SPONSORSHIP & CHARITY EVENTS

Burns Pet Nutrition recognise that a lot of commitment and effort goes into the organisation and running of charitable shows, and is pleased to offer help where possible. If you are writing in about a show you are promoting please give full details including location and the charity being supported.

Burns support many local organisations and individuals in and around Kidwelly, including Kidwelly Netball Team, Kidwelly Rugby Club, Ferryside Parent Teachers Association, Kidwelly Under 14's Football Team, Kidwelly in Bloom, Kidwelly Black Cats FC Glan Y Fferi, Ysgol Mynyddygarreg PTFA, Vale of Towy Male Voice Choir and Pontardulais Town Band. Gareth Morgan - selected to represent Welsh Student Rugby League at a Student World Cup in Brisbane

Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT)
Burns offers financial help to worthy causes within Wales and further afield, including the exciting developments at The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) where a new Wales Institute for Sustainable Education is being built (WISE).
The building itself will showcase the highest standard of green building, energy conservation and renewable energy generation – a culmination of more than 30 years experience at CAT. - Find out more at the CAT website

WISE will be a state-of-the-art facility comprising:
A 200-seat lecture theatre, Workshops, Seminar rooms, An expanded restaurant, New offices, Accommodation for 50 in new, ensuite bedrooms, A laboratory for the Biology department, Foyer and other breakout spaces.

Construction commenced on the 5th of June 2006, and completion of the building is scheduled for the end of 2007.

Cambridge Institute for Dog Behaviour and Training

Burns are one of the major sponsors of this organisation headed up by respected behaviourist Colin Tennant because we feel it offers professional qualifications and training in this very important field.

With CIDBT you will be able to join courses that have been written and managed by people who are experts, with unrivalled success in this field, who have worked with the public in frontline behaviour & training. These Middlesex University accredited courses represent the future for professional practitioners and their aim is to help as many students and current fellow professionals qualify as soon as possible.

For information on courses visit their website www.cidbt.org.uk/

Cani-Cross

Burns are major sponsors of the growing sport of Canni-Cross, and The winners in each of the 8 classes in the 2008 Cani-Cross UK Championship will be awarded a year's supply of Burns food.

What is Cani-Cross?

Cani-cross is a term meaning running your dog (any breed) as you run behind. If you are already running with your dogs you already do cani-cross!

It's a great way to keep fit with your dog, and strengthen the bond between dog and owner.

Previous events arranged by the organisation have included vision impaired entrants running with a human guide, hearing impaired entrants running with their Hearing Dogs, people who have had a triple heart by pass, 10km/ marathon/ ultra-endurance athletes, to kids, have-a-goes and those that just love to do things with their dogs.

For more information click here or visit the Cani-Cross website

British Carriage Dog Society

Burns are pleased to offer sponsorship to the BCDS, which exists to help preserve the working heritage of the Dalmatian as a coaching dog.

The Society runs the annual national Carriage Dog Trials. The purpose of the Trials is to provide a modern competition through which to demonstrate the Dalmatian dog's traditional role as a companion to horses and carriages in past times. It is both an endurance and obedience event and all competitors must do a basic obedience test with their dog, from horse or carriage, as part of the trial.

Pictured left is Freya, and we recently received this update:

"Freya Snow Flurry after achieving her Bronze Carriage Dog award at the Yorkshire Trials held at Skipton in May. Freya is always fed using fresh meat and vegetables with Burns mixer (with a sprinkling of Burns complete!). Freya is owned by Anna Gambles of Kent and is the youngest ever qualifying carriage dog at 13 months. She also passed her Kennel Club Gold Good citizen award the same week. Freya's Mum is Munin (Washakie Iowa), who has competed in the trials in the past - obviously the talent for coaching runs in the family. Carriage Dog Trials demonstrate and test the Dalmatian's traditional role as a carriage and road dog. Further information and photographs may be found at www.carriagedog.org . The trials organisers are grateful to Burns for their support for the trials each year. Many of our working dogs benefit from Burns foods."

2007 Championship Update

Domino, a five year old bitch owned and handled by Ali Rummey of Sussex, became Road Dog Champion after winning the Silver Road Dog Class. Domino has worked her way up to this title after competing most years with Ali’s daughter Charlie, who was our first junior Road Dog competitor. Domino unfortunately failed to achieve her Bronze Road Dog qualification at her first ever trials, although she was in good company, as a number of dogs failed to reach the required standard that year. This year she did an exemplary obedience round to take top points.

My Darcy, a rescue dog owned and handled by Maggie Gallop of Essex won the coveted Best Condition Dog award after qualifying in the Silver Carriage Dog class. This award is judged by the canine vet and all competitors aspire to win it. Mr Darcy was awarded the Truett Memorial Trophy, donated by British Driving Society judge Joy Claxton and named after the Dalmatian that used to follow her carriage (who was himself named after a famous coach builder).

Mr Darcy and Domino are both fed on Burns complete food.

Tony Nevett and his Reading Assistance Dog

Tony Nevett has a retired greyhound called SCOTTS a pat dog/blue cross education dog. Scotts is Britain’s first reading education assistance dog. He goes to schools, libraries and to home education facilities, where children sit and read to him. This works well as he doesn’t judge or criticise.

Scotts is in the final of the kennel club super dog of the year 2007 competition.

Scotts and Tony will be visiting us at the stand at Discover Dogs on the 10th of November. If you go to the BBC news website search for “greyhound” there is report on Scotts.

Finally and most importantly, Scotts is now exclusively fed on Burns.

What is R.E.A.D.®?
The Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog.

But not just any dog. R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.

Participating kids make enormous strides in reading and communication skills while, along the way, building self-esteem, confidence, and social skills.

Border Collie Trust

The Trust exists to help Collies in need and make every effort to place them in suitable homes. The Trust tries to carefully match dog and owner.

New owners are given advice on health, behaviour, training and diet. The Trust is always available to give further help and advice throughout the dogs life.

Their commitment to new owners of rehomed dogs is to take back any dogs should circumstances change and/or the owner encounters problems which cannot be addressed.

Before leaving the centre all dogs have a health check, vaccination, worming treatment and are micro chipped to aid their recovery if they wander.

Burns provide the centre with food, along with rescue packs which go out with every dog which is rehomed.

For more information visit their website www.bordercollietrustgb.org.uk

What is SHUA ?

SHUA is an acronym for Safe House for Unwanted Animals. Started in September 2001, they are a very real rescue organisation specialising in emergency rescue, re-habilitation and re-homing of kittens & cats in Cardiff and the Vale. SHUA is a registered charity.

Burns provide the centre with food and rescue packs. You can find more on their website www.shua.org.uk/about/

Teckels Animal Sanctuary

Teckels Animal Sanctuaries is a registered charity formed in November 2003 as a merger between two long running animal rescue charities, who have rescued thousands of cats and dogs over the years:

* Friends of Teckels Animal Welfare Centre
* Swindon Animal Sanctuary Appeal

They presently have an animal sanctuary and boarding kennels in Whitminster, Gloucestershire. Burns supplies food and rescue packs for new owners. There is more information on their website www.teckels.org/

Old English Sheepdog Rescue and Sanctuary

Based near Lancaster, this caring centre currently caters for around 25 Old English Sheepdogs, many of which are elderly or on medication. They have a few looking for new homes.

Burns are helping with some of the food requirements and offering rescue packs for those dogs that are re-homed.

You can contact Mr Earnshaw who runs the sanctuary at 01524 242220

Cheltenham Animal Shelter

Cheltenham Animal Shelter is a charity that has been helping animals since the 1930's, providing kennelling for stray dogs from three councils: Gloucester City, Tewkesbury Borough and Cheltenham Borough. They also take in dogs from Gloucestershire Constabulary as well as re-homing animals from owners who can no longer look after them for a variety of reasons.

"Our purpose is to provide a safe, secure haven to all animals in plight. Our mission is to return to health the sick, find homes for the lost and give dignity to the aged".

Burns are providing food for the rescue dogs, re-homing packs and Burns Real Food is available from their shop.

Swansea Vale Dog Agility

Swansea Vale Agility Group has recently been established, and Burns have provided them with equipment

Dog Friendly Flyball Teams

Supported by Burns, the team are making a bit of a name for themselves in the north west.

