SCOR Agility Sept. 26-27, 2009 Chatham, NJ

It’s a cool morning at St. Huberts for the CPE, SCOR agility trial.  At least it is dry and comfortable but the clouds in the sky are an ominous reminder that tomorrow is slated to be a cold wet day.  Kathy drove to the site and I biked so she got here at about 7:30 while I got here about 7:45, replete with pasteries from the Swiss Chalet.

Jackpot – Level 3 – 8″

We we the first dog to run in Jackpot, level 3 after a quick course change and run through.  Kathy just got Scraps to crap and piss before the run.  Scraps got off fast with a few jumps and then got the zoomies going through a tunnel like 6 times.  We almost got the 20 points in the first part of the course and then when the buzzer sounded Scrpas knew what to do.  This included a jump, teeter, tire and jump at a distance and he was on course to complete it but Kathy beckoned Scraps iff the teeter and he listened.  We ened up with 31 points and an NQ.  Who knows how they access points in this event.

The next  event to run was standard which we didn’t compete in since it had a teeter.  This gave me enought time to watch a little of it, video tape Shamus, the wild naked Chinese Crested, bike home, walk Rags, bike back to St. Huberts and make it back to still see the last 30 runs of Standard.  We ran our first run around 8:45 and probably won’t hit this run until 2:00pm.  This is a pretty long break.

Colors Level 3 = 8″

At 2:15 we finally ran our second run which was Colors and the course Kathy selected was the red one that had weave poles instead of the teeter.  While Scraps didn’t run through the poles perfectly on the first of the second attempt he did eventually get them and I assume on the way to a “Q.”  We will have to wait for the final judges score.  The result is in and we qualified and came in first place.

3rd Game:Level 3 8 Inches

Scraps was quickly “Thank You’ed” of the course after going in and out of tunnels wrecklessly.  This was his nemasis all day.  Not know what to do next so he would gravitate to his most accessible tunnel.  It hurt him in this game.  He was able to get by in others.  Needless to say, we did not qualify in this event.

I went for a nice long bike ride between this and the last run of the day.  I brushed through Chatham, Harding, Long Hill and Morris Township and back again.  In total, I rode 32.5 miles during the day between commuting back and forth to the trail and joy riding.  I’m nicely pooped as I compose this.

Last Run – Level 3 – 8 Inches.

Once again, Scraps was wreckless but CPE have forgiveness in many of its games if you know how to adapt and Kathy and Scraps adapted this run all the way to a first place victory with another “Q”.

For the day we were two for four with two first place runs.  Scraps is fast for his size so if he qualifies there is a good chance he will also get a first place ribbon.  In was on my bike at 5:30 on the way home making it home by 6:00.  Eating Macho Nacho for dinner and finishing up a bottle of Cotes du Rhone from the other night.  Kathy’s passed out on the couch at 8:30 as I blog and we do it all again tomoorow. It looks like it will be wet but not soaking rain all day. I have a feeling it’s going to prove to be an experience.

It’s a cool morning at St. Huberts for the CPE, SCOR agility trial.  At least it is dry and comfortable but the clouds in the sky are an ominous reminder that tomorrow is slated to be a cold wet day.  Kathy drove to the site and I biked so she got here at about 7:30 while I got here about 7:45, replete with pastries from the Swiss Chalet.

Jackpot – Level 3 – 8″

We were the first dog to run in Jackpot, level 3 after a quick course change and run through.  Kathy just got Scraps to crap and piss before the run.  Scraps got off fast with a few jumps and then got the zoomies going through a tunnel like 6 times.  We almost got the 20 points in the first part of the course and then when the buzzer sounded Scraps knew what to do.  This included a jump, teeter, tire and jump over the line, at a distance and he was on course to complete it but Kathy beckoned Scraps off the teeter and he listened.  We ened up with 31 points and an “NQ.”  Who knows how they access points in this event?

The next event at the trial was Standard which we didn’t compete in since it had a teeter in it.  This gave me enough time to watch a little of it, video tape Shamus, the wild naked Chinese Crested, bike home, walk Rags, bike back to St. Huberts and make it back to still see the last 30 runs of Standard.  We ran our first run around 8:45 and probably won’t hit this run until 2:00pm.  This is a pretty long break.

Colors Level 3 – 8″

At 2:15 we finally ran our second run which was Colors and the course Kathy selected was the red one that had weave poles in it instead of the teeter.  While Scraps didn’t run through the poles perfectly on the first or the second attempt he did eventually get them and I assume on the way to a “Q.”  We will have to wait for the final judges score.  The result is in and we qualified and came in first place.

