Agility Dog Association of Australia Ltd

From the Chairman...October 2004

As I am writing this, I am contemplating packing for Uralla – Grand Prix 04. The logistics of such an event are quite large. Not only co-ordinating some 1800 runs of agility, consisting of over 200 dogs and the many handlers that go with them, but rather the unseen stuff that has to miraculously appear some 700 kilometres from where it normally lives. (And remember to order it and pack it – too far to duck home to get it.) In my car alone I have 5 shade tents, 3 trunks of ADAA merchandise, 1 box of rosettes, 2 sets of electronic timing, a couple of measuring sticks, 7 boxes of prizes, 2 sets of weavepoles and more. I don’t have all of the stuff, many others are making the trip with ADAA stuff as well. Oh, and there is me, my dogs and my stuff. It makes the mind boggle at how it all happens. But it all seems so worthwhile to have such a great weekend of agility. We must be all mad!!!!! Thanks to everyone that makes the weekend possible.

A few more great things have happened in ADAA land. At the recent Suncoast Fundogs competition we saw the first ever International certificates awarded. The very first went to a great little Toy dog, Bella AAC owned and handled by Donna Visini. The crowd roared loudly. Not long after one was awarded in the Midi class to Skye AAC MAAD3 (owned/handled by me). A couple of weeks earlier saw another bit of history when Tandy Allen achieved the first ever Gamblers Dog title with Breeze AAC GD, not to be outdone, her mother, Marion, followed suit at the very next competition with Flicka AAC MAAD4 GD.

The Annual Sydney Pet Expo is on again on the 5-7th November, 2004. If any members are interested in participating in this event please email the secretary@adaa.com.au or phone 0423 138 914 so that we can co-ordinate with you about the event.

Thanks to Lyndal, and Marion for co-ordinating the big tenth Birthday celebration. Many of you may have seen some special prizes at your local competitions throughout the year. The celebrations culminate at the Grand Prix, so thanks to everyone for joining in and helping us get into the festive mood.

A special moment at this year’s Grand Prix will be the awarding of ADAA’s first Life Memberships. These will go to Cathy Slot, Steve Drinkwater and me. Each recipient is very honoured and I have added an excerpt from the nomination to the bottom of this report. From the strong support base that ADAA has, I am sure there will be many more people awarded this honour in the future and I look forward to that occurring.

The Grand Prix is my last event as Chairman of ADAA – I would really like to thank you the members for your support and wish whoever takes over the same support and great times that I have had.

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the inaugural ADAA committee of Steve Drinkwater, Cathy Slot, Robert Loftus and Tom Kluwar who without their initial dream, ADAA may not have come to fruition to be enjoyed by so many. And thanks to all those that have supported ADAA over the years to help it grow into a strong Association that is enjoyed by so many – enjoy this celebration, ten years is no walk in the park; it truly is a great occasion.

Enjoy life, it’s too short to waste,

Natalie Kirkwood

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