2014 Award Recipients
Jan Gray Spirit Award Jan Gray was a club member who died in 1998 after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was an enthusiastic member with a great sense of humour who put many behind the scene hours into club activities. She loved nothing more than spending quality time with her dog, Bandit. This award is presented to a member of our club who demonstrates a love of animals, enthusiasm for and enjoyment of the sport of agility and a willingness to participate in the activities of the club. This member consistently teaches classes and is very respected by the students. She also has taught many classes, trained her own dogs, participated in many club activities as well as mentored many members and students. Her calm, supportive manner while teaching relaxes the students and encourages them to connect with their dogs in a positive way. When working with her own dogs, she uses the same kind, calm manner and the results are smooth, pretty runs and happy dogs. The recipient of this year’s award has diligently and accurately kept our club’s books balanced for many years. She processes fees and makes sense out of funds and notes given to her without a complaint. Her wealth of knowledge about the club’s history and current concerns have been a great help to those of us who hold or have held committee positions. If you want a well thought out and/or compassionate solution to a problem, just ask Susan. When things become challenging, the comment you are most apt to hear is Susan’s calm “oh well!” In addition, Susan attends almost all meetings, sets up equipment, shows up for work bees and is always asking if she can do this or that to help, and all this with her awesome, quiet sense of humor close at hand. Thank you Susan Gossen for being an integral backbone of SAA. You are very much appreciated as a member of this club. We’ve Come a Long Way Baby Award This award is presented to a handler-dog team that has worked hard together and made progress in the sport of agility. The recipient of this award is a member who has demonstrated the patience, diligence and commitment needed to improve in agility. The team receiving this year’s award have worked together, on and off the agility field, and have gained confidence and skill. Starting to train with a new agility dog can provide unique challenges. Anyone who has done it can relate. You are starting back at square one. You are not just training the dog but also yourself. As a team, you are learning to read each other’s movements and cues, adapting to changes in handling and speed. One dog may have been boisterous, vocal and confidently running ahead, but the new dog may be quietly watching and reacting to the smallest twitch of your arm or shoulders. You have to remind yourself that the new dog doesn’t have the same experience and confidence. And...
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