Judges
The following judges have confirmed their attendance at the 2008 AAC BC/Yukon Regional Championships.
- Kiersten Lloyd from Alberta
- Lynda Yielding from Ontario
- Dan Yielding from Ontario
- Matt Bonner from Alberta
They have submitted their biographies so that we can gain some insight into their history within the Agility world.
Kiersten Lloyd
I was born in Australia and had the privilege of living in Singapore and Malaysia during my early childhood. At the age of 7 I was given my first horse. I rode competitively until I was 19 years old when I left Australia and came to Canada in 1982. I have always loved and been good with animals and in Canada my love of horses was transferred to a love of dogs, it was a little less expensive and more practical. As I am extremely competitive I could not have a dog and not do something with it. I very quickly got into Obedience trialing and it was an easy jump from that into agility given my horse background. The particular dogs I have had over the last 13 years have each taught me something about dog training and competition.
My first dog was a Hungarian Kuvacs. Archer was the first dog that I trained and after the first couple of obedience classes it was suggested that I try to compete with him. He taught me the very basics of dog training. Sadly, Archer came down with severe allergies and had to be put down at 16 months of age. My next dog was the first of many Labrador Retrievers that I have owned. Quiggly is a big yellow male Lab who taught me patience and humility. He use to like to wiggle across the ring on his bottom during the sit stay in Novice. He figured that if his butt was on the ground it did not matter that it was moving. Quiggly finished his career with his CDX. He developed a chronic elbow injury at about 2 years old and could not continue to compete. He is 12 years old and a sweet and gentle if gimpy boy. This leads me to Kes. Kes taught me to shoot for the stars. She is my heart and soul. She is a little yellow Lab who has out done any expectation I have ever had. She has excelled in both agility and obedience, making the Top 10 All breeds for Obedience in 1999 and 2000 and winning the 22” Specials Division at the AAC National Championships in 2002 and the 16” Specials Division in 2005. Kes was awarded the Lifetime Agility award in AAC in 2005. She continues to run agility but has retired from the Obedience ring with her MOTCh. She is 10 years old. Then there is Zoom, she is my 6 year old bombshell. If it is possible to have two heart dogs then I have them, this little black girl is part of me too. I wanted an agility dog and, boy, did I get it. Her first ever agility trial was Alberta/NWT Regional championship, I entered for ring experience and fun. Zoom finished with an easy qualifier for National championships and a first place in a Jumpers round. She went on to be the youngest dog at the 2003 AAC Nationals and finished 6th place in the 26” Regular division at 21 months of age. My learning curve with Zoom has been exponential, she has made me work harder than ever before. Zoom has her CDX. Zoom has her ATCh and Gold award and she also has titles in CKC and USDAA agility. I have had the privilege to compete at the 2005, 2006 and the 2007 Cynosport World Games (USDAA). The latest addition to the family is Swift. She is a female black Lab who is Zoom’s niece. Right now she is 19 months old and I am having great fun with her as she is a real bright light. I love them all and they have made dog sports the center piece of my life.
I started judging agility in AAC and CKC approximately 8 years ago. It was a natural extension of the fun I have while running my own dogs. I love watching agility and being the judge gives me a really up close view. It never gets boring because their will always be some dog who will come along and do something to make you think or make you laugh. I also enjoy writing for Dog Sport magazine occasionally and teaching agility on a regular basis. My goal in teaching is to try and help each dog and handler better understand each other so they can live and play with each other more happily.
In the other half of my life I work as a Dental Hygienist in Edmonton, Alberta and live with my two very busy, wonderful, 19 year old boys and their Dad, who tolerate me travelling all over the place. I am thankful for their patience. I have a full life!
Lynda Yielding
Hi there - welcome to the eighth BC/Yukon Regional Championships.
I'm honoured to be asked to be one of your judges this year. I've judged the Quebec and New Brunswick regionals but this is my first western regional and August will be my first judging assignment at Nationals. I started competing in agility with our first Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Shadow, in 1998. He was a great teacher for me and he placed first in 16" specials at the Ontario Regionals in 2003. He's retired now and I work with Chica, a miniature aussie, who is currently teaching me how to handle at speed!
Having been involved as part of the organizing teams for Ontario regionals and the Palgrave National Committee, I know how much effort and emotion is put into these events. I'd like to thank everyone for the behind the scenes work you've done to get ready for this event and all the volunteers who will be working over the weekend! We keep saying that we can't do it without you and it's true! Please take time during the event to say thank you to as many volunteers as you can as you compete.
In the ring, it's extremely important to me that there is a sense of competition and sportsmanship, fairness and fun. All any of us can wish for is that we perform with our dogs to the best of our ability in each run... and a bit of luck never hurts.
Best of luck to all of you!!!
Dan Yielding
Thank you for giving me the honour of judging at your eighth Regional Championships.
I'm a former Classics teacher, Secondary School administrator, and Judo competitor.
Together, Lynda and I operate Muskoka Agility Dogs, a 65-acre facility, near Huntsville, in Ontario. We teach agility, and present seminars, clinics, and trials during the "season".
Both Lynda and I were very active on the organizing committees for the Palgrave 2002 Nationals, and the Ontario 2006 Regionals.
I compete with 2 Duck Tollers, Spryte and Rebecca. Both have earned their ATChC.
A very memorable moment in Agility for me was at Saskatoon 2005, when Spryte placed first in Sunday's Standard run at 16" Specials.
I have been judging for AAC since 2003, and have judged at the Quebec Regional Championships; I am really looking forward to my first judging assignment at a western Regional.
Congratulations to your organizing committee! Each volunteer member of the committee has dedicated hundreds of hours of his or her time, so that this event will take place. There are also hundreds of people who are volunteering during the Championships... make sure that you make the effort to let them know that you really appreciate their commitment to the sport and to the event.
Finally, to me, this competition is about doing the absolute best that you can, within the framework of the Spirit of Agility: good sportsmanship, camaraderie, fairness and fun.
Good Luck to all competitors, both human and K9 !!!
Matt Bonner
I'm really pleased to be judging at the BC/Yukon Regional Championships this year, especially since BC is my home province. I've been an AAC judge since 2003 and this will be my first time judging at a regional event, so be nice!
I know how much work it takes to put on such an event, so congratulations in advance to the organising committee and the volunteers! I've been involved with organising a number of Alberta regionals and was the volunteer coordinator for the first Nationals at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. I've attended every Nationals except Prince George, the last four competing with my Borderline Collie, Friday, having our best success at the fabulous Burnaby Nationals in 2006.
I currently have three dogs: 10 year old Aussie Rocky, 7 year old rescue Friday, and 9 month old Border Collie Maybe. Both Rocky and Friday received their ATChC last year.
Along with three other judges, I operate K9 Express, an
agility school in Calgary, and own a dog daycare to support
my agility habit.
Even though it's a serious competition, I'm looking forward
to having a lot of fun in Abbotsford in June.
