The European Open is huge!!!!
Teams from all over Europe converged on Aasen, the Netherlands for the first UFO Major of 2009. This event has been growing each and every year, and the hosts, the DogFrisbeeFriends, did not dissappoint!
The event was held at the Kynologenclub Aasen, a dog-training club near the center of this gorgeous Dutch city. Home to a famous Dutch TT cycle track, the dogs took top billing on the holiday weekend. The Kynologenclub has first rate fields and facilities, and the competitors and spectators were quite comfortable for the 2-day event.
Day one featured Novice Throw & Catch, and the Beginner Freestyle division. The UFO was very proud to see the first teams from the Czech republic appear at a UFO Major, and then we were blown away by their skills! Taking the top 2 spots were Michaela Androva and Yvona Androva. We will look forward to seeing them in the Open division soon!
The action continued day one as Open division teams did their first round of Throw & Catch. Germans Frank Funke and Dennis Koehler put up scores of 13.5 and 13, with 2004 UFO World Cup Champion Karin Actun right behind them with 12 points.
Day 2 was our first sight of Open Freestyle. The talent level in Europe is absolutely climbing with every event as more teams try more difficulty and we see even more talented dogs. Long-time UFO competitor Julia Zimmerman and her amazing dog Lara left the entire facility cheering with a prelim freestyle round that was out-of-this-world! Very appropriate for the UFO! Marcel Koning and Sam kept the dutch in the Mix and the Kuiper men, Dennis, Wilmer and Patrick, all ended up with top-10 positions. In the end, experience seemed to be a critical factor as afternoon winds played havok with final freestyle rounds. When the grass clippings had settled, and synchrotron radiation levels had dropped sufficiently, the awards ceremony began, and the only woman to claim the UFO title had proven once again why she and her dogs are STILL the best in world. Karin Actun and Ben took the Freestyle Championship, the Throw & Catch Championship, and the Overall Championship. Marcel Konings and Sam stepped up for the Dutch and managed to secure second place overall, while Karin and her 'other' dog Kira took the third spot.
It was an incredible, amazing weekend. This event is truly world class, and is made so by the outstanding organization, hospitality and of course the world class competitors that show up to compete.
Complete results are at the UFO website: www.ufoworldcup.org