This update came in May 2007:-

"Just thought I'd send you a quick update to let you know the Dog Friendly Flyers achieved their fastest time ever the weekend before last, a brilliant 17.95 which currently put's the team as the fifth fastest team in the country out of 195 teams. The team consists of 5 dogs, Sally (Border Collie); Jake (Border Collie); Meg (Border Collie); Charlie (Crossbreed) and Fred (Crossbreed) all of which are fed on Burns."

Carmarthenshire Flyers Flyball Team

Flyball is becoming increasingly popular as an activity sport. First seen in California in the early 70's, where Herbert Wagner first invented a ball launcher for demonstration at his Canine Obedience Graduations.
It was fun for the dogs, owners and onlookers and he was asked to go on the US National TV - Flyball grew from there.
In the early 80's the sport took off in Canada and America - the North American Flyball Association (NAFA) was formed. In the early 90's, a group of enthusiasts in the UK formed the British Flyball Association (BFA).

We're pleased to offer sponsorship to one of our local teams.

Pawtrax

Burns continue to support the Pawtrax Sled Dog Team based in Scotland.

Fiona Maxwell and Steven Lindsay together are PAWTRAX SLED DOGS and currently the United Kingdom's Sled Dog Champion, owning a kennel of 16 dogs.

The sport of sled dog racing in this country is very big and is growing at an enormous rate. The largest race is Aviemore (which the team has won twice). At Aviemore the entry is over 250 teams, with over 1500 dogs present. There are currently races every weekend from October to March.

Jim Gilbert and 'Freddie'

Freddie is a 14 month old Springer Spaniel and together with Jim works as a team training with the UK Fire Services Urban Search and Rescue Dogs - firefighters from all over the country, many of whom are on standby for overseas deployment, helping out where there are collapsed buildings to find casualties.

It's a long process, training a dog and we're happy to help with providing food for Freddie.

Many Tears Dog Rescue

Many Tears is a small family run rescue centre based in South Wales, taking in mainly ex-breeding dogs , but also helping with some of the death row dogs from various pounds. Burns provides food for the dogs in their care, and also packs which go out with rehomed dogs.
Many Tears Website

Sponsoring stars of the ring!

Charlotte Harding

17 year old Charlotte competes with two dogs, Ricky and Tia, and as well as winning many junior agility classes has competed at Crufts for the last 4 years.
We were so impressed with her enthusiasm that we've agreed sponsorship.

At Crufts, Charlotte and Ricky have won the YKC Biathlon (agility and obedience) once, the YKC Intermediate Obedience twice and the YKC Triathlon (agility, obedience and showing) three times. They also compete in obedience and have gone from Pre-Beginners to 'A', where they have won 2 classes at this level. Ricky is also a Best of Breed winner in the show ring. Ricky has qualified for Crufts 2006 in YKC Advanced Obedience, YKC Senior Agility and the YKC Agility Dog of the Year competition which is the most prestigious agility final for juniors.

Tia, is 3 years old. She is working senior in agility (the level below advanced). In 2005 she came 5th in the Agility Club Junior Of The Year competition (an accumulation of points from placings gained throughout the year). Tia has been to Crufts for the last 2 years. In 2004 she won YKC Graduate Obedience and at Crufts 2005 she was leading YKC Intermediate by a fair way, but then broke her sit stay.
In obedience she has won 3 novices and 1 A. She has also qualified for Crufts 2006 in YKC Intermediate Obedience

At Crufts, Charlotte did very well and came 1st in the YKC Advanced Class.

Update from Charlotte Dec 2006:

"Tia had a 2nd in senior jumping at Dartmoor agility show last month, sooo very close!
Then 2 weeks after she followed this up with a 'B' win at South Devon Obedience Show, taking her tally this year to 4 A wins and 2 B wins. On Saturday just gone we did a UKAgility show (similar to KC shows, but a few differences) and she won senior jumping. So she is doing superbly on Burns!

Update Crufts 2007

"Just to let you know, we had a brilliant time at Crufts:
Tia won the Crufts Inter-Regional Obedience class 'B', she won it by 4 marks, which is quite a way! It was our first time in the big ring and she coped really well, was very happy, relaxed and loved saying hello to the crowds on her bench! She also came 3rd in YKC Senior Agility.
Ricky also had a good Crufts, we won our age group in the YKC Jumping Final and came 3rd overall, had a 3rd in the team agility event and then went on to win YKC Advanced Obedience for the second year running!
I have made a video of Tia's winning round... if you have a spare 5 minutes... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEA3RzqItJk
Really looking forward to the show season now!"

