Volume 48, No. 20, November 2, 2006
AGILITY, speed, strength and endurance were put to the test recently when Air Force canine handlers and their four-legged partners competed in the Police and Services Canine Association of Queensland Biathlon.
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PARTNERS: WOFF Dave Towerton leads dog Braithe over an obstacle during the QLD Police and Services canine biathlon. |
HQCSG WOFF Dave Towerton and his dog Braithe were overall winners of the event at the Baden-Powell Scout Camp in Brisbane. The pair also took out three other trophies, including fastest Air Force representative, fastest ADF member and the handicap event.
The 4.5km biathlon, which included an obstacle course and swim leg, had ten Air Force members and their dogs compete against their counterparts from the Army and organisations such as the Queensland Police Service, Australian Customs Service and NSW Corrective Service.
Both handler and dog negotiated the course as quickly as possible with penalties given if any obstacles were not completed.
Once the handlers and dogs had completed all obstacles — which included hurdles, fire hoop, see-saw and tunnel — and the run, the dogs were given a well-earned rest in a dog box while the handlers swam the length of the pool, fully-clothed, before returning to collect their dogs and finish the race.
LAC Chris Hough and his dog Buster from 323CSS took out the agility phase (obstacle course) and LACW Monique Rademaker and her dog Charka from 382ECSS won the women’s event by four seconds from CPL Tricia Reynolds from RAAF Base Townsville. SGT Geoff Bodley and Police Dog Bobo from QLD Police won the Veterans award.
The action-packed day also featured an iron man event, with man/dog teams running, and then handlers pushing a vehicle, dragging a 70kg dummy, and jumping through and over obstacles.
According to CPL Tricia Darwin, from RAAF Base Townsville, the day gave handlers from all Services the opportunity to discuss training scenarios and methodologies, and socialise with fellow participants.
Competitors:
WOFF Dave Towerton and Braithe
FSGT Peter Hungerford and Inca
SGT Sean Payne and Sam
CPL Tricia Reynolds and Duke
CPL Anthony O’Meara and Reisha
LACW Monique Rademaker and Charka
LAC Chris Hough and Buster
LAC Grant Reibel and Murphy
LAC Chris Hepworth and Pitt
LAC Andrew Meadows and Rajah
AC Nathan Finlay and Max
