Southdowns members info

Southdowns was previously known as Woolston Dog Training Club. This started as a plain obedience club by Don and Sally Bradbury. Over the years as agility became popular Don and Sally started to train and compete. This service was then offered to members of the obedience club. Agilty lessons were initailly run in the Bradbury's back garden!

As agility continued to grow there were more people wanting to do agility rather than obedience and the club outgrew the garden. It was decided an indoor school should be sought, removing such problems with the venue such as weather and bad light. A school was found in Droxford , training sessions were moved to the evening, and club members grew and grew. Woolston also started running an annual agility show at Royal Victoria Country Park.

As time moved on a new venue was sought, Crofton Manor Farm. This was ideal until problems occured with the leaseholder. It was at this time Sally began puppy training classes and decided to relinquish the running of the club.

Hasty decisions had to be made and some of the long standing members took on the roles required to keep the club going. Those who had been doing agility the longest took on the role of training the others, and organising the annual shows.

At this time a decision was made to change the name of the club, after a vote on suggestions there was a name put forward to the Kennel Club. Thus, Southdowns Agility Club was born.

Because of the problems encountered at Crofton Manor we moved to Denmead, however, training here became unbearable owing to the numerus rules and regs laid down to us. We ended up training at Wickham, though the running surface is not ideal we have plenty of space for equipment and are left to do as we please on a Monday night.

Southdowns is only a small club compared to some, but as long as there are people willing and ready the club will continue to run!

Please continue to support your local club and show, hopefully we can be here for a few years yet.