Kiri Hurst

Kiri is 8 years old and showing great promise in the agility ring. Mum and Dad are thrilled with her success and also pleased with the condition of their American Cocker Spaniels fed on Burns Fish & Rice.

Kiri has qualified for the National Show Handler of the Year Competition at Crufts 2006.

This years shows to date that Kiri has been to and placings are as follows;

1st January -Taunton agility show 2nd alsorts jumping with Fudge (sanrogue one to treasure)

28th January -pedigree masterfoods junior handler of the year 5th with Fudge

11th February -Ardingly open show 3rd american cocker spaniel graduate with fudge.
2nd junior handling association 6-11years class with fudge

12th February - Portsmouth and Southsea open show 3rd junior handling association 6-11years class with Pickle (sanrogue secret affair)

Kiri enjoyed herself at Crufts and although she didn't manage a top position performed well with her dog against much older opposition.

Update May: Kiri has qualified for the junior handler of the year semi-finals of the year again this year

Crufts 2007
Kiri was second in the YKC gundog handling competition (6-11 yrs).
As you can see from the picture on the left of Kiri with her Crufts YKC Medal and Rosette together with a few of her rosettes and trophies, she's doing really well!

Update August 07 - Kiri and Fudge have qualified for the finals of Crufts 2008!

Leah Gardner (and Chaffords Herbal Illusion)

Leah has sent us this message:

Herbie and I have had a wonderful year, we have acheived many things, a few of which are....

- Winning into Advanced
- 2nd in the Celebration Gamblers Final
- Qualifying for the Olympia Semi Finals
- Winning Rescued dog of the year
- And now winning 'Senior agility dog and handler of the year 2006'

Since feeding Herbie (and the other Chaffrods dogs) on Burns dog food, i've noticed a huge difference in them. Their coats are gleeming, their teeth are clean and their energy levels have risen.
In 1 month of compeeting (on Burns) my dogs have come away with no less than 3 x 1st and numerous top 5 places (at only 2 shows).

Thank you again for my sponsorship, I've not seen my dogs so content.

Herbie with all his winnings from this year!

Nick Jones and Caleb
(Nic Jones and Caleb (Slieve Caleb) have recently returned from representing Great Britain at the 2006 World Agility Championships where they are now in the top 100 in the world) Read his report and pictures

Update (July 06) "So far Caleb has had 9 ‘open’ wins and is currently 4th in the League table. He has qualified for the team event at Crufts and the Pairs final at the City of Birmingham Champ Show.

Yesterday he won the qualifier for the ‘big one’, The Kennel Club Agility Stakes – the final will be at the London International Horse Show the week before Xmas.
We have the trials for the GB team to compete at the World Championships and then the European Open in Luxembourg inn the next few weeks – hopefully I’ll be reporting on more success. We will also be looking to qualify for the Singles event and the Agility Championships at Crufts."

Update (Aug 07) "He came back from a chronic injury 4weeks ago and in that time he has managed to win 5 individual classes, 1 team competition and had another half dozen top 3 placings. We didn’t try out for the GB team for this year’s world championships – in part due to his injury and also my new job but next year we’ll be back determined to be on the plane to Finland.

Fingers crossed that what ever caused the problem in the first place is now behind us. What was interesting were the comments made by the various health professionals that treated him (vets, physios, chiropractors etc) who all commented on his general well being but also his considerable muscle tone. This has got to be in a large part due to the Burns food so thank you very much."

Andy Brown and Skye

Andy and his wife run several dogs in agility competions around Great Britain and abroard .

All run well and have won many prizes at all levels. Skye is a belgian shepherd who is three years old. So far his achievements have been to progress into senior level, a 2nd at Discover Dogs at Earls Court , 1st and 2nd at Olympia , 3rd agility club novice dog of the year and his best result so far winning the Belgian World Championship in Germany and being part of the winning G B team at the World Championship in 2005.

