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The A-frame from our AKC titling Standard Novice run.
Our Beginings...
Quinn and I entered a few ASCA and NADAC trials in the late spring/ early summer of 2007, to test the waters. Our agility trainer suggested we could utilize these venues as one would a match.
It was a super experience. We joined friends at their set-up, and walked the courses together as well. It was fun.
I was an inexperienced handler with a dear sweet Quinn, who needed to be kept busy least his curiosity lead him astray.
We even got a couple of Qs. We also learned that we needed to build our connection as a team... fair enough.
We had our fun then put trialing on the back burner whilst we continued to train in agility, competitive obedience and began a new adventure...herding.
I will list the results from our trials with the most recent, first, followed by the preceding events. Please scroll down to share in our latest escapades!
Synopsis of our AKC agility trial accomplishments:
Dates Completed AKC Titles
01/19/08 Novice JWW
01/20/08 Novice Standard
03/16/08 Open JWW
05/18/08 Open Standard
We will now run in the Excellent A class for both Standard and JWW
So many trials, so little time & money!
No agility trials on our calendar at this time.
To check out all the fun we had in the spring of 2008!
Please scroll down to view our journey in agility up to the most recent of our agility trials, Sunday, May 18th.
Twas an exciting day shared with our agility pals Rita & Blur!
We earned our AKC Open Agility certificate on May 18th 2008. Yea Team!
OA or Open Agility Open is one level up from Novice, the courses have more obstacles and are more technical, requiring an advanced degree of skills.
Often referred to as 'Standard" or Regular
The courses in this class incorporate all the agility obstacles;
Jumps - bar jumps, wing jumps, single bar, double or triple bar spreads, tire jump, broad jump
Contacts - A-frame, dogwalk, pause table, teeter,
Tunnels - Chute (collapsed tunnel), pipe tunnel (straight or curved)
Weave poles - 12-poles in Open and Excellent
05/18/08 Simi Valley Kennel Club
@ Happy Dog Agility, Moorpark CA
Open Standard 20" Judge: Pat Charlton
Distance: yards SCT: seconds
Score: 100 Time: 53.84 seconds
2nd Place OA Titling leg!
Excellent JWW 20" Judge: Debby Wheeler
Distance: yards SCT: seconds
Score: NQ Time: seconds
05/04/08 Hollywood Dog Obedience Club
@ Gabrieleno Equestrian Park, Lakeview Terrace CA
Open Standard 20" Judge: Dan Butcher
Distance: 177 yards SCT: 71 seconds
Score: NQ Time: 70.52 seconds
Excellent JWW 20" Judge: Sharon Kihara
Distance: 158 yards SCT: 42 seconds
Score: NQ Time: 48.45 seconds
Upcoming AKC trial - Sunday
04/20/08 Portuguese Water Dog Club
@ Woodley Park Section 2, Van Nuys CA
Open Standard 20" Judge: Peter Liu
Distance: 150 yards SCT: 62 seconds
Score: NQ Time: 64 seconds
Excellent JWW 20" Judge: Cindy Mildbrand
Distance: 162 yards SCT: 43 seconds
Score: NQ Time: 0 seconds
AKC Trial - Sunday
04/06/08 Tri-Valley Shetland Sheepdog Club
@ Buenaventura State Park, Ventura CA
Open Standard 20" Judge: Melody Sudick
Distance: 162 yards SCT: 71 seconds
Score: NQ Time: 52.11 seconds
Excellent JWW 20" Judge: Cindy Macklin
Distance: 163 yards SCT: 43 seconds
Score: NQ Time: 51.80 seconds
AKC TRIAL - SUNDAY
03/23/08 Hollywood Dog Obedience Club
@ Woodley Park section 1, in Van Nuys, CA
Open Standard 20" Judge: Sharon Kihara
Distance: 169 yards SCT: 69 seconds
Score: 95 Time: 60.99 seconds
1st Place 2nd OA leg
Excellent JWW 20" Judge: Janet Budzynsli
Distance: 167 yards SCT: 45 seconds
Score: NQ Time: 0
OAJ or Open Jumpers with Weaves
For those not familiar with this title, the courses in this class consist primarily of Jumps with Weave Poles.
Open - Refers to the level of difficulty, Novice being the first level, Open being the second step up the ladder.
The next level in AKC Agility is, Excellent.
To obtain an AKC Agility Novice, Open or Excellent title a dog must earn 3 qualifying scores under at least 2 different judges for each class. AKC offers three titling classes: Standard, Jumpers with Weaves and
FAST.
Once an Excellent title has been attained you can continue to hone your skills and competitive edge as you work toward higher awards of achievement.
Meanwhile you are really having a blast at the park with your dog with friends!
