Dear competitors!
First of all, I am very happy to be judging at EO 2027, and I hope that as a handler you will enjoy the event just as much as I will.
My name is Patrick Tunders, I am 54 years old, and I live in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands. Currently, we have five dogs: two Malinois, one Sheltie, and two Border Collies.
I started my agility journey in 1998 with my first dog, Arco. Together, we competed in many prestigious events, including the FCI Agility World Championship (AWC), the European Open (EO), and the Belgian Shepherd World Championships. Later, I began competing with my Border Collie, Mekx, and had the honour of representing the Netherlands multiple times at the FCI AWC. Today, I compete in Grade 3 with my Border Collie, TJ, while also starting my journey with a young Malinois.
As a competitor, it is not always easy to understand the decisions judges make. Wanting to gain a deeper understanding of the sport and its regulations, I decided to become a judge myself. I completed my judging qualification in May 2014 and have enjoyed designing and judging courses ever since.
Agility has evolved tremendously since I first started in 1998. As judges, we strive to create courses that are both challenging and enjoyable, offering a balanced combination of speed, technical skills, and flow for both dogs and handlers.
I look forward to meeting all of you at EO 2027 in the Netherlands. See you there!
