Our Coaches
FAST certainly has a diverse group of coaches. Their backgrounds vary, and below you will find details on their history and skills which contributes to our classes and the assistance we can provide.
To continue to provide a safe and quality learning environment for our agility class participants, our club requirement is that all of our instructors trial above the level they are teaching and continue to compete regularly and participate continually in clinics and seminars to ensure they understand and can demonstrate the most current training methods.
Christine Neklia-Thibodeau
Christine Neklia-Thibodeau has been involved with FAST from the beginning as one of the founding members. She has devoted her time to teaching for FAST and competing regularly through the Maritime Provinces.
Her passion for agility began with her late Boxer ‘Cyrus’. The team traveled regularly to competitions making their name (sometimes for the ham that Cyrus was!) In 2004, she represented FAST at the AAC Nationals in Montreal before retiring Cyrus in 2005 at the Masters Level.
Since that time Christine has gone on to compete with each of her dogs earning ATChC, Bronze and Silver Award of Merit's on her dogs.
Christine continues to train regularly and works with Repeat World Team Member Jessica Martin. She has also recently been influenced by Susan Garrett, Lynda Orton-Hill, Lauren Langman, Adrian Royackers, Theresa Rector as well as other local trainers such as Annette Duguay, John MacKinley and Julie Lizotte.
While working with various breeds as well as her own rescues Christine has overcome various training challenges by focusing her partnership with building value together and keeping training sessions short, fast and fun. Christine was actively involved with the 2010 CKC Agility World Team and travelled to cheer on Team Canada for the 2011 WAO. She teaches Starters thru Masters Handling and focuses her training mainly with shaping behaviors and proofing.
Allyson Mitton
Allyson Mitton came to FAST from Sussex in 2004 with her lively Border Collies. She has taken great pride in being an active member, sits on the executive, is the class co-ordinator and regularly teaches classes and seminars. Allyson has most recently organized and competed in the AAC 2008 Nationals in Sussex, NB.
She loves travelling throughout the Maritime Provinces competing and perfecting her training skills. Allyson’s dogs have made their Mom proud by competing at the Advanced/Masters Level as well as earning Top Dog Awards, Judges Choice and Titles.
In 2005 Allyson & Oreo qualified for the 2005 Nationals, Oreo accomplished both his ADC and SGDC titles prior to his retirement.
Super FAST Hershey began competing and qualified for the 2006 Nationals, and earned his ADC and SGDC titles in the same year. In 2007, this team was presented with a Maritime Most Improved Team award as well as making the list of AAC Top Dogs for the year. Allyson is currently using her skills to train her newest member of the pack, Gwynn, who recently made a successfull trial debut after a year full of learning.
Due to years of dedication to the dog world, Allyson brings to the club a background in obedience and behaviour issues with a strong knowledge of motivational and problem solving skills. She most enjoys teaching the beginner level as this is where the important foundation skills are laid.
Allyson has trained under such professionals as Jessica Martin, Brandi Jacques, Carolyn Dockrill, Julie Lizotte, Darr Houssen, Justine Davenport, John Mackinley and Theresa Rector. Most recently she attended the 'Say Yes' camp and recieved behaviour and agility training from top trainers Susan Garrett and Lynda Orton-Hill.
Melissa Noel
Melissa Noel has been involved with agility since 2002. As a member of FAST she began teaching, training & competing with her Rottweiler Ice who has since retired.
Melissa now competes with her rescue Border Collie X ‘Chance’, who received his ADC in his first 3 trials and has also placed as Top Dog. Melissa is also training her Border collie pup ‘Gamble’ who is showing amazing potential. Melissa teaches intro through to advanced sequencing and works with positive reinforcement and shaping behaviors.
She attends frequent seminars with John MacKinley of Nova Scotia and has attended seminars with Julie Lizotte.
Tony Henry
Tony Henry started training with FAST in the fall of 2004 with his Border collie Blaze and became a member in January 2005. Tony was a member of the Saint John obedience club and has a background in obedience training. Since starting to compete with Blaze in the summer of 2005 this team has earned their ADC, AADC and SGDC titles. They have also won several Top Dogs. At the 2006 New Brunswick / PEI Regional Tony and Blaze walked away with first place in the 22” division as well as second place over all in points with 485.
In 2007 they placed third in the 22" Regular Division and once again qualified for the Nationals, at the Championships they dynamic duo turned heads on their amazing Gamblers runs and placed 2nd, 3rd and 5th in the classes. Tony and Blaze were also given one of three “Most improved teams” handed out by their piers. Tony continues to train regularly with John MacKinley out of N.S. and Julie Lizote from N.B. Tony joined as an instructor late 2005 and currently works with the Intro thru Masters Handling.
Barb Curry
Barb Curry started training with FAST in the spring of 2006 with her Border
Collie Doogal and became a member in June 2006.
Since joining FAST, Barb and Doogal have taken seminars with John MacKinley,
and have been training hard and began competing in the 2008 season. In her
first year of trialing she has received her Starter Standard Title and her
Starter Games Title.
Barb has developed a strong working relationship that
she continuously finds fun ways to practice in every facet she can. Barb
joined FAST as an instructor at the beginning of 2008 helping with the
basics as one of the Jumps and Tunnel instructors.
Kathy Vanderbeck
Kathy came to FAST in 2008 to begin classes with her Sheltie, Tucker. After completing all
necessary classes Kathy and Tucker became members of FAST. Thanks to lots of hard work Kathy
and Tucker are quickly moving through the ranks having already received their Starters Titles
in Jumpers and Standards in the 2009 season.
Kathy may still be at the beginning of her agility career with Tucker but she has a great way
with people and dogs and is a welcome addition to our group of instructors.
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