be totalled on Saturday and the award, first, second and third place rosettes will be presented on Saturday evening as soon as results are calculated.

The Best Overall Disabled Handlers Trophy

Handlers worked at their own natural level, from Elementary through to Advanced and the trophy was awarded to the handler who accumulated the most points over the week. Structuring the award this way meant there was no need to worry about whether particular mobility aids were more or less was advantageous or judge the effects of lung capacity, having a sensory impairment or cancer, for example.

The winner, a delighted Janet Moore (pictured above) from Cornwall with her JRT, Popsy Wopsy Doodle Chop said, 'Thank you very much.  What a beautiful trophy and rosette.  It¹s wonderful that people with a disability can enjoy, compete and be recognised in a sport that can keep you fit, (well fitter), as well as enjoying the social aspects'  Second was Marion McIlherene with her Groenendael, Amy and third was Neville Toad with his Cocker Spaniel, Remy.

Philippa Armstrong added, 'Thank you to Linda Croxford for hosting the event and for organising the excellent trophies and rosettes and to American wheelchair manufacturers for their sponsorship. I look forward to the next competition.'

So when is a disabled handler a disabled handler?  
Following the lead of the disabled peoples movement, when a disabled handler says they are. It¹s one of those things you just 'know¹ better than anyone else when you are, and to constantly have to seek third party affirmation is wearing. Concerns about fraud in this instance were limited. In agility's close knit community there would be little kudos to be gained from falsely pot hunting a disabled handlers trophy.

As always ringside networking is a major part of agility shows. For disabled handlers it was a chance to meet others with similar experiences. Discussions far from being about our individual aches and pains, were about how to get the best out of their dogs and how to improve our handling (especially, given the results, those with Border Collies). Okay okay... that¹s not strictly true. After a couple of bottles of wine there might have been the odd discussion about aches and pains, but there was also much talk about life, the universe and sink plungers but more about that another time!

Whilst at the show the handlers also met Relinde Peschier from the Para-Agility World Cup (PAWC) organising committee. She is keen to encourage British handlers to compete at the PAWC. So if anyone is interested in taking part in a Para-Agility demonstration match in the UK later this year and/or next year, please contact Rowena Beall on rowena@kentroad.eclipse.co.uk  or tel. 01903-717535

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