Jessica and Skye impress at first Team GB appearance

A HINCKLEY teenager who is taking the dog agility world by storm added to her trophy haul in her first competition with Team GB.

Jessica Cuthbert, 16, was called up for the national team to compete in the Junior European Open in Luxembourg.

In her first outing for Team GB she finished on the podium in third position.

There she competed against 55 countries with hundreds of handlers and dogs from all over the world including USA, South Africa, Russia and most European countries.

Team GB also took another six podium places with two of them being gold medals.

Her bright start with Team GB comes after four years of dog agility for the teenager.

Jessica and dog Skye have been doing agility for four years and they have gone from strength to strength, running in championship classes all over the country after winning through from grade one to grade seven, making champ finals the majority of the time against the best adult handlers in the country.

She also has another competing dog Sasha who is at grade six who needs four more wins to gain grade seven status.

Proud dad Paul said: “This was her first time competing for Great Britain and to finish with an overall third position podium place is amazing.

“The dogs she competes are trained by herself which for her age is another massive achievement and has earned her a lot of respect within the agility community.

“Her partnership with her dog Skye have earned them hundreds of trophies and rosettes with majority being first places.

“She has competed at Crufts in the YKC ring for the last two years and earning a position to compete in the finals held in main arena both years as well as competing in the large teams finals as part of Chance Agility. “She has also has been invited back by chance agility DTC to run in demonstrations at BBC Countryfile live held at Blenheim Palace for the second year running.

“She is sponsored by Harringtons pet food company and Active Balance veterinary physiotherapy who keep her dogs in top condition.

“This year she will be concentrating on keeping the dogs fitness levels on a high to prepare for the tryouts for next year’s GB Team which will take her to Roosendaal in the Netherlands for the next EOJ Championships.” £1 the

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