SNOOKER?


The Question as to "What is Snooker" drew several responses from Bad Members.


Mary Lott of Salem OR

Monday, November 17

 

> What is "snooker?" It sounds like a cross between a sneaker, a

snacker,and a snicker.<

 

Snooker, created by mad and demented folks who didn't have enough

to do with gamblers, jumps & weaves, jumpers etc.

Its another game that agility folk have cooked up. This one is

usually run by USDAA. It involves two halfs of a course. First

half you have to do a designated jump (red), than an obstacle of

your choice (which has points assigned to it), than another

(different red jump), than an obstacle of your choice and than a third designated jump and once

again an obstacle of your choice (Have I lost anybody yet???) Of course none

of these are ever lined up in what would be a logical order and you land

up pelting all over the arena trying to keep your dog from doing

anything creative or out of order.

 

Than you mentally catch your breath figure out where in the heck you are

on the course and try and finish a designated set of jumps/obstacles in

pre-set correct order.

 

It is point oriented, the more points and the faster the time the better

assuming you do not get lost (like me) and take inappropriate jumps out

of order. Jack with Caper apparently can keep thier wits about them as

they charge around collecting points.

 

SUPPPOSEDLY its like the game of Snooker from the billards family...but

since I've never played that game either you couldn't prove it my me.

 

Anyway good oh for Caper and Libby will fill us in with probably a

better explination..

 

Me I'm off to do something simple..like a full performance of the Brahms

Requiem.

 

Mary & Patsch


Linda Leek of Kansas City KS

Monday, November 17

 

Mary,

I thought your explaination was a very good one. Just one more point:

The "other" obstacles (not the red jumps) are numbered in order (usually

1 through maybe 7) and this is also the points they are worth. To add

further to the confusion, there may also be multiple obstacles

comprising a numbered obstacle that may or may not be taken in a

specific order depending on what the judge has dreamed up.

 

Now I'll bet everyone IS totally confused!:-)

 

Happy training,

Linda (LEEK)


From Libby Myers-Buhite of Santa Clara CA

19 November 1997

 

We see from some of the recent Agility Correspondence that many are wondering

what the heck SNOOKER is. It is Jack's favorite course, aside from Gamblers

and Jumpers. Yes, Jack loves GAMES! This one was really set up to foil a

dog which did not have a good recall and object discrimination, for in

SNOOKER the point is to zip in BETWEEN several appealing obstacles and only

take ONE of them before returning to the red jumps.

 

To start at the beginning, in SNOOKER there are three jumps marked with red

flags (each numbered 1) which can be set anywhere on the course, at the

judge's discretion. One or more are usually set on the perimeter. There are

six more obstacles set as a course and numbered 2 through 7. The opening

sequence is to take any one of the red jumps followed by any one, and only

one, of the obstacles numbered 2 through 7. Then take another red jump,

followed by a 2-7. Then take the third red jump, followed by another

obstacle. After all that is completed, one runs the closing

sequence-obstacles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 in order before the time whistle blows.

If there are any mistakes at all, the whistle will also blow, and one leaves

the course immediately. Points are awarded based on the sequence number next

to an obstacle. The highest number of possible points is 51. The judge

designs this course so that the highest numbered obstacles are usually the

hardest to reach. Either they take up a lot of the time or require passing

by all kinds of favorite obstacles, such as tunnels. To win, one has to go

for the high numbers, if possible.

 

In this course the teeter was obstacle number 7 and, therefore, the most

desirable to negotiate. The opening was easy. Red jump, teeter, red jump,

teeter. The big risk was that by taking the teeter the second time, one had

to run past two tunnels and a tire to the far end of the course where the

third red jump was located. Caper loves tunnels but he stayed with Jack the

entire way to that third jump, a sharp turn into a 4 point tunnel, a call off

of obstacle 5, followed by the sequence, which he aced, also amazingly

quickly, which earned him 48 points and first place in his class of 13. What

a great way to end the weekend, with our little zipper.

 

We are now home until some time in January when USDAA and NADAC start up

again, hosted by our Agility Club, the Bay Team. Meanwhile we will try to

work with Caper's great speed, which makes him highly competitive, but which

poses a problem for a handler to get out every direction on time, both with

voice and body. A toe pointed in the wrong direction can be a disaster.

Fortunately our trainers are experts with fast dogs. So all we have to do

now is train Jack!

 

Libby and Jack and Caper


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