Page 102 - K9 News Digital - Issue 11 May2020

CRUFTS 2020

Heelwork To Music - Freestyle

Report by Kath Hardman (Head Judge) Photos by Alan V Walker

A lot has happened to change the World we live in the next couple of hours ran like clockwork. No
and change our life styles beyond recognition, but, over run of time can be catered for as this event
hopefully this report will help you all remember the is live streamed and needs to be seamless in the
good times at Crufts at the beginning of March 2020! presentation.
This was my third judging appointment at Crufts for At this time Richard Curtis would be in a studio ready
the Heelwork to Music Competition, having judged to give his live commentary on all routines in this
in 2006, 2012 and now in 2020 and what a privilege event, which I understand was very knowledgeable
and honour it is to be announced, seated and looked and interesting to listen to.
after actually inside the Main Arena Ring. A fabulous There were ten competitors in the Freestyle final,
view of all the competitors with no distractions help those who had been placed in the Top Ten at the
to keep the judges all focussed on the task in hand. Semi Final held way back in January 2020, so this
My fellow judges this year were Pamela Ruscoe from would be their final performances at Crufts of those
Scotland and Dawn Hill from Belgium. very special routines.
After discussions on our Messenger Group, I felt Lesley Neville had the unenviable task of being drawn
we had a good team and all questions which had first in the running order but, with having two dogs to
been raised over the past three months or more, in work in this final, this was not to be unexpected. She
preparation of the event, had been fully answered. entered the ring with her partner Tedi looking fully
I had decided I would raise the level of standard confident, smiling and waving as she was introduced
expected for the three days competition, as all these by Dave Ray.
handler and dog teams were obviously the top ten in Lesley and
each division as decided by the results from the Semi Brambledale Brown
Finals held in January. From the 24 Freestyle and 25 Tedi performed
routines which had qualified to be there, and the top to “The night
ten to compete at Crufts had already been decided They Invented
from those results. Champagne” by the
Cast of Gigi. Tedi,
THURSDAY - FREESTYLE THE FINAL
a bearded Collie,
We arrived backstage of the Arena in time to have
had been groomed
a few words of encouragement with the competitors
so immaculately for
who were getting ready for their big performance.
this centre stage
Warming up dogs, checking costumes secure, props performance that
in order of performance, makeup and hair done – all
his fur waved and
looking very good and reasonably calm although
rippled as they
there really isn’t anything like a few nerves to add
went through the
adrenaline to the day!
very energetic routine with superb jumps and fast
The Ring Party – Gina Pink their leader – were movement to this ideal piece of music for interpretation
preparing the handlers, the props and making sure and audience appreciation.
Jenny Witt followed
with Lavender
Lillipop – a super
Chihuahua and this
was their first time to
compete in Freestyle
in the Main Arena.
Performing to “Little
People” from Les
Miserables. This
little dog, Sophie,
along with Jenny
held the audience captivated with some wonderful,
All the HTM Freestyle competitors with the judges

102 - K9 NEWS DIGITAL