Clean Run Magazine - August 2007 - 81

Exhibitors had lots of positive comments about the format, especially being able to run the identical course a second time. This gave exhibitors an opportunity to push even harder for speed and try different handling strategies. They also liked the strategy of using the mulligan option and certainly enjoyed winning cash back! Check out www.sweepstakesagility.com for more information on this new, exciting venue. © MATTALLISONPHOTOGRAPYHY.COM United States Dog Agility Association By Staff United Kennel Club By Staff Congratulations to UGRACH Clement’s Second Chance Halo, a Havanese owned by Karen R. Barth, who as of April 12, 2007 topped both the UAGI and UAGII Agility All-Star rankings. For rankings through that same time period UGRACH UCD Judons Heart’s Desire, a Doberman Pinscher owned by Judi and Don Shiffer, held the number one spot for the UAGIII rankings. Kudos! There are only three opportunities left this year to snag a cherished ﬁnalist slot in the Grand Prix of Dog Agility World Championships and to gain opportunities to advance in other tournament competitions. This will be the 20th anniversary of the Grand Prix and the challenges and fun are sure to be at an all time high at the Cynosport World Games in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s not too late to qualify since two qualiﬁcations, which may still be earned through September 16, are all it takes to participate in this fantastic event. For those who want to try to advance to semiﬁnals in Steeplechase or Grand Prix before getting to Scottsdale, you will want to make your way to one of the remaining regional championships leading up to this year’s Cynosport World Games. The choices include the Southwestern Regional Championships hosted by the Bay Team in Sunnyvale, California, on September 1-3; the South Central Regional Championships hosted by the Dog Agility Working Group in Ft. Worth, Texas, on September 7-9; and the North Central Regional Championships hosted by the Canine Combustion Dog Training Club in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on September 14-16. There will also be a Type 2 Regional Championship on September 15 and 16 in Mexico City. If you can’t make it to one of the regional championships, don’t think that means you can’t win. Last year, several tournament champions earned their way to the top without succeeding in regional competition. In other news, Bloomington Obedience Training Club completed the first official League Play competition. USDAA has ﬁnalized the paperwork and the deﬁnition of the simple process for offering and recording results of League Play, which is much like a bowling league or match play in golf.The general goals of League Play are to enhance the training experience through fun competition in a training setting, to offer the chance for newbies to be introduced to a low-pressure trialing atmosphere, and to provide experienced trainers with a regularly scheduled “fun match” to hone their skills. League Play has a ﬂexible format, with classes spanning from a few to several weeks, and it does not have many of the formal regulations required in a normal trial. In short, it is both recreational and educational competition. League Play is very ﬂexible and is available to non-USDAA groups and afﬁliates alike. League Play has many beneﬁts, including the potential to develop future trainers and competitors and to promote camaraderie and good sportsmanship. Since it takes place during the week at regular training sessions, it takes nothing away from a competitor’s trialing experience; it can only make it better. For more information visit www.usdaa.com, or contact the USDAA ofﬁce at (972) 487-2200. D August 07 | Clean Run 81

http://www.sweepstakesagility.com http://www.usdaa.com http://www.HIQChallenge.com http://www.HIQChallenge.com http://www.HIQChallenge.com

Clean Run Magazine - August 2007

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