Jess, 15, and her 4-year-old border collie have spent the last three and a-half years perfecting their jumpers dog agility game, and last month it finally paid off when they gained their title, one of dog agility’s highest honours.
To get there, the pair had to finish in the top two on 20 occasions, with at least 10 wins, at the top level in open competition.
Since 2011, there have only been 107 people achieve the title.
Jess and Zoom got their title at the Canterbury Canine Obedience Club Agility Trials, where they were up against about 40 others.
Jess says she went in feeling the pressure, knowing what was on the line, but is still astounded she’s achieved her goal at such a young age.
"I never thought I was able to make it here, especially since Zoom is my first ever agility dog.
"I’m really proud of Zoom’s effort."
Celebrating the achievement in style, Jess received a "wetting", a long-standing dog agility tradition in which whoever achieves a title’s covered in whatever’s available to supporters.
In Jess’ case, she was covered in tomato and barbecue sauces, iced tea, coffee, milk, water and grass.
Jess and Zoom are now working towards Supreme Champ — a title just five people in NZ have achieved.
They’ll need 100 Grand Champion wins, which Jess estimates will take four-five years of competing, by which time Zoom may be ready to retire from agility comps.
Jess says she’s now on the hunt for a sponsor to help cover the cost of travel to competitions and seminars, most of which are held in Palmerston North and Christchurch.
