The Overcome Agility trial was a success. The equipment is packed back up on the trailer and most of the paperwork completed.Bern was entered in the 7 titling classes (2 standard, 2 snooker, 1 gamble, 1 jumper, and 1 pairs). He struggled with the weaves all weekend. I thought we helped them last week. Maybe Tracey and I working his weaves on Wed and Thurs for a few minutes was too much.. I'm hoping he was just stiff and sore. We managed a gamble leg (2nd place) on Sat morning (no weaves required). He came close to a Q in snooker, skidded off the table in standard and did not Q in pairs due to his pairs partner's sudden fright of contacts (see Grace's discussion below). On Sun I front crossed too far behind a jump and shot him over a wrong jump for an "off course" in jumpers. We did manage a Q (1st Place) in snooker on Sun including 6 ugly executed weaves poles. Neither standard run (Sat or Sun) had weave pole execution. Weave pole reform school here we come!
Bern also struggled a little with the A-frame over the weekend. I decided to not cut his really long nails right before the trial to keep his feet from being too sore. In retrospect, I think this may be been a mistake. He goes to see Aunt Noel at the grooming salon on Tues... Aunt Noel will trim back the toenails before the next trial.
Since this was Grace's first trial and she doesn't weave closed poles (in fact, channels at 6" are still a challenge), I only entered her in 3 runs (Sat gamble, Sat pairs, and Sun jumpers). Next time I will make sure she has a least 2 runs/day to keep her interest up. Her Sat courses involved contact obstacles which she wouldn't do. She loves them at the agility field but decided that Monica's at the show were scary. I think I will contact everyone I know with large agility equipment at their house asking if Grace can come play on the their contact obstacles for a few minutes. The last class on Sun was jumpers... I was tired, Grace was tired so I had some concerns. Grace ran the entire course in <22 seconds which was much less than the standard course time of 31 seconds. Her first agility placement (4th) at a trial.
I could go on with more details but this is the important Path Forward events from the weekend that I want to capture.
P.S. Both of Grace's measurements over the weekend were below 18" so I'm moving her AKC entry to place her in the 16" jump height class - not 20".
