Our Specialty Annual Specialty Relay was as fun as we anticipated!
Beth Canner, our first BCCA Agility Chair and AKC Judge, thought that it would be a great idea to add a just-for-fun agility game to our Nationals and instituted the first relay game at the 2001 Specialty in Maryland. She commissioned a lovely banner for the event, designed by Gretchen Blackburn. One of last year's winners, Tim Moore, fashioned a wooden shipping crate for it and returned it to us in time for the games to begin!
This year, we upped the ante a bit by offering a highly challenging game called Strategic Pairs, a fast paced USDAA Agility Relay created by Linda Mecklenburg of the Clean Run Magazine. This game requires quick thinking in case one's carefully planned strategy goes awry and is played by teams consisting of two dogs and two handlers. The course sequence is determined by the judge and is purposefully designed not to have a good flow to encourage "switching." The winning team is the one that successfully completes every obstacle on the course, in sequence, in the shortest time. No points are added for faults, which merely waste time. We took a gamble in offering such a difficult game and were totally delighted when 44 Beardies and their handlers took up the challenge. In some cases the runs were hilarious, especially Kim Horsley and Patti Bott's "Twisted Sister" team of Grendel and Spice, where the two reunited youngsters digressed from their capable solo runs to have some sisterly fun on the relay course. Other runs were amazingly strategized and swift, demonstrating what our Beardies and handlers are capable of. We had several worthy contenders for the top places.
Our High in Trial Winners, Sarah Halsey's Wizard and Karen Barratt's Jet, with their very able Teammates, Ann Chandoha's Arbi and Kim Horsley's Becket, were exceptional in this game. Sarah and Wizard and Ann and Arbi took a first. We were very proud of our Caper and Sharon Williamson's Brio who took a second place.
I especially enjoyed the creative team names, such as that of our first place winners, "The Secret Boozers," a combination of Anasazi SECRET of the Wizard and O'Duinnin Rhythm N' BOOZE.
Many on the sidelines who did not take the risk to run were wishing that they were out there having so much fun. Others who had never seen an agility trial were enthralled with the hilarity of it all.
Winners:
2nd - 50.41' - The Furry Furies
Jack Buhite and Caper/Sharon Williamson
and Brio
3rd - 54.58' - The Texas Two Step
Karen Barratt and Jet/Ann Chandoha
and Arbi
4th - 62.31' - Can Too Beerdies
Kim Horsley and Becket/Karen Barratt
and Bud
Time - Name of Team
46.38' - The Secret Boozers
Sarah Halsey and Wizard
MACH/ADCH Anasazi Secret of the Wizard,
EAC, EJC, EGC, CGC
Ann Chandoha and Arbi
Ch O'Duinnin HMT Rhythm N' Booze, MX, MXJ, NAC, OJC, NGC,
CGC
50.41' - The Furry Furies
Jack Buhite and Caper
Ch Skyedance Lord A-Leaping, AX, AXJ,
AAD, OAC, NJC, OGC, PT, HCT, CGC, VX
Sharon Williamson and Brio
Springhill's Spirit of Brio, MX, MXJ, AAD, JM, NAC, NJC, NGC,
CD, CGC
54.58' - The Texas Two Step
Karen Barratt and Jet
MACH O'Duinnin HMT Sonic Boom
Ann Chandoha and Arbi
Ch O'Duinnin HMT Rhythm N' Booze, MX, MXJ, NAC, OJC, NGC,
CGC
62.31' - Can Too Beerdies
Kim Horsley and Becket
Ragtyme Talkin Up A Storm, MX, AXJ,
CD, HS, VX
Karen Barratt and Bud
Ch O'Duinnin HMT A Bud for Boo, OA, AXJ
68.25' - Baja Oregon Buddies
Mary Lott and Harper
Pentangles Crystal Harper, AX, OAJ,
O-OAC, OJC, OGC,, U-CD, HSAs, HTD-I, HRD-I, CGC
Kathleen Pavlich and Gina
Ch Chantilly's Virginia Woof, NA, NAJ, NAC, NJC, HT, JHD,
CGC
70.46' - The Cover Girls
Jana Dozet and Star
Spindrift Catch A Risa Star, NA, OAJ,
NAC, OJC, NGC, HT, CGC
Pam Harris and Jodie
Ch Spindrift Charmed I'm Sure, OA, NAJ, HT
76.99' - Picard and a Pepper Too!
