The Beginning- by Deb Jackson

Well, I guess it should be me that starts the story.

The idea to take a dog from New Zealand and to compete at the ANKC Nationals was
Conceived by me during February 2005, when I flew over to Brisbane to attend the Greg Derrett and Susan Garret seminar held at Caboolture.

While I was at this seminar, I met up with some great people from Perth. We got discussing the options of competition between our 2 countries and it was suggested that I might be able to take a dog over to compete at Perth, as they were hosting the Nationals that year.

This idea was of great interest to me, as for some years I had thought that it would be a wonderful experience if NZ’s and Australians could compete against each other in the sport of agility.

This dream did not eventuate due to circumstances in my life, but the seed had been sown.

Since the seminar at Brisbane I have communicated with Andrea Patching and Anne Lacy Herbert from Perth. It has been with their help and encouragement that this adventure is about to happen not only for me, but for 10 other Kiwi handlers as well.

We will be flying over to Adelaide with 13 dogs and a number of supporters and good mates.

Some of us will arrive on the 24^th April, just in time to compete in the two trials prior to the Nationals, so that we might get the feel of things.

The rest of the group will arrive on the 1^st May and have their first Australian agility experience at the Nationals.

The organising and paperwork for this adventure has been a daunting experience, and a story in itself.