3rd Game – Level 3 – 8 Inches

Scraps was quickly “Thank You’ed” off the course after going in and out of tunnels recklessly.  This was his nemesis all day.  Not knowing what to do next so he would therefore gravitate to his most accessible tunnel.  It hurt him in this game.  He was able to get by in others.  Needless to say, we did not qualify in this event.

I went for a nice long bike ride between this and the last run of the day.  I brushed through Chatham, Harding, Long Hill and Morris Township and back again.  In total, I rode 32.5 miles during the day between commuting back and forth to the trial and joy riding.  I’m nicely pooped as I write this blog.

Last Run – Level 3 – 8 Inches

Once again, Scraps was reckless but CPE is forgiving in many of its games if you know how to adapt and Kathy and Scraps adapted this run all the way to a first place victory with another “Q”.

For the day we were two for four with two first place runs.  Scraps is fast for his size so if he qualifies there is a good chance he will also get a first place ribbon.  I was on my bike at 5:30 on the way home making it home by 6:00.  Eating Macho Nacho for dinner and finishing up a bottle of Cotes du Rhone from the other night.  Kathy’s passed out on the couch at 8:30 as I blog and we do it all again tomorrow. It looks like it will be wet but not a soaking rain all day.  I have a feeling it’s going to prove to be an experience.

Day 2 – Sunday, September 27, 2009

As predicted by the weatherman, today turned out to be a wet day so we are trying to minimize our exposure.  We arrived at around 8:00, missing the judge’s briefing and the walk through for the first event jumpers.

Jumpers – Level 3 – 8″

It was only misting when we left the car with Scraps which left us 15 minutes to watch some runs, get Scraps warmed up and run the jumpers course.  It all happened fast which was good. We got on the course at 8:30 and Scraps ran with some good focus.  He had one off-course fault when he veered left over a double jump he was supposed to pass.  Other than that, Kathy and Scraps were smooth and clean and I don’t think the one mistake will hurt our chances of getting the “Q” in this run.

After the run, we had Standards to wait through so I took Scraps home to wait in the warmth and dryness of the house and I will head back to the agility field around noon when Scraps is scheduled to run next.  Since I got home it rained a little harder but the weatherman says it should not rain too hard all day.

I got back there in time to witness Scrpaps once again not being able to differentiate between going into a tunnel and going onto another obstacle.  This time he chose the tunnel leading himself and Kathy path of failure and an “NQ.”

Kathy salvaged the 3rd run of the day by saving Scraps from prematurely going on the table and disqualifying himself.  It is really close, but after that save she and Scraps went on the complete the course and get a 3rd place qualifying run.

Finally in the last run of the day and the weekend, Scraps missed the first jump, the Judge missed the miss and called out “One.”  Kathy went back to correct the miss but Scraps took the jump backwards and quickly got whistled off the course by the judge.  Thank you very much!

For the weekend we got 4 qualifying runs out of 8 and while considering we were running at all level 3 and day 2 we had rainy weather, it not all that bad.  We came home Sunday at 5:00, nice and early considering we were there until the entire site was cleaned, to have a Gindoff platter and a Giant shutout of Tampa Bay on the DVR.  By the way for Kathy’s sake, the Yankees clinched the Eastern Division title with a win of Boston.  With Monday off  from work, its is a nice night-cap on the whole agility weekend.

SCOR Agility May 30 and 31, 2009 Lewis Morris Park, Morris Township, NJ

Scraps has not practiced agility in any real manner for a long time.  This is of course with the exception of our painfully slow teeter learning process.  I can’t say I was expecting much out of him on this first day of the SCOR agility trial, but Scraps is a wonder dog and he never ceases to amaze us.  In short, he went four-for-four.  Four events, four qualifying runs and 4 first places. A perfect day all around.

Kathy had to help out with the annual Morris Habitat Bike and Hike this morning until about 9:00am.  This left me to get to the trial early, set up and run with Scraps for the first event.  I took the task seriously, not serious enough to use my cleats, and got there by 7:10.  Being at Lewis Morris Park, which is 10 minutes from our house, makes this responsibility much easier.  I looked to get measured but Scraps was not on the “to be measured” list so he need not get measured ever again for SCOR.  Yeah, no need to worry about geeting to event early again.

To see lots of pictures of all the dogs check out my Picasa Web Album.

