2008 World Agility Championships
AKC/USA World Agility Championship Team
Helsinki, Finland
Day Six - September 27, 2008
Small Dog Individual Jumping
Course Measurement: 136 meters/148.73 yards
Time: 31 seconds
YPS: 4.80
Click here for Full Results Small Dog Individual Jumping
Small dogs were first to compete today.� The 2 USA/AKC dogs and handlers were ready to run another challenging course designed by Judge Anne Savioja.� There were many elements of this course to test the handler�s skill and relationship with their dogs.� Once again her signature double tunnels were on the course.� The turn from #5-6 tested handlers ability to give the dog enough room to turn but not knock #6 or go into the chute.� From there they moved into the serpentine which ended with entering the weave poles at #9.� Most handlers did a front cross at #8 so when the dogs landed they could wrap the dogs around their bodies for a right sided weave entry.� This worked very well and only a handful of dogs had entry problems.� From there thru #16 handlers had to be on their toes & give VERY clear direction to their dogs.� As they headed to the final obstacles many handlers chose to pass between #6 & 18 on their way to the chute vs. layering #8.� A few handlers did trip on the wing of #5 since it was only about 2 feet from the side of the tire. Then it was a nice run thru the chute to the final jump.
Dee Anna Gamel and her Sheltie Kelsi stepped to the line 1st for Team USA.� Kelsi was ready to go and took off from the start.� The push out from #2-3 was smooth for them.� As they made the turn out of #17 Kelsi swung wide and headed over jump #6 instead.� It was about 2 feet between the leg of the wing and the tire jump so Dee Anna ran the outside trying to avoid tripping and Kelsi kept going.� Only 18 of the 67 teams had clean runs.�
Next up to challenge the course were Marcy Mantell and her Sheltie, Wave.� Wave and Marcy showed how to make this course look easy to run.� It was not until the #18 tire that Wave gave any cause for concern and that was very short lived.� She pushed out a bit wide while Marcy moved between the tire & jump.� Marcy patiently called her back and they finished the course with a time of 29.72.� At the end of the run that placed them 8th overall.� Tomorrow they will run their individual Agility (standard) run.
Medium Dog Individual Jumping
Course Measurement: 130 meters/142.17
Time: 30 seconds
YPS: 4.74
Click Here for Medium Dog Individual Jumping Results
Judge Allan Hansen laid out a course that challenged exhibitors to stay on course. Many dogs found extra tunnels and jumps their handlers had hoped they would not see. Paulette Swarzendruber and Rush fell prey to one of these after a very strong start. 27 out of 72 teams went completely clean with no time faults. Many received time faults as they worked to keep their dogs from refusals or off course options.
But for some teams this course played to their strengths. Ashley Deacon and his Pyrenean Sheperd Luka were one of those teams. Ashley worked calmly thru the course and gave Luka clear direction. When everyone had ran Ashley & Luka were sitting in 3rd place overall! They will run tomorrow in Individual Agility (standard) for the Medium Dog Championship.
Large Dog Jumping
Course Measurement: 140 Meters/153.12 Yards
Time: 30 Seconds
YPS: 5.10
Click Here for Large Dog Individual Jumping Results
When the Large Dogs got their turn to run the Individual Jumping course the stands were just about full. It was very loud as is expected at the Worlds. Between the Swiss cowbells, the Germans great cheering section, the air horns, and many other fun noisemakers it can be a bit overwhelming for dogs and handlers. But this year the teams seemed to be taking it all in stride. The only dog that seemed caught a bit off guard was a Border Collie who saw the Border Collie on the large screens in the middle of the arena, that dog was him! It took his handler an extra minute or so to convince him to stop staring at the handsome Border Collie up above him.
We had 5 dog and handler teams compete in the Large Dog Jumping Class. This course was not for the faint of heart. Between the turn from 5 to 6 and the 90 degree entry at the weave poles it was just getting started. Many teams had communication issues from 12-16. And if they got out of that challenging area you still had to persuade your dog to ignore the tunnel they saw from 18-19. At the end of the day only 40 of the 120 dogs went clean with no time faults. But those who did made the course look like a good time.
At the end of the course Marcus Topps and Juice are in 4th place with a time of 27.59; Carrie Jones and Jive are in 14th at 28.35; new team member Geri Hernandez with Focus found herself in good position at 18th place with a time of 28.48 and Ann Braue with Scream finished 31st at 28.91 seconds. Linda Mecklenburg and her young dog Super had an off course into the wrong side of tunnel #6. It was obvious that both Linda and Super were having a good time on the rest of the course and that is truly the reason for doing this sport.
Small Dog Team Agility
Course Measurement: 142 meters/155.29 yards
Time: 35 seconds
YPS: 4.44
Click Here for Small Dog Team Agility Results
Click Here for Overall Final Small Dog Team Results
The USA/AKC Small Team comprised of Melanie Del Villagio & Dara; Joan Meyer & Neil and Dee Anna Gamel and Kelsi took the Small Dog Agility course by storm and left no doubt that they had mastered how to handle it. When all 26 teams were done running USA/AKC Small Dog team was #1 for the round by a solid 3.66 seconds over Brazil.
Brazil did win the overall Championship when today's runs were combined by yesterday's Jumping class. 2nd went to Russia and 3rd to Great Britain for overall Small Dog Team. Brazil was also the winner of the Large dog Team yesterday. A great year for Brazil!
Medium Dog Team Agility
Course Measurement: 145 Meters/ 158.57 yards
Time: 39
YPS: 4.06
Click Here for Medium Dog Team Results
Click here for Medium Dog Team Final Results
The FINAL course of the day was Medium Team Dog. Yesterday ended with Italy, Germany and France 1, 2, 3. The crowd was ready to go when it was announced that we were an hour a head of schedule and could not start until it had been determined that all teams were in the building and had walked the course. After about 15 minutes we were ready to start. The Medium Dog course included the electronic table, so an additional 5 seconds was added to the measured time based on the distance. Judge Allan Hansen was once again assisted with a judge for the up contact on the dogwalk. This was also done in the Small Dog Team Agility earlier in the day.
Team USA found the many challenges that the judge had designed. Unfortunately we did not move up in the final rankings.
The day finished with VERY exciting final runs that did determine the final Champion. Germany was the second to last team run (teams run in reverse order of placements - lowest to highest). At that point France was in the lead. Germany had one dog go off course and another incur course faults, so that left France in the lead. Italy came to the line to win the Championship, they incurred 26.31 faults and after some quick math it was determined that took them all the way down to 4th place.
The 2008 Medium Dog Team Champions are France. 2nd Place was won by Switzerland and 3rd Place to the Czech Republic. It was a great way to end a terrific day of competition. Agility is a game of split seconds and millimeters - that played out many times during the day.
Tomorrow will be the Individual runs for Small, Medium and Large to crown those 2008 Champions.
Saturday Courses
- Medium Team Agility
- Small Team Agility
- Large Dog Individual Jumping
- Medium Dog Individual Jumping
- Small Dog Individual Jumping
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