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World Champions about themselves
World Mini Agility Champion Elena Klokova
answers A.Gility's questions
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Handler: Elena
Klokova
Age: 25 years
Civilian state: married
Agility experience: 7 years
Dog: Diamond Crown Bidge
Nigel's daughter
Breed: Dwarf Poodle
Age: 2 years
Civilian state: single |
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A. Gility: Elena, I would like to congratulate you on behalf
of all your fans! We were worrying for you, and now we are proud of
you. And how does the World Champion feel herself?
E. Klokova: My oldest and dearest dream has come true, and
that's great. This means that I have chosen the right way in Agility,
and that my Bidge is a genius, and that she can get ahead of everyone!
I am proud of Russia as well.
A. Gility: Did you believe in your success when you were going
to Portugal?
E. Klokova: You know, I had strange feelings. One half of my
mind was sure that Bidge is too young and too fast to make a clear
run. But the other half, for the reason I can't understand, was perfectly
sure in the victory.
A. Gility: How did you feel after the first day, being on the
8th place?
E. Klokova: I thought that was great! Christine Charpentier,
became Agility World Bi-Champion, although both times she didn't even
rank 10th on the first day. Bidge has a huge fund of speed, and I
hoped that she would be able to show herself on Agility course.
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A. Gility: How did you cope with the stress at the start?
E. Klokova: To tell the truth, it was rather difficult, especially
on Day One. On the second day it was easier. The support of the
audience was of great help. However, all nervousness stops at the
first jump. The speed is too high to be nervous on the course.
A. Gility: When did you realise that you can be the first?
E. Klokova: When I had a clear run and good course time on
Day Two.
A. Gility: Let's go back to the beginning. How long have
you been in Agility? Who is your trainer?
E. Klokova: I have been in Agility for more than 7 years.
I began in A. Ignatov's "Sheriff", and later I spent some
time with Ryabovs' "October" club. After moving to Cherepovets,
I have been working by myself. When I am in Moscow, I come to NATI
Club, to Michael Kirillov, whose advice and recommendations help
me very much.
A. Gility: What dogs have you trained?
E. Klokova: If we speak about serious training, there were
three of them. 1) Assi, a Mix-breed, she is 10 years old now. 2)
Nigel, a Poodle, 4.5 years old, Bidge's father. 3) Bidge, a Poodle.
A. Gility: Did you succeed with these dogs?
E. Klokova: Yes. With Assi, we won Eurasia Cup-95, became
Champions of Moscow-95, Champions of Russia-95 (in team competition),
and won the 2nd place at the Cup of Russia-95.
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With Nigel, we won the third place at the Championship of Russia-99,
became Champions of Russia-2001 (in team competition), won the Cup
of Russia-2000, became Baltic Champions-99, and won Shiko's Cup-99
(this prize is awarded to the most promising dog). We also won the
Friskies cup in Poland this year (in team competition). Bidge was
on the second place at the CACIAG competitions in May 2001 and Champion
of Russia 2001 in team competition. In September 2001 she received
CACIAG and, well, now she is World Agility Champion 2001.
A. Gility: Diamond Crown Bidge - is this name connected with
some story?
E. Klokova: Yes. I called her Bidge after the main character
of Nick O'Donohoe's "The Magic and the Healing".
A. Gility: How long have you trained Bidge?
E. Klokova: A year and a half.
A. Gility: How many times a week do you train?
E. Klokova: Four times a week.
A. Gility: What do you do except Agility? If possible, could
you tell us something about your family…
E. Klokova: I am a dog trainer by profession. I teach OKD
groups (OKD - General Obedience Course - Russian national obedience
training). I work in a kennel of guard dogs that belongs to a meat
cutting plant. I love my job! As to my family… I am much indebted
to my relatives - my husband and my parents-in-law. This victory
might have never happened without their help and support, without
their trust.
A. Gility: When did you move to Cherepovets and how did that
influence your training?
E. Klokova: In 1996. My husband and my father-in-law made
a set of obstacles, and I started working as I considered necessary.
Such independent training has its faults and merits. I had to learn
from my own mistakes.
A. Gility: Please could you tell a few words about your club
in Cherepovets. Who helps you?
E. Klokova: An Agility team in Cherepovets has been working
since 1996. At present, I work with four fanatics. I admit only
those people who are extremely willing to start agility - in the
other case, I wouldn't have time to work with my own dogs.
A. Gility: How do you manage to combine training and your
personal work?
E. Klokova: I train the group separately, once a week. I
don't see any point in working with my own dogs and my pupils' dogs
at the same time. The greatest help are my relatives - my husband
Konstantin, my father-in-law Igor Olegovich, my mother-in-law Taisia
Alexandrovna - I can't overvalue their role in my victory! My best
friend Julia Morgunova is a constant assistant at all training sessions.
The administration of the stadium where I am training are also of
great help.
A. Gility: Have you got a trainer right now?
E. Klokova: No. I happened to be a trainer for myself. However,
Michael Kirillov's advice and recommendations were of great help
when I was training Bidge. Among my trainers, I can also name Karen
Pryor, Claudia Elsner, Terrier Shelton and Christine Charpentier.
I learned much from them.
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A. Gility: Did you have any special training programme before
the World Championship?
E. Klokova: Yes. The FMK Stadium gave me an opportunity to
train on the football ground. I came to the stadium very early, at
5 o'clock in the morning, four times a week and worked according to
the plan. At home, I went through the training session and decided
what was right and what was wrong, and prepared a plan for the next
session.
A. Gility: What was the role of the team trainer before and
during the Championship?
E. Klokova: Andrei Ignatov held a personal training session
for me, where he pointed out Bidge's problems and consulted me on
the ways of their elimination. During the Championship, I don't need
any guidance. I am an old handler, and I know everything myself. The
best way is not to make me nervous, and not to interfere. Andrei understood
this, and I am grateful to him. A trainer should also make sure that
the handlers don't miss the course familiarisation and their run,
and that they are not hungry. He should keep the handlers cheerful
and prevent them from extreme nervousness. To my mind, Andrei has
managed his task.
A. Gility: Who gave you moral support?
E. Klokova: My husband did most of all. During my whole career
in Agility, he kept telling me that I am a World Champion.
A. Gility: A very common question - what are your Agility plans
for the future?
E. Klokova: I know how to improve Bidge's time. I am going
to improve Bidge's work on contact zones and her work at great distances.
It is difficult to become a World Champion, and Christine Charpentier
is the only person who managed to do it twice. I will try to repeat
her achievement and to win the World Championship once again.
A. Gility: What would you wish our visitors?
E. Klokova: Love your dogs - and you will manage everything.
And God give you all such love and understanding as I have with my
"apricots" - Nigel and Bidge!
A. Gility: Thank you for the interview. I wish your plans to
come true.
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