Day 1 – May 30, 2009

I was all alone for the first run, the judge’s briefing, etc.  No big deal. It all happened very fast.  I set up the video on a tripod  and we were the 4th or 5th dog of the day.  It was full house. You had to do at least 3 jumps (1 point each) 2 tires or tunnels (3 points) and 1 plank, weave A-frame.  In addition, you had to a amass a minimum number of total points, requiring completion of additional obstacles to the ones listed above For running at level 3 we had to get 25 total point I believe.  We got 35 point and a first place, qualifying, the whole shu-bang.!  It felt like a near flawless run, quick, efficient and commanding.  I’m getting over the top as I finish off a bottle of wine as I write this so called “diary of the mouth.”

We only ran Scraps in 4 of the 5 events, choosing not to do Standard since it requires the use of of teeter which still isn’t happening.  Otherwise were are competing at level 3 for the most part and excelling at it.  That is the exciting part about what we accomplished on this day.

Kathy arrived about 9:00 after checking out Rags at home and my duties except for media compilation was over for the day.  I could break out the Hostess powdered white donuts and coffee and rest in my gravity chair or snap away with my Nikon D200 with its 18-200mm lens!  Since the camera is new and the old standy-by video camcorder is the “old stand-by,” I decided I would try to use both during Kathy’s runs.  I would have the video on a tripod nicely aimed and I would try to snap a few photos during the run whiles also controlling the video on the tripod.  I sacrificed qualify in both ends and therefore it wasn’t worth the effort.  I should just go with video.  By the next day this was on my mind but I still couldn’t resist trying to snap a few while video taping.

Kathy ran the next three event of the day and not only matched my performance, but multiplied it by three.  Wow, they were hot.

In Jackpot we came in 1st place with a qualifying run of 49 points in 49.56 seconds.  This was at level two and we will be able to now move up to level 3 in Jackpot.

Wild-card was the 3rd game of the day and we also came in 1st place with a qualifying run in 28.35 seconds with 0 faults.  Now I have to admit there were rarely any other dogs in our jump height of 8″ so a qualifying run guaranteed you and first place ribbon, but in all our runs, it would have been hard pressed for a small dog to have out run Scraps.

The last run of the day was jumpers.  We didn’t stick around for the results as we packed up and got out of Dodge to be home feeding the dogs by 5:45.  We ended up qualifying with a 1st place ribbon again in this event but we didn’t find this out until the next day.  A spectacular day and tomorrow we don’t have to be at the park until 8:30 or 9:00.  Much better than 7:00.

Day 2 – May 31, 2009

We didn’t get back to the trial site until a leisurely 8:30am.  Everything was there from the previous day, we raised the tent and we were ready to wait for our turn.  Like yesterday, Full House would be our first event for Scraps but unlike yesterday, it wouldn’t go so perfectly.  For some reason Scraps wasn’t too focused on Kathy and  missed a target on the A-frame and we only got 20 points when we needed 23 to qualify.  If you look at the video, we missed the last 3 points in a tunnel by about 3 seconds.  That was a real shame.

We didn’t get a qualifying run in the second event either as we were whistled off the course for double dipping on the A-frame.  Once again, Scraps didn’t performs on the A-frame as he went up it a bit it but jumped off just as he got on.  When we went back for seconds on the A-frame we were disqualified.

It started to threaten rain by the next event and for Scraps’ run. It was actually raining by Scraps’ run and practically only for Scarps’ run but it wasn’t too bad.  This run he ran perfectly and zoomed through the course with the greatest of ease and got a 1st place and a qualifying run.  This was a perfect run.

In the last event of snooker, we were meat before we could get going.  Scraps missed an obstacle and before we knew it we were whistled off the field by the judge once again.  We may not have done that well on Sunday, but once again it was a fun day for Kathy, Scraps and I.  In addition it was really nice weather and close to home.  I was able to go home and walk Rags for lunch.  

We were packed and out by 4:30, so Sunday went quicker than Saturday.  Although we only had  1 of 4 qualifying runs on Sunday for the weekend we went 5 for  8.  That is pretty good considering we are competing at level 3 in most categories.  We have at least one more competition this year so let’s see what we can do.  It was an easy fun beautiful weekend as far agility trials go.

SCOR Agility Aug 2-3, 2008 Morristown, NJ

Scraps studying the course and relaxing before his event.

Larry's bicycle in the background. It's geat to have a trial in your home town!

This trail is run by SCOR which is part of CPE Agility.  After running several good trials in the innovative and fun CPE format, Scraps is for the first time stepping up to level 2 for all but one event.  It’s a beatiful location for an agility trial from my perspective.  I am able to ride my bicycle from home to the trial and then take advatage of Lewis Morris Park’s mountain bBiking trails  when I get bored.  In additon, being a 10 minute drive from home means we were able to leave Rags at home so not to get the Judge to scream at us about shutting that mutt up.  By the way, for the record the judge was Ray Wheeler who did a great job in keeping the trial moving and I have to say he was effective.

