Agility Dog Association of Australia Ltd

From the Chairman...June 2005

With training camp coming soon and early entry close being on the 6th June, we hope you have all done your planning and submitted your applications if you intend coming to either of the camps. Applications will be accepted for the Qld camp until 17th June and for the NSW camp until 15th July, but there is still time to save with the early bird fee. Please remember that Junior participants who will not have a parent present at the camp will need to submit a consent form with their entry.

Then once sorted out, start on the Grand Prix Entry Form….YES it’s a busy time of the year. While on the subject of Grand Prix, I would like to explain how this year’s format was arrived at. The last 2 years have seen about 20-25% increase in entry numbers. Last year coping with the numbers in a 2-ring format to which we are accustomed was rather hard. Hence we measured the field, while we were there, to see if we can fit in a third ring, or even a fourth. Three will fit, four probably not. So we worked out a format to see what events we could fit into 3 rings, assuming the same growth rate, but realising that limiting entry to Open Events to dogs with AAD could limit the increase marginally. The Board felt we could manage the same Challenge Events, as well as some Open, Intermediate and Starters events. Last year we ran some Junior 1 events, because even though the Junior Program was new, we had a ready made field of Junior entrants who were already competing, so this year we added some Junior 2 events as some of the Juniors have achieved titles which makes the Junior 1 events unusable for titles. We have moved the Saturday start time forward a couple of hours, but by calculating expected entries and run times we felt this was all that could comfortably be accommodated in 3 rings. We have always aimed for a fun event on the Saturday or Sunday evening and this year we decided on Steeplechase, making it non-titling so all International Program participants could enjoy this new game and participate, and leave the Sunday evening free for socialising.

The Board is aware that there are a few handlers who are disadvantaged by this year’s format, i.e. those with Regular dogs only, and apologise for any distress caused. ADAA is committed to growth of the Sport of Agility, which is why we introduced the new class, and can only ask for patience as the path forward is developed.

It's membership renewal time again, for anyone with a 12 month membership, as financial year ends and hence cessation of membership is 30th June. If you elected to have the 3 year electronic or mailout subscription last year, this may not affect you. Those that were given a 12 month extension from the year before will be required to renew this year. Simply download a membership renewal form from the web and submit to ADAA in plenty of time so you are eligible to compete in the competitions in July and the ensuing months. If you are unsure, or have a query then please email admin@adaa.com.au or phone the ADAA mobile on 0423 138 914.

It is most rewarding to see the improvement in the dogs that are competing and to see some new faces in the ring (both dog and human). Achieving a title is great, and is after all what many of us strive for, but it is so important to measure success in other ways. Have your lead-outs improved, is your dog knocking less bars, is he finding his weave pole entries, is your head managing the games strategy better?? These are all questions to ask yourself to measure success. Last weekend’s Gamblers at ADCQ, judged by Wendy Blakeston, saw many achieve Gamblers success for the first time, or the first time after a long drought. The majority of the obstacles in the gamble were 5m away from the containment line, with the dog-walk forming a very definite barrier and a cloth Tunnel the middle gamble obstacle. The successes were lovely to see.

So have FUN with your dog and train through your problem zones.

Marion

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