Mike and dog Falcon are agility champs

A DOG trainer based near Chipping Sodbury has won a prestigious national competition.

Mike Bendell and his dog Falcon beat hundreds of other dogs and their handlers to win the Kennel Club Agility Stakes large dog final, held at the London International Horse Show.

Mike and his four-year-old Working Sheepdog - kennel name Lookylooky Blue Falcon - competed in qualifying heats across the country to earn their place in the national final, held at ExCeL London just before Christmas in front of Kennel Club Championship agility judge David Isbister and assistant judge Dave Deaville.

Mike said: “It is my first time in the final at the Kennel Club Agility Stakes and it’s a privilege to run against the fellow competitors.

"I’m overwhelmed!"

Mike and Falcon have been competing in agility contests for almost two years.

Mike said: "He absolutely loves it - he likes to go as fast as he can whilst making as much noise as possible.

"We are also competing at Crufts in March this year, in the championship agility classes as well as the International agility.

"Winning the Large Kennel Club Agility Stakes class at the London International Horse show was just a dream come true."

Mike has also competed in agility with two other border collies, Star - who has now retired - and Spy, an eight year old who won the British Open Agility Finals at Crufts last year and the team event in 2020.

He and his wife Jo do all of the training with their dogs and run their own dog agility and puppy training club, Dark Star Agility, at Dodington.

Mike, who lives in Mangotsfield, said: "In 2019 I decided to give up my day job and start to teach agility full-time; this was the best decision I ever made!

"It really is the best job in the world."

Kennel Club events executive Vanessa McAlpine said: "Congratulations to Mike and Falcon for their impressive performance; the pair demonstrated great excellence in agility and should feel very proud of their win.

"The Kennel Club Agility Stakes is a tough competition and requires dedication from all competing dogs and their handlers in the training and qualifying process."

The competition, sponsored by Skinner's, is divided into small, medium, large, intermediate and large ABC (anything but collie) categories.

A guide for anyone interested in getting started in agility contests with their dog can be found online at thekennelclub.org.uk/ newtoagility.

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