Kath Hardman
Heelwork To Music is a huge part of Kath’s life, she helps with the development of the sport, being a member of The Kennel Club, The KC Judges Working Party and The KC HTM Working Party along with being a founder member and Show Manager of a nationwide KC Registered HTM Club, Canine Freestyle GB which holds two weekend shows each year. Kath is proud of her competition successes, Crufts Freestyle and International Winner, World Champion HTM, European Team Champion HTM. And of course to have been chosen for the 4th time for this team with three dogs selected for the team! Amber and her youngest dog Denby in the Heelwork To Music Team and Spice in the Freestyle Team.
Lucy Creek
Lucy started doing freestyle in 2007 when she realised that she was going to have to do something fun and interesting to keep Spider’s (her brainy-beagle) mind occupied. He loved learning tricks and Lucy loved writing routines so it was a match made in heaven. They started trying out heelwork to music a couple of years later and became hooked on both sides of the sport! Spider has since retired (as he has arthritis) and has left the young-uns to take up the baton! Teasel and Skiffle are amazing dancing partners. They are both quite free-spirited and will often help with the choreography of new routines, throwing in moves and ideas Lucy wouldn’t have thought of! Skiffle especially loves an audience and will do anything for a round of applause! Lucy says “Being selected for the OEC team is such a privilege. It will be amazing to be in Germany representing our Country! I hope it will be as much fun as I am imagining it will be!!”
Nicci Hindson
Nicci began competing in Freestyle in 2006, with dogs that she ‘borrowed’ from people at her local dog club to begin with, and then with her own Border Collie, Leo in 2007. Nala came to live with Nicci in summer 2011.Initially, she was quite a sensitive puppy and lacked confidence and motivation, but with lots of patience and hard work, and the help of ‘fluffy bunny’ toys, Nala grew in confidence and began to really enjoy dancing with Nicci. Together, they progressed from Novice to Advanced level in their first year of competing and qualified for the Crufts Freestyle finals in 2014, at just 2 years old, and they came 4th. Both in and out of the ring, Nala is a total diva. She loves to be the centre of attention and has ‘being cute’ down to a fine art. Nicci says “she is such a quirky little dog and she makes me laugh every single day- I just adore her.” Nicci is very honoured to be chosen to represent her country, and is very excited about going to Germany. She says “I am very proud of everything my little girl has achieved, and I can’t wait to dance with her at the OEC’s.
Karen and Fly
This is the 3rd time that Fly has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Open European Championships, which this year is being held in Germany. In 2011 the inaugural Open European Championships were held in Denmark. The Team were thrilled when Fly won the Individual Heelwork to Music Championship Title and also the Team Championship Title. Sadly last year Fly had to be withdrawn from Team GB due to illness but happily she has come bouncing back to health ready and willing to compete once again this year. Fly has competed at Crufts every year since the very first competition was held there, and has consistently been placed in the British Top 10 in her speciality of Heelwork to Music. Karen and Fly’s proudest moment in the UK together was winning the Crufts Heelwork to Music Competition in 2008. Karen says “To represent my Country is a huge honour and I shall do my very best with Fly to make Great Britain proud.
Whatever the result, I can be sure I will be taking the best dog home to my wonderfully supportive family and friends!”
Lesley Neville
Lesley will find it a little strange to be at the European Championships this year and not be working a dog, but her job this year is to “look after” the team. Lesley knows what it feels like to compete in the Open European Championships as in 2011 she competed in the OEC’s in Denmark with her Bearded Collie, Angus as a member of the team representing Great Britain. That team was very successful, winning the Team Heelwork to Music Trophy, and having the Individual HTM winner as a member of the team too! Angus and Lesley competed in both the Heelwork and the Freestyle divisions gaining an individual 5th place in Heelwork and 4th place in Freestyle. In 2013, Lesley competed at the OEC’s in Holland with her Bearded Collie, Hamish, working in the Heelwork To Music section. Lesley believes that Great Britain has a great team, a very strong team, a very talented team and even though she will not be dancing with them in the ring, she will be dancing with them in her heart. Lesley would like to say many thanks to CSJ for their generous sponsorship and…. Good Luck Team GBR!!!!
Helen Dennis
Helen Dennis and her WSD Maia are part of the heelwork to music team.Helen is thrilled to be part of Team GBR with her ‘gorgeous girl’, Maia. Helen has been doing htm for around 8 years and started with her other working sheepdog. She now trains the lovely Maia, a 5 year old bitch, Goddess Spring of Jucando, and competes at Advanced level in both HTM and freestyle. Helen says that training Maia always puts a smile on her face!
Christina Oxtoby
Christina and her Border Collie, Eze currently compete at advanced level in both heelwork to Music and freestyle, and performed at Crufts in 2014. They will be competing in the freestyle division over in Germany.
