Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:15 am Post subject: Our First Show...
So, with much trepidation we decided to go for it and went to the BAA Agility Ability show at Wymondham, near Norwich and I am so pleased we did. We didn't set the world on fire, but we had the most fantastic time and were made very welcome. We did 5 classes (!) so were absolutely whacked by the end of the day!
Introductory Agility: this was our first class and although they had left the seesaw out (phew!) there were 12 weaves in as the second fence which seemed quite harsh for this level! Judging by the very few people who managed it we weren't the only ones quite surprised to see the full set of 12 in! Bamber was very excited and rather launched over the first fence so I didn't manage to steady him to get him into the weaves so he ran past, but we came round again and managed them successfully. We also had a pole down later in the course, but all in all I was thrilled with this round and that he was confident with a strange A frame, dog walk, etc.
Introductory Jumping: our second class and this was a lovely course, just jumps and one tunnel and had a really complicated bit in the middle where you had three jumps which had to be jumped in lots of loops and turns with two of them being jumped twice. A real puzzle for the handlers and the coursewalk was hilarious with a big knot of handlers in the middle all trying to work out which way to go! Anyway, Bamber ran this like a dream and we jumped our first CLEAR ROUND! We came 26th (just behind Laura and Luna)
Tragility Challenge: this was another jumps and tunnels class which was "Pay on the Day". We had a bit of trouble getting into one of the tunnels as it was right in the corner of the ring and I don't think I gave him a clear enough signal to go in as he ran past and then thought I might have asked him to jump it. Oops! Once we got ourselves sorted out again we got going and he jumped the rest of the course really well and went straight through the tunnel when we had to do it later in the course.
Time Fault and Out Agility: the less said about this one the better really! I was trying to sort out my tired and hungry baby and didn't realise our height was running until they started calling for the class to close. So I grabbed Bamber out of the car and we shot into the ring with neither of us warmed up or focussed. We had the 6th fence down so the whistle blew and that was us... then Bamber was confused by the fact that you had to run and jump the last fence to stop the clock and he wasn't listening so ran past it and out of the ring! I brought him back in and we jumped it (thank you kind judge), but one to forget really! Lesson learned - there is no point going in the ring without us both being properly ready!
Up and Under: another lovely flowing course with jumps and tunnels. The problem for us was that there was a cloth tunnel as the 3rd fence and Bamber is not confident with this yet as he has only done it a couple of times and on one of those he got scared as it flapped in his face in the wind. We decided we would have a go but not make an issue of it if he didn't want to go in. So sure enough he went in and then turned round and came out again, so I just carried on and we jumped the rest of the course with one pole down, but I was particularly thrilled with this round as he was particularly attentive and was really listening on his turns. When we finished, the very kind judge asked me if I would like to put him through the cloth tunnel again so that he didn't get into a bad habit and he held the end up slightly to encourage Bamber through - brilliant.
So all in all a fantastic day. I would definitely encourage people to start their agility careers with BAA. It was very friendly and everyone was happy to give lots of advice and encouragement. I'm now checking out schedules online for our next show and thinking up exercises to practise the many things we need to work on!
P.S. It was also lovely to meet Laura with Luna and Tucker, and Sarah (minus Mole, but hopefully not for long!). LF-central!
Well done, you did so well for your first show. With experience behind you it will get better and better. To get a clear round was fantastic.
Our first ever show class ended in elimination before we had even started because Coco ran around the first jump and backjumped it before I even released her
You both did brilliantly and it was lovely to meet you I think the whole day has convinced me to give it a go, so now it's all down to when
I've had a sneaky look at the schedule and there's a one day comp at Norwich once a month through the winter, so the one in October may be the place to start, although the indoor bit scares me a bit
Thanks for the write up, I don't know anything about agility, so it's been interesting to read about all the different course layouts and how you coped with them.
Sounds like you and Bamber had a great day. Congratulations.
Wow well done on your Clear Round that is fantastic in your first show..I enjoyed my only BAA show but there's not many where I am so I do UKA, but maybe we will met up one day too
WTG Bamber, sounds great for the most part and all adds to the experience for the future and I`m sure Bamber will do well as he gains in confidence, the main thing with any of these activities imo, is for dog and owner to have fun doing something together
Well done to the judge too for giving Bamber the chance to finish with success in the tunnel
Thanks everyone. Most importantly we both had a great time!
Katy - we jump at Maxi height at BAA and will have to be Large if we get brave enough to try KC. The jumps look quite big to me, but Bamber didn't seem fussed in the slightest! He's quite a big, heavy boy though so I am cautious about the impact on his joints.
Sarah - we are considering doing some of those winter series shows too, so hopefully will see you there...
YAY!! SOOOO pleased you got a CLEAR round on your first day!! We had to have a warm up day at our first show and managed a clear round the following day!
Bamber looks a natural around the courses and he really runs well with you - you make a great team! No-one would've guessed it was the first time the both of you had been out in a comp-ring! And you've just discovered one of the reasons comps are addictive, you discover lots of things to work on in training!
I think the 12 weaves were in as BAA tend to make the courses harder the closer to the end of the season you get - the end being August Bank Hol so only 2 more BAA comps to go! The idea being that those dogs about to be promoted into the next league should be able to cope with the 12 weaves on left and right side that you meet in Primary!! You wouldn't believe how many complaints there were that there were no weaves in most classes at the last EMDAC comp - it was too wet, cut up and slippy to have them out but people were most upset!
Will be following your progress AND MOLEY's TOO SARAH!
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I think the whole day has convinced me to give it a go, so now it's all down to when 
