A DOG trainer from Okehampton and four of her canine companions will represent Great Britain at the 2016 IFCS World Agility Championships in the Netherlands next year.

Lauren Langman has qualified with four of her dogs, border collies Reef, Tiki and Fiji and two-year-old working cocker spaniel Blink.

Working as a professional dog trainer from her farm near Okehampton, Lauren competes in agility at level seven, the highest rank of competition in the British agility arena, and has previously represented Team GB at the World Agility Championships including in 2015 in Italy.

She has had great success in competitions in recent years, including victory with Fiji at the prestigious Kennel Club Olympia Agility Stakes finals in London in 2014.

The 2016 world championships take place in the Netherlands in the village of Laag-Soeren. Lauren and the British team will face stiff competition from across the globe including the USA and Canada.

Lauren said she felt that Team GB had a good chance of winning prizes at the championships.

She said: ‘Team GB are strong and they train hard. This year they came back with a team gold, they certainly have winning ability. It’s always an amazing feeling to be asked to represent your country and to be selected amongst the best in your sport. I’m so passionate about what we do and so enthused by our agility, it never quite seems to be real that we get to play at it for real on a big stage!’

Lauren felt her four loyal dogs will do the team proud.

‘Reef is the eldest of the dogs qualified. At almost nine years old he is almost a veteran in his game, but he is one of our best dogs in the sense he is super fun but also knows how to get the job done and has a great sense of humour doing it. Tiki is a great little dog full of heart and spirit and always tries her hardest for you. She has been to all the big events, Crufts, Olympia and has had a great season, winning four championship tickets and making her an agility champion.

‘Fiji is a real wild child, full of fun and mischief and a great dog to work with who loves to try and works super hard at every level. She is super keen and always pushes you to try harder.

‘I have high hopes for little Blink and at two years old she is pushing me to the limits. She is so naturally competitive and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.’