Pam Harris and Picard
Ch Spindrift Jean-Luc Picard, AX, OAJ,
PT, VX
Becky McCue and Pepper
Spindrifts Risa Golden Phoenix
77.62' - Brownsville Barkers
Carl Widell and Cydney
Can/Am Ch Caledonia Cydney Canuck,
NA, NAJ, PT, JHD
Amy Steltz and Cagney
Am/Can Ch Caledonia's Cagney Mac Calico, NA, NAJ, PT
79.05' - The Bruise Brothers
Tammy Domico and Sparkee
Alashaw Place Your Bets, NA, NAJ
Sharon Prassa and Zoot
Ch Britannia Zoots Me Fine, OA, OAJ, PT
80.82' - Katie's Kids
Kathryn Haas and CQ
Am/Can/Int'l Ch Delgatie's Extra Class,
CD, PT, CGC
Wanda Packard and Rosie
Ch Delgatie's Dreams Come True, AX, OAJ, PT, CD, VX
82.03' - On the Fly
Barbara Stone and Colton
Ch Ragtyme Doubly Smashing, MX, MXJ,
PDI, OAC-V, OJC-V, NGC, HIC, JHD, PT, CGC, VX
Kim Horsley and Bronte
Levontz's Highland Bronte, NA, OAJ, UD, HT, CGC
83.70' - Double Trouble
Iris Berry and Tag
Spindrift Risa Up and Over, NA, NAJ,
HIC
Pat Coreris and Chipper
Ch Spindrift William Rikker, MX, MXJ, CD, PT, VX
96.97' - Brown Derby
Suzanne Ames and Taylor
Ch Nonesuch Totally Taylor Made
Cheryl Poliak and Indy
Am/Can Ch Nonesuch New Sensation, NA, NAJ, HIC, ROM
105.31' - Beardie Buddies
Meredith BarDavid and Annabelle
Ch Nonesuch Canterbury Belle, CGC
Sandy Dubin and Teddy
Anasazi DeChelly Dream Weaver, PT, JHD, CGC
110.18' - Greased Lightning
BJ Walker and Mindy
Chelsic N Brandmar High Altitude
Laura Tappero and Kailey
Shanasprees Kick A Field Goal, OA, OAJ
123.74' - The Survivors
Charles Banfield and Lorna
Donalea's Wild Thyme, NA, NAC-V, CD
Kitty Hale and Bryan
Ch Foxwood Super Special
126.61 (76.61'+50 penalty) - B.A.D. Boys
Christiana Taylor and Jake
BIS Am/Can Ch Britannia Good Day Sonshine,
AX, MXJ, PDI, O-OAC, O-OGC, OJC, CD, PT, STD-s, CGC, MV
Amy Steltz and Bobby
BISS Am/Can Ch Britannia Bobby Dazzler, OA, AXJ, O-OAC, OJC,
OGC
134.77 (84.77'+50 penalty) - The Salty Dogs
Carol Colavecchio and Truman
Am/Int Ch Aellen Tried and True, AX,
AXJ, OAC, OJC, TN-N, HT, HIC, CGC, VX
Sharon Baker and Pearl
Ch Gemstone Pearl Of A Girl, OA, NAJ, HIC
144.23' - The Vegas Girls
Ashlyn White and Mirage
Ch Firstprizebears Las Vegas, AX, AXJ,
PT, VX
Katelyn White and Viva
Alashaw's Viva Las Vegas, NA, NAJ
152.77' - California Dreamers
Rosanne Hunt and Zoë
Camelot Sweet Zoë Latte, HIC,
CGC
Barbara Claxton and Sadie
Rainbow Sunshine Jump For Joy, JHD, PT
185.02' - The Fuzzy Cousins
Barbara Claxton and BlueBerry
Headlines Rhapsody In Blue, JHD, PT
Pam Kerwin and Bogie
Aellen Casablanca, HCT
196.50' - The Twisted Sisters
Patti Bott and Spice
Spindrift Risa Hot Stuff, NA, NAJ
Kim Horsley and Grendel
Spindrift Cookie Monster Risa, HT
Strategic Pairs (Agility Relay Game):
Description: Strategic Pairs, created by Linda Mecklenburg, is a fast paced Agility Relay game played by teams consisting of two dogs and two handlers. The course sequence is determined by the judge and is numbered like a standard course. The course purposefully will not have good flow to encourage "switching." The winning team is the one that successfully completes every obstacle on the course, in sequence, in the shortest time. No points are added for faults. Refusals, runouts, and off-courses are not faults and merely waste time.
Entry is open to all Bearded Collies with some agility training who are able to perform weave poles. All dogs will run in the 20 inch jump height.
Official Rules:
1. The Team: A "team" consists of 2 dogs and 2 handlers. At any time, one of the dogs is "active" and the other is "inactive." The "active" dog is identifiable as the one approaching or performing the next obstacle in the sequence. The dogs may switch "active" and "inactive" roles as many times as the team chooses. Both dogs on the team must be active at some time. You may have physical control of your dog (hand in collar, etc.) while he is inactive. Rules of good sportsmanship will be enforced.
2. Judging: The judge focuses his/her attention on one obstacle at a time. When either dog successfully completes obstacle #1, the judge's attention shifts to obstacle #2, etc. This pattern is repeated until all of the obstacles have been successfully completed. The inactive dog and handler are not judged.
3. Switching: If the active dog or handler faults the current obstacle (knocked bar, missed contact, or obstacle displaced), the judge will whistle to indicate a fault. The inactive dog must become active and attempt this same obstacle. If both dogs fault the same obstacle, they must continue, alternately, to attempt that obstacle until it is successfully performed.
4. Not faulted: Wrong courses, refusals, and run-outs are not faulted. They merely waste time. The active dog is not required to switch.
5. Resetting: If any bar is knocked or any equipment is displaced, judging is suspended until a team member resets it.. This rule applies to "off-course" obstacles as well as the next obstacle in sequence.
6. Scoring: Scoring is based on time only. The winning team is the one that successfully completes every obstacle on the course, in sequence, in the shortest time.
7. Timing: Timing starts when the active dog crosses the start line. The inactive dog may start anywhere on the course. Timing ends when the active dog successfully performs the last obstacle and crosses the finish line.
Strategic Hints:
1. Plan your switch points carefully. Typically, the course is designed with natural switch points so that the course cannot be run easily by one dog. In addition, plan switch points to get the faster dog in the weave-poles, the more accurate dog on the dog-walk, etc.
2. Make "what-if" plans. Decide how to handle forced switches. If a bar is knocked, who will reset it? If you are forced to switch, does the new dog do only the one obstacle, or do you revert to the old plan, but switch roles?
3. Be creative about speed. For example, a serpentine or threadle figure does not have to be completed by only one dog.
Download the Strategic Pairs Rules and Entry Form in PDF Format