JAN BATEM

The arrival of my Border Collie Shine in 2019 marked the beginning of a new chapter in my passion for dog sports. During the unique years of 2020 and 2021, I was introduced to scent detection and practical tracking — an experience that sparked my lasting enthusiasm for mantrailing.

In September 2020, I attended my first mantrailing introduction with GAK9 trainer Hans Mergits in Wilrijk. Both Shine and I were immediately fascinated by the complexity and teamwork required in this discipline. Under the guidance of Hans Mergits and GAK9 trainer Ester van Summeren, and through various seminars and workshops, we continued to develop our skills and achieved impressive results together:

• Level 4 Field
• Level 4 Rural
• Level 3 Suburban
• Level 2 Urban

Encouraged by these accomplishments and the inspiring GAK9 community, I began the GAK9 Sport Trailer Trainer certification program in February 2025, under the mentorship of Ester van Summeren.

That same year, I founded MTTK – Mantrailen Track @ Trailing Kempen, starting with just two students. Thanks to growing interest and dedication, this initiative has since expanded into a thriving group of 45 motivated trainees.

Throughout my education, I have been able to apply my knowledge and experience in guiding my teams. A memorable highlight came in September 2025, when five MTTK teams, evaluated by Ester, successfully achieved their Level 1 Rural certification.

I look forward to continuing my journey within the GAK9 family, further expanding my expertise, sharing knowledge, and growing alongside fellow trainers and teams in this remarkable sport.

Jan Baten
[email protected]
+32 468 15 30 56