All our instructors and helpers in the club are volunteers, they do not get paid for what they do. They just want to put something back into the community. Without them our club would not be able to run as efficiently as it does.
INSTRUCTOR - Due to Ill health Val has currently left the club
Val has owned dogs for over 50 years mostly German Shepherds but also shelties and a cross breed.
She is a founder member of the club .
Before Val retired she was a district nurse and would end her working day by coming home and taking her dogs out to club.
She has owned at one time 6 GSD's but recently is content with just 1- Rosie.
In the past Val enjoyed competing and worked up to B with her German Shepherd Tess in obedience.
Val was taken seriously ill at the end of 2012 and has had to go in and out of hospital over the last few years for replacement knee surgery due to a blood infection. We were grateful that Val came back within the club, but unfortunately age and her illness has caught up with her.
Val has been a major asset to Heron Hill, sharing her wealth of experience and knowledge with other instructors and members of the club. She has always been on hand to give help and advise to individuals.
We wish Val all the best.
She is a founder member of the club .
Before Val retired she was a district nurse and would end her working day by coming home and taking her dogs out to club.
She has owned at one time 6 GSD's but recently is content with just 1- Rosie.
In the past Val enjoyed competing and worked up to B with her German Shepherd Tess in obedience.
Val was taken seriously ill at the end of 2012 and has had to go in and out of hospital over the last few years for replacement knee surgery due to a blood infection. We were grateful that Val came back within the club, but unfortunately age and her illness has caught up with her.
Val has been a major asset to Heron Hill, sharing her wealth of experience and knowledge with other instructors and members of the club. She has always been on hand to give help and advise to individuals.
We wish Val all the best.
Instructor - 7.30-8.30 and 8.30-9.30
Fran joined the club with her German Shepherd puppy -Sabre in 2003.
She came to socialise and train him but enjoyed it so much she stayed!
She went on training courses with her dog to further both their knowledge and eventually took up instructing alongside Val.
She added to her pets in 2010 with another German Shepherd -Saxon who she sadly lost in September 2022.
Fran also likes to take her dogs to competitions and regularly enters Companion and Open shows. She is currently working Beginner and Novice in obedience.
In March 2022 Axle joined her family, he is a sable German Shepherd dog.
Fran also owns a horse and actively enjoys 6 other horses owned by her daughter and loves to ride, both her son and daughter have Jack Russell's, so she is always kept very busy along with her two grand children.
Though Fran works 4 days a week in a local authority she ends her working day by coming home and taking her dog out to club, or going up to the stables to enjoy both her dog and horses.
She enjoys her time with her dogs and like Val loves interacting with members of the club. She is always on hand to help.
(Fran lost her Gsd Sabre 28-12-13 and Saxon in September 2022)
She came to socialise and train him but enjoyed it so much she stayed!
She went on training courses with her dog to further both their knowledge and eventually took up instructing alongside Val.
She added to her pets in 2010 with another German Shepherd -Saxon who she sadly lost in September 2022.
Fran also likes to take her dogs to competitions and regularly enters Companion and Open shows. She is currently working Beginner and Novice in obedience.
In March 2022 Axle joined her family, he is a sable German Shepherd dog.
Fran also owns a horse and actively enjoys 6 other horses owned by her daughter and loves to ride, both her son and daughter have Jack Russell's, so she is always kept very busy along with her two grand children.
Though Fran works 4 days a week in a local authority she ends her working day by coming home and taking her dog out to club, or going up to the stables to enjoy both her dog and horses.
She enjoys her time with her dogs and like Val loves interacting with members of the club. She is always on hand to help.
(Fran lost her Gsd Sabre 28-12-13 and Saxon in September 2022)
Instructor
Teresa first came to club with her Terrier cross back in 1989. Returning 9 years ago with her German Shepherd dog -Zak in 2004. Like Fran she enjoyed her time at club and stayed. She too added to her pets and has a 5 year old GSD -Rex.
She also enjoys going out and about with her dog and enters Companion and Open shows. She is currently working Beginner and Novice in obedience.
Teresa is also kept busy with her Grandchildren. ( She lost her old gsd Zak in June 2016)
M after losing Rex suddenly in 2021 Teresa got a puppy in March 2022 - he’s the brother to Axle (Fran’s dog)
Teresa steps in to help instruct on the floor but also helps prepare and clear away at club. She is always on hand to help and give advice.
She also enjoys going out and about with her dog and enters Companion and Open shows. She is currently working Beginner and Novice in obedience.
Teresa is also kept busy with her Grandchildren. ( She lost her old gsd Zak in June 2016)
M after losing Rex suddenly in 2021 Teresa got a puppy in March 2022 - he’s the brother to Axle (Fran’s dog)
Teresa steps in to help instruct on the floor but also helps prepare and clear away at club. She is always on hand to help and give advice.
Helper - Due to age Deirdre has since left the club but still keeps in touch
Deirdre has been apart of Heron Hill Since 1978.
She currently owns 2 shelties -Freddie and Thomas. She started competing with a rescued pekingese.
She then competed with her collie/99 variety cross bitch Pebbles. Going onto compete in test C with Barney her Sheltie and then Wilma going to crufts as part of the Southern Team working test B. (do you see a trend here with the names?)
Her home bred Sheltie Deena worked wide in obedience and Deirdre took her to agility which Deena loved, she ended up back at Crufts three times.
Dhillon, Annie and Freddie just a few of her old dogs also competed in obedience and Agility.
Thomas was Deirdre's 70th birthday present to herself in 2003, he only competed in obedience shows dedicated to Shelties but he regularly competed in Agility with Deirdre winning his grade 4, unfortunately he gets very frustrated because Deirdre says she cant keep up with him!
Before Deirdre retired she was a midwife and like Val would come home after a long day and take her dogs out to club. Deirdre still likes to stay active and walks regularly and comes to club.
Deirdre is an integral part of our club she runs our refreshments counter but also helps prepare and clear away at club. She also runs regular raffles to raise money for our designated charity 'Medical detection dogs'. She is always on hand to offer help and advise.
She looks after the clubs 'reward scheme'. Anyone who goes to a show of any kind and wins a rosette or is placed can tell Deirdre and they are rewarded points, at year end those points are added up and rewarded with a trophy.
She currently owns 2 shelties -Freddie and Thomas. She started competing with a rescued pekingese.
She then competed with her collie/99 variety cross bitch Pebbles. Going onto compete in test C with Barney her Sheltie and then Wilma going to crufts as part of the Southern Team working test B. (do you see a trend here with the names?)
Her home bred Sheltie Deena worked wide in obedience and Deirdre took her to agility which Deena loved, she ended up back at Crufts three times.
Dhillon, Annie and Freddie just a few of her old dogs also competed in obedience and Agility.
Thomas was Deirdre's 70th birthday present to herself in 2003, he only competed in obedience shows dedicated to Shelties but he regularly competed in Agility with Deirdre winning his grade 4, unfortunately he gets very frustrated because Deirdre says she cant keep up with him!
Before Deirdre retired she was a midwife and like Val would come home after a long day and take her dogs out to club. Deirdre still likes to stay active and walks regularly and comes to club.
Deirdre is an integral part of our club she runs our refreshments counter but also helps prepare and clear away at club. She also runs regular raffles to raise money for our designated charity 'Medical detection dogs'. She is always on hand to offer help and advise.
She looks after the clubs 'reward scheme'. Anyone who goes to a show of any kind and wins a rosette or is placed can tell Deirdre and they are rewarded points, at year end those points are added up and rewarded with a trophy.