2009 AAC Nationals

Taari and I were not able to attend the Regionals in May due to family reasons so we did the prequalifier on Thursday at the AAC Nationals in Ottawa. We needed 350 points in 6 runs. Our first run of the day was a standard in which we accumulated 20 faults so we ended up with a score of 80. Then we ran jumpers and we got an off course (score 55) but were otherwise clean. The next run was the first gamblers run. I haven't been working much on Taari's gambling skills so my goal was to try to get as many points as we could in the opening as I didn't think we would get the final gamble as there was an A-frame in it and I was correct (score 30). Then we ran the second standard and it was worse than the first with an off course, bar, refusals and missed contacts (score 45). The second jumpers run run went really well except an off course (score 55).



We needed 85 point in the final run which was another gamblers course but we came up short with a grand total of 296. We had a few errors that cost us big time. Our jumpers runs were our best runs and if we had been clean in them we would have qualified since we would have got 40 more points plus the time bonus points which I estimate at about 25. Taari also had a unusual off course in the second run which cost us 20 points. We were not alone as 8 out of the 25 teams did not qualify.

On Friday we had two Steeplechase runs. Both were standard AAC events in which you could gain qualifying scores that count towards Steeplechase titles. The top 25% or 10 dogs in each class (which ever was less) advanced to the finals on Sunday night. The finals was not a standard AAC event and there was prize money for the winners. Taari was clean in both Steeplechase runs but we had bobbles, including missing weave entries, that cost us time. We qualified in both runs. The best run was our second Steeplechase run. We placed 20th overall out of 58 dogs.


Taari did well for her first big event and running 6 runs in one day. We haven't done many trials where there are dogs running in adjacent rings at the same time. You will notice her looking at the other ring at the beginning of the Steeplechase run above. I knew that she was not quite ready (contacts and gambling skills) but that there was a chance that we could qualify. Taari reacts to clapping so I had a hard time catching her at the end of her runs as she would sometimes take a victory lap! It was a good experience for both of us and I am glad that I went. On Saturday and Sunday I got to see some great agility and do some shopping. With 6 rings running at the same time it was hard to watch and see everyone though I did try to make a point of watching my friends. It is great that people are posting their videos on Youtube. I enjoyed watching the Steeplechase finals especially since I had friends in it.