Keen Kai and Karen take on the world (From This is Hampshire)

Keen Kai and Karen take on the world

2:19pm Saturday 6th September 2008

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A LUDGERSHALL woman and her dog have successfully got through to the dog agility world championships.

Karen Stanbrook and her seven-year-old Border collie Kai will be travelling to Helsinki in Finland, to compete for gold at the FCI World Agility Championships, held between 26-28 September.

Karen, from Butt Close, has been involved with dog agility training for 16 years but this is the first time she has been successful at becoming part of the British team taking part in the world championships.

Kai is one of three large dogs in the British team, which also features three medium-sized and three small dogs. Kai will also be competing in an individual agility competition.

"I'm over the moon we got through," said Karen, aged 38.

"This is my third year of attempting to get a place in the British team and we've finally done it.

"We can't wait to get out there and do the best we can to get the gold medal."

Karen began dog agility training as a hobby because she wanted something fun to do with her dogs. Currently she has four dogs, some of whom have won awards.

"All of our dogs have, are, or will be trained in agility as it's so much fun for us to do and the dogs love it," she said. "It's taken me and Kai about five years or so to get up to standard for the world championships and now we're there we're just so keen to get going."

To take part Karen needs to raise about £2,000 to cover all travel costs and hotel expenses so she's holding fundraising events including car boot sales and raffles.

If anybody wants to help Karen and Kai live their World Championships dream donations can be sent to the Andover Advertiser, 24-32 London Street, Andover, SP10 2PE.

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