Game Changer of the Month

Sandra is one of a kind, she has been a member of Blenheim Canine Training club well before I started 15 years ago. I know first-hand how patient and kind she is when training, or in the past as show manager.
Sandra can’t run her dog Fin as she is waiting for knee surgery(it’s a long wait). It’s not until someone is not activity running the shows that you realise what is missing.
I am nominating Sandra because she worked through the pain of her knee to run a Foundation and a Beginner’s class, and after that 12 weeks was up she keep training them all with a painful knee, and at times on crunches. At their first ribbon trial Sandra was there walking the courses with her class, supporting them. Sandra is my role model. All clubs need a Sandra!

Last year at a DAWG show myself and another member of Feilding club had an unfortunate accident with our caravan on Friday night while travelling to the show. The caravan was not towable and had to be shipped to a trucking yard leaving us with no accomodation. We were offered a tent by Marion from DAWG on Friday night once everything was sorted and specially went home to collect it and some stretchers. Come Saturday morning Ang heard what had happened and offered for us to stay at her place and was most hospitable offering dinner and a hot shower and beds for the night. I thought this was pretty amazing as at this point Ang and myself didn't know each other that well. Ang has a great attitude and is always very supportive of everyone's runs no matter how good or bad.

Molly is a young Napier member who offered without prompting helped me get all the prize giving ready and also helped all the prize winners get their generous prizes from Proplan to their car. Molly has stayed and helped all day with a happy smile on her face. And she also received her very first ribbon at the NZDAC benefit show. So cool for her!

Kelly allowed me to take her experienced dog to foundation agility classes before I got my dog, so I could learn to get him off to a good start. She also let me run her dogs in agility shows to get me handling practice. For my whole journey she has been so supportive, even going so far as to give me a voucher for an online dog training course when I broke my leg and lending me many of her books while I was laid up. She has been nothing but encouraging, supportive, and positive, and has also showed similar acts of kindness to others in the agility world.

I would like to acknowledge Linda Martin as a person who should be recognised for a random act of kindness. When she heard of my cancer diagnoses she organised a "Give a little" page for me. It truly helped me not only financially but also emotionally. She has also had health issues, so for her to think of me was really heroic. I also have to acknowledge the amazing agility community who come together at the drop of a hat to help in any way they can. Its a huge bunch of really good people. I can not think of another crew so caring, competitive, hard working, encouraging and nurturing of dogs and people.