A New Concept in Trialling ...

Above photo credit to Robyn Evan (Winpara Border Collies)

"Summer" Westurn Secret Sunrise AD JDX SPD

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This weekend just gone saw one of our WA Clubs try a new concept in our trialling format … Perth Training Club ran their Agility & Jumping trial on Monday 27th April with separate courses for all heights. All heights in all classes competed on courses specifically designed for that particular height and class for the very first time in Western Australia.
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It was very interesting … and I have to admit that if I hadn’t had my 200 dog entered I probably would have poo poo’d the whole idea. It was a long day, there was a lot of waiting around to your walk courses and a lot of course changing, etc. HOWEVER, when I finally walked the 200 Masters Jumping course I was pleasantly surprised. It was just delightful (thanks to judge Cindy Didsman) and to see the little dogs run this course it was even better. These little dogs didn’t have time to lose interest, wonder where they were going next, get mislead or stressed … they just flew!!! Dogs that usually lost their handlers on the big courses were focused and really enjoying themselves.
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With that in mind I understand the argument of having courses designed specifically for different heights, and until you’ve actually competed with an extra small (or extra large) dog I don’t know if could really appreciate the true value of this innovation. I certainly would not have supported it if I had only had a 500 dog!

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Unfortunately we don’t have the numbers in all heights in WA to really justify running all trials like this, and I must admit if I was only running a 500 dog I’m not sure that I would bother going to such a long day of trialling. There are certainly changes and improvements to be made to the whole process, and I doubt the 5 separate height courses will stick but I can certainly see a future with maybe splitting the heights into two sections - maybe 200 & 300 dogs on one course then 400, 500 & 600 dogs on another course, or maybe the 400’s could go with the lower heights? Who knows, but congratulations to the club for trying something new!
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Our trialling Results this weekend were fairly positive ....

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Sunday’s double header saw Summer win first place in Excellent Jumping in the morning, also gaining her JDX title, then placing 2nd in Excellent Agility and Monday saw her gain yet another Q in Excellent Jumping, and in 3rd place.
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Carrie (above) competed for the first time in 18 months on Monday, and blowing out the cobwebs in the Masters Jumping class she placed 6th with a lovely run! It was nice to have the spotty dog off the couch and out there having a blast again! She really is a fun dog! You can see her run on YouTube at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl0PKVk2nLI
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Krash came for a day out to the trial on Sunday, and took some time out to pose for the camera. Thanks to Graeme Fairley for these pic’s below (and above of Carrie) ...

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I'd like to thank all my team mates!

A little late with this update but hey, better late than never!

I'd like to thank all my team mates ... Team "Rocket Fuel" competed last weekend at the Agility Club Teams Event. Out of 19 teams we came in at 5th Place ... I gotta say myself, not a bad effort, considering all dogs on this team were mine, and run by me. Team Captain, Rocket, was not feeling the best so surrendered his runs for our reserve, however he was still there to cheer the team on. All kids did a great job: Ticket (who did an awesome Jumping round), baby Summer, Sketch and Carrie. Thanks kids!

Summer also competed in Strategic Pairs in the afternoon with partner, Pippa (another BC) & Amanda Houston. We came in 2nd Place for Summers very first "Q Card"!

Ticket & Rocket bring trophies home!

Well, I've got to be happy after this weekend's results. Saturday's Agility & Jumping trial was certainly much dryer than last weeks, almost hot ... although I'm not complaining - I'd rather be doing agility no matter what the weather is.

Ticket, Rocket, Sketch and Chilli all tried very hard and I'm pleased with all their efforts ... even though Sketch had a few "blonde" moments he still managed to finish each run with a smile on his face, as you can see in his pic's below ...

Young Chilli (my Show Ch Malinois) ran in Novice Jumping and apart from me sending her into the wrong end of the tunnel she did a lovely job ... yep, blame the handler, the dog did everything perfectly!

Tim Abidin took some lovely photo's of both Sketch and Chilli (above and below) - thanks Tim. More pic's of Tim's at http://www.yourdogphotos.com/

Ticket only ran in the jumping classes this day, her first run for the day in Open Jumping was an absolute shambles!!! Her start line stay wasn't comfortable, we had a number of bars down and then made up our own course to finish ... hmmm, maybe waiting around for several hours before her first run was not a good thing, and I should have known when I stepped away from her at the start line that things weren't quite right. However, Ticket's second run in Excellent Jumping was so clean and fast that I didn't even have time to enjoy it! She did a lovely Clear Run to take another "Q" towards her JDX title and win First Place!!! My goodness, this little girl is such a wild card!

For the first time in some 12 months Rocket (papillon) ran in Excellent Agility, I entered him thinking "it's about time he got out there and showed them that this little dog CAN tip the seesaw and do the weave poles" ... he was the very first dog to run for the day and, low and behold he ran clear, and in time for a "Q" and also won First Place!!! This would have to be the most unexpected win I've ever had in all my trialling days ... Rocket managed to conquer a challenge on course that most of the bigger dogs just couldn't handle! Sometimes (and only sometimes) it's an advantage to be small!

Rocket also ran Masters Jumping, after the agility run, and he did a lovely run around the course with a few extra jumps here and there ... not really what we wanted but anyway, he's off the hook after being such a good boy in the agility ring.

Thanks to Alison (Sketch's new friend) who was there to meet me at the finish line with rewards and hugs for Sketch ... a great day's trialling for all of us.

Next trial is this Friday/Saturday - the Western Australia State Trial!

Stay tuned for updates ...

Helen

The Wettest Agility Trial Ever!

I have never been to a wetter trial ever! Saturday’s Agility & Jumping Trials at Cloverdale really tested the dedication of WA’s agility fraternity … it rained, not showered but rained, from first thing in the morning NON-STOP until early afternoon! I don’t think anyone managed to avoid a soaking whilst walking courses and running their dogs. Wow! I can’t believe there are so many agility addicts here … most of us stuck it out to see it thru to the end ... we must be crazy! The wet weather gear was certainly tested to the limit and I have to say the judges and stewards must be commended for volunteering their time and keeping such cheerful attitudes in such awful conditions … and thank goodness for my Dita hockey shoes!

To top it off this was Chilli’s first trial, and her being not the keenest dog for agility I expected her to bail out when I asked her to play in the rain, but she didn’t … she did exceptionally well, apart from a big shake at the start and stepping over the start line … I returned her to her start position and she ran a lovely clear Novice Jumping round. Even though we were DQ’d for the start line trick I was really pleased with her very first try and she received many compliments from people who enjoyed seeing a Malinois in the ring and commented on how graceful she is ...

Ticket tried her very hardest in the conditions, our first round was nice however we missed a couple of bar jumps, but continued on as if nothing had happened and finished with all bars still in place and on a positive note (I told her she was the winner!) I have to say it takes a lot to make Ticket frown at the thought of running agility but she was not impressed with the consistent rain … however we continued thru the day and tackled Ticket's very first Snooker round, ending up with a Qualifier in 3rd place - that's her first "Q" towards her SD Title. I think she enjoyed the Snooker because we were able to make our own course - she even managed to slow down just enough to do some really nice contacts and complete all her weaves with me racing her to the end! Well done little girl!!!

Fortunately the Masters Jumping was run after lunch when the rain had finally subsided for an amazingly warm afternoon … lucky for little Rocket who had watched everyone get soaked all morning, from the comfort of his dry cabana crate, wondering just why he was there! We even had sunshine to walk the course … a lovely, flowing Masters Jumping course set by Richard Barville, with different challenges for all sizes of dogs (and handlers) … Rocket and I stepped to the start line, being the very last run for the whole day, the little fella ran as fast as he possibly could (as he always does) and yes, we ran clear and in time! Another Masters Jumping “Q” for little Rocket – still the only Papillon trialling in WA!

Boy was I glad to get home and have a nice warm shower and get into some dry clothes ... and I'll certainly be re-assessing my wet weather gear before heading off to Melbourne later this month.

'till next week ...
Helen