FOR CUP AGED 11
Trainer is youngest UK with a hatful of prizes
agility thanks to mum Hannah, 40, a vet and dog behaviourist, who has 14 years experience in the sport.
There are two different classes in the competitions – one is agility-based, where the dogs run over frames and seesaws, while the other is a jumping class which contains only tunnels, weave poles and jumps.
A judge sets the course with around
20 obstacles, depending on what grade the handlers are at. The fastest dog with the least amount of faults wins.
Overall, Taylor and Elliott have had
21 class wins, which have led them up to the prestigious grade six, as four wins in each class means a progression in rank.
Taylor also runs with her friend’s dog, a nine-year-old border collie called Tariq, and she practises every Tuesday at her local centre, Chance Agility, in the adult class.
She became the youngest Team GB member to win two international bronze medals from the Junior European Championships last year.
Taylor juggles training with her schoolwork by doing her homework before the sessions at the agility club and taking early nights when she doesn’t have practice in the evenings.
Mum Hannah, from Stoke Bruerne, Northants, said dog agility was always in Taylor’s blood but the youngster proved a natural at the sport from a young age.
She said: “I wanted to get Taylor a puppy to grow up with so we got Elliott.
“It’s been amazing – I questioned it all when we first got Elliott as they were both so young and I thought I’d made the wrong decision.”
Taylor has now been nominated to win the Kennel Club Young Person of the Year award at this year’s Crufts.
She is the youngest of five nominees with the winner to be announced at the show on March 8.