Saturday, January 15, 2011

My First USDAA Trial

We went to my first-ever USDAA trial today held at a training facility near us. It was a one-ring Starters/P1 and Advanced/P2 trial. We signed up for two of the first classes of the day - Gamblers and Standard. I had to get measured by the judge before I could run and that judge measured me at a whopping 15 1/2" tall! No way (I am officially 14" for AKC) but I was nervous and standing with my back arched. Good thing we weren't worried about a cut-off height or anything. Mom entered me in the Performance level so that I could jump 12" (like preferred in AKC).

First up was P1 Gamblers. Mom asked for advice in understanding the rules on the course map and then made up a plan. 1357 system means that jumps are worth 1 point each, tunnels are 3 points, contacts are 5 points and the weave poles are 7 points. I had to get 18 points (I think) in 30 seconds (I got 20) and then when the buzzer sounded, I had 16 seconds (I think) to complete the gamble (the obstacles on the other side of the dotted line and mom was not allowed to cross the line). She was shocked to see the gamble - jump, chute, jump - but she was more surprised at the result you'll see in the video!


After gamblers we waited less than an hour and a half and did the P1 Standard course. This course had a STC of 70 seconds and should've been a piece of cake for me but I decided to make it interesting by pretending not to know how to do a down on the table and cut the timing very close - LOL!





So I did well and everything - especially with the chutes - but I was not faster like mom was hoping I would be. I felt fine though. Maybe tomorrow will be different. I am just doing P1 Jumpers and Standard on Sunday. Today we were done and home by 11:30AM. Crazy, huh?

Grandpa came with grandma today to his first agility trial! He had fun watching all the dogs and really enjoyed seeing me run in person! It was awesome having them both there! And thanks again to grandma for more good video-ing! :)

Gotta zoom!

Ricky

12 comments:

Sara said...

Well look at you! No one would ever know you had chute issues!

Your mom must have groaned when she saw the gamblers course map!

A chute in a gamble? How cruel!

But you showed her! Wow! What a huge accomplisment! I'm so proud of you and your mom!

Someone at league said today, "USDAA is very difficult, but when you have a successful run, you feel SO good." I hope that's how your mom felt today.

Good luck tomorrow!

Did the judge run into that big pole in the center of the course today? I know I would have.

Sagira said...

Wow...way to go Ricky. Look at you doing those chutes like they are a piece of cake. That facility looks SUPER nice to.

Diana said...

Yea Ricky!! Way to go!!! That was so wonderful and the chute to boot! Great gamble! Have fun tomorrow.

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Thanks fur sharing all of that!

Have fun on Sunday!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Amy / Layla the Malamute said...

Wow!! Congratulations! Two 1st places is fantastic!

Also, congratulations on getting that chute!

The site does look very nice, and the floors look new.

Good luck tomorrow! I wish my trials would be done with by 11:30 am lol.

Marie said...

Awesome job with the chute gamble! Sara's comment about the big pole in the middle of the course made me laugh because we have a big post in the middle of the matted out part of our barn, and I'm always afraid I'm going to run into it. LOL

Have a great day tomorrow!

Pepper said...

Woohoo, When I started reading about the chute gamble my heart sunk but you did it! So awesome, well done and a big high 5! Can't wait to hear about the 2nd day. And done by 1130 is fabulous.

Unknown said...

Ricky, we are so proud of you!!! Your chute was fantastic and you showed your mom that you could do it! Your mom must be very very proud of you!
It's so sweet that you had your grandpa and grandma as your cheerleaders too!
Good luck tomorrow!

Kathy Mocharnuk said...

FANTASTIC, that chute was a huge victory and it just looked like Ricky has been doing it all his life with no problem even with the distance, whooo hooooo!!! Great job, you guys are fantastic! So glad you got video!

Dawn said...

Woohooo!!!! A chute where your Mom couldn't stand right next to you? And you ran right through! HOW COOL IS THAT!!

Johann The Dog said...

How cool is that Ricky!!! I think you're Mum needs to handle you from a distance all the time, BOL! Really nice job. BTW, that table in the corner. I remember when I was in starters, I had trouble going down on a table in the corner with my back to the wall too :)

Lian said...

Fantastic! Well done Ricky! WooHoo! What chute? No problem! Big congrats on 1st place and Q'd!