Severnside DAC Our Trainers

As a club we are very fortunate to have such a great selection of trainers, and those people willing to learn how to become instructors in the future. Here is just a bit of information about each of them, and their own very special dogs.

Above: Some of our trainers at a Steve Croxford training course held at Mike Bacon's arena in Kenn.
From left to right: Mike Bacon, Bob Kempster, Trevor Silverthorne, Sue James, Brendan Sweeney (as usual trying to keep out of shot!), Gemma Osmond (née Fisher), Steve Croxford, BettySymonds & Julian Krautmann.
Oh, and the handsome merle collie just coming into shot is Claire Bacon's Tye. :-) Thanks to Claire for taking the picture!

Gemma Osmond (née Fisher), ACAI 1st Class
- Agility Club Approved Instructor

Dogs (names, breed/s, ages, competition standard):
Lucy & Toby, terrier crosses (aka terrors!) who are 7 years old in June this year (2007). We will be competing in Grade 1 classes this year.
Kai is my WSD, he will be 3 years old in July. I have no doubt he would have happily taken me out of Grade 1 & 2, but unfortunately he lost his front right leg in a car accident 2 days after Christmas 2005.

The newest addition to the pack is Ella, a Border Collie who turned 1 year old in March 2007. She has begun basic agility training and is shaping up really nicely.

When did you start doing agility?
I started with Lucy in September 2002, Toby in January 2003, and Kai in March 2005. Kai's training was very different to Lucy & Toby, which I'm sure has contributed to his ability within the sport.

When did you start teaching other people to do agility?
I began taking classes with Sue James in January 2006.

What courses have you attended in being an instructor?
Kim & Sean Hunt's 'Agility Training for Trainers - Starting Out' course, September 2005.
Lois Harris' training course in December 2005.
Steve Croxford's 'Trainer Training Programme' course March 2006.
Kim & Sean Hunt course 'Handling Training for Trainers' in April 2006.
Steve Croxford's 'PACE-Agility Trainer Training Course' September 2006.
Kim Hunt's 'Agility Training for Trainers 3 – Top Up', May 2007.
The Agility Club Instructors Seminar - October 2007.

Which classes would you consider your speciality to be, or those that you prefer e.g. small/ medium dogs, beginners, more advanced handlers etc.
Having handled small/ medium & large dogs (my own and other people's) I feel I am able to instruct all three groups. My main experience is training beginner dogs & handlers.

Sue James, ACAI - Agility Club Approved Instructor

Above: Sue with Shah, now fit & well again after a difficult start to the year. Read more about Shah by clicking here.

Dogs (names, breed/s, ages, competition standard):
Shah, Border Collie, age 5. He won out of elementary in 2004. Unfortunately, he has had health problems throughout 2005 with intermittent lameness, we have now discovered he has an underactive thyroid and is well on the mend. Hopefully we will be able to start training again this winter.
Bryn, Border Collie age 17 months. He is being trained by my husband, Gary.

When did you start doing agility?
I started in September 2001 when Shah was nearly 2.

When did you start teaching other people to do agility?
I started following an experienced trainer in the autumn of 2004 and learning how to teach handlers.

What courses have you attended in being an instructor?
I have attended a weekend course run by Kim and Sean Hunt on training on training beginner handlers and dogs in September 2005.
Lois Harris' training course in December 2005.
Steve Croxford's 'Trainer Training Programme' course March 2006.
Kim & Sean Hunt course 'Handling Training for Trainers' in April 2006.
Steve Croxford's 'PACE-Agility Trainer Training Course' September 2006.
The Agility Club Instructors Seminar - October 2007.

Above: Lois Harris

Which classes would you consider your speciality to be, or those that you prefer e.g. small/ medium dogs, beginners, more advanced handlers etc.
I enjoy training beginner handlers and dogs as I don’t feel I have enough expertise to train more advanced handlers.

Julian Krautmann

Please click here for more information about Julian

Above: Julian Krautmann

Brendan Sweeney - information coming soon!

Above: Brendan on jump duty as part of our ring party for Chippenham's club show 2006.

Betty Symonds

Dogs (names, breed/s, ages, competition standard):
My current dog is Jenny a seven year old Whippet. We compete in Starters classes, as we won out of Elementary many moons ago. Our highest placing to date is 2nd place in Starters Agility.

When did you start doing agility?
I started agility ten years ago.

When did you start teaching other people to do agility?
I have been teaching at Sevenside for about 18 months mainly with Starters standard (now large) dogs which I really enjoy.

What courses have you attended in being an instructor?
Over the years I have done many courses in agility with Andy and Helen Brown, and also Lois and Danny Harris. I also took extra lessons for two years with Martin Tait.
Lois Harris' training course in December 2005.
Steve Croxford's 'Trainer Training Programme' course March 2006.
Steve Croxford's 'PACE-Agility Trainer Training Course' September 2006.

Sue Yeo, ACAI - Agility Club Approved Instructor

Please click here for more information about Sue

Above: Sue Yeo's Keen.

Above: Sue Yeo's Scrapper, in action for junior handler Rhianna Harman at Chippenham show 2006.