Sponsorships
Kirsty Armitstead
Sweet Tooth Toys is proud to sponsor agility handler, judge, and trainer, Kirsty Armitstead.
Having known Kirsty for many years, this partnership is particularly special for us. Her ethos and positive training methods perfectly mirror our own passion for motivating dogs and building confident bonds through play.
So far, with her dog Cuba, she has achieved:
Crufts 2025 Novice Cup Reserve
Crufts 2025 Novice Cup Agility Round Winner
British Agility Intermediate Champion
Winner of the Quarter Final Agility Stakes at KCI
Championship Final competitor at Welsh KC
Semi Finalist Intermediate Stakes at LIHS
Crufts Intermediate Singles Winner at North Derbyshire Championship Show
Crufts 2026 Intermediate Singles Finalist
We are thrilled to welcome Kirsty to the Sweet Tooth Toys team and support her as she continues her incredible agility journey.
Kirsty writes:
I started agility in 2018 with my rescue dog Inca. Little did I realise the journey I would go on from there. I had done a lot of training in obedience with Inca using food so it took her a while to understand that toys could also be a reward. She patiently trusted me and soon she absolutely loved playing tug together as a reward and her drive and enthusiasm increased as a result. In our first competitive year, Inca and I competed at the UKA Grand Finals and we won the Beginners Steeplechase.
Unfortunately, due to injury, Inca had to retire. My second dog, Reggie, sadly had Early Take Off (ETO) Syndrome which is a condition where a dog misjudges the distance to a jump so takes off too far back resulting in knocked bars. I decided that I needed to put his safety first so he also retired.
Then came my perfect super smart girl, Cuba. Her breeder had done lots of work with toys before she came to me so she absolutely loves to play with tug toys and often brings me ball toys at home. Cuba has made so many of my dreams come true. She is my first G7 dog and I’m really excited what the future holds for us.
Bonny is my youngest dog. She has lots of enthusiasm but still has lots to learn about life and agility. We are working to build the right foundations for her at her own pace. She loves to tug and I’m excited to start competing her when she is ready.
So why did I want to work with Sweet Tooth Toys?
In January 2026, I started teaching agility full time under the name of Affinity Agility.
For me, the relationship you build with your dog is fundamental to dog training and toy play is a key part of building that positive partnership.
Cat and Gary at Sweet Tooth Toys have been there with me from the day I started agility at my first club. They’ve supported my journey and were there with me when I won my first ever final with Inca.
They love their dogs and have always built strong and positive relationships with them. They hold the exact same values that I do and I know they have put their heart and soul into this venture. I’m really excited to be part of the Sweet Tooth Toys team!
Sophie Macbeth
Sweet Tooth Toys is delighted to sponsor agility handler, Sophie Macbeth. Sophie has been competing in agility since the 1990s, below are some of her more recent achievements with her working cocker spaniels:
2019 Small Agility Championship Winner at Lune with Kima
2020 Reserve Champions as a member of the Small Team at Crufts with Kima
2024 Small Agility Championship Winner at Wyre with Kima
2025 WAO England Team member with Iggy
2026 GB SAO Team member with Buddy
2026 UK IMCA Team member with Buddy and Team Reserve with Iggy
Sophie writes:
Most people know me as a spaniel handler, but I was previously owned by border collies. At 13 years old, inspired by John Noakes on Blue Peter (yes, I am that old), I persuaded my parents to let me have my first collie. I did obedience work with her, and she was my best friend. Once I left home and had a life of my own, I got my next collie, Enya. I soon realised she needed a job to do, so in the 1990s I started Agility - I was hooked and my passion and obsession with agility began.
Dogs and agility have been part of my life for the past 40 years, apart from an 8-year break when life took over. 10 Border Collies and 3 Working Cockers later, I am still out there competing and, although not as young as I used to be, I can still give some of the youngsters a run for their money.
My first love was collies, and I had some success with my dogs including being part of the winning team at Crufts in 1999 and competing in the Novice Olympia final in 2008. Sadly, I had to retire 2 out of the 3 collies I owned, and I needed another dog to work. 4 collies would not fit in my car…. enter the working cockers. Kima, my first cocker, was just supposed to be a bit of fun, but she turned out to be rather special. As well as giving me two fabulous litters, she also won me 2 Championship tickets - something I never thought I would achieve. Sadly, she is no longer with us, but I currently run her daughter, Iggy and her grandson, Buddy - both now at Grade 7. The dogs are my family and my husband, Paul, and I adore them. We also have a young collie who is currently growing up and enjoying man trailing and canicross, whilst getting her head around agility.
I first discovered Sweet Tooth Toys when I won one as a prize in a class that they had sponsored. Buddy just loved it, so I asked them to make me a pocket-sized version that I could carry with me in the ring. Cat listened to the brief and bingo - I had the perfect set of toys for my dog.
There are a lot of toys out there, but I am so excited to have discovered Sweet Tooth Toys as I just love the ethos behind this company, and my dogs just love their toys. I am so proud that they have decided to sponsor us and I look forward to working with them to help them get the recognition and support they deserve.
