The agility thread

A podium's a podium ! We should have been at Bolesworth this weekend but Ziggy is lame so I had to withdraw which I'm a bit gutted about. I did go along to watch for a bit yesterday as I was so bored at home, I'd even taken Friday off work :( . It's a fab venue but the really suffered from Storm Dave last night and sadly a spaniel got spooked and has run off. Just hope she finds her way back now the wind has dropped a bit 🤞
 
Excellent news about the wee spaniel.

We're back from two days at Vision, 1st G6-7 jumping and 3rd G6-7 agility for the small one. Mixed bag for large one as usual. Her agility was crap (0/4 A frames 🙄) and we were scuppered by some course designs today with bizarre lines, but she did actually try her best on those that suited and we had some nearly moments. Best run of the weekend was a 19 second jumping run with just one pole down. And 8/8 startlines held, so small victory.
 
No placing for us yesterday and a flat tyre meant I could only walk the first agility course once, and I handled it really badly from many angles 🙄 he felt pressurised in that run and as we were E by the second jump I handed him into the weaves and saw his confidence grow. We did get all six contacts which was fab, and I ran the second agility course exactly as I planned it and was delighted with how great he was. One pop out at the second weave pole and time faults meant no placings.

We had nine time faults. There were 11 jumps in that round. He wastes so much time in the air that I guess faults are inevitable.
 
Arthur managed 2 wins in combined G6-7 agility at vision, and 2nd in the Grand National Qualifier which puts us in 6th place in the league at the halfway point.
We also had some courses with bizarre lines, some of which I withdrew from, 2 occasions when he broke his wait and jumped the first jump, so I eliminated him putting him back which naturally was followed by a perfect run.
Was really happy with his dogwalks in particular getting very low hits, in fact he had 100% contacts all 4 days.
Going back outside has highlighted my own lack of speed though.
I ended up sleeping in the van after taking my tent down before storm dave arrived, which meant I was unable to use my little stove as it was too windy. Thankfully my van bed is very comfortable and the dogs are happy sleeping in the crates underneath.
Lyl managed a clear round (unplaced 3rd) in veterans and is still enjoying the more straight forward courses.
 
We tackled our first champ yesterday at Wye Valley, and I am shocked to say that I really enjoyed it!
We got 15f in the jumping (2 poles and a 5r), and amazingly had just 5f for the dw in the agility, leaving us 30th overall.
Our goal was to get a non E in champ by the end of the year, and yesterday's goal was to get in the ring and not forget the course!
Looking forward to the next one at Thames.
 
Newbie question - I’m going to treat myself to a tunnel to practise at home - the Naylors soft grip range looks good but I’m wondering what length to get - will 3m be long enough or would it be better to get a 4m one?
 
Jumping day at DSD. A tidy run with two poles down, then one final glorious run with every single pole left up... but she smashed into the weaves at 100mph, somehow making the entry but sliding past two and continuing from four. Weaves in exactly the same place as the previous tidy run. 💀

I'll take it though, she held her stays and did plenty of thinking.
 
blackcob said:
I forgot to say that there was a cocker at this show of the sort anticipated to measure micro - video on Agility Geek on FB if anyone is curious. Different to the last one mentioned on here, this one is on breed register.
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Just had a look, no health tests and inbreeding COI 24.6% ! :mad: Dam had 2 litters in 2024, 7 months apart.
 
blackcob said:
Not a good look is it? It was cute as a button and fast, and I don’t have a bad word to say about the handler, but I do hope we’re not heading for size at the cost of everything else.
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I know someone who dips into agility (with success) but mainly works her spaniels. Her comment on seeing some of the teeny WCS was "I'd love to see them picking up a pheasant !"
 
blackcob said:
Not a good look is it? It was cute as a button and fast, and I don’t have a bad word to say about the handler, but I do hope we’re not heading for size at the cost of everything else.
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Of course we will we all know that sadly. It's all about Suze and speed. Mine are very small Schnauzers as you know and they won't measure in sadly.
 
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