YouTube Video
To view a quick video compilation of the 10 runs activate the link YouTube video link below.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

It's gonna rain one way or another.

It was a cool morning but Jeff Mendelsohn from Channel 12 news on channel 61 showed us some radar that indicated strong chances of thunder storms all day long. It was okay in the early morning but two storms hit us resulting in two rain delays. The first storm sent us scurrying to the Toyota Matrix for shelter. Scraps not being a wet weather dog at all made Jeff Mendolsohn’s predictions all that more ominous. We got lucky lucky for each time it was Scraps turn to run the rain came to a complete stop.

A summary of the 10 runs over 2 days is provided below.  In the end, Scraps and Kathy qualified in 6 of the 10 events and “NQed” in the other 4.  Each time they qualifie they came in 1st place.  The lesson to be learned is that care and qualifying is everything and speed just gets you disqualified that much faster.

It was little buggy, or may I say a big buggy.

Jumpers Level 2 – 8″
1st Place – Qualified 
32.65 seconds – 0 faults 
Scraps started the 2-day decathlon impressively with 1st place excellent run except . He just missed a jump at the start but still did well enough to pull off a 1st place.

Colors Level 2 – 8″
4th Place – Not Qualified -
25.37 seconds – 20 faults
We were all over the place and NQed.

Standard Level 2 – 8″
3rd Place – Not Qualified -
60.23 seconds – 21 faults
Flying off the teeter and not liking the A-Frame.

 

Kathys says it's time for a plum.

Full House Level 2 – 8″
4th Place – Not Qualified
43.04 seconds - 11 Points
Not enough points before the buzzer. Scraps was pre occupied. Missed the A-frame and by the time he got to the plank the buzzer buzzed. DQ

Snooker Level 2 – 8″
1st Place – Qualified 
38.86 seconds - 36 points 
Last event of the day and we didn’t want to go home 1 for 5. It was colors and Kathy and Scraps ran a great exercise. Scraps was a little distracted by me, but got over it and hesitated going into a tunnel but other than those minor flaws, the run was smooth, methodical and enough for a first place and qualifying run.

Sunday, August 3, 2008. 

It was a nicer day on Sunday

Today was much nicer than Saturday.  It was cool as I arrived on my bicycle with the morning dew glistening across the field.  By the end of the day there we some clouds and some hot points but it would be tough to complain about the weather.  A woman from PetSide.com, a website somehow affiliated with NBC Television, was there filming some of the runs for her website to check out PetSide.com

Jackpot Level 1 – 8″
1st Place – Qualified 
47.20 seconds - 50 points 
Well it’s Jackpot, the first event of the second day. Today small dogs go last giving us more opportunity to get set for each event. This was a very good exercise. Scraps ran past the set of weaves to start but then hit them nicely and went on the complete the course in good fashion. Another first place showing. This was the only exercise that we competed at level one, but now that we qualified we will be able to move up a level.

Standard Level 2 – 8″
1st Place – Qualified 
45.15seconds - 2 faults 
This is standard and due to Scraps leaping off the teeter on the day before Kathy decided to run the event while intentionally bypassing the teeter. With that game plan in mind it was and impressive run, even the judge like our style commenting “good exercise.” We had one miss queue into the weaves but then successfully pulled it off. Somehow we qualified but Kathy isn’t sure if our missed teeter is enough to DQ us.

 

Scraps takes his bones seriously

Colors Level 2 – 8″
4th Place – Not Qualified -
33.69 seconds – 27 faults
This was another running of colors. We were going well and Scraps missed a jump and then we running off for one of the ring crew women and Kathy wasn’t able to get him over the jump and she proceeded to completed the remaining few obstacles but it was a DQ in colors.

Wildcard Level 2 – 8″
1st Place – Qualified 
19.40 seconds – 0 faults 
It’s wild card and the second to last event of the decathlon and Kathy and Scraps pulled off a flawless run and just beat out the competition by about 2 seconds. One little additional distraction would have turned our prized first place to second.

Jumpers Level 2 – 8″
1st Place – Qualified 
27.12 seconds – 0 faults 
Last event of the trail and scraps was second to last dog of the trial. It was along hot weekend and ho knew if Scraps would have enough energy to pull off his best event in the decathlon. Scraps knew being the tough little mutt that he is. It started with a tire, had a few tunnels and lots of jumps. Just a little spin around toward the home stretch but short of that ever so minor flaw, it was a tremendous run. It seemed as if Kathy and Scraps were getting better as the weekend grew long.