Update from Andy: "Team G B travelled from kent by coach to Hungary to compete in the Belgian Shepherd Agility World Championship to try to defend both the individual and the team titles we won in Germany last year
Although the format had changed and all the dogs had to qualify on their own merit to get to the final, three of the five dogs in team G B made it to the final"

The GB team as a whole had a less than successful show, but after what seems to have been a nail-biting final Andy and Skye successfully defended their individual Championship, so well done to both!

Update from Andy (June) "Last weekend we attended the semi final for the kennel club olympia A B C and yet again qualified to go to olympia in December - two times at the semi final two times to olympia again. I dont think this has been done before. He has also qualified to go to semi finals in 2007! I will keep you informed of any more sucesses but he just seems to be going better and better on burns"

Lauren Langman

Lauren and Popi (aka Harrjak Clockstopper) are off to Switzerland to represent Britain in the 2006 World Agility Championships.

They qualified for the event in Basel, Switzerland, after winning two out of the three classes in the qualifiers when they were up against the top 80 dogs in the UK.

Popi is one of six dogs representing Britain in the World Championships on 6-8 October. She and Lauren are competing in the Large Individual category.

There are over 40,000 dog agility handlers in Britain, and Lauren is among the best in the country.

Obedience

Katy Girdlar

We're pleased to be sponsoring Katy Girdlar, who with her dog 'I'm Tam not Sam' became the Individual World Champion at Crufts as part of the Welsh Team (which came a creditable third overall).

Katy is local to our Head Office, and popped in recently to show us the trophy and medal that she won at Crufts.

We're also offering sponsorship to the Welsh Team.

Bernadette Bay

Bernadette Bay and her 2 year old Shetland Sheepdog Zen (registered name: OBay Truly Balanced)

This year, Zen has been moved up to the Medium height division where she will be competing against larger dogs. At her first two competitions, she has already proven she can run with the big dogs and has come away with three more first places at her first two agility competitions of the year 2006.

She obtained her third CC at Newton Heath this year, only the 3rd sheltie to have received her Agility Championship. Bernadette is justly proud of her! She just turned 3 years old in May, so she also may be one of the youngest dogs to achieve her Agility Championship.

As the breeder of Zen and other OBay Shelties, Bernadette is aware of how important nutrition is to the development of a healthy happy dog that can perform at high levels at competition. She is very impressed with Burn’s dedication to creating a healthy complete food for dogs and all the OBay shelties are now fed on Burns.

(A happy Zen and pups)

Zen and Crufts 2007

1st place in the Medium Agility Championship

Update June 2007 : Two weeks ago Zen won the Supadogs Final on Friday and then went on to win another Championship Certificate the next day! So we are off to Crufts again in 2008! Her pups certainly didn’t slow her down and she is definitely back in form!

Update July 2007

Zen has done it again and won another agility final! Coming back from having puppies she has, so far, this year won a Championship ticket, the Supadogs Final and now the Royal Canine Finals! I think she is glad to be back doing agility.
On Saturday at the UKA show both Zen and Hex competed in the Royal Canine Finals for which they qualified during the year. Zen won the medium Final and second place was her litter brother Chi. In the small Final, Hex came in second only to HER litterbrother Indy! So it was a great OBay sheltie sweep, with OBay Shelties in 1st and 2nd in two height classes. It cannot get better than that for a breeder! I am attaching a photos

(left to right: Zen, Hex, Indy and Chi)

Zen has been chosen for the second time to represent Great Britain in the medium team at the World Agility Championships. The Championships will be held in September in Hamar, Norway. Her brother Chi was also chosen as the reserve!

Soraya Porter

Soraya and her dog Ernie have qualified for Crufts for the fifth consecutive time, in the individual Small Agility Competition at Crufts.

She also has Siamese who have aspirations for cat agility (which has found its way across here from the US!)

Soraya says 'There are two ways of getting the cat to do it – using a lure type toy, or clicker training. The toy way is the easiest, but the clicker way has to be the ultimate aim. The problem is to find something that will motivate a cat in the way that food or toys will motivate a dog as a reward.

'I find Dillon responds very well to praise – lots of strokes etc. Mind you like dogs, agility cats seem to take to the tunnel very quickly. The problem then is to get them to stop doing the tunnel, and have a go at the other obstacles.

'Bengal cats are brilliant at it – I think its their kamikaze tendencies. I think they could become the equivalent of a Border Collie in the Cat Agility world'