McCook Agility Trial

At our agility class, our teacher Anne Riba suggested that we could break new ground by blogging live from an agility trial.  So, here we are.  It is Sunday morning in McCook, IL and we are at the McCook Athletic & Exposition Center (or MAX) where they offer free wireless access in an air conditioned indoor facility with artificial turf.  This is an all breed AKC Trail sponsored by the Great Lakes Belgian Tervuren Club and the Golden Retriever Club of Illinois.

We took a day off from C-Line on Friday so we could compete on all three days.  They will have to make the plastic name badge holders without us.

Our first run on Friday was in the Jumpers with Weaves Agility Class.  While I jumped and weaved, my first jump was on top of the jump instead of over it.  Let’s take a look.

In our second run of the day we were in Excellent A Standard Agility Class.  We had an excellent, blue ribbon run and my partner, Joe Hopper, and I took first place.

Here is the Standard Agility run:

In our second day we started off with a run in Excellent A Standard Class.  It was not a good day for the table as I did not want to go up there.  And once I was up I did not want to stay there.  Did I confuse the number, “Three” with the word  “Free?”  Perhaps, perhaps not.  I’m not saying.  Now it is time for Paul to start shopping for a table so we can practice at home.  (On the table you must stay for a count of five in either a sit or down as specified by the judge).

Here is the Standard Agility run.

Minutes later it was off to Jumpers with Weaves.  Going into the competition in Jumpers with Weaves I had two out of three legs of my Excellent A title.  I had a nice run and came in second place.  This allows me to move up into Excellent B.  Excellent B is the top class so now I will compete with the fastest border collies.  A quick review on agility classes: You start in Novice (A for first time dogs and handlers, B if you have won a title or if your person has).  From Novice you move to Open Class.  From Open Class it is onto Excellent A and finally to Excellent B.  In Excellent B there is no place to go, but you start acquiring points toward a Master Agility Champion title (or MACH).  My next run will be in Excellent B where a qualifying run earns points.  More on that when it happens.

From Jumpers I went on to FAST Class.  My run was clean (and fast) and I took first place.  Here is the run:

Sunday starts a new day and I started with Standard Class Excellent A.  I took an off course and once again suggested that Paul really needs to get a table on order.  Here is a look at my first run of the day:

My second run was in FAST class.  It was a surprise because we don’t usually run fast class until the end of the day.  I was the only dog to qualify so I got 1st place.  Since this was my third “Q” in FAST Class (and my third first place in open fast class), I received my title and now move in to Excellent.

Now I am officially an excellent dog in all events (and ways). Take a look at my run:

The final run was in Jumpers.  It was my first run in Excellent B.  It was great right up until the end when I missed the tunnel.  I can’t wait to try again next time!  Here is the final run:

Thanks for reading and watching.

–Lancelot

McCormick Dog Show – Agility for Lancelot

You have probably noticed that I have not had a post since winning my five blue ribbons in agility in January.  Now I am pleased to announce that at the McCormick IKC dog show in February I won another four blue ribbons in the agility competition, plus I had a qualifying run (a run where I did everything correctly, but where I did not place in the top three).

It was three days of fun at the huge McCormick Convention Center in downtown Chicago.  Six thousand dogs and lots of people to primp them, play with them and admire them.  The McCormick dog show is a “benched” show which means the dogs are there all day with their people and available to answer questions (the people mostly answer, but several of the dogs had plenty to say).

The people near us had a sign asking that their dogs not be petted without permission.  The dogs clearly did not make the sign.  If they did, the sign would have said, “PET ME!”  Note that the signs were nicely laminated with C-Line Cleer Adheer laminating film.

Over the three days I had nine agility runs – three in Standard Class, three runs in Jumpers with Weaves and three runs in FAST Class.  I have videos of my best seven.  Regarding the other two, let’s just say I hate yappy dogs. Their people should give them more treats.  You can’t bark while you are eating a treat.

Friday’s Agility Runs

My first run was in the Novice Class.  As a review, you start in Novice.  Once you have successfully completed three qualifying runs under two different judges you get your Novice title and you can move to Open.  From Open, once you have successfully completed three qualifying runs under two different judges you get your Open title and you can move to Excellent.  I’ll talk more about Excellent Class when I get there!

The run above was really picture perfect and allowed me to earn my Novice title in Standard Class agility.

A Blue Ribbon Weekend for Lancelot

It was indeed a blue ribbon weekend as I competed in my second agility trial and won an amazing five blue ribbons for first place finishes.  This agility trial, held in McCook, Illinois featured three different competitions: Jumpers With Weaves, Standard and FAST Class.  We ran all three on both Saturday and Sunday.

Here Paul congratulates me on winning my ribbons:

Lancelot is awarded 5 blue ribbons

At the risk of boring you, here is a look at the five agility runs: