What does mid-september mean to you? The end of summer perhaps. Usually a sad time. But for us it means a long road trip and 7 days of agility competition.
Peanut, even though she isn't competing, was excited to tag along
The agility that I'm talking about of course, is the NADAC Championships. They were once again held in Gillette, WY. On the way there we stopped in Missoula MT for a USDAA Trial the weekend before.
The trial site of the "A Rover Runs Through It" USDAA trial was really neat.
There was lots of stuff to look at between runs...
Daz did really well (as usual for USDAA). She only missed one Q all weekend and it was my fault (of course). She finished almost all her Starters titles that weekend (SSA, SS, SR, and SG) as well as her AD (Agility Dog) title! Way to go kiddo! After such a good weekend we were feeling pretty good about Champs which would start that wednesday.
So on the road again, we headed on from Montana to Wyoming.
It was a familiar site, people slowly queuing up outside the doors to get the best crating spots as soon as the building was opened to the exhibitors. I wonder if Daz remembers the place...
The gifts for the exhibitors were really great this year - we got BALLOONS! We didn't get any balloons last year!
The pacific northwest was very well represented:
Daz and I both seem to enjoy the "high stakes" runs. Yeah, they say you should always run your very best and that there is really no difference between a regular trial and Champs - but if that were true why would we bother coming? And it's impossible to deny that you run just a little harder at a championship event. We like the adrenaline rush.
The only problem, there are a LOT of dogs. We had an average of two runs a day and the days went from the time we got up at 5:30 AM to well past dinner time each night. We got back to the hotel around 10 or 11 each night.
How about a few pictures of those doggies?
Ceilidh
Blue
Amber and Kody
And what would an agility event be without the occasional PUPPY!
This is Kash. I think he is THE cutest golden pup ever.
I think Blue is getting tired of all this boring talk....
Let's see, what else.....
Oh yeah, the raffle. The raffle is HUGE at Champs. Each state or region makes a basket to contribute. Usually the baskets include "native" things. For the PNW basket we had some locally made toys, leashes, and candies for example.
It wouldn't be the NADAC Champs raffle without the armadillos.
If you don't know, don't ask!
Next to the raffle table was the awards table. These are the Special Awards which are sponsored each year by different people or groups.
There were even special awards for the cancer surviving dogs and handlers.
And, of course, the championship trophies for each division and height class:
While we were waiting for the awards, my heart melted at the sight of this little dude's ears. I mean, check it:
Cocoa looks pretty happy about something, but I have no idea what.
Alright, enough pictures. I can only show you so much with pictures (mostly because for most of the event I forgot to take my camera out....ooops.)
How about a quick run down video? For those that couldn't be there, or those that were and want to bring back all the memories, enjoy!
Now I know I'm forgetting something here....what else do you want to know?
Oh wait, what about results? I think the PNW group did pretty good this year! Can you spot Daz?
She's the one with the trophy and the pretty purple Regular Agility Champion ribbon.
:)
Yup, that's right. Despite our wild year, the little miss stuck with me through it all and pulled it off. This year my goal was just to be able to physically RUN at the event - anything else would be a bonus. But that's what Daz is all about, those bonuses, always going above and beyond.
Alright alright, enough wishy washy fluffy stuff. Here is the video of our runs - both the games and the Regular events:
In some ways the event came and went in a blink, in other ways it seemed to go on and on and on. In the end, it all balances out. It was really great being there, but we were happy to be heading home by the end.
Little Dee was pretty exhausted by the time we got home, but before she slept it all off I was able to snap a few award photos of her.
So that was our big event. We worked towards it all year, and now it's over. I guess it's time to set next year's goals.....
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