Agility News

11/05/07.  Kiri  (DancingCloud Echo Of Song) competed at the 4-Paw Agility Club Of North Georgia at Wills Park, Alpharetta on Friday and Sunday last. Friday and Sunday morning didn't go so well but it all came together Sunday afternoon on the Novice Standard run. Although we wasted time at the weave poles the rest went smoothly with Kiri completing the 134 yard course in 51.3 seconds, allocated time by Judge Pete Liu was 65 seconds, good enough for a QT and first place. Kiri's brother Banjo (CH DancingCloud Man From Iron Bark) and her half sister Grace ( DancingCloud Unique Reflections) have commenced their agility training. Grace is a small standard at 21 inches and has a very compact body. I believe Laya's current litter will have some exceptional agility dogs as they are already displaying that can do attitude as well as attention span and ability to focus, which are all important traits needed for learning. Structurally they are displaying very good chests.                                12/03/07. Please look at the photos of Laya & Williams puppies to see how outstanding we think they will be in agility. One of the little girls is already showing outstanding poise and intelligence with speed beyond her 7 1/2 weeks of age. She will run the tunnel, explores the teeter and will go over jumps and the tire. If you are looking for an outstanding agility prospect give us a call. Last sunday we competed at Jim Miller Park in Atlanta in an AKC event. It was Laya's first competition since being mated and having her litter. Laya and Kiri competed in the Open JWW and Novice Standard, the first event was the Open and things didn't go so well but in the afternoon in the NSTD things came together very well, unfortunately both girls failed to qualify, Laya didn't make contact on the Cat Walk while Kiri didn't make contact on the A Frame. but their times were outstanding running 46 seconds, a full 10 seconds faster than the next fastest dog. One spectator was heard to comment, "that's a border collie in poodle clothing". As Laya's puppies were only weaned a week earlier it was a great effort. Next week the girls head to their first USDAA meet at Wills Park in Alpharetta, Georgia.

12/10/07. Our first USDAA meet was very competitive and it is the first time we have competed in so many evens in one day, 8 in all. We competed in the Starters Standard, Jumpers, Snooker and Gamblers. It was great fun and the girls really enjoyed themselves. The best result was Laya in the Snooker competition which she earned first place. I am really looking forward to more of this style of competition and enjoyed meeting many new people.

03/07/08. Kiri competed in the AKC's Lawrenceville Kennel Club Trial to day, in the Novice B Standard. Well it was great day, Kiri ran second place with a Q run. So its off to open standard!

03/08/08. Kiri competed in the AKC's Lawrenceville Kennel Club Trial to day, in Open JWW and Standard. In the morning event, JWW, Kiri placed second with a Q run, but in Standard popped out of the weave poles so she missed out on a possible Double Q. Kiri's two half sisters had their first look at agility competition when they accompanied Kiri to Wills Park today. Dash and Claire really enjoyed the outing and handled all the attention like pros. Although they are just 4 months old, from Laya's last litter they romped around the park as if they owned it. The young girls training has already commenced and it looks as if Dash will have Kiri's measure for speed.

03/23/08. Easter weekend. Laya led the way this weekend with consistency. On friday Laya got 2nd place and a Q run in Open JWW and on sunday Laya got 1st place in NOV B STD. Kiri set a fast pace in the same events only to miss a contact in one and knocked a bar down in the second. On sunday in the OPEN JWW her time was 25.4 seconds only to knock 1 bar down. When she puts it altogether she is awesome.

04/06/08. Laya and Kiri competed on sunday in the USDAA meet at Wills Park put on by Sirius Club. As it was the Spring Break weekend things were very hectic at the kennel on saturday so that left only sunday to compete. A 4.30 am start from home just wasn't in the cards after saturday, so after a more leisurely departure we arrived at Wills Park mid-morning in time for Starters Standard, Laya was just too wound-up but Kiri put in a fantastic run only to fly off the dog walk missing the contact. Well we had to wait then until 4.30pm as we were the last guys to run. Laya preceded Kiri and blew the field with a clear run of 22.65 seconds out of a set time of 32.00 secs, then after 1 dog in-between, Kiri was the final dog. Kiri was flying and I couldn't believe it, Kiri also had a clear run, completing the course in 21.78 seconds beating Laya by 0.87 seconds. Wow! 1st and 2nd place, daughter and mother cleared the field!!

04/13/08. Perry, Georgia, AKC event. Laya and Kiri went 1st and 2nd in the Open JWW on the 4/10/08 while on the 04/13/08 Laya was 2nd in Open JWW

04/29/08. PCA 08 has come and gone. It was wonderful to meet & greet everyone on Monday for the agility competition. Both Kiri and Laya had great runs in their events but unfortunately with minor faults that stopped them from getting qualifying runs.In her Novice B run Kiri recorded a time of 45.04 sec., the course had a standard time of 70 sec., but she missed the broad jump ( my handling fault) so failed to qualify. Laya in the Open Std stopped to smell the tire and in the Excellent JWW turned a circle waiting for me and it was recorded as a refusal so she failed to qualify in both events. Kiri made up for these minor faults in  the Open JWW with a sizzling run of 30.92 seconds on a 154 yrd course with a std time of 44.0 sec. to take first place. Kiri's run was so smooth and effortless that it was great fun to  compete with her. The courses were well laid out and very fluid, with nice spacing of the obstacles. The judge, Mr. SJ Banks, should be congratulated for designing such great courses.

05/30/08 Asheville Kennel Club. Ashville put on a wonderful and well organized Trial at the end of May. I thought it may be a little cooler in the mountains, leaving Atlanta's heat behind only to find cool mountain air in the 90's! It was a great indoor meet and the girls had a fun time. Kiri put it all together to get a qualifying run in Novice B standard so she now joins her mum in Open Standard. Kiri had a fast run and finished second. In Excellent A JWW Kiri was really moving and completed the course in 31.7 seconds only to knock the last bar, but Laya who ran a little slower doing the course in 38.84 seconds recorded a Q run and placed second to an absolutely flying Border Collie. In Open Standard though Laya pulled it off, getting a Q run, in 55.24 seconds and finishing in first place. It was very exciting for me as Laya had her first Double Q day. Lots of FUN!

Kiri

Laya