LEAP Agility Club welcomes nominations for our "Ellen De Wolf Distinguished Service Award". This award will be presented to a LEAP member in memory Ellen DeWolf, who passed away in late 2010. Ellen was one of our most inspirational, pioneer members.
Ellen and her husband Gordon were at the forefront in introducing and promoting the sport of dog agility in New England. Their lovely home and farm, Merryfields, was the site of some of the first agility workshops, trials, and classes in New England. In 1999, Ellen along with several other agility fans led the effort to form the LEAP Agility Club of Central MA. From the initial meetings in 1999, through the AKC club approval process, to the first official AKC trial in 2002, Ellen played a central role in LEAP's growing reputation as a club that welcomed newcomers to the sport, rewarded service and hard work, and supported its members both in their competitive and personal lives. She served as Treasurer of the new club as well as hosting club meetings, matches, training clinics, and fun activities at Merryfields. It is true to say that LEAP owes much of its initial and ongoing success to Ellen's vision, dedicated service, caring attitude and generous support.
In many ways Ellen personified the true spirit of agility. At the heart of her love and dedication to the sport was her belief that agility was all about having a fun working relationship with your dog, continuing to learn and perfect dog and handler skills while engaging in friendly competition and most importantly supporting your friends and club through both the good and bad times.
2025 Recipient
Noreen Bennett
Under Noreen's leadership the club has grown and evolved in meaningful ways including broadening its focus beyond agility, expanding membership, organizing a wide variety of seminars, and serving as a strong voice for competitors within the AKC. She is consistently kind and supportive to fellow competitors, even during her own challenging times. Her genuine passion for agility and the broader dog sports community is both genuine and infectious. Many members have shared how Noreen made them feel welcome and valued, especially when they were new to the sport. Her ongoing dedication to her dogs and eagerness to keep learning continue to inspire. She truly is a pillar of this community and is highly deserving of this award.