Clean Run Magazine - June 2007 - 57

2 LOP 3 7 1 8 10 4 2 3 9 6 FC 1 We need Judge’s Debriefing submissions from all agility venues. If you’re an agility judge and would like to share a course you designed with our readers, please contact Sharon Woolman at Debriefings@cleanrun.com for more information. 5 for all jump heights, which is tough to do at times. As expected the course ran fast with nice ﬂow and a theme that seemed to exude speed. The subtle challenges presented handlers with off-course options I don’t think they expected. The ﬁrst challenge was the option from jump #2 to the #3 tunnel. That choice not only presented an off-course to jump #4 but also the discrimination to the opposite tunnel entrance. Most handlers chose to do a lead-out pivot as shown in Figure 2. I noted very few offcourse problems here. Most were from dog/handler teams that had very fast dogs without a start-line stay. I do remember seeing one overstimulated terrier go into the incorrect tunnel entrance and then continue to rapidly execute the tunnel over and over until he ﬁnally realized that the other part of his team was walking off the course. Handlers could easily draw their dog to jump #4 with no off-course to #2. Overall, if the handler’s direction was clear, this opening sequence, was very fast 4 10 and accurate, allowing teams to drive up through a fairly straight jump sequence that began with jump #4. The execution of #4 to #7 required a deceleration in speed as well as an observation that jump #6 was slightly offset. Those that pushed out too early or too much over #7 and #8 (light blue path) got an off-course over the #6 jump (orange path) as shown in Figure 3. Most handlers executed a front cross as they sent their teammate to jump #7 while pulling to jump #8 and pushing to jump #9. There were some awesome, knockyour-socks-off weave entries at the #10 poles. Several teams had knocked bars at #9 if handlers did not set their dogs up straight for the approach as seen in Figure 3. The next opportunity was at another option box (boy, do I love these). With a fast weaving dog and too nice of a line from jump #11 to jump #12, the offcourse to #5 became a reality for several teams as shown in Figure 4. No team took the off-course dummy jump after #11. 5 14 13 My only observation from jumps #13 through #16 was that if a handler pulled out too much and did not communicate a slight push to #15 and/or rotated in a bit too much or too early to set up for the triple, the team often had a run-out at #15 as seen in Figure 5. The closing sequence posed one challenge through another box of jumps. Teams executed their choice of a front or a rear cross, either between jumps #16 and #17 or jumps #17 and #18, to put the dog on the left for the ending. Several attempts at front crosses after #16 led to an offcourse to jump #4 as shown in Figure 6. A rear cross at the same location resulted in knocked bars on the triple. I believe all crosses executed after #17 led to a successful conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the dog and handler teams execute this course and everyone appeared to have fun. A couple stood there scratching their heads at the unexpected off-courses. A word to the wise: sometimes those straightforward courses pose the greatest challenge! D 6 15 FC 17 11 13 1 15 12 16 5 1 16 17 4 1 Terri Campbell has been involved with Huntsville Obedience Training Club (HOTC), located in Huntsville, Alabama, since 1988 and was one of the core members who helped to kick off their agility program in 1996. She teaches and competes in obedience and agility, primarily AKC. She and her husband Chuck who also competes in agility share their home with two Goldens, two English Springer Spaniels, and two cats (a Siamese that does agility and a Scottish Fold). Terri is a business systems analyst and is in her fourth year as an AKC agility judge. June 07 | Clean Run 57

Clean Run Magazine - June 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - June 2007