AKC TRIAL - SUNDAY
03/16/08 Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles
@ Woodley Park section 2, in Van Nuys, CA
Open Standard 20" Judge: Keith Harold
Distance: 167 yards SCT: 68 seconds
Score: (NQ) Time: None
Open JWW 20" Judge: Donna Gomer
Distance: 140 yards SCT: 40 seconds
Score: 100 (Q) Time: 30.45 seconds
1st Place Titling leg OAJ!
AKC TRIAL - SUNDAY
03/09/08 High Desert Agility Club
@ Woodley Park section 1, in Van Nuys, CA
Open Standard 20" Judge: Ann McQuillen
Distance: 193 yards SCT: 78 seconds
Score: 95 (Q) Time: 52.06 seconds
3rd Place 1st OA leg!
Open JWW 20" Judge: Candy Gaiser
Distance: 144 yards SCT: 41 seconds
Score: 100 (Q) Time: 33.49 seconds
2nd Place 2nd leg OAJ!
02/23/08
USDAA Debut!
USDAA West Valley Dog Sports
Industry Hills CA
We entered two classes, Regular - Starter level and Pairs Relay - Starter level.
Our partners for Pairs were Ann Hills and Trooper.
Quinn and I had a fabulous time. We ran the two courses as a team, friends cheering on the sidelines (thanks to all YOU rock!)
Unfortunately there was not a photographer at this event.
AKC TRIAL - SUNDAY DAY 2
01/20/08 Simi Valley Kennel Club
@ Gabrieleno Equestrian Park in Lakeview Terrace, CA
Novice A Standard 20" Judge: Mark Upshaw
Distance: 130 yards SCT: 63 seconds
Score: 90 (Q) Time: 49.39 seconds
1st Place NA Title!
Open JWW 20" Judge: Deborah Funk
Distance: 132 yards SCT: 38 seconds
Score: 95 (Q) Time: 36.37 seconds
3rd Place 1st leg OAJ!
AKC TRIAL - SATURDAY DAY 1
01/19/08 Simi Valley Kennel Club
@ Gabrieleno Equestrian Park in Lakeview Terrace, CA
Novice JJW 20" Judge: Mark Upshaw
Distance: 102 yards SCT: 34 seconds
Score: 95 (Q) Time: 23.44 seconds
1st Place NAJ Title!
NA or Novice Agility
Often referred to as 'Standard" or Regular
The courses in this class incorporate all the agility obstacles;
Jumps - bar jumps, wing jumps, single bar, double or triple bar spreads, tire jump, broad jump
Contacts - A-frame, dogwalk, pause table, teeter,
Tunnels - Chute (collapsed tunnel), pipe tunnel (straight or curved)
Weave poles - 6-poles in Novice 12-poles in Open and Excellent
NAJ or Novice Jumpers with Weaves
For those not familiar with this title, the courses in this class consist primarily of Jumps with Weave Poles.
Novice - Refers to the level of difficulty.
The next level in AKC Agility is Open, followed by Excellent.
To obtain an AKC Agility Novice, Open or Excellent title a dog must earn 3 qualifying scores under different judges for each class. AKC offers three titling classes: Standard, Jumpers with Weaves and FAST.
The courses are different every time you compete. Courses are designed by the judge, then submitted to AKC for approval prior to the trial (competition).
Returning to the Agility Trial Trail with:
AKC DEBUT WEEKEND - Day 1
01/12/08 Golden State Rottweiler Club
@ Woodley Park in Van Nuys CA
We started the morning with a 7:45 AM herding lesson.
Quinn and I worked our brains and tushies off!
There was actually a CPE Agility Trial in progress at the ranch as we headed off for our very first AKC Agility trial.
We had a super morning at the trial watching our friends in Excellent and Open, practicing obedience, some practice jump work and hanging out.
Oppppssss...I missed the JWW walk-thru!
A classmate was on hand with a synopsis of the course; she was right on the mark and it ran well! Only one bug-a-boo. As we approached the far corner something caught Quinn's eye. He ran right up to the ring rope, I thought it was all over....but all our training paid off - he called off. He got his brain back in the game, and ran the course CLEAN!
For our Standard course he was ready to rock 'n roll! He was engaged. Still not sure if he self-released at the startline or if 'I' disengaged for a split second. It was amazingly fun and a CLEAN run!
Here are the results as reported by the trial secretary to AKC:
01/12/08
Novice A Standard 20" Judge: Dan Butcher
Distance: 147 yards SCT: 70 seconds
Score: 100 (Q) Time: 41.89 seconds
1st Place 1st Leg
Novice A JWW 20" Judge: Pat Charlton
Distance: 125 yards SCT: 42 seconds
Score: 100 (Q) Time: 33.02 seconds
1st Place 1st Leg
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